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An Investigative Analysis of Climate Change Using Historical and Modern Weather Data

Summary
The average air temperature has been increasing in recent years. The purpose of this study was to compare meteorological differences between the 1800s and 2000s using recorded historical and modern weather data from four different time periods, each separated by approximately 60 years. Historical weather data can be used to observe climate change in recent years and in the years dating back to the early 1800s to note if there has been an acceleration of the rate of temperature change over the past two centuries. In this study, air temperatures and various aspects of precipitation were observed and compared among the four time periods. Historical weather data from 1826-1836 were obtained from a journal recorded at Erasmus Hall High School (Brooklyn, NY), digitized, and compared to data recorded during 1894-1898, 1940-1948, and 2003-2012 from various weather stations in proximity to Erasmus Hall High School. Results showed that annual mean temperatures have increased at higher rates in more recent years and that the number of extreme days each year, defined as the days with temperatures ≥ 90ºF (32.2°C) or temperatures ≤ 10ºF (-12.2°C), increased over time. The number of days with precipitation each year has also increased; however, the amount of annual precipitation has remained constant throughout the 35 years used in this study.

Hugh Han, Richard Kurtz

Click here for PDF file: December2013(2)

Invisible Chains: The Global Crisis of Human Trafficking and Modern Slavery

Brian Tran

Today, over 40 million people around the world are victims of modern slavery. This is more than at any other time in human history. Despite being illegal in almost every country, human trafficking and modern slavery continue to expand, often hidden in plain sight. These crimes involve the act of people exploitation through fraud, force or coercion, whether for forced labor, sexual exploitation, or domestic servitude. This issue impacts on nearly every country in the world and targets the most vulnerable groups such as women, children, and migrants.

Human trafficking is the illegal trade of people, often involving transportation across borders, but it can also take place within the entire country. Victims are often offered with lucrative benefits like promised jobs, education, or simply a better life, only to be exploited once they are under the control of traffickers. Modern slavery is a broader term that includes trafficking but also covers forced marriage, child labor, and other forms of exploitation that involve control and abuse.

There are several roots that contributes to this global spread issue. One of the most significant ones is poverty. When people lack opportunities, education, or protection, they are more vulnerable to be lured into trafficking schemes. Gender inequality is also a key factor in which women and girls make about 71% of all trafficking cases worldwide. They often be exploited as sexual tools. Armed conflict, political instability, and refugee crises have also increased trafficking, as displaced people become easy targets. Meanwhile, in many regions with corrupt officials and weak legal system, this act is allowed to act with impunity.

Modern slavery is also associated with many forms. Forced labor is one of the most common, where people are made to work in factories, farms, or construction sites, often under inhuman conditions with such a little pay or even zero pay. Sex trafficking is also another widespread form which involves forcing individuals (often women and girls) into prostitution, pornography, or exploitation of sex work. Children are also victims. They are trafficked for labor, begging, or even forced into conflict as child soldiers. All these crimes are just to earn money based on blood and the suffering of others. In some cases, domestic workers are trafficked into homes where they are abused and taken over basic human rights.

In response to these staggering crimes, many governments and organizations have begun to respond to this crisis. The United Nations has included the goal to end modern slavery by 2030 in its Sustainable Development Goals. Several countries like UK, France, Germany, or Benin have passed stronger anti trafficking laws and established rescue and rehabilitation programs to support survivors. However, progress remains slow. Fewer than 1% of victims are ever rescued, and traffickers often operate across borders, making prosecution more difficult.

So, what could we do to reduce this problem? We must raise the public awareness about this issue. It could be education campaigns in schools, communities, and online to help people understand the signs of trafficking and how to prevent it; or law enforcement must be trained and resourced to go after traffickers and protect the survivors. In addition, we must also demand more ethical business practices in which companies must ensure their supply chains are free of forced labor. Finally, empowering at risk populations with education, job opportunities, legal protection is key to break the cycle.

Human trafficking is a modern form of slavery – more cruel, illegal and often invisible. But it is not unstoppable. By working together as individuals, communities, and nations, we can fight back against this injustice and give freedom and dignity back to millions who deserve to have it but have been denied both for far too long.

Winners: 2018 AIJ Research Competition

This is to announce the finalists in 2018 AIJ Research Competition.

More than 90 entries from six countries participated in this competition Congratulations to all winners, and we look forward to offering more competitions in the future!

J.H.Du
X. Song
T. Shi
S.H. Park
K.H. Lee
R. Liu
Z. Wang
K. Sashen
T. Go
S.H.Uy
Z. Kan
X. Cheng
S.H. Kim
Y. Jin

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of U.S. and Chinese High School Students’ Attitudes Toward Literature

A Cross-Cultural Comparison of U.S. and Chinese High School Students’ Attitudes Toward Literature

Y.Chi

Abstract

Learning literature may have different outcomes across individuals. For high school students, literature bears great significance in their mental development because it affects how they perceive the world. This study examines Chinese and U.S. high school students’ attitudes toward learning literature by focusing on how Chinese and U.S. high school students perceive the value of literature, what motivators they emphasize in terms of learning literature, what inhibitors they emphasize in terms of learning literature, and whether there are any differences in their gender or nationality in these views. According to the results, the respondents generally had favorable attitudes toward the value of learning literature. Male respondents were less likely have favorable attitudes toward literature than female respondents, but there was no significant difference. Chinese respondents were less likely to have favorable attitudes toward learning literature than U.S. respondents, and there was a significant difference. In terms of the most important motivator of literature learning, the respondents emphasized topic relevance, followed by an interesting topic, life success, and better grades, in that order. Female respondents were most likely to identify topic relevance, whereas male respondents, an interesting topic. Chinese respondents were most likely to identify topic relevance and an interesting topic, whereas U.S. respondents, topic relevance. In terms of the most important inhibitor of literature learning, the respondents reported an insufficient amount of time, followed by heavy school work, no learning requirement, and no choice, in that order. Both male and female respondents were most likely to identify insufficient time. Chinese respondents were most likely to identify insufficient time, whereas U.S. respondents, heavy school work. These results have important practical implications for literature teachers and policymakers.

Keywords: Cross-Cultural Analysis, High School, Students, Attitudes, Literature, China, U.S.

Identification of a Free Radical Scavenger as an Additive for Lung Transplant Preservation Solution to Inhibit Coagulative Necrosis and Extend Organ Preservation

Summary
Among the routine organs being transplanted, the lungs and heart deteriorate the fastest during transport from the donor to the recipient. Only 15–20% of cadaveric donor lungs are usable for transplant. Lungs can be preserved for transport in cold ischemic, hypothermic preservation solutions for only 4 to 6 hours. Extending lung preservation time would allow for greater organ transport distances, as well as for better assessment and repair of harvested organs. This research aims to extend the transport life of lungs in hypothermic preservation solution. Significant coagulative necrosis, a pattern of cell damage due to free radicals, develops in the donated lung during cold storage transport. We hypothesized that application of antioxidants can prevent free radical–induced cell damage; the goal of this study is to identify antioxidants that are effective in reducing free radical–induced damage to lungs over time. To accomplish this goal, several antioxidants were evaluated for preserving bovine lung cell morphology at two time points. Vitamin E and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were found to be the most effective at arresting cell damage. We recommend further evaluation of different concentrations of vitamin E and BHT as additives to organ preservation solutions used today.

Durga Ganesh, Amanda Alonzo