bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
STRATEGI BAZNAS DALAM MENINGKATKAN KESADARAN MASYARAKAT MEMBAYAR ZAKAT (Studi Kasus Baznas Provinsi Papua)
Authors: Waqiah Siti Rofiatun , Fiqri Affandy Fachrudin , Baharuddin Jukri , Hanifah Nani , Hikma Nur
Published: February 2024

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk meneliti Strategi Baznas dalam meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat menunaikan zakat. Seiring terjadinya perkembangan zaman, kemauan dan kesadaran masyarakat muslim untuk menunaikan zakat semakin meningkat, walaupun masih dalam kecepatan yang rendah namun sedikit demi sedikit mampu dikatakan berkembang. Pada dasarnya strategi merupakan bagian kehidupan manusia. Manajemen strategi merupakan serangkaian keputusan serta tindakan fundamental yang dirancang oleh manajemen puncak serta diimplementasikan oleh semua jajaran suatu organisasi dalam rangka pencapaian tujuan organisasi tersebut. Peneliti memakai pendekatan kualitatif. Menggunakan pendekatan ini diperlukan penemuan realitas yang bisa dideskripsikan dengan detail, lebih jelas, serta akurat, terutama segala perihal yang berhubungan dengan masyarakat, terkhusus strategi Baznas meningkatkan kesadaran masyarakat dalam menunaikan zakat. Oleh kerena itu, peneliti memakai pendekatan fenomenologi, yang dibutuhkan bisa membantu dalam hal pengamatannya, ke dua imajinasinya, ke tiga cara fikir yang tak berbentuk, serta ke empat bisa mencicipi atau menghayati kenyataan di lokasi penelitiannya. Lokasi penelitian ini bertempat di Kota Jayapura tepatnya Baznas Provinsi Papua. Akibat penelitian ini berkata beberapa perihal diantaranya tentang strategi baznas provinsi papua dalam kesadaran masyarakat menunaikan zakat.
SISTEM BAGI HASIL MAPPAKETENNI DI KALANGAN MASYARAKAT BUGIS SULAWESI SELATAN
Authors: Nuringsih Nuringsih , Mirnawati Mirnawati , Lismawati Lismawati , Djauharuddin Arham
Published: February 2024

Masalah pokok yang dikaji dalam penelitian ini adalah sistem  pelaksanaan sistem bagi hasil pada kebun yang digadaikan masyarakat yang dijabarkan kedalam rumusan masalah yaitu bagaimana sistem bagi hasil Mappaketenni dan tinjauan persepektif fiqh muamalah. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengetahui lebih jelas pelaksanaan sistem bagi hasil tersebut. Adapun jenis penelitian ini adalah penelitian lapangan (Field Research) dengan metode kualitatif yang dilakukan secara deskriptif analisis dengan Pendekatan penelitian yang digunakan meliputi pendekatan teologis, normatif, yuridis dan fenomenologis. Dengan sumber data yang terbagi menjadi dua yaitu sumber data sekunder dan sumber data primer. Metode pengumpulan data yaitu observasi, wawancara dan dokumentasi. Selanjutnya hasil penelitian mengungkapkan bahwa: kedua belah pihak melaksanakan perjanjian bagi hasil pertanian  sebagai antisipasi dari kesalah pahaman. Adapun kaidah hukum fiqih tentang muamalah  jika tidak ada aturannya dalam Al-Qur’an dan hadits adalah boleh, kecuali ada dalil yang melarangnya, tak terkecuali praktek sistem bagi hasil Mappaketenni di benarkan selama berdasarkan prinsip yang dibuat atas dasar sukarela. Kemudian Orang yang diberi kepercayaan untuk mengelola lahan harus bisa bertanggung jawab dan biasanya pemilik lahan memberikan syarat diawal bahwasanya hasil dari kebun yang dikelola nanti akan dibagi dua, jika terjadi    kerugian kembali ke pemilik lahan apakah ganti rugi atau diberi keringanan tergantung dari kesepakatan di awal (Akad)
Analisis Pengaruh Metode AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) terhadap Keputusan Pembelian Fast Food Berlabel Halal pada Mahasiswa FAI UMSU
Authors: Mardiah Ulfa , Rahmayati
Published: February 2024

This research aims to find out how consumer purchasing decisions for fast food products labeled halal are influenced by the AIDA (attention, interest, desire, action) method applied. As a marketing strategy, the AIDA approach is used to determine how much consumer attention, interest, desires, and behavior can influence the decision to buy fast food that has received halal certification. This research used a quantitative approach by distributing questionnaires to 100 respondents from 925 FAI UMSU students. The sample collected in this research was through purposive sampling, meaning that the sample was based on certain criteria, namely FAI UMSU Stambuk students 2020–2023. The research results showed that simultaneously, the variables attention, interest, desire, and action influenced the decision to purchase halal-labeled fast food. Based on the coefficient of determination, the AIDA approach influences 73.1% of decisions to purchase fast food labeled halal. The remaining 26.9% is influenced by factors not included in the research model
Peran Literasi Keuangan dalam Memutuskan Pembelian Logam Mulia pada Masyarakat Tambun Selatan
Authors: Arief Teguh Nugroho  , Sunita Dasman  , Yuhaning Praborini
Published: February 2024

