The future of printing: organs

By: Josh Leach

            What if replacing damaged organs was as easy as printing off an assignment for school?  The new craze for 3D printers has transformed the field of engineering.  Prototypes can be easily and cheaply manufactured using plastic or silicon.  However, this technology may take a leap forward, using cells as the ink and printing human body tissue.

            Scientists have been attempting to grow organs in the lab for a long time.  Now, they are much closer to realizing this dream.  James O’Toole, a writer for CNN, explains how the process works: “The process starts when scientists grow human cells from biopsies or stem cells. They then feed the cells into special printers that can arrange them three-dimensionally by cell type in the way that they'd appear in the human body.

Once the cells have been printed in the right arrangement, they begin to signal to one another, fuse and organize themselves into a collective system.”  Growing tissue is not overly difficult, but creating functional, complex organs is something else entirely.

            The transition from tissue sample to an organ that can be donated to a patient presents a new list of challenges.  Melissa Davey from The Guardian, a news website, writes, “Until now a major barrier to them moving from printing tiny sheets of tissue to entire 3D organs is that they hadn’t figured out how to develop the blood vessels that provide cells with nutrients and oxygen, and allow them to excrete waste.”  Scientists are finally figuring out how to use chemicals to promote blood vessel growth.  Josh Kurosz, a senior at Seckman, said, “That sounds awesome!”  Others are more cautious.  “If it works that’s great, but I won’t be the first one to have it tried on,” said Mr. Gotsch, a substitute teacher at Seckman.  In the past, lab grown tissue has never lasted very long and has been unable to form three-dimensional structures without vessels to provide nourishment.  Now, scientists can break past this barrier.

            Three-dimensional printing may also contribute to the medical field by improving how surgeons train.  Tia Ghose, a writer for the Live Science website, explains, “Surgeons traditionally used detailed MRI scans to visualize heart defects prior to going into the operating room. But when Matthew Bramlet (shown here), a pediatric cardiologist at the University of Illinois College of Medicine at Peoria, discovered that a research institution nearby had a high-quality 3D printer, he wondered whether those MRI scans could be translated into 3D replicas of the heart.”  Making accurate models of organs is a game changer for surgeons.  Child organs present a number of difficulties to surgeons due to their small size, and young cadavers are in lesser supply.  As a result, surgeons often lack experience operating on children, but these new models will help a lot.

            This technology is transforming many fields.  Engineers make cost effective prototypes to test their designs.  Surgeons train on models with never before seen accuracy.  Scientists may soon print functional organs in a lab, so they can be transplanted into patients.  Who knows what other applications exist for 3D printing?

The Birth Order Effect

By: Bella Dalba

            The enduring theory of birth order is, unsurprisingly, a commonly-held belief amongst families. The majority of people subscribe to the notion that the order in which they and their siblings were born correlates directly to the person they ultimately become. The thought does present an interesting notion: since only children are quite easy to differentiate from those with siblings, shouldn’t the differences between siblings be recognizable? According to the pop culture belief, whether you’re a domineering first-born, restless middle child, or the infamously stubborn baby, your position within the family can affect everything from your choice of career to how successful your marriage will be.

 

            The importance of birth order was first set out by the Austrian psychologist Alfred Adler. Michael Grose, an Adlerian-trained parenting expert and author of Why First-borns Rule The World And Last-borns Want To Change It, explains the basics. “We’re in a Darwinian struggle from the moment we’re born, fighting for scarce resources within a family – our parents’ time, love and affection,” he says. Through human evolution, birth order has determined who inherits power (the first-born) and who is sent to war (the youngest as he was the ‘spare’).

            Psychology goes through periods of alternatively accepting and rejecting these myths. Although various theories have been created, the discerning factor between them is the right research approach. Of the many factors to control, there are even more that cannot be: the sex of the children, the number of years between them (in multiple-child families), and family history, but what about step-siblings, half-siblings, and siblings who don’t even know that the other one exists? Parents vary in their ages, and in the ages they were when they had their children.  When it comes to psychological variables, the situation becomes even more complex. Do we study actual achievements, and, if so, how do we measure them? Income? Education? Occupational prestige or advancement in their career?  Should we look at personality, motivation, intelligence, happiness, or mental health?

