Stanford University Student Journals
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Exploring the World of Plant Biology: An Interview with Dr. Elizabeth Sattely
Get PDFDr. Elizabeth Sattely is an Associated Professor and HHMI Investigator in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Stanford and a Stanford ChEM-H Faculty Fellow. Dr. Sattely is interested in understanding how plants use creative chemical maneuvers to adapt to environmental stresses and communicate with other kingdoms of life as well as each other. Dr. Sattely’s research focuses on identifying and engineering plant metabolic pathways which allows for exploration of possibilities in enhancing plants’ fitness. Further, Dr. Sattely’s lab investigates the impact of food chemistry on health and develops innovative ways of investigating plant pathways.
Dr. Sattely attended Boston College for her graduate degree followed by post-doctoral work at Harvard Medical School where she worked on biosynthesis of antibiotic and bacterial natural products. Dr. Sattely and her lab has been recognized by an NIH New Innovator Award, a DOE Early Career Award, an HHMI-Simons Faculty Scholar Award, a DARPA Young Investigator Award, and a AAAS Mason Award for Women in the Chemical Sciences
The Use of Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare Management
Get PDFThis paper talks about the transformation of health management by AI, applications, benefits, challenges, and future prospects. This will enhance the clinical decision-making process, predictive analytics, and administrative automations, thus leading to better diagnosis, outcomes of patients, and operational efficiency. Applications range from AI-powered Clinical Decision Support System, which helps the doctors in diagnosing any particular disease, and predictive models forecast future health events. AI also helps in resource optimization and providing personalized treatment plans. Of course, all this promise is offset by the continuing issues of privacy, security, and algorithmic bias. Most exciting, though, are the developments that lie ahead, as generative AI and advanced genomic analysis hold enormous promise for great leaps forward. The study drew on AI for likely game-changing changes in healthcare but considered ethical concerns to make sure the use of this technology is responsible
The Relationship Between Brain Connectivity and New Learnt Skills Based On Cognitive Function Across Different Groups
Get PDFAbstract:
Background: Currently, at least two-thirds of the world\u27s youth are unable to obtain and develop basic skills, and even individuals in high-income countries, a quarter of young people, lack basic skills1. Therefore, it’s imperative to understand how to build and maintain them to set our growing generation up for success.
Objectives: The purpose of this paper is to examine how prevalent the effect of developing skills are within a developing brain in efforts to implement interventions to aid our youth. And so, this leads to the question of how does brain connectivity change when learning a new skill across different age groups. The hypothesis posits that if one learns a new skill over a certain period of time (must fix on a set period), then their brain connectivity function increases.
Methods: Fifty individuals aged 14 and above voluntarily participated in the study, selected based on their willingness and availability. A Likert-scale survey assessed the perceived effects of learning new skills on cognitive function and behaviour, with pre-study surveys collecting demographic data and current cognitive abilities. The main survey included questions on engagement, problem-solving, memory, focus, creativity, confidence, and continuous learning, administered at 2, 4, and 7 weeks. Informed consent was obtained, and the survey was conducted anonymously via Google Forms, with responses securely stored. Data analysis aimed to explore correlations between learning new skills and changes in cognitive functions, using literature analysis and descriptive statistics to understand the relationship between cognitive function and brain connectivity.
Results: The study shows how participation in educational activities evolves and impacts cognitive performance. Interest in learning new skills increased initially but declined by the seventh week, likely due to waning motivation. Motivation is crucial for skill acquisition and cognitive development. Improved focus and concentration were consistent throughout, supporting the hypothesis that new skills enhance cognitive functions. Initial improvements in problem-solving and memory retention declined as engagement decreased, highlighting the need for continuous practice. While creativity and confidence also improved, the extent varied. These results suggest that sustained engagement is key to maintaining cognitive benefits. Educational programs should promote ongoing skill acquisition, personalised interventions to sustain motivation, and culturally sensitive approaches to meet diverse needs. Younger individuals may benefit more from these activities, while older individuals need tailored challenges to maintain motivation.
Conclusions: This study offers insightful information about the connection between brain connectivity and learning new skills across a variety of age and ethnic groups. According to the research, picking up new abilities can improve brain connectivity and cognitive functions, but long-term participation is necessary to keep these advantages. To promote cognitive growth and brain connectivity, educational interventions should centre on ongoing and interesting skill-learning activities. Age and socioeconomic considerations should be taken into account when designing customised approaches. To ensure that cognitive gains are maintained and improved, future research should examine the long-term impacts of skill learning and methods for maintaining engagement over prolonged periods of time.
