NESEP Archive

Abstract:

This research focuses on the role of uncertainty in explaining gender disparities in entrepreneurship by testing a behavioral decision model. It examines how misperceptions and ambiguity affect men’s and women’s decisions on founding startups or maintaining established firms in developed and developing countries. It starts from the theoretical assumption that entrepreneurial decision-making follows cumulative prospect theory, the Ellsberg paradox, and loss aversion as in the Allais paradox. Data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor in 46 countries/territories over 2013 – 2019 was used for a panel data econometric analysis using fixed-effects and Generalized Least Squares (GLS) models. Findings indicate that there are clear gender differences in behavioral characteristics of entrepreneurs in the face of varying uncertainty levels according to three business development stages. During the startup stage, confidence in ability and confidence from knowing an entrepreneur is positively associated with entrepreneurial prevalence, whereas fearing the worst is negatively associated. Gender-bias “discount factors” progressively hinder women as the business develops, particularly in developing countries. During the established business stage, fearing the worst, confidence, and high reference points are positively associated, especially for women’s entrepreneurship. Due to a self-selection effect, once women can enter the scale-up stage, they are more likely than men to continue to the established business stage. Effective policies should consider the specific needs of women and the barriers that they face when setting up and sustaining businesses. 

Reference

[1] T. Adachi and T. Hisada, "Gender differences in entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship: an empirical analysis," Small Business Economics, vol. 48, no. 3, pp. 447-486, 2017. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/26154737.

[2] M. Arellano and B. Honore, “Panel data models: Some recent developments” in Handbook of Econometrics (J.J. Heckman and E. Lemur), 3229-3296, Elsevier, 2001.

[3] I. Chadwick and A. Dawson, "From imposter fears to authenticity: a typology of women entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, 2023. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00795-x. 

[4] B. Chung, P. Franses, and E. Pennings, "Conditions that make ventures thrive: from individual entrepreneur to innovation impact," Small Business Economics, 2023. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-023-00800-3. 

[5] C. Harris and M. Jenkins, "Gender differences in risk assessment: Why do women take fewer risks than men?" Judgment and Decision Making, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 48-63, 2006.

[6] S. Hügelschäfer and A. Achtziger, "On confident men and rational women: It’s all on your mind(set)," Journal of Economic Psychology, vol. 41, pp. 31-44, 2014. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joep.2013.04.001.

[7] D. Hechavarría and A. Ingram, "Entrepreneurial ecosystem conditions and gendered national-level entrepreneurial activity: A 14-year panel study of GEM," Small Business Economics, vol. 53, pp. 431-458, 2019. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-018-9994-7.

[8] A. Invernizzi, A. Menozzi, D. Passarani, D. Patton, and G. Viglia, "Entrepreneurial overconfidence and its impact upon performance," International Small Business Journal, vol. 35, no. 6, pp. 709-728, 2017. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0266242616678445.

[9] F. Knight, Risk, Uncertainty and Profit. Boston, NY: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1921.

[10] G. Liu and W. Spanjers, "Modeling uncertainties and gender differences in entrepreneurial decision making," Working Paper series 23-15, Rimini Centre for Economic Analysis, 2023. Retrieved from https://ideas.repec.org/p/rim/rimwps/23-15.html.

[11] S. Prasad, R. Kiran, and R. Sharma, "Behavioural, socio-economic factors, financial literacy and investment decisions: Are men more rational and women more emotional?" The Indian Economic Journal, vol. 69, no. 1, 2021. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0019466220987023.

[12] E. Sent and I. van Staveren, "A feminist review of behavioral economic research on gender differences," Feminist Economics, vol. 25, no. 2, pp. 1-35, 2019. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1080/13545701.2018.1532595.

[13] A. Tversky and D. Kahneman, “Advances in prospect theory: Cumulative representation of uncertainty,” Journal of Risk and Uncertainty, vol. 5, no. 5, pp. 297-323, 1992.

[14] P. Wakker, Prospect Theory for Risk and Ambiguity. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press, 2010.

[15] M, Woolcock and D. Narayan, “Social capital: implications for development theory, research, and policy,” World Bank Research Observer, vol. 15, no. 2, pp. 225-249, 2000.

[16] World Bank, "The World by Income and Region," 2022. Retrieved from https://datatopics.worldbank.org/world-development-indicators/the-world-by-income-and-region.html.

Abstract

The Indigenous peoples of Taiwan maintained their valuable cultural and ecological understanding before colonial and post-colonial authorities started their systematic efforts to exclude them through land theft and enforced cultural assimilation and economic limitations during the last hundred years. This research paper demonstrates that successful business expansion occurs through reliable cooperative systems, enhanced infrastructure, and robust intellectual property protection, as these factors help communities reach economic self-sufficiency through value-driven development. It focuses on the Indigenous peoples who launched their business operations after enduring for years colonial-era land confiscation and forced assimilation policies that marginalized them. 

By demonstrating through policy evaluation techniques and industry-specific case studies, the paper examines the Indigenous Peoples Basic Act (2005) together with funding from the Council of Indigenous Peoples (CIP) to understand their functions and effects. Thereby, it is possible to understand how state-backed initiatives promote Indigenous development and their resulting impact. The study focuses on three main sectors, which include cultural tourism at the Amis Harvest Festival, handicraft production that merges traditional indigenous methods with modern designs, and specialty farming that cultivates heritage crops such as millet. The business initiatives show promise but encounter multiple obstacles because they operate from remote locations and face competition from fake mass-produced goods, insufficient intellectual property protection, and youth migration to other regions.

The business initiatives by the Indigenous peoples show promise but have encountered multiple obstacles. This includes remote locations, fake mass-produced products, insufficient protection of intellectual property, and youth migration to other areas. The presented paper shows sustainable development requires Indigenous peoples to establish their governance systems and regain economic control while safeguarding their cultural heritage for upcoming generations.

Reference

1. Cheng, T. M., Wu, H. C., & Chen, Y. C. (2023). A cross-level analysis of Indigenous tourism of Tsou in Taiwan. Tourism Studies, 33(2), 145–166.

2. Choi, C. (2024, October 24). Empowering Indigenous farmers in Taiwan: How the Tribal E-Shop is reviving local knowledge and ecology. Organic Without Boundaries.

3. Creative Expo Taiwan. (2025). Creative Expo Taiwan. Taiwan Design Research Institute / Ministry of Culture.

4. FFTC. (2024). Promoting local agritourism: A case study of Indigenous Taiwan. Food and Fertilizer Technology Center Journal, 38(1), 55–70.

5. Hsieh, S. C. (2015). Ethnic identity and social mobility among Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. Asian Ethnicity, 16(3), 351–370.

6. IWGIA. (2022). The Indigenous World 2022: Taiwan. Copenhagen: International Work Group for Indigenous Affairs.

7. Life of Taiwan. (2023). Private tours with an Indigenous twist. Retrieved from https://lifeoftaiwan.com

8. Satoyama Initiative. (2022). Sustainable development of Taiwanese Indigenous tribes in accordance with Seediq tradition. Retrieved from https://satoyama-initiative.org

9. Simon, S. (2006). Paths to autonomy: Aboriginality and the nation in Taiwan. Social Analysis, 50(3), 1–27.

10. Skilling Indigenous Futures. (2024). Crafts and resilience among Taiwan’s Indigenous peoples. Journal of Indigenous Studies, 12(1), 77–94.

11. WITS. (2024). World Indigenous Tourism Summit: Proceedings from Taipei. WITS Journal, 7(1), 1–20.

12. Yeh, J. H., Chiang, Y. C., & Lin, P. Y. (2021). Taiwanese Indigenous cultural heritage and revitalization: Policies and practices. Heritage, 4(2), 567–585.

Abstract:

Assessment of both water quality and quantity pose a great challenge to those studying the effects of anthropogenic activities on bodies of water. Eutrophication created by the increased concentration of nutrients including nitrates and phosphates has been known to contribute to the development of both toxic algal blooms, which serve as limiting factors in the ecosystems of the water, rendering it useless for consumption.1,2 Another common development is the buildup of suspended sediments (SS/TSS), contributing to the anoxic conditions characterizing environmental hypoxia.3 Because current methods for the assessment of the presence of such issues rely upon tedious and costly methods, a timely and cost-efficient method is desirable for application to the practice.4  This research relies upon analysis of the inherent optical properties of chlorophyll and sedimentation present within the bodies of water in question, achieved through analysis of the reflectance values of the red and blue bands from Landsat satellite images of five bodies of water. 5 The analysis, performed using Geographic Information System ArcMap, allows for determination of the values that attest to changes in surface area, turbidity, and eutrophication. The trends in the data hold consistency with the natural occurrences surrounding the bodies of water associated with the three parameters outlined above, supporting usage of remote sensing for qualitative and quantitative analysis of water.

Reference

 [1] Smith, V., Tilman, G., & Nekola, J. (1999). Eutrophication:Impacts of excess nutrient inputs on freshwater, marine,andterrestrial ecosystems. ​Environmental Pollution,100(​ 1-3), 179-196. doi:10.1016/s0269-7491(99)00091-3 12                                        

[2] Chislock, M.F.; Doster, E.; Zitomer, R.A.; Wilson, A.E. (2013)."Eutrophication: Causes, Consequences, and Controls in Aquatic Ecosystems". Nature Education Knowledge. 4 (4): 10. Retrieved 10 March 2018.

[3] Anderson, D. M., Glibert, P. M., & Burkholder, J. M. (2002). “Harmful algal blooms and eutrophication: Nutrient sources, composition, and consequences.” Estuaries,25(4), 704-726. doi:10.1007/bf02804901

[4] Bush et al. (2017). "Oxic-anoxic regime shifts mediated by feedbacks between biogeochemical processes and microbial community dynamics". nature. Bibcode:2017NatCo...8..789B. doi:10.1038/s41467-017-00912-x.

[5] Michaud, Joy P. (1994). "Measuring Total Suspended Solids and Turbidity in lakes and streams." Archived 2010-07-30 at the Wayback Machine. A Citizen's Guide to Understanding and Monitoring Lakes and Streams. State of Washington, Department of Ecology.  

[6] Alesheikh, A. A., et al. “Coastline Change Detection Using Remote Sensing”. International Journal of Environmental Science & Technology, vol. 4, no. 1, Jan. 2007, pp. 61–66., doi:10.1007/bf03325962.

[7]Babin, M., Cullen, J., Roesler, C., Donaghay, P., Doucette, G., Kahru, M., . . . Sosik, H. (2005). New Approaches and Technologies for Observing Harmful Algal Blooms. Oceanography, 18(2), 210-227. doi:10.5670/oceanog.2005.55 [8] Stony, J., & Scaramuzza, P. (n.d.). LANDSAT 7 SCAN LINE CORRECTOR-OFF GAP-FILLED PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT.

Abstract

In this project, I delineate a method for addressing the scarcity of energy and cutting-edge microchip production supplies that were cut off from the US. Experts have been indicating peak oil has passed, and several recent global crises, including the war in Ukraine and the COVID-19 pandemic, have exacerbated an era of energy poverty, which in turn produced global increases in energy and food prices by 50% and 20%, respectively. According to experts, there can be further similar changes because of the war in the Middle East. The White House has demonstrated commitment to bringing novel nanotechnology, specifically semiconductor chips, which are ingrained in the automotive, aerospace, and technology industries. As they are currently only produced in Taiwan, the economic safety and diminishing effects of the current economic downturn depend on bringing production home through the novel technology I outline. State-of-the-art production of microchips only exists overseas, which caused steep price increases by 50% of cars to the point, for example, of being completely absent in New York State. I demonstrate a novel methodology in nanocatalyst and nanotechnology real-time characterization using a novel mathematical framework for machine learning algorithms. Prior approaches failed to satisfy the requirements of nanoscale, real-time analysis needed for lights-out and smart manufacturing, as prioritized by the government. Previous research in machine learning applications to materials science did not have adapt-on-the-fly models to exploit the hidden patterns of the particular material dataset, which are necessary to operate novel flexible manufacturing smart technology moves in the nanoscale. Past models failed to capture the crucial features of nanomaterial structure and properties, which my multi-task algorithm for variational auto-encoding (MAVEN) does. MAVEN creates a disentangled, interpretable latent space through my novel mathematical framework by performing multi-objective optimization for tasks tailored to the data, including novel loss functions and evaluation metrics. I demonstrate the power of this method through studying palladium nanoparticles, which are potent materials used prominently in industrial catalysis, batteries, and fuel cells and essential to greener, optimized systems of energy. New smart manufacturing, including cutting-edge microchips, requires palladium catalysts. Results demonstrate algorithmic independence and real-time structural analysis, which are essential for efficient production. Such information and processing were not previously available for nanocatalyst design and analysis. Furthermore, MAVEN’s interpretable capabilities create insight into the nature of fine structure spectra relationships, which are used as feedback in nanomanufacturing. MAVEN demonstrates efficacy in promoting a greener, more efficient energy model, which will bring advanced scientific and computational production back to the US.

Reference

[1] Olesya S. Ablyasova, Meiyuan Guo, Vicente Zamudio-Bayer, Markus Kubin, Tim Gitzinger, Mayara da Silva San tos, Max Flach, Martin Timm, Marcus Lundberg, J. Tobias Lau, and et al. Electronic structure of the complete series of gas-phase manganese acetylacetonates by x-ray absorption spectroscopy. The Journal of Physical Chemistry A, 127(34):7121–7131, 2023. 

[2] M. Ahmadi, J. Timoshenko, F. Behafarid, and B. Roldan Cuenya. Tuning the structure of pt nanoparticles through support interactions: An in situ polarized x-ray absorption study coupled with atomistic simulations. The Journal of Physical Chemistry C, 123(16):10666–10676, 2019. 

[3] Carlos Alejandre, Ortzi Akizu-Gardoki, and Erlantz Lizundia. Optimum operational lifespan of household appliances considering manufacturing and use stage improvements via life cycle assessment. Sustainable Production and Consumption, 32:52–65, Jul 2022. 

[4] Md. Eaqub Ali, Md. Motiar Rahman, Shaheen M. Sarkar, and Sharifah Bee Hamid. Heterogeneous metal catalysts for oxidation reactions. Journal of Nanomaterials, 2014:1–23, Dec 2014. 

[5] Morris Argyle and Calvin Bartholomew. Heterogeneous catalyst deactivation and regeneration: A review. Catalysts, 5(1):145–269, Feb 2015. 

[6] John N. Armor. A history of industrial catalysis. Catalysis Today, 163(1):3–9, Apr 2011. 

[7] Michael L. Baker, Michael W. Mara, James J. Yan, Keith O. Hodgson, Britt Hedman, and Edward I. Solomon. K- and l-edge x-ray absorption spectroscopy (xas) and resonant inelastic x-ray scattering (rixs) determination of differential orbital covalency (doc) of transition metal sites. Coordination Chemistry Reviews, 345:182–208, 2017. 

[8] Jon Bateman. U.s.-china technological “decoupling”: A strategy and policy framework ..., 2022. 

[9] Tarek Ben Hassen and Hamid El Bilali. Impacts of the russia-ukraine war on global food security: Towards more sustainable and resilient food systems? Foods, 11(15):2301, 2022. 

