http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/keyword/science Inquiries Journal provides undergraduate and graduate students around the world a platform for the wide dissemination of academic work over a range of core disciplines. en-us Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:38:32 -0400 Fri, 03 Apr 2026 11:38:32 -0400 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1942/imperial-mughal-literature-a-rich-source-of-scientific-information By Abhijit M. Bal - India was ruled by the Timurid-Mughal dynasty from 1526 to 1857. This period is mainly recognised for its art and architecture. The Timurid-Mughals also promoted knowledge and scholarship. Two of the Mughal emperors, Babur and Jahangir, wrote their memoirs. Babur’s daughter, Gulbadan Begum, composed the biography of her brother, Humayun. The imperial literature contains rich information. In this essay, I have highlighted the scientific information contained in the manuscripts. These include details of natural calamities, description of the natural world, astronomical sciences, medical sciences... Fri, 25 Feb 2022 10:57 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1942/imperial-mughal-literature-a-rich-source-of-scientific-information http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1818/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-in-teenagers-with-high-functioning-autism By Pamela Lim - Research has shown that autism spectrum disorder (ASD) shares similar genetic roots with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). All three conditions share some common features, one of the most observed being that of impulsivity. This paper examines the neurobiology of OCD, and how the similarities in disruptions of the brain structures between OCD and ASD increases the risk of developing the comorbidity of OCD in teenagers with high-functioning ASD. Through looking at a case study of a teenager with ASD, this paper also explores the prognosis of... Mon, 19 Oct 2020 08:19 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1818/understanding-obsessive-compulsive-disorder-in-teenagers-with-high-functioning-autism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1772/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-an-analysis-of-genetic-and-biological-pathologies By Nicholas F. Schneider - This paper compiles and analyzes a series of published articles discussing some of the genetic and physiological principles of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), as well as provides insight into potential future investigations for furthering understanding of the underlying mechanisms of the disorder’s pathology. The paper discusses the lack of support for environmental factors contributing to the prevalence of OCD (Grisham et al., 2012), some of the genes under investigation as risk factors (Meira-Lima et al., 2004; Bienvenu et al., 2008; Zike et al., 2017), and details potential for future... Tue, 05 Nov 2019 09:48 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1772/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-an-analysis-of-genetic-and-biological-pathologies http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1716/globalization-of-chinese-online-literature-understanding-transnational-reading-of-chinese-xuanhuan-novels-among-english-readers By Yuxi Wang - Since its emergence in the 19th century, fantasy fiction has proliferated throughout the world, from the global craze of Lord of the Rings (1954) to Harry Potter (1997). As a sub-genre of fantasy based on Chinese traditional mythology and martial arts literature, Xuanhuan novels have achieved immense popularity among both critics and readers (Gai, 2006). The appearance of the first Xuanhuan novel written by Huang Yi, A Step into the Past (1994), which combined science fiction, time travel, historical military and martial art elements, started a process which has caused this genre to sweep through... Thu, 21 Dec 2017 10:10 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1716/globalization-of-chinese-online-literature-understanding-transnational-reading-of-chinese-xuanhuan-novels-among-english-readers http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1596/scientific-federal-agencies-andand-the-united-states-negotiation-for-the-limited-test-ban-treaty-1962-1963 By Helen Thompson - In October of 1962, the United States and Soviet Union’s arms race in ballistic missiles escalated to an unnerving confrontation that lasted thirteen days, while both world leaders waited on opposite sides of the world for the other to say the word and start a nuclear war. This confrontation became known as the Cuban Missile Crisis and is equated to be the climax of the Cold War.