NYCSEA

Abstract: Red 40 dye has been banned in European countries due to rising health concerns. There is evidence that Red 40, also called Allura red AC, can cause hyperactivity in humans along with negatively affecting the colon and causing Early Onset Colorectal cancer in mice. This study aimed to investigate if doses of 0, 15, 30, and 60 microliters of Allura red AC can contribute to negative effects on the phototaxis rate and the rate of regeneration of Dugesia tigrina. It is hypothesized that if Allura red AC is fed to Dugesia tigrina then, it will increase motility, and slow the rate of regeneration. This study was performed using four groups of Dugesia tigrina with 0 µM, 0.125µM, 0.25µM, and 0.5µM of red 40 and measuring the length of the planaria, and the rate of movement of planaria over the course of 31 days. The results of this study show that an increase in Allura red AC exposure causes a decrease in the regeneration rate, an increase in phototaxis, and an increase in mortality. Future research suggests a conversion in dosage and/or form of dye (powder version). Also, recommendations for future research include using a different type of organism such as Drosophila melanogaster. 

References

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CDC. “What Are the Risk Factors for Colorectal Cancer?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2019, www.cdc.gov/cancer/colorectal/basic_info/risk_factors.htm. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024. 

Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition. “Color Additives History.” U.S. Food and Drug Administration, 3 Nov. 2017, www.fda.gov/industry/color-additives/color-additives-history. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. “What Is ADHD?” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 27 Sept. 2023, www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/facts.html. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024. Cleveland Clinic. “Is Red Dye 40 Safe?” Cleveland Clinic, 8 Mar. 2023, health.clevelandclinic.org/red-dye-40. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024. 

Issigonis, Melanie. “Could We Use Planarians to Help Us Understand Human Regeneration?” Morgridge Institute for Research, 24 Dec. 2017, morgridge.org/blue-sky/could-we-use-planarians-to-help-us-understand-human-regeneration/#:~:text=But%2C%20unlike%20planarians%2C%20humans. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

Kanarek, Robin B. “Artificial Food Dyes and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder.” Nutrition Reviews, vol. 69, no. 7, 30 June 2011, pp. 385–391, https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1753-4887.2011.00385.x. 

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Paskin, Taylor R., et al. “Planarian Phototactic Assay Reveals Differential Behavioral Responses Based on Wavelength.” PLoS ONE, vol. 9, no. 12, 10 Dec. 2014, p. e114708, https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0114708. 

“Potential Neurobehavioral Effects of Synthetic Food Dyes in Children.” Ca.gov, 2021, oehha.ca.gov/media/downloads/risk-assessment/report/healthefftsassess041621.p. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024. 

Sagon, Candy. “8 Foods We Eat That Other Countries Ban.” Blogs, 25 June 2013, blog.aarp.org/healthy-living/8-foods-we-eat-that-other-countries-ban. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024.

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Walsh, Caroline J., et al. “Obstetric Complications in Mothers with ADHD.” Frontiers in Reproductive Health, vol. 4, 7 Nov. 2022, https://doi.org/10.3389/frph.2022.1040824. Accessed 4 Mar. 2024. 

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Zhang, Qi, et al. “The Synthetic Food Dye, Red 40, Causes DNA Damage, Causes Colonic Inflammation, and Impacts the Microbiome in Mice.” Toxicology Reports, vol. 11, 1 Dec. 2023, pp. 221–232, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2214750023000926, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxrep.2023.08.006. Accessed 19 Sept. 2023.

Abstract: 

The rapid advancement of autonomous driving systems requires robust perception algorithms. Interpreting complex environments and simulation-based testing plays a vital role in validating these algorithms. This research explores the use of the Driving Scenario Designer app in MATLAB® workspace to perform high-fidelity sensor simulation, generate synthetic sensor data, and create dynamic virtual driving scenarios for testing perception systems. To emulate real-world driving conditions, the study focuses on designing scenarios involving multiple actors, including cars, pedestrians, cyclists, and barriers.

We construct and customize scenarios using the app with varying road layouts, traffic patterns, and environmental conditions. Sensor models such as radar, lidar, and cameras are simulated to produce synthetic data that mimics real sensor outputs. The scenarios are exported to the MATLAB® workspace for further analysis, enabling the evaluation of perception algorithms in detecting and tracking objects under different conditions.

Key contributions include a systematic methodology for scenario generation, sensor configuration, and data extraction, along with performance assessments of perception algorithms using synthetic datasets. The results demonstrate the effectiveness of the Driving Scenario Designer in accelerating algorithm development by providing a controlled yet flexible testing environment. This approach reduces reliance on costly physical prototypes while ensuring comprehensive validation across diverse driving conditions. The study highlights the app’s utility in autonomous vehicle research, offering a scalable solution for perception system verification.

References

1. MathWorks. (2023). Driving Scenario Designer User’s Guide. 

2. Ulbrich, S., Menzel, T., Reschka, A., Schuldt, F., & Maurer, M. (2015). Defining and Substantiating the Terms Scene, Situation, and Scenario for Automated Driving. IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV).

3. Dosovitskiy, A., Ros, G., Codevilla, F., López, A., & Koltun, V. (2017). CARLA: An Open Urban Driving Simulator. Proceedings of the 1st Annual Conference on Robot Learning (CoRL).

4. Grigorescu, S., Trasnea, B., Cocias, T., & Macesanu, G. (2020). A Survey of Deep Learning Techniques for Autonomous Driving. Journal of Field Robotics, 37(3), 362-386.

5. Bansal, M., Krizhevsky, A., & Ogale, A. (2018). Chauffeurnet: Learning to Drive by Imitating the Best and Synthesizing the Worst. Robotics: Science and Systems (RSS).

6. Geiger, A., Lenz, P., & Urtasun, R. (2012). Are We Ready for Autonomous Driving? The KITTI Vision Benchmark Suite. IEEE Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (CVPR).

7. Rong, G., Shin, B. H., Tabatabaee, H., et al. (2020). LGSVL Simulator: A High Fidelity Simulator for Autonomous Driving. IEEE 23rd International Conference on Intelligent Transportation Systems (ITSC).

8. Janai, J., Güney, F., Behl, A., & Geiger, A. (2020). Computer Vision for Autonomous Vehicles: Problems, Datasets, and State-of-the-Art. Foundations and Trends in Computer Graphics and Vision, 12(1-3), 1-308.

9. Kato, S., Tokunaga, S., Maruyama, Y., et al. (2018). Autoware on Board: Enabling Autonomous Vehicles with Embedded Systems. ACM/IEEE International Conference on Cyber-Physical Systems (ICCPS).

10. Pendleton, S. D., Andersen, H., Du, X., et al. (2017). Perception, Planning, Control, and Coordination for Autonomous Vehicles. Machines, 5(1), 6.

11. Chen, C., Seff, A., Kornhauser, A., & Xiao, J. (2015). DeepDriving: Learning Affordance for Direct Perception in Autonomous Driving. IEEE International Conference on Computer Vision (ICCV).

12. Li, Y., Ibanez-Guzman, J., & Ng, H. K. (2020). Lidar for Autonomous Driving: The Principles, Challenges, and Trends. IEEE Signal Processing Magazine, 37(4), 50-61.

13. Bojarski, M., Del Testa, D., Dworakowski, D., et al. (2016). End to End Learning for Self-Driving Cars. arXiv preprint arXiv:1604.07316.

14. Kong, J., Pfeiffer, M., Schildbach, G., & Borrelli, F. (2015). Kinematic and Dynamic Vehicle Models for Autonomous Driving Control Design. IEEE Intelligent Vehicles Symposium (IV).

15. NHTSA. (2021). Automated Driving Systems: A Vision for Safety. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

     

     

Abstract: 

Green roofs (GRs) are typically used to retain stormwater and are increasingly being used to produce food by growing edible vegetation, such as Mad Hatter Peppers (Capsicum baccatum). However, there have been conflicting studies on whether GRs can feasibly produce Capsicum baccatum in GRs compared to in-ground production. To test this, water retention was compared among small-scale models of three different vegetation types: two Sedum setups, two Capsicum baccatum setups, and one bare setup. The models used water storage compartments and moisture retention fabric to increase water retention and to reduce the need for irrigation. There was not a statistically significant difference in water retention between the different vegetation types, and the Capsicum baccatum wilted by the end of the study, so it did not produce food. These results indicate that Sedum should be used in future GRs because they can provide many benefits other than water retention, whereas Capsicum baccatum may not be healthy enough to provide other benefits.

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Berardi, U., GhaffarianHoseini, A. H., & GhaffarianHoseini, A. (2014). State-of-the-art analysis of the environmental benefits of green roofs. Applied Energy, 115, 411–428. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2013.10.047 

Cristiano, E., Deidda, R., & Viola, F. (2021). The role of green roofs in urban water-energy-food-ecosystem nexus: A Review. Science of The Total Environment, 756, 143876. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143876 

Davitt, J. (2022, August 1). Looking back on a record hot July. Spectrum News NY1. Retrieved October 6, 2022, from https://www.ny1.com/nyc/all-boroughs/weather/2022/07/30/looking-back-on-a-record-hot-july-for-nyc 

Eksi, M., Rowe, D. B., Fernández-Cañero, R., & Cregg, B. M. (2015). Effect of substrate compost percentage on green roof vegetable production. Urban Forestry & Urban Greening, 14(2), 315–322. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2015.03.006 

Eksi, M., Sevgi, O., Akburak, S., Yurtseven, H., & Esin, İ. (2020). Assessment of recycled or locally available materials as green roof substrates. Ecological Engineering, 156, 105966. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoleng.2020.105966 

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Abstract: 

The CDC reports that over two million people in the United States alone become infected with antibiotic resistant bacteria. This paper studies one of the primary mechanisms of antibiotic resistance, efflux, in Escherichia coli. EmrA and EmrB proteins, belonging to the efflux pump EmrAB-TolC were purified in two types of competent cells to evaluate the methodology of the protein purification procedure. Analysis of each purified protein was completed using a variety of standard wet lab techniques. The structure of the complex was determined using artificial intelligence-based structure prediction software. This project presents effective methods for the purification of EmrAB and presents a model that reveals C9 homo-oligomeric arrangement of subunit EmrA in complex with a dimeric EmrB. Basic ligand binding assays were completed with known substrates in silico. Confirming protein purification methods allow future research to continue in vitro, with the eventual goal of experimentally determining the complex at a high resolution and aid in the future identification of drug targets and development of EmrAB-TolC protein inhibitors.

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37. Tunyasuvunakool K, Adler J, Wu Z, Green T, Zielinski M, Žídek A, Bridgland A, Cowie A, Meyer C, Laydon A, Velankar S, Kleywegt GJ, Bateman A, Evans R, Pritzel A, Figurnov M, Ronneberger O, Bates R, Kohl SAA, Potapenko A, Ballard AJ, Romera-Paredes B, Nikolov S, Jain R, Clancy E, Reiman D, Petersen S, Senior AW, Kavukcuoglu K, Birney E, Kohli P, Jumper J, Hassabis D. (2021). Highly accurate protein structure prediction for the human proteome. Nature.596(7873):590-596. doi: 10.1038/s41586-021-03828-1. 

38. Vajda S, Yueh C, Beglov D, Bohnuud T, Mottarella SE, Xia B, Hall DR, Kozakov D. (2017). New additions to the ClusPro server motivated by CAPRI. Proteins. 85(3):435-444. doi: 10.1002/prot.25219. 

39. Zheng W, Li Y, Zhang C, Zhou X, Pearce R, Bell EW, Huang X, Zhang Y. (2021). Protein structure prediction using deep learning distance and hydrogen-bonding restraints in CASP14. Proteins. 89(12):1734-1751. doi: 10.1002/prot.26193. 

Abstract: Bisphenol A (BPA) is a common plasticizer used in manufacturing that negatively impacts human health. Bisphenol S (BPS) is a common substitute for BPA, but its structural similarity to estrogen sparks concern that it is also harmful to systems in aquatic and soil organisms. Past studies in Caenorhabditis elegans found that BPA and BPS exposure reduces fertility and affects germline formation. Mouse studies also showed that BPA exposure decreases microbiome diversity and hampers sperm cell development from stem cells. This study observed the effect of BPA and BPS exposure on C. elegans fertility. It was not consistently significant, and the expression of meiosis genes rad-54 and atl-1 was monitored over multiple generations, decreasing in the exposed generation and their offspring. Modeling stem cell growth and effects on aquatic organisms, the regeneration of brown planaria exposed to BPA and BPS was tracked. Low BPA concentrations slowed regeneration, and high BPA concentrations caused worms to disintegrate, but BPS did not have a significant impact on them. The effect of BPA and BPS exposure on the growth of microbes in the microbiome was tracked and found to be nonlethal, but BPS slowed the growth of Escherichia coli in liquid media. Based on these results, BPA and BPS affect systems in aquatic and soil organisms, suggesting further investigation. 

References

1. [1] Chen, Y., Shu, L., Qiu, Z., Lee, D. Y., Settle, S. J., Que Hee, S., Telesca, D., Yang, X., & Allard, P. (2016). Exposure to the BPA-substitute bisphenol S causes unique alterations of germline function. PLOS Genetics, 12(7). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pgen.1006223

   [2] Mersha, M. D., Patel, B. M., Patel, D., Richardson, B. N., & Dhillon, H. S. (2015). Effects of BPA and BPS exposure limited to early embryogenesis persist to impair non-associative learning in adults. Behavioral and Brain Functions, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12993-015-0071-y 

   [3] Xiao, X., Zhang, X., Zhang, C., Li, J., Zhao, Y., Zhu, Y., Zhang, J., & Zhou, X. (2019). Toxicity and multigenerational effects of bisphenol S exposure to caenorhabditis elegans on developmental, biochemical, reproductive and oxidative stress. Toxicology Research, 8(5), 630–640. https://doi.org/10.1039/c9tx00055k

   [4] Allard, P., & Colaiácovo, M. P. (2010). Bisphenol A impairs the double-strand break repair machinery in the germline and causes chromosome abnormalities. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 107(47), 20405–20410. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1010386107 

   [5] Altun, Z. F., & Hall, D. H. (2009). Introduction TO C. elegans Anatomy. Handbook - introduction. Retrieved July 19, 2022, from https://www.wormatlas.org/hermaphrodite/introduction/mainframe.htm 

   [6] Allard, P., & Colaiácovo, M. P. (2011). Mechanistic insights into the action of Bisphenol A on the germline using C. elegans. Cell Cycle, 10(2), 183–184. https://doi.org/10.4161/cc.10.2.14478 

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   [9] Miura, T., Yamana, Y., Usui, T., Ogawa, H. I., Yamamoto, M.-T., & Kusano, K. (2012). Homologous recombination via synthesis-dependent strand annealing in yeast requires the IRC20 and SRS2 DNA helicases. Genetics, 191(1), 65–78. https://doi.org/10.1534/genetics.112.139105 

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   [12] Feng, D., Zhang, H., Jiang, X., Zou, J., Li, Q., Mai, H., Su, D., Ling, W., & Feng, X. (2020). Bisphenol A exposure induces gut microbiota dysbiosis and consequent activation of gut-liver axis leading to hepatic steatosis in CD-1 mice. Environmental Pollution. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0269749120302736?via%3Dihub

   [13] Liu, R., Cai, D., Li, X., Liu, B., Chen, J., Jiang, X., Li, H., Li, Z., Teerds, K., Sun, J., Bai, W., & Jin, Y. (2022). Effects of Bisphenol A on reproductive toxicity and gut microbiota dysbiosis in male rats. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 239, 113623. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoenv.2022.113623

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   [15] Winz, C., & Suh, N. (2021, March 30). Understanding the Mechanistic Link between Bisphenol A and Cancer Stem Cells: A Cancer Prevention Perspective. National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8020171/

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   [19] Hyun, M., Rathor, L., Kim, H.-J., McElroy, T., Hwang, K. H., Wohlgemuth, S., Curry, S., Xiao, R., Leeuwenburgh, C., Heo, J.-D., & Han, S. M. (2021). Comparative toxicities of BPA, BPS, BPF, and TMBPF in the nematode caenorhabditis elegans and mammalian fibroblast cells. Toxicology, 461. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.tox.2021.152924 

Abstract: Pathogens that can develop resistance to antimicrobial treatments have become a phenomenon extensively recorded over the last few years. Pathogens, including Escherichia coli, are dangerous to humans and are capable of resisting various therapies. Treatments using clove (Syzygium aromaticum) essential oil and eugenol extracted from clove buds have been shown to deactivate Escherichia coli strains and to prevent the development of antimicrobial resistance. As pathogens such as Escherichia coli have become a concern in the medical world, it is crucial to attempt to find the most effective treatment; comparing the performance of these two treatments would be beneficial in finding this. Clove oil and eugenol samples were applied to antibiotic disks and placed in agar plates inoculated with Escherichia coli. Plates with ampicillin and no treatment were prepared as well. These plates were stored in an incubator and taken out three days each. The areas of the zones of inhibition were recorded, and their averages were calculated; visual observations were written down as well. The eugenol plate demonstrated dense Escherichia coli growth and minor zones of inhibition, while the essential oil plate featured sparse growth. This could suggest that clove essential oil can more inhibit Escherichia coli growth, though it was theorized that the oil may have been thin enough to diffuse across its plate.

