bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mainstreaming the Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Actions (NAMAs) into long-term development plans; Its impact on sustainable development in Non-Annex I Party states
Authors: Issaka Sule Ayannor
Published: April 2023

Though the importance of the  Nationally Appropriate Mitigation Action (NAMA) in mitigating Global emissions have been covered extensively by the literature, however, there has been little effort by researchers to find out the connections between the successful implementation of the NAMAs of respective Parties and sustainable development in the long run. This paper, based on the results from expert interviews via Skype and telephone with the NAMA focal persons of Ethiopia, Indonesia, and Georgia seeks to fill this gap in the literature by finding out how NAMAs, when implemented can lead to the attainment of overall economic growth and sustainable development in the long run. The paper covers seven NAMAs, with three seeking support for preparation and the other four seeking support for implementation as shown in table 1 below. The findings of this paper have shown significant connections between the NAMAs of the countries under study and overall economic growth based on their impact on the performance of other sectors of their respective economies when successfully implemented.  This will contribute significantly to the achievement of sustainable development goals by poorer countries. There is, therefore,  the need for developed countries to intensify their support in the areas of capacity building, financial, and technical support to poorer countries to enable them successfully implement their NAMAs as recommended by the Cancun agreement.
TRPA-1 in Planaria: Exploring Regeneration and Avoidance in the Presence of Irritants
Authors: Whitney Sarah , Nathwani Zoe , Verma Riya , Menon Revha , Mak Karina , Zaragoza Rosemary
Published: April 2023

Planaria are a genus of freshwater flatworms widely studied for their regenerative properties. Regeneration is possible because planarians have large populations of stem cells, called neoblasts, distributed throughout their bodies. Planaria and humans share a gene that encodes for the transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA-1), which is an ion channel that, in humans, activates pain, cold, and itch reception. In planarian cells, TRPA-1 is a receptor for heat and chemical irritation, and it is activated by reactive oxygen species produced in response to subsequent tissue damage. In this study, we investigate TRPA-1 activation in amputated Dugesia dorotocephala. In the first experiment, we aim to explore TRPA-1 activation during the planarian regeneration process. We exposed amputated worms to three known activators of TRPA-1 during regeneration and observed regeneration over 7 days. In the second experiment, we explored the relationship between TRPA-1 distribution and irritant avoidance. We placed amputated worms onto plates with irritants and tested the amputated worm pieces’ individual avoidance. We observed that while TRPA-1 may not be directly involved in regeneration, activation in response to irritants can slow secondary tissue regeneration. Additionally, we observed that irritant avoidance is stronger in worm heads, where TRPA-1 is primarily localized.
Analysis of PyroTamer’s Effect on Current Wildfire Situations
Authors: Kim Jaein , Lei Jermaine , Lee Matthew , Cha Daniel
Published: April 2023

Wildfires have been devastating Earth’s lands since its birth, but only recently have the fires become more rampant and increasing in numbers due to poor human decisions and excruciatingly worsening climate crisis. Our protectors, the firefighters, are constantly on an uphill battle to fight the numerous wildfires surrounding them during fire season, let alone risk their precious lives. To make matters worse, critical amounts of time are wasted as firefighters are still using old technology from decades ago like hand radios as they have been proven for a long time to be reliable. Although the reliability of hand radios is strong, they have extremely limited range and make communication onerous as verbal communication is not that efficient and prone to errors. PyroTamer is developing an application that focuses on reliability and efficiency to ensure firefighters are able to effectively communicate quickly in order to put out fires faster.
Characteristics of Psychotic Depression in Juveniles and Analyzing 4 Antipsychotics
Authors: Vaidyula Deepak , Kethar Jothsna
Published: April 2023

This research paper attempts to answer how psychotic depression differs in children and adults and focuses on the properties of the following four antipsychotics: Mellaril, Clozaril, Zyprexa, and Abilify to analyze which antipsychotic was most effective. This research paper analyzed differences in how children and adults react to psychotic depression by analyzing a recent study. To compare the different drugs, one or more studies were analyzed for each drug, and each drug’s properties were analyzed. After evaluating the different effects of psychotic depression, it was found that hallucinations were much more common in teenagers and children. More specifically, it was found that the most common type of hallucination was auditory. It was also found that the number of minors suffering from psychotic depression may be grossly underestimated. Clozaril was found to be very effective for patients that didn’t respond to other antipsychotics but dangerous because of its side effects. Mellaril seemed to be effective at treating schizophrenia, but had many side effects. Zyprexa seemed to be useful for weight gain for Anorexia Nervosa (AN), and Abilify seemed to be good for treating schizophrenia over a long period of time. It was concluded that children were more at risk for psychotic depression as they would not tell their guardians because of fear of backlash. It was also found that a few children believed hallucinations to be make-believe and not a disorder. Clozaril was found to be the most effective antipsychotic, while Zyprexa was the least.
A Comparative Study of Transfer Learning Networks and Siamese Networks for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) Diagnosis
Authors: Bhatt Bhrugu , Iyer Arjun , Writer Duke , Schau Geoffrey
Published: April 2023

