Recent challengerresearchjournal items

From Comrades to Strangers: The Great Leap Forward and the Unraveling of China–GDR Relations

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The deterioration of the relationship between China and East Germany was critical and has been under-researched. Many scholars have emphasized the importance of diplomatic events in contributing to such a deterioration. Yet, less focus was paid to Chinese internal policies, specifically the Great Leap Forward. Though implemented nationally, the Great Leap Forward had an international influence on the GDR's national situation and its relationship with China. This paper will argue that the Chinese Great Leap Forward was instrumental to the collapse of the Sino-East German relationship in 1961, specifically analyzing how the Great Leap Forward contributed to this relationship shift within the context of the Sino-Soviet Split. In terms of the primary sources, while most of them will be archival government documents, interviews from native Chinese people who experienced the event will also be taken into account as oral history.

“We’re more American than they’ll ever be”: Race, Citizenship, Patriotism Among San Diego Fil-Ams

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

While notable research has been done into the history of Filipina/o/x American (Fil-Am) communities in Southern California (Espiritu, 2003; Bonus, 1997), many of these analyses fail to take into account the unique construction of San Diego’s Fil-Am community as a result of two primary factors: enlistment into the U.S. Navy as a dominant avenue for Filipino immigration to San Diego and San Diego’s physical proximity to the U.S.-Mexico border during an anti-immigrant political climate. This particular historical and geographic context has positioned enlistment into the U.S. Navy as a “common sense” mode of being Fil-Am in San Diego through the perception of military service as a means of becoming an ideal immigrant-citizen (in stark contrast to the image of an “illegal alien”). Through analyzing the historical conditions of Filipina/o/x American immigrants, veterans, and military-affiliated communities from the beginning of the 20th century to the present day, this paper...

Challenging Linguistic Discrimination: Anti Racist Writing Pedagogy in Undergraduate Writing Courses

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Linguistic discrimination in higher education disproportionately affects Black students who speak African American Vernacular English (AAVE) and Black Language (BL). Standard Language Ideology (SLI) reinforces the belief that Standard English (SE) is the only legitimate academic language, embedding racial biases in grading and assessment. Traditional grading systems penalize students for linguistic diversity, positioning AAVE as "improper" and "unacademic" rather than recognizing it as a legitimate linguistic system (Baker-Bell, 2019; Horton, 2000). Scholars (Inoue, 2015; Baker-Bell, 2019) advocate for anti-racist assessment models.

Using surveys of UC San Diego writing instructional staff and undergraduate students who are enrolled in or have completed at least one undergraduate writing course, this project investigates the types of assessment models used and students’ perceptions of their impact on academic success. Understanding how grading practices influence...

Black Belonging in Education: Understanding the Impacts of Gendered and Racialized Oppression

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Black students in the public school system are facing challenges like racism, misogyny, toxic masculinity, and dehumanization. These issues are systematically upheld as barriers between Black folks and their educational attainment. This research project aims to examine and compare public school data for both California and San Diego county in regards to suspensions, expulsions, and felony arrests stratified by race to highlight the systematic aspect of these events. Keeping in mind the long-standing racist and misogynistic oppression that Black students have experienced in public schools, this research hopes to adequately address the similar but different experiences of Black students based on their gender expression and skin color through the aforementioned quantitative analysis and qualitative analysis of relevant testimonios. Testimonios have been generated for this project, both formally and informally, and were given by family members and community members who chose to...

Challenger Research Journal: Volume 7

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Challenger Research Journal: Volume 7

Afrosurrealist Aesthetic in Selected Stories in Sheree R. Thomas’s Dark Matter

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper explores how allusions to mythology in “Anansi Meets Peter Parker at the Taco Bell on Lexington” by Douglas Kearney, “The Magical Negro” by Nnedi Okorafor-Mbachu, and “Aftermoon” by Tananarive Due from Dark Matter by Sheree R. Thomas exemplifies an Afrosurrealist literary aesthetic. Using James Scott theory of public and hidden transcript, Nelson Maldonado-Torres theory of the coloniality of being, and Isidore Okpewho's definiton of myth, mythology signifies aesthetics of mysticism and grotesque and a rejection of linear time to demonstrate patterns of oppression and how colonialism affects present reality to create a surreal experience. In “Anansi Meets Peter Parker at the Taco Bell on Lexington,” the parallels of Anasai to Spiderman and B’rer Rabbit to Bugs Bunny demonstrate the absurdity of racial economic inequality from cultural production. In “The Magical Negro,” references to Thor the Brave from Norse mythology critique the trope of a...

