| 1 |
Author(s):
Aleena Shahab Khokhar.
Page No : 1-8
|
How have Biomedical Engineering Advancements Shaped the Development of Contraceptive Devices from the 19th Century to the Present?
Abstract
Contraception has undergone significant transformation throughout the years, evolving from
rudimentary trial-and-error methods to contemporary bio-integrated technologies that shape
reproductive autonomy and global health. This review traces the evolution from initial barrier methods
and intrauterine devices (IUDs) to hormone delivery systems, with the emergence of implants, vaginal
rings, and advanced contraceptive technologies. Analyzed from medical, technological, and social
perspectives, it illustrates how scientific innovation, improved healthcare infrastructure, and supportive
policies have expanded access to family planning while influencing individual future aspirations. In the
future, emerging technologies such as multipurpose preventative technologies (MPTs), bioinformatics,
and artificial intelligence (AI) may enhance the personalization, equity, and accessibility of birth control.
Ultimately, the history of birth control reflects not only biomedical advances but also the ongoing global
struggle for gender equality, reproductive rights, and health equity.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Diya Chopra.
Page No : 9-13
|
A Narrative Review of Conflict Responses in Children With and Without Clinically Diagnosed OCD
Abstract
This narrative review discusses the academic and social difficulties associated with attending school
as a child diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Drawing from existing research on
school aged children and their responses to conflict, this review organizes findings based on topics that
examine social, emotional, and academic environments and their effects on children with and without
OCD. Four themes emerged: an overview of peer relationships, conflict triggers, behavioral responses,
and school experiences. Findings indicate that social and emotional challenges can impact academic
outcomes in children with OCD, and behavioral impairments can impact the school experience.
Synthesizing these findings highlights the importance of understanding the patterns of OCD to provide
research to better support children with OCD in school environments.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Alexander Liu.
Page No : 14-18
|
Proof‑of‑Concept Machine Learning Classifier for Identifying Clouds and Haze in Exoplanet Transmission Spectra
Abstract
Traditional methods for determining whether an exoplanet atmosphere is clear, cloudy, or hazy can
require substantial manual interpretation of transmission spectra. Here, a proof‑of‑concept machine
learning (ML) classifier is developed to assess whether synthetic training data can support automated
classification of atmospheric conditions in observed spectra. A dataset of 10800 synthetic spectra was
generated using petitRADTRANS, spanning three classes (clear, cloudy, and hazy). The dataset was split
into training, validation, and testing sets (70/15/15 percent), and a random forest classifier was trained and
evaluated. The model achieved testing accuracy of approximately 99–100 percent, with cross‑validated
F1 scores above 0.98 across all classes. The trained model was then applied to five observed exoplanet
spectra and produced cloudy classifications with probabilities between 65 and 89 percent. Although the
small sample size and synthetic training data limit generalizability, this study demonstrates the potential
for ML to accelerate atmospheric characterization workflows. Future work with larger and more diverse
datasets will be required to validate the method for broader scientific applications.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Seungyoon Shin.
Page No : 19-25
|
A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Urban Air Pollution and Modeled Health-Economic Burden
Abstract
This study performs a cross-sectional analysis of global urban air pollution and health-economic
burden modeled by using publicly available World Air Quality Index Data that contain 16,695 records
from 14,229 city-county pairs across 185 countries. EPA breakpoint interpolation was used to estimate
PM2.5 concentrations from AQI values and summarize them at city and county levels. To estimate
relative risk (RR), attributable fraction (AF), and normalized economic burden were estimated by
applying a simplified concentration-response model (β corresponding to a 6% risk increase per 10μg/
m3) by using standardized population and value-of-statistical-life parameters. Mean inferred PM2.5
concentrations in many cities substantially exceeded the WHO guideline of 5μg/m3 and varied by more
than an order of magnitude across cities. Cities with higher PM2.5 concentrations showed proportionally
higher modeled RR and AF, which were associated with markedly larger normalized economic burden
estimates. Without estimating causal effects or absolute costs, this study demonstrates how a transparent
and reproducible quantitative framework may reveal global disparities in pollution-related health burden
by using open data. The quantitative framework proposed in this study provides a foundation for future
studies to incorporate temporal, demographic, and policy variables.