References

[1] Calderón, D., Cárdenas, P. A., Prado-Vivar, B., Graham, J. P., & Trueba, G. (2022). A longitudinal study of dominant E. coli lineages and antimicrobial resistance in the gut of children living in an upper middle-income country. Escholarship.org, 29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jgar.2022.03.002

[2] Crettels, L., Champon, L., Burlion, N., Delrée, E., Saegerman, C., & Thiry, D. (2023). Antimicrobial resistant Escherichia coli prevalence in freshwaters in Belgium and human exposure risk assessment. Heliyon, 9(6), e16538. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e16538

[3] Jeyakumar, G. E., & Lawrence, R. (2020). Mechanisms of bactericidal action of Eugenol against Escherichia coli. Journal of Herbal Medicine, 26, 100406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.hermed.2020.100406

[4] Lambert, M. M., Campos, D. R., Borges, D. A., de Avelar, B. R., Ferreira, T. P., Cid, Y. P., Boylan, F., Scott, F. B., de Almeida Chaves, D. S., & Coumendouros, K. (2020). Activity of Syzygium aromaticum essential oil and its main constituent eugenol in the inhibition of the development of Ctenocephalides felis felis and the control of adults. Veterinary Parasitology, 282, 109126. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.vetpar.2020.109126

[5] Nakano, R., Nakano, A., Nishisouzu, R., Hikosaka, K., Suzuki, Y., Kamoshida, G., Tansho-Nagakawa, S., Endo, S., Kasahara, K., Ono, Y., & Yano, H. (2023). Genetic relatedness of third-generation cephalosporin-resistant Escherichia coli among livestock, farmers, and patients in Japan. One Health, 16(16), 100524–100524. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.onehlt.2023.100524

[6] Peña-Gonzalez, A., Soto-Giron, M. J., Smith, S., Sistrunk, J. R., Montero, L., Páez, M., Ortega, E., Hatt, J. K., Cevallos, W., Trueba, G., Levy, K., & Konstantinidis, K. T. (2019). Metagenomic Signatures of Gut Infections Caused by Different Escherichia coli Pathotypes. ASM Journals, 85(24). 

https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.01820-19

[7] Tan, M.-F., Li, H.-Q., Yang, Q., Zhang, F.-F., Tan, J., Zeng, Y.-B., Wei, Q.-P., Huang, J.-N., Wu, C.-C., Li, N., & Kang, Z.-F. (2023). Prevalence and antimicrobial resistance profile of bacterial pathogens isolated from poultry in Jiangxi Province, China from 2020 to 2022. Poultry Science, 102(8), 102830. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psj.2023.102830

[8] Wongsawan, K., Chaisri, W., Tangtrongsup, S., & Mektrirat, R. (2019). Bactericidal Effect of Clove Oil against Multidrug-Resistant Streptococcus suis Isolated from Human Patients and Slaughtered Pigs. Pathogens, 9(1), 14. 

https://doi.org/10.3390/pathogens9010014

[9] Yoo, J. H., Baek, K. H., Heo, Y. S., Yong, H. I., & Jo, C. (2020). Synergistic bactericidal effect of clove oil and encapsulated atmospheric pressure plasma against Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus and its mechanism of action. Food Microbiology, 93, 103611. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fm.2020.103611

[10] Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Zhu, X., Cao, P., Wei, S., & Lu, Y. (2017). Antibacterial and antibiofilm activities of eugenol from essential oil of Syzygium aromaticum (L.) Merr. & L. M. Perry (clove) leaf against periodontal pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis. Microbial Pathogenesis, 113, 396–402. 

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.micpath.2017.10.054

Abstract: The present study found evidence that essential workers and their families are at an increased risk for anxiety, stress and sleep disruption. 120 female adolescents and 55 of their parents completed surveys measuring anxiety and sleep quality during the COVID-19 pandemic. The two samples, although drawn from the same community, were not linked. All adolescents attend an all-girls academy in suburban New York. T-tests and regression analyses suggest that essential workers and their families are at elevated risk for mental illness. 

Keywords:  Mental Health, COVID-19, Frontline Workers, Frontline Workers

References

1. Elamin, M. M. E. et al. (2020, July 9). The Psychological Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on health professionals in Sudan 2020. PubMed. https://www.scilit.net/article/ae3af7d8ee52d024a51b75281f8c33dd

2. Gupta, R. et al. (2020). Changes in sleep pattern and sleep quality during COVID-19 lockdown. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33165382/

3. Henker, B. et al. (2020). Anxiety, affect, and activity in teenagers: monitoring daily life with electronic diaries. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/12049440/

4. Huang, Y., & Zhao, N. (2020b). Generalized anxiety disorder, depressive symptoms and sleep quality during COVID-19 outbreak in China: a web-based cross-sectional survey. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32325383/

5. Pfefferbaum, B. & North, C. (2020, August 6). Mental Health and the Covid-19 Pandemic. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/32283003/

6. Spitzer, R. L. et al. (2006, May 22). A brief measure for assessing generalized anxiety disorder: the GAD-7. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16717171/

7. Tausczik, Y. et al. (2012). Public anxiety and information seeking following the H1N1 outbreak: blogs, newspaper articles, and Wikipedia visits. PubMed. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21827326/

Abstract: Gifted children are people who are capable of high performance in cognitive, educational, scientific, creative and artistic fields compared to their peers. But there are also gifted children who have problems with cognitive, educational, social, emotional and behavioral development. They are called twice-exceptional children. Regarding these children, who have high talents and abilities while at the same time having disabilities, is an important issue for education professionals. The present study mainly aims to compare the executive functions profile of twice exceptional children with gifted ones.To this end, 30 twice-exceptional gifted children and 30 gifted children were selected from among elementary school students in district 3 of Isfahan, Iran. Then, the two groups administered The Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fourth Edition (WISC®-IV) for assessment of the Tower Test (NEPSY) to evaluate executive functions. The research results showed that the profile and average executive function of the twice-exceptional children were lower than those of gifted children in the Tower test (NEPSY). Therefore, it is suggested to consider executive functions (planning, organization, time management, problem solving, etc.) in identifying and educating these children.

Keywords: Gifted children, twice-exceptional children, executive function

References:

[1] Dawson,P & Guara,R .(2018). Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents Third Edition: A practical Guide to Assessment and Intervention.

[2] Guilford Press Major, J. (2017). A Change Plan for Underachieving Gifted Children (Doctoral dissertation). Retrieved from https://digital commons.nl.edu/diss/252. Pfeiffer, S. I. (2015).

[3] Gifted students with a coexisting disability: The twice exceptional. Estudos de Psicologia (Campinas), 32 (4), 717-727.

[4] Sterenberg,R.J & Javin,L & Grigorenko,E.L. (2011) Exploration in Giftedness . Cambridge University Press

Abstract: Even though Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is the leading cause of disability worldwide impacting over 300 million individuals, early detection and intervention is hindered by the limited knowledge of its underlying mechanisms. One association found to be significant within MDD is the presence of early life stress (ELS), such as sexual abuse, emotional abuse and family conflict. However, the biological mechanism linking ELS and MDD are unknown.

To properly assess the function consequences of ELS within MDD and address these open questions, we propose an analysis of the metabolism of AMY, ACC, HIP, and DLPFC through FDG PET in addition to a structural MRI in MDD patients with and without ELS. We hypothesize that in MDD patients with prior history of ELS, compared to those without ELS, will have a smaller volume/cortical thickness as measured by MRI and decreased metabolism as measured by PET scans in the bilateral DLPFC, ACC, HIP, and AMY. This study would for the first time, assess both structure and function of critical regions of the HPA axis in MDD, while accounting for the common confounder of ELS.

References:

Fitzgerald, P.B., et al., A meta-analytic study of changes in brain activation in depression. Hum Brain Mapp, 2008. 29(6): p. 683-95.

Kaplow, J.B. and C.S. Widom, Age of onset of child maltreatment predicts long-term mental health outcomes. J Abnorm Psychol, 2007. 116(1): p. 176-87.

Martins, C.M., et al., Emotional abuse in childhood is a differential factor for the development of depression in adults. J Nerv Ment Dis, 2014. 202(11): p. 774-82.

Kessler, R.C. and W.J. Magee, Childhood family violence and adult recurrent depression. J Health Soc Behav, 1994. 35(1): p. 13-27.

Teicher, M.H., et al., The effects of childhood maltreatment on brain structure, function and connectivity. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2016. 17(10): p. 652-66.

Parr, L.A., et al., Early life stress affects cerebral glucose metabolism in adult rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). Dev Cogn Neurosci, 2012. 2(1): p. 181-93.

Harkness, K.L., A.E. Bruce, and M.N. Lumley, The role of childhood abuse and neglect in the sensitization to stressful life events in adolescent depression. J Abnorm Psychol, 2006. 115(4): p. 730-41.

Adolphs, R., Cognitive neuroscience of human social behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2003. 4(3): p. 165-78.

Hari, R. and M.V. Kujala, Brain basis of human social interaction: from concepts to brain imaging. Physiol Rev, 2009. 89(2): p. 453-79.

Quaedflieg, C.W., et al., Temporal dynamics of stress-induced alternations of intrinsic amygdala connectivity and neuroendocrine levels. PLoS One, 2015. 10(5): p. e0124141.

van Marle, H.J., et al., From specificity to sensitivity: how acute stress affects amygdala processing of biologically salient stimuli. Biol Psychiatry, 2009. 66(7): p. 649-55.

Critchley, H.D., et al., Human cingulate cortex and autonomic control: converging neuroimaging and clinical evidence. Brain, 2003. 126(Pt 10): p. 2139-52.

Devinsky, O., M.J. Morrell, and B.A. Vogt, Contributions of anterior cingulate cortex to behaviour. Brain, 1995. 118 ( Pt 1): p. 279-306.

Lisman, J., et al., Viewpoints: how the hippocampus contributes to memory, navigation and cognition. Nat Neurosci, 2017. 20(11): p. 1434-1447.

van Bodegom, M., J.R. Homberg, and M. Henckens, Modulation of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal Axis by Early Life Stress Exposure. Front Cell Neurosci, 2017. 11: p. 87.

McEwen, B.S., C. Nasca, and J.D. Gray, Stress Effects on Neuronal Structure: Hippocampus, Amygdala, and Prefrontal Cortex. Neuropsychopharmacology, 2016. 41(1): p. 3-23.

Kim, E.J., B. Pellman, and J.J. Kim, Stress effects on the hippocampus: a critical review. Learn Mem, 2015. 22(9): p. 411-6.

Carballedo, A., et al., Brain-derived neurotrophic factor Val66Met polymorphism and early life adversity affect hippocampal volume. Am J Med Genet B Neuropsychiatr Genet, 2013. 162B(2): p. 183-90.

Vyas, A., et al., Chronic stress induces contrasting patterns of dendritic remodeling in hippocampal and amygdaloid neurons. J Neurosci, 2002. 22(15): p. 6810-8.

Hanson, J.L., et al., Behavioral problems after early life stress: contributions of the hippocampus and amygdala. Biol Psychiatry, 2015. 77(4): p. 314-23.

Abstract: The expansion of the digital world in the 21st century has caused an expansion of the less traditional forms of news media, namely the forms of current events information accessible on social media applications such as TikTok and Instagram. Unlike the previous generations, the younger generation raised in the 21st century has access to many digital resources, and despite their convenience, a slew of studies have found that there is a severe threat of misinformation when using the digital or non-traditional forms of news media. This study sought to discover if there is a relationship between the level of geographic literacy and global awareness demonstrated by high school students and their means of accessing current events
information. In October of 2022, participants (n=114) completed an online survey which assessed them on their geographic literacy and global awareness of the democratic and economic conditions of ten selected countries. The survey also asked each respondent to rank the type of media through which they are most likely to learn about current events on a Likert scale from 1-5. The SMPM (Social Media Preference Metric) was then determined, which was a binary variable used to run the correlation tests.
The data collected was transferred into Microsoft Excel, where ANOVA tests were run on both the SMPM v. raw scores and the SMPM v. ranking deviation values. The results of this study show that the use of digital and unverified forms of news media are unable to be correlated with a lack of geographic literacy and understanding of democratic development, but that there is a strong correlation between the use of social media as a news source over verified, traditional forms and a lack of understanding of the economic development in foreign nations.

References

Berndt, A. (2007). Media habits among Generation Y consumers. In A.S.A du Toit, (Ed.). Proceedings of the 19th Annual Conference of the Southern African Institute of Management Scientists. Johannesburg, South Africa, 19-21 September 2007, Accessed 11/22/22 

Dikmenli, Yurdal. “Geographic Literacy Perception Scale (GLPS) Validity and Reliability Study.” Mije.mevlana.edu.tr., Mevlana International Journal of Education (MIJE) Vol. 4(1), Pp. 1-15, 1 April, 2014 , 1 Apr. 2014. 

Francek, Mark A. Burton D. Nelson, Robert H. Aron & Walter J. Bisard (1993) The Persistence of Selected Geographic Misperceptions: A Survey of Junior High Through Undergraduate College Students, Journal of Geography, 92:6, 247-253, DOI: 10.1080/00221349308979666 

Merryfield, M. (2002). Rethinking our framework for understanding the world. Theory & Research in Social Education, Winter 2002, 148151.

Moyer, Melinda. “Schoolkids Are Falling Victim to Disinformation and Conspiracy Fantasies.” Scientific American, Scientific American, 1 Feb. 2022, 

Schoenbach, K., Lauf, E., McLeod, J.M. & Scheufele, D.A. (1999). Research note – distinction and integration: sociodemographic determinants of newspaper reading in the USA and Germany, 1974-96. European Journal of Communication, Accessed 11/22/22 

https://www.commonsensemedia.org/research/the-common-sense-census-media-use-by-tweens-and-teens -2021. 

Torrens, Paul M. Where in the World? Exploring the Factors Driving Place Location Knowledge among Secondary Level Students in Dublin, Ireland. Journal of Geography, 28 Sept. 2007. 

