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The China-Europe Railway Express (CRE), a network of railroads connecting European and Asian cities, is a critical part of China’s Belt and Road Initiative’s plan to increase both China’s diplomatic and economic influence abroad. This article examines the current status of the CRE in the midst of the geopolitical and diplomatic tensions facing the countries involved with the project. Due to rail travel’s high efficiency, low costs, and low carbon emissions, the CRE is desirable to China as its prominence will bolster intercontinental trade as well as China’s presence in Eurasia. Though the CRE has faced opposition from some European entities as the project will likely heighten China’s position as a competitor and challenger to traditional Western dominance, the furtherment of the CRE, and China-Europe relations as a whole will produce a myriad of cultural, economic, and political benefits to Eurasia. The development of the CRE and, by extension, many Sino-European ties have been derailed by the war in Ukraine as many of the current rail routes travel through Russia to reach Europe. Sanctions imposed on Russian railroads and the risk of seized cargo have limited European customers' trust in rail-based transportation. Through this, the war in Ukraine has illustrated many of the vulnerabilities in the CRE’s network. The future success of the CRE will likely continue to be threatened by rising geopolitical tensions as the network spans dozens of countries. The article concludes that the development of alternative routes to the CRE will be crucial in maintaining the project.

energy, renewable energy, infrastructure, energy policy, sustainability, GIS, Life cycle assessment ( carbon counting), machine learning, sustainable buildings, 3D printing for construction, risk assessment

The Geopolitical Ramifications of the China-Europe Railway Express: An Emphasis on the War in Ukraine

I am writing a paper about urban forestry (UF) programs in cities. I will use Oakland, California USA as the main case study, but will also explore UF strategy from other cities around the world under a second global case study. I will explore the strategies used to manage urban forests, examining what is effective and ineffective. I will then analyze how international forestry initiatives are implemented at the city scale and understand whether state, national, or international bodies influence these local strategies. Ultimately, I strive to understand the efficacy of overarching bodies, like the UN, in influencing UF strategy and look into ways that coordinated efforts can be improved. I will primarily use qualitative research and interviews with activists, government actors, and forestry policy specialists. 

Politics, Comparative Politics (especially South Africa and the U.S.), Decentralization, Social Movements, Environmental Politics

The Urban Forest: An Analysis on Local and International Programs

Lauren will be writing a research proposal on the role of apoptotic cell death in regulating immune cell infiltration into the tumor microenvironment. Lauren will be reading more about how the technique of BH3 profiling can be applied to understanding the apoptosis susceptibility of immune cells. She will then propose to study how apoptosis limits immune activity against cancer and investigate how BH3 mimetics and conventional chemotherapy influence T cell survival. This proposal will allow Lauren to learn a great deal about how to propose and conduct research, and will be a great work product to show to a future lab mentor as evidence of her dedication and intellect. 

Cancer Biology, Molecular/Cellular Biology, Biochemistry, Science Communication, Immunology, Medicine, Biochemistry, Cell Death, Metabolism

 Using BH3 profiling to determine the role of apoptosis in the tumor microenvironment 

The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted our lives in many different ways. One significant impact on daily life was the increased indoor time due to quarantine measures. Data collected suggests that video games have become more popular than ever during these unprecedented times [1]. Whether they played before the pandemic or were just starting to play during, people have been turning to video games. 

This study aims to explore the experiences and behavior of those who play single and multiplayer video games during the pandemic. In addition, the mental and social well-being of individuals who played single and multiplayer video games during the pandemic was evaluated.

Data was collected through an online questionnaire distributed to multiple communities via Reddit, Discord, Facebook, and online forums from June 28th to July 29th, 2021. The total collected responses were n=260. 132 participants identified themselves as playing mostly single-player video games and 128 participants identified themselves as playing mostly multiplayer video games. 

