Res Novae 2022 January Newsletter

MONTA VISTA HIGH SCHOOL | JANUARY 2022 | VOLUME VII ISSUE I

Res novae

Starting off the 2022 semester, FUHSD implemented new prevention policies, handing out at-home test kits and KN-95 masks to students after increased cases with the emergence of the Omicron variant

table of contents IN THIS NEWSLETTER...

03 SCIENCE FICTION

COVID-22

BY LAVINIA LEI AND ANANYA DUA

Exploring the future of a technologically-reliant world through a virtual pandemic propelled by a computer virus

09 NEUROSCIENCE

The Expenses of Depression

BY DAHLIA SCHILLING AND KALYANI PUTHENPURAYIL Exploring the ethics of new brain implant technology

07 PSYCHOLOGY The role of stress, environment and encouragement on our productivity

Res novae STAFF 21-22

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF Riya Ranjan LEAD EDITOR Divya Venkataraman SECTION EDITORS Arnav Rathee Aashi Venkat Angela Zhang VISUALS LEAD Jennifer Zhao DESIGN LEAD Marvin Wu

A “Flawless” State of Mind

BY AVANI DURVE AND AMY ZHENG

STAFF WRITERS Abha Dash Preetal Deshpande Indu Devakonda Ananya Dua Avani Durve Brinda Jayasimha Lavinia Lei Kalyani Puthenpurayil Dahlia Schilling Anjali Sharma Iniyaa Suresh Yash Thapliyal June Wang Amy Zheng Eric Zhou Cover & Page Design by Marvin Wu

About us

Res Novae is Monta Vista’s student run STEM publication. Every month, we publish news, opinion, and science fiction articles on mvresnovae.org. We answer questions ranging from “How have MVHS students contributed to cancer research?” to “Can intelligent robots cook my dinner for me?”

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SCIENCE FICTION

COVID-22

BY LAVINIA LEI AND ANANYA DUA

Exploring the future of a technologically-reliant world through a virtual pandemic propelled by a computer virus ILLUSTRATION | LAVINIA LEI

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FRIDAY, MARCH 27, 2122 I did not go outside today. I do not know what the weather is like.

The power went out two weeks ago. Or really, the government shut down all the power two weeks ago. My parents say I should find something else to distract myself with, like writing a journal instead of just moping around all day. So now I am writing this, but I think it’s dumb. This whole situation is dumb. Now my hand hurts.

TUESDAY, APRIL 14, 2122 I think the sky is broken.

I thought that this whole thing would be over by now. It’s not.

You would think that if there were people smart enough to make the virus that there would be people smart enough to stop it. I guess all the supremely smart people prefer being free little birds, and everyone else is just second-best. Shame.

The thing is, I don’t even know anything about COVID-22 other than the fact it exists. I can’t search anything up, so the only information I get nowadays is by word of mouth. But I also don’t talk to anyone, so I don’t know anything.

All I know is that one day I was on my computer when a governmentissued alert said there was a virus and that they would be shutting all the power down. Then the screen went dark. as did my world lmfao People say that I should go outside more and all that, but I don’t wanna. It’s dark and hazy, and it smells bad. I’m told that staying inside all day is bad for my health, but I’m pretty sure breathing toxic fumes is even worse. I’ll just stay inside and continue to mourn the tragedy of having nothing to do anymore.

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SCIENCE FICTION

MONDAY, APRIL 27, 2122 The sky is still a very concerning color.

Since the internet has been shut down, school isn’t possible online anymore. We now have the dumbest contingency plan: meeting in person. As in traveling to onsite facilities that just barely exist.

I have to go out to the middle of nowhere to pretend to pay attention to someone who tries to teach us useless lessons only to remember that they have no technology to teach with, thus resorting to giving us mountains of irrelevant paper assignments. The last time I’ve seen more than 2 sheets of paper within the vicinity of each other was like five years ago. And the text is so small too; I tried pinching and zooming in before remembering that normal paper doesn’t work that way. It made me irrationally angry to the point where I almost ripped the paper apart. I don’t like feeling angry. It’s quite unpleasant.

Lunch breaks are so awkward because I have no idea what to do.

I’ve started buying books (paper books with big text, mind you) to bring to school these days because talking is hard, and it seems putting my head down to avert my gaze toward anything other than the scrutiny of another person is what I do best. Phones would be great for this purpose, but it just so happens that the lack thereof is why I’m in this situation to begin with.

SATURDAY, MAY 16, 2122 I don't care about the weather anymore.

Recently, there’s just been some days where I kinda want to die.

It seems that today was one of those days. I broke down and started crying for hours today for absolutely no reason at all. I hate this.

JESLYN JESRYN WEDNESDAY, JUNE 3, 2122 It is summer. It should not be this cold.

