Mindscope Issue 10

Cancer Care During a Pandemic, Madiha Kabeer pg 6-7

Navigating the Inequities of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Boston, Kristin Meader pg 16-17

Intimate Partner Violence Against Black Women, Vivian Le, pg 22-25

Examining the Ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic ISSUE NO. 10

May 2021 - Feb 2022

Executive Board 20-21 Editor-in-Chief: Christina Sun Managing Editor: Annie Chen Treasurer: Vivian Le

Executive Board 21-22 Editor-in-Chief: Sarah Auletta Design Manager: Elena Stratoberdha Managing Editor: Alyssa Cameron Treasurer: Dan Nguyen SGA Rep: Sarina Lau

Contributing Writers Rachel Kienle Madiha Kabeer Manal Riadi Sarah Singleton Dan Nguyen Kristin Meader

Annie Chen Molly Riley Vivian Le Alyssa Cameron Hannah Rice

Contributing Editors Elena Stratoberdha Esha Shafiq Madiha Kabeer Skyler Goodman

Selma Chamime Kristin Meader Sarina Lau

Contributing Designers Christina Sun Annie Chen Bridget Fong Dan Nguyen Esha Shafiq

Skyler Goodman Madiha Kabeer Sarah Auletta Elena Stratoberdha Alyssa Cameron

Printing

Editor’s Note Dear MindScopers,

The Covid-19 Pandemic has affected us all in similar and different ways, on personal, social, and institutional levels. In this issue, you will read articles that validate our experiences of the pandemic, help us understand the inequities exacerbated by the pandemic, as well as highlight the scientific interests and pursuits of our peers — carrying on despite the pandemic.

More than a year of being a remote student taught me many things, from how to stay motivated thousands of miles away from campus to the intricacies of Zoom etiquette. But most of all, I learned how in the absence of an immediate community, having compassion and empathy for each other go a long way. Every student, every person, has their own life that we may only ever get a glimpse of. Through writing, we can see into a person’s ideas and interests. These articles capture the experiences, problems, and topics that are important to us.

In my final year at Simmons, I feel so proud to have worked on something that showcases my brilliant peers as well as emphasizes the importance of rigorous research and communicating their science to a greater audience. I am grateful to my friends, peers, and professors for supporting me throughout my college journey and in turn realizing the magazine.

The 10th edition is such a milestone and I am lucky to have worked on it with such wonderful and motivated people. I can’t wait to see where the next Executive Board takes MindScope and how it will continue to change and grow.

Simmons Copy / Mail Center

Front / Back Cover Credit Clay Banks, Free to use under Unsplash License Ashkan Forouzani, Under Unsplash License

Special thanks to Elena Stratoberdha and Dan Nguyen for finalizing the design. This issue would not be possible without you guys.

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Sincerely, Christina Sun Editor-in-Chief

Table of Contents Pandemic 4 The Impact of Herd Immunity v.s. Suppression on the Spread of COVID-19

4

Cancer Care During a Pandemic

6

A Blast from the Past: Preventative Medicine During the Black Death

8

The Psychological Impact of Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

10

COVID-19 in My Area: Chelsea, MA

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Navigating the Inequities of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Boston

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A Look into Conventional and mRNA Vaccines in Application to COVID-19

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Health Sciences 20 Can Seaweed Extract Help In the Fight Against COVID-19?

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A Case for Neuroaesthetics: How Our Brain Perceives Aesthetic Experiences

21

Intimate Partner Violence Against Black Women

22

Gender-Role Conflict and Male Help-Seeking for Depression

26

Women in Veterinary Medicine: Where We Were and Where We’re Going

28

Meet a Neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School: Dr. Celine Santiago

30

SimScenes 32 STEM Scholars in the Passionate Leaders Program

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3

PANDEMIC

The Impact of Herd Immunity v.s.

Suppression on the Spread of COVID-19

By Rachel Kienle, Biochemistry Major. 2023

T

he novel coronavirus first emerged in late 2019 from the Wuhan Province of China and was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organization on March 11, 2020.1 Suddenly, across the globe, countries were faced with the task of creating plans to protect both the citizens and economies of their countries. Most countries chose either an infection-derived herd immunity approach (rather than vaccination-derived herd immunity) or suppression of the virus by using social distancing and prevention strategies. Many details about the virus, such as the duration, nature, and effectiveness of any immunity resulting from COVID-19 infection, are still unknown today. This causes uncertainty in the effectiveness of protecting the lives of citizens for both strategies.2 As time has gone on since the initial spread of the virus, it has been shown that the national governments of the countries using the suppression strategy have lowered the numbers of cases and casualties in their countries compared to those using relatively controlled infection to gain herd immunity.

Herd immunity occurs when enough people obtain antibodies through natural exposure to the virus or vaccination in order to provide protection against the virus. Approximately 60-70% of the world’s population would have to develop immunity to achieve herd immunity.5 The United Kingdom’s first COVID-19 plan was to create an infection-derived herd immunity by permitting the infection of a large proportion of their population without exceeding health care capacity.2 However, a study published in October 2020 simulated how achieving an infection-derived herd immunity without overwhelming hospitals with huge amounts of infected citizens would be challenging, leaving a small margin for error.4 If preventative measures were not taken and natural infection continued, then 77% of the United Kingdom’s population would be infected. The graphs D, F, and E from Figure 1 show that the total population exposed and the number of deaths decline with social distancing measures. For the United Kingdom to effectively create an infection-

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derived herd immunity the hospital capacities would have to be exponentially increased.4 Finally, on March 16, 2020, the British government changed its initial strategy and went into a preliminary lockdown following suppression strategies.5

Figure 1. An age-structured Susceptible Exposed Infectious Recovered (SEIR) model to demonstrate stimulated examples of SARS-CoV-2 spread in the United Kingdom. Adapted directly from Brett and Rohani 2020.

Similarly, Sweden used an infection-derived herd immunity since COVID-19 first reached the nation. The approach aimed to protect the elderly and those with preexisting conditions while the rest of the country lives a semi-normal life.5 However, approximately “three times more people died from COVID-19 in Sweden (2,679 deaths per 10 million inhabitants) compared to Germany (6,848 deaths per 80 million inhabitants)”5.

Although Sweden has a higher amount of single households and sparser populations outside the metropolitan area and thus a higher advantage to fight the virus compared to Germany, the statistics showed that Germany had a higher success rate because the country used suppression strategies.5 Even with a higher chance of success at herd immunity compared to other countries, the strategy faces other challenges as well. It is unclear how long antibodies provide immunity and combined with the long-term impacts of having the disease, makes infection-derived herd immunity a risky endeavor.5 As shown by the greater rate of deaths in Sweden compared to countries that

PANDEMIC citizens is upturned in a complete shutdown, nearzero cases in New Zealand have shown that it is the most effective way to stop the spread of the virus. approximately “three times more people died from COVID-19 in Sweden (2,679 deaths per 10 million inhabitants) compared to Germany (6,848 deaths per 80 million inhabitants)”.5

Figure 2. Graphs depicting prospects of achieving herd immunity. Adapted directly from Brett and Rohani 2020.

used suppression, it has not shown to be the best strategy to save the maximum amount of lives.

Suppression is the other main strategy used by countries to manage and contain the spread of COVID-19. The goal of suppression through nonpharmaceutical methods is to reduce the transmission of the virus so that it is no longer considered a threat.

After suppression is accomplished, countries can move their efforts towards stopping the reintroduction of the virus back into the population.4 An example of a country that has so far been able to successfully use suppression techniques to reach a near-zero percent incidence rate of COVID-19 is New Zealand. Non-pharmaceutical methods such as restriction of movement, physical distancing, enhanced hygiene practices, and governmental case tracking and thereafter management have given New Zealand the ability to maintain near-zero COVID-19 cases. These methods are similar to those that have been used in Asian countries such as China, Singapore, and South Korea. With its island setting and citizens’ high income, New Zealand has been able to better contain the spread of the virus.6 Countries such as Sweden that have used herd immunity as their strategy to combat COVID-19 have not been able to save as much of their population as countries that use suppression strategies like New Zealand. Although it can negatively impact the economy and the everyday life of a country’s

Figure 3. Cumulative deaths of SARS COV-2 infected patients in Germany, Sweden (blue line), Germany (black line) and Taiwan. Adapted from Jung et al, 2020.

[1] The Visual and Data Journalism Team. (2021, January 11). COVID-19 pandemic: Tracking the global coronavirus outbreak. BBC News.https://www.bbc.com/news/ world-51235105.

[2] Herd immunity is an impractical COVID-19 mitigation strategy, says study. (2020, September 23). European Pharmaceutical Review. https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/ news/129061 herd-immunity-is an-impractical-COVID-19mitigation-strategy-says-study/ [3] Herd immunity is an impractical COVID-19 mitigation strategy, says study. (2020, September 23). European Pharmaceutical Review. https://www.europeanpharmaceuticalreview.com/ news/129061/herd-immunity-is an-impractical-COVID-19mitigation-strategy-says-study/.

[4] Brett, T. S., & Rohani, P. (2020). Transmission dynamics reveal the impracticality of COVID-19 herd immunity strategies.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 117(41), 25897–25903. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2008087117.

[5] Jung, F., Krieger, V., Hufert, F. T., & Küpper, J.-H. (2020). Herd immunity or suppression strategy to combat COVID-19.

Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, 75(1), 13–17. https://doi.org/10.3233/ch-209006.

[6] Jefferies, S., French, N., Gilkison, C., Graham, G., Hope, V., Marshall, J., McElnay, C., McNeill, A., Muellner, P., Paine, S., Prasad, N., Scott, J., Sherwood, J., Yang, L., & Priest, P. (2020). COVID-19 in New Zealand and the impact of the national response: a descriptive epidemiological study.

The Lancet Public Health, 5(11), e612–e623. https://doi. org/10.1016/s2468-2667(20)30225-5.

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PANDEMIC

Cancer Care During a Pandemic

By Madiha Kabeer, Biochemistry Major, 2022

I

ndividuals all around the world with underlying health conditions have been deeply affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. People with preexisting critical illnesses and newly acquired conditions face many complications during treatment. Patients may face loneliness, delayed treatment, and difficulty in accessing healthcare. Cancer impacts a person’s life immensely regardless of the circumstances, and the pandemic has only created more hardships.