The results show during the pandemic individuals spent more time playing both types of video games and later bedtimes were observed. Motivations for playing single-player games trended towards decreasing anxiety, stress, and feeling happier, whereas multiplayer motivations tended to trend towards socialization rather than decreasing stress or anxiety. Most gamers report feeling more relaxed while playing, and aggressive behavior was only shown by a minority of participants in both types of games. However, multiplayer gamers did report more frustration and aggressive behavior while playing compared to single-players. During the pandemic, 40-50% of single and multiplayer gamers indicated decreased mental health and 33% indicated decreased social well-being. However, both types of players reported improvement in mental and social well-being while playing video games. More multiplayer gamers reported improved social well-being while playing compared to single-player gamers. Those who self-reported as introverts showed video games had little to no effect on their desire for in-person contact. Playing video games neither encouraged or discouraged in-person contact. However, introverts who played multiplayer games did report playing satisfied their need to socialize. 

The survey respondents tended to report having more positive experiences with single-player and multiplayer video games during the pandemic. Results presented video games as a way for individuals to socialize or decrease stress and anxiety. Results also showed that video games are relaxing, and tend to not generate aggressive or asocial behavior in players. In addition, the comparison between the two types of gamers reveals that single-player respondents tended to play for relaxation, stress reduction, and perhaps improvement in mental health, while multiplayer gamers play to increase social interaction and improve social well-being.

Further research is needed to explore the long-term effects of video games during the pandemic after everyone has returned to a pre-pandemic state.
 

neuroscience, psychology, ethology, evolutionary biology, philosophy of mind, cognitive science, systems science

Single and Multiplayer Video Gamers:  Looking at Their Experiences, Behavior, and Psychosocial Well-Being During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Remittances are an increasingly significant contributor to the economy of Nepal. Personal remittances received as a percentage of GDP rose from 2.4% in 2001 to 24.1% as of 2020 (World Bank). For a heavy importer with no robust export industry, remittances are the primary foreign currency source and have grabbed the attention of many economists and policymakers. Remittances matter because they increase a family's disposable income, relax liquidity and budget constraints, and aid consumption smoothing, Calero, Bedi, A.S., and Sparrow (2009). Nepalese household recipients of remittances spend almost 80% on daily consumption, nearly double the average in South Asia, AKM Ullah (2017). Even though it was once commonly believed remittances had no effect on economic development, recent research and empirical evidence have found significant effects. Research on the effects of remittances specifically on education is mixed, with some showing positive and negative results. For example, Mansour, Chaaban, and Litchfield (2011) find that increasing remittances increase the opportunity cost of going to school, disincentivizing people from attaining an education, while Gibson and Mckenzie (2011) suggest that decisions to invest in education are motivated by possibilities of future migration. This paper will synthesize the literature and research on the effects of remittances on education, apply it specifically to Nepal’s context, and conclude the expected net impact of remittances on education in Nepal and the resulting policy implications.

Economics; Public finance and tax policy; Law and public policy

Remittances and their Effect on Education in Nepal

*Diabetes and Cancer have plagued Earth for thousands of years. Since the Egyptians, diabetes and cancer have been studied to find a cure, yet even with modern medicine, cures to these diseases have not been found. From the extremely researched causes and effects of diabetes to the vast unknown of cancer, permanent cures have not been discovered. However, in recent times, a new and extremely promising remedy has come to the forefront of research on these previously incurable diseases: stem cells, which may have the ability to cure these diseases.. In this review, we will review the basic biology of stem cells, their effectiveness clinically in respect to diabetes and cancer, and their future possibilities in medicine.*

Glia biology, neuroscience/neurodevelopment, CRISPR, image analysis, -omics

To be submitted by Tarun

Even though much is known about how the circadian clock works and how sleep is regulated, we don't know as much about how these relate to outside bodily processes. Mental health disorders are prevalent in society, but the current therapeutics do not offer long-lasting solutions. This project will put into conversation current findings in the sleep literature that connect mental health disorders and sleep. Ultimately, it would be beneficial to society if we can use sleep as a measure to assess risk for potential mental health disorders. Additionally, by understanding these connections, we can provide proactive solutions for these disorders.

