ikatkov/journal-of-student-research-hs-articles huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Improved and Current Vanillin Based Colorimetric Quantification Methods of Triterpenoids
Authors: Rohit Suresh, Yash Kamdar, Vivek Garg, Angelina Kalathoti; Gayathri Renganathan
Date: 07-01-2021

The most common colorimetric quantification method for triterpenoids utilizes vanillin in strongly acidic conditions to form a colored adduct with the analyte, and it has gained popularity because it is fast and easy to perform. Nevertheless, the detection range of this assay is limited and it is susceptible to side reactions, which cause an interference in the reading. Here, we quantify the rate of this interference in common solvents, and we present an alternative method to minimize the interference, which first incubates the analyte solution in perchloric acid at 60°C before the vanillin is added and finally quenched with acetic acid. We also successfully isolated the adduct that formed and confirmed that the color was due to vanillin polymerizing onto the analyte. The improved method had a correlation coefficient of 0.9959, as well as high accuracy and precision, which had a standard deviation of 0.072 mg/mL, and was not affected by minor changes in the conditions making it a robust method. Furthermore, our method had a limit of quantification of 2.37 mg/mL, which can analyze formulations with ease as well as a limit of detection of 0.782 mg/mL. Triterpenoids are quickly emerging as bioactive compounds, and as a result, our work improves upon current methods to quantify triterpenoids.&nbsp;
The Carrot and the Stick  Using Game Theory to Minimize Corruption in Guatemala
Authors: Mira Echambadi; Dr. Pavan Rao Chennamaneni
Date: 07-01-2021

&nbsp;  After I helped construct a school in Guatemala, I found their educational system might be corrupt. I used game theory, or the study of strategic interdependence, to analyze this issue. Each actor anticipates the other’s reactions and acts accordingly. Payoff matrices, 2-by-2 grids in which one actor’s options are listed across the top of the boxes and the second actor’s options are listed by the left side of the boxes, helped simplify this complex situation into a workable model that shows individual incentives and actions as well as the collective best action for societal welfare. If the first player makes “x” choice rather than “y” choice, is the second player incentivized to make “a” or “b” choice? Conversely, if the first player makes “y” choice, is the second player incentivized to make “a” or “b” choice? If, for a particular choice, no player can do better by unilaterally changing its decision, it is a Nash equilibrium.  &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Ideally, the government won’t receive a bribe, and the parents will send their children to volunteer. The penalty if the local government gets caught accepting a bribe plays an important role; interestingly, increasing the government's goodwill amongst the local population through the school-building process would also lead to the ideal outcome. Further, simultaneously increasing both the penalty from accepting a bribe, as well as the goodwill to the government from school-building, produces the optimal outcome. I call this the “carrot and the stick” approach, and it may prove quite effective in ending corruption entirely.  &nbsp;
A research proposal to study the life cycle of COV
Authors: Phelps Tin; Sam Kunes
Date: 07-01-2021

SARS-CoV2 continues to affect the lives of the majority of the world, and although vaccines are beginning to become available, much of the world will still be unable to obtain them. Furthermore, some studies have suggested that there may have to be annual vaccines and as strains of the virus continue to increase, it is essential for us to move to the next stage of research and attempt to better understand the virus.  By utilizing a chemical genetics approach where numerous ligands of distinct chemical libraries are screened through high-throughput screening, we may be able to form an ordered viral cycle of metabolic events that could help identify drug targets more efficiently and coordinate drug use to improve efficacy. A modified version of the virus (to decrease its ability of infection) along with the URA3 protein is then inserted into yeast cells (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) and screened. A simple assay involving the addition of 5’- fluoroorotic acid helps to determine ligand interference and after identifying the compounds, we can order their action into specific steps in the lifecycle and order the events of the life cycle.
Impact of Congenital Heart Disease on School Adjustment in Elementary School Aged Children
Authors: Jingyi Yang; Dr. Modry Mandell
Date: 07-01-2021

