ikatkov/journal-of-student-research-hs-articles huggingface dataset:
The Bioinformatic Analysis of Cancerous Cells
Authors: Ayush Yavagal; Coach Jo
Date: 05-31-2023

Cancer is a ruthless disease that has no definite cure and it is very consequential to treat it. Chemotherapy and other cancer treatments have lasting negative effects on patients, like fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, and many other harmful side effects. To decrease the time period of vigorous cancer treatments like chemotherapy, cancer should be detected very early. Pathologists and clinicians have used many methods of cancer diagnosis over the years, but to do this, large amounts of data about a patient and their history are needed. This is known as the bioinformatic analysis of cancer cells. Bioinformatics is the act of using biological information to aid in the diagnosis of a disease, which in this case is cancer. When pathologists have diagnosed cancer in the past, the main component of diagnosis was the processing of this biological data, and it still is a major part of diagnosis today. With the rise of new technologies, Artificial Intelligence has been brought into the medical limelight and has been used extensively in the medical field to process the abundance of this data in recent years. With the use of Artificial Intelligence, the analysis speed of data used to diagnose cancer is higher than if pathologists alone analyzed the data. This paper focuses on the processing of bioinformatic data in pathologists’ cancer diagnosis workflow.
The Federal Reserve and Institutional Money Market Funds in March 2020
Authors: Nikhil Kamisetty
Date: 05-31-2023

In this article, I discuss which Federal Reserve (Fed) policies implemented impacted Money Market Funds (MMFs) inflows or outflows the most. The timeframe is March 2020, with the exigence of the COVID-19 pandemic. This research is necessary because it helps the Federal Reserve know which policies can support the short-term money market. The Short-term money market is vital for the economy because it provides short-term funding for banks which are the foundation of the US economy. Although MMFs are only a portion of the short-term money market, any change implemented in one sector will affect all others because they’re closely intact. I used qualitative content analysis to find which policies prompt the most inflows/outflows. Through my research, I concluded that Federal Reserve Facilities to provide funding to various areas of the economy are what investors deem most worthy of investment.
Convolutional Neural Network Approach to Classifying the CIFAR-10 Dataset  How can supervised machine learning be applied as a technique on a convolutional neural network to solve the image classification problem of recognizing and classifying images in the CIFAR-10 dataset?
Authors: Chaoyi Jiang; Guillermo Goldsztein
Date: 05-31-2023

Convolutional neural network (CNN) is a powerful tool that can be used in many applications of machine learning. This paper demonstrates the effectiveness of using a CNN to classify images in the CIFAR-10 dataset. The model achieved an accuracy of 0.6276 and a loss of 1.116452 on the validation set. It was observed that the accuracy of predictions varied from class to class, and this paper discusses the potential causes for this variation, such as similar classes sharing common features. Further research in this field could lead to improvement in driving assistance technology and eventually automated driving.
Should pharmaceutical scientists use liposomes or micelles as a means for drug delivery?
Authors: Mohammed Khan; Coach Jo
Date: 04-09-2023

Nanotechnology is the manipulation of matter on a near-atomic scale to produce structures, machines, and devices. Nanotechnology is being used as a method to deliver drugs to combat cancer due to current, artificial systems producing harmful side effects. In this, two main systems stand out: liposomes and micelles. This paper compares the two systems to decide whether one system is more capable and should currently be used in drug deliveries. This paper will look at the structure of liposomes and micelles, clinical studies, and issues that have been noted. It was found that liposomes have a higher carrying capacity and can carry multiple types of drugs. In clinical trials, liposomes were found to be just as effective as current systems. However, they are known to have premature drug releases as well as being difficult to load. Micelles were found to be smaller, making them easier to enter the body. They are also easier to manufacture. In clinical studies, they were found to be just as effective as current systems. However, micelles are not as flexible, have a smaller volume, and much less stable than liposomes. Through compiling the advantages and disadvantages of both of these systems, it was found that overall, liposomes were a better system for drug delivery.
Effects of Protein Concentration in Fish Feed on Physical and Chemical Water Pollution
Authors: Indeever Madireddy; Dr. Lynae Brayboy
Date: 03-13-2023

