The Equitation functions as the official publication of academic work across all subjects and genres for the Mira Costa High School community, and intends to publish the work not only of current students, but also faculty, staff, administration, and alumni. The goal of the journal is to highlight the academic work and legitimacy of the many amazing academic ventures occurring on and off campus.
Current Edition
Volume 2, 2021 Editor Note Like last year, my AP Research (and Seminar) students' experiences were vastly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, as most (if not all) of them completed their entire projects from the safety of their homes. We learned some important lessons from the end of 2020, and with renewed organization and commitment, the 2020-2021 school year was relatively successful for our program. This second edition goes beyond the first in that it is now beginning to include work of students beyond my Research class, and is beginning to become a bit more selective in feature. This edition is partitioned by subject-matter, though cross-curricular perspectives are still to be found significantly in much of the work here published. While we are still maintaining the volume in digital form, we hope to eventually have the resources and skills to produce a physical volume as well.
2. Does Genius Have a Gender? Exploring the Lack of Female Voices in Philosophy Nicholas Gregan, class of 2021 [Philosophy, review] Abstract: This paper will explore the role of women in philosophy by delving into the lives and works of three prominent female philosophers from three distinct time periods; the 1100’s, the 1500’s and the mid-20th century. Here, biographical information along with these women’s main philosophical viewpoints will be reviewed. The importance of studying the biographies and life stories is that they yield context to the reviewed writings. Not only do the three biographies represent different eras with their accompanying shifts in attitudes, but all three females worked in the shadows of the men in their lives. Thereafter, this material will be augmented by literature reviews of works that address the larger question of why so few women are part of the philosophical canon. It will ask whether women philosophers are willfully disregarded due to a conspiracy among their male counterparts to gag their ideas, or whether they have been silenced so men could steal their ideas and publish them as their own. If neither of these are true, we must ask whether the dearth of female philosophers is simply a benign form of neglect in that the males in the field saw female contributions as useless in the larger picture, or was there in fact no conscious or unconscious plan to exclude females after all.
3. How We Get There Atra Shahryari, class of 2021 [Philosophy, review] Abstract: Free will and the impact of actions have become more relevant in our world today. Reports of police brutality and the choices cops make can be found in the news every day. Conversations and actions about what people can do to make a change in governments, justice systems, and communities can be seen everywhere. Arguments about what is a fair punishment for peoples’ actions based on their circumstances and crimes have been ongoing. Understanding what leads to a person’s action and figuring out the control a person has over changing the world around them, can lead to understanding how to initiate change for the better.
4. Where Science Falls Short in Gaining True External Knowledge Juliae Shoda, class of 2021 [Philosophy, review] Abstract: One of the first concepts students memorize in K-12 level science is the scientific method. In short, the scientific method involves making a hypothesis about natural phenomena from prior observations, systematically testing this hypothesis through the use of controlled experiments, and determining whether or not the hypothesis can be accepted after making qualitative or quantitative observations of the results and analyzing them. The knowledge gained about the external world through the method is then labeled as empirical knowledge and can be used to gain theoretical knowledge using reason. Because the scientific method, and science in general, which is the “careful study of the structure and behavior of the physical world, especially by watching, measuring, and doing experiments, and the development of theories to describe the results of these activities,” rely heavily on observation and experimentation, if humans were incapable of perceiving the real-life results of an experiment, these information gathering methods would be useless (“Science”). This is not the case, of course; people have five senses and reportedly numerous more, and these senses are responsible for how we experience the world even in our day to day lives. But what if our senses are inaccurate? Furthermore, what if there is more to the external world than what ‘meets the eye’?
