| 1 |
Author(s):
Florian Lerch.
Page No : 1-11
|
A Modular Approach to Biomimetic Artificial Intelligence for Drone Swarms Designed for Search and Rescue Operations
Abstract
Search and Rescue (SAR) operations often happen in complex, unpredictable environments where
there are a lot of risks and logistical challenges. Autonomous Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) swarms
have arisen as a solution to improve the speed, safety, and coverage of SAR missions. This paper
reviews and analyzes bio-inspired algorithms that draw from principles observed in nature that enable
decentralized, robust, and adaptive coordination among UAVs. This paper examines how these algorithms
can be combined, each addressing a certain phase of an SAR mission, like area exploration, target
detection, collision avoidance, and target escorting. The strengths and limitations of each algorithm are
discussed, and notably their scalability, communication requirements, environmental adaptability, and
real-world feasibility. This work demonstrates the potential of hybrid biomimetic systems and outlines
crucial future research that needs to happen in order to have real-world SAR missions.
| 2 |
Author(s):
Leyla Bac.
Page No : 12-22
|
Differential Gene Expression Associated with Tumor Status and Smoking in Lung Tissue
Abstract
Smoking is a major contributor to lung adenocarcinoma, yet its specific gene expression signature
remains unclear. This study, with a sample size of n=107, examined gene expression differences across
current, former, and never smokers, as well as tumor and non-tumor lung samples, to better define
smoking’s molecular impact. Ordinary least squares regression and ANOVA were applied to the
microarray GSE10072 data, followed by false discovery rate correction using the Benjamini–Hochberg
method with a statistical threshold of q<0.05. The analysis identified many differentially expressed genes
for each comparison: 10562 genes for tumor vs non-tumor, 627 genes for current vs never smokers,
and 18 genes for former vs never smokers. Specific genes of interest include CYP1B1, upregulated by
110.8-148.8% across 3 probes in current smokers, and ADARB1, downregulated by 36.4%, 23.3%, and
73.2% in current smokers, former smokers, and tumor samples, respectively. These genes, implicated in
pathways such as AHR-CYP and PI3K/AKT signaling, highlight potential mechanistic links between
smoking exposure and lung cancer development. The results suggest that smoking leaves distinct and
lasting molecular signatures that may contribute to tumor progression, offering potential targets for
improved therapeutic strategies.
| 3 |
Author(s):
Layla Malik.
Page No : 23-29
|
Purchasing Fast Fashion: Factors Influencing Consumer Behavior in Teenage Girls
Abstract
It is clear that fast fashion has a negative effect on the environment and that the industry is motivated
to continue because it is profitable. However, it is not clear why consumers continue to purchase fast
fashion. This study aimed to explore why consumers choose to purchase fast fashion, employing an
anonymous survey to capture the purchasing decision making factors of teenage girls in the New York
and New Jersey area of the United States. Through this survey, the research investigated which factors,
such as price, trendiness, convenience, and awareness of environmental & socioeconomic impact, had
the biggest impact on purchasing decisions. Although limited by a small and geographically narrow
sample size, this exploratory study’s findings suggest that price and high desire for clothing items
positively influenced fast fashion purchasing decisions, while understanding the environmental and
social impacts of fast fashion appear to have had the opposite effect on purchasing decisions in survey
participants. The results highlight areas for future research and advocacy in shifting consumer behavior
towards sustainability, as they help to better understand consumer fashion purchase decisions, helping to
accurately target efforts to reduce fast fashion consumption.
| 4 |
Author(s):
Emmanuel Wu, Daniel Hawkins Iddrisus.
Page No : 30-36
|
The Geography of Education: A Comparative Study of Academic Resource Access in an Urban U.S and a Rural Taiwanese High School
Abstract
This study examines how high school students in two contrasting educational contexts—an urban
public high school in the United States and a rural private high school in Taiwan—experience access to
academic resources and academic pressure. Using a qualitative comparative research design, data were
collected through an anonymous online survey administered to 26 students (n = 11 U.S.; n = 15 Taiwan).
The survey included both scaled questions and open-ended prompts addressing technological resources,
non-technological resources, academic pressure, and support systems. Responses were analyzed using
thematic analysis to identify recurring patterns and cross-contextual differences. Findings indicate that
Taiwanese students experience limited technological and curricular resources alongside high levels
of exam-related pressure, while U.S. students report broader access to institutional and technological
resources but heightened stress related to college admissions and competitive academic environments.
Across both contexts, students emphasized the importance of interpersonal support in coping with
academic demands. These results show how resource availability and academic pressure intersect
differently across educational systems, underscoring the value of student perspectives in understanding
educational inequality.
| 5 |
Author(s):
Milan Stukavec.
Page No : 37-50
|
Twitter Sentiment Analysis – How Do Models Trained on A Topic-Specific Dataset of Tweets Generalize to A Second, Topic-Diverse D ataset of Tweets?
Abstract
Models for sentiment analysis that are trained on one-domain dataset often result in inability to
perform well in other domains due to insufficient labeled data and restricted domain knowledge.
Understanding how well sentiment classifiers generalize is critical for multi-domain applications where
the inability to handle the domain shift may severely impact the stakeholders. The study examines
the ability of machine learning models (LinearSVC and Logistic Regression) trained on the “Social
Dilemma” movie review dataset to generalize to a new, previously unseen dataset with a non-specific
thematic focus. Both models were optimized using hyperparameter tuning and TF-IDF vectorizer, and
then tested on the new dataset. The results showed that both models were able to achieve accuracy scores
and F1-Scores between 85 and 90% on the first dataset, but when applied to the second dataset, both
performance indicators dropped significantly. This was likely due to the shift in topic, vocabulary and
context. The study concluded that the degree of generalization ability to an unseen dataset for sentiment
analysis depends more on the degree of topic proximity between the training and new datasets than on
the optimization and selection of the ML model, highlighting the importance of dataset choice in crossdomain
applications.
| 6 |
Author(s):
Mahi Chanpura.
Page No : 51-58
|
Thyroid Cancer: Pathological Subtypes and Contemporary The rapeutic Strategies
Abstract
Thyroid cancer is a complex and increasingly prevalent disease that affects thousands of
individuals worldwide. A clear understanding of its pathology, diagnosis, treatment options, and ongoing
research is essential for improving patient care and outcomes. Thyroid cancer includes various types with
differing risks and prognoses; however, recent advancements in treatment—such as surgery, radioactive
iodine therapy, and ablation therapy—have improved recovery outcomes, especially in older
patients. Current clinical trials and new therapies continue to advance care, and understanding these
developments can empower patients, students, and healthcare professionals with knowledge of both
current and future treatment possibilities. This paper reviews the main types of thyroid cancer
and discusses its pathophysiology, diagnosis, management, and prognosis, while emphasizing recent
research and therapeutic advancements that improve patient outcomes.
| 7 |
Author(s):
Eric Japson.
Page No : 59-66
|
Treating Chromosomal Abnormalities with CRISPR Gene Editing
Abstract
Chromosomal abnormalities, some of the most prevalent genetic diseases in the world, are caused
when chromosomes are present in the wrong number or configuration. Some common types include
duplications (more chromosomes than normal), deletions (less chromosomes than normal), and other
structural issues (deletions, duplications, or inversions within one chromosome). Unfortunately, there are
few available treatments for any of these diseases today. However, there have been several studies based
on the possibility of using clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) proteins
along with CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins to treat these conditions. These methods range from using
traditional CRISPR-Cas9 for treating duplications, utilizing integrase proteins to treat deletions, and
employing gold nanoparticles to deliver CRISPR directly into the brain. CRISPR gene editing methods
have the potential to become a widespread curative technique for chromosomal abnormalities. This
review examines recent CRISPR advances to treat chromosomal abnormalities, including deletions,
duplications, and structural aberrations.
| 8 |
Author(s):
Muhammad Moosa Awais, Sanjay Karthick Avva.
Page No : 67-76
|
A Computer Vision Framework for Estimating Surface Habitability from Mars Using Convolutional Analysis
Abstract
Identifying signs of life in extraterrestrial environments is one of the growing challenges in
planetary science. Conventional approaches to detecting habitability rely heavily on direct contact with
biosignatures or geological analyses, but limited data and mission costs hold back such methods. This
work introduces a computer vision-based pipeline that analyzes planetary surface images to determine
a livability index that estimates the photographed terrain’s likelihood to support life. The data is from
the Mars Surface Image Dataset (collected by NASA’s Curiosity Rover) and the Mars Handlens Analog
Database, archived at the Planetary Data System (PDS) Geosciences Node of Washington University
in St. Louis. Unlike existing binary classifiers that only distinguish between planetary sources, our
method utilizes feature extraction to evaluate environments in terms of their habitability. By combining
convolutional features with descriptors of texture, hue, and structure, we demonstrate that our model
can move beyond simple classification and instead generate interpretable, probabilistic estimates of
habitability. With a livability index, we can focus on key habitability features and use them to guide
targeted exploration to better search for life beyond Earth.
| 9 |
Author(s):
Tanmayee Vegunta.
Page No : 77-89
|
The Implications and Applications of CAR-T Cells and Nanoparticles
Abstract
The management and treatment of colorectal cancer (CRC) has recently focused on two new and
upcoming therapies: Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cells(CAR-T cells) and nanoparticles. CAR-T Cells
are T cells that have been genetically modified to detect and target cancer cells in the body by delivering
medication into the body in the area where the cancer cells are present. Nanoparticles are microscopic
particles engineered to detect and target cancer cells in the body by delivering medication or staining
lymph nodes in a combined therapy approach. This paper addresses the question of how CAR-T cell
therapies and nanoparticles can be used as a treatment for CRC, acknowledging the limitations and
consequences present. Analysis of CAR-T cells has shown promising results in terms of medication
administration and the prevention of metastases. Analysis of nanoparticles has shown promising results
in the detection of sentinel lymph nodes(SLN) and the administration of medication. Both treatments
show measurable effects, but this is not without the presence of different adverse effects that highlight the
need for further analysis and additional supportive measures through combination therapies.
| 10 |
Author(s):
Ethan Pan.
Page No : 90-100
|
Understanding Buy Now, Pay Later: Drivers, Demographics, and Financial Implications
Abstract
In recent times, Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services have experienced explosive growth in usage,
with loan volume in the U.S. increasing 970% during the early stages between 2019–2021. This literature
review synthesizes research across three interrelated aspects of BNPL loans: the drivers behind BNPL
adoption, the demographics of the service’s users, and its financial implications for consumer behavior
and well-being. Detailed analysis reveals that BNPL’s appeal comes from financial drivers (liquidity
management, credit accessibility, no-interest financing), functional drivers (convenience, ease of use), and
subtle psychological drivers (present bias, framing effects, mental accounting). In addition, demographic
research demonstrates that BNPL disproportionately draws younger, female, lower-income, and minority
consumers who have subprime credit scores. Financial implications research shows that BNPL adoption
correlates with increased spending frequency (9%) and amount (10.5%), reduced emergency savings,
higher late payment rates (10.5% in 2021), and lowered overall financial well-being. However, the
direction of the cause-and-effect relationship remains unclear: whether financially vulnerable consumers
self-select into using BNPL as a payment method or whether BNPL usage specifically causes financial
harm. This review article identifies crucial research gaps and asserts that current regulations inadequately
protect consumers from documented, predictable risks, especially in vulnerable populations.
| 11 |
Author(s):
Charles Page.
Page No : 101-104
|
A Harm-Based Framework for Defining Mental Illness: Moving Beyond Wakefield’s Dysfunction Model
Abstract
The definition of mental illness remains contested within the philosophy of psychiatry. Jerome
Wakefield’s “harmful dysfunction” account provides valuable insight by combining scientific and
evaluative components. However, his reliance on biological dysfunction is problematic, as it excludes
conditions without evolutionary dysfunctions and fails to separate scientific and value-laden components
of mental illness. This article proposes a new framework for mental illness, defining it for functional
rather than folk purposes. It argues that mental illness for psychiatric intervention should be defined
as any mental framework that harms an individual or others more than psychiatric intervention would.
This harm-based model removes biological dysfunction from the definition, focusing instead on the
comparative evaluation of harm and benefit. It preserves Wakefield’s emphasis on value judgments while
offering greater practical applicability and inclusivity. By removing dependence on the “selected effect”
view, this definition accounts for disorders without evolutionary dysfunction, such as dyslexia and
aggression disorders derived from naturally selected processes. Ultimately, this framework provides a
more functional basis for mental illness in society, emphasizing harm reduction and clinical utility over
evolutionary essentialism.
| 12 |
Author(s):
Azad Parikh.
Page No : 105-110
|
Investigating the Effects of Urbanization on River Pollution in Mumbai
Abstract
This study investigates the relationship between urbanization and river pollution along the Mithi
River in Mumbai, India. Over the past four decades, rapid population growth, industrial expansion,
and informal settlement development have significantly altered land use and degraded water quality.
Using a mixed-methods approach, field observations from sixteen sites in July 2025 were combined
with secondary geospatial and historical data to assess spatial patterns in observable environmental
condition. Results indicate that industrial and slum-adjacent zones exhibit the poorest environmental
quality, while coastal mangrove and central business district (CBD) areas demonstrate comparatively
better conditions in this survey. A qualitative contextual comparison with 2014 Maharashtra Pollution
Control Board (MPCB) documentation suggests that several midstream reaches highlighted in public
monitoring and action planning overlap with sections observed as highly degraded in 2025, particularly
around the airport corridor and central industrial–settlement reaches. However, due to differences in
indicators, methodologies, and spatial units, temporal continuity is inferred qualitatively rather than
demonstrated quantitatively. These findings highlight that unregulated development is associated with
degraded river conditions, and that targeted investments in sewage treatment, mangrove conservation,
and land-use planning are relevant priorities for improving urban river health. The study underscores the
importance of integrating ecological restoration with urban growth strategies to support sustainable river
management in megacities such as Mumbai.
| 13 |
Author(s):
Sabrina Mazumder.