[10] Matthew R. Carbone, Shinjae Yoo, Mehmet Topsakal, and Deyu Lu. Classification of local chemical environments from x-ray absorption spectra using supervised machine learning. Phys. Rev. Mater., 3:033604, Mar 2019. 

[11] Danilo S. Carvalho, Giangiacomo Mercatali, Yingji Zhang, and Andre Freitas. Learning disentangled representa tions for natural language definitions, 2023. 

[12] Tian Qi Chen, Xuechen Li, Roger B. Grosse, and David Duvenaud. Isolating sources of disentanglement in variational autoencoders. CoRR, abs/1802.04942, 2018. 

[13] Raphaël Dang-Nhu. Evaluating disentanglement of structured representations. 2021. [14] Harry Dent and Gordon Long. Financial repression authority, Apr 2016. 

[15] Kien Do and Truyen Tran. Theory and evaluation metrics for learning disentangled representations. CoRR, abs/1908.09961, 2019. 

[16] Kien Do and Truyen Tran. Theory and evaluation metrics for learning disentangled representations. 02 2020. [17] Camila Domonoske. Why car prices are still so high - and why they are unlikely to fall anytime soon, Mar 2023. 

[18] Lin Gao, Jie Yang, Tong Wu, Yu-Jie Yuan, Hongbo Fu, Yu-Kun Lai, and Hao Zhang. SDM-NET: deep generative network for structured deformable mesh. CoRR, abs/1908.04520, 2019. 

[19] Unai Garciarena, Alexander Mendiburu, and Roberto Santana. Towards automatic construction of multi-network models for heterogeneous multi-task learning. ACM Trans. Knowl. Discov. Data, 15(2), mar 2021. 

[20] Juan García-Serna, Raúl Piñero-Hernanz, and Desirée Durán-Martín. Inspirational perspectives and principles on the use of catalysts to create sustainability. Catalysis Today, 387:237–243, Mar 2022. 

[21] Alejandro de la Garza. Gaza’s energy crisis could turn hospitals into “morgues”, Oct 2023. 

[22] Spyros Gidaris and Nikos Komodakis. Generating classification weights with GNN denoising autoencoders for few-shot learning. CoRR, abs/1905.01102, 2019. 

[23] Spyros Gidaris and Nikos Komodakis. Generating classification weights with GNN denoising autoencoders for few-shot learning. CoRR, abs/1905.01102, 2019.

Abstract:

Young people experience their most critical developmental phase during adolescence because their brains and mental health remain highly sensitive to stress, anxiety, and identity exploration. The growing number of smartphones has created new difficulties for young people because their excessive phone usage now stands as a major public health issue known as smartphone overdependence. The research investigates how adolescent psychological distress from depression, anxiety, and attention deficits creates a strong circular pattern with smartphone addiction behavior. The psychological theories of self-determination and escape theory show that people use smartphones as harmful coping tools to escape their negative emotions, which stem from academic stress and social problems, including FOMO. The digital addiction creates multiple severe negative effects that follow one another. The combination of cognitive deterioration, academic helplessness, blue light exposure, and psychological hyperarousal leads to severe sleep disturbances, which intensify the original psychological issues that the behavior was intended to treat. Research data from the past years demonstrates that screen time directly affects mental health in a direct proportion. The paper establishes that successful intervention requires a unified strategy that combines psychological interventions with educational system changes to teach digital skills and promote responsible phone use. The development of emotional strength requires programs that teach healthy offline activities and create supportive peer relationships in addition to digital restriction measures. A complete intervention plan which includes CBT and educational reforms will help break the ongoing pattern of digital addiction and worsening mental health problems. Smartphone usage functions as an unhealthy coping mechanism, which the Escape Theory, as proposed by Baumeister, helps explain.

Reference

1. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). Arlington, VA: American Psychiatric Publishing.

2. Baumeister, R. F. (1990). Suicide as escape from self. Psychological Review, 97(1), 90–113.

3. Billieux, J., Maurage, P., Lopez-Fernandez, O., Kuss, D. J., & Griffiths, M. D. (2015). Can disordered mobile phone use be considered a behavioral addiction? An update on current evidence and a comprehensive model for future research. Current Addiction Reports, 2(2), 156–162.

4. Choi, H., & Jung, H. (2023). The Impact of Smartphone Overdependence on Adolescent Attention Deficits: Serial Mediation Effects of Sleep Quality and Depression. Korean Journal of Child Welfare, 72(1), 75–99.

5. Elhai, J. D., Dvorak, R. D., Levine, J. C., & Hall, B. J. (2017). Problematic smartphone use: A conceptual overview and systematic review of relations with anxiety and depression psychopathology. Journal of Affective Disorders, 207, 251–259.

6. Gazzaley, A., & Rosen, L. D. (2016). The distracted mind: Ancient brains in a high-tech world. MIT Press.

7. Hysing, M., Pallesen, S., Stormark, K. M., Jakobsen, R., Lundervold, A. J., & Sivertsen, B. (2015). Sleep and use of electronic devices in adolescence: results from a large population-based study. BMJ Open, 5(1), e006748.

8. Kim, Y. (2025). The Mediating Effect of Academic Passion and Smartphone Overdependence on Depression and Academic Helplessness in High School Freshmen. *Learner-Centered Curriculum and Instruction Research, 25*(14), 675–685.

9. Kwon, M., Lee, J. Y., Won, W. Y., Park, J. W., Min, J. A., Hahn, C., ... & Kim, D. J. (2013). Development and validation of a smartphone addiction scale (SAS). PloS one, 8(2), e56936.

10. Ryan, R. M., & Deci, E. L. (2000). Self-determination theory and the facilitation of intrinsic motivation, social development, and well-being. American Psychologist, 55(1), 68–78.

11. Steinberg, L. (2014). Age of opportunity: Lessons from the new science of adolescence. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

12. Twenge, J. M., & Campbell, W. K. (2018). Associations between screen time and lower psychological well-being among children and adolescents: Evidence from a population-based study. Preventive Medicine Reports, 12, 271–283.

13. Van Deursen, A. J., Bolle, C. L., Hegner, S. M., & Kommers, P. A. (2015). Modeling habitual and addictive smartphone behavior: The role of smartphone usage types, emotional intelligence, social stress, self-regulation, age, and gender. Computers in Human Behavior, 45, 411–420.

14. Vernon, L., Modecki, K. L., & Barber, B. L. (2018). Tracking effects of problematic social networking on adolescent psychopathology: The mediating role of sleep disruptions. Journal of Clinical Child & Adolescent Psychology, 47(2), 269-283.

15. Wilmer, H. H., Sherman, L. E., & Chein, J. M. (2017). Smartphones and cognition: A review of research exploring the links between mobile technology habits and cognitive functioning. Frontiers in Psychology, 8, 605.

Abstract:

Every forty seconds, suicide steals a life, yet no biomarkers exist for suicide. Suicide has largely been investigated from a psychological lens, and therefore the pathogenesis remains unclear. This study investigated blood-brain barrier (BBB) claudin-5 breakdown, the most enriched BBB tight junction, as a biomarker for suicide. Human de-identified postmortem brain tissue (n=20) was stratified based on suicidality. ELISAs assessed cytokine and claudin-5 levels and an immunolabeling solvent-cleared organs protocol determined claudin-5 localization. RNA-sequencing data from publicly-available repositories was aligned to perform pathway enrichment and differential expression analyses. Molecular docking software PyRx determined whether current medications to treat suicide and anti-inflammatory compounds dock with claudin-5. IL-6 and IL-8 were higher in suicide cases (p < 0.05) indicating neuroinflammation and claudin-5 was increased in the brain of suicide cases (p < 0.05). Photomicrographs indicated claudin-5 mislocalization in neurons and brain microvessels of suicides. Inflammatory and neurodegenerative pathways modulating claudin-5 degradation were identified. Matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) was upregulated (log2F2 = 4.10, p < 0.001), and aquaporin-1 (AQP1) was downregulated (log2F2 = -1.58; p < 0.001) in suicide. Molecular docking indicated a weak affinity of antidepressants for claudin-5, but a strong affinity for medications targeting MMP-1 and AQP1. High claudin-5 levels could serve as pre-markers for suicide. Future in vitro assessments should evaluate the novel therapeutics promoting claudin-5 for suicide risk prevention. 

Reference

1] World Health Organization. (2019, September 9). Suicide: One person dies every 40 seconds. World Health Organization. Retrieved June 25, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news/item/09-09-2019-suicide-one-person-dies-every-40-seconds

[2] Sliwa, J. (2016). After decades of research, science is no better able to predict suicidal behaviors. American Psychological Association. https://doi.org/10.1037/e515562016-001

[3] Franklin, J. C., Ribeiro, J. D., Fox, K. R., Bentley, K. H., Kleiman, E. M., Huang, X., Musacchio, K. M., Jaroszewski, A. C., Chang, B. P., & Nock, M. K. (2017). Risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A meta-analysis of 50 years of research. Psychological Bulletin, 143(2), 187–232. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000084

[4] National Action Alliance for Suicide Prevention: Research Prioritization Task Force. (2014). A prioritized research agenda for suicide prevention: An action plan to save lives. Rockville, MD: National Institute of Mental Health and the Research Prioritization Task Force

[5] Stovall, J., & Domino, F. J. (2003). Approaching the suicidal patient. American family physician, 68(9), 1814–1818. 

[6] Simon, G. E., Yarborough, B. J., Rossom, R. C., Lawrence, J. M., Lynch, F. L., Waitzfelder, B. E., Shortreed, S. M. (2019). Self-reported suicidal ideation as a predictor of suicidal behavior among outpatients with diagnoses of psychotic disorders. Psychiatric Services, 70(3), 176-183. doi:10.1176/appi.ps.201800381

[7] Friedlander, A., Nazem, S., Fiske, A., Nadorff, M. R., & Smith, M. D. (2012).

Self-concealment and suicidal behaviors. Suicide and Life-Threatening Behavior, 42(3), 332-340. doi:10.1111/j.1943-278x.2012.00094.

[8] Franklin, J. C., Ribeiro, J. D., Fox, K. R., Bentley, K. H., Kleiman, E. M., Huang, X., Musacchio, K. M., Jaroszewski, A. C., Chang, B. P., & Nock, M. K. (2017). Risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors: A meta-analysis of 50 years

[9] Nock, M. K. (2016). Recent and needed advances in the understanding, prediction, and prevention of suicidal behavior. Depression and Anxiety, 33(6), 460–463. https://doi.org/10.1002/da.22528

[10] Niciu MJ, Mathews DC, Ionescu DF, Richards EM, Furey ML, Yuan P, Nugent AC, Henter ID, Machado-Vieira R, Zarate CA Jr (2014) Biomarkers in mood disorders research: developing new and improved therapeutics. Rev Psiquiatr Clin 41:131–134.

[11] Jenessa N Johnston, BA, Darcy Campbell, BSc, Hector J Caruncho, PhD, Ioline D Henter, MA, Elizabeth D Ballard, PhD, Carlos A Zarate, Jr, MD, Suicide Biomarkers to Predict Risk, Classify Diagnostic Subtypes, and Identify Novel Therapeutic Targets: 5 Years of Promising Research, International Journal of Neuropsychopharmacology, Volume 25,Issue 3, March 2022, Pages 197–214, https://doi.org/10.1093/ijnp/pyab083

[12] Interian, A., Myers, C. E., Chesin, M. S., Kline, A., Hill, L. S., King, A. R., Miller, R., Latorre, M., Gara, M. A., Stanley, B. H., & Keilp, J. G. (2020). Towards the objective assessment of suicidal states: Some neurocognitive deficits may be temporally related to suicide attempt. Psychiatry Research, 287, 112624. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112624

[13] Rajalin M, Hirvikoski T, Renberg ES, Åsberg M, Jokinen J. Exposure to Early Life Adversity and Interpersonal Functioning in Attempted Suicide. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Sep 17;11:552514. doi: 10.3389/fpsyt.2020.552514. PMID: 33093835; PMCID: PMC7527599.

[14] Duffy KA, McLaughlin KA, Green PA. Early life adversity and health-risk behaviors: proposed psychological and neural mechanisms. Ann N Y Acad Sci. 2018Sep;1428(1):151-169. doi: 10.1111/nyas.13928. Epub 2018 Jul 16. PMID: 30011075; PMCID: PMC6158062.

[15] Mann, J. J., & Rizk, M. M. (2020). A Brain-Centric Model of Suicidal Behavior. The American journal of psychiatry, 177(10), 902–916.  https://doi.org/10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.20081224

[16] Cunningham, K., Mengelkoch, S., Gassen, J., & Hill, S. E. (2022). Early life adversity, inflammation, and immune function: An initial test of adaptive response models of immunological programming. Development and Psychopathology, 34(2), 539-555.

[17] Shalev, I., Hastings, W. J., Etzel, L., Israel, S., Russell, M. A., Hendrick, K. A., ... & Siegel,

S. R. (2020). Investigating the impact of early-life adversity on physiological, immune, and gene expression responses to acute stress: A pilot feasibility study. PloS one, 15(4), e0221310.

[18] Andersen S. L. (2022). Neuroinflammation, Early-Life Adversity, and Brain Development. Harvard review of psychiatry, 30(1), 24–39. https://doi.org/10.1097/HRP.0000000000000325

[19] Dich, N., Hansen, Å. M., Avlund, K., Lund, R., Mortensen, E. L., Bruunsgaard, H., & Rod,

N. H. (2015). Early life adversity potentiates the effects of later life stress on cumulative physiological dysregulation. Anxiety, stress, and coping, 28(4), 372–390. https://doi.org/10.1080/10615806.2014.969720

[20] Horn SR, Leve LD, Levitt P, Fisher PA. Childhood adversity, mental health, and oxidative stress: A pilot study. PLoS One. 2019 Apr 26;14(4):e0215085. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0215085. PMID: 31026258; PMCID: PMC6485615.

[21] Wolkow A, Aisbett B, Reynolds J, Ferguson SA, Main LC. Relationships between inflammatory cytokine and cortisol responses in firefighters exposed to simulated wildfire suppression work and sleep restriction. Physiol Rep. 2015 Nov;3(11):e12604. doi: 10.14814/phy2.12604. Epub 2015 Nov 24. PMID: 26603450; PMCID: PMC4673634.

[22] Kim, Y. K., Na, K. S., Myint, A. M., & Leonard, B. E. (2016). The role of pro-inflammatory cytokines in neuroinflammation, neurogenesis and the neuroendocrine system in major depression. Progress in neuro-psychopharmacology & biological psychiatry, 64, 277–284. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pnpbp.2015.06.008

[23] Daneman R, Prat A. The blood-brain barrier. Cold Spring Harb Perspect Biol. 2015 Jan 5;7(1):a020412. doi: 10.1101/cshperspect.a020412. PMID: 25561720; PMCID: PMC4292164.

[24] Kadry, H., Noorani, B. & Cucullo, L. A blood–brain barrier overview on structure, function, impairment, and biomarkers of integrity. Fluids Barriers CNS 17, 69 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s12987-020-00230-3

[25] Rochfort KD, Collins LE, Murphy RP, Cummins PM. Downregulation of blood-brain barrier phenotype by proinflammatory cytokines involves NADPH oxidase-dependent ROS generation: consequences for interendothelial adherens and tight junctions. PLoS One. 2014 Jul 3;9(7):e101815.