5. The Public Persona, The Private Persona, and the Role of Intention behind Actions and Words Megan Shintaku, class of 2021 [Philosophy, seminar] Abstract: In his 2005 Kenyon College commencement address, author David Foster Wallace proposes the idea of the human “default setting”: a state of being “deeply and literally self-centered and to see and interpret everything through this lens of self” (2), which occurs when an individual operates “on the automatic, unconscious belief that [they are] the center of the world, and that [their] immediate needs and feelings are what should determine the world's priorities” (3). Escaping this default setting and viewing the world from another person’s perspective takes conscious effort; getting frustrated over long lines at the grocery store, or late-night traffic, or the general sense that others are in our way, in other words, resorting to our default setting, often feels more convenient to us. Extending these ideas to human social desires, one may argue that it is because of such an automatically self-centered mindset that people seek validation or approval from others; we are each at the center of our own universes, and with that mindset may come a desire for others to focus on us as well. It would be because of this default mindset that wanting to be regarded favorably by others may, either consciously or subconsciously, drive our behaviors.
Studies in the Sciences
6. The Impact of Rapamycin Treatments on Telomere Lengths in Bovines Kaila Bush, class of 2021[AP Research, formal research] Abstract: The desire to slow and stop aging is a sentiment shared among most people in our society. People will rush to stores to get the greatest wrinkle remover, or even pay thousands of dollars for plastic surgery. Yet, there is no cure to ageing, only temporary treatments. However, ageing goes far beyond just the superficial effects. Ageing also can come with life threatening conditions like degenerative disorders, cancers, and other such conditions. Because of this, studies in ageing can be much more impactful than just correcting the superficial effects that may first come to mind. When studying age related conditions, planarians are an interesting subject as they do not demonstrate the effects of ageing. They are able to limit its impacts of ageing so well with the use of stem cells. Their stem cells exist throughout their entire life, which is very different from humans, who only have stem cells as babies. Due to this ability to avoid ageing, planarians are a great organism to study when looking at ageing processes and possible treatments. Because of this, this study will look at planarian telomere lengths in comparison to rapamycin treated bovine telomere lengths in order to determine the effect of rapamycin on telomere lengths to see if the rapamycin has an impact on them.
7. The Psychedelic Alternative: Conveying a psychedelic experience through simulation William Coons, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: The new science of psychedelic substances has proven its efficacy in treating disorders such as, but not limited to, PTSD, depression, anxiety, and addiction. However, Schedule 1 classifications of the drug prohibit studies from being done that are necessary to understanding their entire psychotherapeutic potential (Rucker 1). The healing properties of these hallucinogenic drugs come from the “psychedelic experience” that they provide. But, drugs are not the only catalysts of a psychedelic experience. Ages of tradition have shown various cultures using practices like meditation or sensory deprivation to stimulate a psychedelic experience, a practice that inspired an inquiry: How can an alternative catalyst for a psychedelic experience be created that avoids the ingestion of drugs but still allows for the healing benefits associated with a psychedelic experience? The research for this inquiry will involve a content analysis of subjective reports from users of psychedelic drugs. The reports of their experiences will yield data indicating which effects are most prominent among a variety of substances that include DET, DMT, Ayahuasca, LSD, MDMA, and Psilocybin. This information will then be used to craft a prototypical theory detailing the possibilities of creating an immersive simulation to stimulate a true psychedelic experience.
8. HydraML: k-Nearest Neighbors machine learning framework algorithm for breast cancer molecular subtype classification Dylan Iskandar, class of 2023 [Biotechnology, formal research] Abstract: Breast cancer is an aggressive disease that develops from breast tissue. Many women with breast cancer do not have a genetic mutation, but even when cancerous tumors are small, they can spread quickly through the bloodstream and lymphatic system, causing a life-threatening condition known as metastatic breast cancer. Detecting breast cancer early, and preventing its recurrence, is vital. A report by the American Cancer Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) states that only 28% of women diagnosed with breast cancer are still alive after five years. Detecting breast cancer early and preventing its recurrence is incredibly important to survival and well-being. Frequent breast self-exams, clinical breast examinations, and annual mammograms are all effective, but expensive methods to find lumps and abnormal growths and evaluate breast health. In this paper, we propose a new method that implements the use of the kNN machine learning algorithm to detect breast cancer with high accuracy (95.42%). Implementing characteristics from the Breast Cancer Wisconsin Diagnostic dataset (BCWD) from UC Irvine, we extract features to utilize as an input for a supervised learning model, k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN) to predict and classify breast cancer molecular sub-types.