Page No : 111-119
|
The Art of Computational Persuasion: Evaluating The Impact of Ethos, Pathos, and Logos on Argument Effectiveness
Abstract
Large language models (LLMs) have emerged as a powerful tool for producing persuasive content
at scale. However, little research has considered the rhetorical strategies which make these arguments
effective. This study aims to fill this gap by quantifying the persuasive impact of rhetorical appeals
in LLM-generated arguments, and personalization is additionally examined to determine whether it
enhances their impact. Using a survey instrument with 68 participants to investigate which rhetorical
appeal, when used by an LLM, is most convincing in both personalized and generic arguments.
Participants were persuaded by the LLM’s arguments in 7.3% of instances. For personalized arguments,
the rhetoric used did not have a significant impact on this metric; however, for generic arguments, appeals
to logic were typically most convincing. These findings raise questions about the potential implications
in politics and marketing if such persuasive content were deployed at scale.
| 14 |
Author(s):
Sarah Higashio Gocsei.
Page No : 120-130
|
Breaking the News: The Role of AI in Shaping Young Audiences’ Perception of Bias and News Consumption in Japan
Abstract
As artificial intelligence (AI) advances rapidly, the media industry is undergoing major transformation,
particularly in technologically advanced countries such as Japan. Yet the extent to which AI shapes
public perceptions of bias and trust in news remains underexplored. This study investigates the use of AI
in Japanese news media and its influence on news consumption and credibility among young audiences.
A mixed-methods design was employed, combining surveys of 216 respondents with content analysis of
AI-generated and traditional media. Most respondents were under 18 (58.8%) and primarily consumed
news via online websites (36.5%) and social media (34.7%). Far fewer relied on television (21.7%),
print newspapers (0.9%), or AI-generated platforms (0.5%). Trust was highest for traditional media
(mean 3.79/5), lower for digital platforms (2.99), and lowest for AI-generated news (1.90). Respondents
identified political influence (88.3%) and corporate interests (55%) as the main drivers of media bias.
Concerns about AI-driven news focused on accuracy (26.8%) and algorithmic bias (23.2%), while
benefits included faster delivery (50%) and lower production costs (47.7%). Although direct engagement
with AI-generated news remains limited, AI’s expanding role in content curation and production makes
understanding its implications for audience trust increasingly urgent. This paper contributes Japanspecific
empirical evidence to ongoing debates about the perceptual, ethical, and societal challenges of
AI-driven journalism.
| 15 |
Author(s):
David Wang.
Page No : 131-142
|
Analyzing TikTok’s Transformative Impact on Consumer Behavior and SME Growth
Abstract
Social media has quickly become one of the most powerful tools for small and medium-sized
businesses (SMEs). While existing research has established the value of social media for branding and
marketing, few explore how advancing integrated platform tools actively shape consumer behavior and
small business growth. This paper aims to address this gap by examining the social media platform
TikTok and how its unique features enhance consumer experience and create greater opportunities for
SME reach and growth. The results find that TikTok uniquely blends commerce into its entertainment
platform through algorithmic exposure, cognitive triggers, and business outcomes. TikTok’s algorithm
drives passive product discovery by pushing tailored content, keeping users engaged while aligning
preferences with relevant products. TikTok’s cognitive triggers, including platform-wide discounting,
perceived value enhancement, creator-community trust and integrated creator tools, operate naturally
within TikTok’s short-form entertainment feed. Together these triggers increase user satisfaction and
reduce friction, while increasing SME success through greater reach, conversion, and engagement, at low
to no costs. Through a qualitative case study of TikTok, this paper analyzes observed platform features
using established theory and research contributing to the growing body of social commerce literature.
| 16 |
Author(s):
Karthik Saripalli.
Page No : 143-151
|
Gene Therapy and Leber Congenital Amaurosis: A Review of Treatments and Clinical Trials
Abstract
Leber Congenital Amaurosis (LCA) is an early-onset genetic disease that causes severe vision loss
beginning in childhood. This disease arises from biallelic mutations in genes that program photoreceptor
function, the visual cycle, or phototransduction. Among more than 25 genes associated with LCA,
RPE65, CEP290, and GUCY2D account for the largest number of LCA cases, which makes them more
amenable to therapeutic development. To treat this disease, gene therapy treatments emerged as a
promising solution because they target genetic mutations rather than just the symptoms, and currently
include Luxturna as the only FDA-approved treatment. Beyond approved therapies, AAV and CRISPRCas9-
based genomic editing strategies are being evaluated in clinical trials. This paper will analyze FDAapproved
treatments such as Luxturna, as well as ongoing clinical trials aimed at achieving long-term
efficacy, while highlighting that restorative potential might be limited by the amount of photoreceptors,
genotype and age.
| 17 |
Author(s):
Skyler Wood.
Page No : 152-164
|
The AI-Enhanced Opportunity Nexus: How Artificial Intelligence is Reshaping Entrepreneurial Problem Ideation
Abstract
Entrepreneurs increasingly adopt artificial intelligence (AI) tools during the earliest stage of venture
creation—problem ideation. To clarify how AI reshapes this stage of opportunity identification, this
study conducts a systematic scoping review of emerging literature. Searches were performed in Google
Scholar and Scopus using Boolean queries combining “artificial intelligence,” “entrepreneurship,”
“opportunity identification,” and “ideation.” After removing duplicates and screening records against
predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were included. Data were extracted using a
structured coding framework capturing the entrepreneurial stage, AI’s functional role, reported benefits
and risks, and boundary conditions. Findings show that AI expands entrepreneurs’ cognitive search
space, accelerates pattern recognition, and supports reframing of problem domains, but also introduces
risks of convergence, reduced contextual judgment, and overreliance. Synthesizing these patterns, the
review develops the AI-Enhanced Opportunity Identification Framework: Human–AI Co-Evolutionary
Extension, a refinement of a foundational opportunity identification model. The framework identifies
three cross-stage AI roles—Inspirer, Analyst, and Organizer—and situates ideation within iterative
human–AI collaboration shaped by institutional enablers such as AI-integrated incubators. This review
contributes by mapping empirical evidence on AI’s influence on entrepreneurial ideation, clarifying
mechanisms of human–AI co-creation, and outlining future research opportunities on judgment, novelty,
and ecosystem-level effects.
| 18 |
Author(s):
Gavin J Chen.
Page No : 165-175
|
Mastering Market Forces: Key Factors Companies Must Navigate to Maximize Stock Market Value
Abstract
The stock market is influenced by many factors that contribute to its growth or decline. Five key drivers are GDP, inflation, geopolitical events, government policies, and investor sentiment.1 Understanding these macroeconomic variables is essential because they collectively shape economic performance by influencing consumer spending, business investment, and overall market confidence.2 This paper explores how macroeconomic forces, government policy, investor sentiment, geopolitical events, inflation, and GDP growth shape the performance of public companies in today's stock market.3 Through five case studies—Tesla, Nvidia, Delta Air Lines, GameStop, and Shell—it shows how companies respond to outside pressures and align with trends to survive, grow, or fall.4 Tesla and Nvidia used policies and technological demand to expand rapidly.5 Delta and Shell adapted to crises like COVID-19 and climate regulation to stay stable.6 GameStop showed how social media and investors can override fundamentals.7 The paper connects these examples to historical patterns, from Tulip Mania to the South Sea Bubble, showing that sentiment and regulation have always mattered.8 In today's fast-moving, connected world, public companies must be adaptable, resilient, and aware of macroeconomic shifts because success depends not just on strong business models, but on how well firms respond to change and position themselves for the future.9
| 19 |
Author(s):
Sophia Lee, Anna Han, Miriam Kang, Hailey Choi, Taylor Choi, Jacob Park, David Park, Zoe Lok, Ayah Atay.
Page No : 176-183
|
Increasing Solubility of Fungicide Chlorothalonil Using Sodium Dodecylbenzenesulfonate
Abstract
Chlorothalonil is a prominent fungicide and mildewcide that is used on a variety of produce,
including field and vegetable crops and turfgrass. Chlorothalonil is also used to increase soil respiration
and phosphatase activities. However, this fungicide contains harmful properties and can cause health
concerns to humans. Chlorothalonil is especially toxic to aquatic species and environments and can pose
a threat towards crucial plants such as peanuts and potatoes. Due to the harmful effects of chlorothalonil
on our health and the environment, its complete removal from consumable produce is vital. To assist
in quickly and thoroughly removing chlorothalonil from various types of produce, we hypothesized
that adjusting the pH of the chlorothalonil would help break down the fungicide. However, with the
inconclusive results of our pH testing, we shifted a focus on using the surfactant sodium dodecylbenzene
sulfonate (SDBS) to increase solubility in chlorothalonil for easy removal. This study investigates how
SDBS concentration influences chlorothalonil solubility as measured by thin-layer chromatography
(TLC). The increase in polarity of the chlorothalonil was confirmed with the decrease in Rf values from
0.73 to 0.10 when SDBS increased from 0.00 to 0.400 g, therefore indicating an increase in solubility.
The impacts of our research prove the efficacy of the use of SDBS in the removal of the fungicide
chlorothalonil from produce that is consumed everyday worldwide.
| 20 |
Author(s):
Ajooni Kaur.
Page No : 184-198
|
Shades of Success: The Impact of Marketing Strategies on Brand Perception for Minority-Owned Cosmetics Startups in the U.S.
Abstract
Marketing plays a massive role in shaping consumer behavior and brand loyalty, especially in imagedriven
industries like cosmetics. However, the unique marketing challenges faced by minority-owned
cosmetics startups are still largely understudied. Regardless of a growing public interest in diversity and
inclusion, many businesses struggle to translate social support into consumer engagement. This paper
addresses the underexplored relationship between marketing strategy and brand perception as it applies
to minority-owned beauty brands in the United States. It helps to understand how marketing choices
such as influencer collaborations, platform selection, visual messaging, and brand storytelling influence
the way consumers perceive, trust, and support these brands. It argues that thoughtful marketing
strategies can bridge the gap between consumer values and actual purchasing behavior, especially when
authenticity is communicated. This study used a mixed-methods approach including a literature review,
qualitative interviews with beauty consumers, and a survey of 97 respondents. Interviews captured
in-depth opinions on branding and trust, while the survey measured how demographic variables
like race, age, and gender relate to perceptions of minority-owned brands. The findings showed that
while consumers support diversity, purchasing decisions were still heavily influenced by familiarity,
presentation, and marketing reach. The study offers practical implications for minority-owned startups
and marketing professionals seeking to build stronger, values-based connections with their audiences in
an increasingly competitive industry.
| 21 |
Author(s):
Alexander L. Malchev.
Page No : 199-216
|
Toward Automated Identification of Turing-Complete Cellular Automata via Structural and Complexity Analysis
Abstract
This research presents a unified, quantitative framework for analyzing the complexity and
computational potential of Cellular Automata (CA). By combining the Complexity Score (CS) with the
Behavioral Index (BI), the method systematically identifies rules that generate both complex structures
and non-trivial interactions - features that recur across known constructions of Turing-complete systems
and motivate their use as practical search criteria. This methodology provides a reproducible approach to
estimating unbiased simulation parameters, ensuring robust measurements regardless of grid size, time
step, or random seed. This reduces variability and enhances comparability across different CA rules and
dimensions. The framework applies to all N-dimensional CAs, highlighting edge-of-chaos characteristics.
Behavioral analysis allows detailed tracking of object dynamics and collision interactions, providing
insights that are not captured by structural metrics alone. Overall, this approach lays a foundation for
scalable, quantitative exploration of CA rule spaces and for the systematic identification of candidate
universal automata, enabling efficient studies in this area and advancing practical uses of CAs.
| 22 |
Author(s):
Aanya P. Vora .
Page No : 217-225
|
Pay Transparency and the Gender Wage Gap in Germany: A Quasi-Experimental Assessment
Abstract
This paper examines the impact of Germany’s 2017 Pay Transparency Law, Entgelttransparenzgesetz,
on gender wage inequality. Using a quasi-experimental design and two complementary approaches,
Difference-in-Differences (DID) and Synthetic Difference-in-Differences (SDID), the paper assesses
whether the reform produced measurable changes in the gender wage gap relative to comparable
Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. The analysis finds a
modest but statistically robust narrowing of the unadjusted wage gap, suggesting that transparency can
influence wage-setting behavior by reducing informational asymmetries and strengthening workers’
bargaining power. While the effect is limited in scale, Germany’s experience shows that transparency
policies can make wage disparities more contestable and contribute to incremental progress in pay
equity. At the same time, the findings underline that transparency alone is insufficient to close structural
inequalities, highlighting the need for complementary measures such as enforcement mechanisms
and equity audits. Taken together, the study offers evidence that transparency is neither symbolic nor
transformative in isolation, but when properly designed, it can serve as an effective lever for advancing
gender wage equality.
| 23 |
Author(s):
Rhea Cadambi.
Page No : 226-234
|
The Effectiveness of Music Therapy in Mitigating Autoimmune Disease Pain Perception
Abstract
Music therapy has recently gained popularity as a method of reducing anxiety, restoring cognitive
functions, encouraging sedation, and alleviating pain. However, the role of music therapy in mitigating
pain perception for those with autoimmune diseases has not yet been extensively, if at all, researched.
This paper aims to summarize the existing evidence of the general effects of music therapy on patients,
as well as to draw connections between music therapy, pain perception, and autoimmune disease in order
to explore potential impacts of music therapy on autoimmune pain. A literature search was performed
using various databases for papers published between 01 May 2013 and 01 August 2025. Included are
studies and reviews that pertain to music therapy, autoimmune disease, pain perception, and auditory
signaling in order to provide adequate background on the research topics. From the review, it is clear
that music therapy has benefits for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s,
effectively improving or restoring cognitive and motor functions. Music therapy also effectively reduces
pre-operative anxiety and encourages deeper sedation during surgery. Moreover, music therapy and
general auditory stimuli are able to alter neural patterns in the somatosensory cortex, in which pain is
perceived. Autoimmune pain disorders are often caused by autoimmune attacks in these somatosensory
pathways. These findings suggest that music is an effective therapy for autoimmune pain since music is
able to reduce anxiety and affect neurons in the area of autoimmune attacks.
| 24 |
Author(s):
Neel R. Gupta.