Abstract:

Major space organizations together with private companies now focus on sending humans to Mars which used to exist only in science fiction stories. The Soviet Union achieved a historic milestone in 1971 when Mars 3 successfully landed on the planet which enabled current space exploration progress. NASA achieved two major rover successes with Curiosity and Perseverance during the 21st century to collect essential data about Martian environments and possible life signs which supports their plans to send astronauts between 2030s or 2040s. The Starship spacecraft development by SpaceX demonstrates increasing interest in Martian exploration and settlement activities.

Humanity can find protection from Earth-based threats through space colonization which serves as a defensive measure against climate change and other existential risks. Mars offers economic potential through its resource extraction activities and its ability to create an independent space-based economic system. Mars stands out from other celestial bodies because it contains vital nutrients such as carbon and nitrogen which enable the creation of energy systems and independent settlements.

The establishment of long-term human settlements on Mars requires a solution to provide food security as a fundamental requirement. The initial food supply for short-term space missions depends on transported resources but long-term survival on Mars demands the ability to grow crops within Martian soil. Scientists have proven that lettuce and tomatoes and wheat and garden cress can successfully grow in Martian soil simulants when scientists maintain proper environmental controls. The growth of lettuce in soil compost mixtures with Martian simulant showed positive results but the results depended on fertilizer usage and light exposure levels.

Scientists need to conduct additional research to develop agricultural techniques which can handle the harsh Martian environmental conditions including its harsh temperature extremes. Research on spinach growth in space-like conditions indicates beetroot could become a viable crop for Martian cultivation despite its slower growth rates. The solution of these problems will enable the practical establishment of human settlements on Mars.

Reference

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[2] Meinen, E., Dueck, T., Kempkes, F., & Stanghellini, C. (2018). Growing fresh food on future space missions: Environmental conditions and crop management. Scientia Horticulturae, 235, 270–278. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scienta.2018.03.002

[3] Levchenko, I., Xu, S., Mazouffre, S., Keidar, M., & Bazaka, K. (2018). Mars Colonization: Beyond Getting There. Global Challenges, 3(1), 1800062. https://doi.org/10.1002/gch2.201800062

[4] Guinan, E. F. (2018). Mars Gardens in the University - Red Thumbs: Growing Vegetables in Martian regolith simulant. American Astronomical Society Meeting Abstracts #231, 231. http://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2018AAS. . .23140106G/abstract

[5] Howell, E., Ph. D. (2022, May 24). NASA shows off early plans to send astronauts to Mars for 30 days. Space.com. Retrieved November 2, 2022, from https://www.space.com/nasa-plans-astronauts-mars-mission-30-days

[6] Zubrin, R., Ph. D. (1996, August). The Case for Colonizing Mars. Ad Astra, Volume 8 Number 4.

[7] Hájos, M. T., & Rubóczki, T. (2018). Evaluation of mineral element content of beetroot during the different stages of the growing season. Acta Agraria Debreceniensis. https://doi.org/10.34101/actaagrar/150/1741

Abstract

Approximately 95,000 cases of E. coli related food poisoning are reported in the U.S. each year. The purpose of this study is to improve the effectiveness of the antibiotic Neosporin against bacteria by supplementing it with the polyphenol resveratrol. There is a great deal of information about the impact of polyphenols on the function of topoisomerase and the development of resistance to standard antibiotics. However, there is very little research on the impact of the polyphenol resveratrol combined with the standard antibiotic, neosporin, on the  growth of Escherichia coli. This study was designed to investigate the effect of the common antibiotic neosporin enhanced with the polyphenol resveratrol on Escherichia coli. This study was completed by combining the neosporin with resveratrol and examining the zones of inhibition versus the control (water) using a Kirby-Bauer assay. Two different trials were conducted over the course of 4 days. The results of the Kirby-Bauer assay showed  that, as hypothesized, the neosporin and resveratrol combined had the largest zones of inhibition. Thus, this novel combination could be a promising new method to address antibiotic resistance.

Reference

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2. CDC. (2022, October 5). How do germs become resistant? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/drugresistance/about/how-resistance-happens.html#:~:text=Antimicrobial%20resistance%20happens%20when%20germs

3. Daoud, N., Hamdoun, M., Hannachi, H., Gharsallah, C., Mallekh, W., & Bahri, O. (2020). Antimicrobial Susceptibility Patterns of Escherichia coli among Tunisian Outpatients with Community-Acquired Urinary Tract Infection (2012-2018). Current Urology, 14(4), 200–205. https://doi.org/10.1159/000499238

4. E. Coli (for Teens) - Nemours KidsHealth. (n.d.). Kidshealth.org. https://kidshealth.org/en/teens/e-coli.html#:~:text=Some%20types%20of%20E.

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6. Hendley, J. O., & Ashe, K. M. (2003). Eradication of Resident Bacteria of Normal Human Skin by Antimicrobial Ointment. Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 47(6), 1988–1990. https://doi.org/10.1128/aac.47.6.1988-1990.2003

7. Manso, T., Lores, M., & de Miguel, T. (2021). Antimicrobial Activity of Polyphenols and Natural Polyphenolic Extracts on Clinical Isolates. Antibiotics, 11(1), 46. https://doi.org/10.3390/antibiotics11010046

8. Meng, X., Zhou, J., Zhao, C.-N., Gan, R.-Y., & Li, H.-B. (2020). Health Benefits and Molecular Mechanisms of Resveratrol: A Narrative Review. Foods, 9(3), 340. https://doi.org/10.3390/foods9030340

9. Neosporin For Cuts? Some Doctors Say No. (2023, July 27). Bloomberg.com. https://www.bloomberg.com/news/newsletters/2023-07-27/neosporin-for-cuts-some-doctors-say-no

10. Nitiss, J. L., Soans, E., Rogojina, A., Seth, A., & Mishina, M. (2012). Topoisomerase Assays. Current Protocols in Pharmacology, CHAPTER, Unit3.3. https://doi.org/10.1002/0471141755.ph0303s57

11. Rahul, R., Maheswary, D., Damodharan, N., & leela, K. V. (2023). Unveiling Global Public Interest and Seasonal Patterns of Antibiotics and Antibiotic Resistance: An Infodemiology Study with Implications for Public Health Awareness and Intervention Strategies. International Journal of Medical Informatics, 105231. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijmedinf.2023.105231

12. Subramanian, M., Goswami, M., Chakraborty, S., & Jawali, N. (2014). Resveratrol induced inhibition of Escherichia coli proceeds via membrane oxidation and independent of diffusible reactive oxygen species generation. Redox Biology, 2, 865–872. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.redox.2014.06.007

13. The Real Truths About E. Coli | MemorialCare. (n.d.). Www.memorialcare.org. https://www.memorialcare.org/blog/real-truths-about-e-coli#:~:text=According%20to%20the%20Center%20for

14. Wang, X., Qi, Y., & Zheng, H. (2022). Dietary Polyphenol, Gut Microbiota, and Health Benefits. Antioxidants, 11(6), 1212. https://doi.org/10.3390/antiox11061212

15. Yilmaz, N., Agus, N., Bayram, A., Samlioglu, P., Sirin, M. C., Karaca Derici, Y., & Yilmaz Hanci, S. (2016). Antimicrobial susceptibilities of Escherichia coli isolates as agents of community-acquired urinary tract infection (2008-2014). Türk Üroloji Dergisi/Turkish Journal of Urology, 42(1), 32–36.  https://doi.org/10.5152/tud.2016.90836

Abstract: Our study examines the social impact of art therapy on neurodivergent subjects. For individuals who have intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), such as autism or Down syndrome, art therapy provides striking advantages correlated to traditional therapeutic models. Art therapy carries vast mediums of nonverbal communication, which, in turn, is better suited for patients who have a difficult time speaking or language development than the typical talk therapy. When put together with conventional therapy, art therapy can also promote emotional regulation. Extracting information from neuroscientific case studies and qualitative assessments, our study reveals that IDD patients improved neuroplasticity and their mental health. 

The study also confronts habitual misconceptions about the creative abilities and mindset of individuals with IDD. Patients with IDD artwork are frequently overlooked as “outsider art” or art brut due to its unconventional subject matter. Still, such criticism seems to prolong biases against IDD. After reviewing historical views of autism and outdated definitions of neurotypicality, the study advocates for a fresh evaluation of art therapy as a medium for therapeutic tools. There are two advantages when it comes to Art Therapy. For starters, it operates as a beneficial form of treatment while also promoting the value and depth of neurodiversity in society as a whole. Lastly, our study pushes for more inclusive practices and strategies in therapeutic settings while also emphasizing the need for cultural efforts to protect the rights and privileges of IDD patients.

Reference

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[7] R. McKenzie, “A different way to think about creativity: Re-examining the work of artists with autism,” Studies in Art Education, vol. 55, no. 2, pp. 127–143, 2014.

[8] I. Roth, “Autism, creativity and aesthetics,” Journal of Consciousness Studies, vol. 15, no. 4, pp. 5–15, 2008.

[9] M. Winner, E. Brownell, and S. Hetland, “Art smart: Lessons learned from the study of art in schools,” Education Next, vol. 3, no. 3, pp. 27–33, 2003.

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[13] D. Henley, Exceptional Children, Exceptional Art, Worcester, MA: Davis Publications, 1992.

[14] S. Kalmanowitz and B. Potash, “Ethical considerations in art therapy research with vulnerable populations,” The Arts in Psychotherapy, vol. 37, no. 1, pp. 1–5, 2010.

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Abstract: Noise pollution is harmful to the environment due to intensity and duration. As human activities increase so does noise that is produced by boat and car traffic, machinery, electronics etc… Marine organisms are sensitive due to the vulnerability of sound pollution traveling underwater quicker and therefore becoming more intense. Organisms have characteristics that correspond to the ability to tolerate and adapt to sound frequencies. Depending on the quality of their auditory range it may affect an organism that cannot cope with sound frequencies. This could pose a threat to generations to come, as without adaptation through evolution it may cause species to go extinct and create problems in the food chain. This research study explores how sound pollution affects the offspring of exposed Daphnia magna as a scenario. The study was performed with three independent variables: 415, 425, and 435 Hz sound frequencies. The control group and the three experimental groups contained three Daphnia magna each. In the proceeding five days per week for two weeks, the experimental groups were exposed for 30 minutes. Any offspring that were produced were noted, separated, and then also exposed to sound frequencies. By the end of the study, all experimental groups of Daphnia magna could not adapt and survive. The control group survived with two Daphnia magna. Therefore, sound pollution may not be adaptable in terms of the intensity and duration of exposure for Daphnia magna within generations. 

Reference

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Chahouri, A., Elouahmani, N., & Ouchene, H. (2022). Recent progress in Marine Noise Pollution: A thorough review. Chemosphere, 291, 132983. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2021.132983  

Donald Hawkins, A. (2022). The impact of underwater sound on aquatic animals – and especially fishes. Examines in Marine Biology &amp; Oceanography, 4(5). https://doi.org/10.31031/eimbo.2022.04.000597 

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Gu, S., Zhang, Y., & Wu, Y. (2016). Effects of sound exposure on the growth and intracellular macromolecular synthesis ofE. coliK-12. PeerJ, 4. https://doi.org/10.7717/peerj.1920 

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Kunc, H. P., & Schmidt, R. (2019). The effects of anthropogenic noise on animals: A meta-analysis. Biology Letters, 15(11), 20190649. https://doi.org/10.1098/rsbl.2019.0649

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Yağcilar, Ç., & Yardimci, M. (2021). Effects of 432 hz and 440 Hz sound frequencies on the heart rate, egg number, and survival parameters in water flea (daphnia magna). Journal of Ecological Engineering, 22(4), 119–125. https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/134038

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 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. 

Reference

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Abstract: Global Warming has been a problem at the heart of Earth’s environmental issues for nearly 5 decades, with the potential to affect a significant portion of the global population. Changes in Earth’s climate due to the rise in global temperatures will have an enormous impact on communities around the world, along with a drastic displacement of humans and an extreme loss in natural biodiversity. Current methods of combating this issue have proven to be ineffective, requiring a more comprehensive and innovative approach. This project aims to propose a potential solution to mitigate the effects of global warming and limit temperatures to sustainable levels through the use of stratospheric aerosols. Through a process of data collection, experimentation, and modeling, we were able to correlate the presence of aerosols in the stratosphere to a consequent drop in temperatures and utilize regression prediction to forecast a 16% drop in global temperatures after examining the effects of volcanic ash in the stratosphere. We were also able to compare monthly aerosol concentration levels to declines in the temperature growth, finding a benchmark to stabilize global temperatures. By implementing the changes to Earth’s atmosphere, we can reflect heat from the Sun and create a cooling effect for the planet.

Reference

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Abstract: The National Hockey League has experienced growth in popularity and revenue that the league hasn't seen in previous years. This paper analyzes the finances of the 31 National Hockey League teams under the timeframe of the previous Collective Bargaining Agreement between the NHL and the NHL Players’ Association. This includes the 2012-13 season to the 2020-21 season. Collecting financial estimates of revenue and operating income of each team resulted in a total number. Data relating to potential factors affecting revenue was collected to find what made up the total. This data pertains to a wide range of topics, some more influential than others, that affect a team's financial success. Using the available numbers, a model was created to express the amount of revenue generated by a given team. Of the differences between actual and estimated revenues of 182 individual seasons, all estimates were no more than 10 million off from the actual revenue. Additionally, 92.3% of estimates were within 5 million above or below the true value. These estimates were over a time of relatively little change over the NHL seasons.

Reference

[1] Alexander, Kern. “The Economic Determinants of Professional Sports Franchise Values.” Journal of Sports Economics, vol. 5, iss. 1, Feb. 2004, pp. 51-66. 

[2] Büschemann, Deutscher.. “Did the 2005 Collective Bargaining Agreement Really Improve Team Efficiency in the NHL? .” International Journal of Sports Finance, vol. 6, iss. 4, 01 Jan. 2011, pp. 298-306 

[3] Clopton. “An alternative view of public subsidy and sport facilities through social anchor theory.” City Culture and Society, vol. 4, iss. 1, Mar. 2013, pp. 49-55. 

[4] Coates, Humphreys. “The Economic Impact of Postseason Play in Professional Sports.” Journal of Sports Economics, vol. 3, iss. 3, 01 Aug. 2004, pp. 291-299 

[5] Ferguson, et al. “The Pricing of Sporting Events: Do Teams Maximize Profit.” Journal of Industrial Climate, vol. 31, iss. 3, Mar. 1991, pp. 297-310 

[6] Humphreys, Mondello. “Determinants of Franchise Values in North American Professional Sports Leagues: Evidence from a Hedonic Price Model.” International Journal of Sports Finance, vol. 3, iss. 2, May 2008, pp. 98-105. 

[7] Kahane. “Production Efficiency and Discriminatory Hiring Practices in the National Hockey League: A Stochastic Frontier Approach.” Review of Industrial Organization, vol. 27, iss. 1, Aug. 2005, pp. 47-71.

