The Examiner Fall 2015 by Rutgers Examiner

December 2015 Issue #14

10 bioluminescence: Let It Glow

38 Crime is all about attitude myokymia: Yes, the annoying eye twitch 12 Spotlight 18 on Rutgers women in science

has a name

INTRODUCTION Dear Readers, Nine years has passed since the establishment of The Examiner in 2006. As we move forward into our tenth year, it is not without looking back as well. It seems that with every progressing year, The Examiner (both the club and the publication) seems to change in minor details. We have made changes in concepts, themes, columns, logos, managing styles, and the list continues to further expand and innovate. What has not changed, however is our mission: to expose and inform our Rutgers community to public health, medicine, science, and research relevant to Rutgers. The Examiner- as it is in your hands- is the result of ten years in the making. It is a legacy that has been passed down through generations of our club members. And so we present to you Issue 14, a large cultivation of 20 articles made possible by the outstanding hard work of our journalists and editors. We would like to thank our executive board, journalists, RUSA allocations, and faculty advisors and administrative staff for contributing to this issue. The entire Examiner executive board and journalists hope that you, the readers, will enjoy reading this latest issue and we would sincerely appreciate your feedback or inquiries on our Facebook page or email at ruexaminer@gmail.com! Happy Reading! Thanks and regards,

Fiona Kim and Pujitha Talasila Editors-in-Chief

T h e S t a f f

Editors in Chief Pujitha Talasila Fiona Kim

managing editors Sri Puli Aayush Visaria Sabrina Mohsin Aimee Parado Santhoshi Kotrike

layout editor Valerie Lim

website manager Dillon Heyck

public relations Mounica Sreedhara Soundarya Nattuva

treasurer Divya Mohanraj

journalists Jennifer Tang Divya Mohanraj Aimee Parado Valerie Lim Sri Puli Anthony Veder Chandni Khawaja Harsha Gopalakrishnan Hill Chang Kaylynn Shuleski Mahija Cheekati Marisa Wong Matthew Kim Michelle Zhou Mona Rassouli Mrudula Chakravarthy Mrudula Chakravarthy Nicole Blekhter Ridhima Sakhuja Sabrina Carmant Shannon Cheung

18 Spotlight on Rutgers Women in Science

Bleed Scarlet

Let it Glow

Crime Is All About Attitude

Myokymia: Yes, The Annoying Eye Twitch Has a name 12

Table of Contents

The CRISPR/cas9 system for Gene Editing ..........................2 The Plastic Planet Nightmare .................................................4 Marijuana: A Stress Reliever? ..................................................8 Bioluminesence: Let it Glow .................................................10 Myokymia: Yes, The Annoying Eye Twitch Has a Name ............12 Social Innovation: Making Change instead of Collecting it .....14 The Importance of Medical Sociology .......................................16 Spotlight on Rutgers Women in Science ...................................18 A White Coat Holding Office .......................................................20 Bleed Scarlet ..................................................................................22 Alzheimer’s Disease ......................................................................24 Why We Should Talk About Elder Abuse ...................................28 Making an Impact: The Story behind The OATs Foundation ....30 e-Learning: Helping or Hurting? ..................................................32 Inside out: The Importance of Sadness .......................................34 FOAM: A Medical Controversy filled with Holes? ......................36 Crime is All About Attitude ..........................................................38 NP VS. PA: What’s the Difference? ...............................................40 What’s That Smell ..........................................................................42 IUDs: Contraceptives to a T ...........................................................43

By Mahija Cheekati

The CRISPR/Cas9 system is a recent hot topic of various debates in the scientific community. It offers scientists and researchers across the life sciences an unprecedented ease and precision in editing any genome, raising questions of the potential for both good and bad outcomes. The CRISPR system used in labs is the modification of a naturally occurring process in bacteria. The bacterial immune system keeps pieces of viral DNA as a way to prevent future attacks from that particular virus. These short bits of viral sequences in the bacterial genome were originally called “clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats,” or CRISPR. The second part of the bacterial immune system consists of Cas (CRISPR-associated proteins) enzymes. As explained by Carl Zimmer, a prominent scientist in

the biological sciences, the enzymes carry viral RNA stored in the bacterial genome and both drift through the cell. If they find a virus’s genetic material that matches the CRISPR RNA, the RNA latches on tightly. To disable the virus, the Cas enzymes chop the DNA into two.1 The specific Cas9 enzyme used in most labs is from the Streptococcus bacteria that causes strep throat. With the ability to recognize sequences about 20 bases long, it has the ability to target specific genes. But why is this all such a big deal? The answer lies within the logistics of the system. CRISPR is fast, easy, efficient, and cheap. All anyone has to do is make a matching RNA of the sequence or gene they want to cut out, feed it to Cas9, and let it do its job.

The system offers the potential to cut out faulty mass after the deletion of a regulatory gene genes and replace them with called myostatin from their new functional sequences, DNA. One of the researchers, which will then be naturally repLiangxue Lai, says the “dogs licated with the cell’s cycle and have more muscles and are spread through the organism. expected to have stronger All this subsequently begs the running ability, which is good question of having the ability to for hunting [and] police (milpossibly mend serious genetic itary) applications.”3 While conditions and illnesses in huthese scientists have good mans, which is exactly where intentions, their experiment the scientific community’s exleaves the door wide open citement for CRISPR comes for commercialized use of from. For instance, CRISPR has CRISPR, an ethical concern already been implemented in for many people. The abilicancer research. In the Rutgers ty to alter genomes and the Cancer Institute of New Jersey “natural state” of our world is (CINJ), Dr. Hatem E. Sabaawy’s troubling to many as it poslaboratory uses gene edites ideological threats to reing technology in combination CRISPR RNA (red) along with a ligions, in which most hold with drug modifiers to develop piece of an attacking viral DNA God as being the highest models for precision therapy power and controller of all (yellow). of various cancers including things in the world. Giving prostate cancer and leukemia. humans the power to inOne study depicting a model for attacking pan- terfere with evolution and natural selection, as creatic cancer has already been published by in the case of CRISPR, is distressing to many. CINJ in July 2015. The project applied CRISPR/ Cas9 in vivo to alter the ability of genes to turn While there are good intentions among on and off in order to prevent or cause pan- many researchers in using CRISPR/Cas9, the creatic cancer. Most importantly, the develop- relatively inexpensive and precise methodology ment of these treatment models set the scene of the system provides easy incentive to comfor precision therapy in cancer treatment, com- mercialize gene editing, a concern echoed by pared to the delocalized treatment options such many in the recent debates over its use. All as chemotherapy that commonly exist now.2 of the prospects for CRISPR have led scientists and groups to engage in Twitter arguments The power CRISPR holds in both the on the issue of who will claim legal rights to scientific community and for the general pub- CRISPR/Cas9, a question that persists but may lic further raises debates about the possibility not have a fair or definitive answer. At present, of genetically altering everything in the world, however, it is clear that the inclusion of CRISPR including the idea of designer babies. Though in research is making enormous breakthroughs, still a farfetched idea, the possibility of designer such as with the precision therapy models being babies persists as CRISPR continues to prove developed by the CINJ. While the fate of CRISits versatility and effectiveness. Chinese sci- PR and its ethical debate remains unresolved, entists have recently published results of their they offer us more to consider about CRISPR’s experiment that used CRISPR to engineer the potential impacts and the direction in which the world’s first gene-edited dogs. The two bea- biological sciences as a whole are heading. gles, named Hercules and Tiangou, were created with double the normal amount of muscle

THE EXAMINER

By Sabrina Carmant

The Age of Plastic The Age of Plastic: the reputation that will most likely precede this generation and put it in the history books. The term is a reference to the massive amounts of plastic that America and the rest of the world are now accustomed to using. As of today, the plastic industry is the third largest manufacturing industry in America. To put that into context, there are over 16,200 total facilities (compare to 14,000 McDonalds) in every state.1 It may not seem very obvious as first, but plastic is a very popular commodity.

Plastic is malleable and not that difficult to make so it is convenient for suppliers. Since it is cheap and can basically function as anything, plastic is favored by consumers as well. With the massive range of plastic usage and its silent popularity, the plastic industry brings in a minimum of 380 billion in shipments every year. 1 Although plastic is not the first thing that comes to mind when you think about high profitability, it is an industry that has experienced no lag since it was created.

Plastic & You Sadly, as useful as plastic can be, many scientists and environmentalists are at a consensus about how all these benefits may not be worth the associated risks. As studies now show, plastic is a serious pollutant that releases toxins that can be dangerous to both human and marine life. Multiply this fact by the proven theory of how the majority of the plastic thrown away ends up in the oceans, the world has a serious problem. 2 However, this is not solely a marine issue, it is also a public health one. Although the bulk of the suffering is experienced by marine and coastal animals (i.e. turtles mistaking bags for jellyfish, the

albatross accidentally feeding their young plastic, and plastic wraps getting wrapped around and suffocating certain birds and turtles), the negative effects do circle around; what ends up in the ocean ultimately ends up in humans. As around 8 million metric tons of plastic is introduced into the ocean every year it breaks down into tiny pieces (photodegradation) that are ingested by fish who are ingested by even bigger fish and then ultimately eaten by people.3 Even if you are not a big seafood eater, just the periodic usage of plastic can be harmful itself because of the various toxins, one of them being BPA. (continue on next page)

THE EXAMINER

Bisphenol A (BPA) has been linked to certain illnesses like cancer and endocrine issues, as well as mutations that can affect a future fetus. 4 Although some of these effects on humans are not stressed enough to warrant immediate action, many scientists say that we should not wait until they are.

what can you do? Rutgers students go through tons of plastic every day whether it is the disposable water bottles we take everywhere or the plastic bags we get at takeout. To help reduce our imprint on this plastic planet nightmare, students can consider switching from disposable plastic bottles to reusable BPAfree water bottles. Students can also actively utilize all of the recycling resources Rutgers has available to us. Another option is using oneâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s own reusable shopping bag instead of always getting a plastic bag at takeout. To take it a step further, one can also think about getting rid of any products that contain microbeads (otherwise known as really small pieces of plastic).5 Some of these products include facial scrubs and some toothpastes. Although we cannot reverse the contaminating effects of plastic on the ocean, we can make a difference by reducing the amount of plastic that we continue to dump.

