There was a recent call by the World Health Organization for innovative technologies that address global health concerns. The enteries were reviewed by an expert panel and narrowed down to a handful that met the criteria for the call. Applicants were graded on the type of device, health concern, developmental stage, whether or not the product can be commercialized, the purpose of the technology, where it can be used (i.e. users or health centers) and the list continues…
All of the following address major health concerns, yet I believe it would have been great to see technologies that address the issue of clean water, containment of TB from becoming drug resistant, and even remote disease management (aside from SMS to prevent smoking).
My personal favorites include: the isothermal nucleic acid amplification system for TB diagnosis, the decision support system for paediatrics HIV and the transcutanous anaemia monitoring system.
1.1 Stool sample collection and preparation kit
The intended purpose* of the stool sample collection and preparation kit is to simplify faecal examination by reducing the number of consumables and steps required for the procedure. The kit could therefore facilitate the diagnosis of parasitological diseases. Additionally, the kit does not appear to require water or electricity, and is claimed to prevent recontamination of the environment.
1.2 LED phototherapy unit
The intended purpose* of the LED phototherapy unit is to treat hyperbilirubinaemia in newborn infants by phototherapy. The unit could increase the safety of the procedure by using a radiation source that produces blue light and minimizes the exposure to harmful ultraviolet radiation. Further potential advantages are that the unit measures the actual output of light at the useful wavelengths and is claimed to have lower energy consumption than previous designs.
1.3 System for on-site production of wound irrigation solution
The intended purpose* of the system for on-site production of wound irrigation solution is to produce aqueous solutions for the topical treatment of wounds and infections using a power source, demineralised water and salt. Solutions produced by the system could be used to treat a host of conditions including traumatic injuries, post-natal infections and neglected tropical diseases that cause ulcerations and infections.
her potential advantages are that the unit measures the actual output of light at the useful wavelengths and is claimed to have lower energy consumption than previous designs.
1.4 SMS smoking cessation system
The intended purpose* of the SMS smoking cessation system is to provide tailored SMS-based smoking cessation support to its users. According to preliminary research submitted, the system facilitates self-management of smoking cessation and increases the likelihood of user adherence to smoking cessation programs. The interactive system claims to be capable of answering messages about craving to support the user.
1.5 Reusable neonatal suction system
The intended purpose* of the reusable neonatal suction system is to remove obstructive mucus from the air passages in newborn infants to reduce the risk of asphyxia and to support neonatal resuscitation. The device is claimed to be reusable and capable of being cleaned and boiled between uses. The device is claimed to be made of durable silicone and not to require electric power.
1.6 Fluorescence visualization system for cancer screening
The intended purpose* of the fluorescence visualization system for cancer screening is to use the natural fluorescence of mucosal tissues when excited by a violet/blue light, to inform clinicians about the presence of abnormalities in the mucosa in the oral cavity. This system could aid in the early detection of oral/oropharyngeal cancers and thereby reduce morbidity and mortality associated with these diseases.
1.7 Transcutaneous bilirubin measurement system
The intended purpose* of the transcutaneous bilirubin measurement system is to provide an alternative to blood sample analysis for the diagnosis of hyperbilirubinaemia in newborn infants. The system uses spectral analysis of light reflected from the patient’s vascular bed to determine levels of bilirubin in the blood. The device is claimed to be non-invasive and to rapidly give a read-out.
1.8 Isothermal nucleic acid amplification system for tuberculosis diagnosis
The intended purpose* of the isothermal nucleic acid amplification system for tuberculosis diagnosis is to offer a point-of-care alternative to sputum smear microscopy for the diagnosis of tuberculosis. The technology is claimed not to require any additional equipment and to yield a rapid visual read out of the diagnostic result.
2.1 Simplified anaesthesia unit
The intended purpose* of the simplified anaesthesia unit is to function as an anaesthesia machine for surgical use in low resources settings. The device features an innovative valve system with reduced technical complexity compared to traditional devices. The device is claimed to function with oxygen from different sources, including ambient air and therefore would not require compressed oxygen.
2.2 Single use assistive vaginal delivery system
The intended purpose* of the single use assistive vaginal delivery system is to assist fetus extraction in cases of prolonged second stages of labour without having to use forceps, to use a vacuum extractor or to resort to caesarean sectioning. The lack of rigid instruments in the system is claimed to reduce the risk of injury to both mother and child.