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is a type of blood cancer that primarily affects the white blood cells. ALL is a serious problem in our society, accounting for approximately 25% of all pediatric cancers. Another major issue of ALL is that the healthy and cancerous cells look extremely similar to the human eye, leading to high chance of misdiagnosis. A novel method was proposed to solve a two-fold problem using Few Shot Learning (FSL), a machine technique that uses a small support set to perform binary classification. Traditional machine learning methods require extremely large medical training datasets, which can lead to high computation expenses and are difficult to access due to patient privacy. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) such as VGG19 and GoogLeNet were also compared to investigate if there was any significant improvement with FSL on the CNMC dataset. Currently, our Siamese Network has a 85% testing accuracy when training it on 10 Epochs. However, transfer learning has also shown to be a way to use a small amount of data to receive a high accuracy rate, and require a less computationally intensive training process.An accuracy rate of 99% and 96% was achieved on GoogLeNet and on VGG-19, which were trained for 50 epochs with image transformation preprocessing. Overall, traditional CNNs continue to outperform FSL methods, but methods are still a viable option for second opinions.
Encanto Film Analysis
Authors: Quintero Isabella , Echezabal Yunex
Published: April 2023

Walt Disney Animation Studios is the animation studio responsible for creating some of the most beloved Disney films ever made and continues to expand with the production and release of more films exploring and prioritizing diversity, including their promise to "honor heritage through animated films".  Encanto is a popular animated children's movie released in 2021 by Walt Disney Animation Studios surronding a family with magical powers that live in rural Colombian. This movie promises to deliver diversity and accurately portray not only the setting but the people of Colombia, visually, emotionally and intellectually. However, media has been misaccurately representing Hispanic people, specifically women for decades, including Disney films. This paper explores how each woman in the film is represented in relevance to traditional women values embeded in Colombian culture, and how their emotional process throughout the film either enforces stereotypes already created and portrayed in American media, or establishes relevancy and validity once compared to real Colombian values.
Diabetes, Obesity, Physical inactivity and COVID-19 confirmed cases, deaths correlations across the United States
Authors: Liu Wenzhong , Liu Kaiyang
Published: April 2023

People with certain medical conditions are more likely to get very sick when infected by COVID-19.  We examined the correlation between COVID-19 cases, deaths and three common medical conditions including diabetes, obesity, and physical inactivity at county level. We discovered that there are indeed significant, weak to moderate positive correlations between those three common medical conditions and COVID-19 cases and deaths. We strongly recommend maintaining a reasonable physical activity level to reduce the risk of getting very sick when infected by COVID-19.
Biocrest: A novel, organic and sustainable alternative to traditional thermoplastic-based packaging
Authors: Kakati Shalav , Seshadri Sriram , Makam Mithun
Published: April 2023

Plastic is handy as an industrial packaging material because it is mouldable, rigid yet flexible, durable, reusable, and cheaper than most alternatives, making it profitable to use. Although it has many advantages, its fair share of drawbacks, the most concerning being the amount of pollution it causes. Although plastics have been in use only since 1907, they have accumulated over time in astronomical quantities, destroying our environment.
There are already some excellent sustainable packaging materials out on the market, but it still isn’t as mainstream as it needs to be to put a real dent into plastic pollution. Unless we can find ways to modify plastic to lessen its environmental impact, we must find sustainable packaging alternatives. Our project presents a novel solution to the pervasive plastic problem and sustainably looks into the issue. Our review showcases how materials such as seed extracts and natural binder extracts can be used to develop material that can serve as a potential replacement for the thermoplastic used presently.
Bicultural Identity & Diet: A Study of Asian Americans and the Role of Schools
Authors: Han Annelie , Macomber Matthew
Published: April 2023