Nitrates are linked to higher rates of fish mortality. Fish feces discolors water, reducing clarity and affecting the metabolism of organisms. Food eaten by fish is the main source of nitrates and feces. This work studies how protein concentration in fish feed affects the production of wastes that pollute water. It is hypothesized that high protein fish foods lead to more nitrates, less clear water in addition to an increased amounts of trace amino acids entering the water column. Three experiments were performed to determine which food at a 28%, 36%, or 42% protein concentration contributed most to poor water quality. These tests were performed on feces collected from three species of fish, the freshwater angelfish, koi and the tamasaba goldfish. The tests determined that increasing the protein concentration in fish food did in fact increase nitrate levels in aquariums while water clarity and residual amino acid concentration did not necessarily increase. This is significant because it allows for greater insights into fish feeding which are important for the traditional aquarium hobby and aquaculture farms.&nbsp;
The Gender Bias within Investors; an opportunity cost of $4 trillion
Authors: Nivedita Malu; Alba Castaneda
Date: 03-13-2023

Estimates suggest that $28 trillion could be added to the global GDP/year by 2025 if women play a significant role in businesses. This study focuses on the reasons hindering this phenomenon, while investigating the gender bias within investors, it’s potential impacts, and possible solutions and reforms. The study found that women are disadvantaged due to psychological and cognitive aspects of an individual's behavior. Including different biases, and differences in questioning processes relative to gender which stems from cognitive aspects such as gender stereotypes. The study has concluded that&nbsp; breaking the gender bias requires 3 steps. The first of which requires every investor to be educated about invalid stereotypes influencing their decisions while also being encouraged to break them down. Secondly, there is a requirement for an increase in female investors to mentor and provide women with the necessary tools. Lastly, the pitch process is in urgent need of reformation, whether it is to allocate funds that are categorized according to gender or to remove the pitch in its entirety.
A For-Profit Model of Microcredit  Can Profit-Driven Firms Improve Financial Inclusion in India?
Authors: Aarav Monga; Yiqiao Yin
Date: 03-13-2023

Microcredit is a proven means of poverty alleviation. However, its implementation in India is flawed. High interest rates, incompetent use of credit, and insufficient loan-sizes are just some of the problems well-documented in literature. This paper seeks to assess if these problems can be alleviated by a for-profit model of microcredit, and hence if this model can sustainably improve financial inclusion in India. The role of profit-motives in Indian microcredit has only been analyzed from a theoretical perspective thus far, so this paper adds to existing research by bringing in an empirical perspective through data from Microfinance Institutions from the MIX Markets database.&nbsp; A baseline binary Logistic Classifier is trained, alongside proposed models of a Decision Tree Classifier and a Gradient-boosted Tree Classifier. Feature analysis is conducted on the models, and the results are used to devise profit-maximizing strategies. These strategies are then analyzed to assess if profit-driven companies can improve financial inclusion in a socially desirable manner. The study finds that for-profit incentives can increase the spread, efficiency, and accessibility of microcredit while potentially fostering competent use of credit and reducing the cost of borrowing. However, the study also notes the requirement for regulation in the growth and means of enforcing repayment in such for-profit models. Further, the study observes that a for-profit model may increase credit risk and will fail to allocate credit to the lowest strata of the poor. As such, for-profit firms must be complemented by not-for-profit MFIs to improve financial inclusion across the board.
The Impacts of COVID-induced School Closures on Inequality in Education Outcomes
Authors: Peter Ma; Mr. Wang LingZhen
Date: 03-13-2023

I use online math participation and student math progress data from online learning platform Zearn to study the impacts of COVID-induced school closures on inequality in education outcomes using an event study approach. There were sharp declines in online math participation and progress following school closures but both outcomes were back to the pre-COVID levels in 2021 May. The pandemic widened socioeconomic inequalities in education outcomes transitorily, where most of the post-COVID socioeconomic gaps had vanished by 2021 May. Areas with lower income, more students in rural schools, worse computer and Internet access, and less higher education completion (measured by the percent of adults having a B.A.) saw more learning losses but only in the remaining 2020 spring semester.
Stress Hormone Adrenaline Boosts the Antibacterial Properties of L. plantarum and E. hallii
Authors: Michelle Bok
Date: 03-13-2023