2.3 Portable on site cell sorter and counter for HIV and malaria diagnosis
The intended purpose* of the portable on site cell sorter and counter for HIV and malaria diagnosis, a lab-on-a-chip device, is to monitor AIDS in HIV-infected people as well as blood cell alterations indicating malaria. The system appears to be a small and portable device that would allow for rapid automated screening of a blood sample for indicators of AIDS and/or malaria.
2.4 Decision support system for paediatrics HIV
The intended purpose* of the decision support system for paediatrics HIV is to move away from paper-based medical records while ensuring easy and reliable access to patient-centred information. This electronic health records system is targeted at paediatric HIV cases and is intended to aid clinical decision-making processes such as weight-based dosing support for antiretroviral drugs.
2.5 Transcutaneous anaemia monitoring system
The intended purpose* of the transcutaneous anaemia monitoring system is to screen populations for insufficient levels of haemoglobin in the blood and to carry out diagnosis of severe anaemia. The system is claimed to be based on spectrophotometric analysis. The device appears to be portable, non-invasive and is claimed to give a read-out in less than a minute.
2.6 Solar-powered autoclave
The intended purpose* of the solar-powered autoclave, is to sterilize medical instruments. It is claimed to run solely on solar power. This technology could allow sterilization of medical instruments in remote rural areas with no access to electricity and hence reduce the risk of infections associated with carrying out medical interventions with dirty equipment.
2.7 Portable infant warmer
The intended purpose* of the portable infant warmer is to improve the care of premature and low-birth-weight babies by providing heat at a constant temperature in order to prevent hypothermia. This portable device is claimed not to require electricity and would allow for close mother-to-baby contact. The product is targeted for use in urban and rural healthcare settings, and in home settings.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
For the past few years I have become more and more convinced that the burden of many diseases can decrease simply through prevention and early detection. This came through my involvement in UC Irvine’s Spot a Spot program, which is the main educational component of the National Melanoma Awareness Project. At its inception in 2003, this project was known as the Joel Myers Awareness Project in memory of young UC Irvine medical student who died from melanoma. Since that time, the “Spot a Spot. Save a life” curriculum has been extended to across the country and taught 14,695 students from 2009-2010, which adds to nearly 50,000 students taught since 2003.
Some of the projects have included teaching middle school and high school students, junior life guards, and my personal favorite, going to Paul Mitchell School of Hair Design to teach young hair stylists how to spot a melanoma on their clients’ heads. The truth is when was the last time we checked our head for a melanoma?
Malignant melanoma is the second most common cancer seen in the adolescent and young adult population in the United States and accounts for 11% of all malignant cancers seen in this age group (age 15-39). I will not go through all the statistics, just check out the Skin Cancer Foundation for solid facts.
What I do what to stress is that earlier detection, combined with improved treatment options, results in greatly improved survival outcomes. In fact, melanoma in 10- to 39-year olds is highly curable with 5-year survival rates exceeding 90%.
My motivation to write a quick blog post on this subject came as a result of an article in Vanity Fair on the Environmental Working Group’s recent study on sunscreen. The article quotes “almost half of the 500 most popular sunscreen products may actually increase the speed at which malignant cells develop and spread skin cancer because they contain vitamin A or its derivatives.”
To add fuel to the fire, researchers from the University of Minnesota’s School of Public Health and Masonic Cancer Center claim that there is a link between use of indoor tanning devices to increased risk of melanoma, the most serious form of skin cancer. However, the data is now being challenged by the Sunbed Association which outlines their claims in a recent press release.
Yet through all this controversy, there are two simple ways which you can early detect melanoma: the ABCDEs of Melanoma and the Ugly Duckling.
ABCDEs of Melanoma
Consult your dermatologist immediately if any of your moles or pigmented spots exhibit:
One half is unlike the other half.
An irregular, scalloped, or poorly defined border.
Is varied from one area to another; has shades of tan, brown, or black; is sometimes white, red, or blue.
Melanomas usually are greater than 6mm (the size of a pencil eraser) when diagnosed, but they can be smaller.
A mole or skin lesion that looks different from the rest or is changing in size, shape, or color.
(American Academy of Dermatology)
Ugly Duckling
I personally think both methods are great tools for early detecting melanoma. However, to the untrained eye, the Ugly Duckling method has been tested to have been a useful tool as a sign for melanoma screening (Arch Dermatol. 2008;144(1):58-64).
