Recent ucm_mwp_ucmurj items

Tuberculosis in California: Comparative Analysis of Santa Clara, Alameda, and Merced Counties

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a persistent communicable disease and an ongoing public health concern in California despite being preventable and treatable. Certain populations continue to experience a disproportionate burden of disease due to structural and social determinants of health, including poverty, housing instability, limited healthcare access, and barriers related to language and immigration status. This report examines TB trends and disparities across Santa Clara, Alameda, and Merced Counties using secondary epidemiological data and a key informant interview with a public health professional involved in TB prevention and control. The counties were selected to highlight differences between highly urbanized Bay Area regions and a Central Valley county with higher poverty levels and a mixed rural-urban population.

Comparative analysis of TB incidence rates shows that Alameda County (7.8 per 100,000) and Santa Clara County (7.4 per 100,000) reported higher TB rates...

Beneath The Watchful Eyes

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Surveillance has taken many forms over the course of its history; human operatives, listening devices (bugs), and more recently, observation over electronic devices such as mobile phones and computers. Surveillance is justified by its proponents with a variety of reasons; preventing terrorism, ensuring national security, tracking down criminals, etc. With the increase of the ease of surveillance, it would be easy to assume that society has advanced from previous states of law enforcement and benefitted accordingly. However, the advancements made in electronic surveillance technology have in fact caused society to regress. Society has normalized and complied to the authority of surveillance technology, entirely at the mercy of those who watch.

Letter from the Editors

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Letter from the Editors

From Wanders to Dynasts: Migration and the Legacy of Quetzalcoatl in Mesoamerica

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

This paper argues that migration was a key part of how the legacy of Topiltzin Quetzalcoatl spread across Mesoamerica. Instead of viewing his departure from Tollan as exile or failure, this study reframes it as a form of political migration. The movement of Toltec elites was not random or by chance, but structured, as they carried systems of authority, legitimacy, and belief into new regions. Using sources such as the Florentine Codex and Nicholson, this paper shows how this legacy appears in figures like Kukulkan and Nacxit. Ultimately, migration functioned as a powerful political and cultural process that sustained and reshaped Quetzalcoatl’s legacy over time.

Closing the Asthma Care Gap: Lessons for the San Joaquin Valley

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Asthma remains a major driver of preventable morbidity and emergency department (ED) utilization in the United States, with a disproportionate burden in underserved communities. This review examines why preventable asthma exacerbations and ED reliance persist despite established management guidelines, and it interprets the evidence through a regional lens focused on California’s San Joaquin Valley (SJV), where structural barriers to preventive care and elevated pediatric acute care use have been documented. I frame ED reliance as the downstream consequence of cumulative failures across the asthma care cascade, in which gaps in diagnosis and risk assessment, controller initiation, inhaler technique, medication adherence, trigger mitigation, written action planning, and timely follow-up allow unstable disease to progress to exacerbation and emergency care. In underserved settings, these cascade failures are amplified by access constraints, affordability pressures, housing and...

Liberation Schools: The Black Panther Party’s Pursuit for Transgressive Education

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

The Black Panther Party’s (BPP) 10 point program aimed to empower Black communities, more specifically, point five of their program addressed the inequalities within educational institutions. This study focuses on the Black Panther Party’s creation of liberation schools and investigates how the Party’s alternative curriculum challenged the persistent censorship in conventional school systems of the 1960s and 1970s. Specifically, I analyze how these schools provided students with an education that was inclusive of Black experiences in the midst of educational suppression, fostering self-determination and political consciousness. Additionally, this paper probes how the party’s cultural and political beliefs were embedded in their pedagogy. Ultimately, I highlight important takeaways from the Panther’s pedagogy for modern educators to consider in their classrooms to ensure that every student’s basic right to a satisfactory education is met. This project explores the question:...

AI: Aid or Inhibitor?

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

AI, or LLM, development and role in our daily lives is growing at a rapid pace. While most fields of research have been around for centuries, AI has only really taken off in the span of a century. This breakneck development speed is already starting to show problems. While AI does show possible future benefits, the AI of today falls short. From educational work in high school and college, to relationship advice, and the assistance or takeover of certain job positions, it would seem that something has to change. While not many people can make an AI, anyone can use the internet to find out about AI. This paper attempts to go over many aspects of AI at once. From the history of AI, to possible scenarios of the future with it. In-between these two points in time, current applications and impacts of AI use will be mentioned. In addition, the more recent issue of AI Induced Psychosis will be introduced, and show how the digital world can draw in people from reality. But most of all,...

Human Trafficking as a Community Issue: Prevalence and Reporting in the San Joaquin Valley

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Human trafficking in the United States has seen an increase in prevalence every year for the past ten years since 2025. Still, not much research has been conducted in rural communities and the specific needs of these communities. Individuals residing in regions that are less developed have greater barriers to seeking help and education regarding human trafficking, such as longer distances compared to urban areas, a lack of community resources, and preexisting social stigmas surrounding smaller and rural communities. In this report, data have been collected from internet searches, non-profit organizations, and resources through the University of California databases to determine the disparities between the prevalence of human trafficking in the San Joaquin Valley and more developed, urban regions. Contrary to what a majority of community members assume, human trafficking is a major issue in the San Joaquin Valley; a majority of which are much higher than state and national averages....

The Importance of Astrology Within Mesoamerican Society

Wed, 13 May 2026 00:00:00 +0000

All throughout history, humanity was always fascinated with the sky, and this fascination reached far beyond cultural barriers. Societies all across the globe held some kind of significance in the sky above their heads. That significance would manifest in different ways. Some would look towards the sky for direction, while others based their cultural practices off of what they saw up in the sky. Following this pattern, Mesoamerican societies also held a lot of significance within the sky. This interest was reflected in the calendars that they used. While Mesoamerican societies used both the 365-day calendar and the 260-day calendar, the 365-day calendar was used for things like agriculture and predicting harvest, while the 260-day calendar was used for more ritualistic means. The combination of their fascination with the sky and the Tonalpohualli or the 260-day calendar culminated in the divination practices within Mesoamerica. Within Mesoamerica, the use of astrology and the...

Teach2Learn: Developing and Piloting an Educational Platform for Learning-by-Teaching in CS1 Courses

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The surge of generative AI in education calls for new learning approaches resistant to cognitive offloading. Our work explores a solution inspired by the Latin proverb, docendo discimus: “by teaching, we learn.” We developed and piloted Teach2Learn, a web-based educational platform where CS1 students demonstrate their knowledge by teaching an LLM-simulated learner. This paper presents the pedagogical framework, design, and findings of two pilot tests (N = 87). We conducted pilots with two distinct student cohorts: an interdisciplinary summer cohort of non engineering majors (N = 32) with limited prior programming experience and a more homogeneous fall cohort of engineering majors (N = 55). Our preliminary results indicate a positive impact on student self-efficacy. In both pilots, the majority of the students reported an improved under standing of concepts after the activity and felt that the simulated student challenged their thinking. However, the impact on conceptual...