During the pandemic, many wards in healthcare sites were converted into intensive care units for COVID-19 patients. Some of these sites include cancer care wards, which faced decreased amounts of medical supplies, ventilators, pharmaceuticals, and beds allocated for cancer patients. In fact, COVID-19 patients are prioritized in healthcare facilities, leading to delays in cancer treatment. This makes it difficult for cancer patients to access the care and treatment they need.1

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Figure 1: Photo courtesy of Genentech.5

Delayed treatment can lead to complications for cancer patients as those who received treatment later than usual showed a decreased survival rate.

The disease may spread to other areas of the body, tumors may not be removable, and chemotherapy may not be as effective. Depending on the severity of the malignancy, necessary procedures should not be avoided or delayed due to pandemic circumstances.2 Although treatment should not be delayed, the high risk of COVID-19 exposure in healthcare sites must be considered against the need for treatment.1 Cancer patients who contracted COVID-19 within 30 days of receiving chemotherapy showed an increased risk of death.3 Overall, there was an increased risk of death by 25% in these patients, putting cancer patients at the highest risk for fatality from COVID-19.4 Other treatments such as immunotherapy, surgery, and radiotherapy did not show an increased risk of death.3

PANDEMIC A study conducted in New York City, a pandemic epicenter, investigated the effects of the virus on different cancers in the population. Common cancers within the U.S. population included in this study were lung, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancer. The pattern of increased risk of death with COVID-19 followed the overall known fatality rates of these cancers.4 The annual mortality for each cancer is as follows: “59.3% for lung cancer, 15.2% for breast cancer, 17.4% for prostate cancer, and 36% for colorectal cancer”.4 The mortality rates among COVID-19 patients within each of the common cancers investigated were “55% for lung cancer, 14% for breast cancer, 20% for prostate cancer, and 38% for colorectal cancer”.4

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These findings conclude that contracting COVID-19 increases the risk of death for cancer patients regardless of the type of cancer.

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During the pandemic, the number of individuals allowed to accompany the patient for consultations and treatments is limited. This restriction is due to the increased possibility of transmitting COVID-19 when more people enter and leave a healthcare site. To avoid this high possibility of transmission, hospitals and care facilities have decreased the number of clinic visits and may only allow the patient to come in alone, without family members who might usually accompany the patient. Patients may feel lonely during their hours of treatment or when receiving critical information about their progress during a consultation. There are many reasons cancer patients make frequent visits to the care site, including procedures such as surgeries, infusions, radiation therapy, imaging studies, and blood tests. Because it is still important for these visits to continue, the circumstances in which they occur have been vastly different.1 Continuing treatments with COVID-19 precautions creates many obstacles regarding access to healthcare and limitations during hospital visits.1 Ultimately, in comparison to a non-pandemic world,

Figure 2: (A) Obstacles in cancer care created by COVID-19 pandemic risks.

(B) Balancing cancer care with COVID-19 obstacles with new modalities including more testing, social distancing, telemedicine, advanced therapies, and vaccines. Photo courtesy of Alhalabi and Subbiah, 2020.6

cancer care during a pandemic leads to the possibility of negative effects from delayed treatment.2 Treatment options must be compared with the risk of COVID-19 exposure in each patient’s unique situation of disease severity. Living through a pandemic with an underlying condition like cancer has been a harsh reality many individuals face — a vastly different experience from individuals free of critical illnesses and underlying health conditions.

[1] Kutikov, A., Center, F., Weinberg, D., Edelman, M., Horwitz, E., Uzzo, R., & Fisher, R. (2020, June 2). A War on Two Fronts: Cancer Care in the Time of COVID-19. Annals of Internal Medicine. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-1133.

[2] Cortiula, F., Pettke, A., Bartoletti, M., Puglisi, F., & Helleday, T. (2020, March 19). Managing COVID-19 in the oncology clinic and avoiding the distraction effect. Annals of Oncology, 31(5), 553-555. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.annonc.2020.03.286.

[3] Yekedüz, E., Utkan, G., & Ürün, Y. (2020, October 6). A systematic review and meta-analysis: The effect of active cancer treatment on severity of COVID-19. European Journal of Cancer, 141, 92-104. https://doi.org/10.7326/M20-1133.

[4] Mehta, V., Goel, S., Kabarriti, R., Cole, D., Goldfinger, M., Acuna-Villaorduna, A., . . . Verma, A. (2020, July 10). Case Fatality Rate of Cancer Patients with COVID-19 in a New York Hospital System. Cancer Discovery, 10(7), 935-941. doi: 10.1158/2159-8290.CD-20-0516.

[5] Genentech. (2020, November 23). Personalized Cancer Care for All. https://www.gene.com/stories/personalized-cancercare-for-all?topic=personalized-health care.

[6] Alhalabi, O., & Subbiah, V. (2020, May 5). Managing Cancer Care during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Beyond.

Science & Society, 6(7), 533-535. https://doi.org/10.1016/j. trecan.2020.04.005.

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PANDEMIC

A Blast from the Past: Preventative Medicine During the Black Death

By Manal Riadi, Public Health Major, 2021

T

he COVID-19 pandemic is not the only known outbreak of an infectious disease. For several years, the bubonic plague caused some of the harshest outbreaks in history. Today, it is the most common infection developing from the bacterium Yersinia pestis, totaling 80% of Yersinia pestis-related cases worldwide.1 There have been three known waves centered around this disease.2 The second wave of the bubonic plague, famously known as the “Black Death” was recognized as a very fatal pandemic. This plague took over Europe and several nations in Asia and Africa. The height of the bubonic plague pandemic was between 1346 to 1351.1 Today, we know that the bubonic plague can pass on to humans from flea bites that have fed on infected vectors.1 However, in the 1300s, no one fully understood what the cause, treatment, or prevention for such a disease was. Doctors would even describe it as an instantaneous death for how fast it would end someone’s life.3 It was common for doctors to treat this disease with bloodletting and boil-lancing, which were both dangerous treatments. In addition, communities created treatments based on superstitions, such as aromatic herb burning or bathing in rosewater or vinegar solutions.4 It was also a common belief that the plague was a punishment from God for their sins and behavior.

Severe labor shortages for both farmers and skilled craftsmen caused a scarcity of food and supplies, which severely impacted them compared to those from a higher class. In some nations, like Italy, individuals lost their status in power, creating a middle class for the first time in written history.2 Those with higher status, such as royalty, noblemen, or clergymen, were not as impacted by the pandemic because they had more access to resources that protect against infection than the poor.5 In “Medical Care or Disciplinary Disclosures?

Preventive Measures against the Black Death in Late Medieval Paris: A Brief Review’’, Yong Jin Hong and

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A Plague Doctor during the Black Death. The beak-like mask contained herbs said to fight the widespread plague. Photo courtesy of The New England Journal of Medicine.6 Sam Hun Park examined how one’s position of power during the pandemic gave them more opportunity to obtain medical knowledge. They mainly observed a prescription plan written and published by the University of Paris called “Compendium de Epidemia” that was exclusively prescribed to the royal family and nobles. This book gave instructions on how to maintain health by practicing different regimens as preventative care. Surprisingly, some of these practices are still common today. The prescription plan was both politically and faith-based, primarily adopted from Islamic-Arabic academia. Some of the

PANDEMIC same resources were also used to create a better understanding of the pathogenesis of the disease.5 Information for this work was primarily influenced by the scholar Ibn Sina (who is also known as Avicenna).

Additionally, information on how to treat the disease was collected from physicians who made reports of the six major outbreaks that took place in France during this time.5 The “Compendium de Epidemia” primarily focused on preventative care and steered away from the causes of the disease since there was a limited understanding.

One of the main beliefs was that heat and humidity played a role in making the body vulnerable to disease and that it caused contracting the bubonic plague.

It was assumed that if one had a fever quite often, they were more likely to become ill. Hong and Park connected this to celestial phenomena. For example, interactions between the planets lead to a chain of causal relationships like the production of humidity, causing corruption to air.5 As a result, they concluded that this type of disruption infiltrated the heart and lungs, making an individual vulnerable to disease.

The prescription plan was designed to help prevent the body from facing the disease, advising individuals to not overwork their bodies to prevent them from producing heat and humidity. To practice this, they recommended treatments that are still common today. Practices included sleeping well, developing a habit of regular physical activity, and consuming a well-rounded diet of legumes. Mental health was also recognized to be a vital practice, encouraging individuals to develop habits of avoiding excessive anger, depression, and anxiety.5 Since it was common to believe that the Black Death was God’s will, the prescription plan also recommended people to adopt a life of faith, believing that a faith-based connection would also prevent illness.5 Hong and Park drew some interesting conclusions from their findings. Firstly, they recognized that this knowledge of early preventive medicine should not be treated as common medical knowledge of this era.

As mentioned before, the prescription plan was only provided for those of a higher status in society, and it was written entirely in Latin, making it inaccessible to the general public. Lastly, remedies such as eating a well-rounded diet were unrealistic for the lower class.

Overall, this helped the authors create a narrative of the social realities and issues that took place during the time of the pandemic. Another unique characteristic that the authors pointed out is how the prescription plan encouraged a life of faith rather than making any direct associations to religious faiths.

This was necessary during this time, especially when

crimes against Jewish communities and flagellants were prevalent.5 The Black Death was such a fatal pandemic that many believed it to be a punishment from God. It took a toll on many communities, especially those within the lower class. However, we can create a better narrative of the realities that took place by looking at sources such as the “Compendium de Epidemia”. Not only would we have a better idea of what happened in the past but we can also use these historical references to better equip us for the challenges that we face today.

A one-page manuscript created by Pierart dou Tielt showcasing the citizens of Tournai, Belgium, burying those who succumbed to the plague. Photo courtesy of Royal Library of Belgium.7 [1]

Plague FAQ | CDC. (2019, November 26). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/plague/faq/index.html Bramanti, B., Dean, K. R., Walløe, L., & Chr. Stenseth, N. (2019). The Third Plague Pandemic in Europe. Proceedings of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences, 286(1901), 20182429. https://doi.org/10.1098/ rspb.2018.2429.

[2]

Cohn, S. K. (2008). 4 Epidemiology of the Black Death and Successive Waves of Plague. Medical History, 52(S27), 74–100. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0025727300072100.

[3]

The Black Death may have transformed medieval societies in sub-Saharan Africa. (2019, March 7). Science | AAAS. https://www. sciencemag.org/news/2019/03/black-death-may-have-transformedmedieval societies-sub-saharan-africa.

