Stanford University Student Journals
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Exploring Law and the Biosciences: An Interview with Professor Greely
Full text linkHenry T. (Hank) Greely (BA ’74) specializes in the ethical, legal, and social implications of new biomedical technologies, particularly those related to genetics, assisted reproduction, neuroscience, or stem cell research. He chairs the California Advisory Committee on Human Stem Cell Research and the steering committee of the Stanford University Center for Biomedical Ethics, and directs the Stanford Center for Law and the Biosciences and the Stanford Program in Neuroscience and Society. He serves as a member of the NAS Committee on Science, Technology, and Law; the NIGMS Advisory Council, the Institute of Medicine’s Neuroscience Forum, and the NIH Multi-Center Working Group on the BRAIN Initiative. In 2007 Professor Greely was elected a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, receiving Stanford University’s Richard W. Lyman Award in 2013, and the Stanford Prize in Population Genetics and Society in 2017. He published The End of Sex and the Future of Human Reproduction in 2016. His next book, CRISPR People: The Science and Ethics of Editing Humans, was published in February 2021.
Before joining the Stanford Law School faculty in 1985, Greely was a partner at Tuttle & Taylor, served as a staff assistant to the secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy and as special assistant to the general counsel of the U.S. Department of Defense. He served as a law clerk to Justice Potter Stewart of the U.S. Supreme Court and to Judge John Minor Wisdom of the Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit
The Production of Eco-Friendly and High-Quality Paper, and an Alternative to Coal from Eichhornia Plant and Testing Their Physical and Chemical Properties Respectively
Full text linkEichhornia, a rapidly regenerating aquatic plant from the Nile River. Its leaves contain 53.45% cellulose, 24.43% lignin, and 22.12% hemicellulose (Smith et al., 2020) — values comparable to those found in wood fibers: 25%lignin and 25%-35% hemicellulose(General compositions of softwoods and hardwoods and their lignin linkages, n.d.) both Eichhornia plant and wood share similar composition. Due to its high cellulose content it is suggested that the plant could be a viable alternative raw material for wood in the paper industry in Egypt. In this study, stalks were processed via a 10% KOH pulping method at 100–120°C to extract cellulose, followed by a 10% NaOCl bleaching step to obtain white pulp. Paper sheets (1 cm × 5 cm) produced from this pulp showed a high rigidity and a high ductility such as commercial paper and exhibited a maximum stress of 0.37500 MPa, strain of 0.28000%, force of 1.87500 N, displacement of 0.11200 mm, and a gauge length of 40.0000 mm. Additionally, mixing the remaining roots with dark liquor produced as a by-product in the pulping process in a 6:1 ratio yielded mixture. This mixture is used to make tablets which can be an alternative source of energy instead of coal in low-temperature heating applications such as space heating in well-insulated buildings. In addition, the benefit from these by-products and wastes contributes to sustainability and preserving the environment from harmful wastes. The tablets’ heat of combustion was measured by Oxygen bomb calorimeter and was approximately 9.18 MJ/Kg.These results indicate that using Eichhornia not only produces paper with competitive mechanical properties relative to commercial wood-based paper in tensile strength, strain and deformation, provide an alternative source of energy but also offers a sustainable approach by making an advantage of this environmentally and economically harmful plant.
Keywords: Eichhornia, cellulose fibers, dark liquor, paper and heat of combustio
Concerning Phenomenon of Westernizing Linguistic Landscapes and Its Correlation between House Prices in Astana, Kazakhstan
Full text linkBy conducting research in Astana, Kazakhstan, as an example of a non-Western country, this paper seeks to demonstrate the Westernization of linguistic landscapes in Astana, Kazakhstan, and its correlation with house prices, while also discussing the meaning of the phenomenon and what actions Kazakhstan people should take.
Throughout the process, the researcher gathered data on 166 houses to determine the average house prices per square meter of two groups of adjacent residential blocks, as well as 257 photographs of linguistic landscapes to determine the extent of Westernization in both groups. Subsequently, the data from the two groups would be compared to determine whether there is a correlation between house prices and the Westernization of language landscapes.
The findings revealed that linguistic landscapes in Astana are undoubtedly Westernizing and that there is a strong correlation between house prices and linguistic landscape Westernization, with one group having higher house prices per square meter and the extent of Westernization than the other at the same time.
The researcher believes that this phenomenon is caused by various factors, including the similar social context of high-income individuals in Astana and the majority of the West (e.g., both predominantly work in the service industry), higher exposure to the internet, etc. While the limitedness of the data resulted in a barely fruitful finding in this research, it is safe to say that this article contributed to the study of linguistic landscapes\u27 Westernization and the correlation between high income and Westernization in Astana.
