bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Scouting Robot with Search-Space Reducing Hybrid Networks for Unknown Environment Path Planning
Authors: Zheng Charles , Kuang Megan
Published: February 2024

Autonomous vehicle navigation is becoming an important problem as fully self-driving cars are becoming a possibility in the next few decades and space exploration is gaining more momentum. One of the most important aspects of autonomous vehicle navigation is a solid path planning algorithm. Most path planning algorithms can be categorized into 2 groups, classical and machine learning algorithms. Classical algorithms can find the shortest path and usually have a 100% accuracy, but it can't function when its environment isn’t 100% mapped out. On the other hand, ML algorithms can operate on partial maps or no maps at all, but they have poor success rate and produce long paths. However, a hybrid approach to a path planning algorithm could eliminate the downside of both categories of algorithms. A robot with a hybrid algorithm could have 100% accuracy while maintaining a near optimum route without a map of the environment. This paper proposes a search space reduction hybrid network (SRHN) path planning algorithm that not only combines the advantages of classical methods and machine learning methods, but also reduces the search space and memory usage. SRHN works by dividing up the distance between a start point and an endpoint with landmarks and paths from its current landmark to the next. While calculating an approximate optimal path, it significantly reduces search space. To test the result of SRHN, experimentation was conducted in the real world. Excellent results have been achieved in the real world 2D tests that were conducted.
Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Environmental Engineering
Authors: Bachu Neha , McDuffie Joshua
Published: February 2024

As environmental destruction progresses at an alarming rate, the threat of ecological catastrophes and the potential damages that communities around the world face demand that solutions be implemented immediately. Environmental engineers are at the forefront of grappling with the rippling effects of climate change, and to keep up with these challenges, a novel method of solving environmental crises must come to play: artificial intelligence. Artificial intelligence (AI) models can make educated predictions, identify significant patterns, and analyze large amounts of data, to help optimize and improve current environmental engineering processes for the future. This paper surveys different applications of AI that have been used by environmental engineers to enhance current technologies and practices in disciplines ranging from the petroleum industry to carbon capture.  Additionally, we consider the ethical implications and unintended consequences that can result from an increased use of AI. Discussing the utilization of artificial intelligence in environmental engineering can ultimately help develop more effective methods for combating current environmental challenges, and further examination on the ethical implications of this usage can help ensure environmental justice for all.
Recent Breakthroughs in the Diagnosis and Treatment of Neurodegenerative Disorders
Authors: Curtis Alexander , Curtis Ava , Goodman Ira
Published: February 2024

This paper covers recent breakthroughs in diagnosis and treatment of neurodegenerative disorders, specifically diagnostic biomarkers and disease modifying treatments for Alzheimer's Disease (AD), Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Biomarkers in the brain, spinal fluid and blood are helping identify the pathologic misfolded proteins that specifically characterize these neurodegenerative disorders. The signature proteins include beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylated tau (P-tau) in AD, alpha-synuclein in PD, and recently discovered in ALS, TDP-43. As new biomarkers are validated, there is increasing optimism that innovative disease modifying treatments will prevent, reverse or delay the progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. The growing trend of FDA approval of medications through the Accelerated Approval program based on biomarker indicators is expediting drug development for AD, PD, and ALS.  Using this pathway, the FDA has granted conditional approval for an AD treatment that lowers brain amyloid and another AD treatment that is associated in studies with slowing of both cognitive and functional loss. The FDA also granted conditional approval for an ALS treatment demonstrating reduction in a neurodegeneration biomarker. The FDA granted Breakthrough Device designation for a blood test as a diagnostic biomarker for AD and the recent breakthrough in the ability to diagnose PD with an accurate biomarker is a major milestone.  Continued collaboration among the drug discovery and clinical research communities is needed to accelerate our understanding of the underlying biology and develop disease modifying treatments for these neurodegenerative disorders.
Do Socially Assistive Robots Help in Caring for Elderly Patients with Frailty or Mild Cognitive Impairment?
Authors: Arunachalam Shriyaa
Published: February 2024