Wolburg, J.M. & Pokrywczynski, J. (2001). A psychographic analysis of Generation Y college students. Journal of Advertising Research 

https://epublications.marquette.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1151&context=comm_fac, Accessed 11/22/22 

Abstract: Wealth and social inequality in the United States have been growing. The wealth gap and its implications remain a significant issue for economic policy and social justice in the United States. Those inequalities in the U.S. show several trends and disparities among different groups. The wealth gap between Black and White families, as well as between Hispanic and White families, remains substantial. These gaps illustrate long-standing wealth disparities between these groups. Wealth is increasingly concentrated among the top percentiles, leaving the majority with a smaller share of the total wealth. This trend is exacerbated by racial disparities, with White households holding a disproportionately larger share of real wealth. The United Nations Development Programme(UNDP) uses the Human Development Index (HDI) to assess poverty based on indices and provides an extensive overview of development status.
For statistical and computational analysis, this study used various data from the U.S. Census Bureau, including the multi-dimensional poverty index developed by the United Nations Development Programme(UNDP). Since the assessment goes beyond financial poverty, deprivation can emerge in many forms; it is more practical to use the data to analyze the status of levels of multi-dimensional poverty. 
This research studied the complex nature of social inequality and a multi-dimensional measure of poverty, analyzing the persistent and multi-faceted disparities along racial, generational, and educational lines. This paper shows the specific criteria for determining multi-dimensional poverty can vary depending on the methodology used. Through social welfare services, the homeless and people in severe poverty are getting services and aid that are not enough. Accordingly, the relationship between the economic indicators and homelessness was used to determine whether homeless people could effectively escape homelessness as the indicators vary.
For the numerical simulations in the presented research, a substantial amount of effort was made on effective data collection to understand the extent and causes of inequality and poverty. After that, statistical and computational analyses based on the datasets were performed in the current exploratory data analysis.

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau: Provides data on poverty rates and demographic analysis, essential for understanding the broader context of wealth inequality. 

2.  World Bank: The World Bank conducts extensive research on global poverty and inequality, including multidimensional aspects. They publish reports and provide data related to poverty indicators. Website: World Bank Poverty

3. United States Census Bureau: The U.S. Census Bureau regularly publishes data and reports on poverty and income in the United States, including various dimensions of poverty. Website: U.S. Census Bureau Poverty Data

4.  U.S. Department of Health & Human Services: This department provides resources and information related to poverty and poverty alleviation programs in the United States. Website: HHS Poverty Guidelines

5.  The World Poverty Clock: The World Poverty Clock provides real-time data on global poverty estimates, including multidimensional poverty, by country. Website: World Poverty Clock

6. U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS): The BLS provides data on unemployment rates, job growth, and other labor market indicators, which can be correlated with trends in homelessness. 

7. Economic Roundtable: A nonprofit organization providing research on economic, social, and environmental issues. They have conducted studies on homelessness, particularly in relation to economic factors in specific regions.

8. The National Bureau of Economic Research (NBER): NBER working papers and publications often explore the links between economic conditions and social issues, including homelessness. 

9. Reports from the U.S. Census Bureau: The Census Bureau provides data on poverty, income, and housing, which are crucial for understanding economic conditions related to homelessness. 

10. National Alliance to End Homelessness: This organization offers reports and policy analyses on homelessness, including the impact of economic factors such as unemployment and housing affordability. 

11.  Global MPI Database: The Global MPI Database, maintained by OPHI, offers detailed information on multidimensional poverty in numerous countries. Website: Global MPI Database

12. United Nations Development Programme (UNDP): UNDP publishes the annual Human Development Report, which includes information on the Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) for countries where data is available. Website: UNDP Human Development Reports

Abstract: Asymmetric organocatalysis is the use of small chiral molecules as catalysts for stereoselective reactions. Various organic molecules can be used as several unique catalysts to accelerate chemical reactions. Often, reaction intermediates are used to represent more complex chemical reactions. The intermediate used was an analogue of Chlorpheniramine. A starting material, 1-(3-methoxy-phenyl-)-pyrrolidine, was synthesized in the lab. After purifying, it was used to create (S)-3-(4-Chloro-phenyl)-3-(4-pyrolidin-1-yl-2-methoxy-phenyl)-propanol. (2S,5S)-5-bezyl-2-tert-butyl-3-methylimidazolidin-4-one (catalyst) was added to a flask along with dichloromethane and hydrochloric acid. The solution was cooled to -80 degrees Celsius using a mixture of dry ice and ethanol before adding P-chloro-cinnamaldehyde and cooling for 24 hours. TLC plating was used to determine if a new product had been formed. The solvents used in the TLC process were petroleum ether and ethanol. After the solvent had reached near the top of the chromatography paper, the solvent front was marked and the plates were stained in potassium permanganate and washed in water. Based on the results of the TLC plates, a new product was successfully created. The product contained an amine and had greater polarity than p-chloro-cinnamaldehyde and traveled less far due to the solvents being non-polar. The organocatalyst and 1-(3-methoxy-phenyl)-pyrrolidine were both visible on the plates with a dot directly below the chlorocinnamaldehyde near the starting line, meaning the reaction was successful.

References

Aukland, M. H., & List, B. (2021). Organocatalysis emerging as a technology. Pure and Applied Chemistry, 93(12), 1371-1381. https://doi.org/10.1515/pac-2021-0501

Bauer, E. B. (2012). Chiral-at-metal complexes and their catalytic applications in organic synthesis. Chemical Society Reviews, 41(8), 3153. https://doi.org/10.1039/C2CS15234G

Baumann, M., & Baxendale, I. R. (2013). An overview of the synthetic routes to the best selling drugs containing 6-membered heterocycles. Beilstein Journal of Organic Chemistry, 9, 2265-2319. https://doi.org/10.3762/bjoc.9.265

CHEM 344 Thin Layer Chromatography [PDF]. (n.d.). chrome-
extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www2.chem.wisc.edu/deptfiles/OrgLab/handouts/CHEM%20344%20TLC%20info.pdf
Chlorpheniramine. (n.d.).

Drugs.com. https://www.drugs.com/monograph/chlorpheniramine.html

David W.C. MacMillan: Facts. (2023, January 5). The Nobel Prize.
https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/chemistry/2021/macmillan/facts/

García mancheño, O., & Waser, M. (2022). Recent developments and trends in asymmetric organocatalysis. European Journal of Organic Chemistry, 26(1). https://doi.org/10.1002/ejoc.202200950

Huang, X., & Meggers, E. (2019). Asymmetric photocatalysis with bis-cyclometalated rhodium complexes. Accounts of Chemical Research, 52(3), 833-847. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.accounts.9b00028

Paras, N. A., & Macmillan, D. W. C. (2002). The enantioselective organocatalytic 1,4-Addition of electron-rich benzenes to α,β-Unsaturated aldehydes. Journal of the American Chemical Society, 124(27), 7894-7895. https://doi.org/10.1021/ja025981p

PubChem Compound Summary for CID 4311764, Sodium Borohydride. (2022, January 13). National Center for Biotechnology Information.
https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Sodium-borohydride

Reductive Amination: General Overview. (n.d.). ACS Green Chemistry Institute Pharmaceutical Roundtable. Retrieved January 12, 2023, from https://reagents.acsgcipr.org/reagent-guides/reductive-amination

Schmid, A., Dordick, J. S., Hauer, B., Kiener, A., Wubbolts, M., & Witholt, B. (2001). Industrial biocatalysis today and tomorrow. Nature, 409(6817), 258-268. https://doi.org/10.1038/35051736

Zhang, H., Cai, Q., & Ma, D. (2005). Amino acid promoted cui-catalyzed c−n bond formation between aryl halides and amines or n-containing heterocycles. The Journal of Organic Chemistry, 70(13), 5164-5173. https://doi.org/10.1021/jo0504464

Abstract: According to the CDC, 3 million people are treated yearly for fall-related injuries. Fall has become a major public health problem and the second leading cause of unintentional deaths. Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairment, and neuropathy are just a few of the illnesses that can increase the risk of falling. The purpose of this experiment was to use a fall detection algorithm to create a protective mechanism. An algorithm was developed with the use of Arduino and tri-axial accelerometers and gyro sensors. After calibrating the sensors accurately and coding in the Arduino IDE, the accelerometers were placed on a CPR manikin to model the fall of a person. After recording the slant height of the manikin during its fall, the data illustrated that the tilt of 67.01 degrees and the coordinates of (7.78, -4.08, and 8.79) is when the gear must be triggered. Through the aggregation of data,  the ideal location to place the sensors was identified. Using this data, an appropriate airbag mechanism was designed. This is particularly helpful in cases where the elderly have a fall.  The expansion of this project to a global scale can save millions of lives and prevent injuries from other accidental falls. 

References

1. Amaral L, Martins A, Spengler G, & Molnar J (2014). Efflux pumps of Gram-negative bacteria:
   what they do, how they do it, with what and how to deal with them. Front. Pharmacol.
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2. Blair JM, Webber MA, Baylay AJ, Ogbolu DO, Piddock LJ. (2015). Molecular mechanisms of
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3. Carattoli A. (2013). Plasmids and the spread of resistance. Int J Med Microbiol.
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4. CDC. Antibiotic Resistance Threats in the United States, 2019. Atlanta, GA: U.S. Department of
   Health and Human Services, CDC; 2019.

5. Desta IT, Porter KA, Xia B, Kozakov D, Vajda S. (2020) Performance and Its Limits in Rigid
   Body Protein-Protein Docking. Structure. 28(9):1071-1081.e3. doi:10.1016/j.str.2020.06.006.

6. Dumon-Seignovert L, Cariot G, Vuillard L. (2004). The toxicity of recombinant proteins in
   Escherichia coli: a comparison of overexpression in BL21(DE3), C41(DE3), and
   C43(DE3). Protein Expr Purif. 37(1):203-6. doi:10.1016/j.pep.2004.04.025.

7. Lomovskaya O, Lewis K. (1992). Emr, an Escherichia coli locus for multidrug resistance. Proc
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8. Lomovskaya O, Lewis K, Matin A. (1995). EmrR is a negative regulator of the Escherichia coli
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9. Spink WW, Ferris V. (1947). PENICILLIN-RESISTANT STAPHYLOCOCCI: MECHANISMS
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10.  

    Zheng W, Li Y, Zhang C, Zhou X, Pearce R, Bell EW, Huang X, Zhang Y. (2021). Protein structure prediction using deep learning distance and hydrogen-bonding restraints in CASP14. Proteins. 89(12):1734-1751. doi: 10.1002/prot.26193.

Abstract: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) accounted for an estimated 660,000 deaths in 2020, and the prevalence of HCC is expected to increase by over 55% between 2020 and 2040. Due to the lack of an effective treatment for late-stage HCC, the five-year survival rate is less than 20%. Pyruvate kinase molecule 2 (PKM2) is a rate-limiting enzyme that mediates the last step of glycolysis, catalyzing the breakdown of phosphoenolpyruvate into pyruvate. Upon PKM2 upregulation, cancer cells reprogram their host’s metabolic pathways, increasing glucose uptake and evoking fermentation of glucose to lactate. This altered metabolism allows rapid production of ATP, promoting cancer cell proliferation. This study found that liver-specific knockout of the SPTBN1 gene significantly decreases PKM2 levels and prevents inflammation, cell proliferation, and abnormal vascular development. Immunohistochemical (IHC) staining with the PKM2 antibody was performed on paraffin-embedded liver tissue slides from wild-type (WT) mice, WT mice chemically induced with HCC, and HCC mice that had the SPTBN1 gene knocked out in the liver. After IHC staining, the tissue slides were photographed under a light microscope and analyzed in ImageJ, where PKM2 expression was calculated. Results of the IHC staining were also used to assess the severity of symptoms in each group of mice. This study found evidence suggesting SPTBN1 targeted gene knockout therapy may ameliorate HCC-induced symptoms and inhibit HCC development.

References

1. Sung, H. et al. Global Cancer Statistics 2020: GLOBOCAN Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA. Cancer J. Clin. 71, 209–249

2. Rahib, L. et al. Projecting Cancer Incidence and Deaths to 2030: The Unexpected Burden of Thyroid, Liver, and Pancreas Cancers in the United States. Cancer Res. 74, 2913–2921 (2014).

3. Bray, F. et al. Global cancer statistics 2018: GLOBOCAN estimates of incidence and mortality worldwide for 36 cancers in 185 countries. CA. Cancer J. Clin. 68, 394–424 (2018).

4. McGlynn, K. A., Petrick, J. L. & London, W. T. Global epidemiology of hepatocellular carcinoma: an emphasis on demographic and regional variability. Clin. Liver Dis. 19, 223–238 (2015).

5. Simonetti, R. G. et al. Hepatocellular carcinoma. A worldwide problem and the major risk factors. Dig. Dis. Sci. 36, 962–972 (1991).

6. Gupta, A. et al. Obesity is Independently Associated with Increased Risk of
Hepatocellular Cancer-related Mortality: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. Am. J. Clin. Oncol. 41, 874–881 (2018).

7. Management of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma: review of current and potential therapies. https://hrjournal.net/article/view/1901.
8. Siegel, R. L., Miller, K. D. & Jemal, A. Cancer statistics, 2018. CA. Cancer J. Clin. 68, 7–30 (2018).

9. Viel, A. & Branton, D. Spectrin: on the path from structure to function. Curr. Opin. Cell Biol. 8, 49–55 (1996).

10.De Matteis, M. A. & Morrow, J. S. Spectrin tethers and mesh in the biosynthetic pathway. J. Cell Sci. 113 ( Pt 13), 2331–2343 (2000).

11. Bennett, V. & Lorenzo, D. N. Spectrin- and ankyrin-based membrane domains and the evolution of vertebrates. Curr. Top. Membr. 72, 1–37 (2013).

12. Liem, R. K. H. Cytoskeletal Integrators: The Spectrin Superfamily. Cold Spring Harb. Perspect. Biol. 8, a018259 (2016).

13. Derbala, M. H., Guo, A. S., Mohler, P. J. & Smith, S. A. The role of βII spectrin in cardiac health and disease. Life Sci. 192, 278–285 (2018).

14. Davis, L. et al. Localization and Structure of the Ankyrin-binding Site on  β2-Spectrin. J. Biol. Chem. 284, 6982–6987 (2009).

15. Rao, S. et al. β2-Spectrin (SPTBN1) as a Therapeutic Target for Diet-Induced Liver Disease and Preventing Cancer Development. Sci. Transl. Med. 13, eabk2267 (2021).

TBD

Abstract: Pharmaceuticals are very important due to their role in helping humans in many ways. People tend to flush these pharmaceuticals once they expire. Once flushed, it ends up in water ecosystems, which affects both the water and the different organisms that inhabit those environments. One organism that pharmaceuticals can affect is Chlorophyta, or better known as Green algae. Cetirizine and Loratadine, or more commonly referred to as Zyrtec and Claritin, are medicines used for allergy purposes that will be used for this study. 

In this research study, numerous items were used. These items consisted of the Chlorophyta plant, the two pharmaceuticals (in serum form), a hood fume, pipettes, graduated cylinders, a beaker, test tubes, 1 1000mL wheaton bottle, 5 125mL wheaton bottles, water, and 5 250mL erlenmeyer flasks.

Concentrations (10%, 1%, .1%, .01%, 0%) of the pharmaceuticals were made by measuring 90mL of water and 10mL of each pharmaceutical. The Zyrtec concentrations were poured into 125mL wheaton bottles, while the Claritin concentrations were poured into 250 ml erlenmeyer flasks. 5mL of Chlorophyta was then pipetted into 45 test tubes to later have the concentration percents pipetted into them. Data was collected by using a spectrophotometer daily.

As a result, it is unclear whether the hypothesis was supported or not. For future research, it is recommended to use different pharmaceuticals, try a different type of algae, see what specific ingredients cause the medicine to affect the algae, etc.