Keywords: Brain Connectivity, Youth, Neuroscience, Learning Of Skills, Cognitive Function, Neuroscienc
Ethics and Economics of Genome Editing
Get PDFSomatic and germline modifications are the two types of genetic modifications that can be performed on human cells. Somatic modifications have earned ethical approval and are being implemented in healthcare as gene therapy, treating conditions such as sickle cell disease. Germline modifications have not earned the same approval and are highly regulated in the research sector of some countries with multiple countries banning the modification type altogether. Germline editing is criticized for being unsafe, not allowing patients to give informed consent, and promoting ableism. Moreover, if germline editing procedures become available but are not affordable for everyone, having a genetic disease could become an indication of a lower financial status. Regardless, the modification type can offer individuals with incurable genetic diseases a way to eliminate the suffering their future generations may endure. Consistent regulation of germline editing between countries, including outlining the difference between disease treatment and trait enhancement, is critical to avoid the abuse of the treatment through jurisdictional arbitrage. In this review, countries were analyzed based on their number of common monogenic diseases of high occurrence and their GDP per capita to determine which nations may become centers of germline editing exploitation for clinical testing and economic beneficiaries of performing germline editing procedures
Change in Life Expectancy Across Countries
Get PDFThis paper used machine learning (ML) techniques to examine which factors contribute the greatest to life expectancy levels. Firstly, through background research, life expectancy was found to be an effective representation of a country’s overall health. Next, initial data analysis was done to analyze which features of the data were relevant to this study by looking at the factors affecting life expectancy. After the features were selected, three ML models were fitted to the data: multiple linear regression, random forest regression, and decision tree regression. The ML models were instrumental in identifying how these features interact with each other and life expectancy. The random forest regression model returned the highest R-squared value so that is the model used for this study. The R-squared value communicates how accurately the model makes predictions compared to the actual test data. To decide which of the features affected life expectancy greatest, feature importance was used. Feature importance is a metric that shows how greatly features are affecting the output value in an ML model. After running feature importance on the random forest regression model, the graph showed that the gross domestic product (GDP) of the country most greatly affected life expectancy. GDP encompasses the value of total final output of goods and services produced by the economy of a nation in a year. This conveys the importance of economic involvement to a country’s overall health. When a resource-constrained country does better economically and improves its GDP, it increases output of goods and services resulting in job creation and more money in the nation. The additional financial resources will provide an opportunity for resource constrained nations to spend more money on institutions like health care and education which in turn impact life expectancy positively
Analyzing the Effects of TikTok on the Attention Span of Evolving High School Students
Get PDFThis study investigates the influence of the social media app, TikTok, on the attention spans of freshman high school students at a public high school in Overland Park, Kansas. The research covers the history and science of the notable social media site, the problem arising from its use, the effects on its magnified demographic, and a research question that focuses on the app\u27s consequences for high school students, specifically in a classroom setting. An extensive literature review was executed to find sufficient gaps regarding this media platform and its effects. The research performed narrowed down the overall focus of this study to initiate a plan to investigate the missing holes regarding this topic.