The burgeoning elderly population, set to double by 2050 worldwide, will place immense demand on provision of elderly care. The mismatch in supply and demand of social care, made worse by the recent Covid-19 pandemic, has heightened the search for viable adjuncts to social care. The purpose of this dissertation is to explore the possible role of socially assistive robots (SAR) in care of elderly patients with frailty or mild cognitive impairment. In the past decade, SAR has emerged as a possible contender for assisted care. Through interviews with frontline NHS clinical stakeholders, review of research articles and visit to the Robot House research facility in the University of Hertfordshire, this project has identified the barriers, limitations to SARs and ethical challenges that needs addressing before the mainstream implementation of SARs to assist in care of the elderly. It is imperative to establish SARs’ safety profile and effectiveness through end-user inclusive, robustly designed, randomized clinical trials addressing the contextual factors of SAR implementation. Particular care and attention should be devoted to ensuring that future studies are enrolled with adequate numbers of participants to achieve statistically significant outcomes of SAR safety and acceptability. With paucity of social care workers and an ever-increasing population of older age adults, SARs will have a potential role to play in supporting the independence and dignity of elderly people in their own environment. SARs offer hope amidst the current social care despair, and further research is key to their eventual success in aged care, which may be years away from reality.
The Use of Executive Function Intervention as a Treatment for ADHD
Authors: Mallavarapu Nithya
Published: February 2024

Catecholamine deregulation in the brain can cause ADHD(Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). The deregulation could lead to problems with executive functioning(impact on the prefrontal cortex). Through the analysis of studies from NIH regarding Executive function intervention and the Department of psychological studies, it was concluded that executive function intervention was effective for children who practiced rather than those who did not. It significantly helped those with poor executive functioning skills(those with ADHD). It was helpful because certain activities can optimize catecholamine action by engaging in meditation (an example of executive function international). However, the activities should be done for a long time to see long-lasting results.
Determining the Efficacy of Polyphenols in Inhibiting the Aggregation of Amyloid Beta Proteins
Authors: Renganathan Gayathri , Liu Bridget , Jain Bhoomi , Ismail Sumayyah , Patel Kavya , Patel Ayush , Halvorsen Alyssa , Mannem Nandini
Published: February 2024

Alzheimer's Disease is caused by an aggregation of amyloid beta and tau proteins in the brain. Polyphenols, a broad class of naturally-existing compounds, have been shown to inhibit the aggregation of those proteins. This project aims to focus on expressing different combinations of those proteins, as well as assaying those proteins for aggregation inhibition using polyphenols such as curcumin, caffeic acid, epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), and more to determine which polyphenol is most effective in doing so. We chose to use these polyphenols because of their past precedence in other work, along with their widespread prevalence. However, this project focused more on the biological and in-vitro aspect of polyphenols inhibiting amyloid beta, such as conducting multiple assays including Congo Red, Avoidance, and Dynamic Light Scattering in order to receive tangible results. Through our studies, we found that polyphenols do produce an inhibitory effect on the aggregation of amyloid-beta.
Nature’s Defense: Studying the Antibiotics Properties of the Goldenrod Plant
Authors: Nirgudkar Sid , Mathieu Aaron
Published: February 2024

Plants have long been known to possess antimicrobial properties and treat various conditions, including cancer (Gonelimali et al., 2018). Recent research has accelerated the use of plant-derived drugs and supplements, pivotal in reducing the strain on fungal-based antibiotics (Veeresham, 2012). However, there have been very few studies to evaluate the individual parts of the plants and their contribution to the antimicrobial properties. This study will be crucial in creating the most potent treatment and using plants more conservatively, potentially leading to the production of different types of antibiotics. This paper focuses on evaluating the antimicrobial properties of the various parts of the Goldenrod plant and the inhibitory mechanisms they use. Tests conducted on the Goldenrod plant against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria indicate that the roots had the highest antimicrobial effect for the gram-positive bacteria, while the leaves had the highest antimicrobial effect for the gram-negative bacteria. The findings show that specific parts of the plant are specialized in specific types of antimicrobial compounds. When the antibiotics found in different parts of the plant were compared with commercial antibiotics, it was found that the antibiotics present in leaves worked similarly to Streptomycin, while the roots worked differently than any antibiotic that was available to us at the time of the study. While mass spectrometry of the plant compounds is underway, the findings of this study will be extended to other medicinal plants and will help prevent antibiotic winter and the discovery of new antibiotics.
The Impact of the 2009 US-backed Coup on the Political, Social, and Economic Spheres of Honduras
Authors: Turcios Nashla
Published: February 2024

This qualitative study explores the perspectives of seven Honduran citizens regarding the 2009 coup in Honduras, with a focus on themes of political instability, economic struggles, social polarization, migration, and international intervention. The participants expressed a range of views on the coup and its aftermath, with some highlighting the negative impact of the coup on Honduran democracy and others suggesting that it represented a necessary corrective measure. The study also examines the role of the United States, in the coup and its aftermath, with a majority of participants expressing negative sentiments towards US intervention in Honduras.
Advancing Justice: Addressing the Impacts of Private Prisons
Authors: Kumar Siya , Willis Rikki
Published: February 2024