Over the past decade, Asian Americans (AA) were the fastest growing racial group in the U.S. Though numerous studies have identified factors, such as diet, language, and discrimination, as relevant players in the acculturation and identity formation processes of AA, few focus on the perspectives of AA youth, especially within the high school setting. The present study aims to investigate how Asian American high school students’ dietary habits are related to their perception of their bicultural identity. Moreover, it seeks to identify what culture-related challenges AA students face and potential supportive strategies for schools. Using a qualitative, phenomenological approach, 10 AA students were surveyed and interviewed at a suburban public high school in the Pacific Northwest region of the U.S. Through content analysis of the survey and interview data, a few themes emerged in the following categories: a) Dietary habits and bicultural identity, b) Challenges with bicultural identity, and c) Suggestions for schools. Results suggest a strong correlation between dietary habits and perceptions about their bicultural identity. Confusion about cultural identity and negative racial comments or stereotypes were among the challenges, internal and external, identified. In addition to existing factors that contribute to AA students’ sense of cultural belonging at school, like cultural clubs, potential suggestions for schools include greater AAPI representation in the curriculum, faculty, and food offered. Implications include the implementation of the suggestions at schools and future research on AA identity, cultural challenges, and diversity efforts inside and outside of school.
Just Do It: Analysis of Nike’s Marketing Strategies and Growth Recommendations
Authors: Yan Catherine , Brown Christopher , Greenleaf Anne
Published: April 2023

Nike is a global leader in the athleticwear industry, selling products for all ages, genders, and sizes. The company was founded in 1964 by runner and businessman Phil Knight and his track and field coach, Bill Bowerman, with the goal of creating the perfect running shoe. Since then, Nike has established the iconic Swoosh and “Just Do It” slogan globally.  But how has Nike become so renowned, and how have marketing strategies given them an edge over their competitors? And is there anything Nike can do to grow further? The paper investigates Nike’s target consumers, their direct-to-consumer operations, their recent success in e-commerce due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Nike’s social media strategies, and consumers’ reasons to support the brand, ultimately understanding and analyzing the marketing strategies that Nike has implemented and their effectiveness. A key component of Nike’s marketing strategy is understanding their consumers: who they are, what they want, and how to best appeal to them. This has fostered Nike’s direct-to-consumer business (which has increasingly become digital in the role of e-commerce), their large social media presence (which increases their brand engagement and awareness), design innovation, strides in diversity, and more. In addition, the paper recommends that for Nike to boost growth, as Nike shifts their focus to e-commerce, they should focus particularly on emerging markets, which are growing markets that often grow faster than other markets. In addition, Nike should collaborate with more brands and personalities and release more styles to help them grow in the future.
Is Gene Therapy a Band-aid or a Cure?
Authors: Sadhneni Sanjitha , Appavu Rajagopal , Kethar Jothsna
Published: April 2023

The goal of innovation in treating diseases is to provide a long-lasting solution. For rare diseases such as sickle cell disease (SCD) and hemophilia, this can mean reducing the number of complications or even increasing life expectancy. One of the innovations that is having increasing attention is gene therapy. Gene therapy entails substituting flawed genes with normal ones by utilizing vectors derived from the outer shells of viruses, retaining the inherent properties of being able to target and enter specific cells. The modified gene is placed within this shell. Gene therapy can target germline or somatic cells - the latter being the most commonly used. The process for gene therapy is in-vivo or ex-vivo, depending on whether the transduction of the cells happens within or outside the body. Clinical trials in gene therapy have progressed tremendously, and even a few have reached approval by the FDA - but none yet for SCD or hemophilia. For both these diseases, the current treatments provide symptomatic relief but not long-lasting benefits. Currently, there are several gene therapy clinical trials ongoing for both conditions. This paper focuses on published results of sickle cell diseases and hemophilia and examines whether they are pointing towards short-term benefits or whether the effect is long-term.
The malfeasance of the juvenile justice system through social institutions
Authors: Mehra Kareena , Burell Amber
Published: April 2023

I will be exploring how social institutions impact the behavior of adolescent delinquents. I am analyzing the environment and rehabilitative system inside juvenile jail that could increase or decrease the juvenile’s behavior. Some factors that can contribute to institutionalized corruption and criminal behavior are race-based and socioeconomic-based stereotypes towards adolescents from communities of color. In my analysis, I will be following the stories of two case studies. Case study #1 follows a caucasian man, whereas case study #4 follows a black man, however, both these young men are of different ages. There is a clear distinction between how the two go in and out of the system. I will highlight some key points of each juvenile’s home life where we see minor factions resulting in life-altering sentences. While questioning fundamental aspects of a working functioning society I ask, how do the home and street environments of different races influence or perpetuate juvenile behavior? I expect to open a wall to misconceptions made about the juvenile system and expose maltreatment towards troubled youth by elaborating and expanding the research done on their origins.  I collected findings such as a lack of resources to support the youths’ physical needs in juvenile centers, the lack of protection from government officials when sentencing youth in the courtrooms, and how the youths’ adolescent and personal change and development can contribute to juvenile behavior.
AI/ML Drone-based Arecanut Monitoring System (ADAMS)
Authors: Prasad Janani , Pidamale Krishna
Published: April 2023