THE EXAMINER

By Nicole Blekhter

“70 percent of Americans are in favor of reduce anxiety.2 This explains why cannabis making marijuana legally available for doctors to users find substantial anxiety relief in this drug. prescribe in order to reduce pain and suffering.”1 However, chronic use of this drug down-regulates With this fact in mind, one can imagine how the the receptors, ironically causing anxiety.2 legalization of marijuana is a relatable issue. To Therefore, anxiety paradoxically worsens with the use of the drug, making the this date, the recreational use of marijuana initial condition of the user even is legalized in four states, Colorado, The use of marijuana Washington, Oregon, and Alaska, affects almost every organ in as well as the District of Columbia. the body. As organs such as As a result, public opinion has of Americans are in the heart and lungs become undertaken a dramatic shift sparking controversy around the favor making marijuana legally impaired, our immune and nervous systems can also country, but in order to understand available for doctors to preweaken.3 Once our bodies the pros and cons of legalization scribe in order to reduce pain absorb the compound THC we must understand the health and suffering from marijuana, changes within risks of this drug. Therefore, our bodies are noticeable and what are the effects of marijuana, can even put us at risk of a heart otherwise known as cannabis, to our attack because of the increased mind and body and how harmful is it? Many studies show that this drug has an heart rate. Along with this risk are many longeffect on our lungs, brain, and mental health; but term brain impairments that a chronic user can not many people believe that this is true. After develop, such as weakened thinking skills and interviewing 50 students on campus, survey disruption in memory.3 More seriously, studies reported that of the student who do use this drug, have shown that addiction to marijuana is linked 54% use it as a stress reliever. One Rutgers to schizophrenia, a brain disorder that causes student claims that, “weed is a pain and stress people to imagine voices in their head that reliever and it helps you sleep,” and although this control their behavior.4 All of these effects impair may be surprising, this student is not completely our mental health, therefore creating a greater wrong. Researchers at Vanderbilt University tendency to develop anxiety and other issues. As people become addicted to marijuana, discovered cannabinoid worse. The idea that they are blind to the effects it has on their bodies as marijuana can be used as a stress and anxiety reliever can result in overuse and addiction of the well as the functions of their brain. The beginning drug, creating more complications for our bodies. assumption that marijuana will relieve stress and receptors on the amygdala, a “key emotionalhub anxiety has paradoxically caused both of these in the brain.”2 They found that the nerve cells feelings to come back stronger along with many in this area of the brain make and release nat other side effects. As a result, the controversy ural endocannabinoids, therefore the use of of legalization of cannabis across the country is marijuana’s “exogenous” cannabinoids can help significant now and will remain so in the future.

70%

After interviewing 50 students on campus, survey reported that of the students who do use this drug, 54% use it as a stress reliever

THE EXAMINER

BY MATTHEW KIM

Let It Glow

B i o l u m i n e s c e n c e:

For thousands of years, living organisms have relied on bioluminescence as a means to attract potential mates, deter unwanted predators, communicate with others in their community, entice hapless prey, and surprisingly even camouflage themselves in their respective environments.1 As the canonical studies of Darwin might suggest, it is by no stroke of luck that this chemiluminescent process is still widely utilized by all domains of life to this very day. Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce light through a series of chemical reactions. In its most simplistic form, bioluminescence involves an enzyme-substrate driven reaction between a light-emitting compound called luciferin and the enzyme luciferase.2 The speed of the enzymesubstrate interaction has been related to the intensity of the light emitted by the organism. Catalyzed by the enzyme luciferase, the compound luciferin undergoes oxygen oxidation, producing oxyluciferin, light, and carbon dioxide.2 Additional cofactors including adenosine triphosphate, magnesium, or calcium are occasionally required to help facilitate the reaction between oxygen and luciferin.2 Interestingly enough, reactions that allow bioluminescence to release energy in the form of light are 100% efficient. While lighting sources such as a light bulb convert electrical energy into light, with some of this energy lost in the form of heat, a bioluminescent reaction converts all the released energy into light.3 Thus if bioluminescent lighting in living organisms proves to be so efficient, why not take advantage of this process to find an alternative for lighting that is not powered by electricity or batteries? Well, nanotechnologists at Syracuse University have come one step closer to doing just that. By utilizing a process known as bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET),

nanotechnologists at Syracuse University are able to attach the same luciferase enzyme found in bioluminescent organisms to the surface of a nanorod or quantumrod.4 The light-emitting compound luciferin is then introduced to the surface of the nanorod, reacting with the luciferase enzyme. The ensuing reaction releases energy ultimately causing the nanorods to illuminate.4 Researchers at the university are working ardently to increase both the efficiency and accessibility of such technology. It has already been discovered that simply changing the shape and length of the rods produces different colors of visible light.4 Though replicating the bioluminescent processes in living organisms may not serve as an energy alternative to power large facilities or even residential units, the field of bioluminescent technology remains auspicious and ever growing. Mimicking the very processes fostered by insects, sea creatures, and fungi can potentially provide an alternative light source that may one day replace light bulbs and other electricity-dependent light sources. Hypothetically speaking, if a student at Rutgers University kept their dorm room light on for just one hour a day, five days a week, they would consume approximately 4,800 watts of energy in a single semester.5 With more than 16,000 undergraduate students living on campus, Rutgers could potentially reduce electricity consumption by over 76,800,000 watts a semester if dorm lights are replaced with some form of bioluminescent lighting. Reducing such electrical output would not only circumvent any plausible environmental repercussions of fabricating electricity, but would offset some of the universityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s electricity expenditures. If perfected and improved, bioluminescent technology may help everyday lighting take on a completely new light.

Bioluminescence is the process by which living organisms produce light through a seires of chemical reactions.

left: The structure of the common eastern fireflyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s (Photinus pyralis) luciferase-luciferin complex

In its most simplistic form, bioluminescence involves an enzyme-substrate driven reaction between a light-emitting compound called luciferin and the enzyme luciferase.2

THE EXAMINER

By Mona Rassouli

You’re patiently sitting in class. You’re completely focused for once. You glaze over the presentation, everything makes sense. Your eyes are locked onto the professor and you raise your hand to ask a question. But then it happens again. Your eye begins to twitch. That irritating rhythm of muscle contractions beneath your lids starts. The professor calls on you and you’re torn between holding your eye to try and silence the twitches and talking to him. You wave him off with an “I forgot what I was going to ask.” The throbbing aligns with the clicking of the clock. You can’t ignore it; it pulses within you. You immediately become selfconscious. The feeling that your eye has been possessed and that your sanity is slowly slipping away. It’s very subtle, miniscule, yet it consumes you entirely. Twitch…Pause…Twitch… Halt. And just like that it goes away, as unexpectedly as it manifested. It leaves you bewildered and stricken with its inevitable, lingering return.

MY OKYMIA Yes, the

annoyi ng

e. m a n a eye twitch has

Most of us have experienced a twitching eye, medically known as myokymia. eyes to space out and minimize blinking, As sleep-deprived, struggling college students it is important to know where it comes from. It is actually a scientific anomaly, the specifics of which currently elude practitioners. Myokymia is currently classified as benign essential blepharospasm (BEB), blepharospasm being defined as an involuntary closing of the eyes.1 Although it has been noted that in severe cases, blindness may ensue. The causes of myokymia include excessive stress, fatigue, untreated vision problems, excessive caffeine, dry eyes, and lack of essential minerals.2 Excessive stress already contains a plethora of health issues ranging from Marie Antoinette’s syndrome to allergic reactions and to migraines. With all these various stress side effects it only makes sense to add an eye-ticking problem to the list. Myokymia is actually suspected to be linked to an abnormality in nervous coordination via the base end of the mind. From a researcher’s perspective, it is often paired with Parkinson’s disease as both involve an uncontrollable muscle spasm that science has thus far not been able to completely grasp. Many conditions pertaining to visual impairments can easily lead to myokymia. Dry eyes are the most prominent form of visual strain that leads to this condition. Other conditions that can result in myokymia are myopia (nearsightedness) or hyperopia (farsightedness). Basically any condition where one’s eyes are being overworked will cause these “aftershock” eye twitches. It is best to limit monitor exposure to the minimum needed for assignments on weekdays and to avoid late night use. The static nature of the particles on the screen cause the

leading to a reduction in blinking.3 The most unexpected, yet least surprising cause of myokymia is not taking in enough essential minerals. Magnesium is an important staple in the diet; healthy individuals attribute their health to high magnesium levels. The body’s metabolism utilizes it for numerous chemical reactions, ones that involve blood pressure and nerve and muscle functions.4 As unhealthy college students we are more likely to be magnesium deficient than not. Magnesium is found in nuts, seeds, whole grain, and leafy vegetables that often elude our plates. Additionally, alcohol can add to deficiency as magnesium is more prevalent in urine and excreted. The magnesium deficiency also leads to fatigue, looping it to the causes of myokymia and creating a cycle.5 It’s important to know the causes of this condition so that one can address the triggers at the root and prevent the irritating spasms. As an interesting side note, there is a myth that was developed before sufficient information was available. According to myth, there is a difference between having your left eye twitch and having your right eye twitch. If your left eye twitches, you are going to receive bad news, while twitching in the right eye is indicative of good news.6 Therefore, may your right eye twitch so that you receive good fortune.

The causes of myokymia include excessive stress, fatigue, untreated vision problems, excessive caffeine, dry eyes, and lack of essential minerals.