Prisons play a multifaceted role within American society and their portrayal in various forms of media, serving as potent symbols of justice, punishment, and rehabilitation. The prevailing narrative surrounding the US criminal justice system emphasizes that prisons have a dual purpose: to serve as places of retribution for offenders and simultaneously provide avenues for reform, reintegration, and eventually successful reentry into society. Nevertheless, as the complex nature of the criminal justice system unravels, concerns have emerged regarding the increasing influence of financial interests in private prisons. This economic trend raises apprehensions about the potential detrimental impact on rehabilitation efforts and its contribution to the persistently high incarceration rates. Critics argue that when financial gain becomes the primary focus of prisons' operations, inmates' well-being and prospects may be compromised. The profit-driven nature of private prisons may prioritize cost-cutting measures over providing necessary resources for rehabilitation programs, mental health support, educational opportunities, and vocational training.
How Can Dangerous Levels of Nitrogen in Water be Remediated Using Nanofibers
Authors: Pinches Madeline , Homan Mackenzie
Published: February 2024

Freshwater is vital for plant, animal, and human life. Due to increased demand for agricultural and animal products, excess reactive nitrogen species are seen in the environment as synthetic fertilizers. Consequently, increased instances of eutrophication occur in surface waters coupled with increased levels of nitrates in groundwaters. Both of these are common drinking water sources. Current nitrate treatment technologies require expensive infrastructure to build and maintain, have long treatment periods due to biological processes, and can generate copious amounts of waste and byproducts (ex: granular activated carbon and anion exchange resins). Safe, affordable, and sustainable reactive nitrogen removal water treatment technologies are needed. Nanotechnologies are an emerging, novel treatment for the removal of reactive nitrogen species in the form of nitrate in both drinking water and wastewater. In particular, chitosan nanofiber mats with algal substrate show promise in removing nitrate from water sources and have the added benefit of providing a sustainable source of biofuel. This article includes a review of nitrate contamination in the environment and chitosan nanofiber mats with an algal substrate possible solution.
The Effects of Social Proof Marketing Tactics on Nudging Consumer Purchase
Authors: Park Sean , McCallister Joseph
Published: February 2024

A wide variety of marketing tactics can be used to nudge consumer purchases on e-commerce websites particularly through methods known as social proof, which stress the importance of conformity to the norms of a social group. Although many types of social proof-based messages are used in digital marketing – such as testimonials, influencer endorsements, and social media shares – the inclusion of positive product reviews and pop-up messages about product purchases by other buyers are common marketing tactics used to persuade shoppers to purchase advertised goods and services. Though studies on the impact of these tactics on adult consumers have been conducted, there is little to no information on impacts on adolescent consumers. What is also unclear is whether the impacts of these marketing tactics combined are greater than their impacts individually. Using a survey that displayed images of hypothetical products and various combinations of positive product reviews and pop-up messages, this study found that 1) positive product reviews significantly increased the likelihood of adolescent consumer purchasing, 2) pop-up messages had little to no effect, and 3) combining pop-up messages regarding the purchases of other buyers reduced the impact that positive product reviews had on nudging adolescent consumers to buy the marketed goods.
Women's Labor Participation in Ghana and Effects on Human Development: A Focus on Entrepreneurship
Authors: Wang Audrey , Bojanic Antonio , Hamill Bridget
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this paper is to examine the gender-rooted challenges that women entrepreneurs face in Ghana and to analyze the impacts that increasing women’s rights and entrepreneurship have had on the country’s economy. Several indicators (including labor force participation, women's seats in national parliaments, the Women Business and the Law index, primary completion rate, and the gender inequality index) of gender equality and the prevalence of women’s entrepreneurship are compared with economic and human development trends. Through statistical regressions, the paper’s findings show a positive correlation between greater income equality and women’s seats in national parliament, as well as with the human development index, and conclude that the best way to reduce gender inequality is to increase the number of women in positions of power, as well as improve the education and skill development for women.
Universality and Conditionality in Cash Transfer Programs: Lessons from the COVID-19 Stimulus
Authors: Park Sunghun , Kim Michael
Published: February 2024

COVID-19 caused a global health crisis on an unprecedented scale. As countries around the world raced to contain the virus with lockdowns, quarantines, travel restrictions, and social distancing measures, disruptions also reverberated throughout the global economy, leading to widespread unemployment and a sharp decline in global GDP. In response, governments spent massive sums on fiscal measures, with the hopes of hastening recovery and providing relief to those in need. One common measure involved the provision of direct cash transfers to households. Direct cash transfers are not a new economic tool, but the pandemic marks the first time they were administered on a universal or nearly universal scale, with few or no conditions attached. As such, it provides a unique vantage point from which to study the impact of broad-based unconditional cash transfers as an economic tool. This paper evaluates the effectiveness of the Economic Impact Payments (EIPs), a series of three unconditional cash transfers that were extended to the vast majority of households in the United States. First, it examines how effective EIPs were in achieving their primary objectives of stimulating economic activity and providing relief to those in need. Second, it examines their impact on inflation and inequality. From these observations, lessons are drawn about how cash transfer programs can be better designed. The paper concludes that universality and unconditionality are not ideal for permanent transfer programs, but may be warranted temporarily if the paramount goal is getting quick relief to those in need during pandemic-like disruptions.
Using a Convolutional Neural Network to Classify Subvocalized Letters Collected from the Brain by EEG
Authors: Debnath Shaumprovo , Kolar Dr. Prasanna
Published: February 2024