Letter from the Editors

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Letter from the Editors

Robustness Analysis of Least Squares-based Adaptive Cruise Control in Real-World Scenarios

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

2025AbstractAs automated driving technologies such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) become commonin the automotive industry, the risk of chain-like crashes and degraded traffic flow increases,especially if string stability and vehicle safety is not ensured. Demonstrating and improving string stability is essential to advancing the design of ACC systems for smoother, safer, and more energy-efficient vehicle platoons. We study how parameter excitability in the regressor matrix influences accuracy and adaptability in ACC systems. When excitation is low, it reduces sensitivity and weakens parameter estimation, making the system less responsive to dynamic conditions. As a result, prediction reliability is compromised, and designing controllers that maintain string stability in actual traffic becomes difficult. We model the ACC system using an ordinary differential equation in which the acceleration of the ego vehicle depends on the spacing, relative velocity, and a constant time...

Evolving Resistance: How Natural Selection Evolved Cancer Suppression Across Species and Within Organisms

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Cancer is frequently regarded as a modern illness; however, its origins are intertwined with the evolutionary background of multicellular organisms. The persistence of cancer reflects a fundamental evolutionary challenge: how organisms maintain cooperation among billions of cells while preventing the rise of selfish, malignant ones. In this review paper, we will examine how natural selection influences the development of cancer suppression mechanisms within individual organisms and across various species. We will concentrate on two key areas: first, the Darwinian characteristics of cancer as a clonal evolutionary process driven by mutation, competition, and selection within the body; and second, the evolution of the immune and genetic defense system that inhibits tumor formation to a limit. The development of somatic defenses that have delayed cancer’s progression in long-lived species usually entails trade-offs such as aging, diminished regenerative abilities, and reduced...

Put the Fries in the Bag: A Marxist Analysis of Trump’s 30-Minute Shift Under the Golden Arches

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

In the lead-up to the 2024 presidential election, Donald Trump worked a 30-minute shift in a McDonald's kitchen in Buck County, Pennsylvania. This seemingly mundane publicity stunt at a McDonald's franchise reveals a complex narrative of class dynamics, political performance, and the ongoing struggle to connect with America's working class. This performative labor, which I define for the purposes of this essay as any activity which generates the appearance of busyness and production rather than true labor, becomes a microcosm of broader social tensions. This thus exposes the intricate ways political candidates negotiate their relationship with working-class identity and experience. This analysis seeks to unpack these social tensions between the American proletariat and U.S political entities by examining Trump's McDonald's shift alongside both Harris’ and Trump’s socioeconomic and political backgrounds using Marx and Engels’ ideas of worker alienation of labor and...

Identification of a Potential Antibiotic Agent Targeting Gram-Negative Bacteria From Urban Garden Soil

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Antibiotic resistance is especially rampant among Gram-negative ESKAPE pathogens due to their structurally protective outer membrane, adaptive metabolic functions, and selective porins that make them more resistant to antibiotics than Gram-positive bacteria, which lack an outer membrane and instead possess a thick, exposed peptidoglycan layer that is more easily targeted by many antibiotics. This study investigated bacterial colonies in soil from an urban garden to identify bacteria capable of producing antibiotics effective against Gram-negative bacteria. One isolate, designated Isolate #9, demonstrated a clear zone of inhibition against Escherichia coli, a safe relative of K. pneumoniae, a Gram-negative bacterium. Morphological, biochemical, and metabolic characterization revealed that Isolate #9 is a Gram-negative bacillus with catalase activity, gelatin hydrolysis, glucose fermentation, nitrate reduction, and optimal growth at 30 °C, while lacking phospholipase,...

Chill To Spill: Unlocking Yosemite’s Water Flow

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Flooding and irrigation uncertainty in the Upper Merced River watershed present serious challenges for water managers and farmers. This project investigates how snowmelt, precipitation, and dam operations interact to influence river overflow and water availability ,especially near Yosemite National Park,. By comparing a dry water year (2022) with a wet year (2023), the project combines remote sensing data, streamflow records, and dam release patterns to model potential flood risks and seasonal irrigation supply. High-resolution snow data from the Airborne Snow Observatory (ASO) [1], which uses LiDAR to measure snow water equivalent (SWE), revealed significant snowpack differences between years. ENVI software was used to visualize snowmelt rates using band math and custom color lenses, while precipitation records from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) [3] and river flow data from the California Data Exchange Center (CDEC) [2] helped map hydrological...

The Invisible Threat: Tracking Air Quality Across UC Merced

Tue, 16 Dec 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exhibits pronounced spatial variability even across the scale of a university campus and readily infiltrates the lungs and bloodstream, exacerbating respiratory and cardiovascular health burdens. Recognizing this heterogeneity is essential for accurately characterizing exposure, particularly for the student population that may be unaware of its adverse impacts. The San Joaquin Valley, home to UC Merced, remains out of compliance with federal PM2.5 and ozone standards and has received an F grade from the American Lung Association. However, campus air quality is monitored by only one fixed PurpleAir sensor at the Science and Engineering 2 Building (SE2), which may not capture local PM2.5 variability. To address this gap, we undertook a mobile monitoring campaign during the 2025 spring term using a handheld EXTECH VPC300. Hundreds of geo-referenced readings were gathered along walkways, parking areas, construction zones, and other busy sites, then...

Examining the Role of Insurance Coverage in Maternal Health Disparities

Sat, 26 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

The Great Recession had a profound impact on healthcare access, particularly for marginalized communities. This period of economic downturn highlighted the urgent need for healthcare reform. Although the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was not a direct response to the recession, the financial uncertainty it created led to a surge in Medicaid enrollment, contributing to the official passage of the ACA in 2010. Medicaid expansion improved healthcare access for low-income individuals, particularly pregnant women, by increasing coverage and access to essential maternal health services. However, disparities in maternal morbidity and mortality persist, with Black women facing significantly higher risks of pregnancy-related complications than white women. While previous research has explored the ACA’s impact on healthcare access, limited attention has been given to how insurance type (public vs. private) affects maternal morbidity and birth outcomes, particularly after the 2014 Medicaid expansion....

Brain-Computer Interfaces and Their Effects on the Human Species

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

In the future, brain-computer interfaces–implanted or external devices that allow the human brain to directly interface with computer systems and networks–have the potential to create massive shifts in both medical and non-medical fields, as well as have great implications for privacy, human intelligence, and how we interact with technology. This technology could allow people to use prosthetics that give complete feeling and dexterity to their users. It could be a way to cure paralysis and may even be able to remove chronic pain. Further in the future, brain-machine interfaces may give us access to fully immersive virtual worlds that are nearly indistinguishable from reality. In addition, these devices could allow for knowledge to be added directly into the brain in a very rapid manner, allowing humans to become vastly more intelligent. However, there are also risks that come with this technology. Privacy could be threatened, as companies and unscrupulous individuals could retrieve...

Dorm Rooms to Mountain Views: An Air Pollution Analysis

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

This study presents a parallel analysis of indoor air quality in UC Merced dormitories with outdoor air pollution levels within Yosemite Valley, underscoring the importance of understanding how outdoor pollution impacts indoor air quality and offers insights for improving environmental health practices in residential and natural settings. Data was collected from October 2 to October 9, with indoor air samples taken twice daily, once in the morning and once at night, focusing on particulate matter in the size of 2.5 and 10 micrometers (PM2.5 and PM10). Outdoor pollution data for the same period was obtained from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website. The analysis reveals unique patterns in PM2.5 and PM10 measurements across indoor and outdoor environments, reflecting the influence of human activity indoors and environmental conditions outdoors. Factors such as dormitory ventilation, occupancy, andregional atmospheric conditions contribute to these differences.