I went to the library and spent an abnormally long time sitting in front of a desktop. It was blank obviously, but I could almost see the twisting shapes and flashing colors dance across the screen.

FRIDAY, JUNE 5, 2122 It almost seemed like it was really summer for once.

Today was the last day of school.

I went to the library again, where someone tried to start a conversation with me. While I might be generally unresponsive to social situations, I wasn’t rude enough to completely ignore them (spoke less than ten sentences total, but still the most socializing I’ve done since March). They kept raving about the excitingness of the situation and how much their life had changed for the better while I smiled and nodded. I felt mildly annoyed, but then felt pathetic about feeling annoyed. It seems that people are doing fine, but I just can’t get over this. Everyone else can, so why can’t I? I’m tired. Being awake is aggravating. I just wanna sleep everything away.

TESSA SUNDAY, MARCH 29, 2122

MONDAY, APRIL 22, 2122

so… i’m journaling! The past two weeks have given me so much time that I almost don’t know how to spend it. i’ve tried doing the whole baking thing, the painting thing, and even tried gardening. honestly, nothing seems ‘fun’. i miss the tv. a lot. i’ve seen people writing down their thoughts — Celia is doing it so ig it doesn’t hurt to try, right?

Plus, I think it’ll help with all the abbreviations i’ve been using; i have become so conditioned to write in text language

School is starting back up again! I could NOT be happier. I’ll finally see Celia, hangout in the alleyways, run around the yard and pet Mr. B’s dog. I’ll do everything I took for granted before. God, I couldn’t be happier!

SATURDAY, APRIL 18, 2122 Today was not a good day. it feels like my emotions fluctuate, u know? Like one day I’m ready to channel this shutdown to ‘reinvent’ myself and the next im just so down about everything. today’s that day. I’ve just been crying, and i dont know why.

Ugghhhh.

Maybe its bcuz it’s literally so hard for me to find other things to do; my hands instinctively reach to power on the tv. Or maybe its cuz of the arguments?

Staying at home is causing me to engage in more arguments with my parents. they feel like i’m not being productive! but they don’t understand how hard the change has been — everyone’s struggling.

At least i’m trying? There are ppl who literally sit in front of their desktops all day, waiting that it’ll magically turn on! today would just be sooo much better if I could just Facetime Celia and vent about my day. She always understands. But, well you know, i cant. And, i can’t even go to her. Have you seen the thickening black smog outside?

And, things seem to be looking up. Journaling seems to be going fairly well, and I’ve also gotten back to experimenting in the kitchen. Today, I made the most delicious red-velvet cookies I’ve ever had. And, guess what? I made them from my grandmom’s written recipe, not Martha Stewart’s website lol. Mom was able to hunt down her old recipebook; the pages were frayed and the book was infested with termites but … the recipe worked!

I think I’m going to take some to school tomorrow. Sprinkle some much needed positivity into peoples’ days, you know?

WEDNESDAY, MAY 29, 2122 The weather’s honestly been so nice recently. It’s symbolic almost — the depressing haze is lifting, and I can see traces of the oncoming summer season. When I walk past the trees in the morning, I’m able to hear the distinct bird sounds… Did you know that there are more than 54 species of birds nearby my house? If this technological shutdown has done anything, it’s made me more aware of my surroundings, probably because I’m no longer sitting in front of my devices all day long, attending classes. Anyway, I’m not writing this entry to talk about the weather — I’ll save that for another time.

My school has been undergoing a remodel (I guess they were trying to capitalize on the shutdown), and today, I went to the new library. I’m not really much of a reader but I just wanted to go to experience the bustling energy — students collaborating over their homework, reading fictional tales, ranting about their upcoming test.

Everyone had basically begun their ‘normal’ life by now. I could no longer see any kids staring at the desktops aimlessly, yearning for them to start

and fill this void in their life. Or so I thought.

As I was walking out, I saw this girl, frustratedly klacking the keyboard.

She looked distraught — like she wanted all of this to be over. It felt right to go up and talk to her, so I did. We hardly talked — it was honestly just me talking about myself — but it got me thinking. The pandemic hasn’t been the same for everyone; some of us have struggled more than others to rid ourselves of a heightened reliance on technology.

I’ve been able to find release to the anxiety behind COVID-22; baking and walks with nature have helped me feel more fulfilled. Yet, I understand the pain people must have experienced to be pulled away from something they were so dependent on!

Regardless, if for nothing, this pandemic has made us more connected; I had never seen my peers so collaborative and engaged with each other; really, you should’ve seen the library today!

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A “Flawless” State of Mind

ILLUSTRATION | MARVIN WU

BY AVANI DURVE AND AMY ZHENG The role of stress, environment and encouragement on our productivity

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s students, tackling a variety of commitments and trying to maintain mental and emotional health, being productive is essential; however, that is easier said than done. A multitude of factors impact productivity and the optimal conditions for remaining productive are different for everybody. Still, some factors such as stress and encouragement are universal to productivity; while factors such as time of day can be optimized by selfreflection.