Communication is essential to human behavior. Individuals with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and severe traumatic brain injury encounter enormous challenges in communicating via speaking, writing or typing with others. Such lack of communication severely limits their independence and quality of life. Recent research employing invasive and expensive surgical implants of neuroprosthesis shows some degree of success in reconstructing language or images. However, these procedures are not user-friendly and not available for all affected individuals. To address these limitations, the researcher created a convolutional neural network model to classify individually thought letters – i.e., subvocalization. Using a commercially available simple electroencephalography (EEG) device data were collected from a study participant. All collected data was formatted for computer interpretation and uploaded to a Python notebook. The data was then augmented and preprocessed to make it easier for the neural network model to make predictions. The convolutional neural network model with the best performance had 63.33% classifying 38/60 samples correctly with a statistically significant p value (p<0.00001). Limitations include the reliability of the EEG headset used and time restrictions for collecting data. For future research, better hyperparameters will be investigated using additional data. Finally, the researcher plans to conduct experiments to make real-time predictions with the model once higher accuracies are achieved.
Falling Out of Postural Instability: Evaluating the Contribution of Somatosensation to Standing Balance in Parkinson's Disease
Authors: Shi Katherine , Monaghan Andrew , Peterson Daniel
Published: February 2024

People with PD (PwPD) experience a variety of motor symptoms, including postural instability, impaired gait, tremors, and falls. Falls among PwPD are especially debilitating, as they can result in fracture risk, increased progression of the disease, and even death. Previous research has demonstrated that the somatosensory system, consisting of tactile sensation (which is responsible for feelings of touch and pressure) and proprioceptive feedback (which is important in joint position sense), is crucial for reactive balance control. The primary goal of this project was to determine the unique contributions of the tactile and proprioceptive systems to standing balance control in PD. Participants at the Gait and Balance Disorders Lab at Arizona State University were asked to maintain their balance while experiencing 3 sensory vibration conditions from vibrotactile transducers 1) a control condition with no vibration, 2) vibration underneath the feet to disturb tactile sensation, and 3) vibration on top of their feet (dorsiflexor tendon) to manipulate proprioception. Another goal was to identify predictors of somatosensory impairment during standing balance (i.e., participants affected most by sensory vibration) by associating clinical characteristics with change scores in balance outcomes from the no vibration-control condition to the tactile and proprioceptive stimulation conditions. The results of this study indicate that vibrotactile stimulation had minimal impacts on standing balance responses. This study also found few predictors of somatosensory impairments. Further research is needed to enhance clinical efficiency in designing treatments that have the most impact on improving balance control and preventing falls.
Writing Poetry: A Coping Mechanism for the Mental Health of High School Students
Authors: Jalso Abigail , Macomber Matthew
Published: February 2024

With the recent pandemic of Covid-19 sweeping through the United States, it has been proven that its impact has negatively affected individuals’ mental health. Recent research has shown that adolescents, specifically high school students, are particularly mentally impacted by social isolation experienced due to remote learning, fear of contracting the virus, and other factors. As a teenager, I too noticed a negative decline in my mental health and naturally fell into writing poetry as a way to cope with everything I was experiencing during remote learning. This newfound coping mechanism piqued my interest and I began to wonder if other high school students would also benefit from writing poetry. This thus led to my research question which is “What is the impact of writing poetry when used by high school students as a coping mechanism in support of mental health?” Poetry therapy is used as treatment for different reasons by psychologists as it provides neuroscientific perspectives, flexible treatments, and many more beneficial aspects. The methodology that I determined best fit my research was an experimental pre-post study. In this study, participants wrote a minimum five-line poem per day over a three-week period in addition to completing four surveys: a mental health questionnaire, two poetry perception surveys, and a daily survey. In terms of future research, medical professionals who have experience with poetry therapy can refine this coping mechanism of writing poetry to then recommend it to patients to engage with in their own time outside of counseling sessions.
The Effect of Green Tea Catechins on Solarum lycopersicum Infected with Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Wickard Emily
Published: February 2024