[8] Leadley, Zygmont. “When Is the Honeymoon over? National Hockey League Attendance, 1970-2003.” Canadian Public Policy / Analyse de Politiques, vol. 32, iss. 2, Jun. 2006, pp. 213–232.

[9] Lertwachara, et al. “An Event Study of the Economic Impact of Professional SportFranchises on Local U.S. Economies.” Journal of Sports Economics Aug. 2007, pp. 244-255.

[10] Nadeau, O’Reilly. “Developing a Profitability Model for Professional Sport Leagues: The Case of the National Hockey League.” International Journal of Sports Finance, vol. 1, iss. 1, 01 Feb. 2006, pp. 46-62 

Abstract: In modern environmental and biological research, gene mutation by GMOs and DNA oxidation by biphenyl and BPDE intercalation take up critical positions regarding their potential risks to genetic stability. GMOs are monitored for unintended effects, and BPDE pollution is managed due to their carcinogenic potential. Genetic modifications in GMOs are made through precise gene edits, often using techniques like CRISPR-Cas9, to minimize unintended effects. However, off-target mutations or horizontal gene transfer could affect neighboring genes or regulatory sequences. Although GMOs undergo rigorous testing, ongoing research examines the long-term effects of gene edits on genome stability.
This paper investigated DNA Oxidation from Biphenyl and BPDE that arises from environmental pollutants. BPDE, a metabolite of the carcinogen benzo[a]pyrene found in tobacco smoke, intercalates with DNA, disrupting its helical structure and creating oxidative stress. If left unrepaired, this intercalation can produce reactive oxygen species (ROS), leading to strand breaks, nucleotide mispairing, and permanent mutations. We also checked and evaluated the mutations linked to cancer risk, especially in lung, liver, and skin cancers, as they can affect critical genes controlling cell growth and apoptosis.
This research studied both GMO-related and environmental mutagenic effects that underscore the need for vigilance in evaluating genetic stability. 

Keywords: GMO, DNA oxidation, adduct intercalation, mutations, genetic stability

References

1. Heal, G. (2009). Climate economics: A meta-review and some suggestions for future research. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 3(1), 4–21. DOI: 10.1093/reep/ren003

2. Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2005). A tale of two market failures: Technology and environmental policy. Ecological Economics, 54(2-3), 164–174. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.12.027

3. World Economic Forum. (2020). The Global Risks Report 2020. World Economic Forum. DOI: 10.23943/Princeton/9780691201009.001.0001

4. Dasgupta, P. (2001). Human Well-being and the Natural Environment. Oxford University Press.

5. Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development. Beacon Press.

6. Barbier, E. B. (2007). Natural Resources and Economic Development. Cambridge University Press.

7. Goulder, L. H., & Schneider, S. H. (1999). Induced technological change and the attractiveness of CO2 emissions abatement. Resource and Energy Economics, 21(3-4), 211–253. DOI: 10.1016/S0928-7655(99)00009-3

8. Stern, D. I. (2004). The rise and fall of the environmental Kuznets curve. World Development, 32(8), 1419–1439. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.03.004

9. International Energy Agency. (2019). World Energy Outlook 2019. OECD/IEA. DOI: 10.1787/weo-2019-en

10. Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Bursztyn, L., & Hemous, D. (2012). The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166. DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.1.131

11. Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. National Bureau of Economic Research. DOI: 10.3386/w3914

12. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN General Assembly. DOI: 10.1002/9781118391300

13. Neumayer, E. (2003). Weak versus strong sustainability: Exploring the limits of two opposing paradigms. Edward Elgar Publishing.

14. Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.

15. United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Human Development Report 2019: Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today - Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. UNDP. DOI: 10.18356/78b829e1-en

16. World Bank. (2016). State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016. World Bank Group. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0758-6

17. Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), S71–S102. DOI: 10.1086/261725

18. Nordhaus, W. D. (2007). A review of the Stern Review on the economics of climate change. Journal of Economic Literature, 45(3), 686–702. DOI: 10.1257/jel.45.3.686

Abstract: Polysomnography is a frequently used tool for diagnosing disorders like sleep-related hypermotor epilepsy (SHE) and rapid-eye-movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD). It is highly inefficient because often-infrequent seizure events are required to reach a diagnosis. Also, SHE and RBD are difficult to differentiate due to the overlap in symptoms and presence of ictal (during seizure) and interictal (between seizure) abnormalities in electroencephalographic (EEG) data. Therefore, it is important to ascertain whether non-seizure EEG data can be used to distinguish between SHE and RBD with new methods. The FOOOF package was used to calculate the EEG aperiodic components (exponent, offset)—historically ignored by clinicians—for polysomnographic recordings of 62 subjects during non-seizure sleep, and t-tests and effect size calculations to determine significance and quantify differences between disorders. Both the aperiodic exponent and offset proved to be able to distinguish between SHE, RBD, and healthy subjects in S2 and S3 sleep (α = 0.05). In addition, effect size calculations showed that the aperiodic exponent was better at differentiating than the offset in all cases, and that the frontal electrode was most effective. Using aperiodic components in polysomnography may yield improvements in efficiency, accuracy, and patient affordability.

Keywords: aperiodic component, sleep-related hyper motor epilepsy, rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, differential diagnosis, power spectrum

References

1. Azril, A., Awaluddin, I., Irwansyah, M., & Idris, Y. (2022). Temporary residential design analysis type of hex house for disaster survival in Indonesia. International Journal of Social Science, Educational, Economics, Agriculture Research and Technology (IJSET), 2, 947-956. https://doi.org/10.54443/ijset.v2i1.104

2. Bingaman, M. (2023, June 20). Housing NOW: Revolutionizing Affordable Housing Solutions by Using Bamboo. Solve.com. https://solve.mit.edu/articles/housing-now-revolutionizing-affordable-housing-solutions-by-using-bamboo

3. Emergency shelter solutions and standards. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://emergency.unhcr.org/emergency-assistance/shelter-camp-and-settlement/shelter-and-housing/emergency-shelter-solutions-and-standards

4. Frearson, A. (2014, October 1). Teak and bamboo structures accommodate Burmese refugees in a Thai village. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2014/10/01/mae-tao-dormitories-thailand-agora-architects-temporary-accommodation-burmese-refugees-bamboo/

5. Geleff, J. (n.d.). Infrastructure in flight: 8 architectural designs imagined for migrant and refugee populations. Architizer. Retrieved from https://architizer.com/blog/inspiration/collections/architecture-for-refugees/

6. McKnight, J. (2016, April 14). Architects for Society designs low-cost hexagonal shelters for refugees. Dezeen. https://www.dezeen.com/2016/04/14/architects-for-society-low-cost-hexagonal-shelter-housing-refugees-crisis-humanitarian-architecture/

Abstract: The Union for Reform Judaism’s North American Federation for Temple Youth (URJ NFTY) is a nonprofit organization serving North American Reform Jewish teens. The URJ and NFTY hold strong values tied to Jewish history that are utilized to discuss and advocate for political and social issues, and to mediate teens' relationships to Judaism. URJ NFTY offers teens year-round opportunities to convene, learn, and grow together while forging lasting relationships.
Over the past 10 years, NFTY and its related programming (particularly URJ owned
summer camps) have experienced a significant decrease in participation, causing a gradual decrease in revenue. As a result, the URJ made difficult decisions, including the closure of the URJ Kutz Camp, one of their oldest standing summer programs. A recent trend brought additional financial instability to the organization, causing employment terminations throughout the URJ and across all nineteen NFTY regions. With fewer leaders to guide teens and NFTY/camp alumni, it has become difficult for NFTY to recruit and train its next generation of leaders to advocate against injustice and preserve the Jewish spirit.

Keywords: URJ, NFTY, URJ Kutz Camp, Judaism,  North American Federation

References

1. Arquilevich, Ruben. “With Joy, Gratitude & Love, an Update on Summer 2021.” Union for Reform Judaism, 4 Feb. 2021, urj.org/blog/joy-gratitude-love-update-summer-2021.

2. CampaignWire. “Rising Stars: 18 Members of America's Next Political Generation.”
   Medium, The Campaigner, 23 Feb. 2016, medium.com/campaigner-2016/rising-stars-18-members-of-america-s-next-political-gene ration-de18ab114afa#.raebue8kl. No. 14: Jeremy Cronig

3. Jacobs, Rick. “Beyond 2020: Upcoming Changes at the URJ.” Union for Reform Judaism, 1 Oct. 2020, urj.org/blog/beyond-2020-upcoming-changes-urj.

4. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: 2019 URJ Annual Report.” URJ Annual Report, www.2019annualreport.urj.org/financials.

5. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2015 Annual Report.” Flipbook, media.urj.org/flipbook/index.html?page=24.

6. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2017 Annual Report.” Flipbook, media.urj.org/flipbook2017/index.html?page=39.

7. Jacobs, Rick. “Financials: URJ 2018 Annual Report.” URJ Annual Report, www.2018annualreport.urj.org/financials.

8. Jacobs, Rick. “Reform Jewish Movement Leadership Statement: ‘We Must All Expect
   More from the President of the United States.’” Union for Reform Judaism, 3 Sept. 2019 urj.org/press-room/reform-Jewish-movement-leadership-statement-we-must-all-expect-
   more-president-united.

9. “Joe Biden's Plan to End Gun Violence: Joe Biden for President.” Joe Biden for President: Official Campaign Website, 12 Oct. 2020, joebiden.com/gunsafety/.
   11. Levy, Maya. “Reimagining the Future of NFTY.” NFTY, 11 June 2020, nfty.org/future/

Abstract: According to the UN, 95% of the agricultural land will be degraded and twice as much water will be needed to produce food in the future. One-quarter part of world’s agriculture is located in regions with water scarcity, which has led to the irrigation of crops with the sewage. This has become usual, causing serious health problems due to the consumption of vegetables grown in those conditions. Hidalgo’s environmental problem is largely caused due to the residual water that comes from Mexico City and flows into Tula de Allende´s region. This contains hydrocarbons, cyanide, lead, pesticides, herbicides and have led to the increase in diseases that go from stomachache to cancer. Every day, 4,890,240 liters of residual water arrive to Hidalgo and 62,200 hectares of crops, belonging to 46,511 producers in the Mezquital Valley, are irrigated. Technological advances to improve human nutrition and quality of life in the future depend on solving the main problem: agricultural food production and irrigation of crops with sewage in the region of Tula de Allende; for this reason, it was decided to innovate the application of SMART FARMING and create a space to develop sustainable agriculture at home and thus have fresher, healthier and more nutritious cultivated foods that are quick to consume, irrigated with clean (drinking water) and reusable water (rain water). SMARTFARMING-HOME works with digital smart sensors that measure humidity using LOD technology and renewable energy for growing vegetables inside home.

References

1. UNCCD Global Land Outlook 2 - This report by the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification highlights the alarming pace of land degradation worldwide and its implications for food security and human health. It discusses the need for sustainable land and water management to counteract these trends, with particular attention to regions facing water scarcity, including agricultural areas irrigated by wastewater due to limited water resources (UNCCD, 2023)​

2. The Global Environment Facility (GEF) Report - This document outlines strategies for achieving land degradation neutrality (LDN) by 2030. It emphasizes the importance of sustainable land management practices to maintain food security and ecosystem health, highlighting innovative finance models that support sustainable agriculture and promote climate-resilient farming practices (GEF, 2024)​

3. UNESCO World Water Development Report - This report covers water scarcity challenges globally, focusing on the impacts on agriculture and the increased reliance on reclaimed or wastewater irrigation in arid regions. It addresses how these practices impact public health and calls for improved water management and sustainable agricultural solutions to meet future demands (UNESCO, 2023)​

4. UNCCD Global Land Outlook 2 - This report from the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification outlines the rapid pace of land degradation and its threat to food security, underscoring the need for sustainable land management practices to maintain agricultural productivity (UNCCD, 2023)​

5. FAO’s State of the World’s Land and Water Resources - The Food and Agriculture Organization highlights that over 95% of food production depends on healthy soil, emphasizing the urgent need for soil and water resource conservation to sustain future food production in the face of increasing demand and climate stress (FAO, 2022)​

6. FAO on Soil Degradation and Erosion - Addressing the impact of soil erosion, this report predicts a significant reduction in crop production by 2050 if current soil degradation trends continue, which could destabilize food systems and increase poverty (FAO, 2022)​

7. MDPI Review on Soil Degradation and Food Security - This paper discusses how soil degradation and land scarcity threaten food security, advocating for sustainable agricultural practices and soil conservation measures to mitigate these challenges (MDPI, 2016)​

8. Global Environment Facility (GEF) Report on Land Degradation Neutrality - This report explores efforts to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality by 2030, discussing innovations in sustainable agriculture and the need for policies that support soil and water health to enhance food security (GEF, 2024)​

Abstract: Emergency shelters are essential for meeting basic needs and upholding the dignity of displaced populations following catastrophic events. Utilizing sustainable materials and efficient construction methods adapted to local contexts is also important in creating safe and dignified living environments. 

Millions of people in Southeast Asia face displacement due to natural disasters and political conflicts. Two innovative approaches to refugee housing in Southeast Asia are the Hex House developed by Architects for Society and bamboo structures designed by Agora Architects. By examining the strengths and limitations of each approach, key considerations for future shelter development in the region become apparent. The Hex House, developed by Architects for Society, represents a groundbreaking solution by rapidly deploying dwellings with a focus on cost-effectiveness, sustainability, and resilience. Its modular design allows for easy on-site transportation and assembly, promoting self-reliance and community integration. In Indonesia, where natural disasters are frequent, the Hex House shelter emerges as a promising solution, meeting essential criteria for post-disaster housing and offering hope for recovery and rebuilding. Similarly, Agora Architects addresses the need for temporary housing solutions for refugees arriving from the Burmese border by designing timber and bamboo huts. These low-cost and easy-to-assemble residences provide immediate relief to refugees while aligning with sustainability goals through the use of recycled materials. Overall, Agora Architects can effectively apply innovative approaches to not only meet the urgent housing needs of refugees but also contribute to sustainable architectural practices and community resilience in the Southeast Asian region using local materials.

Keywords: Emergency shelters, sustainability, displaced populations, refugee relief, structural design, sustainable material

References

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2. Akei, H. S., Brandt, E. B., Mishra, A., Strait, R. T., Finkelman, F. D., Warrier, M. R., ... & Rothenberg, M. E. (2006). Epicutaneous aeroallergen exposure induces systemic TH2 immunity that predisposes to allergic nasal responses. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 118(1), 62- 69.

3. Alemán Navas, R. M., & Martínez Mendoza, M. G. (2010). Case report: late complication of a dry socket treatment. International journal of dentistry, 2010.

4. Birse, S. C., & Bittner, G. D. (1981). Regeneration of earthworm giant axons following transection or ablation. Journal of neurophysiology, 45(4), 724-742.

5. Cooke, S. J., Suski, C. D., Ostrand, K. G., Tufts, B. L., & Wahl, D. H. (2004). Behavioral and physiological assessment of low concentrations of clove oil anaesthetic for handling and transporting largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides). Aquaculture, 239(1-4), 509-529.