The Indian economy relies heavily on agriculture with 72% of farmers in the states of Karnataka and Kerala producing 330 million kilograms of arecanuts. However, a rapid increase in young adults leaving the agriculture field brings hardships for older farmers like my grandparents since physical labor is increasingly expensive, dangerous, and scarce. The purpose of this research is to automate arecanut crop monitoring by providing a safe, affordable, user-friendly, and cutting-edge system that utilizes six major elements to achieve the goal: arecanut farm, drone, dataset collection, data annotations, AI/ML Mask R-CNN prediction model, and app. Research about various drones were conducted to ensure the drone abides by Indian UAV regulations. Since there were no pre-existing arecanut datasets, a DJI Mini 2 drone and Canon DSLR Camera were utilized to capture over 2000 arecanut images in India. Creating my own dataset from scratch was challenging, however it was a significant contribution in advancing computer vision. This dataset was stored on Amazon S3 and classified into ripe, unripe, and dry arecanuts. Each image was manually annotated using VGG Image Annotator and passed into a Convolutional Neural Network called Mask R-CNN to create a prediction model. This was trained on Amazon Web Services (AWS) for 100 epochs. Overall, epoch 85 gave accurate predictions. Additionally, instead of the DJI Mini 2 drone, the Skydio drone would be the best option for real world implementations. My research is a practical and innovative solution to alleviate farmers’ financial and physical hardships.
An Investigation of the Effects of the Ukraine War on Children’s Mental Health
Authors: Rhew Seung Hee , Salerno Christine
Published: April 2023

Since the start of the Ukraine war, children that have fallen victim to the war have become a part of the “lost generation”. Many of them lost family members, educational opportunities, and their childhoods. After losing the most important aspects of lives, they only encountered more impediments: physical, mental, and moral injuries. In order to mitigate the destructive impacts of this war, charities are donating food, water, clothes, and money – basic necessities that humans need to survive. Although the Ukraine war has received global attention and countless charities and non-profit organizations have provided such tangible services, there are other significant issues regarding children’s mental health that are going unseen. Mental illnesses and psychological disorders have been more prevalent in children as a result of the war. Mental issues are much more impairing and serious than physical injuries.Yet, most of the focus is on the physical health of the victims. In conclusion, more humanitarian organizations must consider interventions that would relieve psychological distress and help the children overcome their hurdles.
Application of Machine Learning on Air Quality
Authors: Nataraj Ramya
Published: April 2023

Air pollution can cause serious health problems and millions of people live in areas with poor air quality. Understanding air quality is an important topic of research which in turn helps understand health and global climate. In this paper, I applied machine learning techniques to the predict the air quality. Using a data set collected in urban cities with information on air pollutants, supervised learning was applied to gain insights and predict quality. Neural networks are used to determine the specific factors that impact the air quality index and the accuracy of the prediction. The research was helpful in identifying specific factors that affected air quality and accuracy of prediction improved when increasing hidden layers and epoch values within the neural networks.
Glioblastoma Multiforme: An Evaluation of Existing and Alternative Treatment Modalities
Authors: Seshadri Sriram , Makam Mithun , Makam Rishab , Kakati Shalav
Published: April 2023

Glioblastoma Multiforme is one of the most aggressive brain tumours with very poor prognosis, low progression free survival rates and overall survival rates. This is predominantly due to the difficulty in transporting drugs across the blood brain barrier. Therefore, the need for more efficacious treatments is increasing. This paper explains the pathophysiology behind how signal transduction pathways leading from faults in the EGFRvIII and the IDH gene lead to gliomagenesis. It moves on to highlight and contrast conventional therapies such as Surgical Resection, Chemotherapy, Bevacizumab and Radiotherapy with novel, alternative therapies such as oncolytic virotherapy, photodynamic therapy and tumour treatment fields. A literature review was also conducted, wherein methods and results - specifically, the phase of trial, number of patients, treatment modality, median progression free survival, median overall survival and general comments- of five past research studies were explicated and interpreted for each GBM alternative treatment modalities - Photodynamic therapy, oncolytic virotherapy and tumour treatment fields. Each of the 5 clinical trial studies for each alternative treatment yielded varied results: The mean mOS (median Overall Survival) and mPFS (median Progression Free Survival) of patients were 15.3 months and 7.5 months for OV, 18.4 months and 16 months for PDT, and 19.9 months and 6 months for TTF respectively. This paper intends to provide an insight into the future of Glioblastoma Multiforme treatment to further improve its diagnosis, prognosis and treatment.
Role of Translation in Applications and Resources to Reduce Language Loss
Authors: Bhagat Rohan , Shah Manoj
Published: April 2023