Gold is a precious metal that is loved by many people. Precious metals are no stranger to socienty,in general, precious metals that are known to public are precious metals in the form of jewelry. The research objective was to determine the effect of product knowledge, brand image, and lifestyle on Antam's precious metal purchasing decisions. This study uses a quantitative research model, with a sampling method using non-probablity sampling with a purposive sampling technique. The number of samples in this study was 96 which was rounded off to 100 respondents. Methods of data collection by means of observation, interviews, literature study, and distributing questionnaires through the Google Form. . The data analysis method uses validity tests, reliability tests, and multiple linear regression analysis using SPSS version 25 program assistance. The results of this study indicate that there is a significant positive effect of product knowledge on purchasing decisions for Antam's precious metal consumers, there is a significant positive influence for brand image on purchasing decisions for Antam's precious metal consumers, and there is no significant influence of lifestyle on purchasing decisions for Antam's precious metal consumers. From the results of the research findings that have been carried out, there are two hypotheses that have an effect, and there are one hypotheses that state that they have no effect.
An Analysis of the Literary Realism Movement and Its Impacts
Authors: Jo Alen , Dykes Heather , Green Kerry
Published: February 2024

The Literary Realism movement was a movement established globally with heavy influence in the United States during the Civil War and Reconstruction eras. The Realism movement defies the Romanticism movement, with people favoring truth over falsity and reality over imagination. This research essay examines and analyzes the Literary Realism movement and its impact on the United States. This essay incorporated historical research with consultation from the history department head to provide a concise and accurate description of the historical context behind the Literary Realism movement. Additionally, this essay employed constructive research for evidence that supported the values and beliefs of the Literary Realism movement. Moreover, this research essay incorporated a study of the genre and the style of the Literary Realism movement to analyze the impact of the Literary Realism movement effectively. Finally, this essay included three fictional literary works plus two non-fictional authors and their compositions to synthesize the significance of Literary Realist authors during the Literary Realism movement. This paper, therefore, affirms an insightful analysis of the Literary Realism movement and its influence in the United States.
Effect of Brainwave Entrainment Using Binaural Beat Stimulation on Short-Term Memory
Authors: VanGilder Meta , LaLiberty Maren , Ray Mindy
Published: February 2024

Auditory brain entrainment is a response to a rhythmic stimulus that increases the amount of a single brainwave frequency. It has been proposed to act as a key mechanism to heighten sensory intake.  Auditory brain entrainment can be induced by listening to binaural beat stimulation. It has been shown that there is a positive effect on memory caused by using binaural beat stimulation. There has been research done on memory in young adults using binaural beat stimulation, but little in adolescents. Due to the lack of research on the effects of brain entrainment on memory in adolescents, this study attempts to show that a teen's working memory will improve after listening to a 40 Hz binaural beat for five minutes as compared to 0 Hz and 4 Hz.  Participants were randomly assigned into three groups (0Hz, 4Hz, 40Hz) prior to the experiment. Participants completed the Sternberg Short-term memory test.The participants then listened to a binaural beat of their designated group for 5 minutes, after which they completed the second trial of the Sternberg Short-term memory test. The average change of speed recall and errors from no binaural beat to after the binaural beat stimulus was analyzed using a T-test of independent means. The results do not support the hypothesis that listening to binaural beat stimulation of 40Hz would improve short-term memory compared to 4Hz and 0Hz.
Identification and Quantification of Microplastics (MPs) in the Precipitation of Faribault City in Minnesota
Authors: Cui Zhihan , Maren LaLiberty , Ray Mindy
Published: February 2024

As one of the most successful synthetic materials, plastics have been produced at an exponential rate since its invention in the 1950s. Due to its strong durability, most disposed plastics can stay in the environment for a long time and experience degradation into microplastic particles (<5mm). Small microplastics particles have been found in fish, indicating seafood as a source of ingesting plastics; other studies have found atmospheric deposition as another potential microplastics particle transport route, as microplastics particles have been found in rain in many European cities and in some states in the US. Yet, there have been none trying to find microplastic particles present in precipitation in Minnesota. This study discovered the presence of microplastics in the rainwater in Faribault, a southern Minnesota city. The rain and snow was collected over night; photos and µ-Raman Spectroscopy graphs were taken for detailed analysis. Specifically, fibers and acrylic fragments (Type 1; Type 7) were present in the rain sample; no microplastic particles were found in the snow sample. The concentration of microplastic particles in the rain sample is approximately 75.34 particles m-2 d-1, comparable to the concentration reported in other studies.
Inequality in Sports: Outlining the Disparities Between Men and Women Portrayed by Media and Society
Authors: Suárez Juan
Published: February 2024