Drosophila melanogaster, Genetics, Neuroscience, Meiosis, circadian clocks, Proteomic Networks, -Omic databases

Investigating the Role of Sleep and Circadian Rhythms in Mental Health

Digitizing and reconstructing objects has always been a goal of computer vision, especially as the Metaverse's influence continues to grow and the transition to digital life begins. However, classical methods of 3-D synthesis require expensive and impractical setups as well as controlled settings, which are inapplicable beyond laboratory settings. This paper proposes a novel deep learning application for aerial reconstruction through optimized Neural Radiance Fields for Unmanned Ariel Vehicles (NeRF-UAV). We then combine classic NeRF with recent developments a Pixel-shuffle Down-sampling (PD) techniques to overcome the low megapixel image resolution for affordable drones and compare our results to traditional photogrammetry and demonstrate superior recovery of both fine color and geometric detail. We also numerically show NeRF-UAV synthesizes more accurate views as compared against generic implementations of NeRF by conducting SSIM and PSNR tests. Finally, we propose an easily upscaleable framework to adapt this technology to swarms. Applications of this technology include the digitization of large objects, special effects, 3-D asset generation, and education.

The goal of this paper is to outline a methodology to utilize the flexibility of affordable over-the-self commercial drones to accomplish 3-D reconstruction and view synthesis. We leverage recent deep learning techniques in both image up-scaling and denoising as well as rendering to optimize our processes. Ultimately, NeRF-UAV is a framework for flight control and image processing that accomplishes state-of-the-art results and is adapted specifically for affordable, low-megapixel drones. 

NeRF-UAV utilizes uses object-recognizing networks to create a uniform capture of a stationary object before digitizing it. NeRF, though accurate in controlled settings, fails to handle noise well. We posit that low-megapixel images with high background noise, like those retrieved from DJI Tello drones utilized in this study, create excessive artifacts when rendering by prematurely terminating rays during training. Our application of denoising techniques prevents the formation of artifacts and we adapt classic NeRF to low-megapixel images by combining both frameworks together to create superior results, which can be seen in the results section both qualitatively and quantitatively.

We also show better volume synthesis compared to traditional methods, which creates artifacts and missing meshes in areas without adequate coverage in the sample photos. We hypothesize that NeRF sampling allows for occupancy to be determined from more camera angles besides extrapolating from feature points observable from multiple angles, the methodology COLMAP, a conventional algorithm, employs.

We foresee the primary application for this technology is within the digitization of a wide arrange of objects. Since drones are not contained by capture size, any object from as small as a bottle to as large as a person or a building can be captured using the same algorithms, without significant modification. 

In the near future, this same process can also benefit VFX rendering and 3-D asset generation. As mentioned before, current methodologies are either too size-constraining or expensive for public use. The ability for affordable drones to create convincing models allows for both quick and easy generation of 3-D assets. Currently, markets like the Video Game asset industry and VFX industry can also adapt this technique for mark-less captures of models, as well as bullet-time renderings.

Machine Learning, Data Science, Statistical inference.

NeRF-UAV: Inexpensive 3-D Reconstruction and View Synthesis Using RGB Camera Equipped Drones and Neural Radiance Fields

In this research paper, I analyzed the psychological condition of Abstract Expressionist Mark Rothko by interweaving analysis of three of his paintings and important life events that may have caused the deterioration of his mental health. I conducted formal analysis on three of Rothko's significant paintings, those three being Untitled (1942), No. 9 (1949), and Untitled (Black and Gray). I performed extensive research on Rothko's biography and life events, and incorporated my analysis of his artwork in order to make new claims in terms of the impact that certain events had on him. At the end of the paper, I put forth three possible reasons that he committed suicide: early prejudice and childhood adversity, which caused an early onset of chronic depression; the deaths of his parents, which caused a significant and lasting psychological impact; and finally, physical health issues that proved too much for him to handle in his later years.