Agrobacterium tumefaciens is a soil-borne pathogen that causes crown-gall disease and growth stunting. Current preventative treatments are not feasible for organic or GMO-free farms. A potential natural alternative to such control methods is the use of green tea (containing epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG). In this study, the effect of green tea catechins on tumor progression in Solanum lycopersicum (tomato plants) infected with A. tumfaciens was investigated. It was hypothesized that plants treated with green tea catechins would have fewer signs of oxidative stress, and smaller tumors. Tomato plants, grown from seed were watered with green tea or tap water for 9 weeks before inoculation. The control groups included: 1) plants watered with 100ml of water and inoculated with A. tumefaciens; 2) plants watered with 100ml water only; 3) plants watered with 100ml of green tea with an EGCG content of 119 mg. The experimental group included plants watered with green tea and inoculated with A. tumefaciens. After 14 weeks, a leaf Spectrometer was used to measure signs of oxidative stress and tumor size was measured. The p-value from Anthocyanin Reflectance (0.038) and Chlorophyll Content (0.020) showed a significant relationship between treatments and the interaction of treatment and infection cohorts respectively. There was no observed significance between tumor size (p= 0.13). However, these significant relationships suggest that pre-treatment with Green Tea Catechins (EGCG) is an effective Non-GMO option for preventing profit loss from A.tumefaciens infection. EGCG can also be considered a compound of interest for further research in human cancer treatment.
The Influence of Communism on the Bulgarian Attitude Towards the Russia-Ukraine War
Authors: Markova Angelena , Loope Amy
Published: February 2024

Studies have shown that older Bulgarians display an attachment to Russia and nostalgia for the communist era. Younger generations have not lived through communism and therefore are not as emotionally attached to Russia. Prior research analyzes the Bulgarian population's view of the Russia-Ukraine war. However, there is a lack of research on how separate age groups differ in perspective on the conflict. This study aimed to examine the impact of communism on older generations of Bulgarians regarding their view of the Russia-Ukraine war compared to younger generations. It also uncovered additional information on the Bulgarian opinion of the Russia-Ukraine war. To explore this, a survey was conducted with 19 questions on 200 Bulgarian participants from the ages of 18 to 75. Some of the questions included an open-ended aspect for more context into the thought processes of the participants, which were selected using the snowball method. Analysis of the data showed that older generations feel nostalgia towards communism, which explained the differing responses between age groups. Often, older participants viewed Russia more favorably than younger participants. Despite this, some of the questions did not show a significant difference in opinion. The results also showed that Bulgarians feel they should be neutral regarding the war due to the country's small government and military.
A Review of the Effects of Social Media on Sleep in High-School-Aged Students
Authors: Richards Alice , Gutter Aaron
Published: February 2024

The purpose of this study was to determine if there was a correlation between the social media use and the sleep habits of teenagers. After conducting a literature review, the researcher found that there were very few studies conducted observing the relationship between social media use and its effects on sleep, and additionally, the few studies done were conducted among adults. This led to the identification of the gap, which was the lack of research done in teenagers. The researcher decided to use a survey to collect data and fill this gap, and said survey collected both quantitative data, through Likert scale questions and information about the teenagers’ daily habits, and qualitative data, through free responses which were analyzed for popular themes. From the responses in the survey and the correlational analyses conducted, the researcher found that there was little to no correlation between social media use and worse sleep schedules among teenagers. The researcher determined that there was no significant statistical relationship among the two variables, however, it was identified that students were staying up too late and not getting enough sleep, as well as spending too much time on social media. The limitations of the survey were that the research process was inflexible, human trials are usually inconclusive, and there is respondent bias. The implications of this survey are that it can be researched in other spheres or with other methods, and that how teenagers interact with social media should be examined.
Limiting Mold Growth in Dog Food Through Natural Compounds
Authors: Hamill Jacob , Heineman Stacy
Published: February 2024

Mold contaminated dog food has become a growing concern as many mold poisoning epidemics in the past have killed hundreds of dogs and left others severely sick. With current methods of reducing mold growth in dog food failing, it's important to explore new methods of limiting mold growth. Recognizing natural compounds like cumin, astragalus, ginger, and apple cider vinegar’s high antimicrobial properties, it's important to explore their effectiveness as mold inhibitors in dog food. Thus, this experiment explores the present question: Can natural compounds, added in safe amounts, effectively act as mold inhibitors and limit mold growth in dog food? To answer this question, an experiment was developed in which each natural compound (turmeric powder, astragalus root powder, ginger powder, cumin powder, and apple cider vinegar) was added into dog food along with mold samples. After a four week period, mold growth was measured and compared to a control batch which had no natural compound additives. Results indicate that ginger had a significant effect on limiting mold growth. Similarly, apple cider vinegar noticeably limited mold growth when compared to the control. It’s thus important to further explore these compounds' efficacies as mold inhibitors in dog food.
Binaural Techniques, Functionality, and Applications: A Literature Review
Authors: Wang Sophia , Stoyka Julie
Published: February 2024