Languages allow civilization to communicate and grow. Without languages, humanity would never have formed the culture, innovations, and the world which exists today. Due to imperialism, colonialism, and a lack of teaching resources, many languages are becoming more vulnerable or endangered. Linguistics are working to preserve these languages for future generations through recordings, podcasts, and dictionaries. The best way to preserve endangered languages is to promote their usage in the world, which makes it necessary to develop translations into rarer languages. Currently, only 133 languages are translated by Google Translate, the world’s most popular translator, and this is a small fraction of all languages spoken across the world. By creating additional translations for applications and resources for learning languages, vulnerable languages can be preserved and taught to future generations. Translating applications would increase the language’s use outside the home and make it easier to learn the language. Although this may not work for critically endangered languages, the 1246 languages classified as vulnerable and definitely endangered by UNESCO can be preserved through the translation process.
Variations in the English Language Depending on Audience as Seen Through Tyler, The Creator
Authors: Belding Brinley , Trester Anna
Published: April 2023

Tyler, the Creator is one of the most popular artists of the late 2010s. Perceptible in many of his works, Tyler changes the way he speaks depending on the context of his song and his audience. This paper argues that, in order to fit into the hip-hop community, Tyler uses more variations characteristic of African American English whereas personal albums stray away from variations to focus on the content itself. This is because Tyler is more focused on his story than fitting in.
The Bloody Footprints of North Korean Refugees
Authors: Kim Minseung , Van Winkle Natalya
Published: April 2023

North Korean refugees first caught the notice of South Korea’s National Intelligence Service during the 1990s when North Korea had to suffer an unprecedented famine. Since then the number of North Korea refugees had steadily increased until it started to fluctuate depending on the regulations of North Korea and China at particular moments in history (King, 2021). Although the initial motivation for the refugees was survival from hunger, later refugees left North Korea seeking basic human rights that were denied to them. Although these North Koreans know the punishment for getting caught while trying to escape from the North Korean regime was an undignified and slow death full of suffering, they still left their country to pursue a life where they could be treated as free and proper human beings. The journey to South Korea is an arduous and taxing one, and the refugees must navigate the dangerous checkpoints and border patrols in China lest they get caught and repatriated back to North Korea. Upon traveling from north China to south China, the refugees enter two transition countries, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Thailand. Each country provides their own hardships to the refugees, before allowing them passage into South Korea. Once inside, the North Korean refugees are questioned and subsequently educated regarding the differences between North Korea and South Korea lifestyles. Upon finishing their schooling, the refugees are considered South Korean citizens.
A Comparison of the Effect of Major- Versus Minor-Keyed Music on Short-Term Cognitive Performance
Authors: Schaffer Ryann , Lang-Taylor Luciana
Published: April 2023

Music cognition is an interdisciplinary field combines music theory with cognitive science to maximize the brain’s potential. Several variables like tempo and instrumentation have been researched in music’s effect on cognition, but many, such as key, remain. This pilot study sought to initiate an effort towards: (a) examining the hypothesis that there is a difference between major- and minor-keyed music’s effect on cognitive performance, (b) utilizing a single-subject design to account for music cognition’s individual differences. Three participants listened to an instrumental excerpt in major key, minor key, and silence while completing elementary arithmetic tests as a metric of cognitive performance. The number of correct responses determined the participant’s cognitive performance for that session. Each participant’s responses were individually examined through a visual analysis. Two participants supported the hypothesis, favoring the major key; one performed best with the silent condition and demonstrated no distinction between the major and minor key. These results suggest individual differences are a key contributor to music’s effect on cognitive performance. Future studies should incorporate single-subject designs to account for these differences. Until future research is done to confirm major-minor’s relative efficacy, individuals should continue studying to the music (or lack of music) that confines to the variables already proven to increase cognition.
The Analysis of the Accuracy of Support Vector Regression Classification of a Neural Dataset Originating in the Motor Cortex of a Macaque Monkey
Authors: Nivota Misha , Tawakol Omar
Published: April 2023

Neural decoding is a constantly adapting field of applied machine learning, using many different machine learning algorithms to analyze neural data. One such analysis of neural data is the interpretation and analysis of data originating the motoro cortex and the prediction of stimuli given to an organism using the motor response. In looking at a specific dataset, containing data from the motor cortex of a macaque monkey, where its neural response to directional stimuli was measured. Two different neural decoding algorithms were previously used to analyze this dataset, yet the highest accuracy they yielded was below 90%. There is a need for machine-learning based neural decoding algorithms to decode movement-relating neural data with higher accuracy. Support vector regression (SVR), a linear-regression based model of the machine learning algorithm support vector machines, was chosen for analysis. In this study, we aim to evaluate the predictive accuracy of SVR using a dataset obtained from a macaque monkey. The model predicted the directional stimuli with an accuracy of 82.47% percent.
The Effectiveness of Counterconditioning and Extinction in Extinguishing Learning
Authors: Rajalakshmi Pradnya
Published: April 2023