History of Art (global art history from Renaissance - present); History of science and technology from 19th century - present; theories of vision and perception; history of cinema; media studies

Mark Rothko: A Psychological Analysis Using Art and Biography

Everyone deals with addiction at some point in their lives, whether that be as insignificant as video games, or as impactful as alcohol and drugs. Approximately 21 million Americans possess at least one addiction currently. More specifically on drug usage, 4 percent of Americans have drug use disorders in the past year and 10 percent at some times in their lives. 

This research interprets drug addictions through the biopsychosocial model, and focuses on addictions’ causes, impacts, treatments, and prognosis. The biopsychosocial model looks at addictions not only as a physiological disease, but also includes the influences of the patient's psychology and his/her socio-cultural environment. From a physiological perspective, this research goes in depth on how biological processes and chemical compositions of drugs impact animal systems. From a psychological and social perspective, the project attempts to create an unbiased narrative of drugs with a balance of their advantages, namely, clinical applications, and drawbacks such as substance abuse and overdoses. Many addicts develop dependence from a combination of factors such as family history, peer influence, poverty, and stigmatization in their societies. How psychosociology contributes to addictions is a big focus, so the resolutions must not only target physiological causes but psychosocial ones as well. 

With the exploration of drugs and addictions, the curious case of psychedelic drugs would be especially researched, because of its history of being banned in the 1960s, but have recently emerged as a crucial treatment for mental health disorders. There is a gap in literature on psychedelic drugs because there was no scientific investigation dedicated to them, until the rising popularity and recent leniency of state policies that legalize them again. The focus on psychedelic drugs shall be interdisciplinary with a report on its moral, legal, and commerce potentials. 

With a biopsychosocial focus, audiences of this project can learn more about the impacts of drugs and addictions, as well as the position they are placed in the world today. This project introduces some treatments of addiction, such as unconventional therapy sessions targeting psychosocial factors. With special interest in psychedelic drugs, this project provides readers insights on psychedelic usage in future clinical applications.

Using machine learning and computational tools to solve problems in biology and health; neurodegenerative diseases; psychology (including topics in learning, memory, perception, social psychology, cognitive neuroscience, minds & machines, clinical & abnormal psychology)

With many attributing substance abuse as a biological disease, how important are the other factors, outside of physiology, to the development and treatment of drug addictions? What are some drugs’ clinical applications and commercial values, apart from the negative stereotypes associated with them?

We decided to write a film analysis of Wong Kar Wai's 1994 film, CHUNGKING EXPRESS. Specifically, we will be looking at the use of cinematography and how space is utilized with multiple characters, to reflect what isn't expressly said. Additionally, research will be done on sociopolitical feelings in Hong Kong during that time period. WKW's most seminal works were filmed during the last decade of colonial rule in Hong Kong - much of his cinema is connected to that era. 

Film and TV Studies, Scriptwriting, Production and Business, Media, Hollywood, Entertainment Industry

Wong Kar Wai's Use of Cinematic Space in mid 1990s Hong Kong

Anxiety is an emotional mental disorder, it’s feelings of worry or fear that affect the daily lives of people who experience it. Anxiety is a disorder with a lot of variety, and affects many bodily sensations. One of the factors that is related to anxiety is interoception, the sensing of what is going on in your body. There is a broad amount of literature on the connection of interoception and anxiety. In this project, we will be summarizing how anxiety disorders contribute to interoceptive sensibility, and how sensation and anxiety are related.

I am willing to mentor students in a wide range of medical sciences! My specific research focuses on immunology, neuroscience, infectious disease, autoimmune disease, and neurodegenerative diseases, but I've had exposure to many biomedical science topics!