[1] During these frightening thirteen days, President John F. Kennedy and Premier Nikita Khrushchev deliberated over launching nuclear warheads to begin a nuclear war in the Western hemisphere. The magnitude of this... Mon, 27 Mar 2017 12:38 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1596/scientific-federal-agencies-andand-the-united-states-negotiation-for-the-limited-test-ban-treaty-1962-1963 http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease By Matthew D. Rose - Huntington’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around five people in every 100,000. It is caused by an increase in a polyglutamine region of the Huntingtin protein, resulting in a toxic gain of function mutation. However, the exact mechanism of pathogenesis, or even the exact role of the normal Huntingtin protein are not comprehensively understood. It is known that Huntingtin is ubiquitously expressed and has interactions with many different cellular components. Mutant Huntingtin has been extensively studied and its effects on cells noted but questions regarding... Tue, 13 Dec 2016 02:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1507/genetics-pathology-and-potential-future-advances-in-the-study-of-huntingtons-disease http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1495/post-colonial-duality-and-identity-in-ballards-the-crystal-world By Emma O. Volk - J. G. Ballard’s The Crystal World (1966) is a prismatic text, apparently translucent yet linguistically opaque, with moments of unexpected ontological intricacy. Like the crystals consuming the forest, Ballard’s descriptive language itself multiplies, encrusting the novel in adjectival embellishment and convoluted pseudo-science. Yet beneath the pop-apocalyptic overtones, The Crystal World is a text deeply informed by its post-colonial setting. In his seminal work Colonial Desire: Hybridity in theory, culture, and race, post-colonial theorist Robert J.C. Young identifies the &ldquo... Mon, 14 Nov 2016 09:45 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1495/post-colonial-duality-and-identity-in-ballards-the-crystal-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1466/right-hemisphere-involvement-in-auditory-processing-a-review By Lydia English - An orthodox opinion within neurolinguistics is left hemispheric lateralization for language processing. The left hemisphere of the brain is dominant for processing language, logic, critical thinking and reasoning (Gootjes et al. 1999; Hickok, Love-Geffen and Kilma 2002; Tyler et al. 2011), while emotion, auditory and non-verbal stimuli processing tends to be specialized to the right hemisphere (Joseph 1988; George et al. 1996). However, research on hemispheric lateralization adopts a limited view towards the right hemisphere and gives minimal recognition to its abilities and functions. Although... Mon, 24 Oct 2016 09:38 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1466/right-hemisphere-involvement-in-auditory-processing-a-review http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1429/assessing-the-impact-of-adverse-childhood-experiences-on-brain-development By Stephen J. D'Orazio - Findings have shown that adolescence marks a period in which the prefrontal cortex (PFC) forms continued connections with limbic areas.10 The PFC exhibits top-down control over limbic regions and governs the regulation of emotions. Thus, exposure to adverse experiences during this period in brain development may elicit problems in emotion regulation. The PFC is the last brain region to complete myelination, and its extended sensitivity to environmental experience is advantageous for tailoring neurobiology to environmental surroundings.10 However, in the absence of an optimal environment or when... Tue, 19 Jul 2016 06:52 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1429/assessing-the-impact-of-adverse-childhood-experiences-on-brain-development http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1422/the-crispr-fantasy-flaws-in-current-metaphors-of-gene-modifying-technology By Alex J. Maben - CRISPR gene-modifying technology continues to revolutionize fields involving biological research. Rapid advancements, however, have sparked a vibrant bioethical debate scene. This research focuses on the effective usage of CRISPR metaphors in scientific communication. Specifically, I argue that the current figurative terminology—gene editing, targeting, scissors, etc.—exhibit underlying oversimplifications that bias public perspectives on CRISPR. Though the actual experimental science occurs in lab, the world learns about the discoveries through literary expression. It is thus... Mon, 13 Jun 2016 10:59 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1422/the-crispr-fantasy-flaws-in-current-metaphors-of-gene-modifying-technology http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1248/weight-of-evidence-reporting-pragmatic-optimism-or-a-bad-idea By Alexander E. Hopkins - While some believe that scientists should communicate their research apolitically in research journals, others believe that scientists should communicate to the media in order to bring awareness to their research topic. As a compromise to these two views, Professor Sharon Dunwoody proposed "weight of evidence" reporting to bridge this gap between the objectivity of science and the subjectivity of the media. The goal of weight of evidence reporting is to create highly pragmatic media consumers that will be allowed to arrive at scientifically-sound, objective conclusions based upon data. However... Thu, 22 Oct 2015 10:40 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1248/weight-of-evidence-reporting-pragmatic-optimism-or-a-bad-idea http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1010/intelligent-design-in-the-complexity-of-the-human-body By Jacob H. Rhodes - In a previous article I wrote about fine-tuning in the Universe and the empirical evidence for a Grand Designer that can be found within our reality. This argument of course occurs within the context of ongoing fiery debate between theists and secular scholars, and so, in the pursuit of academic harmony and scholarly camaraderie I will once again attempt to shorten the chasm between science and religion. However, instead of examining the Universe