Counterconditioning and extinction are two different forms of learning that inhibit the expression of a learned unwanted behavior by either eliminating the behavior (extinction) or replacing it altogether with a wanted behavior (counterconditioning). While counterconditioning has been shown to be more effective than extinction in some cases, both of these techniques can be vulnerable to the relapse of an unwanted behavior. Separate work has also shown that learning to inhibit unwanted behavior can be more effective if done across multiple different contexts rather than a single experimental context. A systematic comparison of extinction and counterconditioning across single and multiple contexts is, however, lacking. This research paper aims to identify the effectiveness of each of these learning techniques across a single context as well as multiple contexts to identify which is the most suitable for removing unwanted learned behavior. A two-by-two between-subjects design was used wherein four groups completed a learning task in either single or multiple contexts and with either extinction or counterconditioning. It was hypothesized that the counterconditioning group in multiple contexts should turn out to be more effective in extinguishing learning. The results did not support this hypothesis and instead suggest that these methods were all similarly effective at reducing unwanted behaviors.
Exploring How Stigma Against the LGBTQ+ Community Influences the Members’ Health in India
Authors: Wankawalla Prajna , Shields Shabari
Published: April 2023

The aim of the study was to explore the impact of stigma on the mental health of members of the LGBTQ+ community in India and provide recommendations to reduce this impact based the use of qualitative data through interviews and surveys. The content of the data was analysed for emerging themes of which the most prominent were. This study recruited 14 non-heterosexual individuals (bisexual, homosexual and transsexual.) The results showed that 78.6% of the individuals experienced dejection of which 57.1% overall met the criteria for clinical depression. 71.4% of the participants have combatted fear as a result of constant taunts from others. 64.3% of the participants felt lonely due to abuse by their families and communities. 50.0% of participants felt ashamed of their sexualities. 50.0% of the participants were also helpless when they discovered their sexualities. 28.6% of the participants reporting or attempting suicidal (thoughts.) It appears that mindset changes are necessary to eliminate prevalent heterosexism and stigma against the LGBTQ+ community. This will ensure better mental well-being for members. This can be done through education and awareness coupled with community support and additional mental health services to support members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Effects of Rural and Urban Resource Access on the Tuberculosis Burden in Least Developed Countries
Authors: Chang Michael , Renaud Alfred
Published: April 2023

In 2020 alone, an estimated 1,500,000 deaths occurred due to tuberculosis (TB). TB continues to affect over 10 million people yearly, primarily in underdeveloped countries. The present paper uses regression analysis to compare the correlations between increased access to improved water and sanitation resources in rural versus urban areas and the national TB burden (incidence and mortality rates). The results suggest that enhancing water and sanitation resources reduces the national TB burden. Moreover, urban improvements correspond with a greater national TB burden reduction than rural improvements.
Debate and Diplomacy in History: Can Eugenics be Ethical?
Authors: Henderson Emily
Published: April 2023

We must look upon significant instances in the history of Eugenics, such as the California sterilization legislation, as an example of what can happen if regulatory policies are not enacted. The stories of the primarily Latina women who were involuntary sterilized serves as a warning, and reminder of what can happen when vague language in laws allows for the manifestation of personal bias in the reproduction rights of others.  A variety of personal and societal factors influence our individual opinions on Eugenics, however, regardless of our opinion we must acknowledge the negative consequences for many disadvantaged groups when Eugenics goes unregulated. When examining eugenics in a modern context (Gene therapy,) there must be legislation that regulates what genes can, and cannot be altered, to prevent personal prejudices from eradicating entire groups of people with a certain disability or disease.
The Ribosome's Effect on Stem Cells and How Their Dysfunction Could Cause Cancer
Authors: Chawla Anika
Published: April 2023

Recently, the importance of ribosomes has greatly increased. It was discovered that they play a large role in the functionality of stem cells. This is due to the ribosome’s effect on translational efficiency. Without high translational efficiency, stem cells would lose the ability to differentiate into other cells. If stem cells become dysfunctional, whether it is due to malfunctioning ribosomes, lack of ribosomes, or other mutations, diseases could arise and tumors may form. In certain conditions, the tumor can be malignant and generate cancer. As more research is done on these connections, alternate treatments for cancer may be discovered and scientists may be able to figure out a way to prevent certain cancers from forming by starting at its molecular source.
The Physiology of Lying
Authors: Jiang Richard
Published: April 2023