[4]

Glatter, K. A., & Finkelman, P. (2020). History of the Plague: An Ancient Pandemic for the Age of COVID-19. The American Journal of Medicine, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2020.08.019.

[5]

Hong, Y. J., & Park, S. H. (2017). Medical Care or Disciplinary Discourses? Preventive Measures against the Black Death in Late Medieval Paris: A Brief Review. Iranian journal of public health, 46(3), 286–292.

[6]

Earnest, M. (2020). On Becoming a Plague Doctor. The New England Journal of Medicine. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp2011418.

[7]

dou Tielt, Pierart. Antiquitates Flandriae. 1353, Royal Library of Belgium, Belgium.

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PANDEMIC

The Psychological Impact of Quarantine During the COVID-19 Pandemic

By Sarah Singleton, Biochemistry Major, 2021

W

idespread measures have been taken since March of 2020 to slow the spread of COVID-19, including stay-at-home and quarantine orders.1 While the exact measures vary based on certain criteria such as state, population, number of cases, the instance of infection, and so on, residents around the globe are experiencing or have experienced a period of quarantine. With inperson events on hold, society has adjusted to a new virtual way of life. Today, online gatherings, online school, and remote work are commonplace, but what exactly are the effects of increased screen time and isolation on the human psyche? The prevalence of this protocol, or more specifically this new distanced and isolated lifestyle, demands an evaluation of its psychological effects. To understand the impacts, a brief review of the theories on short and long-term mental health effects, as well as the resources rising up to meet psychological needs, is necessary.

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The idea of quarantine is far from new. In fact, quarantining has been used as a way to isolate and slow the spread of infectious diseases since the bubonic plague, but more recently during the Spanish Flu in 1918-19 and the 2014 Ebola outbreak in West Africa.2 At the beginning of the current COVID-19 pandemic, Qiu et al. (2020) performed a countrywide survey that included 52,730 people in China and found that approximately 35% of the participants reported psychological distress.3 These results reinforce those of the Kaiser Family Foundation survey conducted in mid-July of 2020, in which 53% of adults in the USA report that their mental health has been negatively affected by the worry and stress of the pandemic, compared to the 32% reported about four months prior.4 Bonifacio et al. (2020) reflects on the fact that the, “...ambiguity and uncontrollability of the threat (e.g., the coronavirus), its invisible and unpredictable character, the lethality of the invader or the possible lack of rigor of the information given by the media may, by themselves, generate the same psychological alterations”.5 Of course, these negative emotions are not the crux of the issue, but rather the predecessors of anxiety, depression, and an increase of suicide rates.

The 2003 SARS epidemic in Hong Kong may act as a representative example of the situation, with feelings of social disengagement, anxiety, and fear of being a burden indicated as causes for the dramatic increase in suicide rates among the elderly.6 Other contributing factors include the length of the isolation period7, increase in screen time, and a predisposition to psychiatric disorders (Figure 1).8 According to Serafini et al. (2020), extended periods of quarantining create a prolonged state of stress, which can exacerbate existing conditions.7 A survey conducted with 150 physiotherapy students during the COVID-19 lockdown found that “48% of the students believe that excessive hours spent in front of the screen has affected their physical well being and 28.7% of students reported negative effects on their mental health”.8 While many students may find themselves in a situation where excessive screen time is unavoidable, the same survey found one factor that significantly decreased the negative effects of screen time: exercise.8 About 65% of the survey sample that exercised in some fashion reported positive effects on both mental and physical health.7

Figure 1: Summary of the most relevant psychological reactions in the general population related to COVID-19 infection. Adapted directly from Oxford University Press.7

PANDEMIC Another perspective on-screen time is posed by Saladino et al. (2020), who suggest that the rise of telepsychology and technological devices play an important role in decreasing the negative effects of the pandemic.9 These tools, which have never been as widely used as they are today, present benefits that could improve the psychological treatment of patients online and ameliorate the need for social connectedness. These benefits include the possibility to meet from home, saving money and time, and the ability to maintain a therapist-patient relationship despite the distance.9 Some suggest that the effects—both positive and negative—of quarantine and isolation associated with the pandemic will last far into the future. Although the exact long-term psychological repercussions are unknown, they may look something like PTSD.

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At the same time, online resources including online therapy have become more socially accepted and seem to be promising in terms of accessibility and consistency.

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Furthermore, increased positive personal experiences, such as increased time spent with loved ones due to the conditions created by the pandemic, have been reported along with the negative.5,9

The effects of increased screen time and isolation on the human psyche during the COVID-19 pandemic may include psychological distress, feelings of anxiety and stress, depression, and in some cases, an increase in suicide rates in high-risk populations; however, there are also some positive effects. First and foremost, the need for isolation has given rise to the popularity of telepsychology and telehealth services, which may save time and resources, as well as encourage attendance due to convenience.

Finally, many people have had an increase in positive personal experiences due to the conditions created by the pandemic.

Photo courtesy of everwell.10 [1]

World Health Organization. (2020, December 14). Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 Response. Timeline: WHO’s COVID-19 response. Retrieved January 13, 2021, from https://www. who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/ interactive-timeline?gclid=Cj0KCQiA0fr_BRDa ARIsAABw4Esu6kDnM8u1R36_HA4JWgbR9FkvtjxPqH5pIWGstS6m32935vATdMaAhKqEALw_wcB#event-1 15.

[2]

Brooks, Samantha, et al. (2020, March). The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence.

The Lancet,Volume 395, Issue 10227, 2020, Pages 912-920, ISSN 0140-6736, https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(20)30460-8.

[3]

Qiu, J., Shen, B., Zhao, M., Wang, Z., Xie, B., & Xu, Y. (2020).

A nationwide survey of psychological distress among Chinese people in the COVID-19 epidemic: implications and policy recommendations. General psychiatry, 33(2), e100213. https://doi. org/10.1136/gpsych-2020-100213.

[4]

Panchal N., et al. The Implications of COVID-19 for Mental Health and Substance Use. Kaiser Family Foundation. 21 April 2020.

[5]

Bonifacio, S., Valiente, R. M., Garcia-Escalera, J., Campagne, D. M., & Chorot, P. (2020). Psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic: Negative and positive effects in Spanish population during the mandatory national quarantine. Journal of Psychopathology and Clinical Psychology, 25(25), 1-21. 10.5944/ rppc.27569.

[6]

Yip, P. S. F., Cheung, Y. T., Chau, P. H., & Law, Y. W. (2010). The impact of epidemic outbreak: The case of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and suicide among older adults in Hong Kong.

Crisis: The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, 31(2), 86–92. https://doi.org/10.1027/0227-5910/a000015.

[7]

Serafini, G. (2020, June 30). The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on suicide rates. QJM: An International Journal of Medicine, Volume 113(Issue 10), Pages 707–712. https://doi. org/10.1093/qjmed/hcaa202.

[8]

Akulwar-Tajane, I. (2020). Rethinking Screen Time during COVID-19: Impact on Psychological Well-Being in Physiotherapy Students. International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Medicine Research, 4(4), 201-216. DOI: 10.26855/ ijcemr.2020.10.014.

[9]

Saladino, V., Algeri, D., & Vincenzo, A. (2020, October). The Psychological and Social Impact of Covid-19: New Perspectives of Well-Being. Frontiers in Psychology, 11(2), 2550. https://doi. org/10.3389/fpsyg.2020.577684.

[10] Fleming, C. (2021). Did You Know? Your Questions about Virtual Counseling Answered. everwell. Retrieved April 18, 2021, from https://www.everwellhamilton.ca/blog-counselling-psychotherapymental-health/questions-answered-about-virtual-counselling.

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PANDEMIC

COVID-19 in My Area: Chelsea, MA

By Dan L. Nguyen, Physics Major, 2024

Crowded homes and workplaces While social distancing is crucial to reduce infection rates, it is not possible for many Chelsea residents. People who live in crowded apartments or multigenerational households are put in dire situations if they test positive for COVID-19. The New York Times reported on heartbreaking incidences of people not having a place to quarantine safely: a

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young mother who disclosed her test result to her roommates was asked to leave; a man reported to have slept in his car to prevent infecting people at home; a restaurant manager who tested positive, but there was no room in her cramped living space for her to safely quarantine from family.1 The unsanitary living conditions that Chelsea residents endured stunned a Harvard researcher, who spent a summer following housing inspectors in Chelsea. She told the New York Times,

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I didn’t think conditions like this were happening in the 21st century. It reminded me of stories I heard of the late 1800s, at the beginning of sanitary reform, at the beginning of urbanization.

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s of April 22, 2020, Chelsea, Massachusetts, reported an alarming infection rate of 3,841 per 100,000 cases of COVID-19.1 I live in Chelsea, a densely populated town located a bridge away from Boston. With a population density three times higher than Boston, COVID-19 case counts quickly increased.2 Nearly half of the Chelsea population is foreign-born, most of whom were immigrants or refugees from Central America.3 It is also one of the most impoverished communities in Massachusetts, with a per capita income of $20,617 and 24% of the population living under the federal poverty line.3 In the commentary Disproportionate Impact of Covid-19 on Communities of Color, Dr. Sequist (a primary care doctor at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital who studies healthcare in Chelsea and the Navajo community) detailed the following main factors why the pandemic had been especially disastrous for underserved neighborhoods: crowded living and workplaces, economic distress, underlying health issues, and limited healthcare access.4 These elements are not unique to Chelsea as they describe many working-class cities that became coronavirus epicenters. I hope this article can bring attention to the challenges the people of Chelsea have endured and their resilience in the face of adversity.

Heavy reliance on public transportation and not having the luxury of remote working options meant high exposure to the virus is the reality of many workers.

City Manager Tom Ambrosino told WBUR, “They are crowded at home, at work, and on the way to work.”5 American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts reported that 80% of Chelsea’s working population are classified as essential workers.2 This means the average resident who must work throughout the shutdown is at high risk for infection due to crowded work settings where there are minimal protection supplies. As a result, they can put their family members, especially older seniors, at increased risk for infection.

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Small businesses in downtown Chelsea.

Economic distress As the national unemployment rate surged, the shutdown left many residents without jobs or income.