As much as we are told to stay out of the sun, wear protective clothing, or even use sun screen, your biggest tool in the fight against cancer is to early detecting melanoma by “knowing your skin.” (Dr. Leonard Sender)
*tshirt designed by Marc Jacobs to raise awareness about the deadly skin cancer and benefit melanoma research at the NYU Cancer Institute at NYU Langone Medical Center.
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After reading the reviews given by Christakis, author of Connected, and Taleb, author if Black Swan, two books which I enjoyed, I was excited to read Barabasi’s Bursts: The Hidden Pattern Behind Everything We Do. Unfortunately, I missed the Linked train and felt a little more compelled to read Barabasi’s next hit. The book itself had the right intentions in captivating a novice audience for a subject that has been purely dominated by mathematicians. For right now, however, I will refrain from writing a book review. If you would like one, I would recommend Columbia Professor Andrew Gelman’s full review of the book (thanks Johan).
What I did want to write about was an interesting study that Barabasi highlights from the John Radcliff Hospital in Oxford England. The report published in the British Medical Journal describes that with nearly 70 emergency cases, on July 16 there was an unusually low amount of cases at the emergency room. Interestingly enough this was also the launch dates of two Harry Potter books—TheOrder of the Phoenix and The Half-Blood Prince—Saturday 21 June 2003 and Saturday 16 July 2005.
The numbers dont lie. The mean attendancerate for children aged 7-15 years during the control weekendswas 67.4 (SD 10.4). For the two intervention weekends the attendancerates were 36 and 37 (mean 36.5, SD 0.7). This represents asignificant decrease in attendances on the intervention weekends,as both are greater than two SD from the mean control attendancerate and an unpaired t test gives a t value of 14.2 (P <0.0001). At no other point during the three year surveillanceperiod was attendance that low.
The take away, “…all we need are ‘safety-conscious, talented writers who could produce high quality books for the purpose of injury prevention.’”
I wonder how many women avoided the emergency room when Twilight launched?
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I wanted to take a moment to share my thoughts and photos that I took of the current Red Shirt protests in Bangkok. Mind you that this was all taken a few weeks ago and since then the demonstrations and protesting have increased.
For the most part, the protests that we have seen have been non-violet. We actually saw many signs that stressed that this was a non-violent protest. Many reports have indicated that the violence last week, which lead to the death of about 25 individuals including a Reuters cameraman, where a result of anarchists. The definition of an anarchist here was not clearly defined and it is not known whether or not any of these individuals were Red Shirt supporters. Also, there have been reports of small bombings occurring on the side of the streets and yesterday a grenade being thrown. Tragic.
Okay, quick synopsis of what is going on from an outsiders perspective. There have been recent corruption accusations of the current government and discontent of the 2006 coup, which was supported by the Yellow Shirts (People’s Alliance for Democracy, PAD) that is comprised of businessmen and middle to upperclass. The Red Shirts, known as the National United Front of Democracy Against Dictatorship (UDD), representing the poorer classes, are supported by the former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was ousted in a bloodless military coup in 2006 and has pending corruption convictions. After speaking to local Thai citizens, we were informed that the Red Shirts are provided with free water and food, and even cash to pay for any long distance travel expenses. According to CNN, Shinawatra fled the country in 2008 while facing trial on corruption charges that he says were politically motivated. As strong as the Red Shirts are right now in dominating the streets of Bangkok, the Yellow Shirts have given the government until this Sunday to calm the Red Shirt protests otherwise Thailand will be seeing counter-protests.
Thailand is ruled by a highly admired and revered King Bhumibol Adulyadej, or Rama IX. He has been the longest reigning king in the history of Thailand – almost 64 years. There were two rules that were clearly stressed to us as a tourists in Thailand- 1) do not disrespect the Buddha and 2) do not respect the king. Trust me, I think more people had photos of the king around their cities, shops and homes than of their own family members. According to the NY Times, King Adulyadej, who has no political position, has been in and out of the hospital since September and has not commented on the current situation.
(photo from flickr)
When speaking to the Thai people we encountered, many are not happy with the protests. It has been very difficult on the Thai economy as tourism makes for 7% of the countries GDP and forecasts predict that it will drop as a result of the protests.
From my understanding the entire country is divided and there is a complete other half of the population which is in support of the Red Shirt protests. Demonstrations began in patches and became active with more than a 100,000 people camping the streets of Bangkok starting in March 2010. Day and night you can see people driving around the streets to demonstrate their support for Shinawatra.