The methodology was then carried out, including an experimental, two-sample test design creating a classroom simulation, followed by a questionnaire serving as the research instrument. The population measured for this experiment consisted of a set of freshmen at a local high school who willingly participated in the study, being randomly selected to be present in two different conditions. With the size of the population and research instrument in mind, it was concluded that the most appropriate way of analyzing the final data consisted of calculating the percentages of the overall correct answers between the two groups as well as the correct percentages regarding the placements of questions to determine whether TikTok was negatively impacting the students measured. After extensive examination, the findings of this study indicated that TikTok did have a greater negative influence on the attention spans of freshman students, affecting the way they absorb information during lecture lessons. This study can be a platform for students, as well as teachers, to become aware of the effects of the popular social media app to monitor its use without impacting their academic performances
Optimizing Solar Panel Installation Sites in New York City: An ArcGIS-Based Analysis of High-Energy Residential Buildings for Enhanced Carbon Neutrality and Clean Energy Goals
Get PDFThe New York State Research and Development Authority’s (NYSERDA) "City of Yes" plan aims to modernize New York City by achieving carbon neutrality and cleaner energy by 2050. The purpose of this research is to determine the optimal locations for solar panel installation by analyzing energy consumption and solar output of potential using ArcGIS. The buildings that met the criteria were assessed for the solar capacity relative to their energy use. The study identified the 7 buildings throughout NYC with the highest solar potential: 120-130 Gale Place, 306 Beach 56th St, 875 Pennsylvania Ave, 845 Schenck Ave, 81-26 150th St, 5901 Palisade Ave, and 625 Atlantic Ave. Each of these buildings have the capacity to be entirely powered by solar with the added potential to produce surplus electricity. The study recommends these 7 buildings be prioritized for solar panel installation, as they maximize the excess energy entering the grid and reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Future research should expand to include both residential and commercial NYC buildings using newly acquired data to support these findings
"Trop clean pour toi": Investigating the Diverse Dynamics of English Language Borrowing in French Rap Music
Get PDFThis paper evaluates English borrowing in French rap music in the contexts of mainland France and French-speaking Canada. English borrowing exists against a backdrop of systemic linguistic purism, such as a 1994 French law requiring that at least 40 percent of songs played on air be in French, “[stemming] the encroachment of English into French culture” [5]. Literature in sociolinguistics has evaluated non-standard language use in French rap more broadly but lacks fine-grained analysis of English borrowing. The author categorizes and contextualizes computationally extracted English borrowings through a novel lexical subcategorization framework that anchors these borrowing practices in discrete sociocultural contexts. The study finds that French rappers strategically integrate English elements into their songs as a means of resistance and identity assertion. In France, where linguistic hegemony prevails, English borrowings are syntactically limited but semantically diverse. Constructions range from noun phrases to reinterpretations of idioms, with occasional code-switching. On the other hand, in a case study of Canadian French rap, Franglais emerges as fluid code switching that reflects the region’s mature linguistic heterogeny. The author argues that by challenging linguistic purism with non-standard language practices, rappers are asserting translinguistic identities and amplifying marginalized communities. Overall, the findings underscore the importance of empowering non-standard language use in music, as it fosters cultural representation and linguistic evolution
The Dark Side to Delivery: Illuminating the US Black Maternal Health Crisis
Get PDFIn the United States, pregnant and postpartum women are dying at the highest rate among developed countries. This crisis disproportionately impacts Black women, who are three times more likely to die during childbirth than white women (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC], 2020). A plethora of factors contribute to this disparity. Black women are more likely to experience lower quality healthcare or be unnecessarily recommended riskier surgeries such as cesarean sections even in low-risk births. Additionally, they have lower access to affordable healthcare plans that administer maternal care (Martin et al., 2019). The CDC reports that 60 percent of maternal deaths are preventable, highlighting the urgent need to improve maternal health quality and accessibility in the United States. This paper argues that poor Black maternal health and Black maternal mortality constitute a public health crisis in the United States. While existing research highlights socioeconomic barriers as key contributors to health inequities, this paper identifies implicit bias as the underlying driver of these disparities. Drawing on the lived experiences of Black women and systemic racial bias in healthcare, it provides a nuanced understanding of Black maternal mortality. During the recent Biden-Harris administration initiatives demonstrating an interest in Black maternal health, they advocate for holistic solutions, including eliminating racial biases, ensuring equitable and patient-centered care, and improving maternal healthcare quality
Having a Voice, Behind Heard: Lessons on Gender Dynamics in Policy Conversations
Get PDFIn this narrative-style report, the nuanced challenges women face in asserting their voices within male-dominated policy spaces are brought to light through interviews with thirteen women across lobbying, policymaking, and academia. We examine persistent barriers such as interruptions, microaggressions, and societal double standards that undermine women’s contributions, particularly in male-dominated fields like financial services. We also explore how women navigate these dynamics, employing strategies like confidence-building, direct communication, and fostering support networks to amplify their voices. Despite generational progress and increased representation in leadership, inequities in conversational dynamics persist, shaping whose voices are heard and valued. By celebrating women’s resilience, ingenuity, and the power of mentorship, we underscore their growing influence in reshaping leadership and policy discourse while highlighting the ongoing work needed to achieve true equity