             Three familial order studies have been conducted in the past three years, the most important of which was the distinguished University of Georgia psychologist Alan E. Stewart, who wrote what is perhaps the definitive recent work (2012) on the theory and research on birth order.  He bases his paper on 529 journal articles published over a 20 year period.  The sheer number of studies on birth order is a testimony to the importance of this topic in psychology.

Taking his lead from the original birth order theorist, Alfred Adler (a one-time student of Freud), Stewart distinguished between “actual” birth order, or ABO (the numerical rank order into which you are born in your family of origin), and “psychological” birth order, or PBO (self-perceived position in the family). Your actual birth order need not have the same impact on you as the birth order you believe you have. Actual and psychological birth order can deviate for a number of reasons, including illness of one child, size of family, and degree of separation between siblings.  Your role in the family based on your age may not be same as the role you have come to occupy. Seckman junior (and prominent philosopher) Dominic Dalba agrees: “It is the people around us that ultimately shape the person who we become -- the environment we are raised in determines our personality, not the lottery of birth order.”

For decades following Adler’s writings, researchers working in the tradition of “individual psychology,” or the Adlerian school of thought, tried without much success to validate the theory. In part, this was because they lacked statistical methods available now, but also because they focused on ABO (i.e. actual) rather than PBO (i.e. psychological). Much of this changed when the Psychological Birth Order Inventory (PBOI) was developed in 1991 by a research team that included Stewart. The PBOI contains items to assess all birth order positions in the family that individuals rate on an agree-disagree scale.

Firstborn items on the PBOI tap feelings of being powerful, important, leading, and achieving (“It was important for me to do things right”). The middle-child items focus on competition, having fewer resources, and feeling unimportant (“It seemed like I was less important than other members of my family”).  For the youngest child items, individuals rate themselves on being the boss of the family, getting others to do things for them (“I was pampered by my family members”). Finally, the only child scale tapped those feelings of pressure (“I felt like I lived in a fishbowl”). Seckman junior Orion Zmashenski agreed: “As the only child, it’s kind of like that you’re your parents’ only hope. That’s a lot of pressure. But all the attention makes you feel adored, and you know that they will always be there for you (because there’s no one else to share them with).”

            Stewart’s study shows that your perceived niche in your family plays a larger role in influencing the adult you’ve become than the actual timing of your birth. We’re not fated to live out a life dominated by the accident of the timing of our birth, but you can change the way you think about your role in the family.

The trouble with Botox

 

By: Dorian Jenkins

 

For many years, celebrities have been using the drug Botox to make themselves look younger and define their face more. Doctors have been using Botox successfully for years to treat wrinkles and facial creases. However, some patients who have received Botox in the past have gone overboard and have used too much of the drug just for beauty, but do people really know how the Botox works in their body?

Botox is just the brand name for a toxin produced by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum. There are other brands as well, such as Dysport and Xeomin; however, Botox is the most commonly known toxin and is used more often. A Seckman High School senior, Brittany Drumm says, “I never knew that the Botox was a toxin being injected into your body and it probably is not that good for you, considering what it is.”

Botox blocks signals from the nerves to the muscles. The injected muscle then cannot contract. This is what causes the wrinkles to relax and lessen. Botox is more often used on forehead lines, lines around the eyes, and frown lines. The wrinkles caused by sun damage and gravity will not respond to Botox.

The procedure only takes a few minutes to do and does not require you to be put to sleep. The Botox is injected with a fine needle into specific muscles, causing only minor discomfort. After the procedure is over, it may take about three to seven days to take full effect. Also, up to two weeks before the procedure, you should avoid alcohol, aspirin and anti-inflammatory medications to reduce bruising in the treated areas.

The effects of a Botox injection will last for four to six months. As the muscle action begins to fade away, the lines and wrinkles will begin to reappear and the patient will then need to be treated once again. The lines and wrinkles often appear less severe with time because the muscles are being trained to relax. A Seckman High School junior, Taylor Wucher, says, “I personally feel that if it is soon going to wear off, then it is a waste of your money.” 