In a news article from Mass General Hospital (MGH), Ronald Fishman, the community coordinator at the Healthy Chelsea Coalition, reported a staggering unemployment rate of 24% in Chelsea, which peaked in October 2020 and is one of the highest rates in the country.6 MGH identifies “job insecurity” as one of the three most significant challenges for this particular community. The Economic Policy Institute (EPI) reported the socioeconomic effects on Latinx populations aggregated by the shutdown, detailing devastating job losses among Latinx workers, particularly women. The EPI stated, “As of April, the Latinx unemployment rate was 18.9%, compared with a white unemployment rate of 14.2%”.7 An important aspect the article demonstrates is the job loss between different industries. Many Chelsea residents work in the foodservice and hospitality industry, jobs for which are most likely to disappear during a shutdown.6 The leisure and hospitality industry, along with retail trade, are the two sectors experiencing the most considerable jobless rate, both of which Latinx women are heavily represented in.7

Furthermore, relief is less accessible for Latinxowned small businesses, despite being more likely to be impacted by shutdown than white-owned businesses.7 A survey showed that only a few Black and Latinx-owned businesses received loans during the first round of the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP).7 Specifically, WBUR reported, “A survey by the nonprofit East Boston Main Streets found that among 105 Latino-owned businesses, just five had been awarded a loan under the first round of PPP”.8 These businesses have one thing in common: they do not have a pre-existing relationship with a lender who would prioritize their claim.7 Neither financial relief nor support programs are widely accessible. City Manager Tom Ambrosino shared the pressing concern for the undocumented population on the WBUR Here and Now podcast. Undocumented workers, many of whom work in the most vulnerable industries, are ineligible for government benefits.

If they become unemployed, they will not have an income.5 In April 2020, city officials offered 157 hotel rooms in a nearby city in the hope of providing a safe place for individuals to quarantine if they tested positive, but only ten people signed up.1 Ambrosino believes the issue is because these programs “raise concerns that [anything that involves the government] is the first step toward deportation.”5

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Underlying health issues Dr. Sequitis noted a higher prevalence of comorbidities — including diabetes, heart failure, and kidney disease — contributing to poor clinical outcomes in working-class communities.4 He emphasized how “food swamps”, or areas with readily available unwholesome foods (e.g., fast food) that are far away from grocery stores, contribute to higher rates of obesity and chronic illnesses.4 During these times, food banks and community programs like Healthy Chelsea play a critical role. Local organizations, such as Feeding Chelsea, take issues with food insecurity into their own hands. They offer “weekly distributions of groceries, diapers, and other household and personal necessities to more than 3,000 community members each week.”9 A history of city developments created polluted inner cities for the working class, as is the case with Chelsea. Its proximity to Boston meant that Chelsea

is one significant contributing factor. Exposure to contaminated air from vehicles on the highway contributes to severe health issues. Additionally, the industrial environment with “massive fuel tanks, mountains of road salt, airport parking lots, industrial facilities, and a busy produce center” put nearby Chelsea residents at a higher risk of preexisting health conditions.10

Limited healthcare access Another pressing issue this pandemic brought to light is the lack of insurance among low-income people of color populations. The EPI reported that “Latinx workers are over three times as likely to be uninsured as white workers,” and undocumented workers being those who are most likely to be uninsured.7 Without insurance, people are much more likely to forgo treatments, get tested, and are more likely to wait until a health condition becomes severe to seek treatment.

For those who are able to receive medical treatment,

Tobin Bridge Highway near residential areas. Photo courtesy of MassDOT. residents experienced long-term exposure to air pollution. Exposure to air pollution “increases the risk of heart and respiratory disease, heart attacks, asthma attacks, bronchitis, and lung cancer,”7 which in turn increase risks for COVID-19-related complications.

The Tobin Bridge that connects Chelsea with Boston

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language barriers pose a problem for patients with limited English, as it can cause ineffective communication. Given the predominantly immigrant demographics of Chelsea, cultural incompetency and language barriers are common issues. Dr. Sequitis reported that “Across Mass General Brigham, 35% of

PANDEMIC attempted remote instructions at first, but really it wasn’t efficient.” He added, “Attendance is bad, students have complained about how they aren’t learning as well, anxiety and stress has risen.”

David, a freshman at Chelsea High, finds it difficult to make friends or find a support network through online schooling after moving from a different state.

As for myself, my high school years abruptly ended in March. Starting out college online is something I would have never guessed I would have to do. Like many students, I also have a hard time finding friends with online school.

Chelsea Collaborative Inc. Photo courtesy of Boston Globe. patients hospitalized with COVID-19 infection do not speak English as a primary language.”4 Dr. Sequitis believes that equitable healthcare means meeting every patients’ needs, including providing reliable interpreting services.

However, leadership from major MA hospitals and local organizations can make significant differences in the residents’ life during these difficult times.

Community care centers at Chelsea, like Beth Israel and MGH, have made testing free of charge.

MGH Chelsea opened a new Respiratory Infection Clinic to evaluate respiratory symptoms and offer care regardless of health insurance or immigration status.6 Local leadership such as La Colaborativa, an organization created with the mission of empowering Latinx immigrants, have made great strides during this time. The organization gives solutions to critical issues like housing emergencies, running a bilingual community hotline where residents can be connected to resources, creating jobs, and distributing more than $500,000 directly to families in need with One Chelsea Fund.9

Affects on Students This pandemic affected students like myself in different ways. As school shifted to remote instruction, our education was the most at stake. Abraham, a recent graduate of Chelsea High, reflected on his last months of online high school, “Yes, my school

As vaccine development progresses, the new year of 2021 promises new hope. Although a sense of normality may return as restrictions are lifted, failure to resolve social inequities in communities like Chelsea will take more than a vaccine to recover from.

[1] Ellen, B. (2020). In a Crowded City, Leaders Struggle to Separate the Sick From the Well. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/25/us/ coronavirus-chelsea-massachusetts.html [2] Nik, D. (2020). Why Chelsea has been so hard hit by coronavirus | Boston.com. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.boston.com/news/local-news/2020/04/10/ chelsea-massachusetts-coronavirus [3] Who We Are – Healthy Chelsea. (2020). Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://healthychelsea.org/who-weare/ [4] Sequist, T. (2020). The Disproportionate Impact of Covid-19 on Communities of Color | Catalyst non-issue content.

Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://catalyst.nejm.org/ doi/full/10.1056/CAT.20.0370 [5] WBUR. (2020). How COVID-19 Swept Through A Dense Massachusetts City [Radio]. Retrieved from https://www. wbur.org/hereandnow/2020/05/07/chelsea-mass-coronavirus [6] Hospital, M. (2020). The Impact of COVID-19 on Underserved Communities: Chelsea, MA and Healthy Chelsea. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.massgeneral. org/news/coronavirus/covid-19-impact-underservedcommunities-part-1 [7] Gould, E., Perez, D., & Wilson, V. (2020). Latinx workers— particularly women—face devastating job losses in the COVID-19 recession. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.epi.org/publication/latinx-workers-covid/ [8] Rios, S., & Zea, T. (2020). Mom-And-Pop Stores In Hard Hit Chelsea And Eastie Left Wondering: Where’s The Support?

[Radio]. Boston: WBUR. Retrieved from https://www.wbur. org/bostonomix/2020/05/12/small-businesses-chelsea-eastboston-coronavirus ppp [9] La Colaborativa (2020). Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.la-colaborativa.org/covid19 [10] Abraham, Y. (2020). In Chelsea, the deadly consequences of air pollution - The Boston Globe. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/29/metro/ chelsea-deadly-consequences-dirty-air/

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Navigating the Inequities of the COVID-19 Pandemic in Boston

By Kristin Meader, Public Hleath Major, 2022

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he COVID-19 pandemic has affected all Boston residents in some way—whether it be through virus exposure, business closures, overwhelmed medical facilities, or one of the numerous other ways the pandemic has impacted life. While the pandemic has presented challenges to many, not everyone is facing the same struggle, particularly in how different neighborhoods throughout Boston are navigating this new COVID-19 world. Recent data from the Boston Public Health Commission shows that the lowest positive test rates are found in Boston’s wealthier neighborhoods, such as Back Bay, which has a 4.5 percent positive test rate.1 On the other hand, lowincome neighborhoods, such as East Boston, are being hit much harder with a positive test rate at 16.5%—roughly four times higher than that of Back Bay.1 Looking at the data from the Boston Public Health Commission and the Boston Planning & Developing Agency Research Division, it is clear that an increase in a neighborhood’s median annual income leads to a decrease in COVID-19 cases, as seen in Chart 1. However, income is not the only factor causing inequities in the impacts of COVID-19 on Boston’s neighborhoods.

Racial health disparities have been present in Boston for decades, but the COVID-19 pandemic has magnified them. While Black residents make up a quarter of Boston’s population, they make up more than 40% of the city’s COVID-19 cases.1,2 Due to a series of systemic factors, Black residents have statistically lower education levels and income levels, and live in communities with denser housing and fewer resources.3 Together, these contributing factors have caused the rates of COVID-19 to be nearly 2.5 times higher in communities of color when compared to predominantly white communities.4 Civilians from Boston’s low-income communities and communities of color are more likely to have jobs that both increase their risk of exposure and are unlikely to offer the ability to work from home.4 These types of

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Photo courtesy of Boston Public Health Commission

jobs include cashiers, servers, and sanitation workers.

Data from the spring of 2020 showed roughly 33% of Boston’s Black and Latinx residents physically went to work, while less than 15% of white residents physically went to work.5 Additionally, hardly any of the businesses employing Black and Latinx residents provided them with adequate testing for, despite the high risk of exposure at these jobs.5 In addition to an increased risk of exposure at work, those from low-income communities and communities of color are more likely to rely on public transportation to get to and from work.5 Spending more time on buses and trains further increases their risk of infection. Furthermore, many people rely on public transportation to get around the city for work and other essential activities, such as grocery shopping. There are many disparities in food access, meaning that wholesome food is located further away from low-income communities and communities of color, making these residents more likely to take

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SCAN TO READ GRAPHS

Chart 1: Data from Boston Public Health Department & Boston Planning and Developing Agency Research Division.

public transportation to grocery stores.5 Low-income community members are also less likely to be able to stock up on groceries, causing them to take more frequent trips to the grocery store than those from Boston’s high-income neighborhoods.

Research also shows that Boston neighborhoods also have different attitudes about the pandemic depending on both neighborhood and ethnicity.6 One study found that predominantly white neighborhoods were less likely to support preventative measures such as following social distancing guidelines and wearing masks. The same neighborhoods were more likely to exhibit high-risk behaviors, such as eating out or having large gatherings, whereas communities of color—who saw greater risks of exposure to infection—were more likely to abide by social distancing guidelines.6 Following social distancing guidelines helps to reduce not only the devastating health effects of COVID-19 but the economic impacts as well.