What specific cases of gender inequality exist in the sports world? From Billie King's Tennis Open to the WNBA, female athletes have wanted to earn equality with their male counterparts. At a very young age, women start playing sports but lack the respect necessary due to stereotypes shown to them and the way that people around the world view women. The wage gap and sexualization in sports are only a few of the inequalities that women are raising awareness about gender inequality. Faced with the presence of gender inequality is an international problem in countries such as Kenya and Poland. With a mix of very new cases of gender inequality in the NBA and old cases about the start of women's sports, gender inequality is a problem seen in media and, consequently, also using media as a factor to influence this perception of women.
What is The Most Common Human Factor That Threatens Marine Species in The North Atlantic Ocean Region?
Authors: Yu Alex
Published: February 2024

In the North Atlantic Ocean Region, the greatest human threat to marine species is ship strikes. The many different species that reside in the ocean are affected greatly by various human factors such as pollution, ship traffic, infrastructure in the water and net entanglement. In this paper we establish that ship strikes cause the most damage to species in the North Atlantic region. We found that ship traffic affects many species greatly, from being the cause of death for 53% of the 40 Right whales autopsied between 1970 and 2006, to hundreds of sturgeon across three distinct regions killed by this method. Ship strikes are the most damaging factor, especially to the larger marine animals in the ocean such as whales and sturgeon. Our results not only show how one factor harms these species to a great extent, but how humans, through many different forms, greatly threaten the survival of other species. We conclude that these factors will continue to harm and threaten the well-being of species unless concerted action is taken to mitigate the effects.
News Never Knows
Authors: Patil Krish , Bell Philip
Published: February 2024

Finding a possible correlation between the news and how the stock market reacts to it is important as it would allow people to predict how the stock market will change in the future, allowing investors to make smarter decisions with their money and make sure that they are getting the maximum profit possible. People at risk could benefit from a prediction system because they could know how the stock market is going to change before it actually happens, causing them to avoid something bad happening. Along with this, businesses looking to other businesses for possible partnerships will be able to determine if having a partnership with a certain business will be profitable or not. A prediction system would allow us to overcome people losing massive amounts of money as they would have a prediction system stopping them from making unprofitable decisions in the stock market.
Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: Current and Emerging Treatments
Authors: Baker Elizabeth , Craft Harry
Published: February 2024

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a deadly disease with increasing incidence and mortality rates. The most effective treatment for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma is surgery, but because of the late-stage diagnosis which is typical among PDAC patients, as well as poor imaging technology, surgery is not a viable option for 80-85% of patients. Therefore, the most common treatments for PDAC currently are Chemotherapy, Immunotherapy, and Radiotherapy. Chemotherapy for PDAC is performed with a combination of drugs. The current standards of chemotherapy drug combinations are being challenged and new chemotherapy combinations are under clinical trial. Immunotherapy for PDAC consists of immunomodulators, oncolytic viruses, adoptive cell therapies, and cancer vaccines. Recently, a shift of focus within PDAC immunotherapy research has yielded an emphasis on protein inhibition. A new protein inhibition strategy is under clinical trial. Radiotherapy is rarely used to treat PDAC in recent years, but there is an emerging hypothesis implying that radiotherapy may be used on tumors to kill tissue that may not be removed via surgery. The future of PDAC treatment is unpredictable - because of the high mortality rate and low survival rate relative to other cancers, researchers are forced to think creatively and pursue treatments different than those of other cancers. The likelihood of improvement in PDAC treatment is great because of the current poor standard and the vast amount of emerging research.
Type 2 Diabetes: Molecular mechanism, Understanding and Prevention
Authors: Pancholi Krish , Kethar Jothsna , Appavu Rajagopal
Published: February 2024

Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects millions of people worldwide, with significant implications for individuals, families, and society at large. It is a leading cause of death, disability, and healthcare costs, with serious complications such as blindness, kidney disease, nerve damage, and cardiovascular disease. Furthermore, the prevalence of diabetes is increasing globally, highlighting the need for effective prevention and management strategies. This increase in prevalence is due to various factors such as changes in diet, sedentary lifestyles, and an aging population. Additionally, there are social determinants of health, such as poverty and inequality, that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations and contribute to the diabetes burden. This research aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the importance of diabetes by situating it in a larger context, defining the condition, and exploring its impact on day-to-day lives. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disorder characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, resulting in a lack of insulin production. On the other hand, Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance, where the body's cells become less responsive to insulin. The prevention of Type 1 diabetes involves reducing exposure to environmental triggers and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. In contrast, the prevention of Type 2 diabetes involves lifestyle modifications such as diet and exercise, as well as medication management. The molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes involve complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors, leading to dysfunction in insulin secretion and insulin action pathways.  Situating diabetes in a larger context also involves understanding the economic impact of the disease. The costs associated with diabetes are significant, including direct costs such as medical expenses and indirect costs such as loss of productivity and decreased quality of life. These costs place a considerable burden on healthcare systems, governments, and individuals.
The Impact of Fertility Rate, Gross Domestic Product, and Education Spending on Secondary School Female Enrollment
Authors: Goudar Niah , Skaff Kristen
Published: February 2024