THE EXAMINER

By Shannon Cheung

One pressing issue that can’t be missed around the Rutgers campus is the advocacy for global health equity. Who can deny seeing a bake sale at every student center every week? In previous years, any mention of “the developing world” would conjure images of the “starving children in Africa,” but lately, there has been more publicity for awareness of the true struggles of those living in third world countries. We have always been conscious of our privilege, but Rutgers students have been taking it to the next level with student organizations such as Global Brigades, GlobeMed, and many more. Though it seems good to be raising money for these non-profit organizations, a problem continues to persist. America has been at the forefront of modern medicine and technology. However, despite the leaps and bounds We have always been we’ve made, there is conscious of our privilege, still an overwhelming but Rutgers students have disparity in accessibility been taking it to the next of resources between level with student here and in developing organizations such as countries. According Global Brigades, to the World Health GlobeMed, and many more. Organization (WHO), the urban areas of developing African countries suffer an infant mortality rate of 61 deaths per 1000 live births.1 The WHO also has found that 1.8 billion people drink from a water source that is contaminated with feces.2 These are just two of the many consequences that the world suffers when health inequity exists. The problem, according to Dr. Paul Farmer, an influential advocate for social justice and global health equity, is a “failure to imagine an alternative to the kinds

of programs that the public health literature [has] deemed ‘realistic’, ‘sustainable’, and ‘cost-effective”.3 We have confined ourselves to the space bounded by these three words, limiting our ability to imagine other ways to combat the health inequity that pervades our world. We operate on a system of capitalism. Unfortunately, the general consensus seems to be that being philanthropic doesn’t rake in profits for entrepreneurs. Therefore most people put it on the side, putting extra money into side organizations like spare change in a rainy day fund. However, change is in the air. Rather than inducing change by collecting change, innovators have begun to create inventions that not only improve lives but also sustain the improvements. We are gradually transitioning into an age of social innovation, or “the process of inventing, securing support for, and implementing novel solutions to social needs and problems”, as defined by the Stanford Social Innovation Review.4 In this way, philanthropy can help to do good in the world, as well as make profit. In recent years, various projects have been put into practice, but of course, they’re far from perfect. The PlayPump, a water system in the form of a merry-go-round, was first exhibited at an agricultural fair in KwaZuluNatal in 1989.5 The first PlayPump was installed in 1993 in South Africa, but only gained media attention seven years later when it was awarded for “innovative solutions to development problems” by the World Bank.6 The system is simple: when children play on the merry-goaround, a pump is powered, sending water to a storage tank and supplying the needs of an entire community. This innovation not only found a way to create access to clean water, but

S o c ia l I n n o v a t i o n making change instead of collecting it

it also encouraged children’s play. Another influential project was the Lifestraw, which was named by Time Magazine the “Best Invention of 2005”. Produced by the Swiss company Vestergaard Frandsen, LifeStraw was created to combat the problem of unreliable access to clean drinking water. A study of its filtration efficacy was conducted at the University of Arizona, which concluded that LifeStraw met the requirements of a “highly protective” water treatment device set by the World Health Organization.7 The idea of social entrepreneurship is the hallmark of the Honors College’s signature course, the Honors College Mission, which is centered around the idea of cross-discipline cooperation to create change in the world. The course hopes to prove that the benefactors of social innovation can be both the impoverished as well as the innovators themselves. Most recently, Honors College guest speaker Gary Cohen, executive vice president of Becton, Dickinson and Company and Commissioner for the UN Commission on Life Saving Commodities for Women and

Children, presented to students personnel during times of the Odon Device. The device, need in developing countries. a simple instrument designed The device can address the to facilitate vaginal deliveries scarcity of midwives, nurses particularly during the second and doctors in Argentina. The stage of labor, was designed by device is simple enough that a car mechanic named Jorge rigorous training is not needed, Odon in Argentina.8 Odon had and more lives of mothers watched a YouTube video that and infants can be saved. explained a simple method We live in a world to remove a cork from inside where society may commend an empty bottle: blow into the you for doing good, but will opening of a plastic bag stuffed look down upon you if your down the neck of the bottle career is not conventionally until the bag balloons inside successful. That is to say those and wraps itself tightly around doing nonprofit work seem to be the cork. The bag can then be doing something “impractical” pulled out with – people can’t the cork. The make money doing We live in a world Odon device something good for where society may works the the world, can they? commend you for doing same exact Contrary to this good, but will look way. A small belief, it has been down up on you if your chamber of shown that being an career is not air is pumped entrepreneur doesn’t conventionally around a have to mean that successful baby’s head, you can’t also be and the a philanthropist. surface of the Investing our device is lubricated to facilitate resources, be it our ideas or our the extraction of the baby.9 money, in the poor can have great Research behind the feasibility returns. We are only limited by and safety of the device has the bounds of our imagination. yet to be published. The Odon device, if put into practice, could help counter the lack of accessibility to highly trained

THE EXAMINER

By Chandni Khawaja

The Importance of Medical Sociology When we are sick, we can only think of one thing: how to not be sick. We focus on the pathological and physiological natures of our afflictions. However, one aspect of the discipline is hardly, if ever, considered by laymen and even the professionals that we entrust our health to: the sociological end. We rarely think about how social factors--things such as socioeconomic status, education, and political stability--affect our physical well being. Changes in the health of our world today, however, demand that these factors be considered. Medical sociology could not be any more important. The subcategory that would later become one of the largest in the field of sociology was surprisingly developed by physicians, not sociologists. Though the earliest accounts of what could be considered medical sociology can be seen in the late 1870s, the term itself was coined in 1894 by Charles McIntire. McIntire analyzed how social factors contributed to people’s wellness or lack thereof. This paved the way for others who sought to examine the link such as James Warbasse and, more notably, Elizabeth Blackwell.1 The field picked up significant steam with the aid of one of the most crucial yet frustrating parts of scientific inquiry: funding. Following World War II, government funding through the National Institute of Mental Health shed more light on sociomedical research and allowed physicians and sociologists alike greater freedom to explore how illness extends past corporeal ailments. As time progressed, the field continued to evolve from its infantile state into a formidable and complex social science.

As the world changed, so too did the landscape of medicine and the sociological issues that affected it. Recently, a trend is garnering much attention: the reemergence of infectious diseases. Frightening cases such as Ebola and multidrug-resistant (MDR) tuberculosis are striking at unusual frequencies and continuing to grace the headlines. Why are zoonotic viruses that typically don’t rear their ugly heads now becoming endemic? Why are infectious diseases that used to be manageable coming back in untreatable strains? These questions--especially the last one--are the main focus of Harvard professor and physician Dr. Paul Farmer. His organization, Partners in Health, focuses on providing free healthcare as well as employment for some of the most vulnerable populations in Haiti, Siberia, and beyond . The corporeal threats that the majority of his patients face are MDR, tuberculosis and cholera; but according to Farmer, the greatest disease is poverty. Farmer and his team do not simply hand out drugs; they recognize and actively seek to understand how things like food insecurity, natural disasters, unclean water, war, and lack of resources and facilities contribute to illness.2 By taking a ‘holistic’ approach to medicine and incorporating social factors into the mix, individuals like Paul Farmer work towards finding permanent solutions for disease rather than simply patching up the wounds. How does Rutgers fit into this? What role does the school and the student body play in exploring the socioeconomic makeup of modern-day disease? For many, the most es

providing just that. Eye-opening courses such as Sociology of Healthcare and Medicine provides students with a solid foundation in the subject before diving into intricate healthcare problems that we often overlook or ignore. Taught by professors who utilize their own studies and research, the course exposes its students--many of whom are on pre-health tracks--to the sociology of sickness. Additionally, students at the inaugural Honors College will be complementing their summer readings, Farmer’s To Repair the World and Tracy Kidder’s Mountains Beyond Mountains, with a special mission course that discusses Farmer’s work and the larger impact that poverty, stress, technology, economics, and politics have on the health of our world. The goal is to encourage even the most open-minded students to think bigger and, as Farmer stated in his 2013 address to Northwestern University, “counter failures of imagination” to make the world a better place. Through research and education, Rutgers University is aiding the advance of the field and encouraging our future health professionals to think well beyond the physiological box. What is the overall purpose of tackling disease from a social angle? What is the ultimate goal of medicine and science? To alleviate our own ailments, or simply to ‘know’ regardless of the applicability? Perhaps it is both, and medical sociology strives to make those ends meet. It is a field that examines how our

lives affect disease, not simply how disease affects our lives. It analyzes our behaviors, our attitudes, and our beliefs on health and healing, using that information to better serve the community. Not every study will produce a new Surgeon General standard or endorse a new drug, but by identifying behaviors--both large-scale and small--and conditions that determine quality and longevity of life, we enrich our own understanding of ‘us’ while getting closer to better health for all.

“

The corporeal threats that the majority of his patients face are MDR, tuberculosis and cholera; but according to Farmer, the greatest disease is poverty.

”

THE EXAMINER

By Michelle Zhou

Spotlight on

Rutgers Women in Science

Clara Barton and Elizabeth Blackwell are prominent female figures in modern day health. But how many other names can be recognized? For years, there has been a misrepresentation of women as leaders in the health and science professions. While about a third of all physicians and surgeons are women, only 15.9 percent hold leadership positions.1 This is simply one statistic that features the disparity between the prevalence of men and women in health professions. Despite this imbalance in numbers, there are many great female alumni and professors from Rutgers University who could very well be titled “leaders” in science and medicine. Many of the tools used in health today were contributed by Rutgers women. Donna L. Wong, a class of 1970 graduate of Rutgers University’s College of Nursing, was a co-founder of the Wong-Baker FACES Pain Rating Scale that is commonly used in Pediatric nursing.2 The scale shows a series of six faces, ranging from a smiling face to a crying face.3 The pediatrician will initially explain that each face represents a different degree of pain. After the child understands the rating scale, he can choose the face that best

matches his pain. Given the inarticulate nature of a child, this scale is a pivotal tool that pediatricians use to assess pain in a way that is more accessible and easily understood by children. Wong received much praise for her work and was the first to receive the Audrey Hepburn/Sigma Theta Tau International Award for her contributions to While about a third health and pediatrics. Within the field of all physicians of psychology, there and surgeons are is a clear leader from women, only 15.9% Rutgers University: Dorothy W. Cantor. hold leadership poCantor, a class of 1976 sitions1 graduate of the Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology at Rutgers University, currently holds the position of president of the American Psychological Foundation. She also served as the 105th president of the American Psychological Association from 1996 to 1997.5 Along with her leadership positions, Cantor cofounded Women in Psychology for Legislative Action, which is a national political action

committee. Currently, Cantor holds a private of being a nurse is to save lives,” whereas “the practice in Westfield, New Jersey as a psychologist.4 mission of war is to kill.” The two contrasting Another Rutgers alumna who has goals intrigued Norman, and she questioned contributed to the medical field is how healthcare workers handle the Elizabeth Norman, a best-selling contradiction. There is also a personal author and historian and a member element to her books: both “Despite this of Rutgers University’s class Norman’s mother and husband imbalance in numbers, of 1973.6 Additionally, had served in the Vietnam War. there are many great female Norman taught critical care Through her works, Norman alumni and professors from nursing and research for hopes to preserve the vanishing fifteen years at the College Rutgers University who could history of female nurses. Being of Nursing on the Rutgersvery well be titled “leaders” a registered nurse herself, Newark campus. Her writing in science and medicine.” Norman sheds light on how certain brings awareness to the circumstances alter the experience roles of women as nurses in of the profession in drastic ways. war environments. Her first novel, The women highlighted above are Women at War, tells of fifty women who only a few of the leaders who demonstrate served as nurses during the Vietnam War and the brilliance of Rutgers University females. exhibits their experiences in the health field The works presented here are merely a in those conditions. She also published We glimpse into the capabilities of Rutgers Band of Angels, which documents the tale of women. Inevitably, the list of prominent female seventy-seven American Army and Navy nurses Rutgers alumni and professors will continue who were captured during World War II and to grow. What will your contribution be? held as prisoners of war. To Norman, the “idea