Binaural techniques, the use of audio differences in the left and right audio channels, have been used with varying frequency over the past few decades. The main advantage of binaural techniques lies in how they create a sense of spaciousness and invoke specific audio scenes. This paper conducts a literature review about the studies surrounding recent binaural techniques and their functionality, as well as possible applications in the field of psychology. A dearth of research regarding recent binaural techniques was identified in the process of conducting the research for this literature review. Several opportunities for future research have been suggested, such as the use of binaural techniques across the vertical plane and evaluating the perception of sound and spatial scenes among the general public.
Student Comfort Levels during Political Discourse in High School Classrooms
Authors: Ferrans Jake
Published: February 2024

Growing political polarization has led to intense debate over political discourse in the high school classroom setting, leading to questions about if students feel comfortable during political discussions. Traditionally, it has been thought that politics should not be in the classroom to avoid indoctrinating students. However, recent research has cast doubt on the reality of indoctrination through classroom political discourse. Additionally, studies have shown that there are benefits to the introduction of politics in the classroom as students grow tolerant towards opposing beliefs. However, research has not explored the comfort levels of students during political discourse, a factor to consider when discussing political discourse in the classroom. To explore this issue, this study used an electronic survey to gather if a student is aware of their teacher's political beliefs, whether they agree with them, and then five questions to receive a score on the Comfortability in Learning (CIL) Scale. Then, a correlation was performed between the CIL Score and the student's knowledge and consensus with their teacher's beliefs. Contrary to popular belief, this study showed that if a student is aware of their teacher's beliefs, there is not a significant difference in comfort levels. However, if they disagree with their teacher's beliefs, then there is a moderate difference in comfort levels. These findings indicate that political discourse in high schools is not a fundamental issue, but rather the way that teachers present political discourse and ostracize dissenting students. This calls for additional training for educators to promote positive political discourse.
Review of Application of Tissue Nano transfection for Vascular Injuries and Traumas
Authors: Lim Hyunjun , Soltmann James
Published: February 2024

With vascular surgeons involved in increasing numbers of lower extremity arterial traumas, vascular injuries are a prevalent problem in today’s society [16]. Vascular injuries are often causes of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis and are separated into three categories: blunt, penetration, or a combination of the two.[1] These injuries can often lead to symptoms such as bleeding, swelling, lumps on the skin, and bruising. Tissue Nano Transfection (TNT) is a novel technology that uses nanotechnology-based chip hardware to deliver specific genes to reprogram one tissue type into another. TNT can improve vasculature by repairing damaged tissues. TNT has the benefits of not requiring laboratory-based procedures, quick treatment, and minimal invasiveness. However, the status quo of TNT calls for commercial, clinical, and biological needs, all of which are discussed in this paper. Although relatively novel, tissue nano-transfection, combined with practicality, could be used worldwide to help patients not only as a vascular injury treatment but also as a revolutionary form of cell therapy. All things considered, TNT has had numerous successes through non-viral gene delivery, an advantage over many current forms of cell therapy due to complications of doing viral gene delivery.
Addressing US Food Deserts: Evaluating Current Solutions and Proposing Other Comprehensive Alternatives
Authors: Kim Seohyun , Pena Carlos
Published: February 2024

Food deserts, characterized by limited access to affordable and nutritious food options due to the absence of nearby grocery stores, affect the lives of approximately 19 million individuals across the United States. This study critically evaluates the efficacy of current solutions and proposes a comprehensive approach that addresses the spatial challenges inherent in food deserts. Through an extensive literature review and insightful interviews with academic experts and a local food bank, this research examines the limitations of existing initiatives such as SNAP, SNAP-Ed, HFFI, and urban agriculture in effectively tackling food deserts. Notably, most of these programs tackle financial support but do not tackle the widespread and systemic accessibility of supermarkets that is a key characteristic of food deserts. While these programs have shown some positive impact in mitigating food insecurity, they fail to directly address the fundamental issue of distance between individuals and food resources. In response to these limitations, this study proposes a comprehensive solution that centers on enhancing public transit systems and establishing robust online delivery platforms. By improving transportation options, such as implementing shuttle buses, individuals residing in food deserts can more easily access supermarkets and grocery stores, thereby overcoming the distance challenge. Additionally, online delivery services can bridge the gap by providing convenient access to nutritious food, regardless of geographic location. To ensure the effectiveness of these solutions, government subsidies should be considered to alleviate delivery fees and reduce costs.
Alopecia: An OVerall Review Including Causes, COVID-19, Diet, And Treatments
Authors: Khan Muhammad Rizan
Published: February 2024