Anxiety Disorders and their connection to Interoceptive and Exteroceptive sensibility

When Sri Lanka became an independent country in 1948 after centuries of colonization, the people did not realize more violence would follow. When the British colonized Sri Lanka, they put the native Tamil people in higher places of power since they knew the Tamil culture and language better than that of the Sinhalese. This sparked a surge in Sinhalese nationalism, followed by the thirty-year Sri Lankan Civil War. Even before the British arrived there were racial tensions between the Sri Lankan Tamils and Sinhalese. Ancient texts show evidence that the Sinhalese thought of the Tamils as “aliens” and “invaders.” However, both ethnic groups' roots are from the same family and land. Therefore, I ask why the tensions between them are so high? In answering this question, I also analyze racism’s elaborate history in the country. Starting from the ancient tribes to now. I answer my main question through analytical historical tracing and a public opinion survey of Sri Lankan citizens and diaspora.  I hypothesize that nationalism in both groups likely plays a large role in the racial divide. Nationalism causes the Sinhalese to prioritize themselves while Tamils lose basic human and civil rights like education, opportunities, and resources. The racial divide lacks attention and interest from those outside Sri Lanka, including Sri Lankan immigrants. Despite the civil war ending thirteen years ago, the effects of the war, including racism, still exist. Without a withstanding resolution, more than 100,000 lives were lost without a change in the divide or lack of rights.

Environmental Politics, Comparative Politics, African Politics, Political Communication, Qualitative and Quantitative Methods

The Aftermath of War: Explaining Racism in Sri Lanka

Active landmines that are left as remnants of wars, have been plaguing countries for decades. Annually, 5,000 people die per year at the hand of landmines and 30,000 Afghanis have been killed by landmines since 1978, with children being a vast majority of the victims. The current methods of solving this problem use expensive, ground-penetrating-radar equipped vehicles that are not designed for civilian use. With the use of a cost effective, civilian operated, landmine solution such as mine, people can clear out plots of land for landmines with the assurance that no destruction will occur. Through the use of computer vision, my drone will be able to maximize the success rate of detection with a identifying algorithm using the camera and field-of -view.

Drones, Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, Guidance and Control, Path Planning.

Landmine Locater

The purpose of this study is to examine the association between student characteristics--race, socioeconomic status, sexuality--and stress when applying to college. The main research question is: Under which circumstances are high school students most likely to experience stress when applying to college? In addition to examining stress that is specifically related to the college application process, this study is exploring the role that parent-imposed stress plays on students' disposition through college. Primarily, this study will utilize a survey to gauge students' overall stress, parent-imposed stress, overall well-being, race/ethnicity, gender identity, and sexual orientation. Analyses will be correlational in nature, looking at relationships between variables of interest. To supplement the quantitative findings, this project will also make use of interview data. Participants will be asked to elaborate on their college application process and focus specifically on the emotions they experienced during each stage. Interview data will be analyzed for themes and quotations will be woven through the quantitative results to create a narrative.

educational psychology, education policy, multicultural education, motivation, belonging, racial/ethnic identity

The Emotional Effect of Variability--Socioeconomic Status, Race, Sexuality, and Parental Expectations--on Students Applying to University

It has been found that 90% of offsetting credits that Verra, the world’s leading carbon standard for the carbon offsetting market, has approved, do not genuinely represent carbon reductions (source, year). The carbon market is a tool used by companies to offset carbon emissions by buying carbon credits. This allows them to invest money into projects that are beneficial to the future climate that would not otherwise be funded. However, due to the unregulated nature of this newer concept, there are many loopholes and limitations to the carbon market that are exploited by large corporations to make more money and not truly reduce their emissions. By compiling information from various sources on carbon markets and their limitations, this paper will attempt to answer how effective policies can be written to close existing loopholes in hopes to make the carbon market a more reliable tool for curbing carbon emissions. In order to uncover these truths, BLANK BLANK and  one sentence about results



Environmental Sciences (agriculture, plant biology, ecology, etc), Arts - dance or creative writing, Business Topics, and Sustainability of environmental, social, and economic topics. Solar energy development as well.