photos left to right: Donna L Wong7, Dorothy W. Cantor8,

Elizabeth Norman9

THE EXAMINER

By Neven Abdo

A White Coat In Office

People have heard of white coats in the White House but never of white coats holding office. During the coming election, America has the opportunity to elect a former physician to take the oath of office and become the president of the United States of America. The United States presidential election of 2016 includes two former physicians running for the Republican nomination: Ben Carson shown above: and Rand Paul. Former Ben Carson4 ophthalmologist and United States senator, Rand Paul, announced his candidacy for the presidency on April 7, 2015. A month later, Ben Carson, retired neurosurgeon and director of pediatric neurosurgery at Johns Hopkins Hospital, officially introduced his campaign. Of course, the candidacy of both Paul and Carson raises the questions of how will America’s healthcare system and medical education be affected. Coming into the election, both contenders strongly oppose President Obama’s Affordable Care Act and claim that their views on the issue of health care to be influenced by their former careers as physicians. Paul describes ObamaCare as being “unconstitutional” because it has limited the American people’s choice of insurance to just four government-mandated plans by hurting the free market.1 He explains that competing with a government-mandated program forces small business insurance companies to raise premiums, in some cases by 15%, and lower coverage and benefits.1 Such a deleterious effect on insurance quality leads patients to terminate their insurance

plans, thereby driving a number of insurance companies out of Both Ben Carson and Rand Paul offer solutions to the healthcare crisis in the United States. Paul will work to bring patients and physicians closer together by allowing insurance to be bought across state lines, medical expenses to be tax deductible, and all citizens to have access to health savings accounts.3 Ben Carson also emphasizes health savings accounts, or HSAs. Carson summarizes his health care solution by stating, “when a person is born, give him a birth certificate, an electronic medical record, and a health savings account to which money can be contributed-pretax--from the time you’re born shown above: Rand Paul5 ‘til the time you die.”2 By funding HSA, each person is guaranteed an account to which they can contribute money and withdraw money from. Additionally, Carson plans to make all insurance companies non-profit and have the government be responsible for catastrophe coverage.2 With this, insurance will be regulated and services will be guaranteed to all. The upcoming election brings with it the alternatives of the continuation, elimination, or modification of ObamaCare. Observing these possibilities, Rutgers students have to consider how these changing policies affect their future careers as healthcare professionals. Moreover, these issues are important to even those of us not on a medical career track, as we are all healthcare consumers living in this country.

THE EXAMINER

By Harsha Gopalakrishnan

Bleed Scarlet

According to a survey by the American Red Cross, the number one reason people do not donate blood is simply that they “don’t think about it.”1 However, donating blood is a vital process by which millions of people are saved each year. In fact, as per the Red Cross, it is estimated that every two seconds blood is needed for a patient, requiring about 41,000 blood donations a day, leading to a whopping 30 million transfusions a year.1 At this point you may be asking why such a large amount of blood is needed, surely people do not get injured that much. But consider this: the average red blood cell transfusion is 3 pints, and a single car accident victim can require as many as 100 pints of blood.1 Furthermore, patients with chronic illnesses like sickle cell diseases and cancer may need even frequent transfusions. As per the Red Cross, less than 10% of eligible blood donors donate every year in the United States,1 which is why blood drives and awareness campaign are so important. Fortunately, Rutgers studentrun organizations hold many blood drives each semester throughout all five campuses. For the fall semester of 2015 alone, there are fifteen blood drives, held by organizations such as the Army ROTC, various fraternities, HOSA, and the Arab Cultural Club.2 Although hosting a blood drive requires no money from the student club itself, each organization that wishes to run one is still required to

provide equipment (chairs, tables, etc), an open space, and snacks for donors.2 Blood collected from these blood drives is taken by the organization that sponsors the event, usually the New York Blood Center. From there, the blood is distributed throughout New York City, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut.3 Students who donate often report a pleasant and (almost) painless experience. Freshman Louie Logronio, who gave blood at the RU Army ROTC sponsored drive on October 14 remarks, “I’m glad that there are so many opportunities to donate blood here at Rutgers. To know that I am making a difference and changing the lives of others is a very rewarding feeling!” The convenience of these numerous blood drives allows for every eligible student to donate and make a difference, despite busy and hectic schedules. Often times it is just a matter of spending twenty minutes between classes but it has the potential to save lives. So next time you see a poster advertising a blood drive, maybe take a few minutes and roll up your sleeves to help those in times of desperate need.

According to a survey by the American Red Cross, The #1 Reason people do not donate blood is that

“they do not think about it”

Less than 10% of eligible blood donors donate every year in the United States,1

THE EXAMINER

By Divya Mohanraj

Alzheimer’s Disease Alzheimer’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease that may affect one at any point during one’s lifespan but, recent developments in the field of neuroscience have provided us with insight into its possible early onset in athletes and connection to a related neurodegenerative disease, known as chronic traumatic encephalopathy. The origins of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) trace back to several blows to the head, numerous concussions, and/or dementia, which may result from continuous participation in athletics or contact sports. In relation to recent studies cited in the scientific literature, there may be a correlation between Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and CTE comorbidity in athletes and those vulnerable to repetitive head injury. According to a recent neuroscientific study conducted by Dr. Rudolph Tanzi and his colleague Doo Yeon Kim at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, Massachusetts, Alzheimer’s disease can, in fact, be modeled in real-time by analyzing the development of the disease in a petri dish. Specifically, The Boston Globe article, “Researchers Replicate Alzheimer’s Brain Cells in a Petri Dish,” authored by science reporter Gina Kolata states, “They used human embryonic stem cells — those cells that can become any cell of the body — and grew them with a mixture of chemicals that made them turn into neurons. They gave those neurons Alzheimer’s genes and grew them in wells in petri dishes that were lined with a commercially available gel” (Kolata, 2014, p. 3). After conducting this experiment, Dr. Tanzi and his colleague witnessed the formation of plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain, which is a landmark for the presence of Alzheimer’s disease. This breakthrough in experimental neuroscience research further enables us to model Alzheimer’s disease in petri dishes by growing large samples

of human brain cells and testing for whether there is a causal link between Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases, such as, CTE. We can also use the guiding principles of this study to develop potential treatment solutions for Alzheimer’s disease in the future. In addition, this study paves the way for future experiments dealing with Alzheimer’s disease and may allow scientists and researchers to demystify the link between Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). In looking at the future, new developments in imaging techniques and computerized scans may allow physicians to detect the signs of Alzheimer’s disease and CTE in live patients before the disease(s) worsens or reaches advanced stages. Currently, CTE can only be tested post-mortem, whereas Alzheimer’s disease can be tested during a person’s lifetime via a PET scan or CT scan. With respect to the Rutgers community, this issue is highly relevant to students involved in athletics (i.e. football or boxing) and other contact sport activities that may involve “head-butting” or pose a risk for serious, repetitive head trauma. More importantly, CTE tends to develop after several decades of exposure to head trauma in athletes and may only be prevalent in those who have participated in athletics at the NFL professional level. In looking at the potential connections between Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy, it can be concluded that both diseases overlap based on one particular criterion: the accumulation of tau protein and the subsequent development of neurofibrillary tangles within the medial temporal lobe, amygdala, and/or thalamus of the brain. On the other hand, Alzheimer’s disease differs from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in that it also involves the presence of plaques made up of beta-amyloid protein (36-43 amino acids long), derived from amyloid precursor protein (APP).

In hypothesizing the reason for this overlap in disease development, it can be postulated that tau protein aggregation may be related to a variety of factors (genetic, environmental, and random events), some of which may include an unhealthy lifestyle and those who are vulnerable to cardiovascular disease, atherosclerosis, diabetes, or chronic emotional stress. These risk factors are also similar for those who may develop dementia at some point during their lives (“Dementia: Hope through Research,” 2014) and illustrates the similarities between Alzheimer’s disease, dementia, and CTE. Moreover, the article, “Taubased Therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease: Wave of the Future?” authored by Dr. Abhilash K. Desai and Dr. Pratap Chand and published in Primary Psychiatry in 2009 proposes possible therapies for Alzheimer’s disease that target tau protein aggregates in the brain and may allow us to answer the question of whether we can overcome neuronal cell degeneration in the future. Specifically, Dr. Desai and Dr. Chand state, “Research using phosphorylated modulators (genetically enhanced kinases, kinase inhibitors) has shown that phosphorylation can enhance the pathogenic progress; importantly, pharmacologic inhibition of this process can reverse or prevent further worsening of Alzheimer’s disease, making the development of compounds that prevent abnormal phosphorylation of tau (eg, kinase inhibitors) for therapeutic use worthwhile.” (Desai & Chand, 2009, p. 43) Based on their research, tau-based therapies may be best suited for slowing down the neuronal cell degeneration involved in Alzheimer’s disease. Although it is not clear as to whether we can permanently halt neurodegeneration as it relates to all neurodegenerative diseases at this stage, we can apply the techniques used in their research and create new ways to test for possibly reversing neurodegeneration in CTE. With this in mind, a holistic approach to disease treatment and prevention allows us to look at how lifestyle choices and personal health and wellness affect one’s vulnerability to developing neurodegenerative diseases in the future. Lastly,

it is important to note that there are many factors involved in whether one may develop Alzheimer’s disease and/or CTE and it is important to consider all factors, such as, genetic, environmental, lifestyle, and random life events before reaching a conclusion. Dr. Lawrence I. Golbe, a neurologist with the Robert Wood Johnson Medical School Group, professor of neurology at RWJMS, and the Director of the Movement Disorders Center at RWJMS has provided us with his medical perspective on the possibility of a correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE). He states, “The risk factors for Alzheimer’s or CTE that we know or suspect as of now are genetics, environmental exposures, lesser education, head trauma and stochastic events” (Golbe). He also mentioned that a concrete connection between both diseases has not yet been established at this time but, that both diseases have great implications for those involved in activities prone to brain injury/trauma. In addition, Dr. Golbe highlighted the fact that we can only conclude that professional football players have a greater risk of developing CTE, at this time. With respect to gender differences and how this may affect one’s risk for developing CTE or Alzheimer’s disease, Dr. Golbe states, “Women have weaker neck muscles than men, so they can’t stabilize the head as well during a collision, which makes them more likely to have brain injuries than men in the same activities,” (Golbe) which shows that women are more prone to neurodegenerative diseases due to brain trauma. Most of all, with greater advancements in medical technology in the future, we may be able to test the plausibility of the link between Alzheimer’s disease and CTE and detect these diseases in humans at a much earlier stage. (continue on next page)