Dynamics of V. fischeri and E. scolopes Under Environmental Stress

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

Symbiotic relationships are fundamental to ecological systems, shaping species interactions andinfluencing survival, reproduction, and evolutionary pathways. One well-studied example of a mutualistic symbiotic relationship occurs between the Hawaiian bobtail squid (Euprymnascolopes) and the gram-negative bacterium Vibrio fischeri. This partnership enhances the survivability of both organisms through a specialized form of camouflage known as counterillumination. In this process, V. fischeri utilizes quorum sensing to regulate bioluminescence, producing light that matches the surrounding environment and conceals the squid’s silhouette from predators below. In return, the squid maintains a specialized light organ that provides rich nutrients, creating a stable environment for the bacteria to proliferate. While notably efficient and stable, the effectiveness of this relationship can be influenced by external environmental factors. Conditions such as temperature, pH, and salinity play...

Exploring the Moderating Effect of Cathartic Expression on Fading Affect Bias

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

Cathartic expression in psychology has been written about and discussed since the early 20th century. Early literature surrounding catharsis has described it as a useful tool in many therapies that laid the groundwork for many coping mechanisms that exist today. Many people describe cathartic release as a coping mechanism to deal with negative emotions, such as physically exercising while stressed. However, the effects of catharsis have not been studied and explored significantly in recent years. The model suggested by this study includes a phenomenon knownas Fading Affect Bias (FAB), in which recollection of events trends to positive valence after along period of time. Previous discussion regarding catharsis points to two main models by whichcatharsis is effective: a cognitive model and a hydraulic model. Working with these models of catharsis, this study aims to delve into the efficacy of catharsis and how strong the moderating effect would be on Fading Affect Bias. In this...

URJ Spring 2025: Letter from the Editors

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

A letter from the editors, introducing the Spring 2025 issue.

Literature Review: A Review of Decolonizing Frameworks and Culturally Centered Treatments in Indigenous Psychology

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

Psychology as a discipline has been historically shaped by Western ideologies and overrepresented by Western, Educated, Industrialized, Rich, and Democratic (WEIRD) populations. This over-representation results in a narrow and culturally biased understanding of mental health, marginalizing Indigenous and non-Western perspectives. The dominance of “whiteness” in psychology, in which Western norms are treated as universals, fails to account for the diverse cultural, spiritual, and communal frameworks of Indigenous populations. This paper explores Indigenous psychology as a necessary response to this imbalance, emphasizing the decolonization of psychological practices and the implementation of culturally centered treatments. Drawing on global Indigenous movements, it highlights the significance of reconnecting with traditional knowledge systems, holistic and collectivist models of well-being, and culturally rooted healing practices. Case studies such as the Māori philosophy of Hauora,...

Greed Over Humanity: Bullionism in the Colonial Conquest and Genocide of Amerindian Civilizations

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

Amidst a time defined by overwhelming contemporary upheavals—namely, the climate crisis, escalating global conflicts, and the rapidly expanding influence of artificial intelligence—why should humanity concern itself with the past? The past is, after all, irretrievable. However, as this research paper will emphasize, the past is not merely a closed chapter; it is a living essence that imbues the present and subtly directs the unfolding of the future. Engaging with the past is, therefore, not a mere exercise in nostalgia but rather a critical process of understanding, resistance, and responsibility. This intellectual reflection becomes particularly vital given the historical ramifications endured by Indigenous communities, whose pasts have been forcibly rewritten, silenced, or erased.

The People’s Game: Modern Media Preservation

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

This article describes modern media preservation methodology with a focus on film preservation. Media in all forms is an extension of culture and most is lost over time without preservation efforts. Preservation is deliberate through methods such as special storage and digitization, which are often hindered by tradition and corporate interest. Due to the preservation tradition, organizations that prioritize preservation may not be able to receive funding from larger organizations. Piracy is a concern for many intellectual property holders that prevent preservation for supposed monetary injury. Preservation efforts are hindered through legislation and digital rights management installed into releases. Piracy is the solution to the problem piracy itself creates, as decentralized archives of media not officially preserved ensure their preservation through multiple sources. There is no true solution to these hindrances, but the general population making efforts to preserve what little...

Standard & Poor’s 500 Index: A Trading Forecasting Analysis through Generative Artificial Intelligence

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In November 2022, the world of artificial intelligence, programming, and efficiency changed forever, as OpenAI created the first-ever publicly accessible large language generative chatbot: Generative Pre-trained Transformed (GPT)-3.5 (Open AI, 2022). The bot passed several Advanced Placement course exams, which are tests high school students can take to obtain college credit. It passed graduate-level exams such as the GRE, and even the BAR exam required to become a professional lawyer (Open AI, 2023). With all of GPT’s success, the specific issue with OpenAI’s model, GPT-3.5, is that it cannot access the internet or fetch real-time data (OpenAI, 2022). The challenge we undertook was to use the GPT chatbot to create a stock-prediction trading algorithm, guiding the model to provide a conclusive output, and limiting our influence on the model—outside of errors—as much as possible. From November 2 to November 17 of 2023, we manually compared GPT’s predictions to the actual results...

Understanding Convicting and Sentencing Decision Biases: A Review of Psychological Perspectives on Judicial Decision-Making

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This literature review aims to summarize the body of research on convicting and sentencing decision bias with a focus on the jury box. Disparities in the criminal justice system have long been recorded to largely impact individuals of color by influencing convictions, the length of sentencing, and the probability of probation as opposed to time served when compared to White individuals. The increasing volume of incarcerated minorities calls for an understanding of the judicial system to combat the implications. Studies show how Afrocentric features, trustworthiness of faces, and depiction of ethnicity and race can lead to longer sentences by highlighting cognitive shortcomings and the use of methods in the criminal justice system. With the inclusion of interventions, the influence that is shown on both implicit and explicit levels can be found to be harmful and due for advancement. By exploring cognitive and social mechanisms alongside the systematic drives of the criminal justice...

Letter from the Editors

Wed, 11 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Letter from the URJ editorial team introducing Volume 17, Issue 1, First, Further, Forward: Challenge the Now. The letter includes excerpts from the editorial team: Yu Fang Tseng, Mitchell Bauer, Micah Angela Lardizabal, Kaisy Reynoso, Jose Mondragon, Genesis Iniguez-Espinoza, Analee Munoz Luna, Zachary Gatto, and Susan Varnot

Classification of Hallucinations in Large Language Models Using a Novel Weighted Metric

Sat, 7 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

As Large Language Models (LLMs) find increasing use in important fields such as healthcare, finance, and law, ensuring their accuracy and reliability is critical. One significant challenge is the occurrence of “hallucinations,” where these models produce nonsensical or incorrect information. This paper introduces a new framework designed to identify and categorize hallucinations in the outputs of LLMs, particularly in safety-sensitive applications. We present a detailed system that classifies hallucinations into four categories: Factual Errors, Speculative Responses, Logical Fallacies, and Improbable Scenarios. Our methodology employs a scoring system that combines metrics to offer a clearer picture of the model performance. Using the TruthfulQA dataset, and the Falcon 7B model, we analyze different types of hallucinations and their potential to compromise decision making in safety critical domains. By focusing on clarity and accuracy, this framework aims to improve...