Page No : 235-249
|
Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Evolving Treatment Strategies
Abstract
The Ulnar Collateral Ligament (UCL) is the primary stabilizer of the elbow against valgus stress
during overhead throwing motions. Injury rates among young athletes especially have risen sharply in
recent years, with male athletes aged 15-19 representing 54% of all UCL injuries, sparking a growing
interest in reconstruction and the biology behind it. Although advances in surgical techniques and new
biological therapies have become more popular, there are still gaps in our understanding of the optimal
treatment for each case. Long term outcomes of new techniques, sex-based differences, and differences
in injury patterns all influence the choice of treatment. This review evaluates current evidence on UCL
injury management in order to help identify the optimal treatment selection criteria and highlight areas
in need of more research. Male athletes are more likely to sustain acute distal tears whereas females
are more likely to sustain chronic midsubstance injuries. Surgically, the docking technique remains the
gold standard due to high return-to-play rates and fewer complications. However, there are new methods
arising such as the interference screw and internal bracing that are showing promise in younger athletes
and revision cases. Non-surgical treatments including platelet rich plasma or PRP therapy, physical
therapy rehabilitation, and bracing have shown variable outcomes but have been seen to be a viable
alternative for partial tears. Future research needs to focus on long-term outcomes of newer surgical
techniques, optimization of biological therapies, and clarification of sex-based differences in UCL injury
and treatment.
| 25 |
Author(s):
Tracy Xie.
Page No : 250-262
|
Teaching Silence: Textbooks, Nationalism and the Construction of Wartime Memory in late 1980s and early 1990s Japan
Abstract
This paper investigates how Japan’s Ministry of Education and the Liberal Democratic Party shaped
public memory of wartime atrocities, specifically the Nanking Massacre (also known as the Nanjing
Massacre or the Rape of Nanking), through the censorship and revision of history textbooks in the
late 1980s to early 1990s. Drawing on theories of public and cultural memory, as well as Pierre Nora’s
concept of sites of memory, it situates the textbook controversies within a broader historiographical
landscape. The study employs qualitative textual analysis of Ministry of Education-approved high school
textbooks, ministry revision comments, and court documents from Saburo Ienaga’s lawsuits to trace how
language was softened, omitted, and used to support an ideological narrative. By examining rhetoric
shifts (for example, replacing “invasion” with “advance”) alongside scholarly interpretations by Laura
Hein, Mark Selden, and Yoshiko Nozaki, the research demonstrates how state institutions perpetuated
denialist narratives that prioritized national pride over historical accountability. It further argues that
while Ienaga’s litigation briefly amplified liberal and anti-denialist perspectives, court rulings upheld
the screening system, reinforcing governmental control over historical education. The paper concludes
that Japan’s post-war education system functioned as a tool of memory politics: it cultivated a dominant
narrative that minimized the Rape of Nanking, influenced intergenerational perceptions of moral
responsibility, and strained relations with neighboring victim countries of China and South Korea. These
findings underscore the broader implications of state-controlled educational narratives for reconciliation
efforts and international diplomacy.
| 26 |
Author(s):
Paisley Robles.
Page No : 263-269
|
Physical Controls on Microplastic Retention in Estuarine Systems: Interactions Between Hydrodynamics, Stratification, Bathymetry, and Particle Properties
Abstract
Microplastics, introduced into estuaries through riverine discharge, wastewater, and surface runoff,
have become a growing environmental concern due to their persistence and potential impacts on
aquatic ecosystems. Understanding the mechanisms governing their transport and retention is important
for predicting their accumulation and ecological effects. While estuaries are recognized as key zones
for microplastic retention and export, existing studies often focus on individual processes or sites,
leaving a limited, integrated understanding of how estuarine physical dynamics control microplastic
fate. This review aims to synthesize current research to address this gap by examining how estuarine
hydrodynamics, stratification, bathymetry, and particle characteristics interact to govern microplastic
retention and export. Tidal asymmetry drives net landward transport under flood-dominated conditions,
while ebb-dominated tides increase seaward export; residual circulation concentrates sinking particles
near the bed and transports buoyant plastics at the surface. Stratification decreases vertical mixing,
creating discrete layers that trap particles and promote estuarine turbidity maxima, with stronger
freshwater inflows increasing the retention of dense particles and marginally buoyant microplastics
more likely to escape during high discharge. Bathymetric complexity, including channels, shoals, and
constrictions, localizes particle convergence and creates lateral segregation, with narrower estuaries
being more prone to retention and wider systems promoting export. Particle density and biofouling
modulate these effects: spherical sinking plastics often track sediment dynamics, while fouling can
increase retention of previously buoyant particles. Altogether, microplastic fate is highly systemdependent,
influenced by interactions between estuarine morphology, flow dynamics, and particle
properties, as many transport processes are highly location-specific.
| 27 |
Author(s):
Arya Dandawate.
Page No : 270-277
|
Can A Synergistic Therapy Be Administered Against Both Aβ and Tau Aggregates in Alzheimer’s Disease?
Abstract
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive
decline, memory impairment, and behavioral changes, and is pathologically defined by the accumulation
of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and tau neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The amyloid cascade and tau
hypotheses describe complementary mechanisms contributing to disease progression, yet current
therapies have historically focused on targeting Aβ alone, with limited clinical success. These outcomes
highlight the need for more comprehensive treatment approaches that address multiple pathogenic
pathways. This review examines current evidence on Aβ and tau pathology, evaluates therapeutic
strategies targeting each pathway, and assesses the scientific feasibility, challenges, and limitations of
synergistic dual-target approaches in Alzheimer’s disease. Genetic risk factors, including apolipoprotein
E APOE4 polymorphism, transgenic mouse models, approved and experimental immunotherapies,
and emerging biomarkers such as phosphorylated tau-217 (p-tau217) are discussed. While recent antiamyloid
monoclonal antibodies have shown modest clinical benefit, the interaction between Aβ and tau
pathology suggests that combination therapy may offer improved disease progression. However, there are
still several mechanistic, pathological, and safety challenges. Further research is required to determine
whether dual-target therapies can be translated into effective and safe treatment for Alzheimer’s disease.
| 28 |
Author(s):
Diya Borundiya.
Page No : 278-286
|
CRISPR-Mediated Therapeutic Engineering and Genetic Screening in Leukemia: A Narrative Review
Abstract
Leukemia remains a leading cause of hematologic cancer deaths despite advances in chemotherapy
and immunotherapies such as Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR) T-cells, largely due to drug resistance,
immune evasion, and relapse. This narrative review examines how CRISPR-based technologies are being
applied to leukemia therapeutics through precise genome editing and functional genetic screens. It first
synthesizes current literature on how CRISPR-Cas9 and next-generation editors (including Cas12a,
Cas13, base editors, and prime editors) enable the engineering of universal allogeneic CAR-T cells
and hematopoietic stem cells through disrupting immune checkpoints and Human Leukocyte Antigen
(HLA) genes, correcting pathogenic mutations, and reducing graft-versus-host disease. The review then
discusses pooled and arrayed CRISPR knockout, interference, and activation screens in which leukemia
cells are subjected to selective forces, including chemotherapeutic agents and immune-mediated
selective pressures, to enable the identification of genetic regulators of cell growth, survival, and antigen
escape. Genome-wide dropout screens in acute myeloid leukemia have revealed leukemia-specific
“fitness genes” in chromatin regulation, DNA repair, and metabolism whose pharmacologic inhibition
recapitulates CRISPR-induced cytotoxicity. In addition, focused screens have identified subtype-specific
dependencies, such as the vesicle-tethering factor Unconventional Secretion Organelle 1 (USO1) in
B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia, as well as synthetic lethal gene pairs that provide a framework
for rational combination therapies. Comparative analyses with RNA interference and computational
essentiality frameworks further sharpen the distinction between core-essential and leukemia-selective
targets. Collectively, the studies reviewed demonstrate how CRISPR-based screening and therapeutic
strategies are reshaping target discovery pipelines and accelerating the development of more precise,
effective, and less toxic treatment approaches across leukemia subtypes.
| 29 |
Author(s):
Allison Yi.
Page No : 287-298
|
Environmental Noise Exposure and Gastrointestinal Outcomes: Differential Impacts on Marginalized Communities
Abstract
Environmental noise exposure is an increasingly recognized public health concern, linked to a
variety of adverse outcomes, including gastrointestinal disorders. Chronic inflammation, in particular,
has been associated with long-term exposure to elevated noise levels, yet the underlying mechanisms and
contributing social factors remain poorly understood. This narrative review aims to investigate how noise
exposure has been associated with chronic gastrointestinal inflammation and to examine the relationship
between socioeconomic status and susceptibility to inflammatory conditions through a comprehensive
literature review. Peer-reviewed articles, public health reports, and epidemiological studies were
identified through targeted literature review and narratively synthesized to identify recurring patterns
in noise exposure, gastrointestinal health outcomes, and socioeconomic disparities. The review revealed
consistent evidence that higher noise exposure is associated with increased risk of gastrointestinal
inflammation; additionally, socioeconomic factors such as income level and neighborhood composition
may modulate vulnerability, with disadvantaged populations experiencing disproportionate impacts. In
synthesizing findings from multiple studies, this review highlights the interplay between environmental
and social determinants of gastrointestinal health and underscores the importance of considering both
when developing public health interventions. These insights contribute to a deeper understanding of
how environmental noise affects human health and provide evidence to inform policy and communitybased
strategies including urban planning, transportation noise regulation, and occupational exposure
standards aimed at reducing health inequities.
| 30 |
Author(s):
Qasim N Khan.
Page No : 299-309
|
Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis of Traditional and Laminar Flow Airfoils
Abstract
In this study, a comparative Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis is presented with the
aim of elucidating performance trade-offs between traditional airfoils and laminar flow airfoil designs.
Two conventional sections (NACA 2412 and NACA 0012) and two laminar flow designs (NACA 64A010
and NACA 747A315) were analyzed using steady-state Reynolds-Averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS)
simulations in ANSYS Fluent employing the SST turbulence model. A mesh refinement study confirmed
grid convergence and established mesh independence, with the near-wall resolution maintained at y+
≤ 1. Furthermore, results obtained from the simulations were validated against experimental data and
demonstrated strong agreement. Across all Reynolds numbers under investigation (5 × 104, 5 × 105,
2 × 106, and 9 × 106), traditional airfoils achieved superior aerodynamic efficiency, with the NACA
2412 exhibiting the highest lift-to-drag ratios (CL/CD ≈ 90 at Re = 9 × 106), while laminar flow profiles
demonstrated lower maximum lift. Post-stall behavior revealed slower lift decay for laminar flow sections,
indicating improved stall recovery. Overall, the findings suggest that traditional airfoils maintain broader
operational efficiency and robustness across varying flow conditions. These conclusions, however,
cannot be generalized to all traditional and laminar flow airfoils, as only two airfoils from each category
were examined. Additionally, all simulations were performed using a fully turbulent RANS framework
without an explicit transition model, which may influence the predicted performance of laminar flow
airfoils. The study underscores the significance of airfoil selection for optimizing aircraft performance
and highlights the need for future work involving turbulence modeling, three-dimensional effects, and
experimental validation to refine our understanding of traditional and laminar flow airfoils.
| 31 |
Author(s):
Mateo Wohnig-Chaman.
Page No : 310-316
|
Can America Lead When It’s Divided? U.S. Political Polarization and Foreign Policy Effectiveness
Abstract
As partisanship within domestic politics in the United States continues to intensify, inconsistencies
in U.S. foreign policy present themselves as a major challenge to American hegemony on the world
stage. This paper analyzes the implications of growing political polarization in the United States on the
overall effectiveness of U.S. foreign policy. Drawing on case studies, interviews, and literature reviews,
this paper explores several key points: the perspectives of political scientists Jordan Tama and Rachel
Myrick on the scale political polarization has on foreign policy; shifts in presidential administrations and
public opinion regarding conflict resolution and the economy; insights from various experts and officials
on how partisanship influenced their work and organization, and; recommendations for mitigating the
negative effects of political polarization from impacting U.S. foreign policy. No water’s edge here.
| 32 |
Author(s):
Chenran Ma.
Page No : 317-324
|
Vitamin D in the Prevention and Management of Type 2 Diabetes: Mechanistic Insights and Therapeutic Potential
Abstract
Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and
impaired insulin secretion, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. Recent studies have highlighted
vitamin D as a potential modulator of glucose metabolism and insulin sensitivity. Vitamin D appears
to improve insulin action by enhancing pancreatic β-cell function and reducing systemic inflammation
factors crucial for effective glycemic control. Epidemiological evidence indicates that individuals with
low vitamin D levels are at higher risk for developing T2D, whereas supplementation offers benefits,
particularly among those who are deficient or in the early stages of the disease. However, findings across
clinical trials remain inconsistent, emphasizing the need for further research to clarify optimal dosing,
duration, and target populations. This review examines current evidence on the role of vitamin D in the
management of T2D and explores its potential implications for prevention and therapy.
| 33 |
Author(s):
Yuri Chung.
Page No : 325-332
|
Modeling Crime Rates as a Function of Socioeconomic Variables: A Quantitative Study Using Regression Analysis
Abstract
This study examines how income, education, unemployment, and poverty jointly predict violent crime
rates in county-level across the United States through a multiple linear regression. The research question
of this study guided the analysis, asking how these four socioeconomic variables collectively influenced
patterns of violent crime. According to existing criminological theories, this study hypothesized that
communities with lower income and educational attainment, along with the higher unemployment
rate and poverty may experience higher levels of violent crime. To test this hypothesis, this study
utilized county-level crime data from a national law enforcement reporting system that combined with
socioeconomic indicators from a large-scale federal population survey. Particularly, violent crime rates
were obtained from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Program, and socioeconomic indicators
were obtained from the American Community Survey (ACS) from the U.S. Census Bureau, with counties
as the units of analysis. A multiple linear regression model was used to estimate unique contribution
of each socioeconomic variable while controlling the others. The findings in this study supported the
hypothesis that poverty was a strong positive correlate with violent crime, while income and education
indicated protective effects. Poverty indicated the largest standardized coefficient in the regression model,
while a smaller but statistically significant positive association was shown with unemployment relative
to other predictors. Unemployment also contributed to higher crime rates but through a lesser degree.