Keywords: Chlorophyta, Cetirizine, Loratadine, Pharmaceuticals, Concentrations

References

1. Algae in Aquatic Ecosystems Office of Water Quality. In.gov. Retrieved 15 January 2022, from https://www.in.gov/idem/files/factsheet_owq_sw_algae_aquatic.pdf. 
2. Buser, H., Poiger, T., & Müller, M. (1999). Occurrence and Environmental Behavior of the Chiral Pharmaceutical Drug Ibuprofen in Surface Waters and in Wastewater. Environmental Science & Technology, 33(15), 2529-2535. https://doi.org/10.1021/es981014w       
3. Clissold, S., Sorkin, E., & Goa, K. (1989). Loratadine. Drugs, 37(1), 42-57. https://doi.org/10.2165/00003495-198937010-00003 
4. Corsico, A., Leonardi, S., Licari, A., Marseglia, G., Miraglia del Giudice, M., & Peroni, D. et al. (2019). Focus on the cetirizine use in clinical practice: a reappraisal 30 years later. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 14(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40248-019-0203-6 
5. Xing, R., Ma, W., Shao, Y., Cao, X., Chen, L., & Jiang, A. (2019). Factors that affect the growth and photosynthesis of the filamentous green algae, Chaetomorpha valida, in static sea cucumber aquaculture ponds with high salinity and high pH. Peerj, 7, e6468. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.6468 
6. Xin, X., Huang, G., & Zhang, B. (2021). Review of aquatic toxicity of pharmaceuticals and personal care products to algae. Journal Of Hazardous Materials, 410, 124619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2020.124619 

Abstract: According to the CDC, 3 million people are treated yearly for fall-related injuries. Fall has become a major public health problem and the second leading cause of unintentional deaths. Epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, visual impairment, and neuropathy are just a few of the illnesses that can increase the risk of falling. The purpose of this experiment was to use a fall detection algorithm to create a protective mechanism. An algorithm was developed with the use of Arduino and tri-axial accelerometers and gyro sensors. After calibrating the sensors accurately and coding in the Arduino IDE, the accelerometers were placed on a CPR manikin to model the fall of a person. After recording the slant height of the manikin during its fall, the data illustrated that the tilt of 67.01 degrees and the coordinates of (7.78, -4.08, and 8.79) is when the gear must be triggered. Through the aggregation of data,  the ideal location to place the sensors was identified. Using this data, an appropriate airbag mechanism was designed. This is particularly helpful in cases where the elderly have a fall.  The expansion of this project to a global scale can save millions of lives and prevent injuries from other accidental falls. 

Keywords: Epilepsy, Algorithm, Seizures, Fall, Tonic-Clonic

References

1. Verma, Santosh K, et al. “Falls and Fall-Related Injuries among Community-Dwelling Adults in the United States.” PloS One, Public Library of Science, 15 Mar. 2016, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4792421

2.   “Bone Fractures.” Bone Fractures - Better Health Channel, https://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/health/conditionsandtreatments/bone-fractures. 

3.  NHS Choices, NHS, https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/epilepsy/symptoms/#:~:text=A%20tonic%2Dclonic%20seizure%2C%20previously,may%20fall%20to%20the%20floor. 

4. “Tonic-Clonic (Grand Mal) Seizures.” Johns Hopkins Medicine, https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/epilepsy/tonic-clonic-grand-mal-seizures. 

5. “Preventing Epilepsy.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 30 Sept. 2020, https://www.cdc.gov/epilepsy/preventing-epilepsy.htm#:~:text=Use%20safety%20belts%2C%20child%20passenger,of%20brain%20injuries%20from%20falls.

Abstract: Detritus from riverine inputs and hurricanes is a source of dissolved organic matter in aquatic environments, the optically active form of which is called chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), or gelbstoff. The absorption due to CDOM (aCDOM) has been studied remotely, although the absence of standard corrections renders accurate aCDOM estimations difficult. A study conducted on the eastern US seaboard demonstrated the applicability of a novel algorithm for measuring aCDOM (Mannino et al., 2008). The current study adapted this algorithm to analyze the impacts of storms, including Hudson River floods and Atlantic hurricanes, on aCDOM in the NY/NJ Bight between 2002 and 2021. The aCDOM results were also compared to an existing measure for gelbstoff in the OceanColor database; furthermore, chlorophyll-a concentrations (Chl-a) were considered, as algae impedes accurate aCDOM analysis. The study found that the adapted algorithm correlated accurately with the existing OceanColor gelbstoff algorithm. Although evidence of a positive relationship between hurricanes and aCDOM was demonstrated, the pattern was inconsistent and may have been influenced by algal contributions to satellite measurements. Future experimenters should continue testing the algorithm’s applicability. In situ measurements of aCDOM are also critical to distinguishing detritus inputs from algal inputs. Dissolved organic matter includes organic carbon; thus, isolating aCDOM measurements accurately can provide insight into changes and patterns in the global carbon cycle.

Keywords:  Detritus, riverine inputs, dissolved organic matter, chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM), absorption due to CDOM (aCDOM)

References

Aurin, D., Mannino, A., & Lary, D. J. (2018, December 19). Remote Sensing of CDOM, CDOM spectral slope, and dissolved organic carbon in the Global Ocean. MDPI. Retrieved September 2021, from https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/8/12/2687.

Blough, N. V. (2001). Photochemical Processes. Encyclopedia of Ocean Sciences. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B012227430X000726.

Brezonik, P., Menken, K. D., & Bauer, M. (2005). Landsat-based remote sensing of lake water quality ... Lake and Reservoir Management. Retrieved October 2021, from https://rs.umn.edu/sites/rs.umn.edu/files/Landsat--Lake_%26_Reservoir_Management.pd f.

Busing, R. T., White, R. D., Harmon, M. E., & White, P. S. (2008). Hurricane disturbance in a temperate deciduous ... - springer. Forest Ecology. Retrieved October 2021, from https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-90-481-2795-5_26.

Coelho, C., Heim, B., Foerster, S., Brosinsky, A., & de Araújo, J. C. (2017, December 4). In Situ and Satellite Observation of CDOM and Chlorophyll-a Dynamics in Small Water Surface Reservoirs in the Brazilian Semiarid Region. Water. Retrieved 2021, from https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4441/9/12/913.

Filella, M., & Rodríguez-Murillo, J. (2014). Long-term Trends of Organic Carbon Concentrations in Freshwaters: Strengths and Weaknesses of Existing Evidence. Water, 6(5), 1360–1418. doi:10.3390/w6051360

Gallard, H., von Gunten, U., 2002. Chlorination of phenols: kinetics and formation of chloroform. Environ. Sci. Technol. 36, 884–890.

Garrison, T. (2005). Oceanography: An Invitation to Marine Science. National Geographic Society.

Slonecker, E. T., Jones, D. K., & Pellerin, B. A. (2016, June 30). The new Landsat 8 potential for

remote sensing of Colored Dissolved Organic matter (CDOM). Marine Pollution Bulletin.

Tropical Depression EIGHTEEN. Tropical depression eighteen. (2012, October 22). Retrieved 2021, from https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2012/al18/al182012.fstadv.001.shtml.

US Department of Commerce, N. O. A. A. (2018, May 16). Major floods. National Weather Service. Retrieved August 2021, from https://www.weather.gov/aly/MajorFloods.

Abstract: Fluid mechanics and computational analysis are useful for examining the stability and properties of the various types of airfoils used in turbine blades. With the use of computational simulation aid, the fluid dynamic properties and effectiveness of the airfoils with different shapes of mean camber line and the maximum camber were examined. This study was to find the effective turbine blade shape. Different shapes of airfoils were created by using NACA 4-digit Airfoil Generator, and computational simulations were performed. For each different type of airfoils, lift(Cl) vs. drag(Cd), lift vs. angle of attack(alpha), lift/drag vs. angle of attack, and drag vs. angle of attack are found and analyzed to find if there is a correlation between them. The presented results show that all the correlations between the dependent variables and independent variables change a lot as the Reynold number(Re) changes.vThe Cd vs. Alpha was found for varying Reynold numbers. 

Keywords:  NACA 4-digit Airfoil Generator, computational simulations, lift(Cl) vs. drag(Cd), lift vs. angle of attack(alpha), lift/drag vs. angle of attack, and drag vs. angle

References

1. Anderson. Fundamentals of Aerodynamics Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill Education, 2009. Print.
2. Rozhdestvensky, K.V., Aerodynamics of a Lifting System in Extreme Ground Effect. Springer, Berlin, 2000
3. Wieselsberger, C. “Wing Resistance Near the Ground.” 1921, Technical Memorandum – 77.
4. Raymond, A.E. “Ground Influence on Aerofoils.” 1921, NACA Technical Note – 67.
5. http://www.akiti.ca/NACA4Bkgrnd.html
6. http://www.aerospaceweb.org/question/airfoils/q0041.shtml
7.  http://airfoiltools.com/airfoil/details?airfoil=naca0012h-sa
8. https://www.grc.nasa.gov/WWW/K-12/rocket/rktfor.html
9. https://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/handle/2027.42/76748/AIAA?sequence=1
10. https://mselig.ae.illinois.edu/propid/documentation/shortcourse/part3.pdf
11.  "Rocket Stability Condition." NASA. NASA, n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.
12.  "How Wings Really Work." The University of Cambridge. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 Dec. 2016.
13. “The NACA Airfoil Series.” The University of Clarkson. N.p., n.d Web 05 Dec. 2016.

Abstract: Cancer plagues the human population disparately across race and sex, yet research is severely lacking in discovering biological contributors to lopsided incidence and mortality. While past studies have focused on genetic mutations, this study is the first to combine epigenetic analysis with pancreatic cancer (PC) population oncology to investigate poorly understood male and African American (AA)-specific PC incidence-- male vs female PC incidence is 5.5 per 100,000 vs 4.0 per 100,000, and AAs have up to 90% higher incidence than white patients. Data obtained from an Assay for Transposase-Accessible Chromatin using sequencing (ATAC-seq) study was computationally analyzed, and variable chromatin accessibility was demonstrated (p<.05). Y Chromosome differential accessibility analyses were subsequently performed, and significant accessibility increases were apparent in the progression to malignant tissue (p<.05), indicating an epigenetic role in increased male PC incidence. A racial analysis was then performed via KEGG pathway analysis, and driver genes of PC were found to be correlated with significantly variable methylation in AAs. This research discovered epigenetic variability correlated with 41 gene families that may contribute to higher male and AA-specific PC incidence. The discovered PC contributors can be further investigated to develop targeted therapies and population-specific screening methods, and this research methodology can be used to uncover similar contributors to population disparities in other diseases.  

Keywords:  pancreatic cancer (PC), population oncology, African American (AA)-specific PC incidence, racial analysis, KEGG pathway analysis

References

1. Ahmad, A., Azim, S., Zubair, H., Khan, M. A., Singh, S., Carter, J. E., Rocconi, R. P., & Singh, A. P. (2017). Epigenetic basis of cancer health disparities: Looking beyond genetic differences. Biochimica et biophysica acta. Reviews on cancer, 1868(1), 16–28. doi: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2017.01.001

2. Bale T. L. (2014). Lifetime stress experience: transgenerational epigenetics and germ cell programming. Dialogues in clinical neuroscience, 16(3), 297–305.

3. Cosmeri Rizzato, Daniele Campa, Nathalia Giese, et al. Pancreatic Cancer Susceptibility Loci and Their Role in Survival. PLOSone. 2011. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0027921

4. Davie K, Jacobs J, Atkins M, Potier D, Christiaens V, Halder G, et al. (2015). Discovery of Transcription Factors and Regulatory Regions Driving In Vivo Tumor Development by ATAC-seq and FAIRE-seq Open Chromatin Profiling. PLoS Genet, 11(2): e1004994. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004994

5. Frayling T. M. (2014). Genome-wide association studies: the good, the bad and the ugly. Clinical medicine (London, England), 14(4), 428–431. doi: 10.7861/clinmedicine.14-4-428

6. Freelove, R., & Walling, A. D. (2006). Pancreatic cancer: diagnosis and management. American family physician, 73(3), 485–492.

7. Gudsnuk, K., & Champagne, F. A. (2012). Epigenetic Influence of Stress and the Social Environment. ILAR Journal, 53(3-4), 279-288. doi:10.1093/ilar.53.3-4.279

8. Herceg, Z., & Paliwal, A. (2011). Epigenetic mechanisms in hepatocellular carcinoma: How environmental factors influence the epigenome. Mutation Research/Reviews in Mutation Research, 727(3), 55-61. doi: 10.1016/j.mrrev.2011.04.001

9. Ilic, M., & Ilic, I. (2016). Epidemiology of pancreatic cancer. World journal of gastroenterology, 22(44), 9694–9705. Doi: 10.3748/wjg.v22.i44.9694

10. Kamisawa, T., Wood, L. D., Itoi, T., & Takaori, K. (2016). Pancreatic cancer. The Lancet, 388(10039), 73-85. doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(16)00141-0

11. Kelly, T. K., De Carvalho, D. D., & Jones, P. A. (2010). Epigenetic modifications as therapeutic targets. Nature biotechnology, 28(10), 1069–1078. doi: 10.1038/nbt.1678

12. Khawja, S. N., Mohammed, S., Silberfein, E. J., Musher, B. L., Fisher, W. E., & Buren, G. V. (2015). Pancreatic Cancer Disparities in African Americans. Pancreas, 44(4), 522-527. doi:10.1097/mpa.0000000000000323

13. Klein, A.P., Wolpin, B.M., Risch, H.A. et al. Genome-wide meta-analysis identifies five new susceptibility loci for pancreatic cancer. Nat Commun 9, 556 (2018). doi:10.1038/s41467-018-02942-5

14. Lola Rahib, Benjamin D. Smith, Rhonda Aizenberg, et al. Projecting Cancer Incidence and Deaths to 2030: The Unexpected Burden of Thyroid, Liver, and Pancreas Cancers in the United States. Cancer Research. 2014. Doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-14-015

15. Marsit, C. J. (2015). Influence of environmental exposure on human epigenetic regulation. Journal of Experimental Biology, 218(1), 71-79. doi:10.1242/jeb.106971

16. Michael Orth, Philipp Metzger, Sabine Gerum, et al.  Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma: biological hallmarks, current status, and future perspectives of combined modality treatment approaches. Radiation Oncology. 2018. doi:10.1186/s13014-019-1345-6 

17. Scarton, L., Yoon, S., Oh, S., Agyare, E., Trevino, J., Han, B., Lee, E., Setiawan, V. W., Permuth, J. B., Schmittgen, T. D., Odedina, F. G., & Wilkie, D. J. (2018). Pancreatic Cancer Related Health Disparities: A Commentary. Cancers, 10(7), 235. doi:10.3390/cancers10070235

18. Wolpin, B., Rizzato, C., Kraft, P. et al. Genome-wide association study identifies multiple susceptibility loci for pancreatic cancer. Nat Genet 46, 994–1000 (2014) doi:10.1038/ng.3052

Abstract: Glioblastoma multiforme is a malignant grade 4 brain tumor that is almost always fatal and is typically characterized by the excessive growth of necrotic areas within the tumor’s microenvironment. Therefore, the relationship between healthy tumor cells and spread of necrotic tumor cells from the Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project (IvyGAP) database was analyzed using ImageJ both linearly and within the fractal dimension to assess growth predictability. Both the linear regression (y = 6.99x + 490000 µm) and fractal dimension complexity value regression (y = -7.01x + 40.8 µm) were found to be significant (p < 0.5), demonstrating a future possibility of predicting tumor growth spread based on necrotic growth, possibly due to necrotic area being interrelated to tumor vasculature. If necrotic area growth can be mathematically characterized by healthy tumor cell area growth, glioblastoma multiforme disease stage development may be better predicted prior to tumor cell expansion, resulting in better means to prevent further proliferation of the disease.

Keywords:  loneliness, social isolation, resilience, whole school, whole community, whole child, mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, social support, community dogs, mental health

References

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2. Necrotic cells influence migration and invasion of glioblastoma via NF-κB/AP-1-mediated IL-8 regulation. Scientific Reports, 6, 24552.