A Literature Review on the Evolution of Antibiotic Resistance and its Impact

Sat, 7 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The widespread use of antibiotics has revolutionized modern medicine, helping to fight against countless bacterial infections, significantly reducing mortality rates, and preventing the further spread of bacterial diseases. However, the overuse and misuse of antibiotics have come with a significant downside: they have allowed bacteria to develop antibiotic resistance, posing a major challenge to public health and the effective treatment of infectious diseases. Antibiotic resistance occurs when bacteria evolve and adapt to withstand the effects of the antibiotics designed to kill them. This phenomenon poses a great threat to global health, complicating the treatment of patients and increasing the risk of severe illnesses, death, and disease spread. Bacteria have evolved to develop antibiotic resistance through various mechanisms, including genetic mutations and the process of horizontal gene transfer. Additionally, other non-genetic factors such as ecological contexts...

Exploring Pesticide Effects On Hematopoiesis and the Thymus

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Hematopoiesis in the bone marrow (BM) produces red blood cells, platelets, or various white blood cells. Common lymphocyte progenitors in the BM can migrate to the thymus to form T lymphocytes, a type of immune cell. In some cases, bone marrow failure (BMF) arises from impairments in hematopoiesis and results in the inability to produce necessary blood cells. California’s Central Valley has a high exposure to pesticides due to agriculture. Past research shows correlations between leukemia and high pesticide exposure, but surprisingly, there has been little published research regarding the direct effects of pesticides on BMF. This study aims to use mouse models to aid our understanding of the molecular effects of two pesticides, abamectin and pyraclostrobin, on hematopoiesis. In previous studies, abamectin led to weight loss while pyraclostrobin led to weight gain. We hypothesize that changes in the BM due to pesticide exposure may result in lower numbers of T lymphocytes. We exposed...

Modeling Infectious Disease Spread: Comparison of the Agent-Based-Modeling and Differential-Equation Approaches

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In epidemiology, the SIR model is commonly used to describe the population dynamics ofinfectious diseases. It divides the population into three categories: Susceptible, Infected, and Recovered. We consider two approaches to describe its population dynamics. In the Ordinary Differential Equation (ODE) approach, we solve a set of differential equations that describe the rate of change of the fraction of each category. In the Agent-Based Model (ABM), we keep track of the state of each person and its position in a two-dimensional lattice. The ODE model has two model parameters, the infection strength b and the recovery rate k, whereas the ABM has three model parameters describing the diffusion, infection, and recovery rates. Our research aims to compare the two approaches and to establish a relationship between the ODE and ABM parameters. To find the optimal values of the b and k parameters that give matching results to the ABM simulation results, we employ two methods. In the first...

Native American Belonging in the University of California

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Do Native American students, faculty, and staff at select University of California (UC) campuses feel that their interests are recognized and represented within the UC system? This research analyzes the opportunities and barriers Native Americans face in higher education in the United States. In the United States, Native Americans have the lowest enrollment and graduation rates of all racial and ethnic minority groups that seek out higher education and are the only group to have not experienced a consistent rise in attendance. If the University of California system wants to improve the experience of the Native American demographic at UC campuses, then understanding their experiences is critical.

AI Robots in Elderly Care: Opportunities, Challenges, and Ethical Concerns

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite the advances in Artificial Intelligence technology, its application in elderly care still presents many challenges and limitations, particularly compared to human caregivers. This synthesis reviewed empirical articles that examined the role of AI robots in elderly care, focusing on their potential benefits and drawbacks. It revealed that AI robots are not capable of replacing human caregivers due to high costs, technical limitations, and the need for human cooperation. Additionally, the study warns that using AI robots may pose potential safety, privacy, and ethical risks, including data security issues, privacy breaches, and negative effects from the incorrect use of the technologies. This paper argues that AI robots can significantly enhance elderly care by providing consistent support and reducing caregiver burden, yet they cannot replace the essential human elements of caregiving. The findings emphasize the need for ethical and legal standards in the deployment of...

Testing the Moderating Effect of Burnout on the Relationship Between Anxiety and Sleep Quality

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Several studies strongly indicate a connection between the quality of sleep and students' learning abilities and academic success. Thus, understanding the factors that disrupt one’s sleep quality is important. One potent factor that can disrupt sleep is mental health, particularly anxiety. Although anxiety is a natural process that tries to keep a person safe by alerting them to potential dangers, this has a downside by increasing psychological and physiological arousal that can disrupt how well one sleeps. Previous research has found strong correlations between sleep quality and anxiety; however, some people may be more vulnerable than others to the negative association of anxiety and sleep. Notably, those experiencing burnout may be psychologically depleted from their workplaces and have fewer resources to cope with anxious states. Therefore, this study will investigate how anxiety predicts sleep quality (Research Question 1), and how anxiety and burnout both relate to each...

Modern Times & Modern Tastes: How Contemporary Film and Its History Impacts the Development of American Consumers

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The medium of film has a larger impact on the world than many realize. The messages they project onto audiences have a multitude of consequences. The research begins with an exploration of what makes a film a film and eventually arrives upon its agreed definition. Different genres of film often hold different sets of meaning, and the stories presented have the potential to mirror real-world sentiment in relation to massive world events, such as wars. This research dives into the implications of these films, and how the things they display can change a society. These movies demonstrate the capability of socializing audiences, teaching them learned behavior and stigmas against various groups of people, such as the sexually inexperienced, or individuals within the LGBTQ+ community. In addition to the films themselves, this research takes a look at the actors that promote and work in these movies, deducing whether or not their presence held significant economic returns, and if their...

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Treatment for Depression

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

This literature review provides research that looks at the treatment of depressive symptoms with transcranial magnetic stimulation. Depression affects many people directly by presenting symptoms that can become debilitating. Between 30% and 50% of people with depression encounter resistances to treatment, meaning their symptoms do not show improvement (Shanoket al., 2023). Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an alternative treatment for depressionthat shows resistance to traditional medications and therapies. TMS utilizes magnetic fields to affect functions in the brain that can change the way people feel. Some researchers suggest that it could also be more widely used, even if patients are not showing signs of treatment resistance. Advancements in this field are possible, and TMS shows signs of further improving upon itself.

Thru-Reflector-Wall (TRW) Solar Cooker Kitchens

Fri, 6 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Joel H. Goodman is a retired assistant professor of architecture at the University of Minnesota who, motivated to bridge the gap between sustainable living and underdeveloped communities, began developing various solar cooker designs. To bring forth Goodman’s vision, we were tasked with designing a solar cooker to be permanently integrated into a building and able to direct variable sun rays towards the cooking surface with its funnel-like shape. The cooker provides a sustainable alternative to traditional cooking methods such as wood and coal burning, which remain prevalent in underdeveloped regions despite their harmful environmental and health impacts. Solar cookers, like other clean cooking technologies, have the potential to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, mitigate deforestation, and improve public health by reducing indoor air pollution. Furthermore, access to clean cooking methods reduces the time and effort required for fuel collection, which can increase...