Taken together, the findings in this study showed that broader structural conditions rather than isolated
individual behaviors shaped violent crime. Communities with stronger economic stability and access
to employment and educational opportunities tended to experience safer environments. These findings
emphasize the importance of applying comprehensive strategies with socioeconomic disadvantages as a
part of them to promote long-term community well-being.
| 34 |
Author(s):
Brooke Parker.
Page No : 333-339
|
A Qualitative Study of Therapists’ Perspectives on Adolescent Mental Health Stigma
Abstract
Mental health conditions affect many adolescents worldwide. Despite the prevalence of mental illness,
many conditions are left untreated due to a variety of barriers, such as stigma. Stigma is the negative
judgment directed towards people with mental health issues, and it could cause resistance to getting
help. Society’s opinion towards mental health is often negative, leading people, particularly adolescents,
to feel ashamed or scared to pursue therapy or other forms of support. In this study, eight licensed
mental health professionals located in Tampa, Florida were interviewed. These professionals have
diverse clinical backgrounds in both intensive treatment programs and private practice. Semi-structured
interviews were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed to identify overarching themes in the therapists’
perspectives on the impacts of stigma. One theme that the therapists emphasized was that normalizing
mental health conditions and treatment is necessary to reduce stigma because adolescents often resist
treatment due to fear of being thought of as different. The mental health professionals noted that stigma is
still present, but has decreased in recent years. The second theme was that social media was described as
both helpful and harmful because it can spread awareness, but can also reinforce harmful beliefs. Stigma
significantly impacts adolescents’ hesitancy in seeking treatment. Therapists agree that normalization,
peer support, and accurate social media information are important for reducing stigma. These results
align with existing research showing that stigma is a major barrier to treatment access.
| 35 |
Author(s):
Cindy Shen.
Page No : 340-348
|
Non-sensitizing Alternatives to Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea as Preservatives in Cosmetics
Abstract
Cosmetic products are often water-based and prone to growing bacteria and fungi. Therefore,
preservatives like formaldehyde-releasers are used in formulations to inhibit bacterial growth, with 20%
of cosmetic products in the U.S. containing at least one type of formaldehyde-releaser. Diazolidinyl urea
and imidazolidinyl urea are two widely used formaldehyde-releasing agents that act as preservatives
in cosmetic products by gradually decomposing to release formaldehyde. Exposure to formaldehyde
and formaldehyde-releasers can irritate the skin, eyes, nose, and throat, and cause contact dermatitis
in sensitized individuals, highlighting the necessity to find skin-safe alternatives. Natural compounds
and essential oils like cinnamaldehyde and tea tree oil are safer and cheaper alternatives to harmful
formaldehyde-releasers. Their antimicrobial effects and lower toxicity levels emphasize the need to
continue researching their synergistic effects with each other in cosmetic formulations.
| 36 |
Author(s):
Serena Ali.
Page No : 349-352
|
Mental Health In Homelessness: A Global Health Crisis
Abstract
This article argues that the intersection of homelessness and mental health represents an urgent global
health and human rights crisis. Homelessness and mental illness reinforce each other through a cyclical
relationship, and addressing this crisis requires integrated, housing‑centered interventions. While
socioeconomic factors differ between high‑income countries like the United States and low‑income
regions such as South Asia and Africa, the core problem remains the same: structural inequality,
trauma, and inadequate access to mental health care perpetuate the cycle. The article supports a cautious
interpretation of the Housing First model as a promising approach when implemented alongside broader
policy reforms. The Housing First model’s rationale centers on eliminating traditional barriers to housing
access and prioritizing stability, which, in turn, leads to better outcomes and often lower societal costs.
Ultimately, this perspective calls for global commitments that expand mental health services, address
root causes of homelessness, and ensure equitable access to stable, affordable housing.
| 37 |
Author(s):
Nawid W. Samim.
Page No : 353-364
|
From Norms to Non-Recognition to Humanitarian Crisis
Abstract
Afghanistan’s recent history shows that decisions about recognizing a government determine who
lives, who suffers, and who receives help. The non-recognition of the Taliban from both 1996-2001 and
2021-2025 not only withheld diplomatic status but also intensified humanitarian concerns. This issue
raises a central question: To what extent is Afghanistan’s paradox a logical consequence of shared
cultural norms, rather than other significant factors such as economic instability or geopolitical interests?
Henceforth, this paper seeks to fill this interpretive gap by analyzing Afghanistan’s humanitarian crises
through the dual lens of constructivist and postcolonial theory. It identifies non-recognition not as a
passive form of diplomacy but as an active social phenomenon that creates legitimacy and perpetuates
global hierarchies. This paper does not support the diplomatic recognition of the Taliban regime;
instead, it contends that international involvement should be redefined as a humanitarian duty rather
than a reward for moral and ethical alignment. To ensure that moral principles do not undermine the
humanitarian imperatives they aim to uphold, policymakers should consider implementing gradual
recognition mechanisms and strategies leaning toward local engagement.
| 38 |
Author(s):
Zimu Lan.
Page No : 365-371
|
What Is The Impact of Institutional Affiliation on Singaporean Pre-University Students’ Attitudes Toward and Uses of Singlish?
Abstract
This study examines the impact of socioeconomic class, represented through institutional affiliation,
on Singaporean pre-university students’ attitudes toward and uses of Singlish. By surveying students
from separate academic streams (Junior Colleges and Polytechnics) in Singapore as proxies for
socioeconomic status, the research explores whether class influences perceptions of Singlish’s role in
Singaporean society. Using a mixed-methods survey that combined Likert-scale items, multiple-choice
questions, and short-answer responses, the study finds that both groups broadly agree that Singlish
functions primarily as an informal and private language of solidarity, echoing existing scholarship on
its role in shaping local identity. With a total sample size of N = 22, descriptive statistics indicate that
no statistically significant differences were found between groups in either frequency of use or overall
attitudes toward Singlish. On a micro-level, however, Junior College (JC) respondents were more likely
to highlight Singlish’s perceived drawbacks in international or professional contexts, while Polytechnic
students more frequently framed it as an authentic cultural marker. These findings suggest that while
institutional affiliation may influence nuance to some degree in language attitudes, Singlish ultimately
serves as a unifying resource among Singaporean youth, with variations reflecting individual negotiation
of identity across communally experienced lines more than socioeconomic stratification.
| 39 |
Author(s):
Sophia Huang.
Page No : 372-380
|
Signals and Stereotypes: The Impact of Gender and Pitch Framing on Investment Decisions
Abstract
Investor decisions in startups often rely on the framing of market goals and vision rather than
solely on hard data of growth and profitability, yet the idea that the interaction between framing, how
founders present their goals and vision, and founder gender is underexplored. Because investors may
interpret narratives through gender stereotypes, the same framing can be received differently depending
on whether it is presented by a male or female founder. This suggests that framing may not affect all
founders equally. This study uses past literature and examines how pitch style and gender influence
investor evaluations to provide a conceptual analysis. It proposes that profit-focused pitches align with
masculine stereotypes and favor male founders, while socially oriented framed pitches align with
feminine stereotypes and favor female founders. Gender-incongruent framing, however, may reduce
credibility by creating mixed signals. This study also identifies two moderating variables: investor
gender and emotional expression. This research demonstrates that entrepreneurial funding decisions
are not solely determined by venture quality but also filtered through gender expectations. The analysis
advances theory by identifying framing as a gendered signal and offers practical guidance. Together,
these insights highlight both barriers and pathways to gathering funding for female entrepreneurs.
| 40 |
Author(s):
Levi Osman.
Page No : 381-392
|
A Dual Approach: Combining CRISPR-Cas9 with Immunotherapy and PARP Inhibition to Enhance Efficacy in BRCA-Mutated Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancers
Abstract
Approximately 1 in 200 individuals is affected by mutations in either BRCA1 or BRCA2, which
increase the lifetime risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer by around 5 times. However, current
treatment options for BRCA-mutated cancers present major limitations due to the risk of both resistance
and recurrence in certain cancer therapies. Approximately 40% of BRCA-mutated cancers acquire
secondary resistance mutations that restore homologous recombination function. Similarly, 40-50%
of BRCA-mutated cancers develop resistance to PARP inhibitors, another option for cancer treatment.
This is further exemplified by the fact that platinum-based chemotherapy drugs like cisplatin are often
highly toxic to the body. To address these limitations, alternative systems such as CRISPR-Cas9 offer a
promising solution, as they could lower the risk of resistance and increase treatment efficacy. Overall,
combining therapies such as PARP inhibitors or immunotherapy with CRISPR in BRCA-mutated cancers
has yielded promising results not only in increasing the efficiency of treatments—the time it takes for
them to show significant results—but also improving their efficacy. Due to the promising results of these
combinations, research is being conducted with larger studies to investigate and prove the safety of these
treatments. to investigate larger studies that will prove the safety of these treatments. Therefore, this
paper examines the benefits of combining CRISPR-Cas9 with existing therapies to address the current
limitations of BRCA-mutated cancer treatments.
| 41 |
Author(s):
Ayushi Singh, Bhavani Balasundarasekar.
Page No : 393-401
|
Biofilm Reduction Capabilities of Artocarpus Heterophyllus Seeds, Coriandrum Sativum, and Cynara Cardunculus Flesh Aqueous Extracts on Staphylococcus Epidermidis
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing issue globally, and this necessitates alternative methods of
treatment such as Quorum Quenching (QQ). Quorum-sensing is a form of intracellular communication
within microorganisms that is dependent on population density and influences certain traits of the species,
such as biofilm production. Biofilm production is the primary focus of this study. Biofilm is a collection
of microorganisms that aggregate into an extracellular slimy matrix that functions as a protective
layer. This study investigated the antibiofilm capabilities of three novel aqueous plant extracts on
Staphylococcus epidermidis: Artocarpus heterophyllus (jackfruit) seeds, Coriandrum sativum (cilantro),
and Cynara cardunculus (artichoke) flesh. Minimum Inhibitory Concentration assays were conducted to
establish the antibacterial capabilities of the plants, with A. heterophyllus and C. cardunculus displaying
the highest percentage inhibition of 81.072% and 71.588% respectively. Sub-inhibitory concentrations of
half the MIC were applied in a crystal violet biofilm assay to isolate the biofilm disruption properties.
Quantitatively, optical density (OD) readings identified that A. heterophyllus seeds were the most
effective aqueous extract out of the treatments tested, reducing the biofilm formation by 22.279 ± 0.834%.
The findings demonstrate that A. heterophyllus seed extract reduces biofilm formation and exhibits
measurable antibacterial activity against S. epidermidis. While the samples were crude extracts and
limited in replication, this study supports the notion that A. heterophyllus seeds have a strong potential
to act as an antibacterial agent against S. epidermidis. The findings demonstrate that A. heterophyllus
seed extract reduces biofilm formation activity and exhibits measurable antibacterial effects against S.
epidermidis.
| 42 |
Author(s):
Mei Hua.
Page No : 402-411
|
Purchasing Under Expectations: How do Adolescents Consume Pink-Colored Products in Different Consumption Contexts?
Abstract
Pink bias is a type of consumer behavior that avoids consuming, pink-colored products. This
study expands the definition of pink bias from male adults to both male and female adolescents and
examines whether, and how, different consumption contexts influence adolescents’ pink-biased consumer
behavior. Speculating the motives as affected by surrounding people’s expectations due to adolescent
egocentrism and desire to receive affirmation in identity formation, the study used a set of questionnaires
to collect the tendency of pink-biased consumer behavior under different consumption contexts from
59 participants and found the variation of contexts affects that of adolescents. Moreover, both male and
female adolescents have demonstrated pink-biased consumer behavior, while male adolescents showed
a higher inclination to pink bias than female adolescents did. The pink-biased consumer behavior was
increased in the parent-presented context, such as home, due to the preference for traditional wooden
colors in home-placed products, instead of the desire to meet expectations.
| 43 |
Author(s):
Maxwell Mayer, Sahangi Dassanayake.
Page No : 412-421
|
Active Space Debris Removal: Feasibility and Comparative Analysis of Methods for Diverse Targets
Abstract
The rapid growth of orbital debris presents an escalating challenge to spacecraft safety and the longterm
sustainability of Low Earth Orbit. While end-of-life and collision-avoidance measures can limit
new debris generation, they do little to address the expanding population of inactive satellites, rocket
bodies, and fragments already in orbit. To confront this issue, Active Debris Removal (ADR) is required:
mission-level interventions designed to capture, stabilize, and deorbit existing objects. This paper
provides a comparative review of seven representative ADR methods, categorized into contact-based
and non-contact systems. Each approach is evaluated through a set of parameters including capture
mechanics, sensing and guidance architecture, control and stability requirements, power and propulsion
demands, and mission scalability. The review integrates experimental and simulation data from major
demonstrations in each category, notably Astroscale’s ELSA-d mission and JAXA’s electrodynamic tether
program, while also drawing on smaller-scale studies that explore additional ADR techniques. Through
this analysis, the paper investigates how operational and technical constraints influence the performance
and applicability of current ADR technologies, providing a foundation for ongoing development toward
more effective debris-removal solutions.
| 44 |
Author(s):
Cinty Lin.
Page No : 422-429
|
Using Shape Analysis of Liver Fat Droplet Morphology to Provide Quantitative Insights Into Staging of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Abstract
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD; recently redefined as metabolic dysfunction-associated
steatotic liver disease, MASLD) is one of the most common chronic liver diseases worldwide and is
strongly associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and insulin resistance. NAFLD is
defined by the accumulation of fat in more than five percent of hepatocytes without excess alcohol use.
