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Show THE LINK BETWEEN ALTITUDE AND DEPRESSION "This week it's a little bit different" BY CHRISTINE KANNAPEL /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY PRESTON ZUBAL T he correlation between high altitudes and mood disorders was discussed Wednesday night at the U's Neurophyschiatric Institute's "Evening with Experts!' Perry Renshaw, a psychiatry professor and the U's medical director, presented his and his collaborator's 20 years worth of research at the event. Renshaw studied the relationships between high altitude and mood disorders and found Utah is 25 percent more depressed than other states. Through the testing of rats and clinical trials in Utah and South Korea, Renshaw said he is working toward a possible treatment for mood disorders at high altitudes. "Our overall idea is that people who have mood disorders have changes in their brain chemistry, and we want to know what those specific changes in the chemistry are': Renshaw said. "[That way] we can develop [natural] supplements that might be effective treatments." Renshaw said there is 15 percent less oxygen in Utah's air than in the air in some other states around the nation. The higher the altitude, the higher the oxygen deficiency. Thus, there are changes in the chemicals produced by one's brain. Specific changes occur within compounds and molecules that work with oxygen and energy in the body's brain and muscles. An example, Renshaw said, is especially seen in depressed individuals lacking creatine monohydrate: an organic acid in the body which provides energy to muscles. Although there are many other supplement treatments for depression, Renshaw said creatine taken as a supplement seems to be one with incredible results. "Creatine in this society crushed anxiety," Renshaw said. "[Depression] is the most disabling disorder in the United States and Canada. It would be a tragedy and crisis if the university didn't do everything in its power to better understand and treat Utahns who have the disorders!" Renshaw said people often do not receive the support they need when facing depression. "A key thing in depression is that you tend to blame yourself, and frequently your family will blame you:' he said. "People don't understand depression. Their families don't understand depression. It's tragedy not to have research going on." Renshaw said he fully believes depression can be rightly treated. Kim Christensen, an attendee of the event, said she went to the event to hear what Dr. Renshaw had to say about his research. "I think [Renshaw] is trying to help understand that studies are being done and to be aware of the situation in Utah," Christensen said. "I don't feel like he was selling BY TALONCHAPPELL /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY CONOR BARRY T anything, which is good." Renshaw is still doing research and said he hopes the research behind creatine will be promoted. However, Renshaw also said he believes there is still a lot of research to do in regards to altitude and nutritional supplements. "Depression is a big problem," Renshaw said. "It may require a different treatment if you live in the Rocky Mountain states. The only way we will get better answers is by doing more research." c.kannapel@chronicle.utah.edu @chriswritine UMFA FILM FESTIVAL EDUCATES AND ENTERTAINS BY SPENCER EASTWOOD /STAFF WRITER PHOTO BY CONOR BARRY D eep within the Sacramento Valley, the Yuba River runs for over 40 miles. Located near the Southern fork of that river — where the water cascades over rocks and flows under bridges — is the Southern Yuba River Citizens League. SYRCL is a community organization that campaigns to defend the South Yuba River from damage and restore the river to its natural state. The non-profit group, originally formed with the purpose of working on these water issues in California, has sought ways to educate the community on various environmental issues. The group hosted a film festival at the Utah Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday. Jennifer Watt, associate director of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program, said she has hosted the Wild & Scenic Film Festival for three years. "It's like a film festival in a box': Watt said. "It was initially started by SYRCL and can now be hosted for a fee at various locations across the country." Every year, filmmakers from across the United States submit environmental films to the non-profit organization. The best films are selected and pooled together, categorized by different issues such as air quality, water preservation and environmental change. The films are then selected by the group hosting the festival to be previewed on the night of the event. Watt said she uses her leadership class students to help organize and manage the event as well as select the films. Daniel McCool, director of the Environmental and Sustainability Studies Program and a professor of political science, assists and does the introduction at the festival. "The purpose of the film festival is to educate and entertain about issues that affect us, our planet and our future': McCool said. "We also raise money for a student scholarship fund:' At Thursday's event, two full hours of films were selected. "The films are exceptionally creative while still being informative': McCool said. "It is an enjoyable way to take in a lot of useful information while having a great night out at the movies:' The films dealt with various issues, ranging from a film about reclaimed water and its benefits and downsides to a film about natural gas extractions, their side effects and how communities in Utah are affected by it. "We wanted to choose between a natural gas film and