Despite the hopes of many, the autoimmune disease alopecia is not a curable disease. Fortunately, there is lots of information and research about the disease, its underlying mechanisms, as well as old and new treatments including light therapies, injectables, hair transplantation, and even supplements and OTCs. Furthermore, this paper will explore the various side effects, cost, and effectiveness of these therapies based on experiments done with them. This paper will introduce various non-scarring alopecias such as alopecia areata, androgenetic alopecia, and telogen effluvium and describe what makes them occur. This paper will also explain the large impact of diets as well as different types and components of each diet that can contribute to controlling and preventing alopecia. Explore the underlying mechanism of the effects of COVID-19 and the COVID-19 vaccine on the body that can cause alopecia.
The Effects of Computer and AI Engines on Competitive Chess
Authors: Modi Ethan , Acuna Kymberly
Published: February 2024

With more unique games than the number of atoms in the universe, chess has always been a mark of human intelligence. However, in the historic moment where world renown, grandmaster Kasparov was defeated by Deep Blue, chess engines have shown their power over human intelligence. This paper examines the impact of computer engines like Deep Blue, StockFish, and AlphaZero on competitive chess, considering their merits and drawbacks in shaping the game's landscape. The analysis reveals that while engines have significantly strengthened chess play, they have also posed challenges to human creativity and strategic thinking. By relying on engine-generated moves, players risk losing their individuality and turning chess into a memorization exercise. However, it is argued that a strategic collaboration between human intellect and computational power can yield optimal results in a technologically advanced chess era. The findings highlight the importance of integrating engine assistance with human cognition, emphasizing the need for players to harness engines as tools rather than substitutes for critical thinking. By utilizing engines for analysis, preparation, and validation of ideas, players can enhance their understanding of the game and explore new possibilities. Moreover, engines have played a crucial role in attracting a wider audience to competitive chess, leading to a rise in participation and an overall elevation in the level of play. Ultimately, the paper asserts that the combination of human intelligence and engine capabilities offers the most promising path for the future of competitive chess.
Analyzing the Public Response on Twitter of Socialized Medicine Following the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Ham Katie , Daly Cara Beth
Published: February 2024

This research paper aims to analyze data gathered from the popular social media site, Twitter, to gain insight regarding human perceptions on the ongoing discussion of socialized medicine in the United States. The study used both a sentiment analysis and thematic analysis to analyze a sample of tweets referencing socialized medicine and COVID-19 posted between December 2018 and January 2021. However, as the sentiment analysis revealed flawed data due to its nature of only analyzing an individual’s tone to a particular subject matter, this research solely relied on the data provided by the thematic analysis. The thematic analysis conducted revealed four recurring themes: irony, disagreement with political beliefs, comparisons to countries with socialized medicine, and beliefs influenced by first-hand experience. The analysis of these four recurrent themes shed light on the complexity of the debate surrounding the topic of socialized medicine in the United States, and the findings of this study suggest the impact COVID-19 had in shifting public opinion to favor the implementation of socialized medicine. However, further research is needed to further understand the complexities of the various healthcare systems and the diverse perspectives held by Americans on this important issue.
Determining Conditions for the Fenton Reaction through Spectroscopy of FeSCN2+ and Methyl Orange
Authors: Maken Nirbaan , Villanueva Karel
Published: February 2024

Exposure to radiation can lead to the breakdown of water into reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydroxyl radicals (OH·), through a process called radiolysis. The presence of hydroxyl radicals (OH·) and other ROS can cause mutations to DNA in the human body. While hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), a product of radiolysis, may not be a strong ROS on its own, it can react with certain metal ions such as iron(II) to produce hydroxyl radicals in a process called the Fenton reaction. This study investigates the optimal conditions for the Fenton reaction using a cost-effective spectroscopic analysis of ferric thiocyanate and degradation of methyl orange to detect the presence of Fe3+ and OH·. Understanding conditions and methods of detection for the Fenton reaction is relevant due to the carcinogenic nature of the hydroxyl radicals produced (Kumar et al., 2021). The results of the spectroscopic analysis suggest that the Fenton reaction occurs ideally in acidic environments (p = 0.00354) with low temperature dependence. Additionally, both spectroscopic methods are effective for detecting the efficiency of Fenton processes. This study provides valuable insights for future research on the Fenton reaction and its potential applications.
The Effects of Gender-Based Treatment in Competitive Gaming on Gameplay Patterns of Female Players
Authors: Nguyen Ethan , Park Soo
Published: February 2024