Current staging systems categorize liver histology into discrete groups based on visual assessment, but
subtle differences in fat droplet morphology are difficult for pathologists to detect. Precise histological
staging is important for understanding disease severity. This study applies the Linearized Compressed
Polar Coordinates (LCPC) Transform, a spatial algorithm, to quantify the pure shape of macrovesicular
steatosis in NAFLD liver histology with the goal of identifying objective morphological subtypes of fat
droplets. Shape analysis followed by Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and density-based clustering
revealed at least three droplet groups that may represent previously uncharacterized morphological
subtypes. These findings suggest that quantitative shape analysis could provide additional information
that supports future efforts to refine NAFLD staging and improve diagnostic precision.
| 45 |
Author(s):
Daniel Wu.
Page No : 430-439
|
The Overarching Impact of Insect Research on Humanity under the Context of CRISPR
Abstract
Insects play essential roles in ecosystem functioning and have substantial impacts on human health,
agriculture, and biotechnology. Many species provide critical ecological services by constituting the
bulk of the lower trophic pyramid in most ecosystems, and they also maintain intricate relationships
with humans. Their genetic diversity and biological complexity make them invaluable research subjects
for advancing health, agriculture, and biotechnology. However, traditional CRISPR (Clustered Regularly
Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats) methods have long been limited to select model species, such
as Drosophila melanogaster, thereby restricting broader use of CRISPR in insect research. However,
recent advances in CRISPR use have overcome many of these limitations, enabling more efficient and
precise genome editing across a wide range of insect taxa. This review summarizes key advancements
in CRISPR applications among some major insect groups, including vector control in mosquitoes,
disease modeling in fruit flies, silk and biomaterial engineering in Lepidoptera, pest management and
biomaterial studies in beetles, and behavioral genetics in Hymenoptera. Together, these studies illustrate
the expanding scope of CRISPR-based insect research and its growing scientific, environmental, and
biotechnological impact.
| 46 |
Author(s):
Hajin Ra, Hyerin Kang.
Page No : 440-449
|
Honorific Language Use and Family Harmony in Korean Households: A Descriptive Study
Abstract
The Korean language is characterized by a complex and systematic honorific speech system, which
encodes respect and social hierarchy directly into grammatical and lexical forms. While honorific
speech has traditionally played a central role in sustaining hierarchical order in formal institutions such
as schools and workplaces, its function within the family, an environment oriented toward intimacy
rather than hierarchy, remains contested. This study investigates whether the use of honorific speech
in the family setting is associated with perceived family harmony or emotional distance among Korean
adolescents. Using a cross-sectional survey design, data were collected from 210 participants aged 10 to
24 in South Korea. Honorific speech usage frequency and perceptions of family harmony were measured
using self-report scales assessing respect, communication quality, conflict resolution, and emotional
support. The results indicate that a supermajority of respondents (71.9%) reported using honorific speech
when addressing elder family members. This prevalence coincided with consistently high agreement
across family harmony indicators, including respect toward parents, emotional support, and effective
conflict resolution. Notably, frequent honorific use was not associated with lower intimacy; rather,
the findings suggest a positive association between honorific speech and perceptions of harmonious
family relationships. Taken together, these findings challenge the assumption that linguistic formality
necessarily undermines emotional closeness in the home. Instead, they suggest that honorific speech
may function as a culturally grounded mechanism that supports respectful communication and relational
stability within contemporary Korean families.
| 47 |
Author(s):
Nikita Arlakhov.
Page No : 450-456
|
Advances in Self-Healing Concrete: Flexural Strength Recovery in Bridge Applications
Abstract
Bridges are a critical component of modern infrastructure, yet conventional concrete is highly
susceptible to cracking, alkali–aggregate reactions, and environmental stressors that accelerate
deterioration, reduce flexural strength, and increase maintenance demands. This paper reviews recent
advances in self-healing concrete (SHC) technologies and synthesizes reported findings on their potential
to enhance bridge durability and sustainability. Particular attention is given to microbial calcium carbonate
precipitation, encapsulated polymer systems, and mineral admixtures as autonomous crack-healing
mechanisms. In microbial-based systems, dormant bacterial spores embedded within the concrete matrix
are activated by moisture ingress, leading to calcium carbonate precipitation that seals microcracks and
contributes to strength recovery. Reported outcomes indicate partial to substantial recovery of flexural
strength, with performance influenced by crack width, healing duration, and material composition.
Additional approaches, such as bacterial immobilization within recycled aggregates, show promise for
improving healing efficiency while supporting environmental sustainability. Although challenges remain
regarding large-scale implementation and long-term field performance, current research suggests that
self-healing concrete represents a promising strategy for extending bridge service life and reducing lifecycle
maintenance costs.
| 48 |
Author(s):
Hristo Atanasov Hristov.
Page No : 457-466
|
Physical Perturbations of the Circular Restricted Three-Body Problem: Effects on Equilibria and Periodic Orbits
Abstract
The circular restricted three-body problem (CR3BP) is a standard astrophysical model, yet real
systems deviate from its ideal assumptions. This article is a narrative review and synthesis of previous
literature on how three perturbation classes: radiation pressure, oblateness, and drag, modify equilibria
and periodic-orbit families in CR3BP dynamics. For conservative perturbations, equilibrium locations
and stability become multi-parameter problems: radiation can admit nonclassical out-of-plane equilibria
and, in special luminous-binary regimes, stable L1 ; two-oblateness models replace a single stability
threshold with numerically mapped stability boundaries. Correspondingly, major periodic-orbit families
generally persist but deform, so the main outputs are continuation branches and stability maps. In
contrast, dissipative drag produces displaced equilibria and prevents persistence of conservative periodic
families; reported behavior is commonly transient decay. These results translate directly into modeling
guidance for libration-point mission design and for predicting co-orbital capture and decay of small
bodies in drag-dominated environments.
| 49 |
Author(s):
Pragna Patlola, Kyle Wan, Khushi Gehani, Tarit Voni, Shriya Lingineni.
Page No : 467-473
|
Genetically Modified Crops and Sustainable Food Systems
Abstract
Genetically modified organisms (GMOs) offer a potential economically and logistically viable solution
to a global problem: feeding a growing global population under worsening climate conditions. GMOs
can be engineered to withstand environmental stress, resist disease, and improve nutritional value while
maintaining safety comparable to conventional foods. Already, GMOs have contributed to substantial
global yield gains by reducing crop losses from pests and environmental stress across widely cultivated
staple crops. Despite this, public skepticism persists regarding GMOs’ safety, nutritional quality, and
dependence upon multinational corporations, especially in parts of Europe where GMO adoption and
trade remain restricted. Despite GMOs’ controversy and sociopolitical barriers to adoption, this report
finds that existing literature broadly agrees that GMOs can serve as a safe, economically viable, and
sustainable response to climate and food-scarcity challenges.
| 50 |
Author(s):
Shangqi Xu.
Page No : 474-481
|
Metal Organic Frameworks: From Structural Engineering to CO₂ Capturing Applications
Abstract
Carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions are a major driver of global climate change, creating an urgent need
for efficient and scalable carbon capture technologies. Metal organic frameworks (MOFs) have emerged
as a promising class of porous materials for CO₂ capture due to their tunable structures, ultrahigh surface
areas, and chemically addressable adsorption sites. This narrative review synthesizes current research
on MOFs for CO₂ capture, with a focus on how chemical composition and key structural features,
including porosity, active sites, and framework stability, govern adsorption performance. Representative
MOFs are discussed to illustrate structure performance relationships and to highlight design tradeoffs
relevant to practical applications. In addition, current challenges and future research directions are
examined, including material stability under realistic operating conditions, cost effective synthesis,
and the integration of carbon capture with CO₂ utilization strategies. The objective of this review is to
consolidate design principles for MOF based CO₂ capture and to provide a conceptual framework to
guide the development and industrial implementation of high-performance MOF materials.
| 51 |
Author(s):
Advaith Govind Potti.
Page No : 482-498
|
Investigating Semantic Drift in GPT-4 Following Prompt Injection Attacks
Abstract
Prompt injection attacks can override system instructions in large language models (LLMs), yet most
existing evaluations measure only whether an attack “succeeds” or “fails,” which provides limited insight
into whether an attempted injection still disrupts the conversation after a refusal. This study investigates
whether prompt injection attempts measurably shift the semantic trajectory of a multi-turn conversation
even when protected information is not disclosed. It was hypothesized that injected conversations would
exhibit greater semantic drift than both clean baselines and length-matched, non-malicious pseudoinjected
controls, and that this drift would persist across recovery turns. Using a GPT-4–class model
and embedding-based similarity measures, baseline, injected, and pseudo-injected conversations were
compared across multiple controlled scenarios, including storytelling, travel planning, math tutoring,
and reference-grounded question answering. Across scenarios, injected runs consistently produced larger
semantic deviations than both clean and pseudo-injected runs, with the largest disruptions occurring
when the model shifted into refusal or meta-safety response modes that were semantically distant from
the task domain. Pseudo-injected runs produced measurable drift but generally remained closer to the
baseline trajectory, indicating that injection-specific effects were not explained solely by prompt length
or elaboration. Although when the conditions did not result in leakage of protected tokens, post-injection
responses often did not fully return to the pre-injection semantic trajectory over the short recovery
window. These findings suggest that safety compliance and conversational stability are separable
properties and that drift metrics can complement binary jailbreak outcomes when evaluating robustness
to prompt injection.
| 52 |
Author(s):
Desmond Liu.
Page No : 499-507
|
Applications of CRISPR-Based Gene Editing in Livestock Agriculture
Abstract
This review examines genetic strategies for improving disease resistance, enhancing production
efficiency, and reducing methane emissions. Livestock play an important role in global food security,
providing essential sources of food and income for billions of people. However, viral outbreaks can
cause the death of entire farms, resulting in food shortages and substantial economic losses. Modern
challenges, such as low production efficiency and environmental impact, have made livestock cultivation
increasingly difficult. Advancements in CRISPR-based gene editing offer promising solutions to these
challenges. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) enable precise genetic
modifications that can improve livestock health, productivity, and sustainability. Notable applications
include gene knockouts of CD163 in pigs and ANP32A in chickens to confer viral resistance, as well
as modifications to the MSTN gene to increase muscle mass and feed efficiency. The targeting of
methane-producing microbes in ruminants has shown promising developments, hinting at a future of
environmentally friendly livestock agriculture. These advancements suggest that CRISPR technology
has the potential to revolutionize the livestock industry on a global scale.
| 53 |
Author(s):
Eddie Ma.
Page No : 508-518
|
ATXN2 Knockout Mitigates TDP-43–Induced Transcriptomic Dysregulation in ALS Motor Neurons
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating progressive neurodegenerative disorder
characterized by the loss of motor neurons in the brain and spinal cord. TDP-43 proteinopathy is a
hallmark of nearly all ALS cases. This study reanalyzed transcriptome RNA-seq dataset GSE261875
and characterized transcriptomic changes induced by nuclear overexpression of wild-type TDP-43
(wTDP) and cytoplasmic mislocalization of TDP-43 (cTDP) in human iPSC-derived motor neurons, and
ascertained the effects of CRISPR-mediated ATXN2 knockout (AKO) on these cells. PCA plots revealed
distinct clusters of wTDP, cTDP and Neg CTRL. DEG analysis between wTDP and Neg CTRL yielded
3,222 up- and 3,302 down-regulated DEGs, while that between cTDP and Neg CTRL identified 2,828
up- and 2,949 down-regulated DEGs. Shared DEGs (964 up, 820 down) between wTDP and cTDP were
enriched for ALS-relevant pathways. Further, PCA plots revealed distinct clusters of wTDP-AKO, cTDPAKO,
wTDP, and cTDP. ATXN2 knockout reversed many TDP-43–induced changes, including 2,794 upand
2,956 down-regulated DEGs between wTDP-AKO and wTDP groups, and 3,024 up- and 2,838 downregulated
DEGs between cTDP-AKO and cTDP groups. Integration of shared DEGs between the two
TDP-43–induced and ATXN2-reversed groups defined a core signature list comprising 125 pathogenic
and 222 protective genes that may be potential biomarkers to ALS pathogenesis and its attenuation. The
identification of both pathogenic and protective gene signatures provides novel molecular insights into
ALS pathogenesis and highlights ATXN2 as a promising therapeutic target. These findings not only
refine candidate biomarker panels for ALS but also open new ways for targeted therapy.
| 54 |
Author(s):
Rudra Mogre.
Page No : 519-524
|
Fake News Detection Using Machine Learning Models: A Comparative Study of ISOT and LIAR Datasets
Abstract
The proliferation of fake news across online platforms poses a growing challenge to information
integrity and public trust. Traditional fact-checking mechanisms are often too slow to counteract the
viral spread of misinformation. As a result, automated approaches using machine learning have emerged
as effective tools for distinguishing between legitimate and fabricated news articles. This study applies
supervised machine learning techniques to classify news content using the ISOT (~44,898 articles) and
LIAR (12,836 statements) benchmark datasets. Feature extraction was performed using Term Frequency-
Inverse Document Frequency (TF-IDF) and n-gram analysis (unigrams and bigrams). Five classical
algorithms were evaluated: Logistic Regression, Naïve Bayes, Support Vector Machines (SVM), Decision
Trees, and Random Forests. Model performance was assessed using accuracy, precision, recall, F1-
score, and AUC. On the ISOT dataset, Random Forest achieved the highest accuracy of 0.998, followed
by SVM and Decision Tree at 0.996, Logistic Regression at 0.993, and Naïve Bayes at 0.949. On the
LIAR dataset, accuracies ranged from 0.571 (Decision Tree) to 0.628 (Logistic Regression). The results
demonstrate that classical machine learning models, coupled with robust text representation techniques,
can effectively detect misinformation on structured full-article datasets like ISOT while maintaining
transparency and scalability, though performance drops significantly on short-claim datasets like LIAR
due to structural differences.
| 55 |
Author(s):
siyona jain.