Lying is a complex phenomenon shared by practically all humans, seen among all cultures, and in almost all age groups. As with all behaviors, lying originates in the brain and is mainly controlled by the prefrontal cortex. Outside of the prefrontal cortex, physiological manifestations have been monitored. For example, they include the common signs of lying for example increased heart rate and sweating, to more covert changes such as blood flow, neurotransmitter release, neural activity, and alterations in brain structure. Even though research on these various manifestations of lying has provided some evidence, there is no concrete linkage between each of these responses. Since lying provides many common symptoms, there is also a desire to detect it, as seen by polygraph testing extensively used between the late 1930s to 1988. However, if technology were to advance to the stage of measuring brain activity or neurotransmitter release and determining with high accuracy if a person was lying or not, it would lead to substantial ethical issues, mainly for patients or personal privacy. Overall, this literature review compiles and analyzes the extensive research on the aforementioned physiological responses to lying, facilitating future research not only in the physiological but also psychological aspects. Furthermore, it also explores the implications of lie-detecting technology for society by looking at the safety and security risks it can bring. Thus, this literature review advances the science behind lying and underscores the necessity to understand the ethical undertones of research in this field.
Investigating the Decellularization of Plant Tissues Using at-home Kitchen Facilities During COVID
Authors: Schiavoni Cecilia , Genter Jessica , Borovetz Harvey , Kloimwieder Anne
Published: April 2023

To engineer transplants, donor tissues are decellularized to create acellular scaffolds for the patients’ own cells to be seeded into. There is a need for alternative donor sources because the demand for tissue transplants exceeds the availability of human donors. Plants may offer a solution because of their accessibility, cellulose base, biocompatibility, natural vascularization, and variety of structures and properties available. In this paper, decellularization processes and procedures for plants are presented; and the decellularization of onion epithelial skins was performed using the detergent and detergent-free procedures modified to use at-home kitchen facilities because of school lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of decellularization were histologically analyzed using methylene blue, iodine, and pen ink. Promising results of cells with some debris, a mostly intact extracellular matrix (ECM), and an absence of nuclei, were obtained, which speak to the accessibility of plant scaffolds as a potential donor source.
How Does Authoritarian Parenting Style Influence Adolescents in China?
Authors: Ning Peiyao
Published: April 2023

Authoritarian parenting is distinguished for its high standards for children and a lack of parental input and responsiveness. Due to their strict authority over children and Chinese parents’ emphasis on obedience and conformity, authoritarian parenting suppresses the autonomy and freedom of Chinese adolescents. Authoritarian parenting is also related to reduced creativity as adolescents suffer from domineering control and demands for absolute obedience. Nonetheless, many Chinese parents associate high demandingness and authoritarian parenting with better academic performance. Yet, data and studies indicate a negative relationship between authoritarian parenting styles and Chinese students’ academic performance. In addition, growing up in an authoritarian family limits the ability of children to cope with pressure and diminishes their motivation to strive toward goals in the long run. Ultimately, authoritative parenting, which combines discipline and autonomy, and is characterized by high responsiveness and high demandingness, is shown to be more effective in raising academically successful, creative, resistant, and empathetic adolescents. The present study examines the relationship between authoritarian parenting and adolescents' creativity, autonomy, and academic performance in China, and suggests a solution to its negative effects.
Solutions and Motivations for Better Electronic Waste Management
Authors: Kim Jayden , Zelizo Michael
Published: April 2023

With an increase in the production of advanced technological devices and appliances nowadays, there is a rapid growth of electronic waste (e-waste) across the world. E-waste has a toxic environmental and economic impact on our society. Fifty million metric tons of e-waste are disposed of, and this data continues to rise. As a result, waste management has become outdated in many parts of the world, especially in North America. Current disposal methods such as landfilling, incinerating, and recycling are analyzed; however, the consequences of such methods outweigh the benefits. These environmentally unfriendly methods cause significant harm to the human body and release dangerous chemicals into the water and land that people live in. New and potential procedures are then analyzed, which mainly include strengthening disposing of, collection, and recycling infrastructure and implementing new federal legislation. Through countries’ governments, Extended Producer Responsibility, as well as Right to Repair, are taken apart to disclose the findings of its effectiveness.
The Effects of Foreign Direct Investments on Major Economic Metrics: A Case Study of Post-Colonialism Republic of Korea
Authors: Park Zachary , Chon Jake , Jiang Eddy , Suzuki Ryosuke
Published: April 2023

This study gives an overview of the origins, development, and measured effects of foreign direct investments (FDI). This paper briefly covers the economic impact of Japan's rule over Korea from 1910 to 1945, but it mainly focuses on the time period between South Korea’s post-imperialism economy and the pre-pandemic market: roughly a 75-year time period from 1945 to 2020. This paper finds that foreign direct investment is strongly correlated with major economic metrics such as GDP, imports/exports, and consumer price indexes, especially in the most recent 20 years (2000-2020). These conclusions are based on data analysis using secondary data from the World Bank and supported by past literature. This study further theorizes that the recent economic success of South Korea is partially due to the major influence foreign direct investment has on economic prosperity through technology transfer. South Korea, a current powerhouse in the electronics industry through the early establishments of chaebols, a group of large family-owned conglomerates that dictated the early economic success of South Korea, would have significantly benefited from increased technological transfers. Therefore this paper’s data analysis focuses mainly on the 20 most recently available yearly data; however other periods are also briefly investigated.
Analyzing the effects of uranium on DNA damage response and unequal exposure in native populations
Authors: Pandey Stuti , Broad Ari
Published: April 2023