“Although it is not clear as to whether we can permanently halt neurodegeneration as it relates to all neurodegenerative diseases at this stage, we can apply the techniques used in their research and create new ways to test for possibly reversing neurodegeneration in CTE. “

THE EXAMINER

In reference to the Rutgers University community, it is important to inform and spread awareness about Alzheimer’s disease and CTE to students and those participating in collegiate sports (especially, football). Although a concrete connection between Alzheimer’s disease and CTE in football players at the collegiate level has not been established, those who go on to play at the NFL professional level, are at the greatest risk of developing either and/or both of the diseases at some point during their lives. There have also been many famous sports players, such as, Derek Boogaard who passed away at the age of twenty-eight years and suffered from advanced CTE. In reference to how we can prevent and/ or reduce our chances of developing neurodegenerative diseases in the future,

we can advocate for the use of more durable safety equipment that protects the head and neck and reduces the amount of “head-to-head” contact that sports players make during practice games. Although it is currently unknown as to whether we can reduce our risk of developing these diseases through diet, exercise, meditation, and other alternative forms of treatment, we can promote awareness of these issues and take the necessary precautions to reduce future impact from participation in contact sports. With future studies and developments in diagnostic tools, we may be able to detect the onset of these diseases at a much earlier stage and possibly slow down or prevent further neurodegeneration within the brain.

By Sri Puli

Why we should talk about Elder Abuse We often hear about child abuse and domestic violence in the news. Through books like A Child Called It and films such as The Color Purple, the media has publicized the tragic acts that occur behind closed-doors. However, a topic that is seldom discussed is elder abuse. As horrific as it is to imagine, a significant portion of the elderly are subjected every day to various types of abuse from physical “You embarrass aggression to financial exploitation.1 Even words can lead to the “pain, me...you are so damage, or sadness” that constitute abuse.2 A public service announcepathetic, look at ment video depicts the palpable pain on an elderly man’s face as his son you, look what yells at him “you embarrass me…you are so pathetic, look at you, look you do to me...I what you do to me…I am sick of you…you are a waste of space.2”

am sick of you... you are a waste of space”

Neglect is another common manifestation of elder abuse. In 2013, Frontline released a documentary on Emeritus Senior Living, a chain of assisted living facilities.3 The investigation revealed the unfortunate results of constant understaffing and inappropriate employee training by this profit-driven company. One former resident who was hurt because of the under-regulated conditions at Emeritus was George McAfee, a retired Chicago Bears player with dementia. McAfee was left unattended one night and wandered through the facility before drinking a caustic dishwasher liquid, which the staff had not locked away.3

While Emeritus CEO Granger Cobb dismisses this situation as a “mistake,” McAfee’s family was devastated as their loved one died a painful death from the chemical burns.3 Similar tragic tales of neglect are attributed to other nursing homes and assisted living facilities. But shockingly, the greatest amount of abuse occurs in family homes with the main perpetrators being the elder’s adult children. As per a study done by Pillemer and Finkelhor, 50% of the abusers are adult children and 25% are spouses.1 Factors such as physical disabilities, mental impairment, and mistrust of banks make the elderly vulnerable. Isolation and lack of social support are reported as the biggest triggers that make the elderly susceptible to abuse.1 Some types of abuse are quite subtle and involve the violation of their basic human rights. Sadly, most of the time nothing gets done about elder abuse and it goes unreported.1 The elderly themselves are unable or unwilling to testify for reasons ranging from shame to dependency. It is also an ethical dilemma for physicians to report elder abuse because of confidentiality and the possibility that they might worsen the patient’s well-being by depriving them of their caretaker.1 It is heartbreaking to consider that our parents and grandparents might endure that kind of mistreatment. Surely, we cannot devalue life based on age? Furthermore, believe it or not, aging happens to all of us. Although we are currently college students at the hub of our youth, there will inevitably come a day when we can no longer perform daily activities and grow dependent on someone else for those services. When that happens, we hope to be in a respectable atmosphere and in an environment with proper standards for elder care. Therefore, raising awareness and advocacy for this population is important. A great class right here at Rutgers that

The greatest amount of abuse occurs in family homes with the main perpetrators being the elder’s adult children. 50% of abusers are adult children and 25% are spouses

THE EXAMINER

By Valerie Lim

The OATs team at their Second Annual: Picnic Fundraiser - Raised $1000 for Measles, Mumps, and Rubella Vaccinations in Pune, Maharashtra . (From left to Right) Top left: Dolly Patel, Amali Kulkarni; Top Right: Veer Patel, Kush Patel; Middle: Divya Lal, Neil Bhavsar, Nicky Manchicanti , Yianni Antonatos , Amoli Kulkarni, Pooja Khanna; Bottom Left: Sachin Duggal, Neil Bhavsar; Bottom Right: Abhishek Patel, Neil Bhavsar, Anish Kadakuntla

Making an Impact

The Story behind Rutgers University’s very own OATs team As college students, it is sometimes easy to forget that we have the ability to make a lasting impact on our community. A group of students here at Rutgers have chosen to put their boundaries to the test by starting their own nonprofit organization, One and The Same. I personally had the pleasure of interviewing Neil Bhavsar, chief executive officer of the OATS foundation. The idea of starting OATS was born during the summer of 2014 while a group of friends shared with each other their common desire to make a difference locally and globally.1 Within the past year, what started out as an idea between friends and colleagues has spiraled into a certified 501(c)3 non profit organization: OATS. Neil explains that their aim is to improve global health standards through the distribution of medical supplies, vaccinations, and education. They are also working to make an impact on the local community by spreading awareness of the importance of vaccinations. Overseas, the team has been working on making arrangements to regularly supply impoverished communities in India with MMR (measles, mumps, and rubella) vaccinations. The team has been raising money to fund the construction of a clinic specializing in neonatal and child care services in India. In order to reach their global goals, they have been in contact with government officials in India as well as with NGOs (Non-Governmental Organizations), like Project Palav and the Niramay Health Foundation.1 Of course, every high-reaching project comes with its own set of challenges. “No one takes you seriously,” reports Neil, “but just because we’re college students, doesn’t mean we can’t do something solid for the world.” As college students, it was no easy task for the team to establish legitimacy and gain the attention of

mentors. Furthermore, in the sea of students trying to find experience to put on their resume, it proved difficult finding people who were truly dedicated to their cause. Nonetheless, the “It’s okay to feel stupid. team presently It’s okay to feel like you’re continues to be ridiculous. You’ll always motivated and grow with each get people who think obstacle they you’re in over your head, overcome. They however, come 10-15 years now have two from now, your work will advisors from The transform as you go along, Rutgers Honors based on who you are and College who have helped the how courageous you are.” students in the establishment of the organization’s first 1 collegiate chapter at Rutgers. If there is anything that Neil wants to get across to ambitious college students like himself and his team, it is to not to listen to people who bring others down. “It’s okay to feel stupid. It’s okay to feel like you’re ridiculous. You’ll always get people who think you’re in over your head.” He continues, “however, come 10-15 years from now, your work will transform as you go along, based on who you are and how courageous you are.” In the future, the OATS team hopes to expand their organization and have multiple collegiate chapters across the East Coast.1 This semester, the team has been focused on establishing their campus presence here at Rutgers. If you are interested in being part of a great cause and joining this organization, take a look at their website “theoatsfoundation.org.”

THE EXAMINER

By Kaylynn Shuleski

e-Learning: Helping or Hurting?

In this day and age technology has irrefutably made its way into classrooms, from iClicker attendance, online discussion forums, programs for presentations, and much more. With that being said, it’s easy to understand why technology is being used outside of the classroom to extend learning. Although many are familiar with classes that are taught exclusively online, the idea of classes that combine both in person sessions with online sessions is still somewhat new. For a large school like Rutgers, the use of this learning style is necessary to combat the increasing tuition costs and large student body growth.1 The question that remains is whether or not eLearning is beneficial or detrimental to the educational process. The advantages of eLearning depends on what type of group it applies to, but when Temple University students who prefer online learning were asked why, more than 99% of them mentioned convenience as a reason.2 eLearning is usually associated with convenience, yet there are plenty of other reasons for why people prefer this learning style. It allows students to learn at their own pace, and provides them with a greater amount of time to familiarize themselves with the course material. One student whose curriculum heavily includes online programs says, “they provide supplementary information that I can’t get from lectures.” When students at Wisconsin University were asked what they preferred, an “overwhelming 82 percent of the undergraduates said they would prefer a course that records and streams lecture content online,” because it allows them to attend lectures on their own time and set their own pace for learning.3 There are numerous advantages for both the school and students to use eLearning, which is why it is rapidly becoming an integral part of the education process. When changing a style of learning, there are always advantages and disadvantages. In 2013, USA Today conducted a national research study that reported, “78% of more than 1,000 students still believe it is easier to learn in a classroom.”1 The main reason for this dissatisfaction with online learning is because there is a “dissociative process that can accompany virtual

learning environments” such as the disconnect between the instructor and student relationship.4 Courses where office hours are online are often difficult to keep organized, especially when hundreds of students are sharing a single chat box and vying for the professor’s attention. Subjects that involve much more than just simple text, such as extensive equations or comprehensive diagrams, are much harder to ask questions about when not done verbally. Many people are familiar with learning in a classroom, but when forced to learn online they lose the familiarity of a comfortable learning style, which can hinder how they learn. Loss of familiarity is not the only problem with eLearning. In many cases, it is not the student’s fault for why they are unable to learn, but technology itself. Since many eLearning programs are still somewhat new, there is always the high possibility that something can go wrong with them.3 After asking numerous students at Rutgers what they dislike most about online programs, the general consensus is that something often goes wrong. They are not able to hear or see the video, the program fails to give them an assignment, or it fails to submit an assignment properly. Also in a school as large as Rutgers, with a fairly new WiFi system, it is often difficult to provide a stable wireless Internet connection in all areas. One student explained, “the Internet connection in my dorm isn’t that good, so I have to walk to the student center or a library, which defeats the purpose of its convenience.” This shows that the advantages of online learning are easily outweighed by the disadvantages of it. In the end, regardless of preference, online learning is here to stay. As schools continue to grow, they must implement these eLearning programs to prevent increases in tuition for additional classrooms or supplies.1 Although the debate is often whether or not online learning works, new discussion on how to best adapt it to students’ learning is necessary.