Nerves and Spines: A Textual Analysis of the Significance of Nopal in the Florentine Codex

Wed, 4 Dec 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The nopal, or prickly pear cactus, is a common cactus native to Mexico and the American Southwest. This cactus holds great cultural significance to the people of Mexico and is featured on the Mexican flag as an homage to the story of how Tenochtitlan, in today’s Mexico City, became the capital of the Aztec Empire. The Aztecs, one of several indigenous Nahua groups of Central Mexico, have a rich tradition of oral and glyphic history, recorded in documents often referred to as codices. The Florentine Codex, a series of 12 books, meticulously documents the lives of the Nahua people and is written by Nahua authors and Spanish translators. By analyzing the textual and visual representations of the nopal in these books, I seek to understand the many roles that this essential plant played in the lives of the indigenous Nahua prior to and during Spanish colonization. By looking at the nopal’s role as food, medicine, cultural and geographical symbol, and host for the parasitic and prized...

Can AI Have a Signature: Legal Ownership and Authorship of Creative Materials Involving Artificial Intelligence

Sun, 28 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The question of authorship and legal ownership in AI-generated creative materials has become a contentious issue on an international level. This paper investigates the complexity of attribution of legal copyrights within the framework of the U.S. Copyright Law system and explores potential solutions to this evolving dilemma. The U.S. Copyright Law, rooted in the protection of inventors' exclusive rights, extends to both authors and owners, intending to safeguard intellectual property in the judicial field. AI-generated works, however, present a unique issue as they blur the lines of authorship in presented works. The U.S. Copyright Office, while expressing interest in addressing these issues, currently rejects applications attributing AI as the primary creator due to historical legal precedents, marking uncertainty with both creators and the general public about the future of commercialized AI-generated works. This paper highlights the intricate legal and philosophical questions...

Breaking Barriers: Evaluating the Effectiveness and Feasibility of Animated Medical Education Videos in the Medically Underserved San Joaquin Valley

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Background and Aim Health literacy and public awareness about common health problems are critical for individual and public health. The San Joaquin Valley (SJV) of California, home to four million people, is a medically underserved region with a lack of access to health resources, contributing to the region’s high prevalence of health concerns. In response to health education challenges in this region, our intervention aims to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of animated medical education videos in improving health literacy behavior by equipping high school students with medical knowledge to empower them to uplift their communities through informative outreach.

Methods The intervention will involve the use of five-minute animated videos regarding relevant fundamental medical problems through the provision of age-appropriate health information given to all participating high school students (n=400) in Merced, CA. Relevant medical...

Letter from the Editors

Sat, 27 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Letter introducing the Volume 16, Issue 2, From Here on Out: Creating Landmarks Undergraduate Research Journal (URJ) including excerpts from the entire editorial staff. Staff members include Sheila Chavez, Yu Fang Tseng, Guadalupe Castaneda, Christopher Finley, Genesis Iniguez-Espinoza, Analee Munoz Luna, Keith Buchignani, Angel Perez, Mireya Contreras, Henry Pacheco, and Susan Varnot.

Diagnosis of Cancer Using AI Technology

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The rapid growth of cancer is the second-leading cause of death in the U.S., and lung cancer has the highest mortality rate. This, in turn, creates a high demand for new technology to effectively treat this disease. This synthesis project delves into the capabilities of AI technologies that are specialized in diagnosing lung cancer at an early stage and their effectiveness in creating personalized treatment and risk prevention. By understanding more about the Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) tool along with the Triplet Network method, the study reveals that it has a high accuracy rate (86.39%) on early diagnosis of lung cancer and can examine a patient’s genome for cancer risk. The application of AI technology for the diagnosis of complex diseases like cancer is essential for maximizing patients’ safety and recovery, along with the reassurance that medical professionals need. As AI technology continually improves over time, it may soon perform more complex tasks than...

A Review of the Influence of Personality and Temperament on Major Depressive Disorder Treatment

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Researchers have developed multiple approaches to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). Clinicians commonly employ antidepressant medication (ADM) and psychotherapy astreatment protocols. This review surveys the knowledge and identifies problems with the effects of personality and temperament for MDD treatment in 14 quantitative studies. High extraversion and conscientiousness have a positive effect on psychotherapy treatment while high neuroticism has a negative effect. Agreeableness and openness to experience appear to have conflicting results. All individual traits do not influence ADM treatment except for high and low reward dependence, which may be better for psychotherapy and ADM respectively. Low persistence and high harm avoidance adversely affect psychotherapy, but novelty seeking has an insignificant effect. Some problems in the literature include the self-report measures for individual traits, heterogeneity of study designs, and the complexity of defining personality...

Literature Review: Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome, Stress and Symptom Severity

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Polycystic ovarian syndrome is the most common endocrine disorder that affects women. The focus on inflammatory PCOS will be the basis of understanding how hormonal imbalances are due to inflammatory diets, stress, and environmental factors that impact symptom severity. The objective of this paper was to provide a systematic review that would determine if symptom severity was associated with psychological stress on polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). It is important to note that PCOS does not have a cure but symptom severity may only be treated, this is due to the cause being unknown and PCOS being used as an umbrella term for issues related to the ovaries and reproductive cycle. As a result, the most commonly suggested findings were to improve diet, improve exercise habits, and seek psychological help if feeling distressed by the symptoms of PCOS.

Unveiling the Microbial Arms Race: Exploring Bacterial-Bacteriophage Coevolution and Its Impact on Phage Therapy

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Bacteria are some of the first organisms to ever exist in the biosphere, being prokaryotic organisms, they have been present on Earth for the past 3 billion years. Soon afterward, however, certain retroviruses evolved to infect these organisms soon becoming the most populous entity in the biosphere. For decades, researchers have delved into the various interactions between bacteria and bacteriophages due to their coevolutionary dynamics. Through this research, scientists eventually were able to discover a plethora of various mechanisms that bacteria have utilized to prevent bacteriophage infections, including but not limited to, receptor inactivation, modification, clustering, and CRISPR-Cas systems. Bacteriophages have developed superb countermeasures to these defenses over billions of years of coevolution. Scientists are trying to understand these coevolutionary dynamics to develop better potential antibiotic treatments using bacteriophages, as the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant...

EGFR Mutations and Signaling Pathways in Glioblastoma: Implications for Pathogenesis and Therapeutic Targeting

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

A cancerous tumor in the brain known as glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) originates from astrocytes of the central nervous system. Consequently, GBM poses significant challenges to the oncology community because of its aggressive characteristics and poor prognosis. GBM hallmarks include fast growth, invasiveness, and high rates of recurrence. This tumor is highly heterogeneous with different genetic and molecular features found within the tumor cells. There is an ongoing obstacle to conceptualizing effective management for this grappling disease. This is largely due to the tumor displaying intra-heterogeneity, in addition to a plethora of differences in the tumor’s microenvironment. The heterogeneity exhibited by this tumor not only makes it more resistant to treatment but also influences its ability to evolve. The Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR) which falls under the Human Epidermal Growth Factor (ErbB) family is a transmembrane receptor that assists in understanding complex...

A Review of Gender Affirming Care for Minors

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Transgender individuals struggle with a misalignment between their biological and interpersonal self, in order to rectify this issue gender affirming health care is used to re-align the two aspects of themselves. The American Psychiatric Association defines transgender individuals as those who are assigned one gender identity at birth and identify as another later in life (Yarbrough 2023). There are various different gender orientations that a person canidentify with but most of the examples will focus on male-to-female (MTF) or female-to-male (FTM) transgender experiences. The current standard on gender affirming care focuses on various steps of diagnosis, traditional therapy, hormone therapy and surgical interventions (Yarbrough 2023). Transgender children suffer academically and socially due to having an internal struggle with their gender dysphoria, often affecting their everyday life (Boyle 2022). The argument against gender affirming care for minors focuses on the ability...