Alumni Spotlight: Angela Chapman

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Angela Chapman

The Usage of Music as a Working Memory Cue in Practicing Musicians

Wed, 26 Aug 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Music, and its connection to memory, has been a topic of consideration among memory scientists for some years now. Practices such as music therapy take advantage of the apparent relationship between listening to music and increased cognitive performance. More recently, research aims to better understand why music has this effect, and what additional factors play into it. This paper details a within-subject study that aims to explore the effects of music as a stimulus for memory, taking into account differences in the subjects' exposure and background as musicians. Specifically, if a history in musicianship in one instrument will produce the same or different cognitive effects when listening to music of that type or music from an unfamiliar instrument. Through this study, we aim to determine whether there is a significant relationship between a person adept in a specific instrument (classical piano and classical violin) and their performance on a word recognition test. We hypothesized...

Mental Health in South Asian Culture

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In South Asian culture, the topic of mental health is extremely stigmatized. For young adults who are susceptible to facing various obstacles that impact their mental well-being, it is important to examine the cultural factors that contribute to the stigma surrounding this topic. Delving into the behaviors and perceptions of South Asian college students in the United States uncovers the multitude of intertwined influences that impact the development of one’s mental health. This study aims to answer the question, “What are the behaviors and perceptions surrounding mental health for UC San Diego students who are South Asian?” An online survey was implemented to collect data from 148 South Asian students at UC San Diego, introducing a mixed-method design to draw findings. The results revealed that mental well-being is significantly shaped by the interaction of sociocultural factors, such as family dynamics and pressures, experiences of stereotyping, comfortability with discussing...

Place Attachment to Sungod Lawn: Using Photovoice to Understand Student Perceptions of Public Open Space at the University of California San Diego (UCSD)

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Public open spaces are important parts of the campus landscape and serve a variety of roles. Previous research has shown that certain characteristics of public space, such as greenery and places to gather, provide community building and well-being benefits for students. These spaces may function as “third places” for students, a place to gather outside of home and work, and facilitate the place attachment process, the formation of deep and positive bonds between people and place. This project uses photovoice, a participatory research method, to understand the roles and meanings public open space has for some students at the the University of California San Diego (UCSD). After discussing their selected public open space with 10 students at UCSD, elements which promote place attachment was revealed, including: positive emotions, natural elements, social elements, and logistical elements. For students at UCSD, different spaces serve different functions, ranging from quiet, restorative...

Challenger Research Journal Volume 6

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Challenger Research Journal Volume 6

Alumni Spotlight: Mohnish Alishala

Fri, 25 Jul 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Alumni Spotlight: Mohnish Alishala

Challenger Research Journal Volume 5

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Challenger Research Journal Volume 5

The Interplay of Social Norms and Legal Systems: Unraveling the Complexity of Domestic Violence in China and Paving the Path for Change

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research investigates the perpetuation of domestic violence (DV) in China by analyzing how social norms and institutional practices collectively contribute to the challenges faced by individuals experiencing DV. Despite the implementation of China's Anti-Domestic Violence Law in 2016, its effectiveness in protecting DV survivors' rights has been subject to scrutiny among researchers. This research aims to understand whether law enforcement and judicial responses post-legislation effectively align with policy objectives to mitigate DV issues. It hypothesizes a dissonance between the DV legislation and social norms emphasizing family and social harmony and non-interference in family affairs. Focusing on specific DV cases and incorporating the meta-analysis of secondary empirical data, archived governmental reports, periodicals, interviews, Confucian writings, and prior scholarly insights, this study examines how social norms and institutional practices in governmental agencies...

Alumni Spotlight

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alumni Spotlight

Community Care as a Way of Life: Understanding and Evaluating the Impacts of Mutual Aid on Quality of Life and Ways to Implement this Framework in the US

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This paper evaluates the potential for mutual aid to serve as a framework for a new way of life through a biopsychosocial theoretical lens and a literature review. This paper works to help better understand how we, as a society in the United States can reimagine what a world would look like if we used mutual aid as a framework for a way of life through a public health perspective. The study draws on examples from Blue Zones and community health interventions using mutual aid in Japan, Cameroon, Latin American populations, and other communities of the world to illustrate how mutual aid can be implemented on both micro and macro levels from local community cultures to broad nation-wide policies in the US. The findings suggest that mutual aid can be utilized as a model for other facets of life and society as a whole. By encouraging people to work together and support each other, mutual aid can create more resilient and cohesive communities. These findings have important implications...

How is "Readiness" Met?: The Case of Oakland Unified School District in Oakland, CA

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Readiness, often defined as the level at which students meet the qualifications to succeed in college and career, has long been a metric of the success of K-12 education in preparing students for post-secondary lives. In Oakland, California, the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) has highlighted their top priority as “All students graduate college, career, and community ready.”, implementing different goals and actions throughout the years to achieve this priority. However, what does it mean to be ready for college, career, and community? How does the district measure readiness and support initiatives targeted at increasing student readiness? The aim of this study is to understand how school districts, focusing on OUSD, back up their goals of preparing students for the real world. Through a critical approach, this in-depth case study seeks to shed light on how metrics of readiness are understood and used by districts in supporting students. The implications of this study...