and the order that can be found within its laws, in this piece I examine the complexities of the human body and its mutualistic relationship with Earth... Wed, 11 Mar 2015 04:50 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1010/intelligent-design-in-the-complexity-of-the-human-body http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy By Sabrina Perry - Neurofeedback Therapy (NFT) is a type of biofeedback therapy specifically targeting the brain and nervous system. According to the Mayo Clinic, biofeedback is defined as a technique one can use to learn to control the body’s functions, done usually by connecting one’s body (bio) to electrical sensors that help you receive information about it (feedback). This can help people focus on making subtle changes in their bodies, such as relaxing certain muscles to achieve certain results, such as pain reduction. Subsequently, the Task Force on Nomenclature specified that the presentation... Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/984/how-the-electrical-activity-and-synaptogenesis-of-neurons-contribute-to-the-efficacy-of-neurofeedback-therapy http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/985/the-arcane-and-the-rational-lovecrafts-development-of-a-unique-mythos By Dale A. Crowley - The early 20th century saw the rise of a unique subgenre of science fiction and horror literature known as weird fiction. H.P Lovecraft, one of its more prolific and lasting contributors, is rightly considered one of the fathers of the genre. Like the rapidly modernizing world around him, Lovecraft developed his own universe and mythos that was itself a unique mix of old and new. He created monsters that would have been at home in fairy tales or the ancient mists of folklore. At the same time, these ancient, mythic evils were at odds with Lovecraft’s 20th century protagonists – men... Thu, 15 Jan 2015 12:00 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/985/the-arcane-and-the-rational-lovecrafts-development-of-a-unique-mythos http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/910/describing-the-world-or-transforming-it-considering-the-roles-of-the-arts-and-the-natural-sciences By Amrita N. Singh - We often acquire knowledge about the world through the detailed process of description. We understand even more by describing and explaining to others—people often report that they only really understand a topic once they have described it to someone else. Further, description is primarily about the way we perceive the world to be. Through this, we can refine our understanding and gradually acquire more knowledge; however, this begs the question as to where fundamentally new paradigms—radical changes isome n core beliefs—come from. According to Robert Gass, “transformation... Sun, 31 Aug 2014 11:01 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/910/describing-the-world-or-transforming-it-considering-the-roles-of-the-arts-and-the-natural-sciences http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/840/alternative-methods-to-autologous-nerve-grafting-for-the-regeneration-of-the-peripheral-nervous-system By Patric Glynn - Neurons are able to effectively regenerate over short distances without any help. However, when the gap they must regenerate across is too wide, a graft is needed to guide the neuron and to prevent the formation of a neuroma [3]. Regeneration is most successful when the severed axons are able to successfully grow through the remnants of the site where the original connection was. In order to help aid in the regrowth of longer gaps a technique called "nerve grafting" is used [4]. Without such grafts, these injuries may never fully heal, and can be permanently debilitating. With the use of these... Thu, 19 Dec 2013 04:49 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/840/alternative-methods-to-autologous-nerve-grafting-for-the-regeneration-of-the-peripheral-nervous-system http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/680/toward-a-neurobiological-understanding-of-religion-examining-ritual-and-the-body By Joanna H. Gross - One of the numerous working definitions of religion includes "a belief in a divine or superhuman power or powers to be worshipped," and "an expression of such a belief in conduct and ritual" (Johnson, 2012 p. 1). Rituals are generally a religion’s defining characteristic. Further, religion seems to be a uniquely human phenomenon that can foster anything from hope to hate. Why do we have religion, and further, why has the phenomenon of religion and religious ritual persisted despite the conflicts it has spurred time and time again throughout the history of humanity? The issue becomes even... Fri, 17 Aug 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/680/toward-a-neurobiological-understanding-of-religion-examining-ritual-and-the-body http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/674/ethical-considerations-in-criminal-justice-research-informed-consent-and-confidentiality By Joshua A. Jones - Experiments involving human subjects are increasingly utilized in criminal justice research. However, these studies present relatively unaddressed ethical concerns. This article examines the dark history of human experimentation on offenders and other stigmatized groups in order to substantiate the need for ethics policies. Specifically, it analyzes the ethical problems inherent to informed consent and confidentiality requirements as they pertain to research in the field of criminal justice. Moreover, it