9. The Meaning Behind Working Too Hard: An Analysis of the Psychological Effects of Overtraining in Prospective Collegiate Athletes Karina Parikh, class of 2021[AP Research, formal research] Abstract: Two psychological abilities, crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence, can potentially be affected if one overtrains. With crystallized intelligence being one’s ability to recall information from an “acquired knowledge base” and fluid intelligence being one's “abstract reasoning ability, mental flexibility, and novel problem solving,” it would seem that one’s fluid intelligence would be affected more than one’s crystallized intelligence after training too much (O’Shea et al., 2018, p. 963). However, both crystallized intelligence and fluid intelligence would most likely be negatively affected after a certain training limit has been surpassed. This can become a problem for student-athletes who are trying to get recruited to play in college. If overtraining negatively impacts one’s performance in school then they may not be able to meet the grade requirements of the college that they desire. Thus, there is the possibility that training too much could actually backfire and be the reason why an athlete cannot get recruited. Looking into the extent that these two psychological abilities may be affected will allow coaches and athletes to get a better idea of the consequences so that they can understand how to best prepare themselves or their student-athletes for maximum performance without negatively impacting their cognitive skills.
10. A Little Problematic: Humans in Space for Long Periods of Time Blake Shaffer, class of 2022[AP Research, review] Abstract: My generation is now hopeful to witness a similar unprecedented exploration of space, this time to Mars. Fortunately, as a sign of progress in international relations, this time in the push to develop manned flight to Mars nations are working together for scientific discovery. With the stress of competition taken out of the equation, scientists now can spend as much time as is needed to study an extended time in space and adequately prepare them and equip the mission. Nevertheless, the more we prepare, the more we learn and sadly along with fascinating new discoveries we make regarding space, we also discover more health risks space poses on the human body. Some of the health risks include: isolation caused by the distance from Earth, increased radiation, and decreased gravity/gravity transitions. These risks raise concerns for scientists who want to make the first human journey to Mars successful, but at the same time feel a sense of urgency to compete with time. The purpose of this meta-analysis research study was to analyze previously recorded data about bone mineral density (BMD) in astronauts to determine if there is a sufficient amount of data to support humans traveling to Mars and back in the near future. At this stage in the research for conducting a human mission to Mars, bone mineral density decreasement will be generally viewed as a danger to deep space missions, as discussed in my literature review.
11. Projecting Renewable Energy's Impact on Alaska Hayden Asiano, class of 2022[AP Seminar, review] Abstract: Alaska’s per capita energy consumption is the fourth-highest in the country (U.S. EIA, 2021) This is mostly due to its extremely diesel consumptive industries like off-shore fishing and equipment heavy mining, as well as the harsh winters that require large amounts of indoor heating. This means that the variety of renewable sources which are installed in the future must be reliable and consistent year round. Alaskans cannot afford to have energy blackouts during a snowstorm. In order to satisfy the 50% goal by 2025, they must convert 20% of their energy grid into renewable energy within the next 5 years. Additionally, efforts to extend and expand that goal have been pushed by many indigenous tribes and coalitions (Leighty, 2013). This just adds to the surmounting political pressure on the state to identify the most efficient renewable strategies moving forward and break ground on their construction as soon as possible. Implementation of renewable energy in this harsh terrain comes with additional costs and considerations, and requires a deep dive into the differing technologies to assess the benefits and limitations of each.
12. Comparative Analysis of Japan and the United States: Environmental Impact on Energy Policy Madison Feng, class of 2022[AP Seminar, review] Abstract: According to María Fernanda Espinosa Garcés, the President of the UNGA, there is little over a decade left for the world to minimize the climate crisis in order to prevent irreversible damage. This can be accomplished by reducing the largest contributor to human-induced climate change: greenhouse gas emissions. GHG emissions are predominantly caused by primary energy consumption, which includes the use of fossil fuels, renewable energy, and nuclear energy. In this paper, Japan and the United States will be compared through an environmental lens, meaning that their environmental histories will be the focus of evaluation. However, it is important to note that Japan and the US are two vastly different countries. Despite this, the comparison remains relevant because they are both part of the world’s top energy consumers, with Japan being the fifth-largest, and the US being the second-largest. Therefore, this paper will analyze how the contrasting environmental situations of Japan and the US have affected their energy consumption, as well as their major energy policies. Furthermore, this research will provide insight into what each country can learn from the other in order to better combat climate change.