The Impact of COVID-19 on Antimicrobial Resistance

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Studies have shown that the COVID-19 pandemic led to global panic and ultimately, an increase in antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Research has reported on the misuse of antimicrobials during theCOVID-19 outbreak, which led to global complications. The misuse of antimicrobials discussed in the literature includes the empirical use of antibiotics, the knowledge gaps, and the excessive use of disinfectant products. There has been a greater impact of the misuse of antimicrobials on developing countries due to their lack of resources which will result in improper sanitation, inadequate infrastructure, and limited preparedness for future pandemics. To combat the increase in AMR, it is necessary to explore a variety of resolutions. These resolutions may include antimicrobial stewardship programs, rapid diagnostic methods, and funding for communicative research. Collaborative efforts between clinicians and researchers can lead to future advancements in AMR. To inhibit the progression of...

"I SPEAK TO THOSE WHO UNDERSTAND": HOW RTLM FUELED GENOCIDE IN RWANDA

Fri, 26 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

The Rwandan Genocide against the Tutsi, Twa, and Hutu moderates of 1994 is one of themost egregious and horrifying instantiations of mass atrocity since Nazi Germany. Despite solemn vows from the mouth of the United Nations to “never again” countenance the terror of genocide in the wake of the Holocaust, the international community largely stood apart, noncommittal and ineffectual, as 800,000 people or more were hunted, tortured, raped, and murdered by a war-torn Hutu populace mobilized into genocidal militias called interahamwe – a Kinyarwanda word meaning “those who fight together”. Indeed, those Hutu who participated in the genocide saw themselves as Rwanda’s defenders against a race of foreign invaders, a separate and altogether lesser subspecies of human stereotyped by ineptitude, duplicity, and depravity — therefore deserving of any brutality the genocidaires could imagine. This belief derived from a racial hierarchy imported into and inflicted upon Rwanda by German...

“The Traveling Song”: Shifting Depictions of Home & Family in Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

In the early 2000’s, animated family movies portray various versions of home and family. Some movies portray home as the place where you were born, whereas others portray home as any place you want it to be. While some films, such as Bao, portray family as blood relatives, other films, such as Wreck-It Ralph, Ice Age, and Monsters University, depict families as a group of individuals that have strong friendships and end up becoming their chosen family. An example of both of these concepts of family being portrayed in a family film is The Book of Life. In this essay, I will focus on the portrayal of home and family in animated family movies with a focus on case studies from the second movie of the Madagascar franchise: Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa. In addition, I will be analyzing how the soundtrack, in particular the songs “The Traveling Song” and “Alex on the Spot,” help in showing the film’s portrayal of home and family.

U.S. Urban and Rural Food Deserts: Health Variables Associated with Limited Food Access

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Food deserts are typically associated with limiting health variables, which can contribute to poor nutrition and result in negative medical conditions among residents. Patterns in the differences and similarities in the experiences of residents within urban and rural food deserts are caused by a myriad of factors. This paper will display how all three of the referenced studies conducted on different urban and rural food desert locations within the U.S. indicate that rural residents face a greater amount of health disparities due to variables like affordability and income, distance, time of day, and social and demographic variables–all of which can affect one's nutritional intake. Researching and exploring comparisons between various urban and rural food deserts within the U.S. can indirectly lead to possible intervention and alleviation methods to improve access to nutritional foods. Research-based solutions that tackle nutritional intake in both urban and rural food deserts could...

The Influence of the Fashion Industry: Cultural Appropriation for Mexican Cultural Textile Design

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Cultural appropriation in the United States is an issue that individuals do not acceptleading cultures to be viewed as humorous and not dignified of respect. In particular, the fashionindustry has previously had problems with the address of cultural appropriation in designelements and similarities in clothing appearance in designers and clothing companies. Designersare not supplying adequate references to contributors or evidence of the clothing design beingdifferent than a cultural clothing item. The inappropriate use of cultural elements results inculture being represented inappropriately by others and for worldviews to be modified intonarrow categories regarding the characteristics of a particular culture, therefore, fostering biasesand stereotypes. Despite the ongoing prevalence of cultural appropriation within the realm offashion design, I want to understand why certain cultural groups like Mexicans are targeted byfashion designers and clothing companies. To understand the...

Psychedelic Renaissance

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Psychedelic substances, which were once categorized as Schedule 1 drugs, are gaining public attention for their potential to treat individuals with mental conditions. Every Schedule 1 drug was once considered to have no medicinal value, with the potential for high abuse, but recent research has suggested otherwise. LySergic acid Diethylamide (LSD) and MethyleneDioxy-MethAmphetamine (MDMA) are two Schedule 1 class substances, which have been studied on a diverse amount of subjects and shown to have positive benefits on the physical and mental psyche with no potential for addiction or bodily harm. Moreover, studies regarding neuroplasticity in humans displayed benefits in how the brain can restructure itself through new learning while under the influence of psychedelic substances. Psychedelic substances are becoming more accessible to scientists, who now have legal authority to conduct research regarding their advantages to further investigate the benefits and unfound knowledge....

A Review of the Influence of Personality and Temperament on Major Depressive Disorder Treatment

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Researchers have developed multiple approaches to treat major depressive disorder (MDD). Clinicians commonly employ antidepressant medication (ADM) and psychotherapy as treatment protocols. This review surveys the knowledge and identifies problems with the effects of personality and temperament for MDD treatment in 14 quantitative studies. High extraversion and conscientiousness have a positive effect on psychotherapy treatment while high neuroticism has a negative effect. Agreeableness and openness to experience appear to have conflicting results. All individual traits do not influence ADM treatment except for high and low reward dependence, which may be better for psychotherapy and ADM respectively. Low persistence and high harm avoidance adversely affect psychotherapy, but novelty seeking has an insignificant effect. Some problems in the literature include the self-report measures for individual traits, heterogeneity of study designs, and the complexity of defining personality...

Inaccessibility to Syringes for Intravenous Drug Users in the Central Valley

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Despite developments in the Central Valley, some significant health disparities need addressing. Naturally, finding drug rehabilitation is difficult with limited resources. Local hospitals flood with patients requiring care, but hospitals are typically at brimming capacity. Individuals with substance use disorder face a specific issue: they do not have direct access to thoroughly clean and sterile syringes. Substance use disorder is a multifaceted condition characterized by the persistent and uncontrollable consumption of a substance despite its adverse effects. Over the years, there has been a push to establish programs that provide clean syringes at no cost when a person exchanges their existing syringe for a clean one. Even so, these Service3 Exchange Programs (SEPs) frequently have a negative connotation and perception attached to them, with people believing that they cause more issues than solutions. In many counties where the establishment of these programs remains illegal,...

The Impact of Smoking Cigarettes or E-Cigarettes on Sleep Quality: A Literature Review

Wed, 24 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Smoking is common among adults of all ages. Decades of research have shown that smoking is linked to side effects such as lung cancer. This study aims to systematically review how smoking is linked to sleep. Database searches were done through Web of Science and Google Scholar. A total of 19 peer-reviewed journals were referenced to conduct this literature review. 15 peer-reviewed journals were used for the results. Results demonstrated that smoking was found to be correlated with sleep deprivation in both males and females of all ages. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) was a source of non-smokers' sleep complaints. Although there are multiple kinds of cigarettes, sleep quality has been shown to be poor regardless of the smoking medium. Ceasing smoking may lead to sleep benefits. Additional research will need to be conducted to further corroborate this statement.