"Fit for Entry": Researching and Remembering the 1917 Gasoline Bath Riots at the U.S.-Mexico Border through Theatre

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This research focuses on and serves as the foundation for the creation of a theatrical world, supporting the play’s structural narrative to raise awareness of a historical event and to spotlight historically silenced and suppressed voices of color. The gasoline baths occurred at the El Paso, Texas border in 1917 when Mexicans were inhumanely disinfected with toxic chemicals as they sought entrance into the U.S. as a result of discriminatory beliefs and practices. Primary research will include published articles and books, focusing on the event that will serve as source material for the play developmental process. Secondary research efforts will include U.S. immigration policies of the time as well as identifying key historical figures. Carmelita Torres, a central figure in the event, will serve as the main protagonist and voice of the play. The narrative will showcase her advocacy for her community as well as demonstrate the gender bias role of women. Ultimately, this play...

Radicalizing Clinical Trial Ethics through Partnership: Limitations and Strategies for Change

Mon, 23 Sep 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Clinical trials are crucial in developing safe medical treatments and combating diseases. However, the ethical considerations surrounding research involving human subjects have been an ongoing topic of debate. Existing ethical policies aim to ensure the accuracy of research findings and protect the well-being of participants. Nevertheless, these policies have been rooted in Western scientific and medical systems, which historically exploited communities for the benefit of privileged individuals and capital accumulation, perpetuating domination and settler colonialism. While ethical policies alone cannot erase these harmful legacies, they have globally failed at holding researchers, companies, and institutions accountable for their impact on communities. This failure has led to exploitation and unintended harm in disenfranchised communities with under-resourced health systems and limited access to healthcare resources. To address these challenges, this literature review proposes...

Treading on the Tiger’s Tail: Chinese Wuxia and Japanese Jidaigeki Action Films Reacting to State Censorship in the 1930s and 1940s

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This article highlights the relationship between wuxia (martial heroes) and jidaigeki (period drama) action films and state censorship in the 1930s and 1940s. I first introduce readers to key East-Asian literary conventions that portray righteous warriors who incarnate their moral codes with swords. I then illustrate the political contexts in 1930s China and 1940s Japan which caused the popular film genres of wuxia and jidaigeki to become politically problematic and therefore strictly censored. I closely examine director Bu Wancang’s 1931 wuxia film A Spray of Plum Blossoms and Kurosawa Akira’s jidaigeki 1945 film Treading on the Tiger’s Tail, investigating creative solutions each director found in order to release their respective films despite censorship pressures. There are three inventions both directors pioneered in their work, namely “ostensible exactness” in setting; “patriotic...

Editorial Board, Reviewer Board & Consulting Staff

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Editorial Board, Reviewer Board & Consulting Staff

Use of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing Methods to Investigate the Mechanism of Trem2-Dependent Gene Expression in Macrophages

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Triggering Receptor Expressed on Myeloid Cells 2 (TREM2) is a surface receptor expressed in macrophages during tissue injury. This receptor plays a role in driving phagocytosis and dampening inflammation. Because of this, it plays a large part in diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, liver fibrosis, and metabolic syndrome. Each of these diseases all have a population of TREM2-expressing macrophages that does not exist in healthy tissue. However, the exact pathway in which TREM2 is involved in these diseases is rather unknown. Macrophage gene expression is regulated by a variety of transcription factors such as ATF3 and TFEB. These transcription factors have been suggested to be involved in some of the disease processes mentioned above by RNA-seq or ChIP-seq experiments.

The research question we addressed was how these two transcription factors directly affectvtranscription...

Alumni Spotlight

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Alumni Spotlight

Letter From the Editors

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Letter From the Editors

Building Trust in the AI Ecosystem by Re-Evaluating Public Perception

Sun, 3 Mar 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Artificial intelligence systems leverage large datasets with iterative processing algorithms that identify patterns to create an additional layer of expertise. This transformational power operates in tandem with ethical risks. The dominant narrative behind AI is simultaneously stigmatized and misunderstood: with exponential growth of the ubiquitous technology leaving public awareness in the dust, it's becoming increasingly important to balance enthusiasm for AI's enormous promise with a sober understanding of its moral risks. This study seeks to characterize the public opinion of AI in high-risk, domain-specific applications. To that end, a poll was administered to American adults. The results of the study reveal that the great majority of survey respondents have a neutral or optimistic perspective on AI in particular high-risk domains. The study concludes by presenting a standard heuristic...

Challenger Research Journal Volume 4

Fri, 16 Feb 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Challenger Research Journal Volume 4