Congenital heart disease or congenital heart defect (CHD) is an abnormality of the heart that develops before birth (American Heart Association, 2018). While much is known about how children are physically affected, less is known about the psychological impacts of CHD. In particular, little is known about school adjustment or the process of adapting to the role of a student and to various aspects of the school environment, while failure to adjust can cause academic and social-emotional problems (Lakhani, Jain, &amp; Chandel, 2017). This review aims to investigate how and to what extent having CHD affects school adjustment in elementary school aged children (grades 1-5) (a group oftentimes overlooked as insignificant) and if the severity of CHD in elementary-aged children impacts their ability to adjust in schools. By reviewing literal and studies published in the past 50 years, the review reaches the conclusion that CHD does have negative effects on school adjustment and the severity of CHD positively correlates with difficulty to adjust. The purpose of this paper is to provide insight into the current studies regarding children with CHD and their relationship to different aspects of school and the school environment as well as propose a study that is multi-site, multi-informant, and multi-method.  The result of this review has compelling clinical and theoretical significance, benefiting clinicians and practitioners, teachers and educators, and researchers by bridging the gap between existing and unknown knowledge of elementary-aged children with CHD and their school adjustment.
Examining Export-Led Growth in Sub-Saharan Africa and China
Authors: Joe Zimmerman; Brian Wheaton
Date: 07-01-2021

Export-led growth is an economic hypothesis that links the level of a nation’s exports to economic growth in that country. Seen primarily as a model for low-income, developing nations to accelerate convergence as China began to do in the 1980s, the hypothesis theoretically still stands for developed nations. However, there exists significant discussion and doubt as to the strength and causality of the relationship between exports and growth, especially after a nation has industrialized and established itself as a major exporter. This paper examines and compares the effect of exports, imports, and net exports on economic growth for a set of low-income nations (Sub-Saharan Africa) and a country that has already undergone a significant economic transformation (China, at the provincial level). I regress the share of exports, imports, and net exports against GDP growth for Sub-Saharan African nations and Chinese provinces, and use instrumental variables to check for robustness. I find that while in Sub-Saharan Africa the share of exports and net exports exhibit a positive relationship with economic growth, higher shares of exports and net exports in China are associated with lower economic growth. This suggests that export-led growth is valid in Sub-Saharan Africa, but no longer is in China. I pose two potential explanations for this outcome in China: inefficient trade with low-income nations or decreasing trade with high-income nations. Regressions of China’s exports to these two types of economies over time indicate that the latter is the primary cause of the distinction in the effect of exports.
The Aerodynamics of F1 Car Design  A Survey and Analysis
Authors: Arnav Pandit; Mr. Day
Date: 07-01-2021

Formula One&nbsp;(also known as&nbsp;F1) is the highest class of&nbsp;single-seater&nbsp;open-wheel and open-cockpit professional motor racing contest. Formula One racing is governed and sanctioned by a world body called the FIA −&nbsp;Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile&nbsp;or the International Automobile Federation. The name ‘Formula’ comes from the set of rules that the participating cars and drivers must follow. The car is naturally the central component in F1.  There is not much room to differentiate in the design of the engine and wheels of F1 cars, there are only 4 engine manufacturers and Pirelli is the sole supplier for all team’s tyres. As there is not much scope for innovation in these aspects of an F1 car, most innovation is left to the aerodynamic design of the F1 car. The aerodynamics team considers many different principles when designing the car. In this paper, we will be first examining these aerodynamic principles and then discussing how they are applied to F1 cars.  A survey has also been conducted among over 200 professionals/academics involved in STEM to get an idea of people’s opinions on F1 Car Aerodynamics. The data collected has been analysed to see if it agrees with the reality. While there are many papers have already been written on F1 Aerodynamics, this is the first to provide one in relation to the specific parts. It is also the first to conduct a survey among people and provide analysis for the same.
Hesitant language use and self-esteem in adolescent girls across ethnicity
Authors: Lucy Sopher; Angelica Puzio
Date: 07-01-2021

Language is dynamic and changes across the course of adolescence. Researchers have found that usage of some words and phrases, such as “um…” and “I don’t know,” increase during the teenage years, especially when youth are confronted with topics that they may not feel comfortable discussing. Hesitant language is defined as words or styles of speech that communicate 1. a distancing of the declarative content of one's speech and 2. interpersonal sensitivity towards the listener. These phrases are typically used because one is nervous or unsure about what to say and they can signify a variety of issues and may or may not be linked to self-esteem. In this study, we analyzed eighth-grade girls’ usage of hesitant language and how the use of this type of language may or may not be correlated with their scores on the Rosenberg self-esteem test. We also ran an ANOVA to determine if there was a significant difference in correlation across ethnicity. Our current study is focused on eighth grade and we plan on expanding to include the 6th and 11th-grade data. There have been very few studies done on how hesitant language and self-esteem correlate and change through girls’ adolescence. We hope our study will help add to the important conversation around girls' self-esteem and what can be used as indicators of a change in that self-esteem over time.
A Model to Determine Naked-Eye Limiting Magnitude
Authors: Dasha Crocker
Date: 03-31-2021