Climate Change and its Effects on Pacific Islander Communities: Are Climate Changes and its Effects a Danger to Pacific Islander Communities?

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

I examined how Pacific Islander communities are experiencing and responding to climate change, and the future of the region as a whole. For this paper, I conducted research on climate change, Pacific Islander communities, and predictions, alongside the cultural, social, economic, and political responses. Pacific Islander communities are experiencing the negative effects of climate change, and their responses—while adaptive—are often constrained due to their geography (Barnett, & Campbell, 2010). The future is full of negative effects, but the extent of the damages remains a subject of debate, with both pessimistic and optimistic perspectives. In conclusion, climate change has negative impacts on Pacific Islander communities, and this continued trend and its outcomes will persist and be determined by our actions today (Campbell, 2010). These vulnerable populations are at risk due to climate change, which makes it even more important to address the impacts in order to assist them.

Weaving Identity Death: SPINDLE WHORLS IN SAN PEDRO DE ATACAMA

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Sex and gender are complex components of both individual and group identities, and examining them together with other aspects of identity is an important part of understanding larger social contexts. Historically, studies of sex and gender in society focused more on male roles and contributions, but recent research has become more inclusive and diverse in the examination of both female and nonconforming gender roles. This study examines the intersectionality of social roles, sex, and gender as expressed through funerary objects in the burial contexts of San Pedro de Atacama, Chile. Using existing records of burials in two cemeteries, Coyo Oriental and Solcor 3, this project compares 184 sampled graves to determine similarities and differences in burials for male and female individuals. Results show that some burials may reflect gendered practices, though the degree to which these practices are associated with sex differs between the two cemeteries, suggesting that regional culture...

From Death to New Life: The Ethics Behind Human Composting

Fri, 19 Apr 2024 00:00:00 +0000

Substitute methods of burial and funerals have been researched as populations rise and natural environments continue to be depleted, and human composting has become a leader in combating these issues. Still, the idea of having a loved one naturally decay in dirt has not sat comfortably for many family members and friends, deeming it as disrespectful in meriting a person’s life. With a compelling graduate thesis, Katrina Spade lit the movement of green burials and is fighting for them to be normalized and offered to those who have a green thumb and dedication to helping the earth’s natural resources. Her efforts have created the first human composting company, “Recompose,” which has sparked much debate about whether this new method of treating the dead is ethical or not. Human composting can be proven ethical, as it gives a new way of honoring the dead, it provides consent throughout the process, it has been legalized in numerous states, it provides current and long-term benefits,...

Letter from the Editors

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Letter from the Editors

Micro Black Holes: What Do We Know From Recent Research?

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This synthesis highlights the research efforts in micro black holes in recent years and points to future prospects. Synthesizing recently published articles shows that micro black holes can have a variety of properties. This paper explores articles discussing the instantaneous evaporation of micro black holes due to Hawking Radiation, the inability of a micro black hole to accrete matter, the intense recoil effects that occur if a micro black hole absorbs matter, the stability of micro black holes, as well as the spin and electric charge they may possess. Modern methods of detecting black holes have been described as looking for specific particle signatures that match a predicted profile of Hawking Radiation from a micro black hole and looking for possible signs of a micro black hole remnant. Expectations suggest that planned future projects will aid in the search for micro black holes by taking advantage of high-energy cosmic particle collisions.

The Evolution and Spread of Antibiotic Resistance in Microorganisms

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Antibiotics were produced to treat and prevent infections caused by pathogens such as bacteria. They are known to be one of the most significant medical breakthroughs in the history of medicine. Antibiotic resistance occurs when pathogens can survive against antibiotics. One key issue that leads to increased resistance is the overuse and improper use of antimicrobial drugs. As a society, it is important to look towards antibiotics and other antimicrobial drugs anduse them with advice from public health officials that can allow us to use the strength of antibiotics if an infection ever does arise. Another reason antibiotic resistance is a prominent issue is due to the various mechanisms pathogens have to spread genetic information in a process known as horizontal gene transfer. Horizontal gene transfer is the transfer of genetic information between organisms and allows for resistant pathogens to spread their resistant traits leading to an increase in resistant organisms. Currently,...

The Hypersexuality Of Women and Videogames: The Effects It Has on Society and The Business Industry

Wed, 29 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The misrepresentation of females in video games has created a harmful environment due to the hypersexual nature and stereotypes. This study is a data collection based on the harmful behaviors and patterns of both developers and members of the gaming community. The gaming community carries behaviors that can be deemed harmful and are close to office harassment towards women who are more hostile while playing video games and engaging with women outside of it. Harmful community behaviors also affect women in the gaming communities especially when most female main characters are seen with unrealistic body proportions which creates body image issues (in women) and leads to higher rates of depression. These behaviors contrast with the effect the gaming community has on each other and with the developers. Developers have created a data set pattern that monitors the community and the choices fans will make within video games so that said games would sell more. The data set monitors data...

The Effects of Insecurity on Lifetime Happiness: A Review of the Literature and a Study

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

In the contemporary landscape of social media, insecurities intertwine with all aspects of society, shaping individual perceptions and influencing lifetime happiness. This paper dives into how insecurities develop, the disorders that they are a gateway for, and their psychological effects on lifetime happiness. By interviewing four participants and reviewing published literature, this research attempts to understand self-perception, external validation, and virtual interactions in the context of happiness.

Prevalence of and Risk Factors for Nervios and Other Psychological Disparities in Latinx Migrant Farm Workers in Central California

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Through the following literature review of data spanning over more than a decade, readers will be introduced to the concept of nervios and other mental health disparities and what implications they have on Latinx migrant farm worker’s health in Central California after acculturating into the United States. Latinx adults make up 92% of California’s migrant farm worker population and that number continues to grow rapidly each year. However, the Latinx population is suffering from physical and mental health disparities and are doing so in silence due to limited resources and documentation status. Reviewed data shows that there is an epidemiological health crisis within this growing population of Latinx people in California and the effects are generational. Several studies show that migrant men and women are at high risk for substance and alcohol abuse due to these psychological stressors within their daily lives, especially when exposed to harsh and dangerous work conditions, adverse...

A Literature Review on the Lack of Research of Emotional Abuse and the Repercussions

Tue, 21 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

This paper addresses different types of abuse and ways of defining them, and it then focuses on emotional abuse. The paper acknowledges the more commonly known types of abuse such as physical, domestic, or sexual abuse. This paper also presents types of abuse that are less heard of such as spiritual, financial, and emotional abuse. Just because these forms of abuse often go unsaid, they occur frequently and are important to consider. This paper takes a stand that these forms of abuse are arguably as or more important because they don't get the mass coverage that other types of abuse do. Furthermore, this paper examines how emotional abuse is overlooked but common. When emotional abuse gets downplayed or swept under the rug by people in power, friends, or family, then there can be significant damage to the victim. This paper provides a review of the literature and notes that there are many limitations both when looking for research on this topic and conducting research on this...

