HNeedle

So, i got a packet in the mail today with a letter and two brochures. Basically, the AFA athletics dept and biology dept are doin some studies starting this summer when we (2012) inprocess.. the athletics dept is doin an acclimatization study, basically giving some people iron pills and others a placebo to see if increased iron will help acclimatize you quicker/better... it lasts all 4dig year nearly.

the 2nd one is from the bio dept, interested in preventing upper respiratory infections like colds and stuff that develop under stress. they'll be using zinc & placeboes as well. this one lasts only til september. should be noted that neither of these are mandatory, it's all voluntary and involve a couple blood tests..

i think, being from sea level, there may be a benefit from the acclimatization one. so i'll most likely give it a shot.. i know we've got a few bio majors on here and wonder if they know anythin bout this i hope it's not a secret or anything tryin to make 2012 beasts that acclimatize 120% hahaha

hornetguy

Neat plan. I understand the iron. The average person up here has one unit more blood than someone at sea level (about 1 pint, so we have 7 vs 6 at sea level) to help with oxygen. Dunno about the zinc though.

flymom

Very interesting. I agree Hornet, the iron supplement makes sense. I am skeptical too about the Zinc. I do know a sure-fire way to reduce the stress-related illnesses though--LOWER THE STRESS! ......typical mom response, huh..

AZcadet

I have read stuff that said zinc possibly could be boost to the immune system. It will be interesting to see how the study goes.

HNeedle

haha yep i thought it was cool that we're the guinea pigs. i might just try out the iron one and hope i get the iron, not the sugar pill

i also should mention that our own redhead is featured in a picture in one of the pamphlets!! flying over some water on a rope during beast... and she's NOT in the water... yet. hahaha

eagle36

if she's not wet, then it was probably just photoshopped in

CadCandMateus

yea we were briefed on this expirement a couple weeks ago here at the P.

hornetguy

If I was one of you, they would not like me. I would figure out if I had the placebo or not.

07PETKO

Ha ha, you would!

raimius

So sayeth "Mr. Chem 222 is easy"

flymom

For most people there's usually some side-affect(s) from iron so you'd know if you're taking the real thing. I'm sure if you join the study they'll go over the details but one side-effect can become rather bothersome for some....(bathroom issues)...If you join the iron study I'd recommend increasing your fiber intake!

eagle36

hey ramius, when we took 222 it was easy. i was able to take it and find it easy. after us though (when Dr. racicot left) it became MUCH harder (from what i hear)

hornetguy

Yea, I had Capt Weiner, it was a blast (raimius, you were in my class IIRC!). Lt (now Capt) Mowles was not a good teacher from what I heard. I had him substitute one of my classes one day, he tried to make 20 points off of a lab for that period on my worksheet. I was lucky that Capt Weiner gave them back. He had marked me off on a calculation that was pretty obvious but somehow ambiguous to him, and him alone.

But, I wouldn't use 222 technique's, the organic instruments are easier for that. BTW, found out today the CTEF is negatively pressured (hence the wind storm trying to walk into it!) because of the NMRs we use in the organic labs. Makes sense since 40L of liquid helium quenching into a gas would probably not be so good for people all the way to the main building (as it happened over break!).

Falcons '11

Wow hornet. You would tack some Chem stuff to the end of your post.

BTW, the zinc study is a broader application of a study done last semester that was encouraged by the BehSci department. I didn't participate in the study, but we talked about it in class.

HNeedle

flymom- yeah i definitely know the "side affects" of iron i'm sure i'd figure it out soon enough after i got there