COVID-19 has greatly impacted the city of Boston’s economy, as seen by the entire community. A quarter of Boston’s employed population spent some time unemployed during the pandemic and a fifth of Boston’s population reported that their income had declined by a large amount due to COVID-19.7 While the pandemic hurt many, it has not hurt everyone equally. COVID-19 has widened the racial wealth gap in Boston, a city with one of the nation’s largest racial wealth gaps.8 Latinx, Asian, and Black residents were much more likely to have lost income than white residents.7 While many people lost their income, Boston’s most affluent residents were more

likely to lose a small portion of their income, while those in the poorest neighborhoods were more likely to lose a large portion of their income.7 This pandemic has taken something from every resident of Boston. However, data and research make it abundantly clear that some people have suffered more than others, specifically those living in low-income communities and communities of color.

Centuries of systemic oppression and racism have placed them in a position where they encounter more socioeconomic challenges and risk factors of disease exposure. The COVID-19 pandemic has magnified the effects of health inequality and shown that now more than ever, there is a need for an active effort towards health equity and justice.

[1]

Boston COVID-19 Report - For the Week Ending 4/23/2020 (2020). Retrieved https://bphc.org/whatwedo/infectious-diseases/Documents/COVID19%20 Boston%20Report_2020_Week17.pdf

[2]

Nik, D. (2020). Why Chelsea has been so hard hit by coronavirus | Boston. com. Retrieved 29 November 2020, from https://www.boston.com/news/ local-news/2020/04/10/chelsea-massachusetts-coronavirus

[3]

Neighborhood Profiles (Boston Planning & Developing Agency Research Division.). (2017, August). Retrieved http://www.bostonplans.org/ getattachment/7987d9b4-193b-4749-8594-e41f1ae27719

[4]

Dooling, S. (2020, April 30). Why Some Boston Neighborhoods Have Been Hit Harder By The Pandemic Than Others. Retrieved January 14, 2021, from https://www.wbur.org/news/2020/04/30/covid-19-coronavirus-bostonneighborhoods

[5]

O’Brien et al. (2020). Living in Boston During COVID-19: Inequalities in Navigating a Pandemic (Rep. No. 1). Retrieved https://cssh.northeastern. edu/bari/wp-content/uploads/sites/30/2020/12/Report-1-Inequities-inNavigating-a-Pandemic-6.pdf

[6]

O’Brien et al. (2020). Living in Boston During COVID-19: Fear and Ambivalence (Rep. No. 2). Retrieved https://cssh.northeastern.edu/bari/wpcontent/uploads/sites/30/2020/12/Report-2-Fear-and-Ambivalence-1.pdf

[7]

O’Brien et al. (2020). Living in Boston During COVID-19: Economic Strains (Rep. No. 3). Retrieved https://cssh.northeastern.edu/bari/wp-content/ uploads/sites/30/2020/12/NSF-Report-3-Economic-Impact.pdf

[8]

Muñoz, A. P., Kim, M., Chang, M., Jackson, R. O., Hamilton, D., & Darity, W. A., Jr. (2015, March 15). The Color of Wealth in Boston (Rep.). Retrieved https://www.bostonfed.org/publications/one-time-pubs/color-of-wealth.aspx

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A Look into Conventional and mRNA Vaccines in Application to COVID-19

By Annie Chen, Biochemistry Major, 2021

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accines help the body to safely build immunity against disease by imitating an infection. The use of vaccines has drastically prevented infections including, but not limited to, measles, chickenpox, hepatitis B, tetanus, polio, and yearly influenza.

The conventional methods to develop vaccines include using (1) live, attenuated pathogens that use a weakened version of the living virus or bacteria to mimic the actual infection within individuals with healthy immune systems.4 Several examples of live, attenuated vaccines include those for measles, mumps, rubella, and chickenpox. (2) Inactivated pathogens also fight viruses and bacteria by deactivating the germ during the process of designing the vaccine; however, this method requires multiple doses to maintain immunity.4 An example of inactivated vaccines is used to prevent polio. (3) Subunit vaccines fight against viruses and bacteria by including essential antigens, rather than the entire parts of virus or bacteria, to mimic infection with fewer vaccine side effects.4 An example of a subunit vaccine includes the DTaP vaccine to prevent pertussis (whooping cough). (4) Finally, conjugated vaccines fight against bacteria by connecting or conjugating to a bacteria’s polysaccharide coating to allow the immune system to react.4 A conjugated vaccine was developed to prevent Haemophilus influenzae type B (Hib).

Although conventional vaccines have prevented certain types of infections, there are still obstacles to create vaccines that can prevent infectious pathogens that evade the immune system, can be applicable to non-infectious diseases such as cancer, and can be produced for rapid and large-scale use.3 Certainly, with the COVID-19 pandemic, there has been a rapid search and development of an effective vaccine against the spike protein, which is found on the surface of the virus and allows it to enter human cells.

Recent research has made strides in nucleic acid therapeutic interventions, including DNA-based and protein-based approaches, as emerging alternatives to conventional vaccines.3 Notably, the advent of

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messenger RNA (mRNA) for vaccine development provides promising safety, efficacy, and production benefits compared to conventional vaccines.

Messenger RNA is a single-stranded molecule that is transcribed (copied) from a strand of DNA and translated into proteins in the cytoplasm. In the first step, a template strand on the parental double-stranded DNA containing the genetic code is transcribed into single-stranded mRNA in the nucleus of the cell. Next, the mRNA travels from the nucleus to the cytoplasm where protein-synthesizing machinery, known as ribosomes, begin to “read” the RNA genetic code in groups of three nucleotides (known as codons) and creates proteins based on the genetic information. Finally, the cell carries the protein to designated locations where the protein performs its function.

The process of creating messenger RNA (mRNAs) and Proteins.

Photo courtesy of Moderna.

Ultimately, it is the synthesis of proteins from mRNA instructions separates the benefits of mRNAs from conventional methods of vaccine development, like using live and attenuated or inactivated pathogens.

The benefits of an mRNA vaccine include (1) no risk of infection with an mRNA vaccine as mRNA is noninfectious and non-integrating, but rather works by providing instructions to our cells to make proteins in the cytoplasm; (2) normal cellular degradation of mRNA which allows researchers to regulate the in vivo half-life of mRNAs through different delivery methods and avoid metabolic toxicity; (3) stability and high

PANDEMIC translatability of mRNAs allows efficient delivery of mRNA molecules through carrier molecules and rapid translatability in the cytoplasm; (4) minimal genetic vector of mRNA allows multiple administration of mRNA vaccines and avoids anti-vector immunity; and (5) rapid, inexpensive, and scalable manufacturing of mRNA vaccines due to high amounts of in vitro transcription reactions.3 The widespread use of mRNA vaccines is seen with the COVID-19 vaccine, which was developed rapidly with the help of worldwide collaboration and research funding. Two widely used COVID-19 vaccines developed by Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech work with the main principle of using the virus’s genetic instruction in mRNA form to build spike proteins. The virus that causes COVID-19 is termed SARS-CoV-2, which has studded spike proteins on its surface like a crown. The vaccine containing the fragile mRNA is wrapped in a lipid nanoparticle bubble, which fuse to our cells when injected.1,2 This fusion allows mRNA to enter our cells, prompting our cells to then read mRNA to build spike proteins and later degrade the mRNA.

Once spike proteins have been produced by the host cells and subsequently degraded, the fragments of spike proteins and proteins are taken up by an antigen-presenting cell.1,2 These antigen-presenting cells present the spike proteins on their surface, and this can activate immune cells including helper T cells, killer T cells and B cells. When B cells encounter the presented spike proteins and are activated by helper T cells, the B cells begin to proliferate and make antibodies against these spike proteins.1,2 This means if the SARS-CoV-2 enters the body, these antibodies bind to the virus’s spike proteins and this binding prevents the virus from entering our cells.

Left: Recognition and Activation of B cells to make antibodies.

Right: Activation of Killer T cells by AntigenPresenting Cells to Destroy infected cell.

Photo courtesy of New York Times.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine require two doses; however, the Moderna vaccine is given 28 days apart, whereas the Pfizer vaccine is given 21 days apart. The advances in nucleic acid therapeutics provides a promising future for mRNA vaccines.

[1] Corum, J., & Zimmer, C. (2020, December 05). How Moderna’s vaccine works. Retrieved February 26, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/health/ moderna-covid-19-vaccine.html.

Entry of Vaccine Particles (mRNA) into a Cell and Creating Spike Protein Fragments. Photo courtesy of New York Times.

[2] Corum, J., & Zimmer, C. (2020, December 05). How the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine works. Retrieved February 26, 2021, from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/ health/pfizer-biontech-covid-19-vaccine.html.

[3] Understanding vaccines and vaccine safety. (2015, November 30). Retrieved February 26, 2021, from https:// www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/conversations/providerresources-safetysheets.html.

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Can Seaweed Extract Help In the Fight Against COVID-19?

By Molly Riley, Biochemistry Major, 2023

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ith the COVID-19 pandemic continuing to surge around the world, researchers have been working tirelessly towards finding effective ways to impede disease symptoms and reduce viral spread. While the media has been focused on vaccine development efforts, some research teams have been working on discovering new antiviral alternatives to the current drugs on the market.

A study published by researchers Kwon et al. in Cell Discovery found that certain secondary metabolites extracted from brown seaweed produce antiviral properties that effectively prevent the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro.1 Many plants produce secondary metabolites as a defensive response to abiotic constraints such as stress or predation.2 These compounds produced by brown seaweed species have been found to be antibacterial, antioxidative, and even antiviral in nature.

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The study discovered that sulfated polysaccharides bind tightly to the S-protein of SARS-CoV-2 in vitro, which suggests that they can act as decoys to interfere with S-proteins binding to the receptor in host tissues, thereby inhibiting viral infection.3

The study also found that the seaweed extracts required a significantly lower concentration than Remdesivir to reduce the virus’s effectiveness to 50%.4 This suggests that this seaweed extract may be more effective at fighting against SARS-CoV-2 infection than the currently marketed antiviral drug, and since seaweed has low cytotoxicity, it has promising potential for clinical use.5 Naturally derived antivirals from plants may be a key player in the fight against viral pathogens in the future and further research should be conducted to explore the full potential of these findings. The potential naturally derived antivirals from plants has provided hope for the future fight against viral pathogens.

