Thursday, May 29, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com Nine years later: Blanchard's dream Thursday, May 29, 2014 The Michigan Daily - michigandaily.com 13 Research looks at new uses for T-rays Event blends art and science By JAKE LOURIM ManagingSports Editor Sixty feet. Besides about 1,000 miles down to Tallahassee, Fla. for the Super Regionals, Cait- lin Blanchard's journey took her around the country for weekend tournaments and on countless drives to Ann Arbor in between. Now, she found herself at third base in the deciding game of the Super Regional, 60 feet away from. scoring, giving Michigan the lead and continuing her dream. Blanchard followed the 2005 Michigan softball team, the first team east of the Mississippi River to win the national championship. That dream was years in the mak- ing, and sincethat teamgotitshappy ending, Blanchard has wanted one of her own. The daughter of two Michigan graduates, she grew up in nearby Petersburg, Mich., coming to Michigan softball games all the time and dreamingthat it would be her on Alumni Field one day. But growing up ina town with a population of just over 1,000, those opportunities aren't easy to find. Though she starred on her high school team and worked her way up to better travel teams as often as she could, she was rarely noticedby big schools. Not until Blanchard arrived in Ann Arbor did she realize that there were players who were offered full scholarships almost on the spot. But she wouldn't have it any other way. "It was definitely difficult to get noticed, but I kind of like the fact that I knew what Michigan soft- ball was all about coming into it," Blanchard said on April 9. "I have a shirt signed by the 2005 national championship team. Other people, they don't know who the players on that team were, whereas I kind of idolized them." Several Michigan players have said that the program has tested them in ways they've never been tested before, that this is the hardest part of their careers. For Blanchard, getting here was no easy task, either. It took years of hard work, an intense desire and an element of chance. Then, she got the chance to live the dream she had watched play out five years earlier. Ironically, Blanchard had to travel across the country to get noticed by coaches who worked at a school 30 miles from her house. She played for a handful of differ- ent teams over the years, in front of too many colleges to count, but there was only one she ever wanted to play for. People sometimes use the term "dream" as a cliche, but for Blanchard, coming to Michigan was just that. When she caught a pitching lesson taught by Jennie Ritter, who led the Wolverines to the 2005 national championship with five wins in the Women's College World Series, she was awestruck. When Michigan coach Carol Hutchins called her the first time to tell her she was interested, Blanchard said she almost passed out. Eventually, Hutchins offered Blanchard the chance to join the team as a walk-on, but there was one more roadblock to overcome - paying tuition. Blanchard's grandparents answered the bell, agreeing to pay her tuition and allowing her to ful-. fill her dream. "When they told me that news," Blanchard said, "I almost had a heart attack." On a team stocked with All- Americans who had chosen Michi- gan over several other top schools, Blanchard became a regular. This year, she hit behind sophomore shortstop Sierra Romero, who bat- ted almost .500 and was a National Player of the Year finalist. One of the bestin program histo- ry, Blanchard was not. A formidable hitter to protect Romero, she was. "Caitlin is what we call a gamer," Hutchins said on April 9. "Caitlin has been hitting in the middle of the lineup for a long time because she's clutch. She thrives under pres- sure.... She doesn't make more of it than it is. Those kids do well. They stay consistent because they're not caught up in the surroundings." For years, schools around the country overlooked Blanchard, including her dream school. But years after she found Michigan, Michigan finally found her. In the end, Blanchard came to Michigan for the same kind of fairytale ending the Wolverines earned in 2005. In her first three the dream seemed unlikely. But Michigan won the regional, thanks in part to a go-ahead two-run homer by Blanchard in the first of two elimination games against the Sun Devils. Michigan loaded the bases with no outs inthe seventh inning of a tie game last Friday night. Blanchard moved up to third with two outs on a fielder's choice. But she was stranded there, and then.things went downhill: In the bottom half, Florida State hit a walk-off two-run home run to end Blanchard's career. Blanchard was playing first base during thatshot, and she watched it clear the left-field fence easily. She walked toward the dugoutafterthe game and stood there, speechless. Was it really over? Nine years, nine NCAA Tournaments and seven Big Ten championships after she watched Hutchins' team win the national championship, would she really never put on a Michigan uni- form again? When the 2005 team won the national title, it sparked an invin- cible dream inside Blanchard. She never got the fairytale end- ing she always sought. But then again, maybe she was living it all along "I'm not a Sierra Romero," Blanchard said. "There's not the pressure of, you have to hit 20 home