Page No : 525-534
|
Disparities in Routine Primary Care Utilization Between Medicaid-insured and Uninsured Adults within Medicaid Expansion States
Abstract
The objective of this study was to examine whether disparities exist between Medicaid-insured adults
and uninsured adults regarding primary care utilization in Medicaid expansion states. Access to primary
care is essential to long-term health outcomes; therefore, detecting disparities is crucial. Analysis was
done through Excel using the 2024 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) with a sample
size ranging from 534 to 5186 respondents per variable. The cross-sectional analysis done by pivot tables
and independent (two-sample) t-tests found that Medicaid-insured recipients were statistically more
likely to utilize primary care compared to the uninsured population. Results were analyzed from 15
Medicaid expansion states: Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan,
Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Utah, and Washington. These findings were
further examined for demographic factors: education level, employment status, and gender. Altogether,
the findings suggest that while Medicaid expansion improves access to primary care, significant effort is
needed to mitigate low primary care utilization amongst the uninsured population.
| 56 |
Author(s):
Ailin Sarybekova.
Page No : 535-545
|
How Has Conflict and Internal Political Instability in Sudan Shaped the Economic and Social Outcomes of People in North Central Africa?
Abstract
The ongoing Sudanese civil war between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support
Forces (RSF) has had profound impacts on the country’s economy, services, and community. The
crisis has also resulted in a spillover effect, with millions of refugees being displaced into neighboring
countries such as Egypt, South Sudan, and Chad. This review presents the history and key findings
of the conflict, including the current state of agriculture, health, education, and industry. The ongoing
civil war in Sudan between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has
deepened long-standing political instability and generated severe economic, social, and humanitarian
consequences within Sudan and across North Central Africa. The central objective of this paper is
to examine how conflict and internal political instability in Sudan shape economic outcomes, public
service provision, and vulnerability both domestically and in neighbouring host states. Drawing on a
narrative review of academic literature, policy reports, and humanitarian data, the paper analyses three
interconnected themes: food security, public services, and humanitarian impacts. The findings show
that conflict-induced disruption of agriculture, health, education, and industry has accelerated economic
contraction, weakened state capacity, and intensified food insecurity and gender-based violence. Largescale
displacement has further redistributed these pressures to countries such as Egypt, South Sudan,
and Chad, where limited absorptive capacity amplifies regional instability.
| 57 |
Author(s):
Charlotte Donohue.
Page No : 546-551
|
The Eco-Gender Gap: Psychological, Social, and Economic Drivers of Women’s Leadership in Sustainability
Abstract
This project investigates why women entrepreneurs are disproportionately engaged in sustainability,
a phenomenon often described as the “eco-gender gap.” While women are consistently more likely than
men to embed sustainable practices into their businesses, the underlying causes of this divide are complex
and multi-dimensional. This paper is structured as a narrative review drawing from peer-reviewed
research in psychology, gender studies, and business, as well as industry talks and case studies, this
review examines three primary drivers: psychological motivations, social and cultural influences, and
economic conditions. Psychologically, women often draw on values such as empathy, responsibility, and
long-term thinking, which make sustainability both meaningful and rewarding. Socially, sustainability
is frequently coded as “feminine,” reinforcing women’s participation while discouraging men from
engaging in practices perceived as unmanly. Economically, consumer demand often rewards women-led
sustainable businesses, but barriers such as limited access to venture capital and institutional support
prevent women from scaling these ventures as effectively as men. By synthesizing evidence across these
domains, this project highlights both the opportunities and burdens embedded in women’s environmental
leadership. Ultimately, it argues that sustainability must be reframed as a shared responsibility across
genders, ensuring that women’s disproportionate contributions are recognized, supported, and balanced
by broader participation.
| 58 |
Author(s):
Poorna Sairam.
Page No : 552-558
|
How Do Consumer Perceptions of Authenticity in Social Media Influencers Impact the Revenue Generated from Sponsorships?
Abstract
The rapid expansion of the influencer marketing industry has diverted billions in advertising spend
toward personal endorsements, creating a central tension between the rising demand for “authentic”
relatability and the traditional success of aspirational perfection. The objective of this study is to examine
the financial value of influencer authenticity, challenging the industry’s reliance on engagement rates by
comparatively analyzing observational data with a randomized controlled experiment. The comparison
specifies the limitations of engagement as a metric and analyzes the trade-offs between perceived
authenticity and professionalism across the beauty, travel, and fitness industries. A two-part methodology
was utilized: a novel randomized controlled experiment using AI-generated influencer feeds to measure
hypothetical “willingness to spend,” supplemented by an observational analysis of real-world influencers
using engagement rates as a proxy. The analysis emphasizes that in the beauty and travel sectors,
“inauthentic” (highly polished) content, a style utilized by many top-tier influencers, offers far greater
financial returns, generating more than double the stated “willingness to spend” from consumers. In
contrast, the fitness industry model displays a neutralization of this effect, with no statistically significant
difference in spending intent found between authentic and inauthentic stimuli. The conclusion is
offered by outlining implications for firms’ influencer selection, making recommendations for strategic
sponsorship decisions based on industry-specific audience expectations.
| 59 |
Author(s):
Niranjan Uday.
Page No : 559-567
|
Associations between Sleep Duration and Physiological Performance on Adults
Abstract
Sleep is widely recognized as an important factor in physical health and recovery, yet the amount
of sleep needed to support optimal physiological performance remains unclear. This study examined
whether nightly sleep duration predicts exercise-related performance measures using a large wearablebased
archival dataset consisting of over 10,000 adult participants. Single variable statistical tests,
including Pearson correlations, were used alongside multivariable modeling through a neural network
to evaluate relationships between sleep duration and performance indicators such as resting heart rate,
workout duration, burned calories, steps taken, workout intensity, and mood after exercise. Across all
analyses, no statistically significant or robust predictive relationships were identified between sleep
duration and performance outcomes. These null findings suggest that wearable datasets may mask true
sleep-performance relationships due to factors such as device variability, participant heterogeneity,
self-reported measures, and unmeasured confounding variables. Despite the absence of significant
associations, this study highlights important methodological challenges and provides direction for future
research using more standardized sleep tracking and controlled sleep study designs.
| 60 |
Author(s):
Kanishk Gupta.
Page No : 568-580
|
Impact of the Institutional Logics of Funding Partners on Shaping Outcomes in Young Firms
Abstract
Through institutional theory, this review examines how the institutional logics of funding partners
shape innovation, strategy and general outcomes in young firms, utilizing case studies in the AI industry.
It investigates how young firms should consider the choice of their resource providers, specifically
through factors that impact those choices besides the provision of capital. Clear trade-offs emerge
through comparative analysis of the impacts of the institutional logics of 3 types of funding partners,
namely venture capital, corporate and hybrids. Corporate logic can create substantial value in providing
critical specialized complements (among other resources that would not have been accessible through
alternative resource providers), specifically when uncertainty is high due to the vast amount of resources
corporate partners possess, however they may restrict access to alternative partners and markets and
tend to steer the young firm to align with their own strategic goals. Professional (venture capital) logic
emphasizes discipline and pacing in addition to commercial innovation and is thus likely to aid these.
However, young firms with ties to venture capital, carry the risk of information leakage to competitors
and are unlikely to experience significant improvements in technical innovation. Hybrid logics may
combine the commercialization benefits and take advantage of the resources of corporate partners while
benefiting from the commercial discipline instilled by the professional logic of their venture capital
partners. Professional logic is likely to aid mitigate the drawbacks of corporate logics, however, may lead
to increased coordination costs and still carries the exposure that accompanies professional logic.
| 61 |
Author(s):
Serah Yang.
Page No : 581-591
|
Manta-Ray-Inspired Bump Geometry for Enhanced Mixing in a Straight Microchannel
Abstract
Slow diffusion in laminar microchannels limits assay speed, so a simple passive way to enhance
mixing isuseful. This study tests whether smooth, periodic wall bumps inspired by manta rays can
outperform astraight Y-junction of the same footprint. Both geometries were built, 3D computational
fluid dynamics(CFD) was conducted in Ansys Student 2025 R2 with laminar flow and species transport,
and mixing wascompared at inlet flow ratios of 1:1, 1:2, and 1:3 for water with dilute fluorescein. The
bumped channelshowed earlier and broader regions of intermediate concentration and a more uniform
outlet profile acrossall ratios, with a higher but manageable pressure drop. Velocity maps were consistent
with low Reynoldsnumber flow, while pressure fields showed small local rises before bumps and dips
after them. Mesh sizeand solver settings may soften gradients near bumps, but trends were consistent.
These results supportfabrication and testing of the bumped design for low-flow lab-on-a-chip applications
that need bettermixingwithoutaddedhardware.
| 62 |
Author(s):
Arnav Prathipati.
Page No : 592-600
|
Evaluating Active, Passive, and Electromuscular Recovery Methods on Pitching Performance and Fatigue in High School Athletes
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to explore the efficacy of three between-inning recovery methods
[Active recovery (AR), passive recovery (PR), and electromuscular stimulation (EMS)] among high school
pitchers. Four indicators were used to evaluate effectiveness: blood lactate (BLa) clearance, average
pitcher velocity, perceived pitch intensity, and a subjective recovery rating. The study hypothesized
that as pitchers progress through three innings of play, EMS is the most effective method for betweeninning
recovery. Four high school pitchers, aged 16, underwent three testing days, each separated by
four days of rest. Testing days consisted of warm-ups, bullpen sessions, three innings pitched (15 per
inning), and a post-inning protocol that included 6 minutes of recovery, measurements of blood lactate,
and subjective effort ratings. Statistical analyses identified a significant main effect of recovery method
on BLa clearance (p<0.001) and an interaction between recovery method and inning (p = 0.003). Simple
planned, Bonferroni corrected comparisons suggest that EMS and PR conditions outperformed the AR
condition across all innings. The simple planned Bonferroni corrected comparisons indicate the average
per-inning difference in BLa clearance between AR with EMS and between AR with PR was significant,
while PR with EMS was not significant. These findings suggest that using EMS or PR between innings
optimizes BLa clearance, which may improve pitching performance and reduce the risk of arm injury in
high school pitchers.
| 63 |
Author(s):
Saket Subramaniam.
Page No : 601-614
|
The Correlation Between the Surgical Margin and Survival in Patients with Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastasis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Surgery is by far the most effective treatment for patients with Colorectal Cancer Liver Metastases (CRLM). Furthermore, numerous studies have shown that surgical margins significantly impact patient survival and should be systematically evaluated. Given the modern era of chemotherapy, this review focuses on millimetre surgical margins and their impact on survival. A systematic search of 200 reports yielded 53 studies, and data on Overall Survival (OS) or Disease-Free Survival (DFS) stratified by surgical margin were collected. A Kruskal–Wallis test was conducted to compare the surgical margin subgroups: R1 (0 mm), less than 1 mm, 1–5 mm, 5–10 mm, and greater than 10 mm. A meta-analysis was used to compare the pairs R0 (greater than 0 mm)/R1 (0 mm) and greater than 1 mm/less than 1 mm. All four meta-analyses reported a significant difference (p less than 0.01) between the pairs R0/R1 and greater than 1 mm/less than 1 mm, with 95% confidence intervals and prediction intervals not crossing the null line. The findings suggest a survival benefit of R0 resection with a minimum 1 mm margin. However, due to the current limitations of this review, we cannot draw a clinical conclusion regarding the optimal surgical margin to maximise survival in patients with CRLM.
| 64 |
Author(s):
Hyunjun Ryoo.
Page No : 615-622
|
Modeling Key Genetic Pathways in Axolotl Limb Regeneration
Abstract
Axolotls exhibit exceptional limb regenerative capacity. However, the coordinated molecular
dynamics underlying this process has been incompletely understood. This study examines whether a
quantitative modeling framework may reproduce the temporal interactions of core signaling pathways
during axolotl limb regeneration. With publicly available datasets of stage-resolved gene-expression,
this study has generated ordinary differential equation (ODE) and Boolean network models to simulate
the dynamics of key regenerative pathways, such as FGF, Wnt, BMP, and TGF-β. Model outputs were
compared with empirical expression trends and tested in pathway perturbations. According to simulated
trajectories, a strong agreement with observed gene-expression patterns has been shown, along with
Pearson correlation coefficients that exceeded 0.8 for main regulatory genes. Perturbation simulations
indicated that 50% reductions in FGF or Wnt activity greatly decreased regenerative progression, while
shifting the Boolean network toward non-regenerative attractor states. Early activation of FGF and Wnt
was correlated with blastema initiation. However, later BMP and TGF-β actively corresponded to tissue
outgrowth. These findings in this study suggest that coordinated feedback among core pathways may
be critical for successful regeneration. In addition, a quantitative modeling framework may capture
essential regenerative dynamics. This framework provides a quantitative foundation for future research
in experimentation and comparison of vertebrate regeneration.
| 65 |
Author(s):
SeungYun Lee.
Page No : 623-634
|
Heuristic Bus Route Optimization Incorporating Taxi-Derived Route Preferences under NYC Congestion Pricing
Abstract
This study proposes a data-driven optimization framework for designing efficient bus routes in
Manhattan under the new congestion toll policy. Using origin-destination data from the New York City
Yellow Taxi Trip Records, urban mobility is modeled as a directed graph, and a HybridScore function
is defined to integrate congestion surcharges, Central Business District (CBD) fees, and trip frequency.
Three metaheuristic algorithms, Genetic Algorithm (GA), Simulated Annealing (SA), and Ant Colony
Optimization (ACO), are applied to maximize the weighted sum over a single K-cycle, representing
a feasible bus loop. Comparative experiments at K = 10, 25, and 50 show that ACO consistently
achieves the best performance, balancing solution quality, convergence speed, and stability, while SA
rapidly produces feasible initial solutions. Beyond algorithmic performance, the results demonstrate
the framework’s potential to inform real-world transit design by identifying corridors where expanded
bus services could reduce congestion within Manhattan’s toll zone. This approach links computational
optimization to sustainable policy implementation, offering a scalable method for building adaptive
public transportation networks in dense urban environments.
| 66 |
Author(s):
Tony Wen.