reveals an apathetic view of ethics which seems to permeate introductory literature and has... Tue, 07 Aug 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/674/ethical-considerations-in-criminal-justice-research-informed-consent-and-confidentiality http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/644/stroke-rehabilitation-and-neuroplasticity-efficacy-and-methods-available By Neha P. Koratamaddi - A stroke is defined by the Stroke Association as a ‘brain attack’, where part of the brain is deprived of oxygen. It is also known as a ‘cerebrovascular accident’ (CVA). There are two types of strokes: ischaemic and haemorrhagic (The Stroke Association, n.d.). Ischaemic strokes are caused by thrombi, whereas a haemorrhagic stroke is often caused when an artery bursts due to increased pressure in the artery, or if there is a weakness in the arterial wall. The blood seeps into other areas and causes more damage. Normally this is considered the most dangerous type of stroke... Thu, 17 May 2012 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/644/stroke-rehabilitation-and-neuroplasticity-efficacy-and-methods-available http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/632/placebo-administration-to-depressed-patients-an-analysis-of-the-ethics-of-the-placebo-in-clinical-practice By Sahil Aggarwal - According to recent estimates, over nine percent of the United States population has some degree of depression—a proportion that makes depression one of the most common and serious mental conditions in the country (“An Estimated 1 in 10 U.S. Adults Report Depression”). Characterized by “feelings of sadness, loss, anger, or frustration [that] interfere with everyday life,” (Zieve and Merrill) depression is a mood disorder of the body and of the mind. Although commonly caused by stressful personal events, depression can also be somewhat mysteriously spurred by changes... Tue, 10 Apr 2012 10:23 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/632/placebo-administration-to-depressed-patients-an-analysis-of-the-ethics-of-the-placebo-in-clinical-practice http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/628/weber-and-nagel-on-values-in-the-social-and-natural-sciences By Alexander P. Young - Due to their different subject matter, the way in which social and natural science inquiries are conducted differs. For some, this difference is constituted in a greater reliance upon values in the social sciences than in the natural. This essay, on the other hand, aims to demonstrate that both schools of science are equally value-laden. This is undertaken via an exposition of Weber’s arguments for social science as more value-laden than natural science, followed by a critique of these arguments through the lens of Nagel’s discussion of social scientific inquiry and accusations of... Tue, 27 Mar 2012 09:46 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/628/weber-and-nagel-on-values-in-the-social-and-natural-sciences http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/606/literature-as-a-social-tool-education-and-cohesion-or-class-domination By Hannah A. Weber - English literature is all-encompassing: it ranges from societal utilitarianism of the didactic through to the celebration of individualism embodied in post-modern work. Literature, as part of a larger cultural body, is both instructive and entertaining, and has the power to facilitate personal understanding and encourage social cohesion. The society depicted in Ray Bradbury’s Fahrenheit 451 is disillusioned with literature: the populace has forgotten its potential to educate and entertain, and has become sceptical of the intellectual elitism it is seen to represent. People are now captivated... Fri, 13 Jan 2012 10:55 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/606/literature-as-a-social-tool-education-and-cohesion-or-class-domination http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/591/the-word-pocalypse-joss-whedons-dollhouse-and-dystopian-language By Elizabeth Padden - In my linguistic analysis of Dollhouse I will begin by examining four words: Attic, Echo, Active, and Doll, selected for their frequent usage in the series and for their exemplification of the way in which new meanings are associated with words that already have preexisting meanings. Using Hayakawa's definitions of the two categories of word meaning, denotative and connotative, I will deconstruct the preexisting meanings of the selected words and address their relationship to new denotations and connotations associated through context. Literal denotative meanings and associative connotative meanings... Mon, 07 Nov 2011 10:05 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/591/the-word-pocalypse-joss-whedons-dollhouse-and-dystopian-language http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1675/copernicus-galileo-and-the-church-science-in-a-religious-world By Nicholas P. Leveillee - Nicholas Copernicus and Galileo Galilei were two scientists who printed books that later became banned. Copernicus faced no persecution when he was alive because he died shortly after publishing his book. Galileo, on the other hand, was tried by the Inquisition after his book was published. Both scientists held the same theory that the Earth revolved around the sun, a theory now known to be true. However, the Church disapproved of this theory because the Holy Scriptures state that the Earth is at the center, not the Sun. As the contents of the Bible were taken literally, the