a coal film, which both deal with issues found in Utah;' McCool said. The festival closed out with an adventure film. "The students wanted everyone in attendance to leave the festival on an upbeat note and with a positive message': Watt said. All proceeds from ticket sales and items sold in a raffle go towards the Environmental and Sustainable Studies department scholarship. "I hope people will walk away from it with a better understanding of important environmental issues and feel inspired to learn more, to get involved and think about their own lifestyle': McCool said. "The Film Festival is a great event for students to feel a part of the campus community;' Watt said. "[It is] an opportunity to socialize with peers and faculty, making for an educational, yet enjoyable event." s.eastwood@chronicle.utah.edu @spenceast 4 { THECHRONY I NEWS 1 OPINION I ARTS I SPORTS 1 FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 14, 2014 } he Utes are making their first trip to Palo Alto, Calif. to play Stanford since 1996 when Utah walked away with a 17-10 victory behind the powerful rushing game of former Ute Chris Fuamatu-Ma'afala. The 25th-ranked Utes are surely going to need another powerful rushing attack led by Devontae Booker in order to once again leave northern California with a victory against the Cardinal. For the last several weeks, Utah's opponents have been keying in on Booker, knowing full well he is the player who usually decides the Utes' fate on offense. Last weekend against Oregon, Travis Wilson and the Utah offense were finally able to supplement Booker's running game with some deep passes as well as some backfield passes to — you guessed it — Booker. It didn't matter who was catching the ball, according to Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham, as long as the passing game finally got some much-needed production. "We hope the downfield passing continues," Whittingham said. "Travis had nearly 300 yards on Saturday ... we need that to happen. That helped us out in the game Saturday night without a doubt, and that's why we were in the position we were in the fourth quarter, because we were able to throw the ball better." The Utes are going to need to be balanced on offense when they face the most formidable defense in the league. In addition to leading the Pac-12 in nearly every defensive category, the Cardinal are ranked 4th in the country in points allowed, only letting their opponents score an average of 16 points per game. With injuries to playmakers like Dres Anderson and Tim Patrick, the Utes are going to need to utilize some of their bench players in order to supplement the offensive production. Against Oregon, fans saw a two-back set for the first time this season, and it was successful for both Devontae Booker as well as backfield teammate and former starter Bubba Poole. Running backs coach Dennis Erickson said the two-back set is going to become increasingly pertinent in the Utah offense. "We've got to get our best players on the field," Erickson said. "We're able to do some different things with two backs. We like getting Bubba on the field a little bit more than he has been because he's also a good football player. Obviously Booker has played better or else he wouldn't be starting, but [Poole]'s still a good player. We've got to try and find a way to get him on the field to make us better offensively. It [the two back set] was always in our plan, but with the injuries we'll see a lot more of that:' Defensively, the Utes have a slightly easier task. Stanford is only ranked 94th in the country in scoring offense and is 97th in rushing. After having one of the strongest and most lethal rushing attacks in all of college football the last three years or so, the Cardinal have struggled this year to get the same kind of production. Their rushing attack has been by committee with players like Remound Wright, Barry Sanders Jr. and Kelsey Young all having 40-plus carries. "Offensively, they're more of a downhill, power run game. Although they're not as much as they have been in years past, that's kind of changed," Whittingham said. "They're going more one back, one tight, three wides than they have in recent years and less of the smash-mouth game. They're throwing the ball more, is the bottom line." The most dangerous player for the Cardinal continues to be Ty Montgomery, who scorched the Utes last year on both offense and special teams. This year, Montgomery has hauled in 56 receptions for 549 yards and three touchdowns as a receiver. As a return specialist, Montgomery has returned 13 punts for 238 yards and two touchdowns. "He's got great size and presents problems for you. As far as what he does for that football team, it's very similar for what Kaelin [Clay] does for us': Whittingham said. "We need to be smart in the kicking game. The object is to try and minimize his damage. He's brought two punts back to the house already this year, so we have to be smart in coverage. It's a lot like Mariota — you're never going to completely shut him down. You've just got to try and slow him down and not let him go crazy on you." Utah safety Brian Blechen knows the Utes will need to stay organized in order to keep players like Montgomery in check, but that this week's defensive schematics will be far different than they were against the extremely high tempo of Oregon. "The Oregon game was fun, they're going so fast you basically have to line up and play.This week, it's a little bit different," Blechen said. "You're going to have time to see exactly what they're lined up in and you've got to try and be sound on each play:' The Utes kick off against Stanford at 4 p.m. MT in Palo Alto. t.chappell@chronicle.utah.edu @TalonChappell 5 |