Lack of secondary school education has adverse economic impacts, and this problem is severe for female students who have lower enrollment rates than male students, especially in low-income countries. To better understand the causes for lower female enrollment in secondary schools across the globe, we analyzed socio-economic factors that were likely to influence secondary school female enrollment. Specifically, we evaluated adolescent fertility rate (births per 1,000 women ages 15-19), per capita GDP, government spending on education (% of per capita GDP), and government spending on education (US$ per capita). Inferences on the relationship between secondary school female enrollment and the 4 variables were made from scatter plots, boxplots, regression and correlation analyses. Pearson’s product moment correlation coefficient (r) was used to measure the strength of linear relationships while non-linear monotonic trends were characterized using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (rs) . A negative linear correlation (r = -0.798) was observed between female enrollment and fertility rates while a strong positive non-linear correlation was observed between government spending on education and female enrollment rates as indicated by a Spearman’s coefficient of 0.799. Overall, our analysis indicated that reducing teenage pregnancies and increasing government spending on education, even to relatively modest levels of $100 – $200 per capita can bring female enrollment rates in the 50 – 75% range which can lead to significant gains both at the personal and national level.
The Impact of Election Laws on the Turnout of Young People
Authors: Bailey Alyvia
Published: February 2024

The twenty sixth amendment of the United States Constitution says that no citizen over the age of 18 years old shall be denied the right to vote. Despite this constitutional amendment, there are many barriers that hinder this act of voting. Multiple types of barriers exist: location, time, money, and most important to this research, legislative barriers. Based on the voter turnout of all Americans across the country, it appears that these barriers seem to disproportionately affect young people and minorities. The low turnout rates among youth and minorities are a serious threat to the effectiveness of our representative democracy in the United States. Since the raw data for the turnout of minorities does not exist, the effects laws have on their turnout will not be determined in this paper. Minorities, however, will still be discussed in the review of literature because of their importance in regards to voter turnout.
Heritage Language Fluency: Effects on Second Generation, Asian American Youth's Bicultural Identity
Authors: Yoon Danielle , Sinclair Gabrielle
Published: February 2024

This paper studies the bicultural experiences of second generation, Asian American high schoolers, specifically regarding heritage language. As this population is constantly in different environments where they have to adhere to different cultural contexts, many disconnects have continuously arised due to cultural gaps or clashes. Among these cultural disconnects is language disparities between that of the host and heritage country. Thus, the objective of this paper was to examine the relationship between fluency of heritage language and this demographic’s bicultural identity through a mixed-method survey. After conducting correlational and thematic analysis of the results, it was found that while significant commonalities are present in perspectives toward heritage language, there were unique intricacies within each data set that were molded by participants’ personal experiences and situations. Thus, from the data collected, heritage language fluency does play a part in shaping bicultural identity, but there is a lack of direct correlation. Asian American youth’s bicultural experiences and other fundamental aspects like assimilation pressures and surrounding communities work in conjunction with language to impact the bicultural experience. Therefore, considering the diverse sources of assimilation pressures, a cross-context collaboration is needed, where heritage language learning is supported and valued.
The Effect of Lavender Essential Oil on Escherichia coli Growth and its Potential Applications
Authors: Muller Allyson , Dhara Shreya , Herrin Paige , Muller Paul
Published: February 2024

Escherichia coli (E. coli) infects millions worldwide annually, leading to thousands of deaths, particularly impacting those low to middle-income countries where E. coli can be found in contaminated soil, water, and surfaces (Winstead et al. 2019). In this investigation, lavender essential oil and ampicillin disks were tested against E. coli grown on an agar plate to see if they could be used as a potential antimicrobial agent in regions where E. coli infections are largely prevalent.  Based on the Kirby-Bauer tests conducted in this investigation, lavender essential oil displayed a clear zone of inhibition, though it was relatively smaller than the zone of inhibition for ampicillin.  Future applications to such findings could be to utilize lavender in both plant and essential oil form as a treatment for E. coli soil contaminations and a natural pest repellent, both in the agricultural industry and in regions where cost-effective, environmentally sustainable treatments may not currently exist.
Debunking True Purchase Price Limits in Teenagers
Authors: Tsyganova Maggie , Catlin Kerry
Published: February 2024