6. Jouppila, R., Teramo, K., Ulmsten, U., Purhonen, M., Hollmén, A., Berlin‐Wahlén, A., & Gustafsson, B. (1981). Maternal and foetal drug levels after epicutaneous application of a local anaesthetic formulation containing ketocaine for possible use as pain relief in labor. Acta Anaesthesiologica Scandinavica, 25(1), 73-75.

7. Koritsánszky, S., & Hartwig, H. (1974). The regeneration of the monoaminergic system in the cerebral ganglion of the earthworm, Allolobophora caliginosa. Cell and Tissue Research, 151(2). https://doi.org/10.1007/bf00222221

8. Lee, B. T., Shin, K. H., Kim, J. Y., & Kim, K. W. (2008). Progress in earthworm ecotoxicology. In Advanced environmental monitoring (pp. 248-258). Springer, Dordrecht.

9. Ohlsen, L., & Englesson, S. (1980). New anaesthetic formulation for epicutaneous application tested for cutting split skin grafts. British journal of anaesthesia, 52(4), 413-417.

10. Otani, I. M., Kuhlen Jr, J. L., Blumenthal, K. G., Guyer, A., & Banerji, A. (2015). A role for vancomycin epicutaneous skin testing in the evaluation of perioperative anaphylaxis. The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. In practice, 3(6), 984.

11. Park, C. K., Kim, K., Jung, S. J., Kim, M. J., Ahn, D. K., Hong, S. D., ... & Oh, S. B. (2009). Molecular mechanism for local anesthetic action of eugenol in the rat trigeminal system. PAIN®, 144(1-2), 84-94.

12. Podolak-Machowska, A., Kostecka, J., Librowski, T., & Plytycz, B. (2013). The use of selected anaesthetic drugs in search of a method for improving earthworms’ welfare. Journal of Ecological Engineering, 14(3).

13. Sadeghi, P., & Zacny, J. P. (1999). Anesthesia is a risk factor for drug and alcohol craving and relapse in ex-abusers. Medical hypotheses, 53(6), 490-496.

14. Scanlon, G. C., Moeller-Bertram, T., Romanowsky, S. M., & Wallace, M. S. (2007). Cervical transforaminal epidural steroid injections: more dangerous than we think?. Spine, 32(11), 1249-1256.

15. Scheu, S. (1991). Mucus excretion and carbon turnover of endogeic earthworms. Biology and Fertility of Soils, 12(3), 217-220.

16. Shende, P. K., Gaud, R. S., Bakal, R., & Yeole, Y. (2016). Clove oil emulsified buccal patch of serratiopeptidase for controlled release in toothache. Journal of Bioequivalence & Bioavailability, 8, 134-139.

17. Sullivan, D., & Seladi-Schulman, J. (2019, September 9). What You Need to Know About Clove Essential Oil. Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/clove-essential-oil#benefits

18. Yeo, D. C., Balmayor, E. R., Schantz, J. T., & Xu, C. (2017). Microneedle physical contact as a therapeutic for abnormal scars. European journal of medical research, 22(1), 1-9.

Abstract: Energy is essential for economic and societal development. Economic growth is closely tied to technological innovation, which can drive efficiency improvements and the development of cleaner technologies.  However, economic growth often leads to increased resource consumption, which can exacerbate environmental issues. Sustainable economic growth involves decoupling economic development from resource consumption through resource efficiency and sustainable consumption patterns. Mitigating climate change requires transitioning to low-carbon energy sources, improving energy efficiency, and implementing adaptation measures to cope with its impacts. This research studied innovation in renewable energy for a sustainable society, leading to reduced environmental impacts and more sustainable growth. Since many developing countries still lack access to reliable energy sources, hindering their economic growth and quality of life, this paper also discusses how equitable access to energy is available to promote sustainable development. This study aims to achieve a sustainable environment that requires integrating energy and economic considerations into policymaking, encouraging innovation and technological advancement. 

Keywords: Energy, economic growth, societal development, sustainable environment

References

1. Heal, G. (2009). Climate economics: A meta-review and some suggestions for future research. Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, 3(1), 4–21. DOI: 10.1093/reep/ren003

2. Jaffe, A. B., Newell, R. G., & Stavins, R. N. (2005). A tale of two market failures: Technology and environmental policy. Ecological Economics, 54(2-3), 164–174. DOI: 10.1016/j.ecolecon.2004.12.027

3. World Economic Forum. (2020). The Global Risks Report 2020. World Economic Forum. DOI: 10.23943/Princeton/9780691201009.001.0001

4. Dasgupta, P. (2001). Human Well-being and the Natural Environment. Oxford University Press.

5. Daly, H. E. (1996). Beyond Growth: The Economics of Sustainable Development. Beacon Press.

6. Barbier, E. B. (2007). Natural Resources and Economic Development. Cambridge University Press.

7. Goulder, L. H., & Schneider, S. H. (1999). Induced technological change and the attractiveness of CO2 emissions abatement. Resource and Energy Economics, 21(3-4), 211–253. DOI: 10.1016/S0928-7655(99)00009-3

8. Stern, D. I. (2004). The rise and fall of the environmental Kuznets curve. World Development, 32(8), 1419–1439. DOI: 10.1016/j.worlddev.2004.03.004

9. International Energy Agency. (2019). World Energy Outlook 2019. OECD/IEA. DOI: 10.1787/weo-2019-en

10. Acemoglu, D., Aghion, P., Bursztyn, L., & Hemous, D. (2012). The environment and directed technical change. American Economic Review, 102(1), 131–166. DOI: 10.1257/aer.102.1.131

11. Grossman, G. M., & Krueger, A. B. (1991). Environmental impacts of a North American free trade agreement. National Bureau of Economic Research. DOI: 10.3386/w3914

12. United Nations. (2015). Transforming our world: The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. UN General Assembly. DOI: 10.1002/9781118391300

13. Neumayer, E. (2003). Weak versus strong sustainability: Exploring the limits of two opposing paradigms. Edward Elgar Publishing.

14. Piketty, T. (2014). Capital in the Twenty-First Century. Harvard University Press.

15. United Nations Development Programme. (2019). Human Development Report 2019: Beyond income, beyond averages, beyond today - Inequalities in human development in the 21st century. UNDP. DOI: 10.18356/78b829e1-en

16. World Bank. (2016). State and Trends of Carbon Pricing 2016. World Bank Group. DOI: 10.1596/978-1-4648-0758-6

17. Romer, P. M. (1990). Endogenous technological change. Journal of Political Economy, 98(5), S71–S102. DOI: 10.1086/261725

18. Nordhaus, W. D. (2007). A review of the Stern Review on the economics of climate change. Journal of Economic Literature, 45(3), 686–702. DOI: 10.1257/jel.45.3.686

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

1. Wang, D., Li, Z., & Liu, Y. (2020). An overview of the safety, clinical application and antiviral research of the COVID-19 therapeutics. Journal of Infection and Public Health. doi:10.1016/j.jiph.2020.07.004
2. Brown, S. M., Doom, J. R., Lechuga-Peña, S., Watamura, S. E., & Koppels, T. (2020). Stress and parenting during the global COVID-19 pandemic. Child Abuse & Neglect. doi:10.1016/j.chiabu.2020.104699
3. Overton, C. E., Stage, H. B., Ahmad, S., Curran-Sebastian, J., Dark, P., Das, R., . . . Webb, L. (2020). Using statistics and mathematical modelling to understand infectious disease outbreaks: COVID-19 as an example. Infectious Disease Modelling, 5, 409-441. doi:10.1016/j.idm.2020.06.008
4. Tiirinki, H., Tynkkynen, L., Sovala, M., Atkins, S., Koivusalo, M., Rautiainen, P., . . . Keskimäki, I. (2020). COVID-19 pandemic in Finland – preliminary analysis on health system response and economic consequences. Health Policy and Technology. doi:10.1016/j.hlpt.2020.08.005
5. Russell, T. W., Hellewell, J., Jarvis, C. I., Zandvoort, K. V., Abbott, S., Ratnayake, R., . . . Kucharski, A. J. (2020). Estimating the infection and case fatality ratio for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) using age-adjusted data from the outbreak on the Diamond Princess cruise ship, February 2020. Eurosurveillance, 25(12). doi:10.2807/1560-7917.es.2020.25.12.2000256
6. Bernardino, G., Benkarim, O., Garza, M. S., Prat-Gonzàlez, S., Sepulveda-Martinez, A., Crispi, F., . . . Ballester, M. A. (2020). Handling confounding variables in statistical shape analysis - application to cardiac remodelling. Medical Image Analysis, 65. doi:10.1016/j.media.2020.101792
7. Xu, L., Polya, D. A., Li, Q., & Mondal, D. (2020). Association of low-level inorganic arsenic exposure from rice with age-standardized mortality risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in England and Wales. Science of The Total Environment, 743. doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140534
8. Shende, R., Gupta, G., & Macherla, S. (2019). Determination of an inflection point for a dosimetric analysis of unflattened beam using the first principle of derivatives by python code programming. Reports of Practical Oncology & Radiotherapy, 24(5), 432-442. doi:10.1016/j.rpor.2019.07.009
9. Mohamed, M. O., Gale, C. P., Kontopantelis, E., Doran, T., Belder, M. D., Asaria, M., . . . Mamas, M. A. (2020). Sex-differences in mortality rates and underlying conditions for COVID-19 deaths in England and Wales. Mayo Clinic Proceedings. doi:10.1016/j.mayocp.2020.07.009
10. Kavadi, D. P., Patan, R., Ramachandran, M., & Gandomi, A. H. (2020). Partial derivative Nonlinear Global Pandemic Machine Learning prediction of COVID 19. Chaos, Solitons & Fractals, 139. doi:10.1016/j.chaos.2020.110056
11. Minicozzi, P., Cassetti, T., Vener, C., & Sant, M. (2018). Analysis of incidence, mortality and survival for pancreatic and biliary tract cancers across Europe, with assessment of influence of revised European age standardisation on estimates. Cancer Epidemiology, 55, 52-60. doi:10.1016/j.canep.2018.04.011
12. Bosch, Jaume, et al. “Asynchronous Runtime with Distributed Manager for Task-Based Programming Models.” Parallel Computing, vol. 97, 2020, p. 102664., doi:10.1016/j.parco.2020.102664.
13. Rodriguez-Diaz, Carlos E., et al. “Risk for COVID-19 Infection and Death among Latinos in the United States: Examining Heterogeneity in Transmission Dynamics.” Annals of Epidemiology, 23 July 2020, doi:10.1016/j.annepidem.2020.07.007.
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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 can carry 100 pounds down a ladder if 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?

References

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4. Miller, S. (2019, April 2). Unequal career advancement fuels gender pay gap. Society for Human Resource Management. Retrieved from https://www.shrm.org/resourcesandtools/hr-topics/compensation/pages/unequal-career-advancement-fuels-gender-pay-gap.aspx

5. Blau, F. D., Kahn, L. M. (2016). The gender wage gap: Extent, trends, and explanations (Working Paper No. 21913). National Bureau of Economic Research. Retrieved from http://www.nber.org/papers/w21913.pdf

6. Blau, F. D., & Kahn, L. M. (2017). The Gender Wage Gap: Extent, Trends, and Explanations. Journal of Economic Literature, 55(3), 789–865. DOI: 10.1257/jel.20160995

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Abstract: Ever since the scientific community has identified increasing levels of global warming, the necessity for public education and awareness has become apparent. While individual efforts to mitigate climate change may seem fruitless, they are a crucial parameter to measure interest in and compassion for the environment, and they prove influential in global carbon emissions and energy usage. Previous research has supported the notion that one’s sustainable behaviors are correlated with one’s knowledge of ecological concerns. The present study administered environmental awareness surveys, in which high school participants’ knowledge was compared to their behaviors. Additionally, optional interviews provided a deeper insight into the perspectives of the causes, impacts, and implications of climate change. The departing survey furthered an exploration of the impact that education has on individuals’ views of climate change. While a causational relationship was not determined between environmental knowledge and behavior, both qualitative and quantitative data collected support a correlation between the two. Implications for future research include investigating the link between knowledge of sustainable behaviors and one’s motivation to engage in sustainable behaviors, as well as the connection between environmental knowledge and eco-anxiety. Ultimately, this research aids the discussion about strengthening environmental education, including education on sustainability practices.

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2. Bostrom, A., Hayes, H. L., & Crosman, K. M. (2018). Efficacy, action and support for reducing climate change risks. Risk Analysis, 39(4), 805-828. https://doi.org/10.1111/risa.13210. 

3. Breen, R. (2021). The evil fashion giant: Shein and the perpetuation of overconsumption. Podcast Perspectives of Environmental Geopolitics. https://opentext.ku.edu/environmentalgeopolitics/chapter/evil-fashion-giant-shein/##renzt ranscript. Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. (2022). U.S. emissions. https://www.c2es.org/content/u-s-emissions/. 

4. Costley, D. (2022). Climate change made global summer droughts 20 times more likely. PBS. https://www.pbs.org/newshour/science/climate-change-made-global-summer-droughts-20 -times-more-likely#:~:text=Drought%20that%20stretched%20across%20three,according %20to%20a%20new%20study. 

5. Dempster, G., Sutherland, G. and Keogh, L. (2022). Scientific research in news media: a case study of misrepresentation, sensationalism and harmful recommendations. JCOM, 21(1), 1-23. https://doi.org/10.22323/2.21010206. 21 Goldstein, B., 

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13. Nda, M., Adnan, M. S., Abdullahi Ahmad, K., Usman, N., Razi, M., & Daud, Z. (2018). A review on the causes, effects and mitigation of climate changes on the environmental aspects. International Journal of Integrated Engineering, 10(4), 169-175. https://doi.org/10.30880/ijie.2018.10.04.027. 22 

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17. Shen, M., Huang, W., Chen, M., Song, B. Zeng, G., & Zhang, Y. (2020). (Micro)plastic crisis: Un-ignorable contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Journal of Cleaner Production, 254. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.120138. 

18. Soares, J., Miguel, I., Venâncio, C., Lopes, I., & Oliveira, M. (2021). Public views on plastic pollution: Knowledge, perceived impacts, and pro-environmental behaviours. Journal of hazardous materials, 412. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.125227. 

19. Tam, K., Chan, H., & Clayton, S. (2023). Climate change anxiety in China, India, Japan, and the United States. Journal of Environment Psychology, 87. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvp.2023.101991. 

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23. U.S. Energy Information and Administration. (2023). Total energy. https://www.eia.gov/totalenergy/data/monthly/index.php#environment. 

24. United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2022). Sources of greenhouse gas emissions. https://www.epa.gov/ghgemissions/sources-greenhouse-gas-emissions. 

25. Wang, H., Safer, D. L., Cosentino, M., Cooper, R., VanSusteren, L., Coren, E., Nosek, G., Lertzman, R., Sutton, S. (2023, January 23). Coping with Eco-Anxiety: An Interdisciplinary Perspective for Collective Learning and Strategic Communication. The Journal of Climate Change and Health. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joclim.2023.100211.

26.  The World Bank. (2019). How much do our wardrobes cost to the environment? https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2019/09/23/costo-moda-medio-ambiente#:~: text=Every%20year%20the%20fashion%20industry,needs%20of%20five%20million%2 0people.&text=The%20fashion%20industry%20is%20responsible,flights%20and%20ma ritime%20shipping%20combined.