[1] Timothy Huzar, “COVID-19: Seaweed Extract May Be More Effective than Remdesivir,” Medical News Today (MediLexicon International), accessed February 11, 2021.

[2] Guerriero, Gea, Roberto Berni, J Armando MuñozSanchez, Fabio Apone, Eslam M Abdel-Salam, Ahmad A Qahtan, Abdulrahman A Alatar, et al. “Production of Plant Secondary Metabolites: Examples, Tips and Suggestions for Biotechnologists.” Genes. MDPI, June 20, 2018.

[3] Paul S. Kwon et al., “Sulfated Polysaccharides Effectively Inhibit SARS-CoV-2 in Vitro,” Nature News (Nature Publishing Group, July 24, 2020)).

HEALTH SCIENCES

A Case for Neuroaesthetics: How Our Brain Perceives Aesthetic Experiences

By Annie Chen, Biochemistry, 2021

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esthetic experiences permeate our daily lives by enriching our experiences and thereby creating a more fulfilling life. Some of us choose to paint, some choose to dance, while others choose to listen to music. The interesting question of how our brain perceives and judges art and aesthetic experiences paved the way for “neuroaesthetics”: the intersectional study of the brain and art.3 Although aesthetic objects themselves do not directly confer value for survival, they are an essential part of human culture.4 Art is an evolutionary imperative.

Through the reward, pleasure, and fear circuitry in the Photo courtesy of M. Dingman, Know Your Brain. brain, art helps us communicate and connect with others, which is crucial for our survival as species.3 Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder There are two views of the aesthetic experience: that causes progressive muscle slowness, shuffling 4 universality and subjectivity. The universality view gait, and balance problems. This progressive decrease communicates that there is a wide agreement in mobility also directly impacts the individual’s among individuals on the aesthetic value of objects. mental state. However, with the possibility of dance However, art is highly subjective and is susceptible to through programs like Dance for PD, individuals 4 cultural norms and exposure. Notably, the universal with Parkinson’s disease can experience physical, and subjective views are not mutually exclusive— emotional, and social benefits.3 subjective judgment can be consistent enough among a wide audience of individuals that it becomes There is significant potential for art to heal and empower. universal.4 Indeed, research has shown that experiencing or creating art spurs a dynamic interaction between brain The neural networks underlying our aesthetic cells.3 In many ways, art and aesthetic expressions reactions are conserved among individuals, with the hold the key to solving prevalent issues, including artworks that elicit the most “moving” responses stress and depression, and their benefits can help us leading to the activation of the default mode network create a more fulfilling life.3 (DMN) and, specifically, the anterior medial prefrontal cortex (aMPFC).4 The DMN is an interconnected group of brain structures that is active when a person is quietly resting or daydreaming, including but not limited to: the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobule.1,2 It is now understood that the DMN is also linked to social understandings of others, such as empathy, morality, and sense of meaning.2 For aesthetic experiences, the activation of the default mode network allows us to feel what the artist was feeling and elicits sensory and emotional reactions that are personally relevant.3,4 The benefits of aesthetic experiences are farreaching—from healing trauma with art therapy for veterans and service members to improving quality of life through dance for individuals with Parkinson’s disease (PD).3

[1] Dingman, M. (2015, June 17). Know Your Brain: Default Mode Network. Retrieved January 31, 2021.

[2] Li, W., Mai, X., & Liu, C. (2014). The default mode network and social understanding of others: what do brain connectivity studies tell us. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 8, 74.

[3] Magsamen S. (2019). Your Brain on Art: The Case for Neuroaesthetics. Cerebrum: the Dana forum on brain science, 2019, cer-07-19.

[4] Vessel, E.A., Starr, G. G., & Rubin, N. (2012). The brain on art: intense aesthetic experience activates the default mode network. Frontiers in human neuroscience, 6, 66.

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HEALTH SCIENCES

Intimate Partner Violence Against Black Women

By Vivian Le, Public Health, 2021

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“Women Who Look Ahead” by Monica Stewart

omestic violence is an issue that has long affected women and men in the United States. However, women are disproportionately the victims in these situations. The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence has estimated that nearly 1.3 million American women experience domestic violence (DV) and intimate partner violence (IPV) each year, and contributes to 85% of being victims of DV/IPV.1 The prevalence of intimate partner violence is the highest for Black women compared to other racial groups. This high rate can be explained by a number of societal reasons that afflict Black women specifically.

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Why Does IPV Disproportionately Affect Black Women?

Statistics show that Black women are almost three times as likely to experience death as a result of DV/IPV than their white counterparts.1 It has been recognized as one of the leading causes of death for Black women ages 15-35.1 Historically, Black women have been painted as less innocent, more independent, more knowledgeable about sex, and in less need of protection.2 As a result of these ingrained societal perceptions about Black women, they are rarely seen as victims in cases of abuse. They are instead seen as deserving of harm or unable to be harmed.2 These beliefs then lead to the high rates of violence against Black women, girls, and non-binary people. Intimate partner violence is known as criminal, but it also impacts public health, as those who experience it are more likely to develop mental health disorders, chronic diseases, and infections.3

Figure 1. Intimate partner homocide on the rise.

Photo courtesy of James Alan Fox.

With that being said, one in three Black Americans who need mental health treatment actually receive it. That is a number that needs to be increased, especially in the case of Black women who are coping with the aftermath of domestic abuse.4 When mental illness is left untreated it can have detrimental effects on both one’s mental and physical health. Not only do chronic mental health issues cause individuals to neglect their health, but the chronic stress that comes with mental illness is often associated with a higher risk of heart attacks, stroke, obesity, and premature death.5 In order to help prevent IPV against Black Women in the U.S., services and support for domestic violence victims — such as employment, housing, and educational services — must be provided.

Issue of Employment and Housing Black women are less likely to report or seek help when they are victimized, and even end up staying with their abuser because they are heavily dependent on them.1 Black women are one of the most affected groups of employment disparities. When struggling financially to make ends meet, these women are faced with the decision to stay with their abuser or live on the streets due to being either unemployed or having a low-paying job.

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Services that help domestic abuse victims, especially those who are Black, find jobs would be extremely helpful, as it would allow them to have the means to separate themselves from their abusers and continuous violence. Having a stable job can also give them the opportunity to find their own space, and if not, housing services should be provided for these women, so they no longer need to live with their abusers or live on the streets.

Community Influence and Stigma of IPV

help reduce the stigma of seeking help when Black women are in trouble. It is especially important to have these programs in low-income areas where domestic abuse against Black Women is most prevalent. This will provide a space to which they can turn when in need.

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Intimate partner violence is known as criminal, but it also impacts public health, as those who experience it are more likely to develop mental health disorders, chronic diseases, and infections.

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Homelessness is a major outcome that Black women might face when dealing with domestic violence and intimate partner violence. Black people may often experience discrimination from a landlord, from a housing program, or from healthcare providers.6 If a woman decides to leave her abuser to escape the torment and stress, she will face more trouble obtaining healthcare and housing services if she identifies as Black or African American due to discrimination.

Black women are also less likely to speak up against their abuse due to a strong sense of cultural affinity and loyalty to community and race.1 One of the biggest reasons Black women are reluctant to speak out is the lack of trust between Black people, the police, and the justice system. In most cases, the Black women who face abuse still have affection for their abusers.

Homicide Resulting from IPV

For that reason, they shy away from reporting their partner, as they are concerned about their abusers facing job loss or brutality from the criminal justice system.6 They are also scared of the backlash from members of their communities who believe speaking out against violence will make the Black community look bad.

Abusers with access to guns are five times more likely to kill their victims, and guns further establish the power and control dynamic used by abusers to inflict emotional abuse and exert coercive control over their victims.9 African-American women only make up about 13% of U.S. women, but comprise about half of the female homicide victims—the majority of whom were killed by current or former boyfriends or husbands.7 These homicides most often happen when the victim attempts to leave the abuser who reacts with aggression and violence.

For these reasons, it is important to fund and implement advocacy programs and supportive services for victims of DC/IPV.1 These programs can

Nearly half of all women who are murdered pass away at the hands of their partners. According to statistics from domestic violence groups, three women are killed every day by romantic partners.8

Table 1. Race/ethnicity, homicides, and IPV. Adapted from Everytown Research & Policy.

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African-American women only make up about 13% of U.S. women, but comprise about half of the female homicide victims.

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According to public health researchers, relationships where violence is present and the abuser has access to a gun significantly increases the risk of death for women.9 Gun violence is most prominent in highly populated, urban areas which are predominately made up of racial minorities, mainly Black and Hispanic people. When Black women have partners, who are both abusive and have access to a gun, their risk of injury and death is much greater.

A policy that would help immensely in reducing the homicide of Black women by guns would be reauthorizing the Violence Against Women Act that is currently facing a battle in the Senate.8,10 This bill includes a handful of measures that would tighten gun restrictions on individuals accused and convicted of domestic violence, thus making it illegal for individuals who are subject to temporary domestic violence protective orders to own a gun.8

[1] Jones, F. (2014, September 10). Ray Rice: Black Women Struggle more With Domestic Abuse. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from https://time.com/3313343/ray-rice-black-womendomestic-violence/.

[2] Finoh, M., & Sankofa, J. (2019, August 22). The Legal System Has Failed Black Girls, Women, And Non-Binary Survivors of Violence. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from https://www. aclu.org/blog/racial- justice/race-and-criminal-justice/legalsystem-has-failed-black-girls- women-and-non.

[3] Huffington Post. (2016, October 24). Domestic Violence Is a Major Public Health Problem in the U.S. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/domesticviolence-is-a-widespread- public-health-problem-in-theus_n_580e222ce4b02444efa44378.

[4] DuMonthier, A., & Childers, C., & Milli, J. (2017, June 7).

The Status of Black Women in the United States. Retrieved October 21, 2019, from https://iwpr.org/wp-content/ uploads/2017/06/The-Status-of- Black-Women-6.26.17.pdf.

[5] Young, J. L. (2015, December 30). Untreated Mental Illness. Retrieved November 16, 2019, from https://www. psychologytoday.com/us/blog/when-your-adult-childbreaks-your-heart/201512/untreated-mental-illness.

Adapted from Everytown Research & Policy.