The purpose of this study was to determine which variables would be needed to generate a model that predicted the naked eye limiting magnitude on a given night. After background research was conducted, it seemed most likely that wind speed, air quality, skyglow, and cloud cover would contribute to the proposed model. This hypothesis was tested by obtaining local weather data, then determining the naked eye limiting magnitude for the local conditions. This procedure was repeated for the moon cycle of October, then repeated an additional 11 times in November, December, and January. After the initial 30 trials, r values were calculated for each variable that was measured. These values revealed that wind was not at all correlated with the naked eye limiting magnitude, but pollen (a measure of air quality), skyglow, and cloud cover were. After the generation of several models using multiple regression tests, air quality also proved not to affect the naked eye limiting magnitude. It was concluded that skyglow and cloud cover would contribute to a model that predicts naked eye limiting magnitude, proving the original hypothesis to be partially correct.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Digital Addiction in Teenagers: Tackling it With an App Based on Behavioral Economics
Authors: Samantha Kitchener; Zoe T
Date: 03-31-2021

In recent years, smartphone usage has increased rapidly, especially in teenagers. The excessive screen time can lead to digital addiction which means people use technology to a point where they cannot stop, even though they recognize the negative consequences associated with it. In behavioral economics, there are two ways of classifying all decisions we make in life: rational and irrational. A rational decision would be one that gives us the most utility or satisfaction. Because humans are imperfect, we constantly make irrational decisions, such as using our phone too much even though we know that it is not the best use of our time. There is an explanation in behavioral economics behind this though. There are theories such as hyperbolic discounting and present bias that say humans value things more that are in the present time. I am recommending the use of an app in order to lower teens' screen time. This app would have numerous features such as goal setting, points/rewards, and a leaderboard that directly counteract this irrational behavior.
Greater Stress Level Fluctuation in Lower Income Earners since onset of Coronavirus Pandemic
Authors: Claire Padilla
Date: 03-31-2021

Natural disasters, mental illnesses, injuries, and crime are all known factors that lead to stress (Casarella 2020). People were in various levels of confinement due to Coronavirus all over the world, leading to job loss and inability to finance basic living expenses. This study evaluated the relationship between stress and income by surveying different socioeconomic groups. All the participants took anonymous PSS (Perceived Stress Scale) and SRRS (Social Readjustment Rating Scale) test that included questions about race, age range, income range, and the number of times they think about Coronavirus each day. Dr.Cohen's 2009 PSS score samples of the American population were used as a baseline measurement for the pre-Coronavirus stress score levels. The stress level fluctuation was calculated by subtracting participants' survey scores from Cohen's scores to determine the overall stress level change. A p-value of 0.00000001196 for the lower-income group (&lt;$30k/yr) and a p-value of 0.01214 for the higher income group (&gt;$91k/yr) was obtained using the independent-t-test. These p-values supported the alternative hypothesis proposed in this study that there is a more significant change in the stress levels spanning the onset and duration of the Coronavirus pandemic in members of a lower socioeconomic bracket (&lt;$30,000/yr) than of people in a higher income bracket (&gt;$91,000/yr). The results revealed that the PSS score of the 65 years and older group had increased the most and no significant difference in stress scores between racial groups. Additionally, people who think about Coronavirus more frequently have higher PSS scores.
Why People Stand By  A Comprehensive Study About the Bystander Effect
Authors: Nithya Ganti; Sori Baek
Date: 03-31-2021

Bystander effect is the phenomenon that describes how, when more people are around, each individual is less likely to intervene. While the bystander effect is an integral part of studying social behaviors and group thinking, the many caveats it presents itself with must be considered. Every situation differs based on location, people, and circumstance, so the idea of the bystander effect is not valid in every scenario, as evidenced by the various counter-examples and contradictory findings researchers have discovered. However, the bystander effect is still very important to study because understanding what encourages/prevents people from helping is critical to decrease the effect of the bystander effect to promote helping behavior. In this paper, we discuss the various factors that affect the prevalence of the bystander effect: perceived physical and social harm to the helper, responsibility diffusion, and perceived helpfulness.
The Effects of Blame and Politicization on Responses to Pandemics
Authors: Jason Ding; Dr. Claude Kananack
Date: 03-31-2021