THE EXAMINER

By Aimee Parado

Warning:

Major spoilers ahead!

Inside Out: The Importance of Sadness The film Inside Out takes a look into the mind of an eleven-year-old girl named Riley. When Riley’s family moves from Minnesota to San Francisco, Riley faces the challenges of living in a new place and going to a new school. A lot must be going on inside the head of a young girl adjusting to big changes. In fact, inside Riley’s head is where most of the film takes place. (Warning: Major spoilers ahead.) The film presents a colorful, fun, and fictionalized depiction of the brain and mind where the emotions are personified as Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger and Fear. It might be an uncommon setting for a “children’s movie”, but what makes the film more unique is that its most significant character is Sadness. To someone that has not seen the movie, the idea that Sadness is the hero might seem unusual. However, the film’s portrayal of the importance of Sadness is backed up by

actual theories about emotion. One person that watched the movie is Dr. Sidney Auerbach of the Rutgers Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience. He watched the movie with his twelve-year-old daughter, who, he says, found the movie to be relatable since she is starting middle school and leaving old friends. When paying attention to the science detailed in the movie, Dr. Auerbach felt that he was actually learning. “I learned about the aspect of emotions that as a neurobiologist, I can’t say I was all that familiar with,” he says, “I approach emotion very much from a chemical, biological standpoint, not a more cognitive science, psychological viewpoint. But the connection between memory and emotion—I thought that was great the way they depicted that” (personal communication, October 20, 2015). The makers of the movie consulted researchers and psychologists

in order to portray science as accurately as possible. Two of the psychologists they consulted were Paul Ekman, who identified the six basic emotions, and Dacher Keltner, who describes sadness as something that encourages community bonding.1 According to an article written by Ekman and Keltner about the movie, Inside Out successfully depicts two important concepts about emotion.2 First of all, “emotions organize—rather than disrupt—rational thinking.”2 Some view emotion as something that hinders thinking and proper decision-making, but emotions, even sadness, can do the opposite. Early in the movie, Joy admits that she does not understand Sadness’s purpose. After all, Sadness only makes Riley feel sad and cry. Therefore, Joy tries to suppress Sadness. For example, on the first day of school, Joy draws a circle and asks Sadness

“emotions organize— rather than disrupt— our social lives.”

Depicted above: miscellaneous scenes from the 2015 film, Inside out to remain inside. However, as the movie progresses it becomes obvious that Sadness does have a purpose. According to Ekman and Keltner, Sadness “guides Riley to recognize the changes she is going through and what she has lost, which sets the stage for her to develop new facets of her identity.”2 Throughout the film, when Sadness and Joy are missing from Headquarters, Riley is unable to feel happy or sad, and without Sadness, Riley cannot fully process her family’s move from Minnesota. Without being able to accept that the life she loved in Minnesota is over, she is unable to accept her new life in San Francisco. Second of all, “emotions organize—rather than disrupt—our social lives.”2 As mentioned earlier, Keltner saw sadness as something that leads to community bonding. This is clearly shown in the film. Initially, Joy sees Sadness

as almost useless and was willing to leave her behind in order to get back to Headquarters. However, Joy has an eye-opening moment when looking at an old memory. She realizes that a happy moment in Riley’s life was preceded by a sad moment where Riley was sitting alone, disappointed. Upon seeing Riley sad, her parents join her to give her comfort, and then, her hockey team rallies around her to cheer her up. This realization helps Joy see that Riley needs Sadness in order to eventually be happy. When Joy and Sadness finally reach Headquarters, Sadness is left with the control panel and lets Riley finally feel sad. This leads to her deciding not to move away (supporting the idea that sadness can aid rational thinking). After Riley opens up to her parents about her sadness over her family moving, her parents empathize with and comfort her, and this mo-

ment leads to Riley and her family reuniting and growing even closer. Using these two big ideas about emotion, Inside Out proves that Sadness is essential to a person’s well being. Sadness helps Riley move forward in life and helps her re-establish the strong bond she has with her parents. This is actually Dr. Auerbach’s favorite part of the movie. “I was most moved by the realization that Sadness is an important emotion and that [Riley] was able to overcome her anger at her parents and her inability to adjust by realizing the importance of sadness and being able to open up. That really moved me almost to tears,” says Dr. Auerbach, “I just really thought that was great.” If you have not already, watch Inside Out, and prepare yourself to feel emotions. You might feel sad, but remember it is OK to feel sad.

THE EXAMINER

By Anthony Veder

FOAM: a medical controversey filled with holes? Rather than a reference to your foam rollers or mattress cushions, FOAM is a revolutionary development in healthcare. FOAM, an acronym for Free Open Access Medical Education, represents a collection of online educational resources for those in the medical field. It encompasses blogs, podcasts, articles, and other published worksâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;resources that are used by numerous doctors, nurses, and emergency service personnel. Tracking of the Twitter hashtag #FOAMed and the rapid increase of FOAM resources online seem to correlate with an ever increasing demand.1

It is reasoned that since these are free resources, more material would not be made if there was no demand in the online community. Life in the Fast Lane, a popular FOAM website, receives 11 million views from 5.8 million visitors each year.1 In comparison, there were approximately 826,001 active US doctors of medicine in 2012.2 Data indicates that there has been an astounding increase in the use of these resources by medical professionals in the past few years.1 With our close proximity to RWJ and our own EMS staff here at Rutgers, these resources could

The main argument against FOAM pertains to peer review. In the traditional peer review model, the work undergoes analysis before a committee and is carefully scrutinized before it is actually published.3 This process takes a long time and it can be months to years before the publication can finally be released. FOAM resources, which are written by medical practitioners, establish their credibility through post-publication peer review.3 The article is published immediately to the community and afterwards it is looked over by the editorial team of the publisher.3 Post-publication comments and submissions from experts like doctors, nurses, and other medical practitioners are considered and incorporated as â&#x20AC;&#x153;expert peer reviewâ&#x20AC;? in the form of amendments.3 These amendments are credited to those who made them and the readers are notified of any updates made to the article.3 This allows new breakthroughs and medical information to spread throughout the medical community at a much faster pace. By the time most textbooks and traditional peer reviewed articles are published, changes may have already been made to the subjects, rendering them out of date.3 However, there is a downside to the post publication peer review: it is difficult to recruit expert peer reviewers to publications since it requires a large chunk of time to review literature. The amendments to publications are often not as frequently viewed as the initial post, and a single commenter who is providing an amendment may have his own bias as opposed to a board of reviewers in the traditional model.4 Other questions raised are regarding what happens with opposing views and amendments and whether this system actually distributes correct information.4

Life in the Fast Lane, a popular FOAM website, receives 11 million views from 5.8 million visitors each year.1

Regardless of the controversy, it appears as if aspects of FOAM based resources are here to stay with their growing presence in the medical community.4 What must be determined is a more effective way to establish peer review for these online resources. Advocates say FOAM is helping spread knowl edge and is establishing strong debates and lines of communication among the medical community. However, opponents to FOAM bring up laxness in bias and quality of information. Others comment that doctors sharing their experiences with such a broad audience before undergoing peer review may inadvertently be violating the privacy of their patients. FOAM is among many examples of how traditional methods and beliefs are continually challenged by new modern ones. As a society we must decide if old ideals should be thrown out completely to pave the way for new revelations, or are there sound fundamentals behind traditional beliefs from which we can still learn?

#foamed

Tracking of the Twitter hashtag #FOAMed and the rapid increase of FOAM resources online seem to correlate with an ever increasing demand.1

THE EXAMINER

By Hill Chang

If you have been a Rutgers student for at least a month, then chances are you have already seen some of the New Brunswick Police Department (NBPD) or Rutgers University Police Department (RUPD) crime alerts. Every two weeks or so, we all get an email with the subject line “Off Campus Crime Alert,” detailing the armed robbery or assault case that the police deem serious enough to warrant public attention. These include crimes that occur within walking distance of our classes. Yet when Rutgers students are asked whether they feel safe on campus, the answer tends to be some variation of, “Yeah, I suppose so”. Despite the crime alerts, Rutgers still feels safe because the police are working very hard to make it so. The RUPD posts a Daily Crime and Fire Safety log online that details the actions of the department. A cursory glance shows that they are very busy; they respond to about a dozen incidents every day.1 Looking more closely though, it becomes apparent that the vast majority of the reports deal with petty offences such as the possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana. You might think, “What? They’re not dealing with the serious crimes? Why are they wasting their time with these small things?” As it turns out, though, they are one and the same. Let me introduce the Broken Windows Theory, which has

Crime IS ALL ABOUT Attitude dominated American criminology for most of the past three decades. Developed in 1982 by George L. Kelling and James Q. Wilson, the theory explains that crime in a community occurs because there is already evidence of crime occurring. The name is derived from the phenomenon wherein a building with one unrepaired broken window will soon have many more broken windows because “one unrepaired broken window is a signal that no one cares, and so breaking more windows costs nothing.”2 Unreported crimes, even small ones, give the impression of an area being unsafe. This mentality leads the residents to change the way they act, which in turn makes the neighborhood more attractive for criminals. We are all influenced by our environment and the people around us, so crime is almost like a bad habit in that it is contagious from person to person. This works through the same mechanism as peer pressure. People are highly susceptible to social learning, when an individual imitates others that are seen being rewarded for their actions. This is also known as vicarious reinforcement - people see others getting rewarded for a certain action, so it makes sense to copy it to get the same reward.3 The reward doesn’t even have to be particularly enticing. As Kelling notes, the reward for breaking a window is simply the joy of doing so, as “it has

always been fun.”2 Therefore, fixing the windows would understandably lead to fewer broken windows in the future and fewer serious crimes. The Broken Windows Theory was actually put to the test in the 1980s, at the height of a New York City crime wave. Shortly after Kelling and Wilson’s article was published, the city replaced the subway director and transit police heads with Broken Windows adherents: David Gunn and William Bratton. Instead of tackling problems like armed robbery directly, they decided to focus on graffiti artists, fare beaters, jaywalkers, and panhandlers. As Gunn put it, “The graffiti was symbolic of the collapse of the system. When you looked at the process of rebuilding the organisation and morale, you had to win the battle against graffiti.” 4 And sure enough, New York City’s crime rates soon plummeted, with murder falling 72 percent and total violent crimes by 51 percent.5 So the next time you see the RUPD, remember that the job of the police is to maintain public order, not to hunt down criminals. At first glance, it may seem that the best way to maintain the peace is to round up all the serious wrongdoers and make sure they are not integrated into regular society. But as it so happens, it can be as easy as handing out tickets and walking through the neighborhood because it is really the thought that counts.