Temporary bruising is probably the most common side effect of Botox. Headaches, which tend to end after a period of 24 to 48 hours, can happen as well, but it is also very rare. A small percentage of patients may develop eyelid drooping. This usually ends within three weeks of the procedure. Drooping usually happens when the Botox moves around, so you should not rub the treated area for up to 12 hours after the injection, or lie down for three to four hours.

After all the pain of going through the process it takes just for Botox, is it all really worth it? Many people do think that it is; however, the toxin that they put into your skin cannot be good for your body and is not worth the pain to get rid of your wrinkles. Mikayla Hirschman, a freshman, says, “Maybe if people were knowledgeable enough to know that it was such a pain going though the process, then less people would get it done.” Overall, Botox does make your skin look a lot younger and your face may feel more defined, but do you think that all of this is worth it?

Where did Christmas trees come from?

By: Dorian Jenkins

Every year, people go out and buy all these beautiful decorations for their Christmas tree, but do you know why?  In the 17th century, a monk named Martin Luther, from Devonshire, traveled to Germany to teach the Word of God. He spent most of his time in Thuringia, an area that was soon to become the center of the Christmas decoration industry.

Legend has it, he used the triangular shape of the fir tree to describe the Holy Trinity of God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. The converted people began to revere the fir tree as God’s tree, as they had previously revered the oak. By the 12th century, it was being hung, upside-down, from ceilings at Christmas time in Central Europe, as a symbol of Christianity.

The first decorated tree was at Riga, in Latvia, in 1510. Martin Luther is said to have decorated a small Christmas tree with candles, to show his children how the stars twinkled in the night. Bre Robbins, a student at Seckman High School says, “During the holidays my family will always follow the traditional ways of decorating our Christmas trees.”

By the 1900’s, themed trees became very popular. A color theme set in with ribbons and ornaments, referred to as an “Egyptian tree.” A student of Seckman High School, Nick Lacy, says, “Our family likes to decorate the tree with many bright colors and have fun making the tree look nice for the holidays.”

Now, we have the “American” tree. When settlers from all over Europe took their customs into the 19th century, decorations were not easy to find in the small towns in the West, and people began making their own decorations. The tin was made to create lights and lanterns to hold candles, which could shine through the holes. Decorations of all kinds were cut out, stitched and glued. General stores became hunting grounds for any old magazines with pictures, rolls of cotton, and tinsel, which was occasionally sent from Germany, or brought in from Eastern states. 

Today, in America, we decorate our trees more modernly, but keep some of the same traditions. Most people between Thanksgiving and Christmas set up a Christmas tree in their home to celebrate the holiday coming up. However, some families do not want real trees in their home, so you can even buy artificial Christmas trees. Hanna Gregory, a sophomore at Seckman High School, says, “Every year my family makes it a tradition to go out and pick out our tree from a tree farm.”  However, the artificial trees sell the most because they can last for many years. After the trees have been set, you then would add garland, tinsel, ornaments, and lights. The tree decorations have developed into more advanced decorations and have adapted into everyone’s winter holidays.

Internet tax legislation

By: Bella Dalba

On November 12, Speaker of the House John Boehner (R-OH) indicated that he would not support the Main Street Fairness Act (MSFA), a bill that would allow state and local governments to collect sales tax on internet sales. Under the terms of the Act, Congress would authorize the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement – a multistate agreement which was adopted on November 12, 2002, by twenty-four states – and impose it on the remaining twenty-six.

            The general idea of the MSFA is to simplify the administration of sales and use taxes, as there is no clear formula for determining how it should vary from state to state. This lends itself to the argument for the MSFA, as it has long been “leveling the playing field.” Physically present brick-and-mortar stores are required by most states to charge sales tax, while internet-based retailers often escape sales tax in states where they have no presence. The MSFA disregards that status altogether, allowing state and local governments to collect sales taxes on internet sales made inside state borders, even if the point of origin is outside their jurisdiction. Kelly Phillips Erb, a Forbes contributor, provides an example: “If I bought something from GenericStore-dot-com and GenericStore-dot-com didn’t have a warehouse or other presence in my state, under the MSFA, my state could still collect sales tax. Currently, that’s not the case: without a presence, like a warehouse, there’s no sales tax payable (however, use tax may still be collectible, depending on the state).