As a tourist the most difficult thing was catching a taxi to go through the center of the city. Many taxis simply drove off, quoted us outrageous prices or took longer detours.
Although my understanding of the conflict in Thailand is still foggy, the fact that millions throughout the country are demonstrating for something they potentially believe is right has been inspiring. The difficult part to judge is whether or not the facts are true or maybe the supporters have been simply uninformed? I am certainly the last person to know. Coincidentally, I had been reading the work of Howard Zinn during the time of the protests and I was reminded of the individuals in our history who have stood up for their rights that we today take for granted- voting, minimum wage, good working conditions, etc… I believe that if the Red Shirt supporters have a voice, then it needs to be heard through non-violent demonstrations. They must stand up for what they believe in. However, whether or not the Red Shirts are fighting for the right cause I cannot say, I just hope that the results of this ordeal bring to Thailand the continued growth and development it deserves. When Alan Moore wrote V for Vendetta, he said “People shouldn’t be afraid of their government. Governments should be afraid of their people.”
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
Today you can almost get a free education (minus the degree) by podcasting or webcasting some of the best lectures from MIT, Berkeley and Harvard. However, without prior knowledge, it can be difficult to watch/listen to a lecture and understand what is going on at these high level academic institutions.
The Khan Academy is a true revolution in the way we understand academia. I can attest to it as all my younger cousins have used it as an excellent reference to supplement their classroom learning. Actually, it has been such an amazing resource that they claim that these lectures are even better than what their teachers teach them. The Khan Academy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission of providing a high quality education to anyone, anywhere.
Yet, what makes The Khan Academy any different from other online lectures? The fundamental level of communication- using Paint Brush.
With over 1000+ videos on YouTube, and some videos having up to 200,000 hits and lasting up to 10 minutes per lecture, Salman Khan (not the Indian actor)has been able to create a true “open education system.” Originally the videos were put up for Mr. Khan to tutor his younger cousin who lived across the country, but little by little the videos began to pick up.
Subjects range from the Math (Calculus, Arithmetic, Trigonometry, Linear Algebra, Differential Equations, etc) to Biology, Chemistry, Banking, Finance, and Economics. Everything is literally covered and subjects are growing everyday.
Here, for example, is an excellent lecture on one of my favorite subjects that I constantly help my cousins with: Trigonometric Identities.
I’ve definitely become a big fan of The Khan Academy. Along with excellent efforts by Teach for America and AmeriCorps, the Khan Academy is an invaluable asset to the academic environment. This project is exciting because it simply reaffirms my belief that human nature is naturally altruistic. Finally, I am a massive proponent on free education and it being held to the highest standard. Investment into the education and health of this country need to be two of the most fundamental concepts supported by our legislators and leaders.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
What is the longest road trip you have ever taken? LA to SF? LA to Denver? Chicago? NYC?
How about London to Rome? Cairo? Darfur? Nairobi? Cape Town?
This is just a brief outline of an incredible road trip a friend of mine, Ryan Sanderson-Smith, a fellow classmate from Cambridge and South African native, is doing. He is on a mission to not only live his wildest dreams driving in a 1989 Toyota Landcruiser but also to add a cause to it.
Unlike many of our class mates who have decided to go forward in completing a PhD, MD or work in a consulting company/bank/startup, Ryan decided to take a road trip with to raise money for SolarAid- a charity that fights global poverty and climate change with solar power. He and two others are currently traveling to various SolarAid projects. SolarAid was in fact one of the charities we were in discussion with during the summer of 2008 when we were involved with the Amex Member’s Project.
I recently had a chance to catch up with Ryan. Here is what he had to say (with his massively thick South African accent of course)-
“we’re having an absolute blast, hittin africa hard.driving around in a landcruiser with 2 rooftop tents on it, 2 spare wheels, a long range fuel tank (175 litres); and 4 solar panels on the roof that powers the engine cooling fan, power steering, stereo and charges our laptops, phones, any other electronics, and a kettle! which means we use less diesel.”
We drove through france and italy in 6 days. then a week in tunisia visiting desert oases full of dates and salt pans. then a week in Libya visiting lots of roman and greek ruins (but ironically it rained the whole time). Then just over a month in Egypt traveling down the nile and going to the sinai peninsula. and have now been in sudan for a month, mostly in the capital khartoum where the blue and white nile meet.