Amid intense exercise, the human body’s quick adaptability to stressful conditions is vital to cellular function, initiating what we recognize as an “adrenaline rush”. Despite findings on the in vitro interaction of adrenaline with the gut microbiome to regulate its virulence gene expression through AI-3 quorum sensing, studies conducted to examine the influence of the stress hormone adrenaline released through exercise on the function of the microbiome in our gut are yet insufficient.&nbsp;The human gut consists of a variety of microbes such as L. plantarum and&nbsp;E. hallii&nbsp;that hold vital roles in maintaining metabolic balance in the gut microbiome. Through our research, we envisioned investigating how adrenaline treatment at different time intervals or concentrations mirroring the various circumstances of exercise may affect bacterial growth, antibacterial substance production, and their antibacterial properties.&nbsp;While both bacteria were not affected in its growth for 48 hours, in&nbsp;L. plantarum, demonstrating decreased growth in the first 8 hours, its main functions — lactic acid production — were furthered with the hormone.&nbsp;In&nbsp;E. hallii, butyric acid production, with the hormone, significantly increased in its supernatant, and the intermediate treatment of adrenaline for 8 hours served to catalyze the rate at which the bacteria reached its stationary phase of growth.&nbsp;The study holds great promise for future investigations on how such a mechanism can be applied to therapies boosting our existing abilities of protein disposal directly correlated to the prevention of diseases. What remains is, nevertheless, the discussion regarding the true control center of these bacteria that interact with adrenaline to cause changes in the antibiotic properties, function, and growth. In other words, future studies can be oriented towards understanding the changes in the antibacterial properties of given bacteria not indirectly through chemicals with antibacterial traits but rather through the quantitative measurement of growth inhibition with other bacteria or organisms.
Hearing Dogs and Seeing Barks: Multimodal Sensory Perception of Dogs
Authors: Hannah Yu; Dr. Trevor Chen, Ph.D.
Date: 03-13-2023

The field of multisensory integration in human speech perception has been well explored throughout a multitude of studies. Perceptual phenomena and models have been reported, including most notably, the McGurk effect and the Morton-Massaro law of information integration. Existing research of multimodal integration in human perception, include studies that involve perception of drinks and food. Beyond this, scientists have also studied how non-human species, such as dolphins and bats, integrate different sources of information. The purpose of the current study was to test whether multimodal sensory integration is used by humans when perceiving the size of dogs. Three separate audio-visual sources of barking dogs – sized small, medium, and large – were used. A 3x3 expanded factorial design was applied to test all possible pairings of auditory and visual combinations from the three sources. The stimuli were included on a questionnaire and then digitally distributed to participants, the majority of whom were high-school students aged 13-17. After viewing each stimulus, participants were prompted to answer what sized dog barked. The results of the current study were consistent with the McGurk effect. When the auditory-visual stimuli were consistent, participants were able to accurately identify what kind of dog barked. However, when the auditory-visual stimuli were inconsistent, the intermediate responses were most frequent. Thus, the results of this study are not consistent with the motor theory of perception. This study yields practical applications in the field of interspecies perception and human-canine communication.
The Buddhist Revival Movement: An Investigation into the Mutual Relationship between Chinese Buddhism and the Chinese Government
Authors: Xiaochen Liu; Nick DiSalvatore
Date: 03-13-2023

It has been four decades since the Buddhist revival started. To comprehensively document the process, I divide the paper into three sections. The first section summarizes the history of the revival movement and the Chinese government’s policies before 1978. The second section analyzes three categories of policies in the 21st century: support, suppress, and distort Chinese Buddhism. In the final section, I examine the case of one particular temple, the Xingsheng temple in Baita village, China. Because it is among the temples reconstructed in the recent decade, the paper investigates how this temple was successfully rebuilt while others were not. Unlike the previous section, the primary supporting evidence are interviews with abbot Huiren – the builder of Xingsheng temple – government officials, and villagers
The History of Yellow Peril and the Model Minority Myth in Relation to AAPI-Hate in 2020
Authors: Safia Peer, Lesley Tan, Khushi Kunjoor
Date: 03-13-2023

In this paper, we discuss the relationship between the yellow peril stereotype along with the model minority myth and how they influence the recent Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) Hate in 2020. We first delve into the treatment of Asian Americans during the interwar years, specifically the immigration center Angel Island. Using oral histories we collected from outside sources and books, we discuss the social and legal treatments of the Asian immigrants both in the immigration center and in the country. Next, we discuss the origins of the model minority myth that date back to the 1960s to 70s using newspaper articles and interviews conducted during the time period. We also explore the formation of the Asian American identity and movement in the 1960s and 70s through newspaper articles that demonstrate the community’s pushback to white supremacy and dismantling harmful prejudices against Asian Americans. From this historical lens, we connect the formation and continuation of the yellow peril and model minority stereotypes to the Asian American hate of 2020 through current interviews and podcasts with Asian Americans. This reemergence of hate against the Asian American community demonstrates the stereotypes’ long-lasting effects. Simultaneously, the AAPI protests evidence that Asian Americans continue to fight back against their mistreatment as a continuation of the Asian American Movement that started in the late 1960s. These historical and modern events assist our discussion of the Asian-American community’s relationship with white supremacy in order to fight back against the discrimination we face today.
The Green Party and Germany’s Environment: Integration, Influence, and Comparisons
Authors: Nitish Kaza; Frau Smith
Date: 03-11-2023

