Daily News

Posted on Dec. 23: Training your brain as a baby helps you recognize people as an adult, study shows

When you recognize a new acquaintance across the room at a holiday party this year, know that the reason you can do so is because of work your brain and eyes did when you were a baby. McMaster University vision scientists have discovered that the ability to recognize someone from different points of view - when they look down at a tray of food or turn their head to the side as a friend arrives - is dependent upon seeing things during the first few weeks of life. Their study's findings were published in the November issue of the journal Developmental Science. "The visual experience you have as a baby is training the brain for the future," said Daphne Maurer, a psychology professor and vision scientist at McMaster, who oversaw the research conducted by graduate student Sybil Geldart. The other researchers involved in the study included McMaster research associate Catherine Mondloch, Scania de Schonen of the Laboratory of Cognition and Development at CNRS-Paris 5 and Dr. Henry Brent of the Hospital for Sick Children.

Posted on Dec. 23: Grant boosts research into Alzheimer’s disease

In her laboratory within the Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster neuroscientist Margaret Fahnestock is studying proteins essential for nervous system development and function. Her research focus is on the regulation and biosynthesis of neurotrophic factors and their role in Alzheimer's disease and epilepsy. Fahnestock and her colleagues are specifically looking at nerve growth factor (NGF) and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) which are necessary for peripheral and central nervous system development, maintenance and response to injury. They are attempting to dissect the mechanisms that regulate NGF and BDNF expression and to determine how these mechanisms go awry in Alzheimer's disease. At a special luncheon held recently, Fahnestock accepted a cheque for $35,000 from Frank Fordham, Hamilton Valley representative, of the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada. This was the third instalment of a three-year grant that is helping in the fight against Alzheimer's disease. The foundation also presented Diego Garzon, a graduate student in Fahnestock's laboratory, with a grant for $6,750, the second in two years, which will help with his graduate studies. "Diego and I are grateful to the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada for its generous support of our research," said Fahnestock. "We are studying molecules that may protect the brain against neuronal loss in Alzheimer's disease, and we hope our studies will lead to new therapies for this devastating disease. The funds from the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada have allowed us to pursue an exciting new lead which has changed our ideas of how NGF and BDNF are synthesized and used by brain cells. The graduate student research grant will allow Diego to continue his graduate studies on why BDNF levels are reduced in Alzheimer's disease." From its incorporation, the foundation has concentrated its efforts in support of research into the causes of and the possible cure of intellectual impairment, especially as it affects children and older adults. Through donations from members and other interested individuals, fundraising programs, bequests and memorials, the Scottish Rite Charitable Foundation of Canada has increased its capital to more than $10 million dollars. This year, income of more than $550,000 was used to fund major research grants and graduate student research grants across Canada.

Posted on Dec. 19: Dropping and adding courses just a click away

Undergraduate students dropping and adding courses can avoid lining up by just a click of a mouse. SOLAR (Student Online Academic Registration), a new Web portal offered through McMaster University General Student Information (MUGSI), allows students to add, drop or cancel courses for the September 2002 to April 2003 academic session. "SOLAR drop and add gives students ownership of their course drop and adds, and the convenience of being able to do course changes at the click of a button," says Sue Pennington, project manager of the Student Self-Registration Project. "Students will be taking responsibility for making course selections that meet their program requirements. They are being advised to get academic counselling if they need it, and to check their personal Degree Audit Report after making changes." MUGSI is available off McMaster's home page at http://www.mcmaster.ca. A seven-digit McMaster Student Number and four-digit PIN must be entered in order to use the site. Eligible students can access MUGSI's SOLAR system from any home or on-campus residence PC, from available PC labs on campus, or from anywhere you surf the Web. For security reasons, the SOLAR system is not accessible from campus MUGSI kiosks'.

Posted on Dec. 20: Operation Shoebox helps Hamilton’s homeless

Nursing students helped perform an important operation this week. In fact, approximately 200 homeless are going to benefit from it. The second annual Operation Shoebox Christmas, an initiative led by M.A.C. Door and Mac SOC, delivered Christmas in a shoebox to Hamilton's homeless community. Nearly 100 volunteers from the School of Nursing, staff, faculty and the community filled nearly 200 shoeboxes with gloves, hats, socks and Christmas candy, which they distributed this week. "Some participants gathered their friends to make a shoebox donation," says Dyanne Semogas, assistant professor and clinical director of M.A.C. Door. "Others made the shoebox drive into a family activity enlisting the imagination of their children. Still others in the spirit of Saint Nicholas gathered their church group to fill once empty shoeboxes with donations of socks, mittens, scarves, gift certificates, bus tickets, toiletries, fruit, toys and chocolates."