COVID-19 has caused widespread discrimination and blame; however, analyzing history, it becomes apparent that racially motivated blame is common during pandemics. Placed for religious, ethnic, or socioeconomic reasons, blame has caused discrimination and stigma for the “other”. Blaming a specific race without scientific evidence causes discrimination and hate crimes, creating more problems that require attention and resources to resolve and diverting them from the pandemic response. A quick and direct response is vital for minimizing the impacts of pandemics, while blame only distracts and leads to politicizing the disease.&nbsp;  This paper finds that unfounded blame throughout history results in delays in the health response, inefficient resource allocation, and the undermining of cooperation. This blame is part of politicizing pandemics, which exacerbates the impacts of the disease by diverting attention away from the health response and disease’s containment. Racist accusations during pandemics against Asians in America since the turn of the 20th century also led to hate crimes and increased discrimination, resulting in discriminatory public perception reflected even through government actions.&nbsp;  COVID-19 is reflecting these historical trends. The latest disease to be politicized, the coronavirus has widened the scope of scapegoating beyond blaming Asians. Its politicization is creating further divisions in society and leading to tension on both a global scale with the WHO and domestically with the CDC and state legislatures. Consistent with former diseases, unfounded blame during the coronavirus is a practice that ultimately causes more deaths and needs to end immediately.
Flight Status— ‘Grounded Indefinitely’: An Analysis of the Impact of COVID-19 on Commercial Aviation
Authors: Satvik Narang; Kah Ying Choo
Date: 03-31-2021

Since the unexpected eruption of COVID-19, travel has been heavily circumscribed by governments in an endeavour to curb the spread of the virus. This research study aimed at conducting a case-study analysis of the impact of the Coronavirus on the commercial aviation industry. It analysed changes in international passenger capacity from originally planned in a sampling of countries from different regions, from January to April 2020, to measure the impact of the pandemic on commercial aviation. The data for capacity change were regressed against days of lockdown and days of global travel ban to determine the extent of their impact. Qualitative data was also analysed to provide a multi-faceted picture. The study found that COVID-19 had a huge influence on commercial aviation during the period observed. Moreover, the restrictions implemented by governments were found to exert a statistically significant impact on the industry, accounting for 84% of the impact on the change in international passenger capacity. The equation generated provides a predictive tool for determining changes in passenger capacity in the foreseeable future if similar restrictive policies are imposed. A qualitative analysis of the context also reveals that airfares will fall in the short run as airlines compete to regain customers, but rise in the long run. The paper thus highlights the importance of government bailouts and the relaxation of specific rules to support airlines during these challenging times. Other necessary measures identified include fleet re-purposing, as well as the institution of additional safety measures to encourage air travel.
South Korea’s Survival on a Tightrope: The Impacts of the Clash between the US and China on South Korea, in comparison to Japan
Authors: Edward Kim
Date: 03-31-2021

Northeast Asia is a both a pivotal and a highly volatile region in the global political and economic landscape. The balance of power in the region rested upon the United States’ political and economic influence over its allies. However, China’s rapid economic growth following the diplomatic move away from its isolationist policies pose a direct challenge to the established power of the US. China has already assumed regional economic dominance, which is being echoed by China’s growing presence of high politics in Northeast Asia.  I investigate the effects of this China-US clash, which is developing into a power struggle, in the high and low politics of South Korea, comparing them to those of Japan when appropriate.  While South Korean low politics could benefit from increased competitiveness of industries in the global market as a result of the US-China trade war, there is also a risk of economic retaliations resulting from political decisions. Similarly, a thorough backing of the US may stabilise the South Korean high politics, but also increase the possibility of military conflict against a greater Chinese power. There will certainly be unavoidable trade-offs when prioritising high politics over low politics or vice versa.  South Korea is yet faced with an urgent necessity to embrace the American alliance at the expense of economic and political relations with China. Security provided by a military alliance with the US is certainly welcome, and it will provide time for South Korea to consolidate its low politics in its economy and global reputation.
Modeling School Reopening Options in Response to COVID-19
Authors: Nikhil Shanbhag; Anthony Grabowski
Date: 03-31-2021

School administrators have the daunting challenge of rolling out school reopening policies and safety standards. While it is important to have children in school to maximize learning, it is critical to ensure that it is done in a manner which prioritizes the safety of staff and students on campus. This research explores models that can be used to examine the spread of COVID-19, and then applies them to evaluate school reopening policies within the United States. A variety of factors are accounted for, including the student population, the rate at which students are infected, the rate at which students are quarantined, and the proportion of students that are susceptible to COVID-19. We primarily utilize Euler’s method and nondimensionalization of the differential equations for each model. Our graphical results are displayed using Excel. We show that multiple variables such as rate of infection and recovery can be written solely as a function of one parameter: R0. We first analyze the SIR model and then introduce the new scenario of quarantining students to derive the SIQR model. Our findings show that reducing and maintaining R0 below 1 is the key to reopening schools and we outline practices to help achieve this outcome.