Studies in Social and Cultural Events
13. A Content Analysis of the 1980 Carter-Reagan U.S. Presentation Debate Audrey Binder, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: This paper is largely centered around the 1980 U.S. Presidential Debate between Democratic party candidate Jimmy Carter and republican party candidate Ronald Reagan. The "televisation" of these debates was not only significant on a technological level but also revolutionized the purpose, substance, and subsequent effects of Presidential Debates. Additionally, many aspects of the presidential elections changed as a direct result because the accessibility of these debates increased exponentially. Through the use of a content analysis that will focus on both the content and visual aspects of the 1980 debate, my research aims to determine the effectiveness of each candidates’ stylistic and substantive responses to some of the questions asked in the debate. The effectiveness of their responses was determined by their inclusion of various strategies and techniques, both of which were focused around the candidate’s ability to appeal to the American audience, and more specifically, appeal to undecided voters. The content analysis revealed that Reagan performed much better visually whereas Carter dominated in his substantive performance. Reagan provided a visual presence that was confident and likeable while, at times, Carter’s body language revealed some internal stressors and indicated uncertainty when responding to questions. In their substantive responses, Carter focused more on evidence and logic rather than Reagan’s focus on emotion and rhetoric.
14. Intergenerational Relationships and Ageism During The 2020-2021 Covid-19 Pandemic Emma Clarke, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: What do advances in modern medicine, a balanced diet, exercise, improved food stability, and safer working conditions all have in common? All have contributed significantly to humanity's ability to live longer lives. According to a study by Harvard Medical School, "between 1959 and 2014, the United States experienced an unprecedented increase in life expectancy, which rose from 69.9 years to 78.9 years." (Weiner) Coupling increased life expectancy and an uprise in our population growth annually. We are looking at a swiftly growing older adult population. According to the USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology, over 80 million Americans will turn 65 or older by 2050. Accompanying this increase is a plethora of social issues, including, but not limited to, an increase in senior homelessness, a greater need for assisted living facilities, and better infrastructure to support an increased dependence on social security. Tangible social issues can be improved with increased funding and improved legislation, but how does society integrate the expanding older adult population into everyday life? Though problems facing the older adult community are complex, most stem from one under-discussed phenomenon: ageism. Age discrimination, among other types of discrimination, is difficult to get rid of. However, Gerontologists have made strong connections between intergenerational relationships as a tool to decrease ageist beliefs by younger generations. Simply put, intergenerational relationships can help combat ageism. For years ongoing research has supported this claim, until the dawn of the 2020-2021 global coronavirus pandemic. This piece uses surveying to try and obtain insight into how intergenerational relationships have been affected by the pandemic and if the state of these relationships has anything to do with the rise in hostile language and discriminatory behavior towards older adults in American society today.
15. Societal Re-Entry: The Issues Facing Inmates Condemed as Minors When Re-Entering Society Ole Jo Legvold, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: Approximately one out of every two incarcerated persons who have been released from correctional facilities in the US will at some point be sent back to prison after their release. There are several ramifications of this high rate of recidivism, one being the massive prison population found uniquely in the United States. Because of the wide reaching implications of high recidivism it is pertinent to investigate the factors which cause the phenomenon as well as potential solutions to the problem. This inquiry will focus in particular on the reentry factors of inmates convicted as minors, specifically because of the Supreme Court case of Miller v. Alabama which allows for the reentry of individuals previously condemned to life in prison (no parole?). An additional reason why the focus has been placed on inmates convicted as minors is due to them having little to no experience in society prior to their reentry from prison.