STRESS According to the Mayo Clinic, “Stressful” situations create disruptions in a natural balance of hormones in the body, which the body tries to fix to maintain homeostasis.

This stress response includes the rapid autonomic nervous system (ANS) releasing noradrenaline.

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PSYCHOLOGY

Noradrenaline is linked to the “flight or fight” response, which is known to affect the function of the learning and memory portions of the brain.

A study done by Nature.com explains how the timing of stress inducers play a function in memory.

Stress long before the primary consumption of knowledge decreases the ability of the brain to absorb and remember the material. However, stress right before or right after the primary consumption of knowledge increases retention.

Junior Akanksha Varanasi models this in explaining what she noticed about how she works at different times in the timeline of her activities or projects.

“Usually right before an important deadline, if I am stressed, I am going to be working to meet that deadline,” Varanasi said.

The nature of material that

is being absorbed and what the stress is about plays a role in the retention of the learning material as well. If the material has a high emotional connection to stress or is of high importance, retention usually increases.

“If I am stressed about doing something, then I will probably put it off until the last minute and then grind it out and focus on it,” Varanasi said.

ENCOURAGEMENT As MVHS students, these moments of stress can hit close to home. Whether it be an essay due in two days or three tests in a row on Wednesdays, stressful situations are inevitable for most of us on campus.

However, despite the various stress factors that students may face, there are also a variety of ways to increase cognitive functions, one of them being encouragement.

According to his book Social Intelligence: The New Science of Human Relationships, Daniel Goleman details the intricate workings between our brain and the environment, one case being the effect of encouragement on cognition.

Goleman explains that, when faced with an increasing amount of negativity, our prefrontal cortex is dismissed to allow the amygdala to take over in order to prepare the body for an upcoming crisis.

The prefrontal cortex is a crucial part of brain function, serving as a controller for many of our main cognitive control functions – prospective memory, cognitive flexibility, and processing speed.

It is crucial to maintain a positive attitude during times that focus is needed. Unsurprisingly, the parts of the brain that correlate to negative emotions are activated when anxiety and fear are initiated; the opposite is, fortunately, true as well: parts of the brain that have connections to positive emotions are activated when comforted emotions are initiated.

School-based therapist Richard Prinz notes the importance of how the encouragement of oneself can impact an individual as well.

“Encouragement is more about the process and the person’s

strength and talents and abilities rather than just the end result,” Prinz said. “Encouraging oneself is really important, not just waiting for it to come from the outside, [like] from teachers or parents, but to encourage yourself in the face of difficulties builds resilience.”

SCHEDULE To sit down with study materials at the break of dawn or stay up studying with the aid of a single light? Time also affects productivity, and the preferred times of study throughout the MV student population are varied throughout the day. Sophomore Crystal Cheng usually does her work later in the night, as she describes feeling tired in the mornings.

“I think I work best at night because in the mornings I’m usually really tired and unable to concentrate,” Cheng said. “[However] that might also be an effect of working late at night.”

On the other hand, Varanasi prefers to study earlier in the morning. “If I wake up early, then my brain is fresh and I can focus more,” Varanasi said.

Some students at MVHS prefer a night owl’s ambiance, whereas others take flight as an early bird. Why is it that these times of

studying are so spaced out? What is the underlying cause, the science, behind these contrasting study habits?

An explanation can be provided through decades of research on the circadian system in humans, a 24hour cycle that resets daily to sustain a balance between internal and external environments. A 2017 study by researchers Jeffrey C. Hall, Michael Rosbash, and Michael W. Young won the Nobel Prize for detailing the microscopic features of what is often known as “biological clocks.” The study found that circadian rhythms affect cell cycles, sleep schedules, and brain function, among many others.

Each person has their own internal “biological clock,” so the times that people prefer to study are entirely up to them. It ultimately comes down to routine and personal preference to help shape that schedule.

In our world today, it has become much harder to focus and be productive, given the amount of technology that is available at our fingertips. Whether it be the time of day that we study or the words of encouragement that we receive, being able to accomplish the work that we set out to do becomes much easier with productive habits that we implement into our daily lives.

STRESS VS. PRODUCTIVITY

ILLUSTRATION | MARVIN WU

1 Long before consumption

2 Right before consumption

3 Before application of

4 Before reprocessing

of information Stress decreases function

information

Stress decreases function

of information Stress increases function

information

Stress decreases function

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The Expenses of Depression

BY DAHLIA SCHILLING AND KALYANI PUTHENPURAYIL Exploring the ethics of new brain implant technology

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ecently, the University of California San Francisco conducted a study on whether brain implants can help treat severe and treatment-resistant depression. The experiment has only been conducted on one patient thus far but results look promising and the scientists are looking to continue their work with more patients.