Associations Between Red and Processed Meat Consumption and Risk of Developing Colorectal Cancer: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review

Mon, 20 Nov 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Colorectal cancer, a globally prevalent concern, necessitates the investigation of lifestyle factors contributing to its development. Evidence suggested a potential link between colorectal cancer and red/processed meat consumption, prompting a rigorous analysis of relevant studies and utilization of permutation tests for statistical evaluation. This database study explored the impact of red and processed meat consumption patterns on colorectal cancer risk. Leveraging publicly available nutrition reports and relevant studies, the research question posed is: “How does the frequency of consuming red and processed meat influence colorectal cancer risk over a person's lifespan?” It is hypothesized there will be a statistically significant difference in colorectal cancer incidence between those with regular red and processed meat consumption versus minimal consumption. The findings support a significant association between red and processed meat consumption and colorectal cancer risk....

Bridging the Fragmented Identities and Experiences of Immigrant and Queer Women of Color: A Queer Analysis of the Film Everything Everywhere All at Once.

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

My thesis titled "Bridging the Fragmented Identities and Experiences of Immigrant and Queer Women of Color: A Queer Analysis of the Film Everything Everywhere All at Once" was completed during Fall of 2022 in the senior capstone course for the English department, ENG 190 with Professor Weisong Gao. This paper seeks to establish the way this film bridges the intersectional stories of immigrant and queer communities by exploring the experiences of both groups as queer. The research and writing was conducted all in one semester individually and with the guidance of Professor Gao. Due to the popularity of the film, film critiques and online articles on the main text were readily accessible. However, the academic discussion of the film shown in this thesis is arguably one of the earliest considering the lack of academic writing on such a new film. Still, the film's radical exploration of Asian American, queer, and immigrant communities has been widely recognized in the media; therefore...

How Could Pre-existing Knowledge of Physics Terms Prior to Learning Them in a Physics Classroom Alter the Learning of Physics in Introductory Physics Courses and How Do You Effectively Grasp The Concepts of Physics?

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Physics terms are terms that most people use in their day-to-day language which could create confusion when being taught in a physics classroom setting. In my experience, I found some concepts confusing when we first learned about velocity and acceleration. Acceleration to me meant speeding up which exactly means an increase in speed, but the term velocity is theterm used in physics for speed. When words fail us, it states that the physics teacher’s interpretations and filtration that they developed could appear different to every student based on how the language is developed (Tougher, 1991). In one aspect of this study, it appeared that the more the definition of a physics term is distant from an academic definition and more into an application to real life, then it becomes easier to understand.

The Prediction and Prevention of Cancer: An Evolutionary Approach

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Darwin’s Theory of Evolution is widely known as one of the most important aspects of biology among scientists and researchers. The relationship between evolution and medicine is a critical phenomenon which can lead to the innovation of newly implemented models and techniques, in hopes of suppressing life-threatening diseases in humans such as cancer. This paper aims to discover and understand how evolution can predict and prevent cancer inhumans. A major topic that this paper delves deep into is understanding the connection between evolution and medicine. Additionally, it looks to gain insight on how cancer has evolved and what scientists have learned from its progression over past generations. Lastly, this paper identifies and explains the various models that exist to aid in the prediction of cancer. Evolutionary medicine is a modern tool that can be used to further develop today’s medicine. Predicting evolution can allow scientists to implement advanced technological tools in...

How the Stigma of Mental Health Harms Hispanic Adolescents

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The stigmatization of mental health is a detriment to society. Learning healthy coping mechanisms or seeking professional mental health services are crucial to preventing others from perpetuating bad and problematic behaviors and better the mental health of the general population. The focal point of this research is how the stigma of mental health specifically harms Hispanic adolescents because mental health disparities disproportionately affect Latinos (a sizable minority group in the United States) in comparison to their white counterparts. FourHispanic adolescents were virtually interviewed to document their anecdotal experiences with the stigma of mental health issues in their families. The analysis of studies conducted by Susan Caplan and William Vega et al. are used to bridge and apply concepts of mental health stigma to the participants’ responses. It was found that poverty, language barriers, fear, societal stigma, and discriminatory stigma accumulate to make proper mental...

From Research to Practice: A Narrative Review of Interventions to Reach Rural Native American Communities for Health Promotion

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Native Americans, as the indigenous people of North America, have a unique history and background in the United States and those living in remote, rural areas are particularly vulnerable to health disparities that impact their quality of life. While existing literature often focuses on these health disparities, gaps exist when considering how remote, rural environments can affect health promotion in Native American communities. To address this issue, a narrative review was conducted to examine interventions aimed at reaching rural Native Americans forhealth promotion. The review utilized credible studies published in reputable journals and a total of 12 articles were chosen for the final review. The selected studies were organized into main sections of key health disparities, culturally-relevant approaches, community-based participatory research, and ethical considerations. The review found that utilizing community-based participatory research can help create culturally tailored...

Letter from the Editor

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Letter from the Editor

Camp Grant Massacre

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

The attack happened on Sunday morning at 6:00 am, once every Apache went to sleep after their traditional ritual dance. Under the command of William Sanders Oury (also known as Bill Oury) and Juan Elias, an organized attack was arranged to target the Apache near Camp Grant in Arizona on April 30, 1871. As Oury, Elias, and their 148 followers pursued their attack, approximately 108 Apache were murdered with a small number of survivors. As the nation (including President Grant) received word about the Camp Grant Massacre, a trial proceeded months later that underwent 17 minutes with the verdict of not guilty for the defendants involved within the massacre. In the next following paragraphs, I will uncover the historical context, production of silences, historical actors, lateral memory, exemplary memory, and current memory activism of the Camp Grant Massacre.

The Need for Spanish Communication Classes in Medical Education

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Throughout the history of modern-day medicine, clinicians and medical professionals have seen sickness and disease as having discrete biological causes. The health care system has seemed to be lacking in advancement recently, with provided care focusing on symptoms of disease and sickness, while not building a trusting relationship with the patient. For clinicians or medical professionals to effectively treat a patient and their underlying sickness and or disease, health care workers must be able to navigate across language barriers to aid in linguistically and culturally diverse communities. For clinicians and health care professionals to gain these skills, they must be trained throughout their medical school education with more respect for immigrant, migrant, and or minority Spanish-speaking patients by being taught Medical Spanish with a focus on communication skills. The use of Spanish in patient care by clinicians allows for multilingual patients who speak Spanish to understand...

Stepping Away from Sensory Deprivation: An Analysis of Floatation-REST Research

Thu, 4 May 2023 00:00:00 +0000

Floatation-REST (Reduced Environmental Stimulus Technique/Therapy), more commonly known as sensory deprivation, is a technique for relaxation and stress reduction that is quickly growing more popular due to the many benefits it seems to provide for its participants. Floatation-REST is a mild form of sensory deprivation/isolation in which the participant floats in a tank of saltwater (magnesium sulfate) which has been heated to skin temperature (35.5-36℃). The buoyant saltwater allows the participant to relax in a supine position, and they experience complete darkness and silence within the tank. Many studies have shown this technique to be beneficial in treating ailments such as anxiety, chronic pain, and other conditions associated with stress and muscle tension. However, Floatation-REST has much stigma surrounding it due to the negative histories associated with the term ‘sensory deprivation’, and many of those who experience anxieties that could be helped by Floatation-REST...

Howl: The Tip of the Obscene Iceberg