Abstract: Society has seen a rapid growth of technology and social media use in recent years as traditional newspapers, broadcasters, and magazines have experienced a loss of subscribers and revenue to online news sources. Despite having negative effects on traditional journalists, the recent rise of social media and technology has opened up new possibilities for journalists and even independent individuals. News is now able to circulate through social media platforms and reach users at unprecedented numbers. Writers can spread stories across the globe, extending to distant audiences (Wahl-Jorgensen, 2016). As of late, social media has played an instrumental role in spreading urgent news, including, but not limited to, natural disasters, political updates, and safety precautions. This study examined how social media affects current events knowledge, aiming to identify if there is a correlation between teenagers’ use of social media as a primary news source, daily screen time, social media platforms, and current event knowledge. As well as, a correlation between teenagers’ knowledge of sports news and knowledge of entertainment news. At a local high school on Long Island, New York, seventy-nine students from ninth to twelfth grade were surveyed using an assessment titled Current Events Knowledge Analysis. Data was analyzed using a Chi-Square Test of Independence with one significant finding made: there is a correlation between teenagers’ knowledge of sports news and knowledge of entertainment news. These results will allow news outlets and organizations to better understand and connect with audiences.

References

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Whitmore, Evonne H, and Drew Tiene. (PDF) Viewing Channel One: Awareness of Current Events by ... 1994, https://www.researchgate.net/publication/350789632_Viewing_Channel_One_Awareness_of_Current_Events_by_Teenagers.

Abstract: The responses to the COVID-19 pandemic have varied significantly across different political systems. Numerous factors may be attributable to the differing rates of infection rates across various countries such as availability of universal healthcare and reliance on public transportation. In fact, the political system of a particular country may determine how that country has addressed the pandemic and thereby affect that country’s infection rates. This paper will compare the political systems, pandemic responses and infection rates of countries. First, each country’s political systems will be briefly described. Next, the two countries’ respective infection rates and pandemic responses will be compared. 
As part of my analysis, I will examine how the US political system may have resulted in more effective or less effective pandemic strategies. Finally, drawing from the strategies used by other countries, two specific suggestions for improving the U.S.’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic will be considered. In a vast country like the US, the best way to mitigate the crisis is to handle it region-by-region due to the vast disparity in economy and population state-by-state rather than governmental intervention. Compared to other countries, the United States is more decentralized and naturally, states have gotten more power regarding laws and quarantines during this crisis (Dziobek, 2010). That being said, although the countries of the world have indeed done much to quarantine the crisis, states must keep control of individual laws (Dziobek, 2010). Specifically, states like California, Florida, Texas, New York and Georgia have the worst second wave of cases in the country. Since the virus is affecting states in different ways than ever imagined, state governments should be moderating the virus based on their situation rather than national lockdowns like in other countries. With five states accounting for more than 40% of all COVID-19 cases, this solution shows much promise for specifically this country.

References

1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2020). Geographic Differences in COVID-19 Cases, Deaths, and Incidence — United States, February 12–April 7, 2020. Retrieved from https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6915e4.htm#:~:text=Community%20transmission%20of%20COVID%2D,of%20COVID%2D19.
   Cirillo, P., Taleb, N.N. Tail risk of contagious diseases. Nat. Phys. 16, 606–613 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41567-020-0921-x.

2. Ding, Lei, and Alvaro Sanchez. “COVID-19 and the Philadelphia Fed.” Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia, Apr. 2020, philadelphiafed.org/covid-19/covid-19-equity-in-recovery/what-small-businesses-will-be-impacted. 

3. Dziobek, Claudia, et al. “Measuring Fiscal Decentralization – Exploring the IMF’s Databases.” International Monetary Fund, International Monetary Fund, www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/wp/2011/wp11126.pdf.

4. Eckfeldt, Bruce. “Key Questions to Guide Your Post-Pandemic Plan.” Inc.com, Mansueto Ventures, 25 Apr. 2020, www.inc.com/bruce-eckfeldt/key-questions-to-guide-your-post-pandemic-plan.html. 

5. Fox, Michelle. “How These Small Businesses Are Surviving during the Coronavirus Pandemic.” CNBC, CNBC, 9 Aug. 2020, www.cnbc.com/2020/08/08/coronavirus-how-these-small-businesses-are-surviving-the-pandemic.html. 

6. Jiang, I. (2020). Here's the difference between an 'essential' business and a 'nonessential' business as more than 30 states have imposed restrictions. Business Insider. Retrieved from https://www.businessinsider.com/what-is-a-nonessential-business-essential-business-coronavirus-2020-3

7. Lexis Nexus. (2020). Economic Risk—What Is It and How to Effectively Manage It. Retrieved from https://www.lexisnexis.com/en-us/products/entity-insight/economic-risk.page#:~:text=%E2%80%B9%20%E2%80%BA,that%20may%20adversely%20affect%20profits.

8. Maxouris, Christina. “US Tops 5 Million Covid-19 Cases, with Five States Making up More than 40% of Tally.” CNN, Cable News Network, 9 Aug. 2020, www.cnn.com/2020/08/09/health/us-coronavirus-sunday/index.html. 

Abstract: Korean shamanism is a traditional spiritual practice in Korea that has its roots in ancient shamanistic rituals originating in Siberia that has been altered over time to align with Korea’s cultural beliefs and values. Shamanism had played a vital role in Korean society throughout its history but faced growing criticism during the Joseon period when it conflicted with Confucianist and Christian tenets. Moreover, shamanism was viewed as "unmodern" and irrational throughout the Japanese colonial period and even during the early decades of Korea's independence. Notwithstanding the public display of certain government-sanctioned rituals in an effort to uphold the country's cultural heritage, many shamans in today’s society have resorted to conducting more private rituals oftentimes conducted in secrecy. Nevertheless, Korean shamanism has endured and arguably has experienced a resurgence in recent years, even in the midst of the country's widespread urbanization and global diaspora of Koreans. 

This paper attempts to consider some historical and contemporary issues around Korean shamanism, including the role of mudangs in preserving Korea's cultural heritage as well as guiding and healing individuals spiritually. Additionally, concerns about the commercialization of shamanic practices and the appropriation of shamanic symbols and rituals in contemporary popular culture are analyzed. Overall, Korean shamanism has been effective in adapting syncretically to remain an important part of Korea's cultural heritage and identity, and its practitioners and supporters continue to advocate for its recognition and preservation within Korea and beyond through the Korean diaspora for both emotional support and spiritual guidance.

Keywords: Shamanism, syncretism, mudang, spiritual practices, neo-shamanism, kut, divination

References

1. Baker, D. L. (2010). Shamans in Today’s Korea. Education About Asia. Volume 15:1.

2. Brooksbank, T. (2018, April 25). My Experience With a Korean Fortune Teller. Annenberg Media. Retrieved March 17, 2023, from https://www.uscannenbergmedia.com/2018/04/25/my-experience-with-a-korean-fortune-teller/.

3. Choe, S.-H. (2007, July 6). In the age of the Internet, Korean shamans regain popularity. New York Times. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/06/world/asia/06iht-shaman.1.6527738.html.

4. Chung, S. (2022, November 23). The seed of Korean Christianity grew in the soil of shamanism. ChristianityToday.com. Retrieved March 1, 2023, from https://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2022/november-web-only/korea-shamanism-christianity-pyongyang-revival.html.

5. Hong, K. S. (2015). Korean Shamanism: From Tradition To Change In the U.S. Diasporic Context. Ph.D. Dissertation for Drew Theological School (Drew University, NJ). 

6. Hwang, M. (2007). The Mudang: The Colonial Legacies of Korean Shamanism. In Han Kut: Critical Art and Writing by Korean Canadian Women, edited by The Korean Canadian Women's Anthology Collective. Pp 103-119.

7. Jones, D. R. (2021, February 25). Spirit Possession and Shamanic Ritual in South Korea: Business is booming. Folklore Thursday.com. Retrieved  3/1/2023,  from https://folklorethursday.com/folklife/spirit-possession-and-shamanic-ritual-in-south-korea-business-is-booming/.

8. Kendall, L. (2010). Old Gods, New Times:  A Shaman Ritual in South Korea. Education About Asia. Volume 15:1.

9. Phillips, J. (2014). Retrieving the Lost Souls of Modernity: A Study of Neo-Shamanic Practice. (thesis). Whitman College, Walla Walla, WA. 

10. Raz. (2020, March 27). On neo-shamanism. Medium. Retrieved March 14, 2023, from https://medium.com/theological-and-religious-archetypes/neoshamanism-28a ec913ba2.

11. Silcott, W. (2009). Invention and Reinvention in Modern South Korean. Published in Fairmount Folio: Journal of History.

12. Walraven, B. (1993). Our shamanistic past: The Korean government, shamans and shamanism. The Copenhagen Journal of Asian Studies, 8. https://doi.org/10.22439/cjas.v8i1.1819

13. Walraven, B. (2009). National pantheon, regional deities, personal spirits? Mushindo, songsu, and the nature of Korean shamanism. Asian Ethnology, 68(1): 55–80.

     

Abstract: To carry out detoxification and decolorization of industrial waste by using Laccase immobilized hydrogel beads which are activated by a carbodiimide, hydroxysuccininimide and carbodiimide and hydroxysuccininimide. In this paper, we have found the maximum activity % of the Laccase enzyme on hydrogel beads was observed at pH 6. Maximum activity% of the Laccase enzyme on hydrogel beads was observed at 45°C. It was observed enzyme activity and substrate concentration were directly proportional. It was observed that the enzyme activity% on the hydrogel beads maintained around 80% for
30 days for 30 days. Maximum activity% of the Laccase enzyme on hydrogel beads was observed at 80% and above for 5
usage. Laccase-immobilized hydrogel beads which are activated by a carbodiimide, hydroxysuccinimide, and both of them; can be used as an economic and alternative method for detoxification and decolorization of industrial waste. Our refining systems can be acceptable as the sustainable refining system. Our results are consistent with the results of the studies in the Literatures.

Keywords: Industrial waste, Laccase immobilized hydrogel beads, carbodiimide, enzyme activity, substrate concentration

References

1. Nicell, J.A., Al-Kassim, L., Bewtra, JK., Taylor, KE., ” Wastewater treatment by enzyme catalyzed polymerization and precipitation”. Biodeterior Abstr 7: 1–8, 1993.
2. Bamforth, S.M., Singleton, I., “Bioremediation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: current knowledge and future directions”. J Chem Technol Biotechnol 80: 723–736, 2005.
3. Peppas, N.A., Ed. Hydrogels in Medicine and Pharmacy; Wiley: New York, 1987.
4. Das, B., Dutta, S., Nayak, A.K., Nanda, U. (2014). Zinc alginate-carboxymethyl cashew gum microbeads for prolonged drug release: Development and optimization. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 70, 506–515.
5. Yang, L., Shia, J., Zhoua, X., Cao, S. (2015). Hierarchically organization of biomineralized alginate beads for dualstimuli-responsive drug delivery. International Journal of Biological Macromolecules, 73, 1–8.
6. https://pubchem.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/compound/Syringaldazine
7. H. Uhr; B. Mielke; O. Exner; K. R. Payne; E. Hill (2013). "Biocides". Ullmann's Encyclopedia of Industrial Chemistry. Weinheim: Wiley-VCH. doi 1002/14356007.a16_563.pub2
8. Dominguez, A., Rodriguez, S., Sanroman, C. and MA. “Dye decolorization by Trametes hirsuta immobilized into Alginate beads”, World Journal of Microbiology&Biotechnology 21: 405–409, 2005.

Abstract: Metal corrosion in the US costs $2.5 trillion annually, which is equivalent to ~3.4% of the world’s gross domestic product. Implementing corrosion inhibition methods will result in global savings of 15-35% of that cost, or $375-875 billion. Kale extract could have the properties to minimize corrosion. This study will test the inhibition properties of kale extract on steel corrosion. To create the kale extract, kale leaves were dried in an incubator. They were ground into a fine powder and transferred into a flask, with the addition of 250 ml of water.  The mixture was heated until 50 ml evaporated,  then it was stored in a fridge for later use. The steel was cut into 6 sheets. 3 steel samples were kept for the experimental group and 3 steel samples were kept for the control group. The experimental group was submerged in the kale extract. All 6 steel pieces were submerged in hydrochloric acid. Mass and observations were taken daily. Over time the mass of the control group diminished faster than the experimental group. The corrosion rate was greater in the control group than the experimental group. These results demonstrate kale extract is an effective inhibitor for steel corrosion.

Keywords:  Brassica oleracea, steel corrosion, kale leaves

References

1. Afonso, Gara, Filippo Curti, and Atanas Mihov (2019). "Coming to Terms with Operational Risk," Federal Reserve Bank of New York Liberty Street Economics, January 7, https://libertystreeteconomics.newyorkfed.org/2019/01/coming-to-terms-with-operational-risk/.

2. Barrett, Devlin (2020). "Capital One fined $80 million for 2019 hack of 100 million credit card applications," August 6, https://www.washingtonpost.com/national-security/capital-one-fined-2019-hack/2020/08/06/90c2c836-d7f3-11ea-aff6-220dd3a14741_story.html

3. Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System November (2021). Financial Stability Report, pg. 3, https://www.federalreserve.gov/publications/files/financial-stability-report-20211108.pdf.

4. Eisenbach, Thomas, Anna Kovner, and Michael Junho Lee (2021). "Cyber risk and the U.S. financial system: A pre-mortem analysis," Journal of Financial Economics, forthcoming.

5. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency, Office of the Director of National Intelligence, and National Security Agency (2021). Joint statement, January 5, https://www.cisa.gov/news/2021/01/05/joint-statement-federal-bureau-investigation-fbi-cybersecurity-and-infrastructure.

6. National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (2018). "Framework for improving critical infrastructure cybersecurity," v. 1.1, April 16, https://nvlpubs.nist.gov/nistpubs/CSWP/NIST.CSWP.04162018.pdf.

7. M. Du, F. Li, G. Zheng, and V. Srikumar, “DeepLog: AnomalyDetection and Diagnosis from System Logs through DeepLearning,” ACM CCS`17, 2017

8.  K. Broughton, “Automated incident response: Respond to every alert,”https://swimlane.com/blog/automated-incident-response-respond-every-alert/, 2017.

Abstract: This paper will examine the effect of critical moments in the American history of unionization on today’s political and economic landscapes pertaining to labor unions; numerous acts, such as the National Labor Relations Act of 1935 have legitimized union activities. Upon examination, this paper will analyze how the modern political and economic landscapes regarding American labor unions impact the effectiveness of organizing; unethical employer tactics decrease the likelihood of success for unions. Lastly, this essay inspects the possible benefits of specific actions that could be taken to strengthen the labor movement. In 1935, the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) was signed into law marking a significant moment in the history of American unions as workers’ right to unionize was legitimized. In 1947, a different shift in the landscape of unions occurred under the Taft-Hartley Act which restricted certain union activities in some states. 

In recent times, the economic and political landscapes pertaining to labor unions have been plagued by numerous factors creating an uphill battle for organizing workers. However, in 2021, the US House of Representatives passed the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act, restricting the egregious methods commonly applied by employers to oppose unions. It was observed that attempts to unionize were generally met with employer retaliation. Varying unethical tactics were employed to dissuade workers from unionizing, such as holding mandatory anti-union meetings and excessive stalling. Such attempts were generally fruitful due to a paucity of sufficient punishment.