16. Evaluating 360 Deals from 2008, 2011, and 2015 and Which Year Best Financially Benefitted Major Record Labels Ava Moffett, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: The advancement of technology will forever have an impact on the distribution of music. These changes in technology have directly impacted the methods in which major music record labels acquire revenue. Since the launch of Napster and iTunes in the early 2000s, major labels have adopted the 360 recording contract, in which labels take a specific percentage of a signed artist’s album sales, touring profits, as well as merchandise and promotion sales. Since the initial usage of the 360 deal, streaming softwares, such as Spotify and Apple Music, have changed the structure of these 360 deals even further. This paper will examine and find if 360 deals utilized in 2008, 2011, or 2015 provide the most financial benefits to major record labels, with data coming from interviews with industry professionals and quantitative data from 10-K financial statements. The findings of this research paper indicate that 360 models from 2015 to current day provide more financial benefits to major record labels due to the revenue made on licensing and publishing records on major social media platforms, such as Tik Tok.
17. The Associations Betweeen California Prop. 64 and Substance Abuse Among Students in High School Fiona Pink, class of 2022 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: The frequency of marijuana use among adolescents is significantly associated with use of harder drugs, such as cocaine or prescription pain medication (Ladegard et al., 2020). Some consequences of marijuana or other substance abuse are addiction, development of psychosis, and reduced brain function, especially for young users (Ladegard et al., 2020). Moreover, use of marijuana positively correlates to depression (Ladegard et al., 2020, Schwinn et al., 2010). As of April 2021, seventeen states had legalized the recreational use and cultivation of marijuana. To address concerns regarding adolescent substance use, data regarding the use of illicit substances from states who adopted recreational marijuana laws prior to 2021 should be carefully examined so possible associations may be established. This study will review the findings from the current literature on the topic. Then, using data from the California Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the California Healthy Kids Survey, I will analyze the statewide averages of illicit substance use and my school’s data on such use, and compare the findings of each.
18. Sociopathic Traits and Adverse Childhood Experiences Molly Roskin, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: Antisocial personality disorder or ASPD is defined as “a mental disorder in which a person consistently shows no regard for right and wrong and ignores the rights and feelings of others. People with ASPD tend to antagonize, manipulate or treat others harshly or with callous indifference” (Mayo Clinic), and show little guilt or remorse for their actions. The term ‘sociopath’ can be used interchangeably with the term antisocial personality disorder. Psychopaths are considered to have a more severe form of ASPD and have some key differences. Sociopaths have a weak conscience, while psychopaths have none at all. Psychopaths are able to mimic real emotions, making them difficult to identify, while sociopaths are less talented at hiding their thoughts and behaviors. This paper will go on to mention studies about the more specific affliction of psychopathy, but because this is simply a more severe form of ASPD, the information still applies. Understanding the causes of antisocial personality disorder would reap extreme benefits to society. Sociopaths commonly become criminals, “behave violently or impulsively, and have problems with drug and alcohol use. Because of these characteristics, people with this disorder typically can't fulfill responsibilities related to family, work or school” (Mayo Clinic). With a better understanding of the disorder comes a better understanding of how we can treat it, or how we can prevent it. “Psychopaths are estimated to make up 1 percent of the population but constitute roughly 15 to 25 percent of the offenders in prison and are responsible for a disproportionate number of brutal crimes and murders” (Khan, NYT). Understanding the key causes of ASPD, as well as the more severe forms of ASPD including psychopathy can help us prevent these brutal crimes and murders from happening. Linking ASPD to childhood trauma will be another reason to protect the wellbeing of our children.