The best part has been the people. they have been so kind, friendly, hospitable and friendly. have quickly made friends, who are showing us around sudan in style. next we will go to ethiopia, kenya, uganda, rwanda, tanzania, zambia, zimbabwe, malawi, mozambique and back home to south africa.”
All I can say is next time book me a spot for the trip! It’s fascinating to know that almost everything that they are using- cooling fans, mobile, laptops, kettle, camera, stereo, etc- are all powered by solar.
In honor of Michael Pollan’s (author of In Defense of Food and The Omnivore’s Dilemma) new book Food Rules: An Eater’s Manual, I’d like to share a hilarious poem.
Ladies and diners I make you
A shameful, degrading confession.
A deed of disgrace in the name of good taste
Though I did it, I meant no aggression.
I had planted a garden last April
And lovingly sang it a ballad.
But later in June beneath a full moon
Forgive me, I wanted a salad!
So I slipped out and fondled a carrot
Caressing its feathery top.
With the force of a brute I tore out the root!
It whimpered and came with a pop!
Then laying my hand on a radish
I jerked and it left a small crater.
Then with the blade of my True Value spade
I exhumed a slumbering tater!
Celery I plucked, I twisted a squash!
Tomatoes were wincing in fear.
I choked the Romaine. It screamed out in pain,
Their anguish was filling my ears!
I finally came to the lettuce
As it cringed at the top of the row
With one wicked slice I beheaded it twice
As it writhed, I dealt a death blow.
I butchered the onions and parsley.
My hoe was all covered with gore.
I chopped and I whacked without looking back
Then I stealthily slipped in the door.
My bounty lay naked and dying
So I drowned them to snuff out their life.
I sliced and I peeled as they thrashed and they reeled
On the cutting board under my knife.
I violated tomatoes
So their innards could never survive.
I grated and ground ‘til they made not a sound
Then I boiled the tater alive!
Then I took the small broken pieces
I had tortured and killed with my hands
And tossed them together, heedless of whether
They suffered or made their demands.
I ate them. Forgive me, I’m sorry
But hear me, though I’m a beginner
Those plants feel pain, though it’s hard to explain
To someone who eats them for dinner!
I intend to begin a crusade
For PLANT’S RIGHTS, including chick peas.
The A.C.L.U. will be helping me too.
In the meantime, please pass the bleu cheese.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
My early days of scientific research, statistics, and biology began studying an endangered tree species with my research professor and dear friend- Dr. Roland de Gouvenian. As our relationship grew so did my focus into a different field of research. We would spend a lot of time together- lost in the woods, roaming an island, and even working in rainstorms- and yet it would be our companionship that would get us through the best and most difficult of times. One of the nicest things about having a French professor- besides the constant in-your-face brie cheese- is learning about different cultures. One thing I really appreciated, in addition to my friendship with Rolando, was the time spent learning from his wife Joceyln. Jocelyn might even have a bigger heart than Rolando. I learned that Joceyln isn’t French, but that she is actually Haitian. Our friendship sparked my interest in a country that has been labeled the poorest in the western hemisphere, but the true wealth of this country, as I learned, was in the culture, food and even the music of the Haitians.
When I found out that Haiti had been struck by an earthquake, with reports claiming a devastated Port-au-Prince, I immediately emailed Rolando. Since the earthquake we have been in constant communication, and I was sent some photos he took of what Haiti was like before the earthquake…
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Eglise du Sacre-Coeur, Les Caye
Port-au-Prince, Haiti -Presidential Palace
Pétionville, Haiti
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Borne Fer, Haiti
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
I saw BumpTop a few months ago and today the Mac version has been finally released. What I am impressed about BumpTop is the creativity in presenting a new way at looking at the traditional desktop. Writing about it will do no justice, so you have to just see the video.
Some quick pros: the 3D feature, organizing your files into piles, the fluid and quick movement of the files- all allows me to be more organized since I always have music, papers/journal articles and folders all over my desktop.
Some quick cons: for some reason after I highlight a couple files, I cannot move them all together (only when you’re viewing one of your walls). However, it works fine for the desktop view. If I organize the files on my wall in 3D I am not able to see all of them when I zoom backout.
I am sure these will be fixed with up grades.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
Ever since I can remember, medicine and access to healthcare has played a central theme in many of the things I have been involved with. Yet, how was it that medical education in America grew to provide such an elite education and train many of the world’s top health professionals?