Page No : 635-642
|
Energy, Exchange, and Migration: An Econometric Assessment of Factors Shaping Canada’s GDP
Abstract
Over the past decade, Canada’s economic performance has been characterized by slowing growth
and increasing policy debate regarding immigration and resource dependence. This study empirically
examines the macroeconomic determinants of Canada’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) over the period
2000–2023 using multiple linear regression analysis. Two models are estimated: a long-run model
covering 2000–2023 and a short-run model covering 2012–2023 that incorporates global oil prices.
Explanatory variables include the unemployment rate, net migration, the CAD–USD exchange rate, and
Brent crude oil prices. The short-run model exhibits strong explanatory power (Adjusted R² = 0.84), with
exchange rate depreciation (p ≈ 0.001) and oil price increases (p < 0.001) exerting statistically significant
positive effects on GDP. In contrast, the long-run model shows that net migration is a significant and
positive driver of GDP (p < 0.001), while exchange rate depreciation is negatively associated with output
over longer horizons (Adjusted R² = 0.68). The unemployment rate is statistically insignificant in both
specifications. These findings suggest that Canada’s GDP dynamics are shaped by a combination of shortrun
external trade and commodity price shocks and long-run demographic expansion. Policy implications
emphasize the importance of balancing immigration-led growth with productivity-enhancing reforms
while reducing vulnerability to volatile commodity cycles.
| 67 |
Author(s):
Ayssatou Sylla .
Page No : 643-651
|
When Being Strong Is Bad: The Strong Black Woman Stereotype’s Effect On Young Girls
Abstract
This study explores how the Strong Black Woman (SBW) stereotype impacts Black girls in high
school. The SBW stereotype portrays Black women as tough, resilient, and self-reliant, but it can also
pressure them to hide vulnerability and avoid asking for help. It draws on qualitative research with
Black high school girls –ages 14 to 18– focusing on how they experience this stereotype, the sources of
pressure, and its emotional effects. Thirteen girls were interviewed following a semi-structured interview
approach, to which they all shared feelings of being expected to always be strong, whether from teachers,
peers, or society at large. That led to stress, anxiety, and emotional suppression. Many described ways
they try to resist, like seeking supportive friends or redefining strength to include vulnerability. The
study uses Critical Discourse Analysis by connecting these experiences to the historical roots of the
SBW stereotype, from slavery to media portrayals and social norms today. These findings show the
importance of creating school environments that allow Black girls to be seen, supported, and free to
express their full selves. While the study is limited in size, it highlights the hidden costs of the SBW
stereotype and the need for spaces where Black girls can thrive, both resilient and human.
| 68 |
Author(s):
Josephine Lee.
Page No : 652-660
|
The Impact of Social Norms, Wealth Inequality, and Municipal Policy on Recycling Infrastructure in Glen Rock, New Jersey
Abstract
This study examines how social norms, wealth inequality, and municipal infrastructure intersect to
shape recycling behavior in Glen Rock, New Jersey. Using a mixed-methods design that combines 4
semi-structured interviews with residents, local officials, and environmental council members
alongside a structured survey of 20 households, the research finds that recycling in Glen Rock is
primarily driven by internalized responsibility and guilt rather than external social pressure. While
residents express strong personal commitment to recycling, their motivation is undermined by persistent
confusion about plastics, limited program scope, and doubts about whether collected materials are
actually processed. The town’s affluence ensures reliable infrastructure and consistent collection,
but wealth does not eliminate distrust or frustrations, nor does it guarantee superior environmental
outcomes. Instead, Glen Rock illustrates how affluence can mask subtle vulnerabilities in recycling
participation, challenging the logic of the Environmental Kuznets Curve, which is a theory suggesting
that more economically developed areas have less environmental degradation. The findings suggest that
municipal transparency, clear communication, and complementary waste reduction policies are essential
for sustaining long-term engagement, even in affluent communities.
| 69 |
Author(s):
Irvan Kaiser Rahman.
Page No : 661-668
|
Evaluating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence on YouTube Viewership
Abstract
This research paper examines whether artificial intelligence technology, especially Spotter Studio,
can help YouTubers gain more viewers. Spotter Studio, which launched in September 2024, provides
AI assistance through forms such as video ideas, title suggestions, thumbnail suggestions, and content
organization. It primarily focuses on four pairs of YouTubers, with only one pair receiving Spotter Studio
assistance and the other not. The YouTubers are: Lemons to Lemonade Home vs. Katie Scott Salvaged;
Colin & Samir vs. Sam Harris; System Zee vs. Knarfy; and Smokin’ and Grillin’ with AB vs. Island
Vibe Cooking. The research uses 3-video rolling averages on graphs to compare viewers in each pair
over 6 months, including 3 months before and after t=0, where t=0 is the release date of Spotter Studio.
t=0 is used as a reference point rather than the verified adoption date of AI for each individual channel.
Across channel pairs, view trajectories were highly variable, and observed spikes or increases were not
consistently attributable to Spotter Studio. Although ‘t=0’ factors, such as seasonal variation and content
change, are examined, the data suggest no consistent, sustained correspondence between videos released
after t=0 and increased viewership.
| 70 |
Author(s):
Kayla Leung.
Page No : 669-675
|
Therapeutic Challenges and Opportunities in Treating Acinetobacter baumannii: A Review of AI Tools, Peptide-Based Approaches, and Oxidative Stress Mechanisms
Abstract
Antimicrobial resistance in Acinetobacter baumannii has underscored the need for treatments beyond
single-drug regimens, given high mortality rates associated with carbapenem-resistant strains. This
review explores combination therapy as a framework for addressing the diverse resistance mechanisms
presented by A. baumannii, including membrane modifications, efflux regulation, biofilm formation, and
target-site alteration. This manuscript compares the potential integration of therapeutic pillars, including
macrocyclic peptides, AI-driven drug discovery, and oxidative stress, to understand their underlying
mechanisms, current applications, and translational limitations as multimodal treatment strategies.
Understanding oxidative stress mechanisms is paramount for addressing persistent Antimicrobial
resistance (AMR) challenges, revealing why broad Reactive oxygen species (ROS) flooding is ineffective
and how localized oxidants can bypass bacterial defenses. Through case studies such as Zosurabalpin, a
macrocyclic peptide with selective inhibition, and AI susceptibility models, this review highlights how
an interdisciplinary approach can advance AMR therapies. Zosurabalpin’s specific mechanism of action
demonstrates the value of narrow-spectrum molecules that disrupt essential structural pathways. At the
same time, deep antimicrobial susceptibility phenotyping enables rapid phenotypic classification and
virtual screening, significantly shortening discovery timelines. Finally, emerging compounds—including
synthetic nanoparticles and antimicrobial peptides—are discussed that enhance membrane disruption
and potentiate ROS-based killing. This review highlights that no single modality can overcome A.
baumannii’s adaptability. Instead, the most promising and cost-effective approach is combination therapy,
strategically pairing existing drugs to reduce the likelihood of resistance and improve clinical outcomes.
| 71 |
Author(s):
Yuhan Wang.
Page No : 676-686
|
Hybrid Chitin-Coffee Ground Biochar Foam for Microplastic Adsorption
Abstract
Microplastics threaten ecosystems and human health. Based on the existing microplastic adsorption
solutions, we hypothesized a sustainable filtration method based on a hybrid chitin-coffee ground biochar
foam made of β/α-chitin foam from waste seafood and coffee ground biochar from used coffee grounds
to adsorb microplastic particles in water would be efficient. The hybrid chitin-coffee ground biochar
foam achieved consistently high adsorption efficiency in seawater and showed strong performance
for fluorescent PS microspheres larger than 1 μm in deionized water, river water and seawater. This
adsorption performance resulted from the combined effects of electrostatic attraction, hydrogen bonding,
hydrophobic, and π–π interactions. This study demonstrates that waste-derived materials were able to
offer a low-cost, environmentally friendly, and efficient solution for microplastic adsorption from water.
| 72 |
Author(s):
Gabriel Fang.
Page No : 687-694
|
Comparative Analysis of Dementia Risk Patterns in Community and Facility Settings: Evidence from NHATS Round 13
Abstract
Dementia is a growing public health burden in the United States, yet little is known about how risk
factor profiles differ across various living settings. Using Round 13 of the National Health and Aging
Trends Study (NHATS), this study compared correlates of dementia among community-dwelling and
facility-residing older adults. Bivariate analyses were used to establish the baseline associations; CART
(Classification and Regression Trees), a nonparametric method, was used to detect complex interactions
and compare risk patterns in different settings. In both community and facility settings, bivariate
analyses showed physical activity to be consistently associated with lower dementia prevalence. However,
socioeconomic and demographic factors, as well as comorbidity burden, were significant correlates of
dementia only in community settings, whereas co-residing with a spouse or others showed stronger
and more pronounced associations in facility settings. CART models were also used to visualize shared
and distinct patterns of interplay among multiple risk factors. Vigorous physical activity was the first
splitting variable across settings, but subsequent branches differed: community trees emphasized medical
conditions, income, and types of favorite activities, whereas facility trees highlighted co-residence with
a spouse or others, along with walking exercise as a further differentiating factor. Such differentiated risk
profiles stress the value of setting-specific approaches to understanding dementia risk.
| 73 |
Author(s):
Jeron S. Leonard, Ashley N. Pearson.
Page No : 695-708
|
Personalized Cancer Vaccines and Their Efficacy
Abstract
Cancer continues to be a worldwide health issue, causing approximately 9.7 million deaths around the
world in 2022. Tumor heterogeneity presents a significant challenge to all cancer therapies. Tumors of the
same cancer type can have different genetic mutations, making it difficult for traditional cancer therapies
to work for every patient. Personalized cancer vaccines are attempting to overcome this challenge by
using the body’s immune system to recognize tumor-specific antigens, which are different for every
patient. This review integrates evidence for three platforms: peptide-based vaccines, neoantigen vaccines,
and granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor secreting K562 (GM-K562) cell-based vaccines,
with an emphasis on mechanisms, clinical outcomes, manufacturing considerations, safety signals, and
development status. While each vaccine type demonstrates safety and immunogenicity, the impact of
these vaccines has been limited by small trial sizes and variable tumor-level responses. Next development
steps include improved antigen selection through advanced sequencing and bioinformatics, combining
vaccines with checkpoint inhibitors or adoptive cell therapies, and overcoming tumor heterogeneity.
With continued optimization and larger controlled trials, personalized cancer vaccines have the potential
to evolve from experimental promise to a central component in precision oncology.
| 74 |
Author(s):
Hongcheng (Michael) Gu.
Page No : 709-721
|
Integrated Rice‑Duck within Organic Systems: Agronomic Outcomes and Market Implications
Abstract
This study evaluates the marginal economic and agronomic impact of integrated rice-duck (IRD) farming
within organic systems by comparing matched IRD and non-IRD organic farms in Jiangsu, China. The
question is whether IRD, when organic status and market channels are held constant, delivers field gains
or mainly provides market advantages. This distinction matters for growers, buyers, and policy because
investment, extension, and labeling hinge on the source of returns. Outcomes were measured with shared
procedures and per mu normalization: milled yield from mill recovery sheets, grain quality from a single
inspection laboratory, full cost accounting by task, and realized profit from verified sales during a defined
window. Pre-specified sensitivity checks varied milling recovery, wage schedules, and observed price
ranges. Per mu milled yield at the IRD site was lower by around 150 kg per mu, while milling recovery
was about 2 percentage points higher; physical grain quality was comparable. Total cost per mu was
higher under IRD, driven by land rent and weeding. Despite the higher cost base, realized profit per mu in
the sales window was higher for IRD because unit prices were higher in IRD channels. These contrasts
held in sensitivity analyses. Within organic systems, IRD’s near-term advantage appears primarily
commercial rather than agronomic. Practice should optimize weed suppression (duck density, timing,
water depth) and safeguard price premiums through certification, traceability, and buyer relationships.
Multi-season, cultivar-controlled studies with full season revenue accounting are needed to test durability.
| 75 |
Author(s):
Isabella Hur.
Page No : 722-730
|
A Narrative Review of Fast Fashion, Greenwashing, and Weak Regulation Fuel Global Labor and Environmental Harm
Abstract
Known for advances in styles and influence, the global fashion industry has long been praised. Despite
this, for many decades, the industry has masked systems of exploitation and environmental harm. Fast
fashion is the mass production of trending, inexpensive clothes to meet rapid consumer demand, bolstered
by microtrends and lack of consumer knowledge. This lack of knowledge is closely related to the
absence of transparency, which is the clear, accessible disclosure of information throughout a company’s
supply chain, including sourcing, labor conditions, and production processes, allowing consumers to
verify ethical practices. The paper evaluates the interconnected global environmental and social issues
arising from the fast-fashion cycle by reviewing sources from JSTOR, credible articles, and industry
case studies. Results indicate that demand for low-cost, high-speed production drives child labor, unsafe
working conditions, and forced labor in countries with weak regulatory enforcement. Simultaneously, it
generates extreme water use, toxic pollution, and massive volumes of textile waste. As concerns about
ethics and sustainability grow, many companies have responded with greenwashing, where brands
present initiatives as environmentally responsible without verifiable manufacturing changes. Existing
regulations, including the FABRIC Act, represent progress but remain limited by slow enforcement and
global supply chain complexity. Overall, this review argues that meaningful reform requires stronger
regulations and increased transparency to reduce the social and environmental harms induced by fast
fashion. This review draws on historical case studies and recent policy developments from 2013 to 2025,
providing foundational context and data to report on emerging regulatory efforts.
| 76 |
Author(s):
Shion Choe.