What is the carbon market, how is it exploited (what are its loopholes), and how can policies make the carbon market more effective? 

Though everyone is affected in some way or form by climate change, there is little-to-no data on the effect on climate change on the mental and physical health of the Indigenous people, who are an especially important minority considering their deep cultural and personal connection to the land.

This paper focuses on the Inuit, as they inhabit the sub-Arctic where effects are quite prominent. The main points discussed are the increase in physical injury and deaths, uptake in water-related illnesses, and deterioration of mental health. While it's important to note that adaptations have been successful, the Inuits experience an overall negative effect of climate change in their daily life.

gender-based violence prevention and intervention; global health; public health; racial disparities in programs and health outcomes; program evaluation, culturally-responsive approaches to teaching, policy advocacy,  community-based research methods

Inuit Health and Wellbeing In Response to Climate Change

Research study amongst high school students, comparing mental health and psychological wellbeing differences between students who surf and those who don't. Expected publication: school newspaper

Digital Mental Health, Tech Product, Conversation Design, Psychology, Mental Health, Social Research, Women and Gender Studies, Feminist Psychology, Social Science, Culture

Examination of surfing's potential to improve mental health

*In this review article, various cardiovascular biomarkers that have been found associated with cardiac anomalies in Turner Syndrome (TS) youths will be discussed. Turner Syndrome is a genetic condition in females where one of the X chromosomes (sex chromosomes) is missing or partially missing, consequently resulting in a variety of medical and developmental problems. Among these difficulties are short stature, ovarian failure/infertility, and cardiovascular abnormalities. Current research has found significant correlations between both aortic dissection and arterial stiffness and certain molecular biomarkers in young patients with TS. This article will discuss the specific biomarkers associated with cardiac abnormalities in youth with TS, and the possible clinical applications to this new information about biomarkers. The current method of gaining early insight for cardiovascular malformations in young TS patients is cardiac imaging, which is neither accessible for everyone nor is it time-efficient. The goal for eventual application of the biomarkers as a new method of cardiac observation is that they will be able to replace cardiac imaging in TS patients, therefore making early cardiac insight more accessible and available for nearly everyone. Discussed biomarkers include osteoprotegerin, B-type natriuretic peptides, and N-terminal natriuretic peptides. The goal of this review article is to present the recent findings regarding vascular biomarkers and their correlation to post-adolescent cardiac malformations and to discuss possible clinical applications for these new results.*

Neuroscience, Cellular Biology, viruses, Pharmacology, Addiction, Science Communication, GABA, Dopamine, Neuropharmacology, Substance Abuse, Substance Use Disorders, Neural Circuitry, Mechanisms Underlying Disease, Cellular and molecular biology and developmental biology

Cardiovascular biomarkers associated with cardiac abnormalities in youth with Turner syndrome

Both environmental and genetic factors play a role in allergies. Allergies are influenced by genes and how they control immune cell function. Several studies have examined the occurrence of allergic disease in children and its association with other risk factors, including allergic disease in parents. Specific toxins like CO2 and other health conditions can be related to the diagnosis of allergic rhinitis. The response to food allergies was observed in many studies to conclude that heritability from parents to offspring is one of the leading risk factors for allergic diseases. Several studies have found a significant increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis in males than in females. Avoidance of a particular food was associated with an increased risk of developing an allergy to that food. At the molecular level, T cells are found to affect allergy outcomes through their part of the immune response.  Food proteins such as milk, egg, and peanut - common food allergens -  may cause an immune response in allergic individuals. Different therapies include Epicutaneous Immunotherapy (EPIT) and specific infant milk protein formulas. If this formula is taken from infancy, the allergic responses can be prevented/reduced.  As with seasonal allergies, prevention can be mediated by avoiding different pollution environments that may cause additional irritation, temperature control in a given atmosphere/humidity, and therapies of Vitamin C for immunity. With many other seasonal allergy triggers, it is ubiquitous among populations and dependent on the area and season.

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