If we look at the history of medicine it has certainly come a long way, and how physicians are trained has changed even more. Historical figures such as Hippocrates, Pedanius Dioscorides, ibn Zakariya al-Razi, Ibn al-Nafis, and Ibn Sīnā are not only known for their influence on medicine, but also for being botanists, philosophers, geologists, poets – the list goes on.
Indeed medicine has changed. Over 200 years ago physicians employed bloodletting to treat our first president, George Washington, a giant man at 6’3, to treat of signs of a cold which later proved to be fatal. It wasn’t the cold that had killed him though. Washington had been drained of half his blood in less than a day. Today, however, as physicians continue their interdisciplinary practices, their education has become standardized.
The story of New York Times journalist, and Pulitzer Prize winner, David Rohde is a very interesting one. Rohde travels to Afghanistan to interview a Taliban leader but he ends up being taken hostage. Soon after, the NY Times requested all media outlets around the world, including Wikipedia, to respect a media blackout in order to increase any chances Rohde had of being released.
I have always admired journalists (writers, cameramen, drivers, translators…) because they take risks and follow their passion to get a story for us. Certainly biases do exist, but if that could be overlooked for a minute, the fact that individuals even risk their lives to get one interview with infamous people such as a Taliban leader is amazing.
What is also interesting is the role that Wikipedia played during this time. Wikipedia placed restrictions and controlled the coverage of information about Rohde in order to prevent any public attention from being drawn to his captivity, so as to not endanger his life. As Professor Joseph M. Reagle from NYU said in a NY Times interview, “Wikipedia has, over time, instituted gradually more control because of some embarrassing incidents, particularly involving potentially libelous material, and some people get histrionic about it, proclaiming the death of Wikipedia,” he said. “But the idea of a pure openness, a pure democracy, is a naïve one.”
Beyond anything else, however, the story of Rohde will be one that will be discussed inside and outside of the classroom for years to come- a story of journalism, captivity, bravery, and control of media.
This was the story of David Rohde who would share his experience of being captive by the Taliban for 7 months and 10 days from November 2008- June 2009.
| if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
aliansary @ November 17, 2009
Blurring the colors in Europe… (PART I)
Sunrise- Geneva, Switzerland Sunset- Granada, Spain Sunset- Istanbul, Turkey Sunset- Lausanne, Switzerland | if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
For what accounted for a majority of the 20th century, Afghanistan experienced some of its most peaceful and thriving times. It would be a coup in 1973 when King Zahir Shah was overthrown by his cousin, General Daoud Khan, which would create an inflection point in Afghanistan’s history. Once referred to as “the Switzerland of [...]
Possibly one of the largest independence day celebrations/end of the summer festivals in the world. All the stops were pulled on this one. Lake Léman (Geneva). Cars getting Bumped. People Swinging. Jet d’Eau [500 L (132 gallons) x 1 sec = 140 meters (459 feet) high] Sponsored by the Sultanate of Oman. Ferris’ Wheel. | if [...]
Mind the Gap: Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults (Part II)…
Today, there are over 70,000 adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer per year in the US alone. For over two decades there has been little or no improvement in survival in cancer patients between the ages of 15-39, as defined by the US National Cancer Institute. Cancer is the most common fatal disease in [...]
Mind the Gap: Cancer in Adolescents and Young Adults (Part I)…
It was all coming too fast. Three weeks ago J had gone to her GP (General Practitioner) to complain about the swelling of her arm that had not subsided. She had recently graduated from Yale—at the top of her class—and was preparing to go to Harvard Law School. She was home for the summer living [...]
Last week I had a unique opportunity to watch Dr. A P J Abdul Kalam speak. Dr. Kalam was regarded in India as the People’s President and served in office from 2002-2007. He is known, interestingly enough, to play a key role in India’s space race and nuclear development, quite odd combination for such a [...]
I am not going to lie, this is pretty amazing. A 56-year-old woman. The Lancet, Volume 373, Issue 9678, Page 1890, 30 May 2009 The plain abdominal radiograph (A) showed the denture within the small intestine, with no sign of bowel obstruction or perforation. Plain radiographs (B) showed the denture within the caecum, within the [...]
As I sit in the midst of my dissertation writing it becomes very easy to go hours without eating something healthy or just eating in general. I would like to think of myself as a healthy eater and always conscious of what goes into my body (my body is my temple). Although, friends who have [...]