19. How Mainstream Media Rhetoric May Influence Cancel Culture on Social Media, Specifically in the #MeToo Movement Tolou Shams, class of 2021 [AP Research, formal research] Abstract: This study will aim to examine whether or not there is a correlation between mainstream media rhetoric and the cancel culture that is present on social media, specifically for the #MeToo movement. The purpose of the #MeToo movement is to empower sexually assaulted or harassed individuals by creating a safe, empathetic space for them to come forward with their allegations and show a solidarity within a larger community, primarily on social media. Along with this movement, and many other movements such as ones for social justice, comes with the act of cancel culture, defined as “ending (or attempting to end) an individual’s career or prominence to hold them accountable for immoral behavior. Driven primarily by young progressives, often through social media, cancel culture has attracted controversy since it swept into the national conversation” by Psychology Today (Henderson 37). Although a factor of cancel culture is psychological, the mainstream media also plays a large role in influencing the public. There is limited research that demonstrates a correlation with media rhetoric and cancel culture on social media. Therefore, this study will examine rhetoric used in various articles from mainstream media publications and compare it to Twitter trends and hashtags being used within the same timeframe in order to see whether or not a corelation is present.
20. Closing the Gap: The Underrepresentation of Women in College Coaching Positions Valentina Roca, class of 2022 [AP Seminar, review] Abstract: The Equal Rights Amendment, created in 1972 to “end the legal distinctions between men and women in terms of . . . employment,” fails in completely eliminating such discriminations based on sexism (www.equalrightsamendment.org). When it comes to this significant underrepresentation we have to ask ourselves, how are women differentiated from men when coaching collegiate athletics and how do these discrimination prevent them from succeeding at the same level as their male counterparts? Through the investigation of this question I found that as long as males continue to dominate college coaching positions, women's advancement and success in this area are very unlikely. Through the placement of more women in college athletics leadership positions, we can abolish male dominance of these positions, making it a more equal and welcoming place for women, consequently giving them a better opportunity at succeeding alongside their male coworkers and secure these rights with an expansion of Title IX that provides protection for college coaches as well as their students.
21. Soccer, National Identity, and Conflict Nicholas Stavropoulos, class of 2022 [AP Seminar, review] Abstract: “Sports is war minus the shooting,” and sport is “merely another effect of the causes that have produced nationalism.” Thus, the tie between nationalism and sports can provide useful insight into how nationalistic movements develop and act. Orwell claims that “Serious sport has nothing to do with fair play. It is bound up with hatred, jealousy, boastfulness, disregard of all rules and sadistic pleasure in witnessing violence.” Orwell attempted to draw attention to the hate-filled rivalries of major sporting events, and studying this phenomenon through soccer provides for a unique understanding of nationalism’s emotional motivations. Theodore Roosevelt brought up a similar trend while writing to his son Ted, asking if he “ever read Pliny’s letter to Trajan, in which he speaks of to keep the Greeks absorbed in athletics, because it distracted their minds from all serious pursuits, including soldiering, and prevented their ever being dangerous to the Romans?” President Roosevelt brings up an important question, can sports be used as a tool to shape nationalist movements? This paper will therefore analyze how sports can drive nationalistic movements, from the leader of a government down to the unpredictable masses of a volatile fanbase. Analyzing the primary sport of a nation is necessary to ensure that it is relevantly connected to nationalism, thus this paper will confine its research to soccer in applicable nations. Ultimately, this paper finds that soccer can cause surges of nationalism, which can heighten national passions, therefore contributing to increased violence and warring behaviors if misguided, while positive imagery and leadership can push nationalist movements in unexpectedly inclusive and/or peaceful directions.
22. Journalistic Ethicality in Major Sports Publications Walker Watson, class of 2022 [AP Seminar, review] Abstract: The Society of Professional Journalists defines the role of reporters as the duty to, “Recognize a special obligation to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and government. Be vigilant and courageous about holding those with power accountable, [and] give voice to the voiceless.” For generations journalism in all of its forms has served as an indispensable backbone of American society, with reporters having played integral roles in the exposing of a number of pressing issues throughout the past century. While many journalistic publications have stood and continue to stand for the sanctity of journalists’s roles as guardians of the disenfranchised and disempowered, some journalists, specifically those in the realm of athletics,have been far selfless in their approach to reporting. This paper will go on to look at examples from both historical and modern societal standpoints in order to convey the lengths to which The New York Times and Sports Illustrated have abdicated their inherently journalistic duty to serve as watchdogs over public affairs and give voice to the voiceless.