publishing of these... Fri, 27 May 2011 08:09 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1675/copernicus-galileo-and-the-church-science-in-a-religious-world http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/419/the-influence-of-gaze-direction-on-approach-vs-avoidance-oriented-emotions By Hilary E. O'Haire - When investigating the effect of gaze direction on facial expressions of emotion, previous imaging research indicated that dynamic presentation of stimuli produced higher amygdala responses (Sato, Kochiyama, Uono, & Yoshikawa, 2010). A behavioral study further suggested that approach-oriented emotions are intensified by direct gaze, where as avoidance-oriented emotions are intensified by averted gaze (Adams & Kleck, 2005). We hypothesized that direct gaze would elicit higher amygdala activity for the approach-oriented emotion of anger, where as averted gaze would elicit higher amygdala... Wed, 30 Mar 2011 08:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/419/the-influence-of-gaze-direction-on-approach-vs-avoidance-oriented-emotions http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/369/emile-durkheim-and-methodological-individualism By Alexander P. Young - In Smith’s initial formulation, the ‘invisible hand’ was a mechanism of beneficial outcomes, but the methodological individualist approach also accounts for negative social occurrences such as racial segregation: in the model given by Rosenberg, the ‘rational’ disposition to living around a given fraction of people of our own race may lead to a situation of practically perfect segregation – even in situations where we would prefer to live in integrated neighbourhoods. In this situation, if (for example) we wish to live with a minimum of one-third of people our... Fri, 21 Jan 2011 09:49 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/369/emile-durkheim-and-methodological-individualism http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/340/cyborgs-and-robots-a-logically-ordered-existence By Jeremy S. Page - Ilene Serlin's statement does not simply establish an opposition between the 'logically ordered' state and the state of 'spirit and soul,’ but creates expectations of the latter. A society based on order and logic defends its citizens from the ‘darkness to be contained’ (145) which, for Serlin, seems to be an integral part of a natural (human) existence - the je ne sais quoi that separates humanity from hybridised 'Cyborg' creatures. This paper applies Serlin's analysis to the logic/spirit dichotomy portrayed in the Dr. Who episode Dalek and Beckett's young adult novel Genesis... Fri, 10 Dec 2010 10:56 EST http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/340/cyborgs-and-robots-a-logically-ordered-existence http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/294/the-mind-in-the-brain-the-brain-in-a-robot-strong-ai-in-an-artificial-neural-network-brain-replica-housed-in-an-autonomous-sensory-endowed-robot By Ryan A. Piccirillo - In his paper Minds, Brains, and Programs, Searle distinguishes between what he calls “strong AI” and “weak or cautious AI.” Weak AI is powerful enough to formulate and test hypotheses about the mind in a precise manner, but cannot be said to be a mind or consciousness in itself. It is in this incapability that Searle makes the distinction between weak AI and strong AI. “According to strong AI,” posits Searle, “the appropriately programmed computer really is a mind, in the sense that computers given the right programs can be literally said to understand... Mon, 04 Oct 2010 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/294/the-mind-in-the-brain-the-brain-in-a-robot-strong-ai-in-an-artificial-neural-network-brain-replica-housed-in-an-autonomous-sensory-endowed-robot http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/293/implications-of-the-split-brain-a-consideration-of-nagel By Ethan B. Rubin - In his article “Brain Bisection and the Unity of Consciousness,” Thomas Nagel suggests that the ordinary conception of a unified mind is misled. To support his claim, he turns to data concerning patients whose corpus callosum has been severed. Because the two hemispheres of the brain depend on the corpus callosum for direct communication, the behavior of these patients in specific experimental settings implies two centers of consciousness rather than one. Nagel proposes a series of explanations for this behavior that assume unity of the mind and rejects each in turn. He concludes that... Fri, 24 Sep 2010 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/293/implications-of-the-split-brain-a-consideration-of-nagel http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1673/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-drills-to-happy-pills By A. M. Foerschner - Trephining (also referred to as trepanning) first occurred in Neolithic times. During this procedure, a hole, or trephine, was chipped into the skull using crude stone instruments. It was believed that through this opening the evil spirit(s)--thought to be inhabiting one’s head and causing their psychopathology--would be released and the individual would be cured (“Measuring”). Some who underwent this procedure survived and may have lived for many years afterward as trephined skulls of primitive humans show signs of healing. Pressure on the brain may have also incidentally been... Fri, 10 Sep 2010 06:05 EDT http://www.inquiriesjournal.com/articles/1673/the-history-of-mental-illness-from-skull-drills-to-happy-pills