Why IPV Against Black Women Needs to be Addressed If no action is done to help Black women against intimate partner violence, the high rates of deaths caused by it will continue to rise. Implementing these policies will help Black women who suffer from abuse from their partners find a way out from the situations that keep them stuck at the hands of their abusers.

They will not only be more open to opportunities that will let them leave, but they will also gain a voice that speaks out against violence.

By speaking out against domestic violence and implementing programs that help advocate for domestic abuse victims, the rates at which Black women suffer from IPV will diminish.

[6] Bradley, C. (2019, February 18). Organizations address domestic violence against black women. Retrieved November 16, 2019, from https://www.familyjusticecenter. org/organizations-address-domestic- violence-against-blackwomen/.

[7] O’Hara, M. E. (2017, April 11). Domestic Violence: Nearly Three U.S. Women Killed Every Day by Intimate Partners.

Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https://www.nbcnews. com/news/us-news/domestic- violence-nearly-three-u-swomen-killed-every-day-n745166.

[8] Jeltsen, M. (2019, April 11). Domestic Violence Murders Are Suddenly On The Rise. Retrieved November 26, 2019, from https://www.huffpost.com/entry/domestic-violence-murdersrising_n_5cae0d92e4b03ab9f24f2e6d.

[9] Everytown. (2019, October 17). Guns and Violence Against Women. Retrieved November 25, 2019, from https:// everytownresearch.org/reports/guns-intimate-partnerviolence/.

[10] Violence against women act. (n.d.). Retrieved April 02, 2021, from https://nnedv.org/content/violence-against-women-act/.

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HEALTH SCIENCES

Gender-Role Conflict and Male Help-Seeking for Depression

Murphy, S. (2019). Symptoms of Depression [Image]. The WHS Howl.

By Alyssa Cameron, Pyschology Major, 2023

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epression is a common mental illness that can be briefly described as frequent episodes of hopelessness, low self-esteem, depressed mood, and loss of interest or pleasure.1 Fortunately, depression is treatable. A wide variety of effective evidence-based treatment options are available for individuals suffering from depression, including cognitive-behavioral therapy, interpersonal therapy, and antidepressant medications. Treatment for depression is crucial given that when left untreated, it can lead to relationship issues, decreased work performance, chronic pain, and even suicide.1 Therefore, it is essential to dissolve any barriers getting in the way of depressed individuals getting the help they need. There are many roadblocks that may prevent individuals from getting effective treatment in the United States, especially for ethnic minorities and people living in poverty.1 However, some of these barriers are not as obvious as others.

Given the patriarchal structure of the United States, one may find it surprising that men in particular face a unique barrier to getting effective treatment for depression. Researchers have suggested that many men do not get the treatment for depression that they need as a result of the gender-role conflict. This

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conflict occurs when an individual thinks or behaves in a way that is incongruent with gender norms, resulting in increased levels of stress and negative feelings towards oneself. It has been theorized that gender-role conflict prohibits men from seeking help for depression because it is incongruent with male norms, such as self-reliance and emotional restriction.2 Engaging in help-seeking behaviors for depression may lead men to feel negatively towards themselves or worry about judgment from others.

Recent studies have provided additional evidence that this theory is valid. Cole & Ingram’s 2019 study on the relationship between gender-role conflict and men seeking help for depression begins the important work of recognizing the negative impacts of genderrole socialization and its effects on mental health.2 To test this theory, researchers had undergraduate male participants complete a gender-role conflict survey in which they scaled the degree to which they agreed or disagreed with various statements in order to measure the stress they experience related to conflict with masculine gender role socialization.

Participants were then asked to read a vignette about a man experiencing depressive symptoms and imagine that they were experiencing those

HEALTH SCIENCES

symptoms. Finally, participants completed a survey regarding their potential responses to experiencing those depressive symptoms by scaling the degree to which they were likely or unlikely to engage in various responses. Potential responses ranged from informal help-seeking, such as opening up to family or friends; professional help-seeking, such as meeting with a psychologist or psychiatrist; avoidant behaviors, such as drinking or partying; and self-help behaviors, such as journaling or meditating. The study found that increased gender-role conflict is associated with fewer self-help behaviors, informal help-seeking, professional help-seeking, and more avoidant behaviors.2 These results suggest that gender-role conflict plays a role in preventing men from seeking help from others or even helping themselves. Instead, they are more likely to avoid confronting their depressive symptoms and not seek support.

Although this study provides valuable information, it is not without flaws. The study looked at selfreported explicit measures. Scaling the degree to which you would potentially engage in a behavior is very different from actually engaging in said behavior.

This is of particular concern in this study because there many additional factors in the real world that can influence whether or not an individual seeks help for depression, such as financial means, work/ school schedule, and ease/abundance of access to support. Another issue to consider is the participants in the sample. All participants were undergraduate male college students from a U.S. Midwestern University.2 Studying participants from a wide range of geographic locations is particularly important when looking at gender-role conflict because the degree to which male gender norms are enforced differs greatly among different areas of the United States. Finally, there was no random assignment or manipulation, so we cannot claim that increased gender-role conflict causes decreased help-seeking for depression in men.

Research also shows that Boston neighborhoods also Despite these critiques, this study still serves as a stepping stone towards developing a stronger understanding of how gender-role conflict impacts men’s mental health. Similarly, this study proves as an important reminder that gender-role socialization can have negative impacts on an individual’s health.

Future directions may include studying how to decrease gender-role conflict when it comes to male help-seeking for depressive symptoms or studying the other ways in which gender-role conflict may negatively impact an individual’s health.

[1] American Psychological Association. (2016, October 1). Overcoming depression: How psychologists help with depressive disorders. https://www.apa.org/ topics/overcoming-depression.

[2] Cole, B. & Ingram, P. (2019). Where do I turn for help?

Gender role conflict, self-stigma, and college men’s help-seeking for depression. Psychology of Men and Masculinities, 21(3), 441-452. https://doi-org.ezproxy. simmons.edu/10.1037/men0000245.supp.

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Women in Veterinary Medicine: Where We Were and Where We’re Going

By Hannah Rice, Biology, 2021

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here is little known about the first female veterinarians, which seems odd now that the veterinary industry is heavily femaledominated. While Dr. Mignon Nicholson was the first known female veterinarian, graduating from McKillip Veterinary College in 1903, there were no records of her practicing.1 Seven years later, Dr. Elinor McGrath graduated from Chicago Veterinary College. This time, there were records of her practicing for about thirty years and becoming the first female member of the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA).2 In 1933, Dr. Patricia O’Connor Halloran helped pave the way for female veterinarians by becoming the first female zoo veterinarian.3 Dr. Mary Knight Dunlap graduated from Michigan State University the same year as Dr. Halloran and was also a trailblazer.3 Dr. Dunlap founded the Women’s Veterinary Association (WVA) with the intent of creating an encouraging collective environment for female veterinarians.3 However, it was not until 1949 when the first Black female veterinarians entered the field.1 Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb graduated from Tuskegee University School of Veterinary Medicine and Dr. Jane Hinton graduated from the University of Pennsylvania that same year.1 That leaves a 46-year gap between the time the first white female veterinarian graduated and the first Black female veterinarian graduated.

As of 2017, Black veterinarians make up only 2.1 percent of veterinarians in the United States.4 While the veterinary industry seems to be overcoming the gender gap, with female veterinarians making up about 61% of veterinarians in the United States, there is still work that needs to be done in terms of racial diversity, accessibility, and the gender pay gap.2

While the gender pay gap is low amongst newly graduated veterinarians, it develops over time and is most obvious among those who make over $100,000 a year.5 As of 2018, there was a 2-20% disparity depending on veterinary experience.5 One causative factor may be that 46.5% of veterinarians making this amount of income are practice owners, and males

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Source: Filippo, M. S. (2019, March 07). From groundbreakers to disease hunters to Nazi fighters: A look at notable female veterinarians on International Women’s Day. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.avma.org/news/press-releases/ groundbreakers-disease-hunters-nazi-fighters-look notable-female-veterinarians.

make up 59% of practice owners.5 Interestingly, regardless of gender, veterinarians with children have lower incomes on average.5 This can be explained by implicit bias in the hiring process. Those hiring are not looking for young veterinarians with young children because they think that parents prioritize family responsibilities over the practice.5 My hope is that as time passes and we keep demanding change through encouraging salary negotiations, making promotions and pay raises transparent, and encouraging women to move up in the hierarchy, the gender pay gap will eventually cease to exist.the medial prefrontal cortex, posterior cingulate cortex, and inferior parietal lobule.1,2 It is now understood that the DMN is also linked to social understandings of others, such as empathy, morality, and sense of meaning.2 For aesthetic experiences, the activation of the default mode network allows us to feel what the artist was feeling and elicits sensory and emotional reactions that are personally relevant.3,4 The benefits of aesthetic experiences are farreaching—from healing trauma with art therapy for veterans and service members to improving quality of life through of gender, veterinarians with children have lower incomes on average.5 This can be explained by implicit bias in the hiring process. Those hiring are not looking for young veterinarians with young children because they think that parents prioritize family

HEALTH SCIENCES responsibilities over the practice.5 My hope is that as time passes and we keep demanding change through encouraging salary negotiations, making promotions and pay raises transparent, and encouraging women to move up in the hierarchy, the gender pay gap will eventually cease to exist.

I am currently applying to veterinary school myself, and one of my personal career goals is to serve in the United States Army Veterinary Corps. The Army Veterinary Corps was created during World War I by President Woodrow Wilson with the National Defense Act of 1916.6 Captain Dr. Thais de Tienne was the first woman to be commissioned in the Army Veterinary Corps in 1945.1 This was three years before President Truman signed the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act in June of 1948, which fully recognized women as members of the armed forces.7 As I move forward in my quest to attend veterinary school and move into the profession, I look up to these women who have come before me and have given me the footing to stand. Dr. Dunlap, the founder of the WVA, once said, “It is the duty of a pioneer to blaze a trail, to set up markers for the guidance of those who come after.”1 I think that Dr. Dunlap, and those who came before her or followed in her footsteps, did just that. It will soon become the responsibility of myself, and those who come after me, to continue setting up markers and serving as examples for female leadership in veterinary medicine.

[1] Wuest, P. (2019, October 15). The History of Women in Veterinary Medicine in the U.S. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://todaysveterinarypractice.com/thehistory-of-women-in-veterinary-medicine-in-the-u-s/.