Keywords: linguistic landscape, Westernizatio
Vegetarianism in India: Health Benefits, Risks, and the Environment’s Role in Risk Mitigation
Full text linkVegetarian diets lack vitamins and nutrients vital for the human body, which can have severe adverse effects and cause illnesses and pathology. However, vegetarians in India do not seem to suffer from the same pathologies that are expected to be associated with this level of vitamin and nutrient deficiency. This paper explores how vegetarians in India escape immune deficiency and whether this can be attributed to natural immunity that correlates with vegetarianism or even induced by it. The phenomenon of natural immunity in Indian vegetarians is due to a unique combination of genetic diversity, environmental exposure frequency, dietary habits, and sociocultural practices. Genetic factors such as HLA diversity, cytokine gene polymorphisms, and a rich anti-inflammatory, spice-heavy diet contribute to a robust immune system. These environmental lifestyle factors have shaped the immune responses of the Indian population, protecting Indian vegetarians from vegetarianism-related pathology
Diagnosing Inequality: The Promise and Limits of AI in Bridging Healthcare Gaps
Full text linkHealthcare disparities in the United States continue to disproportionately affect low-income individuals, ethnic minorities, migrants, and people with disabilities due to systemic barriers such as limited access to care, provider shortages, and financial constraints. This paper evaluates the effectiveness and limitations of artificial intelligence (AI)-based diagnostic tools in addressing these inequities. Drawing from a comprehensive literature review, AI simulation testing, sensitivity analyses, and qualitative case studies, the study assesses diagnostic accuracy across diverse demographic profiles. Findings indicate that AI systems perform well in identifying single-cause conditions when provided with detailed symptom inputs, but exhibit reduced accuracy in complex or multi-causal cases, especially when training data lack demographic diversity. Disparities in diagnostic outputs by race and age further underscore embedded algorithmic biases. Integration of mobile diagnostic devices and culturally representative datasets improves AI performance in under-resourced settings. The paper concludes with strategic recommendations for algorithm refinement, infrastructure investment, workforce training, and policy integration to ensure that AI technologies contribute meaningfully to healthcare equity.
Key Words: healthcare disparities; artificial intelligence; diagnostic accuracy; social service integration; algorithmic bias; health equity; underserved populations; digital health ethic
Data-Driven Dynamics in Soccer: Exploring the Impact of Data Analytics on Strategy and Fan Engagement
Full text linkMotivated by a deep passion for soccer and a keen interest in computer science, I initiated this research to address two profound yet overlooked aspects of data analytics in soccer: first, the impact of data analytics on tactical strategy, and second, the need to explore how fan culture is intricately tied to data analytics in the sport. My paper thus investigates how data from technologies like GPS devices are not only utilized in soccer to enhance player performance and decision-making, but also to drive fan engagement. This research was conducted through a thorough review of academic journals, books, and case studies to analyze how clubs, notably FC Barcelona, implement GPS technology in soccer and its resultant effects on player performance. Additionally, the research involved examining scholarly articles and reports on fan engagement and data analytics in sports to understand the broader implications of these technologies in soccer. The paper also drew on insights from books and articles discussing the ethical aspects of sports analytics to provide a well-rounded view of the topic. Overall, this paper concludes that data analytics reshapes soccer strategy and fan engagement, but emphasizes the need to balance technology with the sport\u27s traditional spirit and address ethical considerations in data utilization
“Where have our Mothers Gone?”: Combating Native American Maternal Health Disparities with Traditional Birthing Practices in Southwestern Indigenous Communities
Full text linkThis piece examines Native American maternal health disparities in the United States and proposes an integrated form of maternal care for Indigenous communities. Native Americans have some of the highest rates of maternal health disparities across ethnic and racial minorities, yet the underlying causes of these issues remain poorly understood. Native communities continue to endure violations to their physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Drawing on traditional birth practices from these communities can alleviate these issues. Incorporating evidence from maternal health studies, personal interviews, and a case study of the first and only Native American integrative health clinic in the United States, this piece demonstrates the successful potential of Indigenous integrative health practices. It argues for the integration of traditional Indigenous birthing practices and Western forms of maternal care. This integrative approach aims to bridge cultural gaps in maternal care given to Indigenous communities and address issues of medical racism and trauma
Unraveling the Legacy: The Impact of Soviet-Era Political Violence on the Russo-Ukrainian Conflict
Full text linkThis paper attempts to answer the research question: To what extent has the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian conflict since 2014 been catalyzed by the legacy of political violence in the USSR under Bolshevik leaders like Lenin and Stalin? The research explores historical events, such as the Ukrainian-Soviet War, the Holodomor famine, and systemic Russification during the Stalin era, and how these have nurtured anti-Russian sentiment and far-right elements within Ukraine. Through historical analysis, this study identifies how the rejection of Ukrainian identity and the forced assimilation into a Soviet identity have contributed to the present-day conflict.Ultimately, the analysis argues that these historical grievances have fueled Ukraine\u27s drive towards EU and NATO membership, exacerbating tensions with Russia and contributing to the escalation into all-out war. However, the paper also acknowledges the role of contemporary geopolitical factors, such as NATO expansion, in driving the conflict. The findings suggest that while Soviet-era political violence has played a significant role, modern dynamics and NATO activities are also to blame. The implications of this research underline the importance of forming inclusive alliances focused on providing security instead of posing threats, and adopting energy diversification strategies to prevent dependency on a single source in case of conflict.
Where Sympathy Falls Short: British Evangelical Abolitionism
Full text linkDuring the late eighteenth century, British abolitionists often invoked religion in their rhetoric against the slave trade. Evangelical abolitionists warned that God would impose a providential retribution on all of Britain for its complicity in the ungodly abuses of enslaved Africans. Within their providentialist language was the appeal to sympathy, namely images of bodily pain. Among the most vocal evangelical abolitionists were poets, such as William Cowper and Anna Laetitia Barbauld. This paper focuses on Cowper’s “The Negro’s Complaint” (1788) and Barbauld’s “Epistle to William Wilberforce, Esq., on the Rejection of the Bill for Abolishing the Slave Trade” (1791). Cowper’s and Barbauld’s poems embody quintessential features of evangelical abolitionist rhetoric: appeals to Providence and sympathy. In this paper, I will examine how Cowper’s and Barbauld’s use of providential and sympathetic language advanced the abolitionist cause in the eighteenth century and whether their rhetoric holds up today