3. Alfonso, J. C. L., Talkenberger, K., Seifert, M., Klink, B., Hawkins-Daarud, A., Swanson, K. R., Hatzikirou, H., & Deutsch, A. (2017). The biology and mathematical modelling of glioma invasion: a review. Journal of the Royal Society, Interface / the Royal Society, 14(136). https://doi.org/10.1098/rsif.2017.0490

4. Allen Institute for Brain Science (2015). Ivy Glioblastoma Atlas Project.Glioblastoma.alleninstitute.org

5. Bianciardi G., Sorce F., Pontenani A., Ginori F., Scaramuzzino, S., & Tripodi. (2018). Fractal Approaches to Image Analysis in Oncopathology. In Austin Journal of Medical Oncology, 5(2): 1040. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/publication/343079726_Fractal_Approaches_to_Image_An alysis_in_Oncopathology

6. Bohman, L.-E., Swanson, K. R., Moore, J. L., Rockne, R., Mandigo, C., Hankinson, T., Assanah, M., Canoll, P., & Bruce, J. N. (2010). Magnetic resonance imaging characteristics of glioblastoma multiforme: implications for understanding glioma ontogeny. In Neurosurgery (Vol. 67, Issue 5, pp. 1319–1328)

7. Brat, D.J., Castellano-Sanchez, A. A., Hunter, S., Pecot, M., Cohen, C.,

8. Hammond, E. H., Devi, S.N., Kaur, B., & Van Meir, E. G. (2004). Pseudopalisades in Glioblastoma Are Hypoxic, Express Extracellular Matrix Proteases, and Are Formed by an Actively Migrating Cell Population. In Cancer Research, (64) (3) 920-927. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-03-2073

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15. Hambardzumyan, D., & Bergers, G. (2015). Glioblastoma: Defining Tumor Niches. Trends in Cancer Research, 1(4), 252–265.

16. Hanif, F., Muzaffar, K., Perveen, K., Malhi, S. M., & Simjee, S. U. (2017). Glioblastoma Multiforme: A Review of its Epidemiology and Pathogenesis through Clinical Presentation and Treatment. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention: APJCP, 18(1), 3–9.

17. Horsfield, K., Dart, G., Olson, D.E., Filley, G. F., & Cumming, G. (1971). Models of the human bronchial tree. In Journal of Applied Physiology, 31:2, 207-217. Retrieved from https://journals.physiology.org/doi/pdf/10.1152/jappl.1971.31.2.207

18. Ishii, A., Kimura, T., Sadahiro, H., Kawano, H., Takubo, K., Suzuki, M., & Ikeda, E. (2016).

19. Histological Characterization of the Tumorigenic “Peri-Necrotic Niche” Harboring Quiescent Stem-Like Tumor Cells in Glioblastoma. In PLOS ONE (Vol. 11, Issue 1, p. e0147366). https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0147366

20. Johansson, E., Grassi, E. S., Pantazopoulou, V., Tong, B., Lindgren, D., Berg, T. J., Pietras, E. J., Axelson, H., & Pietras, A. (2017). CD44 Interacts with HIF-2α to Modulate the Hypoxic Phenotype of Perinecrotic and Perivascular Glioma Cells. In Cell Reports (Vol. 20, Issue 7, pp. 1641–1653)

Abstract: Treatment refraction is a hallmark of small cell lung cancer (SCLC), occurring in almost 80% of patients after initial response to current treatment modalities. The aggressive nature of this cancer and 5-year survival rate of less than 5% in patients necessitates further research to understand resistive mechanisms, identify biomarkers, and mitigate poor prognosis. Single cell RNA sequencing datasets of untreated and DNA damage repair inhibitor (DDRi) treated samples were obtained through the Gene Expression Omnibus. Gene set enrichment analysis (GSEA) was performed to identify upregulated pathways, elucidating resistive mechanisms present in treated, relapsed samples. Prominent genes in the leading edge subset of GSEA were visualized in RStudio and analyzed in GEPIA2 for their impact on survival. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) pathway and TGF Beta Signaling pathway were two upregulated gene sets shared by both treatment types. Shared leading edge subset genes of the ROS pathway included TXN, TXNRD1, NDUFB4, and LAMTOR5, which allow cancerous cells to evade apoptosis and promote cell proliferation. Shared leading edge subset genes of the TGF Beta Signaling pathway included HDAC1, CTNNB1, and SLC20A1, which promote epithelial mesenchymal transitions, suppressed immune response, and increased tumor growth. This study identifies novel genes that play a role in the development of treatment refraction in SCLC, and further experimentation may validate their potential as therapeutic targets to resensitize tumors. 

KEYWORDS: lung cancer, small cell lung cancer, oncology, bioinformatics, genomics

References

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2. Asai, N., Ohkuni, Y., Kaneko, N., Yamaguchi, E., & Kubo, A. (2014). Relapsed small cell lung cancer: Treatment options and latest developments. Therapeutic Advances in Medical  Oncology, 6(2), 69-82. doi:10.1177/1758834013517413

3. Böttger, F., Semenova, E. A., Song, J., Ferone, G., Vliet, J. V., Cozijnsen, M., . . . Berns, A. (2019). Tumor heterogeneity underlies differential cisplatin sensitivity in mouse models of small-cell lung cancer. Cell Reports, 27(11). doi:10.1016/j.celrep.2019.05.057

4. Cañadas, I., Rojo, F., Taus, A., Arpi, O., Arumi-Uria, M., Pijuan, L., . . . Arriola, E. (2013). Targeting epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition with met inhibitors reverts chemoresistance in small cell lung cancer. Clinical Cancer Research, 20(4), 938-950.  doi:10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-13-1330

5. Colak, S., & Dijke, P. T. (2017). Targeting TGF-β Signaling in Cancer. Trends in Cancer, 3(1), 56-71. doi:10.1016/j.trecan.2016.11.008

6. Du, J., Li, Y., Wang, L., Zhou, Y., Shen, Y., Xu, F., & Chen, Y. (2020). Selective application of neuroendocrine markers in the diagnosis and treatment of small cell lung cancer. Clinica  Chimica Acta, 509, 295-303. doi:10.1016/j.cca.2020.06.037

7. Ferry, G., Studeny, A., Bossard, C., Kubara, P. M., Zeyer, D., Renaud, J., . . . Golsteyn, R. M.  (2011). Characterization of novel checkpoint kinase 1 inhibitors by in vitro assays and in  human cancer cells treated with topoisomerase inhibitors. Elsevier, 89, 259-268.  doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2011.06.010

8. Hwang, B., Lee, J. H., & Bang, D. (2018). Single-cell RNA sequencing technologies and bioinformatics pipelines. Experimental & Molecular Medicine, 50(8).  doi:10.1038/s12276-018-0071-8

9. Jeong, C., Kang, H., Hong, S., Byeon, E., Lee, J., Lee, Y. H., . . . Lee, J. (2020). Generation of albino via SLC45a2 gene targeting by CRISPR/Cas9 in the marine medaka Oryzias melastigma. Marine Pollution Bulletin, 154, 111038. doi:10.1016/j.marpolbul.2020.111038

10. Jin, X., Jin, X., & Kim, H. (2017). Cancer stem cells and differentiation therapy. Tumor Biology, 39(10), 101042831772993. doi:10.1177/1010428317729933

11. Kerbel, R. S. (2008). Tumor angiogenesis. New England Journal of Medicine, 358(19), 2039-2049. doi:10.1056/nejmra0706596

     

Abstract: 

Meteorites can carry important information about the solar system and its origins. Unfortunately, there is no official network in the United States dedicated to finding meteorites after observing meteors. The availability of low-cost computers and cameras such as the Raspberry Pi has made it possible to create affordable meteor observing station networks that could be set up by Citizen Scientists. We investigate the basic design of such a meteor station and will use it to test the hypothesis that it is possible to identify materials that arrive at Earth from other planetary systems. Specifically, we will look for extrasolar meteorite candidates because they can offer pristine information about our area of the universe before the formation of the Solar System. At the present time, we have calculated the expected luminosities of fireballs in optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths and are in the process of building and testing elements of the system.

Keywords:  Meteorites, Citizen Scientists, luminosities of fireballs in optical, infrared, and radio wavelengths, elements of the system

References

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2. Bartos, I., Marka, S. A nearby neutron-star merger explains the actinide abundances in the early Solar System. Nature 569, 85–88 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41586-019-1113-

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5. Jack AlmaPhoto. September 10, 2014, “How Many Photons on a Pixel.” Exposure, Sensors. Strolls with my Dog. [August 28, 2020] https://www.strollswithmydog.com/photons-on-a-pixel/

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Abstract: African Americans are often viewed as a monolithic group in the United States because Black people generally have been subjected to the same racism and prejudice throughout American society. While African Americans have had many similar experiences in the United States, their opinions on the current political, social, and economic worldview may differ based on ethnic groups. The author chose to closely examine the extent to which family history and decade of one's arrival (or one's family's arrival) to the United States, and the region from which one (or one's family) originated, might influence the current political, social and economic worldview of adolescent and adult Americans who self-identify as Black. In order to study the effects of these variables, I administered surveys to 146 African American adults in suburban New York City. The online survey consisted of four parts. These parts included views on economic success, law enforcement, current events, specifically the Black Lives Matter Movement, and Black representation in American society. Ultimately the study found statistically significant differences between region/decade of arrival and societal world views. There were also gender gaps.

Keywords: African-American, representation, BLM, Afro-Caribbean, African, economic success

References

1. Bunyasi, T. L. (2019, February 6). Do All Black Lives Matter Equally to Black People? Respectability Politics and the Limitations of Linked Fate | Journal of Race, Ethnicity, and Politics. Cambridge Core. https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/journal-of-race-ethnicity-and-politics/article/do-all-black-lives-matter-equally-to-black-people-respectability-politics-and-the-limitations-of-linked-fate/CBC842CABC6F8FAA6C892B08327B09DA
2. Chetty, R., Hendren, N., Jones, M. R., & Porter, S. R. (2019, December 26). Race and Economic Opportunity in the United States: an Intergenerational Perspective*. OUP Academic. https://academic.oup.com/qje/article/135/2/711/5687353?login=true
3. Davis, R., & Hendricks, N. (2007, January 1). Immigrants and Law Enforcement: A Comparison of Native-Born and Foreign-Born Americans’ Opinions of the Police. International Review of Victimology. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/026975800701400105
4. Fan, Y. (2019, February 13). Gender and cultural bias in student evaluations: Why representation matters. Plos One.

Abstract: Current estimates reveal that approximately 1.2 billion people reside in areas susceptible to flooding. However, due to human-inflicted changes to the environment, it is predicted that within the next 30 years, this number will increase by at least 400 million. Despite the prevailing belief that the effects of flooding are diminutive, catastrophic destruction is possible, especially when victims belong to vulnerable populations. Aside from physical damage, severe flooding often prevents individuals from securing the bare necessities- water, food, shelter, and medical attention- leading to health crises and social segregation. Following Hurricane Sandy, these adverse effects devastated communities on the East Coast, namely those in New York City and Long Island. To mitigate complications during recuperation, researchers proposed updating strategies and policies to take into account factors such as social capital and economic vulnerability. Doing so may ensure that all communities have equal access to ample resources and services, regardless of demographic composition. Therefore, this study investigated the role of community support, as opposed to socioeconomic status, in the vulnerability and resiliency of New York residents to flooding from Hurricane Sandy.

Those who are more engaged in politics tend to be more vigilant about the efforts of their local government. If local politicians are unjustly favoring a certain demographic and neglecting the needs of others, people who pay attention to politics are able to identify the problem and understand how it can be rectified. Furthermore, people who pay attention to the workings of their government are more inclined to address social issues. For vulnerable families, this is relevant because an unsupportive, inept government is frequently the root of problems including forced evacuation/homelessness, poverty, inaccessible resources, etc. If political attentiveness could be quantified, policymakers and community organizations would be able to ascertain which populations are less educated about flooding preparation/reconstruction and which populations can assist the former.

References

1. Becker, J. S., Taylor, H. L., Doody, B. J., Wright, K. C., Gruntfest, E., & Webber, D. (2015). A Review of People's Behavior in and around Floodwater. Weather, Climate, and Society, 7(4), 321-332. https://doi.org/10.1175/WCAS-D-14-00030.1
2. Bukvic, A., Zhu, H., Lavoie, R., & Becker, A. (2018). The role of proximity to waterfront in residents' relocation decision-making post-Hurricane Sandy. Ocean & Coastal Management, 154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ocecoaman.2018.01.002
3. Campbell, K. A., Laurien, F., Czajkowski, J., Keating, A., Hochrainer-Stigler, S., & Montgomery, M. (2019). First insights from the Flood Resilience Measurement Tool: A large-scale community flood resilience analysis. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 40, 101257. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101257
4. Chakraborty, L., Rus, H., Henstra, D., Thistlethwaite, J., & Scott, D. (2020). A place-based socioeconomic status index: Measuring social vulnerability to flood hazards in the context of environmental justice. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 43, 101394. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101394
5. Clay, P. M., Colburn, L. L., & Seara, T. (2016). Social bonds and recovery: An analysis of Hurricane Sandy in the first year after landfall. Marine Policy, 74, 334-340. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2016.04.049
6. Deria, A., Ghannad, P., & Lee, Y.-C. (2020). Evaluating implications of flood vulnerability factors with respect to income levels for building long-term disaster resilience of low-income communities. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 48, 101608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101608
7. Flores, A. B., Collins, T. W., Grineski, S. E., & Chakraborty, J. (2020). Social vulnerability to Hurricane Harvey: Unmet needs and adverse event experiences in Greater Houston, Texas. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 46. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101521
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9. Gibbens, S. (2019, February). Hurricane Sandy, explained. In National Geographic. https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/natural-disasters/reference/hurricane-sandy/#close
10. Graham, L., Debucquoy, W., & Anguelovski, I. (2016). The influence of urban development dynamics on community resilience practice in New York City after Superstorm Sandy: Experiences from the Lower East Side and the Rockaways. Global Environment Change, 40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2016.07.001
11. Hamilton, K., Demant, D., Peden, A. E., & Hagger, M. S. (2020). A systematic review of human behaviour in and around floodwater. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 47, 101561. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101561
12. Maantay, J., & Maroko, A. (2009). Mapping urban risk: Flood hazards, race, & environmental justice in New York. Applied Geography, 29(1). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2008.08.002
13. Martins, V. N., Nigg, J., Louis-Charles, H. M., & Kendra, J. M. (2019). Household preparedness in an imminent disaster threat scenario: The case of superstorm sandy in New York City. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 34, 316-325. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2018.11.003
14. McGuire, A. P., Gauthier, J. M., Anderson, L. M., Hollingsworth, D. W., Tracy, M., Galea, S., & Coffey, S. F. (2018). Social Support Moderates Effects of Natural Disaster Exposure on Depression and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms: Effects for Displaced and Nondisplaced Residents. Journal of Traumatic Stress, 31(2), 223-233. https://doi.org/10.1002/jts.22270
15. Morss, R. E., Mulder, K. J., Lazo, J. K., & Demuth, J. L. (2016). How do people perceive, understand, and anticipate responding to flash flood risks and warnings? Results from a public survey in Boulder, Colorado, USA. Journal of Hydrology, 541, 649-664. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2015.11.047
16. Ntontis, E., Drury, J., Amlôt, R., Rubin, G. J., & Williams, R. (2020). Endurance or decline of emergent groups following a flood disaster: Implications for community resilience. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 45, 101493. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2020.101493
17. Pourebrahim, N., Sultana, S., Edwards, J., Gochanour, A., & Mohanty, S. (2019). Understanding communication dynamics on Twitter during natural disasters: A case study of Hurricane Sandy. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 37. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijdrr.2019.101176
18. Rezende, O. M., Ribeiro da Cruz de Franco, A. B., Beleño de Oliveira, A. K., Miranda, F. M., Pitzer Jacob, A. C., Martins de Sousa, M., & Miguez, M. G. (2020). Mapping the flood risk to Socioeconomic Recovery Capacity through a multicriteria index. Journal of Cleaner Production, 255, 120251. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120251
19. Thistlethwaite, J., Henstra, D., Brown, C., & Scott, D. (2017). How Flood Experience and Risk Perception Influences Protective Actions and Behaviours among Canadian Homeowners. Environmental Management, 61(2), 197-208. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0969-2
20. Wang, Z., Lam, N. S.N., Obradovich, N., & Ye, X. (2019). Are vulnerable communities digitally left behind in social responses to natural disasters? An evidence from Hurricane Sandy with Twitter data. Applied Geography, 108, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apgeog.2019.05.

