Literature Reviews

The beauty industry has witnessed a growing concern regarding the environmental impact of conventional nail polish formulations, particularly, those containing fossil fuel-based polymers and harmful chemicals. The search for eco-friendly alternatives has led to the exploration of bio-based polymers derived from natural resources, such as plant oils, plant starches, and bio-based monomers. This review focuses on six bio-based polymer alternatives that have shown promise in gel nail polish formulations.

Climate change and a continuously growing population have increased demands on global food yields. However, meeting the planet’s hunger needs does not have to come at the price of depleting its natural resources. A possible sustainable solution to this issue is the perennialization of all staple grain crops. This review analyzes the successes, challenges, and applications of the perennialization of staple grain crops such as sorghum, corn, rice, and wheat.

Breast density measures the amount of fibrous and glandular tissue in the breast compared to fat tissue. Dense breasts, which have higher amounts of fibrous and glandular tissue and lower amounts of fat tissue, make it harder to detect breast cancer in mammograms. Additionally, dense breast tissue increases the risk of developing breast cancer. This literature review evaluates the possible benefits of notifying women about their breast density based on the relationship between breast density and breast cancer.

Marine species are experiencing higher population declines than many terrestrial species due to anthropogenic causes, such as increased water exports or runoff impacting habitats and behavioral patterns. Aquatic systems require a greater focus on species preservation, but keeping track of different species can be difficult. A first step in conservation involves genetic monitoring to track ...

Roughly 30% of people worldwide are overweight or obese. In the past four decades, obesity rates have nearly doubled in over seventy countries. Overweight and obese individuals are at higher risk for various illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A healthy diet and exercise are known methods to combat and prevent obesity. Unfortunately, many people with low ...

This review explores the potential benefits of developing a new mobile pediatric medical clinic that serves the northwest region of Sacramento County through Adverse Childhood Events (ACEs) related care. First, this review provides evidence of the community health needs in Sacramento County, discussed in three sections: what patients need, what currently exists for them, and what ...

Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a terminal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline. As the most common cause of dementia, AD affects over 24 million people worldwide, and this number is only expected to increase due to greater life expectancies. Although this disease affects a great number of people, there is currently much that remains unknown about it ...

In mammalian cells, mitochondria are not only essential to energy production in the form of ATP, but they also play regulatory roles in overall metabolism and cell component recycling. Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s have previously been linked to defects in mitochondria morphology, hinting that mitochondrial form greatly affects both cell ...