            The measure has been divisive since its inception. Last year, the Senate passed the MSFA with the majority of affirmative votes originating from Democrats, who controlled the Senate. Not surprisingly, the bill did not pass the Republican-controlled House. Key among the opposition at that time? Speaker Boehner.

Rep. Boehner’s spokesperson commented on the bill; “The Speaker has made clear in the past that he has significant concerns about the bill, and it won’t move forward this year.” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) seems to have a different take: he’s hoping to push the bill ahead before the end of the year. Due to the results of the 2015 mid-term election, Sen. Reid loses his position as Senate Majority Leader, which could result in a compromise vote, though this is to be expected: the remaining lame-duck session of Congress, Democrats in the Senate will be aggressive in the institution and adaption of multiple bills. This also means the Internet Tax Freedom Act (ITFA) is up for renewal: a very popular law that imposes a moratorium (a temporary prohibition of an activity) on taxing internet access.

Be sure to note the distinction between ITFA and MSFA: a tax on internet access is not the same thing as a tax on internet sales. Currently, taxing internet access is barred by a law that was first instituted in 1997; however, it’s important to note that this is not a permanent law, but a moratorium. In order to keep the moratorium active, Congress must vote to extend it, which has been done four times: in 2001, 2004, 2007, and in November of this year. The ITFA was scheduled to end earlier this month – just before the midterm elections – and was not-so-coincidentally extended until after the election had taken place.

Speaker Boehner supports extending the moratorium beyond 2014, as do most Americans. The House passed a bill this summer that would have permanently extended the moratorium, but the Senate, expressing concerns about the permanence, did not. Thus, there is suggested potential solution that the ITFA could be tacked onto the MSFA in order to get it through both Houses of Congress.

The opportunity for a compromise does provide hope to the supporters of MSFA, which include the National Retail Federation, the Retail Industry Leaders Association, and, surprisingly, Amazon (previously, the conglomerate was vocal about opposing any form of internet tax). If a compromise is going to happen, it will have to happen quickly: the moratorium on taxing internet access ends on December 11, 2014.

What, exactly, is a solstice?

By: Janese Watson

 

What is a solstice? It happens twice each year: the summer solstice and the winter solstice, when the sun reaches its highest point in the sky at noon, marked by the longest and shortest days. There are huge differences in both. The winter solstice is the solstice that offsets winter, at the time of the shortest day. It happens at about December 22, in the northern hemisphere, and June 21, in the southern hemisphere. The summer solstice is the solstice that marks the onset of summer, at the time of the longest, about June 21 in the northern hemisphere and December 22 in the southern hemisphere. 

Solstices are known as a seasonal shift that nearly everyone notices. It never fails to happen every year. Most people look at it as a celebration, no matter where you live. For the people that live in the northern hemisphere, you can see late dawns and early sunsets, and the low arc of the sun across the sky each day. Most people notice how low the sun appears in the sky at local noon. “I’ve always liked it being dark outside longer,” explains junior Shakur Watson. Around the time of the December solstice, it’s your longest noontime shadow of the year. In the southern hemisphere, it is opposite. Dawn usually comes early, and dusk comes late. “In my opinion, I like the summer solstice better, because I love longer days,” mentions senior Larkyn Hendrickson. The sun is high. It’s your shortest noontime of the year.

What exactly does solstice mean? Solstice is from the Latin word “solstitium,” meaning “sun-stopping,” because the point at which the sun appears to rise and set stops and reverses direction after this day. Over the centuries, the June solstice was a time when festivals, celebrations and other festivities were celebrated. In ancient times, solstices and equinoxes were important in guiding people to develop and maintain calendars, as well as helping them to grow crops. Solstices are not always the first thing people care to learn about, but it is important for people to understand the seasons and weather because it plays a key role in every day.