As unions are helpful in combating the mistreatment of workers and provide a stronger say for employees in voicing their needs, I believe there should be more legal repercussions for those who violate labor law.

Keywords: Labor unions, Labor law reform, Political landscape, Harvard Labor Reform Project’s proposal, Labor law policies

References

1. Block, S. & Sachs, B. (2019). Executive Summary of Clean slate for worker power. Clean Slate for Worker Power. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.cleanslateworkerpower.org/

2. A Brief History of Labor, Race and Solidarity. Labor Commission on Racial and Economic Justice. (2017, January 13). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://racial-justice.aflcio.org/blog/est-aliquid-se-ipsum-flagitiosum-etiamsi-nulla

3. A Brief History of Unions. Union Plus. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.unionplus.org/page/brief-history-unions 

4. Conerly, B. (2022, Feb). Starbucks with Labor Unions: Lessons for Other Business. Retrieved. Forbes.  August 10, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/sites/billconerly/2022/02/22/starbucks-with-labor-unions-lessons-for-other-business/?sh=4bcfad4c4e84

5. Goldfield, M., & Bromsen, A. (2013). The changing landscape of US unions in historical and Theoretical Perspective. Annual Review of Political Science, 16(1), 231-257. doi:10.1146/annurev-polisci-032211-214003

6. Hafiz, H. (2021). Structural labor rights. Michigan Law Review, (119.4), 651. doi:10.36644/mlr.119.4.structural

7. Jorgenson, K. (2017). Labor Law for Whom? Interest Group Politics and the Wagner Act. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://digitalcommons.tacoma.uw.edu/ppe_prize/9

8. Lafer, G., & Loustaunau, L. (2020, July). Fear at work. Economic Policy Institute. https://files.epi.org/pdf/202305.pdf

9. Paschal, O. (2021, Mar). The Pro Act would undo decades of southern anti-union laws rooted in racism. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.facingsouth.org/2021/03/pro-act-would-undo-decades-southern-anti-union-laws-rooted-racism

10. Poydock, M., Mangundayao, I., McNicholas, C., & Schmitt, J. (2022, Feb). Data show major strike activity increased in 2021 but remains below pre-pandemic levels: Many worker actions were not captured in the data. Economic Policy Institute. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.epi.org/publication/2021-work-stoppages/

11. The Pro Act: Bad for Workers, Bad for Businesses. (2021, Mar). Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://www.rpc.senate.gov/policy-papers/the-pro-act-bad-for-workers-bad-for-businesses

12. Noor, M..  (2022, June). How would the looming recession impact strides in the labor market? Prism. Retrieved August 10, 2022, from https://prismreports.org/2022/06/23/looming-recession-impact-labor-market/

13. Rosenbaum, E. The Amazon, Starbucks, Apple Union Push Is Capturing What a Majority of All American Workers Now Say They Want. (2022, June), from https://www.cnbc.com/2022/06/02/majority-of-american-workers-want-more-unionization-at-their-own-jobs.html

Abstract: In 2015, Flint Michigan changed water sources from Lake Huron to the Flint River, which had water lead levels [15], correlated with blood lead levels [17]. Lead is highly neurotoxic [19], lowering grey matter volume [5]. Due to a lack of data from Flint, fMRI scans (after 2015) from Los Angeles, New York City, and Philadelphia were analyzed with voxel-based morphometry in spm12. Grey matter volumes were stratified by gender. Significant differences were found between average grey matter and water lead levels (p<0.00001). Philadelphia, with the highest lead levels (3.0 ppb), had significantly lower grey matter volume than all other cities. All locations had significantly lower volume than the control, demonstrating the impact of water lead. There were significant differences between cities of varied water lead concentrations. Philadelphia and Flint had the highest water lead levels, at 3.0 ppb, allowing Philadelphia to be used as a possible model for Flint.

Keywords: Flint, lead, water lead, blood lead, blood-brain barrier, grey matter volume, fMRI, spm12, voxel-based morphometry, model, toxicity

References

1.  Campbell, Duncan (June 12, 2003). "Gregory Peck, screen epitome of idealistic individualism, dies aged 87". The Guardian. Retrieved April 7, 2020.

2. Giddens, Thomas, ed. (2015). Graphic Justice: Intersections of Comics and Law. Routledge. ISBN 9781317658382.

3. Brugue, Lydia; Llompart, Auba (2020). Contemporary Fairy-Tale Magic: Subverting Gender and Genre. Leiden: BRILL. p. 196. ISBN 978-90-04-41898-1.

4. Cattoi, Thomas; Odorisio, David M. (2018). Depth Psychology and Mysticism. Cham: Palgrave Macmillan. p. 72. ISBN 978-3-319-79096-1.

5. Singh, Greg (2014). Film After Jung: Post-Jungian Approaches to Film Theory. New York: Routledge. p. 127. ISBN 9780415430890.

6. Frank, Adam (2009). The Constant Fire: Beyond the Science vs. Religion Debate. Berkeley: University of California Press. p. 211. ISBN 978-0-520-25412-1.

7. Stevens, Anthony (1999). On Jung: Updated Edition (2nd ed.). Princeton, N.J.: Princeton University Press. p. 215. ISBN 069101048X. OCLC 41400920.

8. Stevens, Anthony (2015). Living Archetypes: The selected works of Anthony Stevens. Oxon: Routledge. p. 141. ISBN 978-1-317-59562-5.

9.  Jung, Emma; Franz, Marie-Luise von (1998). The Grail Legend. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press. p. 36. ISBN 0-691-00237-1.

10. Papadopoulos, Renos The Handbook of Jungian Psychology 2006

11. Joseph Henderson, "Ancient Myths and Modern Man", in Jung ed., Symbols p. 123

12. Leach, Edmund (1974). Lévi Strauss. Fontana/Collins. p. 16. OCLC 894883903.

13. a b Stevens, Anthony (2015-06-29). Archetype Revisited: An Updated Natural History of the Self. London: Routledge. doi:10.4324/9781315740515. ISBN 978-1-315-74051-5.

Abstract: In this experiment  working with Chromium and Eisenia fetida studying the health and behaviors of Eisenia fetida and how Chromium will affect their behaviors when exposed to Chromium. Other researchers that have done similar research showed that their Eisenia fetida have died because of being exposed to too much Chromium or in other experiments they did not have an outcome because the Eisenia fetida was not exposed to enough Chromium. The Eisenia fetida will be exposed to Chromium for about 2 weeks. The worms  will be monitored. The habitat of the Eisenia fetida is moist soil, although some Eisenia fetida actually prefer mud, such as the mud that is found along the shores of lakes or swamps. Eisenia fetida can be found in the soil of backyards as well as near bodies of fresh and saltwater.  When the  Eisenia Fetida arrive  there will be an enclosure for them to be in. Earthworms eat soil. Their nutrition comes from things in soil, such as decaying roots and leaves. The entire surface of a worm's body absorbs oxygen and releases carbon dioxide. Moisture Eisenia Fetida moves  by squeezing muscles around their water- filled bodies. The Earthworms  will lose weight  when being exposed to Chromium. They will also shrink and the regeneration process for the earthworms will slow down. This shows how Chromium does have an effect on Eisenia fetida  and can cause the worms to have different effects.

References

1. Burlinson, B., Tice, R.R., Speit, G., Agurell, E., Brendler-Schwaab, S.Y., Collins, A.R., Escobar, P., Honma, M., Kumaravel, T.S., Nakajima, M., Sasaki, Y.F., Thybaud, E., Uno, Y., Vasquez, M., Hartmann, A., 2007. Fourth international workgroup on genotoxicity testing: results of in vivo comet assay workgroup. Mutat. Res.

2. Ching, E.W.K., Siu, W.H.L., Lam, P.K.S., Xu, L., Zhang, Y., Richardson, B.J., Wu, R.S.S., 2001. DNA adduct formation and DNA strand breaks in green-lipped mussels (Perna viridis) exposed to benzo[a]pyrene: dose- and time-dependent relationships. Mar. Pollut. Bull. 42, 603–610. Cotelle, S., Ferard, J.-F., 1999. Comet assay in genetic ecotoxicology: a review. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 34, 246–255.

3. Di Marzio, W.D., Saenz, M.E., Lemière, S., Vasseur, P., 2005. Improved single-cell gel electrophoresis assay for detecting DNA damage in Eisenia foetida. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 46, 246–252. Fourie, F., Reinecke, S.A., Reinecke, A.J., 2007. The determination of earthworm species sensitivity differences to cadmium genotoxicity using the comet assay. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 67, 361–368. 

4. Di Palma, L., Gueye, M.T., Petrucci, E., 2015. Hexavalent chromium reduction in contaminated soil : a comparison
   between ferrous sulfate and nanoscale zero-valent iron. J. Hazard Mater. 70–76.https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2014.07.058.

5. Dong, H., Deng, J., Xie, Y., Zhang, C., Jiang, Z., Cheng, Y., Hou, K., Zeng, G., 2017.Stabilization of nanoscale
   zero-valent iron (nZVI) with modified biochar for Cr(VI)removal from aqueous solution. Journal of Hazardous Materials.
   Elsevier B.V.

6. Inzunza, B., Orrego, R., Peñalosa, M., Gavilán, J.F., Barra, R., 2006. Analysis of CYP4501A1, PAHs metabolites in bile, and genotoxic damage in Oncorhynchus mykiss exposed to Biobío River sediments, Central Chile. Ecotoxicol. Environ. Saf. 65, 242–251. 

Abstract: The areas of the brain that become active when formulating a lie, or “deceit patterns, are denoted on fMRI scans, yielding results that are more accurate than the polygraph. Using publicly available court records and fMRI results obtained from previous literature, the extent to which fMRI scan evidence influences juror confidence, perceived strength of argument, and verdict counts between participants serving as mock jurors in a mock trial exposed to fMRI scan evidence and those not exposed to it were compared. Analysis of these metrics revealed that a mock juror’s exposure to fMRI evidence increases their perceived strength of the argument for the side consistent with their verdict and drastically changes the distribution of guilty versus not guilty verdicts. The difference in confidence levels between mock jurors in the control and experimental groups was not found to be statistically significant, however future research using a larger sample size may verify the current trend that viewing fMRI evidence increases juror confidence in their verdict. Although fMRI evidence possesses the potential to revolutionize the way juries lend weight to pieces of evidence, because it was found to cause such significant shifts in juror decision making, court judges should caution its admission into evidence or further scrutinize its credibility during evidentiary suppression hearings until it is deemed generally acceptable by the scientific community.

References

1. Amirian, J. (2013). Weighing the admissibility of f MRI technology under FRE 403: For the law, f MRI changes everything and nothing. Fordham Urban Law Journal, 41(2), 715-770.
2. Brown, T., & Murphy, E. (2010). Through a Scanner Darkly: Functional Neuroimaging as Evidence of a Criminal Defendant's Past Mental States. Stanford Law Review, 62(4), 1119-1208. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org/stable/40649625
3. Disbrow, Elizabeth A., et al. "Functional MRI at 1.5 Tesla: A Comparison of the Blood Oxygenation Level-Dependent Signal and Electrophysiology." Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, vol. 97, no. 17, 2000, pp. 9718–9723. JSTOR, www.jstor.org/stable/123530. Accessed 5 Feb. 2020.
4. Funk, C. (2018, March 13). Daubert versus frye: A national look at expert evidentiary standards. The Expert Institute. Retrieved November 6, 2019, from https://www.theexpertinstitute.com/daubert-versus-frye-a-national-look-at-expert-evidentiary-standards/
5. Justia. (2002). United States v. Mezvinsky, 206 F. supp. 2d 661 (E.D. pa. 2002). Law.justia. Retrieved October 11, 2019, from https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/FSupp2/206/661/2433256/
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7. Mohamed, F. B., Faro, S. H., Gordon, N. J., Platek, S. M., Ahmad, H., & Williams, M. J. (2006). Brain mapping of deception and truth telling about an ecologically valid situation: functional MR imaging and polygraph investigation—initial experience. Radiology: Volume 238, 679-688. Retrieved December 9, 2019 from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/17e5/700fe998c1c7567342474f8578ac50698512.pdf
8. Moll, Jorge, Oliveira-Souza, Ricardo de, Moll, Fernanda Tovar, Bramati, Ivanei Edson, & Andreiuolo, Pedro Angelo. (2002). The cerebral correlates of set-shifting: an fMRI study of the trail making test. Arquivos de Neuro-Psiquiatria, 60(4), 900-905. https://doi.org/10.1590/S0004-282X2002000600002
9. Pardo, Michael S., Neuroscience Evidence, Legal Culture, and Criminal Procedure. American Journal of Criminal Law, Vol. 33, p. 301, 2006; U of Alabama Public Law Research Paper No. 910958. Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=910958
10. Raichle, M. E. (2009). Using imaging to identify deceit: Scientific and ethical questions. In American Academy of Arts & Sciences (pp. 3-6).
11.  
12. Reardon, S. (2015, March 2). Pain cases may usher brain scans into the courtroom. Scientificamerican. Retrieved October 11, 2019, from

Abstract: 

SARS-CoV-2, a novel coronavirus also known as COVID-19, has caused a global pandemic, claiming the lives of over 3 million people, and counting. Governments and local polities have implemented public health mandates to reduce the spread, including mask-wearing, a policy that remains controversial. The aim of this study was to examine how effective strict enforcement of mask-wearing policies is in reducing COVID-19 infection rates. A total of 30 countries and subnational political jurisdictions were selected using Text Finder’s random choice generator, then sorted into three categories of mask enforcement: strict, moderate, and lax, characterized by punishments, non-enforcement, or lack of precautions. The percent changes in cases were recorded over a 3-month period prior to and after the declaration of mask mandates for each locality, then analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to rank the three categories. The mean rankings from greatest to least were: lax (24.90), moderate (12.90), and strict (8.70). The Kruskal-Wallis test result was H(2)= 18.240, P=.000. Locations with stricter mask policies had lower infection rates. Therefore, it was concluded that strictly enforced mask policies were most effective in limiting COVID-19 transmission. Confounding variables include political agendas, the sway of public opinions, and a transient lack of data on COVID. Future research could analyze the effectiveness of mask enforcement in locations with different COVID-19 variants.

Keywords: SARS-CoV-2, masks, infection rates, mask enforcement, Kruskal-Wallis test

References

1. Front-line 'Special Forces' Share Candid Stories in University of Utah Health Podcast Series. American Hospital Association. (2020, August 27). https://www.aha.org/other-resources/2020-08-27-front-line-special-forces-share-candid-stories-university-utah-health. 

2. Gandhi, M., & Rutherford, G. W. (2020, October 29). Facial Masking for Covid-19 - Potential for "Variolation" as We Await a Vaccine: NEJM. New England Journal of Medicine. https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/nejmp2026913

3. Bai, N. (2020, September 2). Still Confused About Masks? Here's the Science Behind How Face Masks Prevent Coronavirus. Still Confused About Masks? Here's the Science Behind How Face Masks Prevent Coronavirus | UC San Francisco. https://www.ucsf.edu/news/2020/06/417906/still-confused-about-masks-heres-science-behind-how-face-masks-prevent.