This project aims to explore whether or not the endowment effect, a concept in behavioral economics, holds true for adolescents, since this population has not been studied before. The endowment effect occurs when there is a gap between a buyer’s willingness to pay (WTP) and a seller’s willingness to accept (WTA) at a certain price. A WTA:WTP ratio equal to 1 would exhibit traditional economic rationality, and a ratio above 1 would exhibit the endowment effect. This study used survey research in the form of having participants explicit state prices, to investigate how the WTA-WTP discrepancy, a measurement of the endowment effect, varies across economic goods and survey procedure (or how survey questions were worded). The final conclusion that can be drawn from this paper is that high school students exhibit the endowment effect only for durable goods (shoes and electronics), and exhibit the reverse trend of the endowment effect for perishable goods (food and beverage). Additionally, the survey procedure and socioeconomic status were not a contributing factor to the endowment effect. These results, which differ from previous literature regarding the endowment effect, emphasize the increased importance of studying teenage purchasing pricing preferences, compared to prior studies that focused solely on undergraduate business students.
Detecting Emotions in Audio Data of Patients with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Gupta Rohan
Published: February 2024

As humans, we have an effortless ability and a high accuracy to identify another human's emotions through the tone, pitch and pace of their speech, even the emphasis and stress placed on each word. However, people with a traumatic experience suffering from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), 24.4 million people in the USA, can often repress emotions  making it difficult for therapists to identify their patients genuine emotions and to treat them appropriately. Using an upcoming field of emotion detection in Artificial Intelligence (A.I.), I identified the human emotions from speech. Instead of using an audio transcription based model, I opted for a newer image based model, RESNET-18, which is widely used and utilizes spectrograms to preserve the subtleties in speech, critical in distinguishing emotions. To train the model, I used the RAVEDESS dataset which consists of wav files with eight different emotions. I was able to achieve an overall accuracy of 82% (greater than human detection by 25%). Specifically, I achieved 99% for no stress class (happiness), 97% for neutral class, (neutral, calm, and surprised), and 8\5% for stressed class (fearful, sadness, anger, disgust). I also found that the model got an accuracy of 87% when only trained on males, with continued training an overall accuracy above 90% is definitely achievable. In conclusion, it is possible to find the emotions of PTSD patients, and in the future, continued research can help improve the lives of people who are not able to express their true emotions.
The Extraction of Keratin from Human Hair Waste for Copolymerization with Nitrile Butadiene Rubber
Authors: Lee Kevin , Lee Sean , Whang Joshua
Published: February 2024

Human hair contains a rich source of a fibrous protein called α-keratin. Due to keratin’s intrinsic ability to self-assemble and polymerize into porous, fibrous scaffolds and reproducible architecture, dimensionality, and porosity, its biomedical application has become widespread. However, the extraction of keratin from hair proves challenging and ineffective, hindered by its disulfide bonds. The purpose of this research is to explore a relatively simple procedure to extract keratin from hair waste and fuse it with NBR in hopes of enhancing its mechanical properties and improving its biodegradation. Keratin’s non-covalent bonds were broken using mechanical disruption by a grinder. Hair keratin is then extracted via solubilization by utilizing sodium chloride. The alkaline hydrolysis method, a simple, cheap, and time-affordable method, is explored with different concentrations of NaOH. Then, the recovered keratin from each solution is mixed with dissolved NBR (Nitrile Butadiene Rubber), a well-known rubber used for a variety of purposes, such as the construction of hoses, belts, sealing parts, oil seals, oil wells, and shoe soles. A series of tests on the mechanical properties of the keratin-filled NBR samples were then tested, such as tensile strength, elongation at break, hardness, and elasticity. 10g NaOH/100mL solution yielded the highest amount of keratin, with the addition of keratin from the same solution in NBR enhancing the mechanical properties the most, although only modest. Additionally, the inclusion of keratin in NBR improves its biodegradability.
The Effects of Obesity on COVID-19 Vaccination Rates and Efficacy
Authors: Kurepa Marco , Bui Alan , Gaisinsky Jacob , Zhang Wendy , Gaisinsky Adam
Published: February 2024

Obesity rates and COVID-19 vaccination rates among Canadians are increasing, but whether they are correlated has not been studied (Statistics Canada). Additionally, the potential correlation between obesity and COVID-19 vaccine efficacy has not yet been formally concluded (Kipshidze et al.). Determining how obesity affects vaccination is necessary to assure that the obese population is fully and effectively immunized against the virus. Three important factors, mortality, infection, and vaccination rates, were compared across all Canadian provinces, testing the vaccine efficacy and hesitancy in areas with different obesity populations (Government of Canada). Linear regressions were performed to test for correlations between the vaccination factors and obesity. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare provinces with obesity percentages less than 24% against those greater than 24%. The results indicate a positive correlation between obesity and vaccination rates, as well as a significant difference in all factors between the low and high obese percentage populations. It can be concluded that the obese population does not require extra attention and is more receptive than average in terms of COVD-19 vaccination and protection.
The Electoral College in Modern Democracy
Authors: Bae Hanna , Afram Mark
Published: February 2024