Election 2016

 

By: Josh Leach

 

 

            Candidates are already preparing for the 2016 election.  Many political analysts are finding this upcoming election to be unpredictable.  Hillary Clinton is clearly the forerunner for the Democratic Party, but the Republican Party remains extremely divided.  The election will be further complicated, because third parties may actually gain some ground in 2016.  The Libertarian Party offers to bridge the gap between conservatives and liberals.  Political issues are likely to play a key role due to party division.

            Why is the Republican Party so divided?    The Tea Party Movement had little immediate affect on politics, but the division has grown and is threatening to tear the party into the conservatives and the super conservatives.  Some Republican candidates are taking more moderate positions on political issues, while others are advocating for extreme conservatism.  Brian McTuige, a senior at Seckman High School, says, “I am not completely over to the right, but I’m not going to compromise my values for a changing society.”  The big question is, which side voters will choose?  Daily News says, “Republicans are facing their most unpredictable presidential primary campaign in a generation, while Clinton remains the overwhelming favorite for Democrats.”

            Candidates are already going head to head for the Republican nomination.  Rand Paul and Jeb Bush are currently on top according to recent polls.  However, Marco Rubio aims to win over young voters.  Colin Campbell, a news writer for the Business Insider writes, “Though Rubio hasn't been generating as many headlines as many of his competitors, the strategist, Greg Valliere, argued he uniquely benefited from the 2014 Republican landslide.”  Too much uncertainly exists to make any good predictions for 2016 at this point in time.

            The only thing known for certain is that political issues will be incredibly important in this election.  Climate change will be among the most talked about issue.  The New York Times says, “President Obama’s landmark agreement with China to cut greenhouse gas pollution is a bet by the President and Democrats that on the issue of climate change, American voters are far ahead of Washington’s warring factions and that the environment will be a winning cause in the 2016 presidential campaign.”  Democrats are pushing to drastically change the nation’s fuel consumption and increase the market for renewable energy.  “Republicans, on the other hand, voice serious concerns that moves in the U.S. to cut power plant and automobile emissions could cost thousands of jobs and billions of dollars and are digging in to oppose any effort by the Environmental Protection Agency and the administration to pursue severe emission cutbacks,” according to John Blosser, a writer for the online newspaper Newsmax.  Healthcare will also be a major debate.  There is an official website devoted to informing the public on the election, known as 2016 Election.com.  The website says, “Affordable Care Act’s exchanges has recently surpassed 8 million, leading President Obama to encourage Democrats not only to not distance themselves from the issue, but to actively campaign on it.  This could prove a challenge for Republicans, who have made the abolition of Obamacare a key political goal, and continue to labor to ensure that it is foremost on the minds of voters in the next presidential election.”  Josh Kurosz, a senior, says, “I don’t know if Obamacare is the answer, but we need some kind of national healthcare system.”  One thing is clear in this election: candidates must be very careful with the stances they take.

            This election offers an opportunity for change.  People will be unable to mindlessly vote with their party.  The public will be forced to base their votes on specific political issues.  Whether the election results in a Republican or Democrat victory does not matter.  The voice of the American people will be heard.



What is color guard?

By: Bella Dalba

Until 1937, the term “color guard” referred solely to an institution of the military: namely, a detachment of soldiers assigned to the protection of regimental flags. These flags were generally awarded to a regiment by the Head-of-State during a ceremony, and were inscribed with battle honors or other symbols representing former achievements. As they represented the honor and traditions of the regiment, the loss of a unit's flag was not only shameful, but losing this central point of reference could result in the unit disbandment. Regiments began to adopt color guards, a detachment of experienced or élite soldiers, to protect their colors. As a result, the capture of an enemy's standard was considered as a great feat of arms. Obviously due to the advent of modern weapons, and subsequent changes in tactics, colors are no longer used in battle, but continue to be carried by color guards at formal events, where they are ceremonially armed with either sabres or rifles.