Uranium, a widely sought resource to produce nuclear energy, is a radioactive element that has been mined in open areas around the United States. Human exposure to uranium poses serious health risks, like cancer, organ function loss, and whole bodily debilitation. However, Native Americans are and have been greater exposed to uranium due to mines’ presence on reservations, and thus these risks incline towards such demographics. The National Institute of Health highlights this environmentally unjust exposure as a public health crisis, as uranium exposure damages critical repair pathways needed to repair DNA damage, which can lead to genomic instability and carcinogenesis. This paper attempts to create both an understanding of the molecular-scale damage uranium causes in the form of damaging non-homologous end-joining and homologous recombination pathways, while also covering a broader perspective of how indigenous peoples of America face a serious risk of such damage from their heightened exposure. First, the increased exposure risk in native communities is discussed by covering articles from government surveys, communications, and studies that gauge the danger of uranium concentrations in the environmental systems of Native nations. In the DNA repair portion, studies focusing on damage to key repair proteins in the DNA repair pathway, like the loss of zinc in its respective motif on the PARP-1 protein, and the increase of ROS causing oxidative stress in cells, pointing to the previously mentioned instability, are covered, and their methods and findings are presented.
Assessing the Accessibility of Bergen County Charter Schools
Authors: Martin Ava , Hans Patricia
Published: April 2023

Charter schools are a relatively new and controversial form of public education. They are publicly funded but operated by independent groups; so, despite being held to the same standards as traditional public schools, they have more autonomy over curriculum and design as they do not operate within local school districts. One of the key requirements of public schools is that they are open and accessible to all students. Some worry that in the case of charter schools, selectivity in their enrollment processes means this requirement is not adequately met. In an effort to add to the existing research on charter school accessibility and publicness, this study seeks to understand if inequitable accessibility is an inherent issue to the charter school model. Using a convergent (QUAN+QUAL) mixed method study I examine Bergen County’s three charter schools by coding for a possible presence of enrollment shaping in their student demographics and approaches to access in school operations. This study adds to the existing understanding of charter school accessibility by providing a local and in-depth analysis of the charter schools located in one county. The findings of this study suggest that charter schools are inherently inequitably accessible, however that this issue can potentially be mitigated through intentional steps to broaden access to disadvantaged student groups. As these results are confined to Bergen County, I suggest that future studies be conducted between different states, assessing for correlation between state charter school policy and individual school approaches to equity and access.
Substantial Reduction of CO2 Emission with Silicon Photonics Using in Data Center
Authors: Guo Xiaofeng , Guo Ruimin
Published: April 2023

High temperature in summer is more and more popular nowadays. This kind of unusual weathers come from the climate change due to the greenhouse gas emission. The politicians around the world are talking about the international cooperation to reduce the CO2 emission. Scientists are paying great efforts to find clean energy to replace the current fossil fuels. In this paper, a technology named silicon photonics is introduced which consumes less energy compared to the tradition techniques. The data centers, consuming about 2.5% of the total electricity generation in United States of America, are taken as an example to analyze the reduced CO2 emission. If the proportion of electricity consumption by data centers are assumed to be unchanged for the last 10 years and next 30 years, the total amount of the reduced CO2 emission is predicted to be incredibly 6789.13 million tons for the year from 2021 to 2050. This work shows that the wide application of low-energy-consumption technology can do the substantial contribution to cool down our planet.
Diagnosing Major Depressive Disorder using Activity Data from Wearable Sensors and Machine Learning
Authors: Desai Shlok , Marsh Brianna
Published: April 2023

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), a mood disorder, is the most common psychological disorder. MDD manifests itself through a range of deadly symptoms, while diagnosis remains difficult and costly, often requiring psychiatrists or specialized techniques. An easier, and possibly early, diagnosis could improve treatment and outcomes. To address this unmet need, we developed a novel machine learning algorithm to detect MDD based on an individual's activity data i.e. movement combined with light data.  The dataset from Kaggle.com included activity data for fifty-five participants in 2021. Our algorithm determined that disturbances in activity is a symptom that can be used to predict Major Depressive Disorder. This insight has the potential to accurately detect and diagnose a person with MDD. In conclusion, the algorithm connecting activity to MDD paves the way to an easier and effective way of diagnosing depression.