The Electoral College, a voting system established by the Founding Fathers in the United States Constitution, has been a subject of controversy and debate for decades. This paper explores the shortcomings and ethical implications associated with the Electoral College, particularly in the context of modern democracy. The analysis begins with an introduction to the Electoral College system, its historical origins, and its role in balancing the interests of large and small states. It also explores various issues with the Electoral College, including the divergence between the popular vote and the election outcome, the impact on voter turnout, and the presence of faithless electors who deviate from the popular vote. It highlights the instances where the College has undermined the democratic process and emphasizes the dangers of decision-making falling into the hands of a closed group rather than reflecting the voice of the citizens. It addresses the arguments that it protects the interests of small states and acts as a safeguard against uneducated voting, concluding that these concerns are no longer valid in the contemporary political landscape, where power balance is already achieved through representation in Congress and education has improved voter awareness and understanding. While eliminating the Electoral College is naive, the paper suggests that amending the system is necessary to address its flaws and ensure a more equitable representation of the people's will. By enacting reasonable amendments, the United States can uphold the core values of democracy and ensure that the election of the president truly reflects the people.
Westerners and Asians Have Different Conceptual Structures: Evidence from Two Categorization Tasks
Authors: Huang Vanessa , Rose David
Published: February 2024

This research paper examines the contrasting conceptual structures of Westerners and Asians in the context of categorization. Drawing on previous studies, the paper explores the influence of cultural factors on individuals' thought processes, specifically focusing on relational and taxonomic thinking. The central hypothesis posits that Westerners and East Asians differ in their categorization strategies due to cultural variations. The study involved participants from Taiwan and the United States who completed categorization tasks involving biological kinds and artifacts. The results revealed a significant disparity in categorization patterns between the two groups. Westerners exhibited a higher inclination towards taxonomic categorization, whereas East Asians demonstrated a preference for relational categorization. Furthermore, when the relationship between objects was disrupted, East Asians were more likely to perceive a lack of existence compared to Westerners. These findings provide empirical evidence supporting the notion that cultural influences shape cognitive processes and conceptual frameworks.
Analysis of the New York Subway System using an Adaptive Network Model
Authors: Carino Zachary
Published: February 2024

Through the use of a Physarum Polycephalum organism and a scaled-down model of the New York Subway System, this study created and analyzed a system of "maximum efficiency". By taking advantage of the capabilities of a Physarum organism, a system reminiscent of the existing subway system was created, with deviations analyzed to find differences in both track usage and overall costs. Previous research regarding Physarum Polycephalum and infrastructure development were relatively separate. This study holds similarities to research done by Atsushi Tero of Kyoto University, but while his team sought perfect replication, this study sought to use the growth patterns of Physarum to create a more efficient system. Using a geographically accurate mapping of the New York Subway System, a scaled-down model of the Subway System was created, with major subway stations represented as oat nodes atop an agar solution in a sterile petri dish. The Physarum was placed within and allowed to grow for roughly 6 days. Following the full connection of all oat nodes, an analysis of the Physarum system was conducted using a ModaCam system. This analyzed system was then scaled up to that of the existing Subway System, and a comparison of the two was conducted. This study concluded that the Physarum system was significantly more efficient than the existing system, using fewer subway tracks and consequentially a lower maintenance cost.
Evaluating the Economic Impact of Changes in Consumer Behavior
Authors: Saraf Krish , O'Malley Chloe
Published: February 2024

Consumer behavior refers to the methodology used by individuals or organizations when purchasing, using, and disposing of a product or service. Consumer behavior is dependent on five main factors. Those five factors are psychological, social, cultural, personal, and economic influence. Consumer behavior allows producers to determine how to fix or enhance their product to meet the needs of the basic consumer. Marketers primarily study consumer behavior with the idea of understanding consumer thinking when the consumer is purchasing the product. Marketers can then use this information to make advertisements specifically targeted to a common demographic, also known as market segmentation, which then results in more interest built up in this specific consumer base.  As mentioned before, consumer behavior relies on the psychological makeup of the person. A consumer generally makes the decision to buy a product by thinking about their need for the product and if they can purchase the product. In a stable economy, consumers have the confidence to buy a product because they have the means to do so. But what if that were to change in the time of crisis? In this paper, my research will talk about how consumer behavior has altered throughout the pandemic and the impact the pandemic has had not just on the economy but the consumer itself.
Climate Change and Metabolism: Impact On Fructose Metabolic Pathways and Health Outcomes
Authors: Chen Emily , Huang Katherine
Published: February 2024