This study attempts to investigate the involvement of female players within competitive video games, examining gameplay and behavioral patterns as a result of discriminatory treatment. Competitive video games are a rapidly growing phenomenon, with their growing popularity exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and expanding technology consumption. Historical exclusion against women in gaming provides significance to this study, as such exclusion has resulted in lower female involvement and discriminatory social behavior within the community. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with questions pertaining to specific experiences within competitive games as well as subsequent actions taken in response to such experiences. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis to determine commonalities in participant behavior. The themes generated from participant experiences suggest decreased involvement in a plethora of gameplay and communication methods, with reduced communication, gameplay regression, and conformity to gendered game roles being the three most common themes. The results of this study underscore the importance of inclusive behavior towards women in competitive gaming, and may have implications for the future of gender equity in gaming and other male-dominated activities.
The Implementation of Diet In Pre-Diabetic Versus Diabetic Patients In Long Term Texas Facilities
Authors: Bondala Nishta
Published: February 2024

Diabetes Mellitus and Pre-Diabetes Mellitus are two of the fastest growing diseases in the world (Toft 1). While extensive research has been done regarding dietary regulations in Diabetics, there is a lack of pre-existing research addressing diet regulations in Pre-diabetics. Considering diet plays a crucial role in the recovery process of these patients, the scarcity of information regarding diet regulation in Pre-Diabetics is quite alarming. Thus, this study focuses on examining the implementation of diet in Diabetic versus Pre-diabetic patients in long term Texas Facilities. To assess the adherence to the CDC’s Recommended Dietary Allowances, 12 long term Texas facilities participated in one or more of the following 3 methods: a quantitative questionnaire, qualitative interviews, and both a quantitative and qualitative dietary menu analysis. The results concluded that the extent to which the CDC’S recommended dietary allowances are implemented in the diet of Pre-diabetic patients in Texas facilities is much less efficient than in diabetics due to leniency of dietary regulation, granting of dietary requests, longer monitoring intervals, and lack of priority towards educating the patient on dietary restrictions in Pre-diabetics.
Balancing Success and Struggle: Examining the Relationship between COVID-19 and Life Satisfaction of High Achieving University Students
Authors: He Allison
Published: February 2024

The aim of this study was to determine how the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns affected high achieving university students in the United States. The study used a sample of 10 high achieving university students from the United States, and used academic performance, physical activity, technology use, uncertainty, and stress as predictors of life satisfaction. These predictors, as well as perceived life satisfaction, were measured using a 10 point Likert scale and then participants were asked to elaborate on their personal experiences during the pandemic in a semi structured interview. T-values and pearson correlation coefficients were then calculated to determine correlations between measure values. Furthermore, the interviews were analyzed using thematic coding to identify common themes or patterns in the participants' experiences. It was found that there was a general decrease in life satisfaction during the pandemic and uncertainty and social isolation played the most significant roles in this negative trend.
Identification and Analysis Of The Existence of Word Stress Variation Between The Pronunciation Of Certain English Words Of Native English Speakers and Native Telugu Speakers
Authors: Uriti Monisha , Sherry Sarah
Published: February 2024

Since the decline of the COVID-19 pandemic, immigration as a whole has been on the rise especially to the United States. The newly released census report for the years 2021-22 has reported an increase of over 1 million legal immigrants to the U.S. substantially comprised of Telugu speaking individuals. This research uses 8 native Telugu speaking adults and 8 native English-speaking adults to identify, analyze, and understand the existence of word stress variation between the pronunciation of the English language between the two groups. The results indicate that there indeed exists a significant difference in the position of word stress in the Telugu speakers’ pronunciations with word stress predominantly applied to the last or second-to-last/penultimate syllable. The main cause for this shift in position was due to L1 interference from the mother tongue. These results have a plethora of implications for future research on sentences with and without punctuation marks, other major English stress rules, and different parts of speech that are commonly used in everyday language.
Examining Achievement Gaps Between Students in Kansas Public Schools
Authors: Natarajan Advith , Agarwal Deepesh
Published: February 2024

Disparities in academic performances across subgroups are widely recognized. This investigation examines these differences within Kansas public schools. Using the Kansas Department of Education state assessment scores published on the Kansas Report Card database, we compare various student subgroups on the basis of ethnicity, income, and literacy. Most notably, this inquiry uncovers novel findings regarding district size and student performance. This study is also the first to assess the impact of COVID-19 on Kansas students. Our findings indicate significant achievement gaps between minority and white students, self-paid lunch and free & reduced lunch students, and English Language Learner (ELL) and non-ELL students. These gaps in performance were greater in medium and large-sized school districts. We also analyzed the impact of the recent COVID-19 pandemic on academic performance across different student subgroups in grades 3-12. Significant decreases in performance were observed for students in grades 3-8 and a significant increase in performance for those in grades 10-12.