The German Greens are helping Germany continue its legacy of being eco-friendly. This paper covers the history of the German Green Party. It will evaluate the success of the party and the reasons for its success. In addition, it will compare the German Greens to the United States Green Party in terms of their vote wins in elections and impact on their respective countries’ environments.&nbsp; The German Greens are known to be highly successful, forming coalitions with several big-name German parties. The party won 20.5% of votes in the 2019 European Election. In comparison, the US Green Party is not as well known. It was found that the German Green Party won a steadily increasing number of votes in every election, while the US Green Party had an overall decrease in the number of votes won every election. In addition, Germany has decreased its carbon dioxide emissions since 1971, while the US yearly carbon emission totals have increased. Because the Green Parties from the two countries have very similar policies, the reasons for their gap in success will be explored. In doing this, the conditions and actions required to form a highly dynamic political party will be indicated. Given the imminent problem of environmental degradation, this research endeavor would help countries and political parties understand how to properly care for the planet. It will also examine the direct impact of the strength of a political party on its country’s culture.
Increases in gross domestic product decrease working age population deaths in US counties: 2015-2019
Authors: Burton Alexander; Patryk Perkowski
Date: 03-11-2023

In this paper I investigate the link between GDP growth and deaths among the working age population. I gather economic data at the U.S. county level from the Bureau of Economic Analysis and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and premature deaths data from Center for Disease Control. Using regression analysis, I find a strong and statistically significant negative relationship between GDP growth and premature deaths, especially once I control for other economic and religious factors. My results indicate that a 10-percentage point increase in the GDP results in 1 percentage point fewer premature deaths in the county. My literature review suggests that more active leisure time, better diet, and more health care expenditure are potential mechanisms through which GDP growth impacts premature deaths. My results suggest that it is possible to save lives through economic stimulation in low GDP areas.
How do Political Opportunity Structures affect the success of social movements in China and the USA?
Authors: Ananya Sreekumar; Noah Daponte-Smith
Date: 03-11-2023

This paper investigates the effects political opportunity structures have on the mobilisation, organisation, and outcomes of civil rights movements in the USA and Hong Kong. The Civil Rights Movement between the 1950s-60s and the Anti-Extradition Law Amendment Bill Movement of 2019 are used as case studies in this research. The paper examines the various attributes of both regions’ political input and output structures while examining how the movement was organised and strategised. It then considers whether either movement can be deemed successful. Through comparative analysis, it contrasts the assessments made in both case studies to determine which factor discussed had the most significant impact on the success of both campaigns. It finds that the initial hypothesis put forth can be disproved and that a fluid link between the movement and institutional elites plays the most critical role in the success of both movements.
The Contrast Between Depression Now and In the Earlier Generations
Authors: Irmak Buyrukbilen
Date: 02-28-2023

Depression is a mood disorder in which one experiences sadness, hopelessness, a loss of desire to live or to enjoy simple activities. It is a prevalent mental disorder that has historically been seen in all age groups. However, depression rates among adolescents have increased in the past few decades. Given this increase, researchers have increasingly studied this topic. According to some of the studies conducted in the past 20 years the increase in adolescent depression has been found to be associated with factors, including increased use of social media among adolescents, decreased free play among children, and more recent COVID-19-related impacts (e.g., staying locked up in their homes for more than a year, doing everything online, not being able to see their close friends.). This article reviews the aforementioned factors in relation to the significant increase in adolescent depression in recent years.&nbsp;  &nbsp;
The Effect of Audio-Visual Cues in Understanding Musical Performance
Authors: Julie Kim; Nicholas Pellegrino
Date: 02-28-2023

This study investigated the effects of adding visual aesthetics to a music performance. Two modes of visual performance are explored: multimedia and performance cues. Multimedia and performer cues serve different purposes in expressing music in a performance and allowing the audience to interpret the music. Multimedia refers to the use of more than one medium of expression or communication in performance, while performance cues refer to the implementation of gestures and facial expressions to guide the direction of the music. In this research study, two experiments were performed with two separate samples of 24 subjects.&nbsp; These experiments observe the two modes' effects on engagement, understanding, and overall enjoyment of the performance by their audience. Participants were required to listen to the audio performance of an excerpt of music and listen to the same excerpt with the visuals as well. The subjects answered a series of questions rating the listening and watching experience. The results overall showed that having the visual experience while listening to a musical performance enhances the subjects engagement, enjoyment and understanding of the music. A wilcoxin ranked sum test was performed on the two different parts of this experiment and the p values were 0.0486 and 0.00148, which showed that there was enough statistical evidence in the experiment that showed engagement levels were higher when both audio and visual modes were provided to the audience.