 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
JANUARY 2007
VOLUME 26, NUMBER 1
ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST CATHOLIC PARISH
835 2nd AVE. NW
NEW BRIGHTON, MN 55112-6842
PHONE: (651) 633-8333
FAX: (651) 633-7404
E-MAIL: stjohnsnb@pclink.com
WEB SITE: www.stjohnnb.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Please return your 2007
$tewardship pledge card!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Young Scientist takes a Bite out of Tooth Decay
Mrs. Michelle Quade, parishioner and proud mother
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Out of an original field of 70,000 middle school students in the United States, 14-year-old Mackensie Quade, who graduated from St. John's Parish School in 2006, was chosen as one of the Top 15 Young Scientists at the 8th Annual Discovery Channel Young Scientist Challenge (DCYSC) in Washington, D.C., on 25 October 2006. The DCYSC is the nation's premier science contest. It provides students the opportunity to test their knowledge, pushes their limits in exploring the world of science, and encourages them to be great science communicators.
In addition to her Top 15 Honors, Mackensie was selected for the Discovery Channel Atlas Award as the finalist who could best be described as an exemplary young scientific visionary!
Mackensie became interested in what factors contribute to tooth decay after seeing television commercials that claim certain chewing gums protect teeth from cavities. She wondered whether solutions with calcium ions, phosphate ions, or both might protect teeth once they've been exposed to an acidic solution that mimics saliva after sugar consumption. Both calcium and phosphate ions are present in saliva and are known to replenish mineral reserves in teeth.
Using actual, sterilized human
teeth as samples, which were provided by a local oral surgeon,
Mackensie exposed each set of teeth to a different acidic solution:
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
In December 2006, Mackensie was flown to Acapulco, Mexico, with the Discovery Channel crew to participate in an amazing televised event featuring a 12-year-old cliff diver, Iris Alvarez. Filmed for national television, it will be broadcast in 2007.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
one solution contained calcium ions;
a 2nd contained phosphate ions;
a 3rd contained calcium and phosphate ions;
a 4th contained no calcium or phosphate ions.
Teeth in the solution with calcium and phosphate ions were protected from demineralization, but teeth soaked in the other solutions lost significant amounts of minerals.
Mackensie concluded that this research was important because healthy teeth are vital for all people, and chewing gum is already a common habit. Protection of teeth against decay can be effectively provided to the public by the use of calcium and phosphate-releasing gums at a very modest cost by chewing gum manufacturers!
DCYSC's theme was "Disease Detectives," featuring a series of challenges in which Mackensie and other young scientists investigated global health concerns, from avian (bird) flu to obesity. This focus drew the interest of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), which has helped lead the way for important medical discoveries since 1887. NIH was very pleased to be involved in this program and to have the chance to encourage today's young minds who will be finding the solutions for tomorrow's health problems.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Roseville : 1875 West Highway 36 (651) 633-8880
Blaine Wal*Mart : Pheasant Ridge Drive NE (763) 780-0385
Osseo : 301 Central Avenue (763) 493-3456
Hugo : 14815 Forest Boulevard North (651) 429-1280
Maplewood : 2866 White Bear Avenue (651) 777-7700
White Bear Lake : 2151 3rd Street (651) 426-7800
Woodbury Wal*Mart : 10240 Hudson Road (651) 578-6998
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|