Page No : 731-735
|
A Quantitative Seeding Score Analysis of Early-Life Microbiome Colonization in Infant Feeding Modes
Abstract
The early life microbiome of an individual is a critical factor for long term health conditions, yet
the influence of various feeding modes on microbial transmission patterns remains as a complex area
for study. This study presents a secondary analysis of publicly available infant microbiome data, while
proposing a novel quantitative ‘microbial seeding score’ to evaluate the direction and magnitude of earlylife
microbiome colonization across feeding modes. Using genus-level microbiome data from a total of 67
infants obtained from HE_INFANTS_MFGM_2019 dataset, a microbial seeding score (S) was calculated
to examine maternally associated taxa (Bacteroides, Bifidobacterium) with environmentally associated
taxa (Enterococcus, Staphylococcus, Streptococcus, Klebsiella). Infants were grouped into breast milk
(n=16), experimental infant formula (n=25), and standard infant formula (n=26) by feeding mode. Breast
milk-fed infants indicated the highest mean seeding score (S = 0.391 ± 0.319), and experimental formulafed
infants showed the intermediate mean seeding score (S = 0.352 ± 0.352). Standard formula-fed infants
exhibited the lowest mean seeding score (S= 0.301 ± 0.309). Differences were not statistically significant
(one-way ANOVA, p=0.676). However, there was a consistent decreasing trend in seeding scores
observed across feeding modes. The main contribution of this work is methodological for introducing
a simplified quantitative metric instead of reporting new empirical microbiome measurements. These
findings suggest that the proposed seeding score in this study may capture exploratory patterns of
variation in early microbial colonization, although differences were not statistically significant.
| 77 |
Author(s):
Ethan Nguy.
Page No : 736-749
|
Investigating the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Treatment of Cardiovascular Diseases
Abstract
Cardiovascular disease remains one of the leading causes of death worldwide. Early diagnosis of
these diseases is crucial to improving patient outcomes. The electrocardiogram (ECG) is a widely
used, non-invasive tool to help detect some of these abnormalities by utilizing the electricity the heart
conducts. However, traditional ECG interpretation relies on manual analysis and may fail to identify
subtle indicators of disease. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) have enhanced ECG
analysis by identifying complex patterns associated with arrhythmias, coronary artery disease, heart
failure, and structural heart disease. This review discusses how AI improves the detection, treatment,
and monitoring of cardiovascular diseases through ECG-based models, personalized therapy planning,
AI-enabled wearables, and telemonitoring systems. This review also explores digital biomarkers, such
as AI-derived heart age and vascular age, for continuous risk assessment and monitoring. Ethical and
practical challenges–such as data quality, algorithmic bias, privacy, and the need for human oversight–
are also covered. Overall, this review highlights AI’s potential to advance preventive, precise, and
equitable cardiovascular care.
| 78 |
Author(s):
Seongbhin Park.
Page No : 750-755
|
Will Artificial Intelligence and Robots Perform Surgery Better than Human Dentists?
Abstract
Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotic technologies have been rapidly transforming modern dentistry.
However, it still remains limited to compare technology-assisted and human-only dental workflows
in standardized quantitative manner. This study specifically seeks to answer whether AI-assisted and
robot-assisted dental systems demonstrate higher modeled performance than human-only workflows
in terms of technical performance or not. This study hypothesized that diagnostic speed and precision
may be significantly enhanced by AI-assisted systems, and procedural reliability and accuracy may
be maximized by robot-assisted systems compared to human-only care. With the publicly available
Multimodal Dental Dataset (MDD), a total of 162 complete cases are compared with cone-beam
calculated tomography (CBCT), panoramic, and periapical imaging, while generating a simulationbased
modeling framework developed to assess three main technical dimensions of precision, speed, and
reliability. Imaging resolution and exposure time were utilized as quantitative proxies, while applying
performance adjustments grounded in prior published literature to conduct simulation of AI-assisted
and robot-assisted workflows. Simulations results in this study indicated that both AI-assisted and robotassisted
systems were consistently modeled with technical advantages across all modalities. Higher
modeled precision (0.91) and modeled speed (0.95) was achieved by AI-assisted systems compared to
human-only workflows (0.82 and 0.80, respectively). Highest modeled precision (0.96) and modeled
reliability (0.97) was achieved by robot-assisted systems. Higher modeled outcomes for AI-assisted (0.94)
and robot-assisted (0.96) were confirmed by aggregated performance indices when compared to humanonly
care (0.84). The findings in this study support a hybrid model of dentistry to adopt augmentation of
technology rather than replacing human clinical expertise.
| 79 |
Author(s):
Jerald Jude Campana.
Page No : 756-762
|
Employee Perceptions of Artificial Intelligence on Job Security, Skill Development, and Workplace Dynamics
Abstract
As artificial intelligence (AI) adoption increases across a diverse network of industries, concerns
regarding job security, skill development, and workplace dynamics have intensified, especially in roles
that rely on human skills such as judgment, communication, and creativity. This study examines how
employees across multiple industries perceive the impact of AI on their work, with a focus on AI usage
frequency, perceived job security, and AI literacy. Having surveyed 153 employed participants from a
variety of professional backgrounds, this research analyzes patterns of AI adoption and perceptions of
task automation rather than full job replacement. Findings indicate a polarized workforce, as a substantial
portion of respondents rarely use AI, while a similarly large group relies on it daily or considers
it necessary for their role. Average AI literacy was moderate, and perceived job security remained
cautiously optimistic. Respondents reported that AI is being used primarily to automate routine tasks
and augment human work rather than replace entire jobs, which is consistent with existing academic
dialogue. These findings suggest that AI’s short-term impact is better understood as augmentation on the
task level, with implications for workforce training, role redesign, and the long-term security of humancentric
professions (professions that rely on factors unaffected by AI).
| 80 |
Author(s):
Luca Ohashi.
Page No : 763-776
|
Current Therapeutic Strategies for Neuropathic Pain: Mechanisms, Drug Options, and Interventional Approaches
Abstract
Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition resulting from a lesion or disease of the somatosensory
nervous system. Despite diverse etiologies, neuropathic pain involves shared mechanisms such as
neuronal hyperexcitability, central sensitization, and impaired inhibitory pathways. Neuropathic pain
substantially limits mobility and leads to a general decline in overall health and quality of life. A wide
array of therapeutic approaches is used in patients care, ranging from systemic pharmacologic agents to
localized and minimally invasive interventions. This review summarizes recent approvals on treatments
for neuropathic pain and evaluates the benefits, risks, and appropriate clinical contexts for oral,
topical, and interventional modalities. Systemic pharmacologic therapeutic drugs, such as serotoninnorepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), tricyclic antidepressants, gabapentinoids, nonsteroidal
anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and acetaminophen, are widely used, although the efficacy varies
based on the underlying mechanisms and patient-specific factors. Topical formulations, such as lidocaine
and capsaicin, provide targeted analgesia with minimal systemic exposure and are suitable therapy for
localized peripheral neuropathic syndromes. Minimally invasive procedures, including corticosteroid
injections, nerve blocks, and radiofrequency ablation, offer additional choices for pain relief. Overall,
optimal neuropathic pain management includes stepped, multimodal and individualized strategies that
integrates systemic pharmacologic, topical, and interventional approaches. Ongoing research advances
in mechanism-based and minimally invasive therapies hold promises for improving long-term outcomes
in patients with neuropathic pain.
| 81 |
Author(s):
Arshia Ghatak, Jeremy Hitt.
Page No : 777-784
|
Machine Learning Models for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Using Ultrasound Images
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the most commonly diagnosed and deadliest diseases among women worldwide,
and early detection is critical for improving survival outcomes. Ultrasound imaging is widely used in
breast cancer screening due to its safety, low cost, and effectiveness in visualizing soft tissue. Image
interpretation is highly dependent on radiologist expertise and, therefore, can be subject to variability.
This study explores the use of classical machine learning approaches for automated breast ultrasound
classification, emphasizing interpretability and reliability in small, clinically annotated datasets. Using a
publicly available breast ultrasound dataset, images were preprocessed and transformed into engineered
feature representations capturing texture, shape, and intensity characteristics commonly used in clinical
assessment. Three supervised machine learning models - Support Vector Machine (SVM), Random
Forest (RF), and Multilayer Perceptron (MLP) - were trained and evaluated to classify images as benign,
malignant, or normal tissue. To address class imbalance, random oversampling was applied, and model
performance was assessed using class-specific accuracy metrics and confusion matrices. The ensemble
achieved improved overall classification performance and enhanced malignant tissue detection compared
with each individual classifier. These results demonstrate that ensemble-based classical machine learning
methods offer a practical, interpretable, and low-resource approach for automated breast cancer detection
using ultrasound imaging. The individual models, Random Forest demonstrated the strongest and most
balanced performance across all tissue classes, with texture- and shape-based features contributing most
significantly to its predictions. A weighted ensemble voting classifier was then implemented to combine
the strengths of all three models, assigning greater influence to the Random Forest based on validation
performance. A deployable graphical user interface was also developed to make the system accessible to
both clinicians and non-experts.
| 82 |
Author(s):
Benny Peng.
Page No : 785-791
|
Muscular Asymmetry is Positively Correlated with Lumbar Back Pain in Wrestlers
Abstract
Wrestling, one of the oldest combat sports, has had a notable history of lumbar spine injuries among
their athletes. High rates of reported lumbar spine injury in wrestlers by a variety of sports organizations
have yet to elicit the response of any direct formal research regarding specific injury mechanics. Training
habits, along with competition behavior, must be evaluated, as data shows that injuries occur much more
commonly in wrestling practice compared to other sports’ practices. Muscle strains are typically the
most common form of lumbar spine injury within wrestlers, and have been shown to induce lower back
pain, inhibit movement, and evoke recurring injuries in the future. Previous research has rigorously
analyzed general spine injuries along with lumbar spine injuries across all sports. There is a research gap
around the biomechanical predictors of lumbar spine injury. No studies have focused specifically on the
muscular risk factors that can lead to lumbar spine injury in wrestling. The purpose of this research is to
uncover modifiable muscular biomarkers that can be shown to result in a higher chance of lumbar spine
injury. It was hypothesized that muscular imbalance and instability will be the most identifiable risk
factors associated with lumbar spine injury. This study analyzed a synthetic dataset of 1000 wrestlers’
biomechanical markers and parameters. T-Test revealed that Lumbar Back Pain had a statistically
significant difference in score of Trunk Asymmetry than those reporting no Lumbar Back Pain (p <
0.0001). The same was true for spinal erector muscle imbalance scores (p < 0.0001). Future studies are
encouraged to evaluate athlete condition and markers over an extended period.
| 83 |
Author(s):
Emily Yum.
Page No : 792-807
|
Swallowed By Stress: The Hidden Hunger Of Teenagers
Abstract
This study explores how stress leads to binge eating behaviors in adolescents, a developmental stage
marked by academic, social, and performance pressures. Despite evidence linking stress to disordered
eating, research on how young athletes perceive this connection is limited. This qualitative study
addresses this gap by centering on the lived experiences of four adolescent athletes (ages 10–19) with a
history of weight-related eating challenges. Findings revealed that stress shaped eating behaviors through
three primary pathways: engaging in emotional eating for short-term comfort, experiencing a guilteating
cycle that heightens stress, and developing disrupted eating routines. Triggers included academic
pressure, social comparisons, and performance demands. The link between stress and disordered eating
was consistent across all participants, highlighting the cyclical nature of these behaviors. This study
underscores the importance of holistic support strategies, prioritizing both mental and physical wellbeing,
to address emotional regulation and stress management in adolescents at risk of disordered eating.
| 84 |
Author(s):
Ahn Jo.
Page No : 808-814
|
Does the Gender Gap in Autism Diagnosis Differ Between Hispanic and Non-Hispanic Populations in the United States?
Abstract
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is known to be a neurodevelopmental condition that requires timely
and accurate diagnosis to access early intervention and support. Previous studies have reported racial
and gender disparities in autism diagnosis. However, only limited quantitative research has examined
whether gender-based differences in autism diagnosis prevalence vary across ethnic groups. This study
seeks to address this literature gap by attempting to answer the research question about whether the
gender gap in autism diagnosis prevalence differ between Hispanic and non-Hispanic populations in the
United States. Using publicly available, aggregated autism prevalence data obtained from the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention’s Autism and Developmental Disabilities Monitoring Network,
this study has generated an ecological linear regression model with an interaction term to assess
intersectional patterns possibly shown in diagnosis disparities. Since the analysis relies exclusively on
aggregated, population-level surveillance data, all findings demonstrate study-level associations instead
of individual-level relationships. Therefore, the results in this study shall not be interpreted as causal
effects or as directly applicable to children on individual-level. This study hypothesized that the gender
gap in autism diagnosis prevalence may be larger within Hispanic populations than within non-Hispanic
populations. The results showed that greater gender-based and ethnic disparities were correlated with
lower reported autism prevalence. There was a positive interaction between gender and ethnicity, but not
statistically significant. These findings in the study suggest that, although the evidence was insufficient to
confirm the effect conclusively, gender disparities in autism diagnosis may be enhanced within Hispanic
populations. Overall, this study contributes to the intersectional research with quantitative evidence to
further investigate autism diagnosis disparities, while highlighting the importance of culturally and
gender-responsive diagnostic practices.
| 85 |
Author(s):
Luojia (April) Liu.
Page No : 815-827
|
How Should U.S. Copyright and Right of Publicity Law Be Reformed to Address the Legal Risks Posed by AI-Generated Vocal Covers?
Abstract
This paper examines the structural weaknesses within the U.S. copyright and publicity rights
frameworks exposed by Artificial Intelligence (AI)-generated vocal covers. Using the “Fake Drake”
case as a focal point, the paper identifies gaps in the existing legal framework. It analyzes the frequent
abuses and shortcomings of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act’s (DMCA) notice-and-takedown
system, which fails to protect fair use and enables censorship. Furthermore, the paper further highlights
the fragmented, state-by-state nature of publicity rights in the U.S., which creates uneven protection
for artists defending their identity. When technology replicates an artist’s voice convincingly, existing
laws struggle to respond effectively. Moreover, without stronger coherence across statutes, creators face
uncertainty when imitated by technology. A feasible reform path would involve setting up an office
tasked with reviewing DMCA complaints before they proceed—complete with penalties for those filed
without genuine basis. Instead of piling on complexity, one path forward involves crafting a federal
right of publicity guided by a consistent court-tested standard. This standard would weigh expressive
freedoms against an individual’s claim to their own image. Such steps to reform could provide a system
where AI outputs don’t override creator interests. Ultimately, fairness emerges when legal safeguards are
aligned with contemporary modes of creative production and distribution.