The effects of climate change have been well-documented in the scientific literature for decades, spanning all aspects of global environmental and social health. While not as commonly researched, the smaller-scale effects on human metabolism have also been observed, with a rise of metabolic disorders such as diabetes and obesity rising in tandem with global temperatures. Biochemical metabolic pathways are also being affected, as dysregulated endogenous fructose metabolism has been highly implicated in such disease states (1). This review will explore the relationships between human health, endogenous fructose metabolism, and the overarching impact of climate change on these factors. As endogenous fructose metabolism has been shown to increase under evolutionarily stressful conditions, such as thermal pressures, the result of rising global temperatures on climate change is a key concern in a variety of fructose-mediated disease states. Further experimental research is necessary to elucidate the nature of these relationships and pinpoint biomolecular mechanisms, as understanding is key to better preparing the public for the ongoing physiological effects of the world’s changing climate, which this review hopes to illuminate.
The Past, Present, and Future of Gene Therapy
Authors: Choe Jeongwoo , Mitchell Kenji
Published: February 2024

Since 2010, gene therapy has rapidly gained interest as a possible method to cure previously untouchable and incurable diseases. The idea of tackling the disease at its genetic core to prevent the malignance from manifesting in the first place seemed unrealistic at first, but decades of research have started to bear fruit and these untouchable diseases suddenly seem mortal. CRISPR-Cas9, Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cell therapy, and adeno-associated virus (AAV) therapy utilize different gene engineering techniques to nullify previously incurable diseases. This paper serves as a comprehensive review paper which analyzes the mechanism, advantages, and disadvantages of these three gene therapy techniques. This paper states the genetic scissor mechanism of the CRISPR-Cas9 complex, and its difference from its predecessors, the artificial tinkering of the CAR t-cell therapy method and its subsequent utilization of the host’s immune system, and finally the transduction potential of the AAV gene therapy.  Finally, this paper states the current status and clinical application of the three gene therapy techniques, including their medication terminology and target diseases, and helps elucidate the future and potential of these three gene therapy techniques.
Isolation of Health-benefiting Bacteria from Probiotic Foods
Authors: Kwag Dohoon
Published: February 2024

Probiotic Foods are known to have many health benefits such as bolstering intestinal health, reducing risk to many diseases, and reducing antibiotic resistance, to name a few. Because these foods have so many benefits, I hypothesized that by isolating bacteria from them, these health benefits could be extended to all kinds of different foods. The bacteria of interest were isolated from Great Value Greek Plain Nonfat Yogurt by using MRS medium to encourage the growth of lactic acid bacteria. After several strains had been isolated, they were used to ferment orange juice and carrot juice for about three days. By using HPLC (High-Performance Liquid Chromatography), several differences between the original juices and the fermented juices were found. E. Coli Bacteria were tested against antibiotics as well as salt concentrations after being exposed to one of two treatments: fermented juice and non-fermented juice. Through this experiment, I have been able to observe positive results from three bacterial strains. I was able to observe a decrease in antibiotic resistance to ampicillin, hygromycin, carbenicillin, and kanamycin when I exposed E. Coli bacteria to juices fermented by my isolated bacteria.
Central Banks and Beyond: An Examination of the Factors Behind the Current Inflation Spike
Authors: Bonacina Pietro , Civitella Jonathan
Published: February 2024

This article examines the factors that have contributed to the rise of inflation rates in developed economies since 2021, with a particular focus on the role of central banks. The main argument is that the unprecedented monetary and fiscal stimulus implemented by central banks and governments in response to the Covid-19 pandemic has been the primary, but not the sole, cause of the current inflation spike. To support this argument, the article proceeds as follows. First, it provides a conceptual and operational definition of inflation and reviews the main price indexes that are used to measure it. Second, it presents descriptive statistics on the average level and volatility of inflation in G7 countries over the last thirty years, highlighting the exceptional nature of the recent period. Third, it discusses four potential explanations for the current inflation episode: the expansionary monetary and fiscal policies in 2020-21, the supply chain disruptions caused by the pandemic and other shocks, the geopolitical tensions between Russia and Ukraine, and the structural changes in the global economy.
Athletic Burnout in High School Students: A Social Perspective
Authors: Dannis Taylor
Published: February 2024

An examination of athlete burnout through a social perspective, determining if athlete burnout levels are correlated to levels of social support and social resources in high school student-athletes. According to this framework, high school athletes are likely to experience burnout if they have a low social support network and a lack of autonomy. A sample of 52 female and male high school-aged athletes from New Jersey participated in this study. The Athlete Burnout Questionnaire (ABQ) and Sport Climate Questionnaire (SCQ) and personal interviews were used in this study. The quantitative data was analyzed using Pearson’s r Correlation Calculator. The quantitative results indicated that there was a negative correlation between social support and the development of athlete burnout among high school student-athletes (r=-.6716), which was further triangulated with the qualitative interview results. These findings revealed that increased social support has the ability to mitigate the severity of athlete burnout; thus to decrease the prevalence of burnout in high school athletes, coaches and athletic directors must enhance their athlete's social support network and resources.
Is Artificial Intelligence Intelligent Enough to Read Human Sentiment?
Authors: Jindal Rayna
Published: February 2024