Derived from the original, distinctly disciplined practice, a more modernized version of color guard has evolved. Now found in most American colleges, universities, and high schools, it incorporates the traditional aspects of a military color guard (flags, steel sabres, wooden rifles) into dance routines, similar to dance theater. There are many different types of spins that can be done with the each, as every spin creates a different illusion and can be utilized for different tempos. Beginners typically start out with flags, and move onto a rifle or sabre after their first or second year. New recruits often have to work to learn technique, build upper body strength, and balance the weighted flags. Despite being weighted, however, weather conditions such as wind and rain can affect a flag's spin and disrupt a toss if not correctly taken into account, which all freshman members must learn to compensate for. First-year guardie Brittny Velasco illustrates, saying,“At first, spinning a flag was really hard. I would have to go outside and practice all the time, and that was just for the basic moves. Now I have [defined] muscles I didn’t even know existed!”

Color guards typically accompany a marching band or a drum and bugle corps as a non-musical section, not only providing additional visual aspects to the performance, but interpreting the music through synchronized routines as well. Color guards also may use backdrops to bring color and scenery to the field if the concept of the show is difficult to discern. The performance generally takes place on a football field, either during home football games (out of tradition) or when bands compete during the fall. During these competitions, the guard adds to the overall score of the band, but is also judged in its own category, usually called auxiliary (Seckman’s Jaguar Pride Marching Color Guard ’14 took first in this category at every competition they participated in). The ancillary name is based upon the original purpose for color guards in marching bands, to be a “supplement” to the music. Don’t tell that to Lori Blessing, Seckman’s Color Guard Instructor: “The color guard is as integral to a show as the band itself. Without one another, the story cannot be told.”

Before it was a subsidiary role, however, flag spinning was an independent art form: the traditional Swiss art of flag swinging, or “Fahnenschwingen,” was an Olympic sport. The 1936 Olympian Franz Hug of Lucern, Switzerland, came to America and introduced flag swinging in 1937. Leonard Haug, then an assistant band director at the University of Wisconsin, was intrigued by the concept, and created ten flags representing the schools of the Big Ten Conference. The following year, he was hired by the University of Oklahoma, and became the first person to introduce the technique in the Southwest. He formed a corps of Big Six Conference flag swingers for the Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band. By 1940, O.U. flag swingers were participating at basketball games and creating innovative routines with two flags. As Director of the O.U. Band, Haug wrote a training guide for flag swinging and an article for a swing flag brochure, assisting the spread of the trend to other marching bands.

Color guards spread quickly throughout the country. The unique visual effect of spinning flags drew the attention of crowds and quickly caught on. Having visual impact for pieces played when the band stood still added a whole new dimension to the performance. By the late 1970s, and into the mid-1980s, color guards had been added to most Southwest Conference, Big Ten and Big 8 (currently Big 12) bands. Once these prominent university bands had color guards, there was widespread inclusion of guards at high schools across the nation in the 1980s and 1990s. The popularity of color guard grew so much that it evolved into a separate activity known as winter guard.

According to WGI.org, a winter guard is defined as “a team of highly skilled individuals who work to create and perform complex sequences of dance, music, and use of special equipment, such as sabres, rifles, and flags, to compete by division.” It is an indoor activity performed in gymnasiums. The floor is typically covered by an individually designed tarp (also called a floor mat or floor) that generally reflects the show being performed on it. The guard performs to a piece of pre-recorded music, as opposed to the music of a band, and are allotted only one song, as opposed the three to four movements of marching band. Winter guards compete independently in such circuits as Winter Guard International (WGI) and Tournament Indoor Association (TIA).

WGI is best known for coining the phrase "The Sport of the Arts," due to the equally athletic and artistic nature of winter guard, which has become the unofficial slogan among participants. Co-founded in 1977 by six people, the goal of WGI was to organize and standardize the activity by creating skill levels, scoring systems, venues, and competitions. Today, WGI hosts many regional competitions which lead up to the World Championships, a three-day event in which hundreds of winter guard groups come together to compete. Groups participating in a WGI event are placed into one of eight categories: Middle School, Regional A, Scholastic A, Independent A, Scholastic Open, Independent Open, Scholastic World, or Independent World. Your Seckman Jaguar Winter Guard, now going into its third season, competes in the Scholastic A circuit, where they became state champions during their 2013-2014 season.