[2] Filippo, M. S. (2019, March 07). From groundbreakers to disease hunters to Nazi fighters: A look at notable female veterinarians on International Women’s Day. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www. avma.org/news/press-releases/groundbreakersdisease-hunters-nazi-fighters-look-notable femaleveterinarians.

[3] Cskopecce. (2019, March 18). James Herriot and 7 Other Famous Veterinarians Who Inspire Animal Lovers. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https:// www.sgu.edu/blog/veterinary/james-herriot-andother-famous veterinarians/.

[4] Why Mentors Matter - Especially for Black Veterinarians: One Doctor’s Story. (n.d.). Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.boehringeringelheim.us/news/news/why-role-models-matterblack-veterinarians-one doctors-story.

[5] Mattson, K. (2018, November 28). Mind the pay gaps.

Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.avma. org/javma-news/2018-12-15/mind-pay-gaps.

[6] Veterinary Medicine in the USA: War Drives Creation of Veterinary Schools. (2019, April 12). Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://cvm.msu.edu/vetschool-tails/ veterinary-medicine-in-the-usa-war-drives-creation-of veterinary-schools.

[7] Gorbulja-Maldonado, A. (2020, March 17). ‘We can do it:’ The history of women in military service. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.legion.org/ womenveterans/248582/%E2%80%98we-can-do-ithistory women-military-service.

“Dr. Jane Hinton” (mentioned at the end of the first paragraph) Source: File:Jane Hinton.jpg. (n.d.). Retrieved January 17, 2021, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Jane_Hinton.jpg

“The gap in mean starting salaries between male and female veterinarians has started to close in the past six years,” (talked about in the second paragraph). Source: Mattson, K. (2018, November 28). Mind the pay gaps. Retrieved January 02, 2021, from https://www.avma.org/ javma-news/2018-12-15/mind-pay-gaps.

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Meet a Neurobiologist at Harvard Medical School: Dr Celine Santiago

By Annie Chen, Biochemistry, 2021

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n my second year as a research assistant in Dr. David Ginty’s lab, I began to work closely with Celine Santiago as my research mentor. Before we worked together and got to know each other better, Celine and I had always been in close vicinity—we shared a working space with others in a four-person cubicle (I think it was called a ‘section’ and we were the best section) and we were in lab meetings together, just several seats apart. And of course, as a naive undergraduate working late hours at the lab, Celine was always there to help me fix the mistakes that I thought would lead to the end of my lab experience.

A few weeks after Celine became my mentor, I began to understand how she is so successful with her mentees.

In this interview, I asked Celine about her motivations as a research mentor and the secrets to her successful mentorship. Perhaps, for the readers, you can learn what to look for in a great research mentor and be inspired to start your own research experience.

What is your research interest at the Ginty lab?

Celine: I am interested in how the neural circuits that process the sense of touch develop, and in understanding the role of tactile experience in that process. From the earliest moments of life, we’re bombarded by tactile stimuli, and there’s compelling evidence that early tactile experiences play an important role in brain development, as sensory deprivation can have devastating and lifelong consequences on cognition and behavior. So I’m interested in how neural activity in the sensory neurons that detect gentle touch affects their development, and as a consequence, the development of other parts of the nervous system.

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Celine Santiago, Ph.D. Postdoctoral Fellow in Dr. David D. Ginty’s Laboratory Department of Neurobiology.

What sparked your interest in becoming a scientist?

Celine: I became interested in science in high school, thanks to two amazing teachers who taught the A.P. Chemistry and A.P. Biology classes at my school.

Through those two classes, I became fascinated by the mechanisms that underlie the ability of organisms to move, breathe, eat, and grow. The mysteries of developmental biology caught my attention right away—when I realized that all of the cells in an animal come from a single cell that contains all of the genetic information to make all of those various tissues and organs, it blew my mind. I wanted to understand how that could be possible. It wasn’t until college, however, that I realized that scientific research was a viable career option for me.

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Reach out to several faculty and don’t limit yourself to one particular research topic: keep an open mind. There’s a lot out there. It’s more important to find a good lab environment and a good mentor than it is to find a position that involves work on a particular research question at this stage.

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Section of mouse paw glabrous (non-hairy) skin. Touch sensory neurons (green) are found in close association with non-neuronal support cells (red). Image Courtesy of Celine Santiago.

What made you interested in mentoring undergraduate and graduate students?

Celine: Throughout my career, I have been lucky to have had amazing mentors who believed in me, inspired me, and helped me harness my curiosity and develop as a scientist. This has made all the difference—without them, I wouldn’t be doing this today. So it is really important to me to pay it forward and to provide that type of mentorship for others.

What does your mentorship look like? How do you work with students?

Celine: I want students to understand the big picture ideas that are related to the work that they’ll be doing and to understand how the experiments they will do contribute to those larger goals. That requires spending some time reading the literature, thinking deeply about experiments, attending lab meetings and other seminars, all of which I encourage them to do in addition to their bench work in the lab.

Every student is different and I’m slowly learning to be responsive to their different personalities and needs and to provide as much or as little hands-on help in the lab as they want, but I want to make sure they all know I’m available to help in any way if they need it.

Do you have any advice for undergraduates who are interested in science, and maybe graduate school, but not sure if this is the path they should take?

Celine: Try working in a lab as soon as you can.

The sooner you do it, the sooner you’ll know if this is something you want to pursue long-term. Reach out to several faculty and don’t limit yourself to one particular research topic: keep an open mind.

There’s a lot out there. It’s more important to find a good lab environment and a good mentor than it is to find a position that involves work on a particular research question at this stage.

What are your future plans and goals in your career?

Celine: My goal is to lead my own lab at an academic research institution and to continue mentoring the next generation of scientists, working on the questions that fill me with wonder and that initially drew me to this path.

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SIMSCENES

STEM Scholars in the Passionate Leaders Program

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he Passionate Leaders Project (PLP) supports undergraduate students seeking to enrich their academic and professional interests by funding learning opportunities beyond the boundaries of the traditional classroom. Students may request up to $4,000 through the PLP to fund a variety of activities, including, but not limited to: global experiences, research, internships, service projects, and creative endeavors. For more information, visit simmons.edu/plp.

Bethany Arabic, Biochemistry major and Biostatistics minor, Class of 2021

Bethany Arabic

What is your project?

My PLP project focuses on the effects of three PFAS (per and polyfluoroalkyl substances) known as PFOA, PFOS, and GenX. These are persistent, organic pollutants, which have been used to manufacture a variety of products from Teflon and military equipment to dental floss and microwave popcorn bags. The most common sources of exposure are contaminated food and drinking water. These chemicals bioaccumulate in humans and remain in the body for about ten years.

Epidemiological studies have demonstrated links between PFAS exposure and various pathologies, however, the molecular mechanisms between these correlative studies are poorly understood. Exposure

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to these pollutants has shown links to infertility, bodyweight reduction, hormone disruption, hepatic cancers, testicular cancers, and endometriosis. There is still much to be learned about the possible cellular mechanisms of action of PFAS. Overall, through scratch wound assays, a comprehensive literature review, and data analysis, my PLP project works to address the effects of PFOA, PFOS, and GenX on cell growth, movement, gene expression, and overall human health. We suspect PFOA, PFOS, and GenX increase the expression of genes involved in cell growth and movement, leading to the adverse effects seen, so I am working to identify these key changes in gene expression.

What made you want to apply to PLP? I started working with Dr. Cassandra Saitow on this research in May 2018. I felt the Passionate Leaders Program would be a natural extension of this project and would give me the opportunity to dive even deeper into this research. I was so thankful a program like this existed at Simmons, where students can pursue their own projects that excite them.

What did you get out of this experience?

Dr. Saitow and I composed a scientific review article, which encompasses the results of this project and we are currently searching for journals to publish it in. The PLP allowed me to gain experience with

SIMSSCENES scientific writing and communication. My favorite part of the program was how it permitted me to develop a relationship with my mentor, Dr. Saitow. This mentoring experience is so valuable and something that is often lacking at larger institutions. I appreciate that PLP allowed for my mentor to not only provide me with advice about the project but also career advice.

What advice do you have for younger students?

Have confidence in yourself! Always apply for different programs, like PLP and SURPASs (Summer Undergraduate Research Program at Simmons).

Sometimes students are scared to apply to these programs for fear of rejection. However, some of the best and most rewarding experiences, which have allowed me to grow the most as a student and leader, are because I stepped out of my comfort zone and submitted applications (no matter how scary it can be). My last piece of advice is to use your Simmons network and upperclassman students as mentors.

You can always feel free to reach out to me about applying to different research programs (I have also had summer research experiences at Brown University as well and can speak to the process of applying externally for research experiences.). Do not limit your options!

Kathryn Mansour, Biochemistry major and Public Health minor, Class of 2021

What is your project?

I am currently involved in two projects with the Priebe Laboratory at Boston Children’s Hospital. Both projects involve evolved variants of members of Burkholderia cepacia complex (Bcc), which is a collection of pathogenic genomovars that have high comorbidity and co-mortality rates amongst patients with cystic fibrosis. These variants carry mutations that increase resistance to both antibiotics and disinfectants.

The first study is a genomic characterization of a Burkholderia contaminans outbreak and the second

study is an investigation into the relationship between two mutant genes in Burkholderia dolosa.

What made you want to apply to PLP? Many internships available in hospital settings require students to either find their own funding or students are compensated with course credits only. The PLP grant offered me the chance to gain the experience I was seeking, earn course credits required for my senior capstone, and provided me with a stipend.

What did you get out of this experience?

I have gained so much from being a PLP scholar and working in the Priebe Laboratory. This experience helped me navigate the process of applying for grants, which includes developing a budget and writing impact statements. In addition, I am continuously learning new lab techniques through this internship, such as qPCR, macrophage invasion assays, minimum inhibitory concentration inhibitoconcentration assays, and cloning techniques. I have also been able to further develop my communication skills by presenting my research in our weekly lab meetings and working one-on-one with my supervisor to edit drafts of my senior capstone papers.

What advice do you have for younger students?

Working in an encouraging environment, where I feel free to ask questions and make mistakes, is more important to me than anything else. I would encourage students to focus on finding opportunities where they feel comfortable learning and are supported by mentors that both challenge and uplift them. I would also encourage students to reach out to their professors and classmates, because they can help you navigate finding internships and other opportunities, such as the PLP. Also, keep in mind that your path is your own and it is important not to compare yourself to others as you look for internships, thesis placements, and other opportunities.

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