Abstract: Extreme weather events are becoming more prevalent with increasing global temperatures. In the Northeastern U.S., spring frost events are destroying forest ecosystems by defoliating newly budded trees. In order to grasp a better understanding of community dynamics and carbon fluxes, it is imperative to understand more about species-specific phenological and physiological responses to these events. This study aimed to investigate the legacy effects of a spring frost event in Black Rock Forest on the specific photosynthetic and intrinsic water use efficiency responses within unaffected red maples and sugar maples alongside defoliated red oaks. A LI-6800 machine conducted gas exchange measurements in the north, south, valley, and headquarter sites for each species. The new flush of red oak leaves portrayed

the greatest amount of photosynthetic productivity and efficiency while red maples and sugar maples retained their original characteristics with increased sensitivities. Hence, the defoliated tree species had a competitive advantage with shifted phenological patterns. Future research can be conducted several growing seasons after the frost event to determine the extent to which these events impact species dynamics, including DBH tree growth. New predicative carbon models can also be formed to create new management for tree implantation’s that maximize sequestration rates.

Keywords: spring frost event, defoliation, photosynthetic productivity, water use efficiency, sequestration

References

1. Anderson, R., & Ryser, P. (2015). Early Autumn Senescence in Red Maple (Acer rubrum L.) Is Associated with High Leaf Anthocyanin Content. Plants (Basel, Switzerland), 4(3), 505–522. https://doi.org/10.3390/plants4030505
2. Andrew D. Richardson, David Y. Hollinger, D. Bryan Dail, John T. Lee, J. William Munger, John O'keefe, Influence of spring phenology on seasonal and annual carbon balance in two contrasting New England forests, Tree Physiology, Volume 29, Issue 3, March 2009, Pages 321–331, https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/tpn040
3. Augspurger, C.K. (2009), Spring 2007 warmth and frost: phenology, damage and refoliation in a temperate deciduous forest. Functional Ecology, 23: 1031-1039. https://doi:10.1111/j.1365-2435.2009.01587.x
4. Bascietto, Bajocco, Mazzenga, & Matteucci. (2018). Assessing spring frost effects on beech forests in Central Apennines from remotely-sensed data. Agricultural and Forest Meteorology. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agrformet.2017.10.007
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Abstract: Though sharp-wave ripples have been recorded in the EEG data of the hippocampus of mammals for years, it remains unclear how ripples can contribute to memory for different behaviors.. Sharp wave ripples are one of the most synchronous patterns in the mammalian brain. These waves are most common during non-REM sleep, although they can also be associated with consummatory behaviors. In EEG recordings, these occurrences can be seen as large amplitude negative polarity deflections (40–100 ms) in CA1 stratum radiatum that are associated with a short-lived fast oscillatory pattern of the LFP in the CA1 pyramidal layer, known as “ripples.” The purpose of this study was to investigate the distinction between sleep and awake ripples along with the connection between sharp-wave ripples and specific mammalian behaviors during memory tasks. The hypothesis tested was that SPW-Rs occur when the animal has an experience that will help guide subsequent successful task completion that results in obtaining a desired reward. To conduct the experiment electrophysiological signals were collected from a rat’s hippocampus during various tasks. The data were then analyzed using Neuroscope and compared to a visual recording of the rat’s actions. The data suggest that sharp wave ripples are more likely to occur close to a reward, most often before the reward, and do not have a higher tendency to occur early or late in learning. Future research can further clarify these results and investigate the process by which these ripples occur.

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Abstract: Pneumonia, a fatal lung disease, is caused by infection of Streptococcus pneumoniae; it is detected by chest x-rays that reveal inflammation of the alveoli. However, the efficiency by which it is diagnosed can be improved through the use of artificial intelligence. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs), a form of artificial intelligence, have recently demonstrated enhanced accuracy when classifying images. This study used CNNs to analyze chest x-rays and predict the probability the patient has pneumonia. Furthermore, a comprehensive investigation was conducted, examining the function of various components of the CNN, in the context of pneumonia x-rays. This study was able to achieve significantly high performance, making it viable for clinical implementation. Furthermore, the architecture of the proposed model is applicable to various other diseases, and can thus be used to optimize the disease diagnosis industry.

Keywords: artificial intelligence, disease diagnosis, pneumonia, convolutional neural networks, machine learning

References

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Abstract: Coronavirus disease -19 (COVID-19) has gained widespread interest in the field of mathematical epidemiology in order to inform the public on basic statistics surrounding COVID-19. However, the age-standardized mortality rates (ASMRs), which adjust age and population discrepancies between different regions by comparing a subpopulation to a standard population, have not been shown publicly. Usually, COVID-19 ASMRs have not been calculated due to the lengthy process required to calculate them; however, ASMRs for COVID-19 have occasionally been calculated, but their effectiveness have been hindered due to the use of a hand-written formula and graphical manual methods. My study involved the development of a deep learning algorithm to calculate ASMR and to instantly graph the ASMR of a subpopulation versus the crude mortality rate of the standard population. This algorithm was used to compare the ASMRs for COVID-19 in American states to the crude mortality rate of the standard population, America. In this study, the algorithm shows efficiency with a consistent runtime of time≤5seconds, within 95% confidence interval error bars among trials. ASMRs show statistically significant differences in expected COVID-19 deaths among most populations. There is at least 95% confidence (p≤0.05) that differences in ASMR are independent of age and population distributions. These findings suggest that there are more factors than just age discrepancy that affect COVID-19 mortality rates.

Keywords: COVID-19, Age-Standardization, Mortality Rate, Algorithm, Deep Learning

References

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Abstract: Abstract: Women have traditionally been underrepresented in jobs that require physical strength, speed or stamina. There is good reason.  A firefighter, for example, must prove he is able to carry 100 pounds down a ladder, in the event it is necessary to rescue someone from a burning building.  Some women have claimed that this unfairly discriminates against them because they lack the physical strength to pass the mandated tests. As a result, some fire departments have provided exemptions to women who apply for these positions, reducing the speed or strength that is required for their male counterparts.  Does gender equality supersede policies even when they involve human health and safety. ​Statistically, women earn about 80 cents of every dollar that men earn. This has prompted many to claim that the gender pay gap is a result of discrimination against women.  Could it be that other factors are in play? Women tend to gravitate more often to lower-paying jobs such as sales clerks and receptionists.  Is this somehow the result of systemic sexism?  Jobs that are considered dirty, physically demanding, or dangerous are much more often filled by men than women. Do employers pay higher wages for these jobs due to market demand (since no one will take the job if it doesn’t pay well) or are they being paid more simply because they are men? Shouldn’t the real question be, not what they make, but why men and women make the salaries that they do?

Keywords: Health insurance, Human well-being, High-deductible health plan (HDHP)

References:

Appold, Karen. “High-Deductible Health Plans: a Brief History.” Managed Healthcare Executive, 22 Sept. 2015, www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/mhe-articles/high-deductible-health-plansbrief-history.

Bovbjerg, Randall R., and Jack Hadley. “Why Health Insurance Is Important.” Urban Institute, 2 Feb. 2017, www.urban.org/research/publication/why-health-insurance-important.

Folger, Jean. “Health Savings Accounts: Advantages and Disadvantages.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 29 Jan. 2020, www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090814/pros-and-cons-healthsavings-account-hsa.asp.

Fontinelle, Amy. “How High-Deductible Health Plans Work.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 29 Jan. 2020, www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/012716/how-highdeductible-health-planswork.asp.

Gersema, Emily. “High-Deductible Health Plans Raise Risk of Financial Ruin for Vulnerable Americans, Study Finds.” USC News, University of Southern California, 5 Apr. 2018, news.usc.edu/140182/high-deductible-health-plans-raise-risk-of-financial-ruin-for-vulnerableamericans-study-finds/.

Kamal, Rabah. “How Health Spending Patterns Vary by Demographics in the U.S.” Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker, 18 Aug. 2016, www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-health-spendingpatterns-vary-by-demographics-in-the-u-s/.

Cohen, Robin A, and Emily P Zammiti. “Products - Data Briefs - Number 317 - August 2018.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Aug. 2018, www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db317.htm.

Reddy, Sheila R, et al. “Impact of a High-Deductible Health Plan on Outpatient Visits and Associated Diagnostic Tests.” Medical Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2014,

Abstract: Effective health insurance policies are of the utmost importance as they shape the lives of and provide safety to billions of people worldwide. Under the broader umbrella of general health insurance, the high-deductible health plan (HDHP) is a relatively recent idea. The HDHP essentially consists of a high deductible combined with a lower premium. This study strives to find the impact of the HDHP on overall human well-being and health while assessing its effects and identifying potential benefits and drawbacks. 

The potential benefits of this plan were doubted at first; however, studies have revealed that its popularity has skyrocketed in comparison to its predecessors. HDHP users may experience a series of behavioral consequences of varying effects due to the human psyche. Grouping findings from a personal survey with historical data from other sources, analysis across various demographics demonstrate that HDHP users lead better lives. The representations in the report, implemented with the TI-SmartView TI-84 Plus emulator, illustrate that high-deductible health plans correlate with a generally positive impact on its users. 

The survey, which considered wording and response biases, confirms that the above trends are valid irrespective of nominal categorical variables such as gender, ethnicity, and age. This study attests to the fact that the HDHP, when adopted with the understanding of the behavioral aspect, can help to improve the health of society as a whole. Finally, it also suggests techniques to make sure that those who select this plan follow certain behaviors that drive positive outcomes.

Keywords: Health insurance, Human well-being, High-deductible health plan (HDHP)

References:

Appold, Karen. “High-Deductible Health Plans: a Brief History.” Managed Healthcare Executive, 22 Sept. 2015, www.managedhealthcareexecutive.com/mhe-articles/high-deductible-health-plansbrief-history.

Bovbjerg, Randall R., and Jack Hadley. “Why Health Insurance Is Important.” Urban Institute, 2 Feb. 2017, www.urban.org/research/publication/why-health-insurance-important.

Folger, Jean. “Health Savings Accounts: Advantages and Disadvantages.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 29 Jan. 2020, www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/090814/pros-and-cons-healthsavings-account-hsa.asp.

Fontinelle, Amy. “How High-Deductible Health Plans Work.” Investopedia, Investopedia, 29 Jan. 2020, www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/012716/how-highdeductible-health-planswork.asp.

Gersema, Emily. “High-Deductible Health Plans Raise Risk of Financial Ruin for Vulnerable Americans, Study Finds.” USC News, University of Southern California, 5 Apr. 2018, news.usc.edu/140182/high-deductible-health-plans-raise-risk-of-financial-ruin-for-vulnerableamericans-study-finds/.

Kamal, Rabah. “How Health Spending Patterns Vary by Demographics in the U.S.” Peterson-Kaiser Health System Tracker, 18 Aug. 2016, www.healthsystemtracker.org/brief/how-health-spendingpatterns-vary-by-demographics-in-the-u-s/.

Cohen, Robin A, and Emily P Zammiti. “Products - Data Briefs - Number 317 - August 2018.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 9 Aug. 2018, www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db317.htm.

Reddy, Sheila R, et al. “Impact of a High-Deductible Health Plan on Outpatient Visits and Associated Diagnostic Tests.” Medical Care, U.S. National Library of Medicine, Jan. 2014,

Abstract: In the modern age of politics, political candidates use Twitter to express their ideas and connect with voters. In 2018, Twitter was used by nearly every candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives throughout their political campaign. To analyze the language used on Twitter, we used Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC) to analyze a text file (for each candidate) of all tweets from July 1, 2018 to November 6, 2018 to produce a descriptive output of language use in the months preceding the midterm elections. Consistent with past studies, it was predicted that candidates would use words characterized by negative affect on Twitter in order to connect with voters on an emotional level and to gain votes. In-depth analysis relating linguistic variables to vote count provided insight into how politicians used language on Twitter to improve their popularity. As theorized, candidates who used more words consisting of negative emotion obtained a greater number of votes than that of their counterparts. These findings provided support for the hypothesis that words of negative affect are deemed more impactful than neutral or positive words in politics, and that such language is highly correlated, regardless of party affiliation, with vote count. These findings provide a greater understanding of linguistics in the modern age of politics and provide insight into how increasingly prevalent social media platforms are factoring into politics.

Keywords: Political candidates, natural language, vote count, midterm election

References:

[1] Burgess, Jean, and Cornelius Puschmann. Twitter and Society. Edited by Katrin Weller, Axel Bruns, and Merja Mahrt. New York: Peter Lang, 2014.

[2] Kahn, J. H., Tobin, R. M., Massey, A. E., & Anderson, J. A. (2007). Measuring Emotional Expression with the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count. The American Journal of Psychology,120(2), 263. doi:10.2307/20445398

[3] Larsson, A. O., & Moe, H. (2012). Studying Political Microblogging: Twitter Users in the 2010 Swedish Election Campaign. SAGE Journals,14(5), 729-747. doi:10.1177/1461444811422894

[4] Lau, R. R. (1982). Negativity in Political Perception. Political Behavior, 4(4), 353–377. doi: 10.1007/bf00986969

[5] Marres, N., & Weltevrede, E. (2013). Scraping The Social? Issues in real-time social research. Journal of Cultural Economy,6(3), 313-335. doi:10.1080/17530350.2013.772070

Abstract: This project applies a new theory in the field of intergroup conflict known as "Gateway group theory," which posits that to decrease conflict between two groups, a third group with specific characteristics that appeal to both sides needs to be identified, enabling them to act as a medium. This group is known as a "Gateway group." With the background of the bitter digital divide and echo chambers plaguing the United States’ current political discourse, this paper sought to find the Gateway group between polar Democrats and Republicans on Twitter. 

This project data mined and examined the shared “likes” of these two populations using originally developed code and definitional parameters. Then, the study analyzed the profiles of the authors of these liked Tweets to compile an aggregated Gateway group profile that can be used to find Gateway group individuals on Twitter who have the ability to decrease conflict between Democrats and Republicans. The study found that Gateway group members exist. They are a group of Moderate Democrats. Every post that was liked by both a Democrat and Republican was also tagged and analyzed for similarities in content. It was found that 55% of all posts referenced “Trump” and 92% of those votes had a negative sentiment. Additional similarities in content were found, for example a keen interest in elections and certain Democratic candidates. This project develops an effective methodology that can be applied to any conflict on Twitter to find the Gateway group for that conflict to decrease polarity between polar groups.

Keywords: Gateway group theory, Democrat and Republican, political discourse, Twitter

References:

Bessi, A. (2016). Personality traits and echo chambers on facebook. Computers in Human Behavior,65, 319-324. doi:10.1016/j.chb.2016.08.016
Demszky, D., Garg, N., Voigt, R., Zou, J., Shapiro, J., Gentzkow, M., & Jurafsky, D. (2019).

Gaertner, S. L., & Dovidio, J. F. (2012). The Common Ingroup Identity Model. Handbook of Theories of Social Psychology,2, 439-457.  ttp://dx.doi.org/10.4135/9781446249222.n48

Gaertner, S. S., Dovidio, J. F., Anastasio, P. A., Bachman, B. A., & Rust, M. C. (1993). The Common Ingroup Identity Model: Recategorization and the Reduction of Intergroup Bias.

European Review of Social Psychology,4(1), 1-26. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/14792779343000004. Goyal, S. (2005). Strong and Weak Links. Journal of the European Economic Association,
3(2/3), 608-616. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40005003.

Hornsey, M. J., & Hogg, M. A. (2000). Subgroup Relations: A Comparison of Mutual Intergroup Differentiation and Common Ingroup Identity Models of Prejudice Reduction. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin,26(2), 242-256. doi:10.1177/0146167200264010

Pettigrew, T. F., Tropp, L. R., Wagner, U., & Christ, O. (2011). Recent advances in intergroup contact theory. International Journal of Intercultural Relations,(35), 271-280.

Zollo, F., Novak, P. K., Vicario, M. D., Bessi, A., Mozetič, I., Scala, A., . . . Quattrociocchi, W. (2015). Emotional Dynamics in the Age of Misinformation. Plos One,10(9). doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0138740

Abstract: Deep convolutional neural networks - the state-of-the-art technique in artificial intelligence for computer vision - achieve notable success rates at simple classification tasks, but are fundamentally lacking when it comes to representation.