The Broken Windows Theory has dominated American criminology for most of the past three decades. the theory explains that crime in a community occurs because there is already evidence of crime occurring.

THE EXAMINER

By Jennifer Fang

NP vs. PA

What’s the Difference? If you are a Rutgers student interested in the health professions, you may be startled by the overwhelming number of people who claim to be premed. In fact, approximately 20-35% of matriculating freshmen on a standard college campus are pre-med.1 Of the 15 pre-health Rutgers students surveyed, over half were aspiring MDs. Although many claim to be medical school bound, some are not aware of the other health professions available.

Luckily, several healthcare professions are present to meet the needs for specialized healthcare. Two of these professions are physician assistants (PA) and nurse practitioners (NP). However, only a few of the prehealth students I surveyed were able to distinguish the difference between the two professions. PAs and NPs both require a master’s degree and are able to assess, diagnose, and treat patients. Still, these two rewarding careers have their particularities. A physician assistant (PA) attends a medical school or center of medicine and ultimately takes a general medical examination called the Physician Assistant National Certifying Exam (PANCE) in order to obtain a master’s in PA. While practicing, a PA must recertify every six years through another national exam called the Physician Assistant National Recertifying Exam (PANRE). PAs can prescribe medication, but must practice under the supervision of a

physician, which requires their hours to align with the physician’s.1 A PA is trained using a disease-centered model, which focuses on the biologic and pathologic components of health.2 In contrast, nurse practitioners (NPs) first attend nursing school to obtain a bachelor’s degree in nursing (BN). NPs must have practical experience as a registered nurse (RN) before acquiring a master’s or doctoral degree, as well as a nurse practitioner certificate.1 A NP must also take a national exam through the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and recertify after five years, but the exam is specific to the specialty he/she chooses (e.g. pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.).2 NPs work in many diverse fields, and are able to apply for additional responsibilities at the state level, including the authority to prescribe medication. Since NPs are able to work without supervision of a physician, they have more independence and autonomy regarding work hours.1 They are trained using a patient-centered model, which emphasizes disease prevention and health education.2 Whether you choose to pursue a career as a PA, NP, or another health profession, make sure you determine the best fit for you. The American Association of Medical Colleges claims that the U.S. could see a shortage of 90,000 physicians by 2022, which means that whatever career you decide to pursue, you will be a valuable asset to the healthcare field.2

“The American Association of Medical Colleges claims that the U.S. could see a shortage of 90,000 physicians by 2022” THE EXAMINER

By Shannon Cheung

IUDs:

By Marisa Wong

T contraceptives to a The concept behind the intrauterine device can be dated back to Ancient Greece, when Hippocrates first came up with the idea of placing a small stone in the uterus to prevent pregnancy.1 Modern day IUDs consist of a flexible T-shaped frame and work by either blocking the sperm, consequently preventing fertilization, or by inhibiting the monthly release of an egg. Despite being one of the first FDA approved contraceptives, up to now IUDs only accounted for less than 1% of contraceptive use in the US after Dalkon Shields, a popular IUD, was removed from the market during the 1980s. This was due to the lack of proper insertion techniques and the design that caused the device to get stuck in the uterus, linking it to permanent infertility and pelvic inflammatory diseases.2 However, close to thirty years later with a more thoroughly tested and effective design, IUDs have made their way back to the contraceptive market. A 2015 CDC study indicates that the number of IUD above: an intrauterine device. implants increased by five times in the past fifteen years, deeming (hand for size comparison) it the fastest growing birth control method in the country.3 Long lasting and effective, IUDs have a user effectiveness rate of 99.2% as compared to a 91% effectiveness rate for birth control pills and an 82% effectiveness rate for male condoms.4 While it is important to note that IUDs do not prevent STDs, the procedure of inserting an IUD is relatively simple, and it can stay in the uterus for up to twelve years with little to no maintenance and minimal side effects.2 According to the American College Health Association, as of 2014, the most popular form of birth control amongst female students at Rutgers University are birth control pills.5 The studies also indicate that only 3% of Rutgers female students use IUDs, which is a slight increase from the percentage of IUD users in 2012.6 With the previous fears and preconceptions regarding IUDs fading, the devices are regaining their popularity amongst teenagers and college students, many of whom want an effective way to prevent pregnancy. “The more you can take the user out of the equation if she so desires the more you’ll be able to prevent unintended pregnancy,” said Megan Kavanaugh, a senior research scientist and public health specialist at the Guttmacher Institute.4 “More and more people are jumping on the IUD and implant bandwagon because it seems like they might be potentially appropriate to cover for these long periods of a woman’s life when she needs coverage”.4 Will IUDs successfully regain its lost popularity or will another controversy plunge its user rate again? Only time will tell, but for now, they certainly seem to be on their way to potentially becoming the most popular contraceptive method amongst women today.

THE EXAMINER

References

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Intrauterine Contraception and the Facts for College Health. The Journal for Nurse Practitioners,417423. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1555415514007570 3 Sifferlin, A. (2014, June 30). The Best Form of Birth Control is the One No One is Using. Time. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http:// time.com/the-best-form-of-birth-control-is-the-one-no-one-is-using/ 4 Young, J. (2015, February 24). The IUD Is Getting More Popular In America. Here’s Why. Huffington Post. Retrieved October 28, 2015, from http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2015/02/24/iudbirthcontrol_n_6736218.html 5American College Health Association. (2014). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA) Institutional Data Report Fall 2014 Rutgers University New Brunswick [PDF File]. Hanover, MD: Author. 6American College Health Association. (2012). American College Health Association-National College Health Assessment (ACHA-NCHA- II) Institutional Data ReportFall 2012 Rutgers University [PDF File]. Hanover, MD: Author. The CRISPR/Cas9 System for Gene Editing 1Zhang, S. (2015, May 16). Everything You Need to Know About CRISPR, the New Tool that Edits DNA. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crispr-the-new-tool-1702114381 2Sabaawy Laboratory: Research Overview. (2014). CINJ. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://www.cinj.org/research/sabaawy-laboratory 3Regalado, A. (2015, October 19). Chinese Researchers Knock Out Myostatin Gene in Beagles with CRISPR, Generating First Gene-Edited Dogs. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://www.technologyreview.com/news/542616/first-gene-edited-dogsreported-in-china eLearning: Helping or Hurting? 1 Karambelas, D. (2013, June 11). Study: Students prefer real classrooms over virtual. USA Today. 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The CRISPR/Cas9 System for Gene Editing 1Zhang, S. (2015, May 16). Everything You Need to Know About CRISPR, the New Tool that Edits DNA. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://gizmodo.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-crispr-the-new-tool-1702114381 2Sabaawy Laboratory: Research Overview. (2014). CINJ. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://www.cinj.org/research/sabaawy-laboratory 3Regalado, A. (2015, October 19). Chinese Researchers Knock Out Myostatin Gene in Beagles with CRISPR, Generating First Gene-Edited Dogs. MIT Technology Review. Retrieved October 21, 2015, from http://www.technologyreview.com/news/542616/first-gene-edited-dogs-reported-in-china eLearning: Helping or Hurting? 1 Karambelas, D. (2013, June 11). Study: Students prefer real classrooms over virtual. USA Today. Retrieved from http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/06/11/real-classrooms-better- than-virtual/2412401/ 2 Barcelona, R. J. (2009). Pressing the Online Learning Advantage: Commitment, Content, and Community. Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 57(3), 193 197. 3 Study: College Students. (2008). Study: College students prefer classes with online learning. Retrieved from http:// news.wisc.edu/15640 4 Cole, M. T., Shelley, D. J., & Swartz, L. B. (2014). Online Instruction, E-Learning and Student Satisfaction: A Three Year Study. International Review of Research in Open and Distance Learning, 15(6), 111-131. Let it Glow 1 Klug, Tracy (2002). Uses of Bioluminescence. Retrieved from: http://jrscience.wcp.miamioh.edu/fieldcourses01/MarineEcologyArticles/UsesofBioluminescenceFina.html. 2 Lee, John (2014). Basic Bioluminescence. Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology University of Georgia. Retrieved from: http://www.photobiology.info/LeeBasicBiolum.html. 3 Ghayourmanesh, S. (2015). Bioluminescence. Salem Press Encyclopedia of Science. 4 Holmes, Judy (2012). SU researchers use nanotechnology to harness power of fireflies. Syracuse University. Retrieved from: http://www.syr.edu/news/articles/2012/fireflies-06-12.html. 5 How Much Electricity Does A Light Bulb Use and How Much Will it Cost Me? The Village of Paw Paw. http://www.pawpaw.net/Portals/38/docs/howmuchelec.pdf. Can you game too much? 1First U.S. inpatient treatment center for Internet addiction opening. (2013, September 7). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://kdvr.com/2013/09/07/first-u-s-inpatient-treatment-center-for-internet-addiction-opening/ 2Wolchover, N. (2012, October 4). What Is Internet Use Disorder? Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www. livescience.com/34264-internet-use-disorder-addiction.html 3Neal, M. (n.d.). Addiction? Video Games Crowded Out Man’s Real Life. Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http:// www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/28/addiction-video-games-cro_n_939892.html 4Quigley, R. (2013, May 3). ‘I killed my mom with my .22. I don’t know why I did it’: Chilling 911 call reveals 13-year-old boy admitting he tried to rape and then shot dead his mom ‘for taking away his Call of Duty video game’ . Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2319064/Noah-Crooks-Chilling-911reveals-13-year-old-boy-admitting-tried-rape-shot-dead-mom-taking-away-video-game.html Inside Out: the Importance of Sadness 1It’s All In Your Head: Director Pete Docter Gets Emotional In ‘Inside Out’ (2015, June 10). NPR. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://www.npr.org/2015/06/10/413273007/its-all-in-your-head-director-pete-docter-gets-emotionalin-inside-out 2Keltner, D., & Ekman, P. (2015, July 3). The Science of ‘Inside Out’. NY Times. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/05/opinion/sunday/the-science-of-inside-out.html?_r=0 What’s that Smell? 1Alvarez, M. (2007, Jan 9). Gas Leaks: What You Don’t Smell Will Harm You. Fox News. Retrieved from http:// www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/09/gas-leaks-what-dont-smell-will-harm.htm