The first trial ran from October 2019 to

January 2021 — researchers analyzed data that was collected by the implant, brought in physicians to assess the condition of the patient over time and had the patient log self mood check-ins.

The patient, Sarah, has long struggled with severe depression — none of the medication she took or the treatment she endured has proved beneficial in improving her mental state. No medications were working for her — even going through electroconvulsive therapy, which is currently the most extreme form of treatment for depression, did not end with beneficial results.

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is when electric currents are passed through the brain while the patient is under anesthesia, and can be used to treat severe depression and major bipolar disorders. ECT is a treatment usually done about 12 times per month but results are inconsistent and a major side effect is short seizures, which can be harmful in the long-term. Desperate for any promising treatment, Sarah took it upon herself to participate in the study.

The implant mainly worked in two parts of her brain: the amygdala and the ventral striatum. The amygdala helps define and regulate emotions and works to attach certain feelings and emotions to memories.

ILLUSTRATION | KALYANI PUTHENPURAALYIL

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NEUROSCIENCE

It also decides how we react to certain emotions and situations.

Dr. Katherine Scangos, the lead researcher in the study, said that placing electrodes in the amygdala helped “predict when her symptoms were most severe.”

The ventral striatum is responsible for decision-making and rewardrelated behavior, hence placing an electrode here stimulated the ventral striatum which largely eliminated feelings of depression.

Two electrodes were linked to the brain implant that was placed in the right hemisphere of her brain — the electrode in the amygdala predicted when symptoms of depression were present, whereas the electrode in the ventral striatum provided stimulation when the other electrode signaled to do so. Because of this, the device is not operating all the time —it only sends six-second electrical bursts when it recognizes depressiverelated brain activity.

The surgery to insert the device required drilling small holes into her skull for wires to go through, and frequent checkups are required after the procedure in order to ensure that it has not created any additional problems for the patient. Within a few weeks, Sarah reported that most suicidal thoughts had gone away.

A few months later, her depression became significantly more manageable, allowing her to go back to school. While she still experiences slumps and negative thoughts, her

depression has grown to become a treatment option to everyone, he noticeably more manageable due to believes it is ethical to help as many ECT. people as possible, even if it means Scientists are attempting to make only those who can afford this option this treatment more accessible, as can get it. this is a very promising study and On the other hand, MVHS Biology a revolutionary advancement in the teacher Pamela Chow is more treatment of hesitant about this depression. method/treatment.

However, She also notes that The fact that brain brain implants the complexity of the implants have been are expensive treatment and how and timeone study proving proven to have positive consuming the effectiveness of effects on mental to maintain this technology may and install. health opens up a lot of not “end up being as This also treatment opportunities easily translatable to raises ethical the masses.” concerns, with for a lot of disorders “I can see how a prominent it’s concerning to previously thought one being that people, given the fact untreatable. only those that you’re putting who are able SENIOR AADITYA RAVULA electrical pulses to afford this in people’s brains,” treatment can receive treatment for Chow said. “I also do understand their depression. that that’s how the neuron cells are Junior Anika Agarwal hopes to largely communicating, so it makes major in biology, and believes that sense that’s what they’re doing. the brain implant is a revolutionary But in general, I think the idea of discovery that can help many electrocuting someone is always a individuals who are depressed. little scary.”

“It’s really cool that [the] device Chow also anticipates that equity was able to help that person with and availability issues will surround their symptoms when nothing else the brain implant technology. would help her,” Agarwal said. “They “The hope would be that were [also] able to get the device to in any treatment, you predict the depression symptoms. I do make sure [that] it's think that could be really influential something people can in the treatment of depression if it access regardless of works in clinical trials.” their socioeconomic Senior Aaditya Ravula agrees status,” Chow said. with Agarwal. He plans to major in “But it’s also hard Biomedical Engineering and hopes because sometimes to work on devices like these in the [researchers] future using advanced technology to have to try the solve medical problems and needs. big stuff, and see “The fact that brain implants what works and have been proven to have positive then maybe there’s a effects on mental health opens up a cheaper version that lot of treatment opportunities for a comes from the big lot of disorders previously thought study.” untreatable,” Ravula said.

Meanwhile, Agarwal While Ravula knows this is not thinks that such issues

“

are inevitable because society is built in a way where people with more money will always have greater access to services, technologies and treatments compared to those with less money.

Agarwal also believes that this technology shows how people’s perceptions of mental health have changed over time.

“I think devices and discoveries like this show how mental health is being taken more seriously than it was before,” Agarwal said. “People are able to make discoveries and advancements that help people’s mental health when before, it wasn’t really seen as an issue that [is] as prevalent.”

”

ILLUSTRATION | KALYANI PUTHENPURAALYIL

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