These neural networks encode fuzzy textural patterns into vast matrices of numbers which lack the semantically structured nature of human representations (e.g. "a table is a flat horizontal surface supported by an arrangement of identical legs").

This paper takes multiple important steps towards filling in these gaps. I first propose a series of tractable milestone problems set in the abstract two dimensional ShapeWorld, thus isolating the challenge of object compositionality. Then I demonstrate the effectiveness of a new compositional representation approach based on identifying structure among the primitive elements comprising an image and representing this structure through an augmented primitive element tree and coincidence list. My approach outperforms state-of-the-art benchmark algorithms in speed and structural representation in my object representation milestone tasks, while yielding comparable classification accuracy. Finally, I present a mathematical framework for a probabilistic programming approach that can learn highly structured generative stochastic representations of compositional objects from just a handful of examples.

Keywords: Neural networks, Fuzzy textural patterns, Nature of human representations

References

[1] A. Krizhevsky, I. Sutskever, and G. E. Hinton. Imagenet classification with deep convolutional neural networks. In F. Pereira, C. J. C. Burges, L. Bottou, and K. Q. Weinberger, editors, Advances in Neural Information Processing Systems 25, pages 1097–1105. Curran Associates, Inc., 2012.
[2] H. Wang, B. Gao, J. Bian, F. Tian, and T. Liu. Solving verbal comprehension questions in IQ test by knowledge-powered word embedding. CoRR, abs/1505.07909, 2015.
[3] J. Johnson, B. Hariharan, L. van der Maaten, L. Fei-Fei, C. L. Zitnick, and R. B. Girshick. CLEVR: A diagnostic dataset for compositional language and elementary visual reasoning. CoRR, abs/1612.06890, 2016.
[4] Y. Lecun, L. Bottou, Y. Bengio, and P. Haffner. Gradient-based learning applied to document recognition. Proceedings of the IEEE, 86(11), 1998.
[5] B. Lake, R. Salakhutdinov, J. Gross, and J. Tenenbaum. One shot learning of simple visual concepts. Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the Cognitive Science Society, 33, 2011.
[6] Image of a leopard-print sofa. https://rocknrollnerd.github.io/ml/2015/05/27/leopard-sofa.html.

Abstract:  Economic theory consists of models designed to improve our understanding of economic phenomena. There have been numerous different kinds of data such as goods and services markets and labor markets observed and gathered in the past. The sequential nature of these data require us to account for the dynamic nature using special statistical skill and techniques. Time series analysis provide the appropriate methods necessary in order to analyze sequential data.
It may be problematic to picture the essential, underlying trend of the data if the time series has a lot of noise. To distinguish the signal and the noise from each other, various linear and nonlinear smoothers must be applied.

This paper collected a century’s worth of the data and used a distribution to map out the overall trend of the goods and services markets and labor markets. The data was plotted in a spreadsheet, and multiple fitting models were tested out to see which one fit the data the best. The data was chosen due to its significance in the evaluation of stocks’ values, and the economic theories and models were used due to its ability to incorporate rapidly fluctuating data into statistical analysis. Both micro and macroeconomics were explained in terms of theories and models.

Keywords: Economic theories and models, Goods and services markets, Labor markets, Micro and macroeconomics 

Abstract: Contamination in water poses a serious and mostly undetected threat. It is necessary for people to have an economical option to test the water they drink in their own homes. The goal of this research is to develop an economical device to detect contaminants like Lead, Fluoride etc that exceed EPA guidelines. At home usable devices to detect these levels are not available in the market.

Molecular bonds absorb energy and vibrate when exposed to infrared light. The vibrating bonds scatter light transmitted through them and cause frequency shift depending on the frequency of the transmitted light. The amount of scattering is unique to each kind of molecule and also varies with the concentration of the molecules.

A relationship between the frequency shift, the frequency of the transmitted light and concentration of Lead and Fluoride is established. Spot tests on filter paper were performed and a device was created that can capture the frequency shift by varying the frequency of transmitted light. The device is paired with an iPhone application using Bluetooth to calculate the either lead or fluoride content from prior calibration. This device successfully provided fairly accurate measurements for each sample, providing an affordable method to test the water supply at homes.

Keywords: Contamination in water, Economical device to detect contaminants. Lead/Fluori,  EPA

References

1. B&WTek, n.d. Theory of Raman Scattering. [Online] Available at: http://bwtek.com/raman-theory-of-raman-scattering/
2. Cafasso, J., 2016. "Lead Poisoning." Healthline. Healthline Media. [Online]
3. Cyrankiewicz, M., 2007. Study of SERS efficiency of metallic colloidal Systems. Journal of Physics: conference series.
4. Hach, 2017. Pocket Colorimeter™ II, Lead Test (LeadTrak®). [Online] http://www.hach.com/pocket-colorimeter-ii-lead-test-leadtrak/product?id=7640445228
5. Holmen, A., 2015. Everything You Need to Know About Colour Sensors. [Online] Available at: http://www.instructables.com/id/Everything-you-need-to-know-about-colour-sensors/

Abstract: IThis research analyzes how numbers of brothers and sisters as well as the birth order affects his/her junior high school test score, and analyzes through what channels these variables function, using cross-sectional data from China where most families have up to 2 children. The two endougenous variables --- number of brothers and number of sisters --- are instrumented by the first child's gender and its interaction with dummy variables representing different applicable birth control policies. OLS regressions yield an insignificant negative relation between the test score and the number of brothers and sisters. But the 2SLS regressions find large positive impacts of numbers of brothers and sisters. The coefficients of number of brothers and sisters are similar indicating that gender of siblings does not affect test scores. Birth order has negative impacts on test scores and offsets almost all of the positive impact of siblings on the last born child, which means the positive effect of siblings benefits the older instead of the younger children. In addition, the mechanism study shows the numbers of brothers and sisters improve older children's test scores by increasing study time, reducing internet/video game time, and leading to family's requirement on them for outstanding academic performance and higher education degree attainment.​

Keywords: OLS regressions, 2SLS regressions.  Birth order, Impacts on test scores 

Abstract: In this paper, luminol solution was used to measure the stress level and light intensity of plants. The purpose of this experiment was to determine if there was a direct correlation between the amount of reactive oxygen species present in Phaseolus vulgaris seedlings and the amount of chemiluminescence they emit. The plants that were soaked in hydrogen peroxide, had a light reaction that lasted the longest. Whereas, the plants that were soaked in water had a light reaction whose duration was the shortest. It was determined that the higher the amount of reactive oxygen species in an organism, the more chemiluminescence it emits. This demonstrated that a chemiluminescence assay can be used to determine the levels of reactive oxygen species produced by an organism. High levels of reactive oxygen species may be threatening to an organism if the levels are not monitored.  .

Keywords: Stress, Oxidizing, Reduction, Luminol, ROS, Chemiluminescence

Introduction: The human body uses electrons during the electron transport chain which releases energy in the form of ATP.   These electrons are derived from molecules such as fats, proteins, and carbohydrates and are transferred around the cells by molecules such as the coenzymes NADH and NADPH. The body requires a place  to store the used electrons that drive energy requiring processes. When the electrons have given up their energy, they are combined with oxygen to form water. Since the electrons are given away to the oxygen molecules, it is said that the oxygen becomes “reduced”, which forms water (H2O), a completely harmless substance, in the process. In its normal state, oxygen has two unpaired electrons in separate orbitals of its outer shell. This indicates that two electrons are required for each water atom. When one of the electrons is lost or only one electron is given to each oxygen molecule, a free radical is created. These are known as reactive oxygen species.

Plants and other living organisms constantly produce reactive oxygen species in their mitochondria, chloroplasts, and other organelles because of their metabolic processes such as photosynthesis and respiration. These reactive oxygen species function as signaling molecules, which transmit information between cells. The most concerning radicals are those that are derived from oxygen. Overproduction of these oxygen radicals may cause a threat to the organism. When reactive oxygen species production exceeds the capacity for antioxidation, it can lead to cell damage and/ or cell death caused by toxicity. For instance, when cells are exposed to abnormal environments, they may generate dangerous amounts of damaging reactive oxygen species (Bowen, Free Radicals and Reactive Oxygen, colostate.edu). The body normally regulates the oxygen radicals, but if this system malfunctions having oxygen radicals in abundance may harm the cells around them. Many drugs that are used to cure infections and diseases today have oxidizing effects on cells which may lead to the production of oxygen radicals.

The materials that were used in this experiment were eighteen Phaseolus vulgaris seeds, distilled water, a vitamin E solution(which acted as the reducing agent) and a hydrogen peroxide solution (which acted as the oxidizing solution). Using reducing and oxidizing solutions caused the production of reactive oxygen species to either slow down, or speed up. Pieces of plastic were used to crush the plants. Luminol solution and a stopwatch were used to measure the light intensity resulting from the chemiluminescence reaction.

References

1. Agarwal, Ashok, Shyam Sr Allamaneni, and Tamer M. Said. "Chemiluminescence Technique for Measuring Reactive Oxygen Species." Reproductive BioMedicine Online 9.4 (2004): 466-68. Web. 7 June 2015.
2. Brash, A. R. "Lipoxygenases: Occurrence, Functions, Catalysis, and Acquisition of Substrate." Journal of Biological Chemistry 274.34 (1999): 23679-3682. Web. 7 June 2015.
3. Colli and Fachinni, “Light Emmisions by Germinating Plants”; Colli, Fachinni, Guidotti, Lonati, Orseneigo, and Sommaria, “Further Measurements on the Bioluminescence of the Seedlings.”. II Nuovo Simento (1954);12: 150- 153.
4. Lida T, Kawane M, Ashikaga K, Yumiko Y, Okubo K, Chemiluminescence of adzuki bean and soybean seedlings.  Luminescence 2000; 15: 9-13.
5. Marchlewicz, Mariola, Teresa Michalska, and Barbara Wiszniewska. "Detection of Lead-induced Oxidative Stress in the Rat Epididymis by Chemiluminescence." Chemosphere 57.10 (2004): 1553-562. Gale Virtual Reference Library [Gale]. Web. 17 May 2015.
6. Marnett, Oxy Radicals, lipid peroxidation, and DNA damage.  Toxicology.  2002; 181: 219-222.

    

Abstract : This study measured psychological and physiological signals, such as brain waves and blood pressures, of a group of students before and after they inhaled the essence of Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), containing terpenoid, the main ingredient of forest bath, which recently has been drawing attention due to its reported effectiveness. In addition to that, psychological tests, such as olfactory sensibility evaluation, as well as short-term memory, concentration, stress, and arousal tests, were likewise conducted in this study.

In summary, when the subjects inhaled the essence of cypress oil, their stresses were reduced and their memory and concentration improved under even working condition as well as under a stable condition. The fragrance, however, more effectively reduced the stress of the female subjects than that of the male subjects.

key words: Chamaecyparis obtusa, concentration, EEG, hinoki cypress, inhalation, , memory, phytoncide, stress

Introduction: The mental pressures and stresses of students brought about by academic demands made them weaken their memory and concentration, thereby depressing their learning faculties. As such, urgent measures must be taken to reduce the mental pressures and stresses of students. Fragrances transmitted to the hippocampus body and the hypophysis in the limbic system in the cerebrum influence the person's emotions, memory, and learning ability.

Thus, this study measured physiological signals, such as brain waves and blood pressures, of a group of students before and after they inhaled the essence of Hinoki Cypress (Chamaecyparis obtusa), containing terpenoid, the main ingredient of forest bath, which recently has been drawing attention due to its reported effectiveness. In addition to that, psychological tests, such as olfactory sensibility evaluation, as well as short-term memory, concentration, stress, and arousal tests, were likewise conducted in this study.

For the male subjects, the delta wave was reduced in the T5 and T3 zone, the beta wave was reduced, and the theta wave was increased in the TT2 zone after the inhalation of the fragrance. When the Corsi block tapping task (CBT) was carried out during the inhalation of the fragrance, the alpha wave was significantly increased in the TCP1, CP1, and PO1 zones, and the beta wave was significantly reduced in almost all zones. The psychophysiology was then stabilized.

Moreover, with the reduction of stress and systolic pressure, the increase of short-term memory, and the significant reduction of the error rate, the male subjects' sympathetic nervous systems were stabilized and their memory and concentration were improved by the fragrance's induction of emotions. For the female subjects, the alpha wave was increased in the P3 zone after the inhalation of the  fragrance.

However, the alpha wave was significantly increased in the T3 and PO1 zones when the CBT was conducted during the inhalation of the fragrance whereas the beta wave was significantly reduced in the FP2, F4, T3, CZ, C4, TCP2, T5, and O1 zones. Furthermore, along with the reduction of stress and of the systolic pressure, and the improvement of short-term memory, the psychophysiology and the sympathetic nervous system were stabilized.

In summary, when the subjects inhaled the essence of cypress oil, their stresses were reduced and their memory and concentration improved under even working condition as well as under a stable condition. The fragrance, however, more effectively reduced the stress of the female subjects than that of the male subjects.

References

1. Aggleton, J.P. 1993. The contribution of the amygdala to normal and abnormal emotional staes. Tresds Neurosci 16:328-335.
2. Yasutaka, K and S. Wataru, et al. 2001. Frontal midline theta rhythm is correlated with cardiac autonomic activities during the performance of an attention demanding meditation procedure. Cognitive Brain Research 1(11):281-287
3. Andreassi, J.H. 1995. Psychophysiology: Human behavior and physiolodical response. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.
4. Aoshima, H., S.J. Hossain, H. Koda. and Y. Kiso. 2002. Relaxational effects by whiskey aroma. Aroma Research 12(3):327-333.
5. Harmon-Jones, E. and J.B. Allen. 1997. Behavioral cativation sensitivity and resting frontal EEG asymmetry. J. Abnormal Psychology 106:159-163.
6. McCarley, R.W., M.E. Shenton, B.F. O'donnell, S.R. Faux, and P.G. Nestor. 1993. Auditory P300 abnormalities and left posterior superior temporal gyrus volume reduction in schixophrenia. Arch. Gen. psychiatry 50:19-197.

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Abstract: This research is an attempt to interpret how the early Buddhist teachings portray Nibbana and how this portrayal might be understood as a fitting conclusion to the Buddha’s quest to overcome suffering. In particular, we have tried to shed light on what is meant by bhava-nirodha (cessation of existence), a common description of Nibbana, and how such a dictum might avoid annihilationist interpretations without, at the same time, leaning towards an eternalist interpretation, the two extremes the Buddha seeks to avoid. In the second section, we attempt to see how the Buddha instructed his disciples to abandon the arising of the self-perspective. We have relied heavily on Bhante Katukurunde Nanananda’s analysis of the sutta-pitika as seen in a number of his books and most notably, in his Nibbana: The Mind Stilled series.

Introduction: Nanananda, formely a Pali lecturer, came under the guidance of Bhante Matara Sri Nanarama and was invited by the latter to deliver the sermons on Nibbana which would comprise the Nibbana:

The Mind Stilled series [1]. Nanananda’s interpretation is notable, first, in its disagreement with the commentarial tradition’s understanding, and second, in its insistence of Nibbana being the cessation of existence while nevertheless avoiding an annihilationist point of view. The sermons also rely heavily on the early texts. For the most part, these sermons were met with much resistance for the very same reasons that they are notable (the commentarial tradition is held in very high esteem in Sri Lanka, where these sermons were delivered).

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Abstract: This research focuses on the conceptual characteristics of monophony, homophony, and polyphony in western music to identify the role of improvisation as well as its impact and change in Jazz piano. The main purpose is to set up the texture such as monophony, homophony, and polyphony in Jazz piano technique in order to identify the areas of change in improvisation.

This study limited its subject to jazz piano technique. In order to set up the texture, the instrumental characteristics and an example of jazz piano improvisation are presented. We further identified and analyzed the evolving nature of jazz piano technique improvisation within the textures into monophony, homophony and polyphony. From these procedures, we obtained the following results.