What’s that Smell? 1Alvarez, M. (2007, Jan 9). Gas Leaks: What You Don’t Smell Will Harm You. Fox News. Retrieved from http://www.foxnews.com/story/2007/01/09/gas-leaks-what-dont-smell-will-harm.htm 2 Carbon Monoxide Detector Requirements, Laws, and Regulations. (2015, September 3). Retrieved from http://www.ncsl. org/research/environment-and-natural-resources/carbon-monoxide-detectors-state-statutes.aspx Marijuana: A Stress Reliever? 1 Medical Marijuana Laws, Traffic Fatalities, and Alcohol Consumption. D. Mark Anderson, Benjamin Hansen, and Daniel I. Rees. Journal of Law and Economics, Vol. 56, No. 2 (May 2013), pp. 333-369. 2 Snyder, Bill. “Discovery Sheds New Light on Marijuana’s Anxiety Relief Effects.” Vanderbilt Research. N.p., 6 Mar. 2014. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. 3 Bolla, K.I., K. Brown, D. Eldreth, K. Tate, and J.I. Cadet. “Dose-related Neurocognitive Effects of Marijuana Use.” Neurology 59.9 (2002): 1337:343. Web. 4 “Drug-use Behavior and Correlates in People with Schizophrenia.” Drug-use Behavior and Correlates in People with Schizophrenia. N.p., n.d. Web. 23 Nov. 2015. OATS: One And The Same 1[Personal interview, November 5, 2015]. Crime Is All About Attitude 1Daily Crime and Fire Safety Log. (2015, October 21). Retrieved October 21, 2015. 2Kelling, George L., and James Q. Wilson. (1982, March). Broken Windows: The Police and Neighborhood Safety. The Atlantic. Retrieved from http://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/1982/03/broken-windows/304465/ 3Harari, P., & Legge, K. (2001). Psychology and Health (pp. 9-10). Heinemann Educational. 4Gladwell, M. (2000). The Tipping Point: How little things can make a big difference (pp. 140-151). Boston: Little, Brown. 5Sridhar, C. (2006). Broken Windows and Zero Tolerance: Policing Urban Crimes.Economic and Political Weekly, 41(19), 1841-1843. Social Innovation: Making Change Instead of Collecting It 1Global Health Observatory (GHO) data - Infant mortality. (2015). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://www.who.int/ gho/urban_health/outcomes/infant_mortality_text/en/ 2Media centre - Drinking-water. (2015). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/ fs391/en 3Farmer, P., & Weigel, J. (2013). To Repair the World: Paul Farmer Speaks to the Next Generation. Berkeley, California: University of California Press. 4Phills, J., Deiglmeier Jr., K., & Miller, D. (2008). Rediscovering Social Innovation (SSIR). Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://ssir.org/articles/entry/rediscovering_social_innovation 5Erasmus, J. (2008, July 1). Tapping Into ingenuity. Retrieved October 20, 2015, from http://www.mediaclubsouthafrica. com/land-and-people/549-tapping-into-ingenuity010708 6Borland, R. (2010). The PlayPump: Mechanics of a Static Technology. Lecture presented at PSi16 - Performing Publics, Toronto. 7Naranjo, J., & Gerba, C. (2011). Assessment of the LifeStraw Family Unit Using the World Health Organization Guidelines for “Evaluating Household Water Treatment Options: Health-based Targets and Performance Specifications”. Retrieved from http://www.ansam.com.mx/ansam_stuff/universidad_de_arizona.pdf 8Venema, V. (2013, December 3). Odon Childbirth Device: Car Mechanic Uncorks a Revolution. BBC. Retrieved from http://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-25137800 9The World Health Organization Odon Device Research Group. (2013). Feasibility and safety study of a new device (Odón device) for assisted vaginal deliveries: Study protocol. Reproductive Health, 10(1), 33-33. Myokymia: Yes, The Annoying Eye Twitch Has a Name 1”Blepharospasm: Information, Treatment, Patient Support, Research.” Blepharospasm: Information, Treatment, Patient Support, Research. BEBRF, n.d. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. 2Lam, B. (2014, October 20). Eyelid Myokymia. Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://emedicine.medscape.com/article/1213160-overview#a4

3”5 Common Causes for Your Eye Twitch.”(2013, October 07). 5 Common Causes for Your Eye Twitch. EyeScience. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. 4Beck, K. (2011, September 11). “Does a Magnesium Deficiency Cause Eye Twitching?” LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM, 11 Sept. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. 5Branch, S. (2011, July 09). “Eye Twitching & Nutritional Deficiency.” LIVESTRONG.COM. LIVESTRONG.COM. Web. 01 Nov. 2015. 6Anthropology in Practice: Anatomy of a Superstition: When Your Eye “Jumps” (2010, October 25). Retrieved November 23, 2015, from http://www.anthropologyinpractice.com/2010/10/anatomy-of-superstition-when-youreye.html Why We Should Talk About Elder Abuse 1 Moody, H., & Sasser, J. (2012). Aging: Concepts and controversies (7th ed., pp. 233-259). Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications. 2 “Elder abuse.” (2009, April 6). You-Tube. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUW0CtUzX6M&feature=youtu.be 3 Thompson, A.C. “Life and Death in Assisted Living.” (2013). Frontline: PBS. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http:// www.pbs.org/wgbh/frontline/film/life-and-death-in-assisted-living/ 4 Catalog Navigator: Courses. (2015). Rutgers. Retrieved November 7, 2015, from http://catalogs.rutgers.edu/generated/nbug_current/pg586.html What R U Doing With Your Time? 1 Breslow,L. Clay, T. (2006, March-April). Why Students Don’t Attend Class. Massachusetts Institute of Technology Faculty Newsletter. Retrieved from http://web.mit.edu/fnl/volume/184/breslow.html FOAM: A Medical Controversy filled with Holes? 1 Cadogan, M; Thoma B; Chan M. T. (2014) Free Open Access Meducation (FOAM): the rise of emergency medicine and critical care blogs and podcasts (2002–2013). Emergency Medicine Journal. 2 Total active doctors of medicine U.S. number 1949-2012 | Statistic. (n.d.). Graph illustrating number of active US licensed medical physicians. Retrieved October 30, 2015, from http://www.statista.com/statistics/186269/total-active-doctors-of-medicine-in-the-us- since-1949/ 3Thoma, B; Chan, T; Desouza, N; & Lin, M. (2014). Implementing peer review at an emergency medicine blog: bridging the gap between educators and clinical experts. CJEM, 1 - 4. UC San Francisco: 847646. Retrieved from: http://escholarship.org/uc/item/8v14t69v 4Duffy, M. (2014). Have You FOAMed? American Journal of Nursing,114 (4): 59-63 A White Coat Holding Office 1 Rand Paul on Health Care. (2015). On the Issues. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/ Rand_Paul_Health_Care.htm 2 Ben Carson on Health Care. (2015). On the Issues. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from http://www.ontheissues.org/Social/ Ben_Carson_Health_Care.htm 3 Paul, R. “Dr. Rand Paul on Healthcare” (April 7, 2015). Rand Paul. Retrieved October 22, 2015, from https://www.randpaul.com/issue/health-care

NP vs. PA 1Cresswell, Sophie. “What’s The Difference Between A Physician Assistant And A Nurse Practitioner And What Should You Choose?” Gap Medics US. Gap Medics, 23 Dec. 2013. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. 2“Nurse Practitioner vs Physician Assistant.” Nurse Practitioner Schools. Sechel Ventures, n.d. Web. 20 Oct. 2015. Alzheimer’s Disease Dementia: Hope Through Research. (2014, June 11). Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://www.ninds. nih.gov/disorders/dementias/detail_dementia.htm Desai, A. K., & Chand, P. (2009). Tau-Based Therapies for Alzheimer’s Disease: Wave of the Future? Primary Psychiatry, 16(7), 40-46. Retrieved November 14, 2014, from http://primarypsychiatry.com/wp-content/uploads/import/0709PP_Desai.pdf Kolata, G. (2014, October 12). Researchers replicate Alzheimer’s brain cells in a petri dish - The Boston Globe. Retrieved November 1, 2014, from http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/science/2014/10/12/researchers-replicate-alzheimer-brain-cells-petri-dish/vV9dAPIPnWUHktTl5Bu4EM/story.html

Photo Credits - Front Cover: source: National Cancer Institute (NCI) Creator: Daniel Sone - The Crispr/Cas9 System For Gene-Editing Images acquired from pdb101.rcsb.org/ - The Plastic Planet Nightmare Image acquired from www-tc.pbs.org/ - Bioluminescence: Let it Glow Image acquired from www.robotspacebrain.com Image acquired from www.theapricity.com/ Image Acquired from www.ddw-online.com - Spotlight on Rutgers Women In Science Image acquired from http://rci.rutgers.edu (Donna Wong) Image acquired from www.apa.org (Dorothy Cantor) Image acquired from newark.rutgers.edu (Elizabeth Norman) - A White Coat Holding Office Image acquired from www.salon.com (Rand Paul) Images acquired from inauguralclock.com (Ben Carson) - Bleed Scarlet Image acquired from visualsonline.cancer.gov Image acquired from www.ryot.org - Myokymia Image acquired from healthtap.com - IUDs: Contraceptives to a T Image acquired from www.medicalnewstoday.com Image acquired from medicalexpo.com