Knowledge Search Engine vs. Informational Search Engine…
Right now Google seems to be the major player in the field of search engines. I have absolutely no doubt about that. Yet, last night I had a good sit down with a close friend of mine who introduced me to Wolfram|Alpha. My friend is the type of person who pretty much treats academics much [...]
“Dubai Media City, please.” I say to the cab driver as the 2007 Toyota Camry drives down Jumeriah Beach Residence (JBR). JBR is in the heart and soul of the Dubai boom. The two dozen or so projects here include some of the most advanced architecture and design in the world. I ask the cab [...]
van⋅i⋅ty /ˈvænɪti/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [van-i-tee] –noun excessive pride in one’s appearance, qualities, abilities, achievements, etc. This evening I went for a run on the beach. As I ran, kicking the sand in the air, trying to keep my balance, I could feel the heat insulated by the sand begin to rise. I then thought [...]
It has been more than 72 hours since I have landed in what I have come to call this city as DubaiLand. Construction is non-stop and it can be seen clearly that Arab wealth, European design, and Indian hands have built this city. The city does not sleep and as of tonight I have accepted [...]
strange adjective, strang⋅er, strang⋅est Unusual, extraordinary, or curious I came across Online College Blog today which ranked the top 15 strangest college courses in America. Berkeley gets three mentions out of the 15, this explains why the University of California is the best college in the country (personal biases). What are the three… 15. Arguing [...]
laugh⋅ter –noun 1. the action or sound of laughing. 2. an inner quality, mood, disposition, etc., suggestive of laughter; mirthfulness: a man of laughter and goodwill. 3. an expression or appearance of merriment or amusement. 4. Archaic. an object of laughter; subject or matter for amusement
We all know it. The next cell phone for any of us will be a smart phone. For many, this will be an iPhone. However, imagine a bunch of really cool gadgets that are out right now. Apple’s iPhone… Amazon’s Kindle… A GPS System… Okay maybe not that cool, but imagine all of them in [...]
As Saturday comes, some will be celebrating old friendships over dinner, some may be celebrating a birthday or anniversary but many will be with their loved one. The beauty of relationships is its ability to be translated into any language, including economics. I was introduced to Tim Harford by a professor here at Cambridge. Harford [...]
A day in my eyes… P.S. not really a fan of putting my name on pictures, so if you really like them let me know and I can email original to you. Just don’t forget who took it . | if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
stepping in a direction that I am not familiar with … … when the colors became blur(r)ed – these photos developed… Granada, Spain Madrid, Spain | if I knew all the words I would write myself out of here. |
Don Tapscott (author of Wikinomics) writes in his book Grown Up Digital, that his biggest concern is “They’re [us young adults/users of the web] giving away their personal information on social networks and elsewhere and in doing so are undermining their future privacy.” However, what stands out most about his book comes from his intro [...]
Imagine putting on a piece of what seems like the inner brace of a construction helmet. However, what you have just placed on your head measures the electrical activity produced by the brain. This head set has 16 sensors that are uniquely placed to measure: conscious thought, emotions, facial expressions and head rotation. Emotiv Systems [...]
We live in a society that is continuously flooded by overly perverted teenage drama movies and in a rare instance hope comes back and really brought me to realize the beauty behind the art of film making. This is to not say that there are not great movies previously produced- The Shawshank Redemption, Crash, Amelie- [...]
Yesterday, I turned to the headline news reports and I suddenly found myself finding an urge and need to write. Never have I read through the headlines of multiple news sources and tabbed so many different crises going on throughout the entire world. What today represents is a time in our society where global policies [...]
You walk into class, pick up a copy of (or have printed out) the slide handouts for today’s presentation and sit down to wait for the class to begin. What you haven’t realized yet is that the PowerPoint slides that you have in front of you are affecting the way you learn and exercise your [...]
In the third grade, I remember playing tag on the jungle gym with my friends when a girl called me a sexist pig for not allowing her to play with us. For the very first time in my life I experienced sexism. Appalled by the word – Pig – that is (I didn’t know what [...]
The birth of the United States was on the back of slavery, which ended in 1865. This was nearly 100 years after America fought for her independence but after almost 200 years of slavery in the US. It took congress 5 years to amend the US Constitution and in 1870 the Fifteenth Amendment to the [...]