Sentiment analysis is the mining of text which extracts information from the source material and helps a business to understand the social sentiment of their service while monitoring online conversations. Sentiment analysis can apply in any social domain because opinions are central to human activities and prominent influencer of our behaviors. Our beliefs, perceptions of reality, and choices are conditioned by how others evaluate the world. Due to this, when humans need to make a decision, they often seek out the opinions of others. According to GlobalWebIndex, 54% of social media users use media reviews, and 71% are more likely to purchase services based on social media referrals. Therefore, Sentiment analysis is "opinion mining" because it's all about digging into the context of social posts to understand the opinions they reveal. Misleading information has a more substantial effect on society than before. Not only this, but cognitive bias is also systematic errors in thinking, usually inherited by cultural and personal experiences, that can lead to distortions of perceptions when making decisions. Consequently, sentiment analysis can provide you with a broader perspective prior to making a final decision. This research aims to use artificial intelligence techniques for an in-depth analysis of human sentiments. The use cases and dataset used for this research are: 

Stock Analysis using FinViz website

Climate Change Analysis using Twitter 

Movie review using IMDB dataset

I used NLTK, Vader and Logistic regression machine-learning models and received approx 80% accuracy which shows us it is very promising that Machine Learning can help understand human sentiments and facilitates informed decision-making.
Human Development in the US: An Analysis of the Rich and Poor in NY State
Authors: Lee Thomas , Han Jane , Shaw Daniel
Published: February 2024

Poverty has a devastating influence on human development, limiting educational access, high speed and efficient technological devices, and health necessities. Initially, economists focused on gains in income as a way to measure progress, such as GDP per capita, and investments in factors of production including land, labor, and capital that can spur such growth. Investments in labor include investments in education, training, and health as a means to promote productivity and therefore income gains. However, there has been a shift in focus to human development, whose objective extends beyond income to improved human capabilities as measured by quality of life, education, and health. Clear trends in the causes and effects of poverty and the impediments to human development have been evaluated globally, but what remains unclear is whether such trends hold at subnational levels. This study therefore seeks to assess one state in the U.S., the state of New York, to determine what factors are associated with disparities in human development by evaluating the differences between the fifty richest and fifty poorest towns. Through inferential hypothesis testing, this research evaluated which measures related to human development and poverty were statistically significantly different for the richest and poorest towns in New York. The two-tailed t-tests revealed significant differences in many factors tested, including health insurance, educational attainment, access to technology, and flood risk. The latter two findings have important policy implications for alleviating impacts of poverty, including closing the digital gap and implementing adaptations in high flood-risk, impoverished communities.
The Trillion Dollar War: Presidential Budgets and the War on Drugs
Authors: Velasco Angelina
Published: February 2024

Officially coined by Richard Nixon in 1971, the “War on Drugs” was greatly expanded under the Reagan administration. Regardless of party, subsequent presidents have continued fighting this so-called ‘War,’ as evidenced in their speeches. In this paper, I examine presidential speeches and initiatives ranging from Reagan to Trump. In doing so, I consider how their respective rhetoric and the funding they sought for their administrations’ initiatives have resulted in chronic overspending on this War. Not only have these efforts largely not had their intended results in eliminating drug use, but they also resulted in high incarceration rates while drug overdoses have increased since Reagan’s presidency.
How Fear Training and Other Unique Training Methods Help South Korea Maintain Dominance in Archery?
Authors: Lee Isaac , Dobrich Oliver
Published: February 2024

In the modern day, South Korea is the most successful country in archery at the Olympics. The South Korean Women’s team is particularly known for their legendary record of gold at every Olympic Games since 1988. This success is not mere luck, however, as the South Korean archery team goes through much more rigorous and unique training compared to other countries. For one, archery is more widespread in Korea, allowing more people to try out the sport. The school system set in place in South Korea encourages the development of archers at a young age, which ultimately leads to more and more South Koreans pursuing archery as a career. In addition, the South Korean archery team goes through unique forms of training, such as mindfulness training, exposure therapy, heart rate analysis, equipment optimization through shooting robots, and general sports psychology techniques like positive self-talk and imagery. All of these training methods provide South Korean archers with benefits such as increased confidence, reduction of fear, higher concentration and focus levels, as well as superior insight into how their shot goes through. South Korea’s long success in archery is backed up by South Korea’s intense dedication to their training, through their long hours, as well as their commitment to go through various forms of unique training to improve.