runs this year. I can just go up to the plate seasons, sea- sons that each included Big "When they told me Ten champion- ships and NCAA that news, I almost Tournament had a heart attack." appearances, that dream elud- ed her. Technology may be implemented in medical science By CAROLYN GEARIG Managing Design Editor ' Terahertz rays may be invis- ible to the human eye, but Uni- versity research on these waves is spotlighting their possible uses, ranging from deciphering water content in a bodily tissue to detect- ing concealed weapons on a person to quality control in manufactur- ing. T-rays, as they are called, are not as ubiquitous as other energies on the electromagnetic spectrum, like ultraviolet waves, which are used in barcodes, medical light therapy, DNA sequencing and other applications. However, a detector developed by Engineer- ing Prof. Jay Guo and his research lab could allow T-rays to become more of a household necessity. T-rays fall on the electromag- netic spectrum below infrared waves - energy that's harnessed in-things like remote controls and heat lamps that warm food - and visible light, which humans can see. They have shorter wave- lengths and are of a higher energy than microwaves and radio waves. Though T-rays have been dif- ficult for engineers to study and to develop technologies around, Guo said their uses are quite varied. "It is a scientifically rich fre- quency band and offers unique value for imaging, chemical iden- tification and characterization of materials," Guo wrote in an email. Current T-ray detectors are dif- ficult to work with because they are too cumbersome, need espe- cially cold temperatures or are unable to work in real time. Guos' transducer - a technology which, in essence, transforms one form of energy to another - eases this pro- cess by allowing for T-ray conver- sion into sound waves. The transducer is composed of plastic and carbon nanotubes. When T-rays reach the device, they are absorbed by the nanotubes and turned into heat energy. This energy is passed onto the plastic, which is called polydimethylsilox- ane, PDMS for short. The PDMS expands and makes an ultrasound wave. Researchers developed an ultrasound detector, a tiny plastic ring that is only a few millimeters wide. This detector has a response time of a fraction of a millionth of a second. Guo said this allows for real-time terahertz imaging most of the time. "The low photon energy of tera- hertz radiation is biologicallysafe," Guo wrote. "Therefore develop- ing small and easy-to-operate terahertz components, including sources, waveguides, and detec- tors, would benefit both funda- mental research and applications." While the team's work is cur- rently devoted to the development of a compact, sensitive and fast T-ray detector capable of oper- ating in room temperature, Guo hopes they will be able to improve the sensitivity. Improved sensitiv- ity can show video-rate imaging, opening doors for more uses and opportunities with T-rays. Artists paired with eled to the artists' studios to learn more about the artistic process. scientists to create Ranging from paintings to pieces to support sculptures to video displays, the art sought to encapsulate the bio-med research nature of research through the exploration of a great number of By IAN DILLINGHAM media. Editor in Chief Some of the art, such as Koen Vanmechelen's "Bio-Care" series, Smooth jazz played, cocktails explored complex scientific prin- were served and donors were ciples. Vanmechelen, who was schmoozed - all the appearances paired with Charles Burant, of a typically University fundrais- professor of internal medicine er. and molecular and integrative However, those gathered at the physiology, used a process called Museum of Contemporary Art untargeted metabolomic profil- Detroit Thursday evening were ing to create webs showcases the engaging in something differ- physiological similarities and dif- ent, as physician-scientists from ferences between humans and the A. Alfred Taubman Medical other animals. Research Institute paired with Other submissions, such as Aku professional artists to create 11 Kadogo's "Love Cancer" series, pieces for the first-ever Evening of drew focus toward the human Art and Science event. aspect of disease and health. The pieces, all original works After being paired with Ronald inspired by research being con- Buckanovich, assistant professor ducted at the institute, were used of internal medicine and obstet- to raise funds for the institute and rics and gynecology, Kadogo said its scholars. After being paired she was moved by the love that he with a scientist, each artist had showed for his cancer patients. the opportunity to tour the lab She said her piece, a series of and learn about the work being photographs of her in the brush, done before creating the piece. In inspired by recent fires in Sydney, turn, several of the scientists trav- Australia, portrayed the "patient" as a "warrior" in the fight against cancer. "It was really a humbling and a flattering experience to have someone want to make art out of our science," Buckanovich said. "My-patients will know they have terminal illness ... and that is a really difficult thing to discuss and a lot of patients express that through art." The art pieces were available to attendees through auction or pur- chase, and were valued anywhere from $150 to $40,000. Prior to the art showcase, the Institute hosted an exclusive dinner, which provided some of the artists and scientists a chance to discuss the process with potential donors. Artist Allie McGhee said he spent years as an abstract land- scape painter before he decided he wanted to learn moreabout the science behind what made his subjects come to life. "I got bored with the subject matter," McGhee said. "I wanted to know more about my subject - what made trees what they are - so I started to look at the microworld ... these are realities you can't ignore." and do my own thing for the team, and normally it works out." In many cases this year, Blanchard's job was to punish teams that decided not to pitch to Romero, and more often than not, she came through. Trailing 1-0 on April 19 against Minnesota, the Wolverines needed some offense, having lost 1-0 the night before. With two on, the Golden Gophers walked Romero to load the bases. And Blanchard made them pay, lacing a three-run double to the gap. So she came back for one more run at it. When the Wolverines started the NCAA Tournament in Tempe, Ariz. against No. 8 seed Arizona State_ I-- ....- ..... --.-......-..-.-........- -..... $1 Off Any Smoothie Limit One offer per customer with coupon. Cannot be combined with any other offer Valid at Barry Bagels Ann Arbor location ONLY BAGELS BarryBagels Westgate Shopping Center 2515 Jackson Ave, Ann Arbor, MI 48103 (734) 662-2435 www.barrybagels.com Expires: June 5, 2014 . ------. ---- --...-- .......-......-- ......J PESCOVITZ From Page 1 es in her honor, including Univer- sity Regent Shauna Ryder-Diggs (D-Grosse Pointe) and James Wool- liscroft, dean of the University's medical school. Woolliscroft, praising Pesco- vitz's legacy at UMHS, touched on her efforts to partner with other health systems, her work with the Regents and executive offices and her efforts to make her job as trans- parent as possible by starting a blog and Twitter page. "Her example will leave a last- ing impression on all of use here," Woolliscroft said. "And so I really think that Ora's legacy is in the people, the impact here on each one of us." Pescovitz acknowledged the unique challenges the UMHS has faced over the course of her tenure, including the effects of the national healthcare reform, decreased fed- eral funding for research, the grow- ing competition among medical schools and the increasing difficul- ty for students to pay for a medical education. Sh'e said UMHS over- came these hurdles and emerged stronger due to the staff, students, faculty, trainees and volunteers that comprises the health system. COLEMAN From Page 1 citizens and our nations to flour- ish," Coleman said in her recorded acceptance speech. "That is why, as president of the University of Michigan, I have led faculty del- egations to develop partnerships with colleagues on three conti- nents." According to a University press release, the number of undergrad- uate students who studied abroad doubled under Coleman's presi- dency. Participation increased in underrepresented fields of study and programs in nontraditional and diverse locations. Coleman also created partner- ships at universities in Ghana, China, Rwanda, Brazil, South Africa and India. She made trips abroad during her tenure to pro- mote engagement for interna- tional students. During her most recent visit to India she promoted the University of Michigan Health System's partnership with the only freestanding trauma center in India, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. "International education is important to sustaining the world," Coleman said. "It deliv- ers powerful rewards and I can know of no more important work than joining hands with other uni- versities to transform lives with the power and promise of global knowledge." Students currently research in various countries preforming projects like diabetes research in Bolivia, the effects of television violence on emotions in Germany and aquaculture investigation in Vietnam.acceptance speech. "That is why, as president of the University of Michigan, I have led faculty delegations to develop partnerships with colleagues on three continents." According to a University press release, the number of undergrad- uate students who studied abroad doubled under Coleman's presi- dency. Participation increased in underrepresented fields of study and programs in nontraditional and diverse locations. Coleman also created partner- ships at universities in Ghana, China, Rwanda, Brazil, South Africa and India. She made trips abroad during her tenure to pro- mote engagement for interna- tional students. During her most recent visit to India she promoted the University of Michigan Health System's partnership with the only freestanding trauma center in India, the All India Institute of Medical Sciences. Students currently research in various countries preforming projects like diabetes research in Bolivia, the effects of television violence on emotions in Germany and aquaculture investigation in Vietnam. "International education is important to sustaining the world," Coleman said. "It deliv- ers powerful rewards and I can know of no more important work than joining handswith other uni- versities to transform lives with the power and promise of global knowledge." | Caitlin Blanchard's dream was always to play softball for Michigan,.