It is about 9:00 am, you just have arrived to work and the first thing you realize is that your email inbox has overwhelmingly tripled from 25 new emails to 75 new emails…OVERNIGHT! Okay, so one-third of the emails are Facebook messages/comments, Twitter updates, or news feeds. A small percent go straight to the trash, [...]
The reason I have failed to update the blog has been based on multiple reasons. Mainly because of the transition of moving from the US to the UK. It has taken sometime to get adjusted and I still feel like I am in vacation mode. I have now officially started my master’s program at the [...]
This last Sunday I attended a demonstration in front of the Los Angeles Federal Building in Westwood. This was a peaceful rally in response to the escalation in the number of innocent civilian deaths in Afghanistan. Although the war in Afghanistan would be a great write, it would also be a long (maybe a book [...]
The Great Mosque of Paris was build in the early 1920’s and was known during WWII as one safe haven for Jews as they were safely hidden in the basement and women’s section of the mosque. I thought I get deep this week. For many people Ramadan, beginning September 1 or 2nd for some, marks [...]
When Music Crosses Styles, Sounds, and Generations…
Alright, tonight I am going to do it a little different. Music. As long as I can remember, I have always been listening to music. My interest in music comes most likely from the fact that I can always remember my dad listening to great music. Everything from flamenco guitar, to classical Indian music, to [...]
I am so sad that the Olympics are over. The Olympics represent so much to the world, expect for Russian Federation who should have waited 2 more weeks before invading Republic of Georgia in spirits of the Olympic Games. I mean, Georgia did get 3 Gold and 3 Bronze medals but no excuses. I thought [...]
The best thing about the Olympics is that everyone gets over their trashy television shows and everyone bonds over discussing real life topics. Key Olympians such as Michael Phelps stand out in how he went from a 19 year old Athens Olympic medal winner to a 19 year old with 18 months of probation from [...]
I went to a park on Sunday that is still in developments and won’t be complete anytime soon. However, what has been done thus far is mind blowing and what is coming in the up coming years will define a 21st century park. On an old marine base on the boarder of Irvine and El [...]
Solar Powered Africa-LED Lanterns Lighting the Way…
I have been working hard recently with two friends, Nikhil Arora and Ryan Panchadsaram, to submit a proposal for a competition American Express is hosting in which they are donating $2.5 million to fund global humanitarian projects. The winners of the project are decided largely upon the number of votes and nominations from the public, [...]
It has been missing for a few weeks now. Usually the nice grey jacket that protects me from the non-blistering California winds that split through me has gone missing. Searching everywhere and thinking about places that I might have worn it and placed it last gave me no help. As I continued to think, I [...]
(This is a picture I took of Huntington Beach and after reading (no company proprietary data was revealed), Huntington Beach is one of the U.S. top 100 oil reserves. Profits from this picture will not be donated to any oil company (click here to view picture ).) In a television interview yesterday, Venezuela’s Hugo Chavez [...]
I remember when I was in college I knew a guy who always complained of a tooth ache. Weeks went by and he would never eat anything because of his tooth. One day I bumped into him on in front of Sproul Hall and I asked him how is tooth was. He said it was [...]
In 1949 George Orwell presented to the world Nineteen Eighty-Four , a book that would impact the way we perceive our own government and the manipulation through different controlling processes over its citizenry. However, four years earlier his book Animal Farm would give us a preview of not only Nineteen Eighty-Four , but also a [...]
The definition of a celebrity is an individual who is widely known. Thus, I would like to share a short story and my encounter with a beautiful woman who has changed the way many of us have perceived her on different levels, whose enigmatic presence has created controversies. Some even go as far as questioning [...]
As I arrived in London my impression was similar to my previous visits, “Wow, this place is clean!” The closest thing that I have utilized in terms of a underground subway system is the BART in the Bay Area or NYC’s Subway system-both of which differ like day and night. However, the underground in London [...]
We have all been exposed to the cliche saying “it is better to give than to receive.” Well in today’s society we are seeing this giving done in very astute ways. Let me start with a couple examples. The first classic example is the Fruit Stripe chewing gum, with lavish colorful stripes and temporary tattoos [...]
Well, it has taken me a very long time to finally get a blog up. However, now that it is up I can express all my inner thoughts, perspectives, or just ramble. I initially wanted to try to set this blog up a couple weeks ago when I spoke to a friend of mine on [...]
(photo from flickr)