4. Lyu, W., & Wehby, G. L. (2020, June 16). Community Use Of Face Masks And COVID-19: Evidence From A Natural Experiment Of State Mandates In The US. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/doi/10.1377/hlthaff.2020.00818. 

5. Leffler, C. T., Ing, E., Lykins, J. D., Hogan, M. C., McKeown, C. A., & Grzybowski, A. (2020, June 15). Association of country-wide coronavirus mortality with demographics, testing, lockdowns, and public wearing of masks.ResearchGate. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/342198360_Association_of_country-wide_coronavirus_mortality_with_demographics_testing_lockdowns_and_public_wearing_of_masks_Update_June_15_2020. 

6. Brooks, J. T., & Butler, J. C. (2021, February 10). Effectiveness of Mask Wearing to Control Community Spread of SARS-CoV-2. JAMA. https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2776536. 

7. Vaida, B. (2020, September 4). Pandemic Preparedness. CQ Researcher by CQ Press. http://library.cqpress.com/cqresearcher/document.php?id=cqresrre2020090400. 

8. Arora, V. M., Jain, S., Ranney, M. L., & Burstin, H. (2020, August 5). The Case For A National Universal Masking Mandate. Health Affairs. https://www.healthaffairs.org/do/10.1377/hblog20200804.515241/full/. 

9. DeSimone, D. C. (2021, March 23). COVID-19 variants: What's the concern? Mayo Clinic. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/expert-answers/covid-variant/faq-20505779. 

10. Howard, J., Huang, A., Li, Z., Tufekci, Z., Zdimal, V., Westhuizen, H.-M. van der, Delft, A. von, Price, A., Fridman, L., Tang, L.-H., Tang, V., Watson, G. L., Bax, C. E., Shaikh, R., Questier, F., Hernandez, D., Chu, L. F., Ramirez, C. M., & Rimoin, A. W. (2021, January 26). An evidence review of face masks against COVID-19. PNAS. https://www.pnas.org/content/118/4/e2014564118. 

11. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. (2021, June 15). SARS-CoV-2 Variant Classifications and Definitions. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant-info.html.  

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: COVID-19 has proven detrimental to the economy and changed the nature of social interactions. Governments at every level have increasingly required the use of face masks in public spaces. Evidence has shown that mandatory mask-wearing policies can effectively control the outbreak of the virus, protecting susceptible populations (i.e., individuals with preexisting conditions, individuals 65 and older). Many communities encourage mask-wearing to reduce the chance of viral transmission. While mandatory mask policies appear to effectively reduce transmission of the virus, their long-term psychological effects are not yet known. In this study, we examine the association between the implementation of face mask mandates and detrimental psychological and social consequences as well as other relevant aspects. Also, this study tries to figure out if the mandatory mask policies are advisable, and if so, how it benefits the public. 

Overall, this paper tried to suggest that short-term and institutional responses can coexist as a response to the issue. In addition, the quarantine policy examined in this paper showed a partial response. It is clear that there is no one policy that can comprehensively respond to the global and social problems brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. Perhaps the government's policy cannot and does not need to fully respond to all the ills that our society faces. The government may be able to alleviate the problem by only partially responding to the public concerns and leaving the rest to the officials and citizens. In addition, the central government can overcome the issue by withholding judgment and by expressing an active choice by local governments and the media. By reviewing the quarantine policy for the COVID-19 crisis, it will be possible to discuss how a partial response to a policy problem can be improved.

Keywords: COVID-19, Mask Policies, Social Consequence, Anxiety and Stress, Psychological Effects

References

1. Detsky, A. S. and Bogoch, I. I. (2020, August 25). The Canadian Response To COVID-19. Retrieved from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2769439

2. Duan, L. and Zhu, G. (2020). Psychological interventions for people affected by the COVID-19 epidemic. Lancet. Psych. 7 300–302. 10.1016/s2215-0366(20)30073-0

3. Greenberg, N., Docherty, M., Gnanapragasam, S. and Wessely, S. (2020). Managing mental health challenges faced by healthcare workers during covid-19 pandemic. BMJ 368:m1211. 10.1136/bmj.m1211

4. Liu S., Yang L., Zhang C., Xiang Y. T., Liu Z., Hu S., et al. (2020). Online mental health services in China during the COVID-19 outbreak. Lancet. Psych. 7 E17–E18. 10.1016/S2215-0366(20)30077-8

5. Maheu, M. P., McMenamin, J. and Posen, L. (2012). Future of telepsychology, telehealth, and various technologies in psychological research and practice. Profess. Psychol. Res. Prac. 43 613–621. 10.1037/a0029458

6. Parshley, L. and Zhou, Y. (2020, December 4). Why every state should adopt a mask mandate, in 4 charts. Retrieved from https://www.vox.com/science-and-health/21546014/mask-mandates-coronavirus-covid-19

7. The Economist. (2020, October 14). Tracking covid-19 excess deaths across countries. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/coronavirus-excess-deaths-tracker

8. The Economist. (2020, October 11). Covid-19 has led to a sharp increase in depression and anxiety. Retrieved from https://www.economist.com/graphic-detail/2021/10/11/covid-19-has-led-to-a-sharp-increase-in-depression-and-anxiety

9. Wang, C. J., Chun, Y. and Brook, R. H. (2020, April 14). Response to COVID-19 in Taiwan: Big Data Analytics, New Technology, and Proactive Testing. Retrieved October 18, 2020, from https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2762689

10. Zhou X., Snoswell C. L., Harding L. E. (2020). The Role of Telehealth in Reducing the Mental Health Burden from COVID-19. Telemed. E Health. 26 377–379. 10.1089/tmj.2020.0068

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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4. Eckle, K., & Schmidt-Hieber, J. (2019). A comparison of deep networks with relu activation function and linear spline-type methods. Neural Networks,110, 232–242.
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6. Ho, Y., & Wookey, S.  (2019).  The real-world-weight cross-entropy loss function:  Modeling the costs of mislabeling. IEEE Access,8, 4806–4813.
7. Huss-Lederman, S., Jacobson, E. M., Johnson, J. R., Tsao, A., & Turnbull, T.  (1996).  Implementation of strassen’s algorithm for matrix multiplication.  In Supercomputing’96:Proceedings of the 1996 acm/ieee conference on supercomputing(pp. 32–32).
8. Kermany, D., Zhang, K., Goldbaum, M., et al. (2018). Labeled optical coherence tomography (oct) and chest x-ray images for classification. Mendeley data,2(2).
9. LeCun, Y., Haffner, P., Bottou, L., & Bengio, Y.  (1999).  Object recognition with gradient-based  learning. In Shape, contour and grouping in computer vision (pp.  319–345). Springer.
10. Liu, K., Kang, G., Zhang, N., & Hou, B. (2018). Breast cancer classification based on fully-connected layer first convolutional neural networks. IEEE Access,6, 23722-23732. doi:10.1109/ACCESS.2018.2817593
11. Nagi, J., Ducatelle, F., Di Caro, G. A., Cire ̧san, D., Meier, U., Giusti, A., . . .  Gambardella, L. M.  (2011).  Max-pooling convolutional neural networks for vision-based hand gesture recognition.  In 2011 ieee international conference on signal and image processing applications (icsipa) (p. 342-347).  doi: 10.1109/ICSIPA.2011.6144164
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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

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6. Bielczynski, L. W., Łącki, M. K., Hoefnagels, I., Gambin, A., & Croce, R. (2017). Leaf and Plant Age Affects Photosynthetic Performance and Photoprotective Capacity. Plant physiology, 175(4), 1634–1648. https://doi.org/10.1104/pp.17.00904
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15. Jennifer M. Nagel, Kevin L. Griffin, William S. F. Schuster, David T. Tissue, Matthew H. Turnbull, Kim J. Brown, David Whitehead, Energy investment in leaves of red maple and co-occurring oaks within a forested watershed, Tree Physiology, Volume 22, Issue 12, August 2002, Pages 859–867, https://doi.org/10.1093/treephys/22.12.859
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Abstract: The areas of the brain that become active when formulating a lie, or “deceit patterns, are denoted on fMRI scans, yielding results that are more accurate than the polygraph. Using publicly available court records and fMRI results obtained from previous literature, the extent to which fMRI scan evidence influences juror confidence, perceived strength of argument, and verdict counts between participants serving as mock jurors in a mock trial exposed to fMRI scan evidence and those not exposed to it were compared. Analysis of these metrics revealed that a mock juror’s exposure to fMRI evidence increases their perceived strength of the argument for the side consistent with their verdict and drastically changes the distribution of guilty versus not guilty verdicts. The difference in confidence levels between mock jurors in the control and experimental groups was not found to be statistically significant, however future research using a larger sample size may verify the current trend that viewing fMRI evidence increases juror confidence in their verdict. Although fMRI evidence possesses the potential to revolutionize the way juries lend weight to pieces of evidence, because it was found to cause such significant shifts in juror decision making, court judges should caution its admission into evidence or further scrutinize its credibility during evidentiary suppression hearings until it is deemed generally acceptable by the scientific community.

References

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11.  
12. Reardon, S. (2015, March 2). Pain cases may usher brain scans into the courtroom. Scientificamerican. Retrieved October 11, 2019, from

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.

References

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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.

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Abstract: The U.S. has historically relied on a robust labor force that was willing to work for arguably meager wages.  Unfortunately, the wages, which have not been satisfactorily adjusted with the increase in cost of living and inflation, have led to economic disparity and a wealth gap disproportionately affecting workers by race and gender, thereby perpetuating a cycle of poverty for those at the lowest levels on the socioeconomic ladder.

The vulnerability of those in such a financially unstable system became only too apparent during the shutdown of businesses across the country in hopes of halting the spread of the COVID-19 in the early months of 2020. For those most affected by the sudden pandemic, especially those in a lower socio-economic income level, minorities and women have been shown to be most vulnerable to financial losses, job termination, and disposable equity. Undereducated workers, limited skills, low wages, and a lack of opportunity have led many to suffer during the pandemic because employment options are limited. Historically, Blacks and Women have been paid on average just a mere percentage of what White men make in income. This equals out to trillions of dollars in losses. During the pandemic, many of these people suffered because their jobs, like in the retail or service industry, were restricted due to mandatory distancing. Being unskilled, they suffered great losses because new opportunities were not presented. There is a growing need to solve the problem of inequality so that millions do not suffer trauma due to loss.   

Keywords: Economic inequality, COVID-19, wealth gap, race and gender, socioeconomic ladder

References:

Ding, L. & Sanchez, A. (2020, April). What Small Businesses Will Be impacted by COVID-19? Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia. https://philadelphiafed.org/covid-19/covid-19-equity-in-recovery/what-small-businesses-will-be-impacted 

Gould, E., Schieder, J., & Geier, K. (2016, Oct. 20). What is the gender pay gap and is it real? Economic Policy Institute. https://www.epi.org/publication/what-is-the-gender-pay-gap-and-is-it-real/

Kilgore, E. (2020, Aug. 19). Are Republicans Abandoning a Second Stimulus Check? New York Magazine. https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2020/08/second-stimulus-check-republicans-covid-19.html

Kochhar, R. & Barroso, A. (2020, Mar. 27). Young workers likely to be hard hit as COVID-19 strikes a blow to restaurants and other service sector jobs. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/03/27/young-workers-likely-to-be-hard-hit-as-covid-19-strikes-a-blow-to-restaurants-and-other-service-sector-jobs/

Kochhar, R. (2020, April 23). The financial risk to U.S. business owners posed by COVID-19 outbreak varies by demographic group. Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2020/04/23/the-financial-risk-to-u-s-business-owners-posed-by-covid-19-outbreak-varies-by-demographic-group/ 

LaBrecque, L. (2020, Mar. 29). The CARES Act Has Passed: Here Are The Highlights. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/leonlabrecque/2020/03/29/the-cares-act-has-passed-here-are-the-highlights/

McElhaney, K., & Smith G. (2017). Eliminating the Pay Gap: An Exploration of Gender Equality, Equal Pay, and A Company that Is Leading the Way. University of California Berkeley, Haas School of Business. https://www.icrw.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Eliminating-the-Pay-Gap-Kellie-McElhaney-and-Genevieve-Smith.pdf 

Patten, E. (2016, July 1). Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2016/07/01/racial-gender-wage-gaps-persist-in-u-s-despite-some-progress/

Sauter, M. (2018, Oct. 10). Faces of poverty: What racial, social groups are more likely to experience it? USA Today. https://www.usatoday.com/story/money/economy/2018/10/10/faces-poverty-social-racial-factors/37977173/

Smith, K., Freed, Z., & Knox, R. (2020, April 8). How State and Local Governments are Helping Small Businesses During The Coronavirus Pandemic. Institute For Local Self-Reliance. https://ilsr.org/how-state-and-local-governments-are-helping-small-businesses-during-the-coronavirus-pandemic-2/

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: 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: 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: 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: 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 : 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: Socrates finds a way to denounce every single explanation that Euthyphro gives in attempting to define what piety is. Euthyphro starts out by providing an example of an action that is pious, and Socrates responds saying that he asked for a definition, not an example. To Euthyphro’s definition that something is holy because the gods agree that it is, Socrates argues that gods do not agree on everything, especially moral actions, because it is not physically measurable. Socrates’ asks the infamous question of “do the gods love piety because it is pious, or is it pious because the gods love it?” which Euthyphro is unable to answer. However, there could have been some points and arguments that Euthyphro could have made in order to corroborate his arguments and even debunk some of Socrates’ points.         

Keywords: ethics, morality, piety, Socrates and Euthyphro

Introduction: Philosophers and theorists have been debating for centuries on the definition of what makes an action good and righteous. Plato’s Euthyphro underscores the debate between Euthyphro and Socrates on the definition of piety in 399 BCE. Euthyphro believes that he knows everything about piety and the good. Despite his confidence, Socrates ends up proving to Euthyphro that his definition is inaccurate [1]. This dialogue between Euthyphro and Socrates gives a glimpse of the divine command theory, which states that the right thing is what God commands and that what is wrong is that God forbids. This theory ties together morality and religion and further provides a solution to ideas such as objectivity of ethics and moral relativism, because it suggests that morality is determined by the divine and therefore out of our own control. Socrates’ points in this dialogue, however, suggest that the relationship between morality and religion may not be that straightforward as it was believed [2]. Euthyphro is confident that he knows what is holy and unholy. In the beginning of the dialogue, Socrates ponders on the definition of piety as he reveals he has been indicted for corrupting the young by “inventing strange gods, while failing to recognize the gods of old” [3]. Further background information is provided when Euthyphro states that he is prosecuting his own father for murder. His relatives are upset because it is “unholy for a son to prosecute his father for murder” and scoffs at their opinions, saying, “Little do they know… of religious law about what is holy and unholy” [3]. Euthyphro suggests that he understands the holiness under the religious context better than everyone else.

References

[1] https://www.thoughtco.com/platos-euthyphro-2670341

[2] https://ma.tt/2003/02/divine-command-theory-and-the-euthyphro-argument/

[3] Plato, Euthyphro

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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: 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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