First, the conceptual characteristics of monophony, homophony, and polyphony, when combined with piano improvisation, results in an close relationship and has various inherent functions in the domain. Second, the general overview on the domain of improvisation as a piano technique reveals that there was a texture change. Third, this texture change was understood to be the result of the disintegration of the ensemble, resulting in the tendency of performers to consider the relationship between the harmony and melody. Lastly, the study on piano technique is important for establishing various playing techniques and ideas in the field of improvisation.

Jazz music has the symbolic authority that comes with improvisation and not from the traditional and conventional compositions. Therefore, the value of improvisation research is high. Although research on improvisation is progressing and developing, a multidimensional study and new approaches are needed. This study takes a new perspective of texture in order to identify the area of change in improvisation, and this information can be utilized as evidence and educational direction for new interpretation and approach.  

Abstract: Gender, labor and race historians have made a strong case for space as a social construct. A Foucauldian framework of analysis of space has allowed historians to reveal histories of the subaltern, which are otherwise often ignored. Interactions in space are social relations, as individuals relate to the space around them in response to other individuals and societal norms. Even so, the materiality of space cannot be understated, as the built space impacts how those interactions are produced and unfold. The consideration of the materiality of space as an additional layer to social space, make spatial history a more effective and illuminating methodological approach.   

Introduction: lthough historian Leif Jerram has criticized historians for overusing imagined space, stating that space is the material physicality of location, gender, labour, and race, historians have used space as a social construct to successfully unearth otherwise hidden transcripts of power relations and resistance [1]. Rather than looking at ‘imagined space’ as in competition with ‘built space,’ a layered definition of space must be adopted. As Sewell has argued, space is imagined, experienced, and built [2]. Discursive imagined space can be defined as the ways in which individuals understand their environment, while experienced space is the ‘material interactions between people and their environment.’[2] Finally, the built environment can be defined as the physical structures that occupy spaces [2]. These overlapping layers must be examined through a social constructivist Foucauldian lens, as space is fundamentally interlinked with the production and reproduction of ‘economic, political, and cultural power,’ and the reaction of those in power and of the subaltern to that power [3].  This relationship of space with power means that ‘spatial relations are social relations’ [4]. The extent to which spatial theory has effectively been applied by labour, gender, and race relations historians must be examined to establish its use in the discipline of history.

References
[1]    Jerram, Leif. “Space: A Useless Historical Category for Historical Analysis.” History and Theory 52 (2013) p. 400-419.
[2]     Sewell in R. Percy, ‘Picket Lines and Parades: Labour and Urban Space in Early Twentieth-Century London and Chicago’, Urban History, 41/4 (2013), p. 457.
[3]    Percy, Ruth. “Picket Lines and Parades: Labour and Urban Space in Early Twentieth-Century London and Chicago.” Urban History 41 (2014): 456-477.
[4]     Lefebvre, Henri. “Space: Social Product and Use Value.” In State, Space, World: Selected Essays, edited by N. Brenner and S. Elden, translated by J. W. Freiberg, 185-195. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2009.
[5]    Herod, Andrew. “From a Geography of Labor to a Labor Geography: Labor’s Spatial Fix and the Geography of Capitalism.” Antipode 29 (1997): 1-31.
[6]    Remus, Emily A. Remus, Tippling Ladies and the Making of Consumer Culture: Gender and Public Space in Fin-de-Siècle Chicago (2014).
[7]    R. Kelley, “‘We are not what we seem’: Rethinking black working-class opposition in the Jim Crow South” (1993) p. 99.
[8]    Kruse, Kevin M. “The Politics of Race and Public Space: Desegregation, Privatization, and the Tax Revolt in America.” Journal of Urban History 31 (2005): 610-633.
[9]    Butler, J. 'Bodies in Alliance and the Politics of the Street' http://eipcp.net/transversal/1011/butler/en.

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Abstract: This paper analyzes the conceptual value of the Buddhist teachings of no-self and mindfulness for contemporary activism. First it explores how the doctrine of no-self promotes extended empathy, self-awareness, self-love, and self-care. Second, it explores how the doctrine of mindfulness both resolves some of the organization-related tensions between no-self and activism and provides additional tools for effective activism, as mindfulness promotes embodied care and right action.

The main purpose of this paper was to propose a new philosophical approach to contemporary activism that would address its central problems on personal, interpersonal, and organizational levels.

Keywords: Buddhism, Zen, No-Self, Mindfulness, Activism

Introduction: It may seem counterintuitive to suggest that the Zen Buddhist doctrines of no-self and mindfulness might be effective tools for activism, considering that no-self completely undermines the Western conception of moral agency, and mindfulness promotes an awareness and acceptance of the present and detachment from desire for change. If activism is an organized effort to help others and ourselves in the face of injustice, can that really be achieved without a robust notion of the self and a powerful desire for change?

This paper argues that together, mindfulness and no-self can create a basis for better activism by addressing its central problems on personal, interpersonal, and organizational levels. First, it will be argued that the doctrine of no-self, far from limiting agency, promotes extended empathy, self-awareness, self-love, and self-care. Second, it will be argued that the doctrine of mindfulness both resolves some of the organization-related tensions between no-self and activism and provides additional tools for effective activism, as mindfulness promotes embodied care and right action. In this way, the incorporation of no-self and mindfulness into activism creates a comprehensive new approach to activism that is equipped to combat its main issues.

References

[1]    Butnor, Ashby. 2014. “Dogen, Feminism, and the Embodied Practice of Care”. In Asian and Feminist Philosophies in Dialogue, ed. Jennifer McWeeny and Ashby Butnor.
[2]    Kalmanson, Leah. “Buddhism and bell hooks: Liberatory Aesthetics and the Radical Subjectivity of No-Self.” Hypatia Vol. 27, No. 4 (2012): 810–827.
[3]    Tanahashi Kazuaki, trans. 1985. Moon in a dewdrop: Writings of Zen master Dōgen. New York: North Point.
[4]    Uebel, Michael, and Shorkey, Clayton. 2014. "Mindfulness and Engaged Buddhism: Implications for a Generalist Macro Social Work Practice". In Mindfulness and Acceptance in Social Work: Evidence-Based Interventions and Emerging Applications, ed. Matthew S. Boone: 215-234. Oakland, CA: New Harbinger Publications.
[5]    Warren, Henry Clarke. 2005. “There is no ego”. Buddhism in Translations: 129-146. New York: Cosimo Classics.

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Abstract: To estimate the exogenous effect of economic growth on individuals' smoking behavior, a Chinese panel data was used. By instrumenting the endogenous provincial GDP growth rate with a dummy variable indicating whether the province has a new leader, my results show that a higher economic growth rate reduces overall cigarette consumption, but does not reduce the overall smoking participation rate. In addition, a higher economic growth rate reduces cigarette consumption of male but not female. It reduces cigarette consumption of the lower-middle and senior age males, but does not significantly change consumption among the young males. Of these three groups, only the middle-aged males show a decrease in their smoking participation rate with higher economic growth. Overall, the Chinese data show that economic expansion reduces men's smoking amount. But the overall adjustment is intensive, rather than extensive.​

Keywords: Empirical Economics, Chinese panel data, Smoking behavior, GDP growth rate with a dummy variable

Abstract: The political sensitivity of the region in turn propagates the popularity of political interpretations for literature from Xinjiang. When reading Uyghur poetry from the likes of Tahir Hamut, Perhat Tursun, or Ghojimuhemmed Muhemmed, it is difficult to divorce ones thinking from the political reality that defines everything in Xinjiang. Literature gives a lens to culture and reality, and concerning Uyghur Misty/ Gungga/ Menglong poets there are interesting viewpoints on the political value and implications of their works. This paper will seek to outline how the political intentions of these gungga poets are interpreted. An ethno-religious reading of these authors will be called into question while an argument for a political community consciousness of issues will be put forth. This will be mostly done through an analysis of various gungga works in this paper.

Introduction: The political instability of the Uyghur situation within the People’s Republic of China is something that is front page news across the globe. The resource rich and vast territory of the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region is one that is crucial not only for the territorial integrity of the Chinese nation but a keystone for Chinese aspirations in the international field–especially with the New Silk Road initiative put forth by Xi Jinping in recent years. The wealth of this region is unevenly shared with dissatisfaction high among the Uyghurs of the region. The nationwide issues that spring forth from economic growth, modernization, and the control of the Communist Party are intensified in Xinjiang because of the volatile situation present. This results in the unwavering iron grip that the Chinese Communist Party exerts on the native populations of the province [1]. In the crusade to rid the region of “dangerous” elements, the Chinese Communist Party has recently sought to rid the province of “dangerous” people–the destruction of a people seems to be simply a means to an end for the pacification of Xinjiang under the Chinese Communist Party.

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Abstract: Racism is one of the important social problems in the United States that must be addressed. Racism and its consequences are well highlighted in popular culture, including movies and shows, to further emphasize the effect of racism. This paper will discuss institutional racism and how it is demonstrated in the context of the judicial and prison system through an analysis of a show called Orange is the New Black. From analyzing one of the characters, Poussey, and her death, this research will discuss different ways racism could be manifested and the different forms of racism in an institution. This paper will also discuss the extreme outcome of racism in our society – death.  

Introduction: Racism, quite literally, kills. In the United States, racism is ubiquitous and stems from the legacy of race-based slavery. One area where racism is particularly salient is in the criminal justice system. Despite the constitutional promise of equal protection under the law, racist policies such as the War on Drugs have led to laws that disproportionately affect Black people such as severe penalties for drug use and possession, mandatory minimums, life sentences, and three strikes laws [1]. These policies are examples of institutional racism. Institutional racism is racism embedded in political and social structures, resulting in disadvantages for minorities based on socially assigned race [2]. On the other hand, personally mediated racism describes the prejudice and discrimination that occurs between people of different races [2]. Importantly, personally mediated racism upholds the social norms that prevent institutional racism from being eradicated. In the Netflix series Orange is the New Black, the death of a Poussey Washington, a young Black female inmate, demonstrates how personally mediated and institutional racism work together to allow her death to happen while simultaneously protecting the white correctional officers from being held responsible.

References

1. Jerram, Leif. “Space: A Useless Historical Category for Historical Analysis.” History and Theory 52 (2013) p. 400-419.
2.  Sewell in R. Percy, ‘Picket Lines and Parades: Labour and Urban Space in Early Twentieth-Century London and Chicago’, Urban History, 41/4 (2013), p. 457.
3. Percy, Ruth. “Picket Lines and Parades: Labour and Urban Space in Early Twentieth-Century London and Chicago.” Urban History 41 (2014): 456-477.
4.  Lefebvre, Henri. “Space: Social Product and Use Value.” In State, Space, World: Selected Essays, edited by N. Brenner and S. Elden, translated by J. W. Freiberg, 185-195. Minneapolis: University of Minnesota Press, 2009.
5. Herod, Andrew. “From a Geography of Labor to a Labor Geography: Labor’s Spatial Fix and the Geography of Capitalism.” Antipode 29 (1997): 1-31.
6. Remus, Emily A. Remus, Tippling Ladies and the Making of Consumer Culture: Gender and Public Space in Fin-de-Siècle Chicago (2014).
7. R. Kelley, “‘We are not what we seem’: Rethinking black working-class opposition in the Jim Crow South” (1993) p. 99.
8. Kruse, Kevin M. “The Politics of Race and Public Space: Desegregation, Privatization, and the Tax Revolt in America.” Journal of Urban History 31 (2005): 610-633.
9. Butler, J. 'Bodies in Alliance and the Politics of the Street' http://eipcp.net/transversal/1011/butler/en.

    

Abstract: Ring theory is most widely known as a branch of pure mathematics under the field of abstract algebra. Some of the uses of Ring Theory in the modern world involve cryptography, computer vision, and image segmentation. As of now, finite cyclic rings have been incorporated into performing image segmentations for the Mean Shift Iterative Algorithm. This paper analyzes the Mean Shift Iterative Algorithm and devises an improved algorithm and stopping criterion using finite cyclic rings and matrices in Ring Theory that perform high-quality image segmentations for images that can be used in computer vision and possibly the segmentation(s) of grayscale (d = 1), colored (d = 3), and multispectral (d ≥ 3) images.

Keywords: ring theory, Mean Shift, and Iterative Algorithm

Introduction: Based on the concepts of Group Theory and the field of abstract algebra, Ring Theory is a concept where a “ring” is a set of elements with two binary factors: addition and multiplication. To subtract within a ring would essentially mean to add an element to its additive inverse. Likewise, to divide would mean to multiply an element by its multiplicative inverse. A ring also satisfies the following axioms:                                    

• The ring, under addition, is an abelian group.
• The multiplication operation is associative, and therefore closed.
• All operations satisfy the distributive law of multiplication over addition.                                       

An example of a ring includes the set of real polynomials. Within this ring, you can freely add, subtract, and multiply one polynomial, essentially an element within the ring, to get another polynomial - another element. The additive identity is presented as zero. Since zero is a constant polynomial, it is also considered to be an element in the ring of real polynomials. The multiplicative identity is presented as one. Since multiplication is always commutative among all polynomials, the ring of real polynomials is deduced as a commutative ring with an identity element.

Some rings are finite, meaning that the amount and type of elements may be limited. Some rings may not have the additive identity zero or the multiplicative identity one. Upon adding, subtracting, or multiplying two even numbers, the result is always another even number. The value of 1 does not fall within the set of even numbers. Therefore, the set of even integers does not have the multiplicative identity of one - and is only a commutative ring. Image segmentation is the practice of breaking a picture up into pixels and assigning each pixel a value based on a given class. The purpose of image segmentation is to partition images into more meaningful, easy to examine, sections. The segmentation of images is primarily applied to image editing/compression, as well as the recognition of certain objects or another relevant aspects of a taken image. The Mean Shift Iterative Algorithm uses finite cyclic rings to detect specific features of an image (i.e. eyes of a face, abnormalities in an MRI scan of a heart, tumors in a brain) and the probability of there being a specific part of an image. A finite cyclic ring is any ring where the elements derive from a single element (hence, they are limited in regards to what elements may be present within the ring and, when brought back within range of said ring, the elements repeat in a cycle).

A primary factor in determining the stopping criteria for a segmentation algorithm is the entropy, or number of consistent microscopic configurations, of an image. The number of consistent microscopic configurations is significant to constructing a stopping criterion for an algorithm for image segmentation because while images may interchangeably be weakly and strongly equivalents, images that are strongly equivalent are not weakly equivalent. Images are defined in a finite cyclic ring when the Mean Shift Iterative Algorithm is used for image segmentation. However, an established stopping criterion for the Mean Shift Iterative Algorithm has not been formulated thus far; instead, the entropy formula has been in place as the stopping criterion for Mean Shift for stability purposes.

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Abstract: The convergence of history and popular media is apparent in many forms. Music can protest ideologies and television can reflect social feelings of a generation. In the same way, movies have the power to propagate stereotypes and continue them on for generations to come. When the topic of Italian-Americans comes up, what often comes to mind is food, family and the darker, but just a prominent side of organized crime affiliation. Every notable Italian-American themed film seems to include this key formula. The formula itself can be examined in how it has evolved on screen, and to what extent that this representation matters in the public perception of a group of people. By exploring the history of Italian-Americans and the history of Italian-American representation together, insights can be drawn from the various levels of dynamic representation and the political ramifications of media. Part I of the paper will discuss some of the history of the film industry and the Italian-American representation.

Introduction: Film has the opportunity to reach various audiences and affect their perception of groups of people. In “Italian-Americans in Film: From Immigrants to Icons,” Carlos Cortés discusses the unintentional educational aspect that popular film has on the public’s opinion on ethnic groups. The text draws mostly on examples in film from the period that he is discussing at the time. He touches on the revisiting of The Godfather saga, with the new version including a note about how these films are “not representative of any ethnic group.” [1] This is discussed with a certain irony, as Cortés argues that it is clearly supposed to represent Italian-Americans. The comparison and connection of media and ethnic history is an interesting comparison because it shows the reciprocal relationship between media and historical events. Cortez explores media representation more closely raising questions on understudied or mis-studied parts of history because of their representation.

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