Phenomenological Research Awards

  🏙️ Air Pollution, Environmental Vulnerability & COVID-19: Unmasking Hidden Health Inequities As the COVID-19 pandemic unfolded, one unsettling truth became clearer: the pandemic did not affect everyone equally . In the densely populated streets of New York City , where environmental injustice and structural inequality intersect, researchers have now uncovered a disturbing connection between chronic air pollution exposure , neighborhood vulnerability , and COVID-19 health outcomes . 🧬💨 🔬 A Deep Dive into the Data This comprehensive study assessed over a year’s worth of NYC COVID-19 hospitalization records (March 2020–February 2021) , focusing on severe complications such as: 🫁 Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) 🦠 Pneumonia 🛏️ Ventilation needs 💉 Dialysis requirements Using residential ZIP Codes , the team matched each patient with long-term exposure data to air pollutants including: PM2.5 (fine particulate matter) 🌫️ NO₂ (nitrogen dioxid...

  🧪📊 Evaluating Generic Drugs: Unpacking the Dimensions and Criteria of Value Assessment Frameworks In today’s healthcare landscape, generic drugs play a critical role in increasing access to essential medicines, particularly in emerging nations . 🌍 With their proven therapeutic benefits and cost-effectiveness, these drugs have become a cornerstone of global health systems. However, the evaluation of their value continues to pose challenges. Are lower prices truly synonymous with comparable clinical outcomes? 🤔 Despite widespread use, there remains skepticism around the product quality , bioequivalence , and real-world effectiveness of generics compared to original branded drugs. These concerns demand a robust, standardized approach to assess the value of generics — not just based on price, but through a multidimensional lens. That’s where our scoping review and thematic analysis steps in. 🔍📘 🎯 Objective: Filling the Assessment Gap The central goal of our study was to ...

  🔧🪺 Are We Too Obsessed with Animal Tool Use? Rethinking Research Bias in Animal Cognition 🧠📚 In the world of animal behavior research, there's a growing conversation around how anthropocentric bias —our tendency to view the world through a human-centered lens—may be shaping what we study and how we interpret animal actions. A recent study has taken a closer look at how two behaviors— tool use and nest building —are treated very differently in scientific literature, and the results are eye-opening. 👀 🧪 Tool Use vs. Nest Building: A Tale of Two Behaviors When you think of an intelligent animal, what comes to mind? Probably a chimpanzee using a stick to fish for termites or a crow crafting a hook to reach food. These impressive displays of tool use have long fascinated both scientists and the public. 🐒🦅 But here’s the catch: nest building —another form of behavior involving precise manipulation, planning, and sometimes even architectural skill—hasn’t received nearly the s...

Polygeneration for the Net-Zero Era: A Power-to-X Approach Combining sCO₂ Power Cycle and Green Fuel Synthesis 1. Introduction to Power-to-X (P2X) and Polygeneration Power-to-X (P2X) refers to the conversion of surplus electrical energy—primarily from renewable sources—into different forms of energy carriers or chemical products such as hydrogen, ammonia, and methanol. These carriers support decarbonization, energy storage, and industrial feedstocks.  Polygeneration systems are advanced energy setups designed to simultaneously produce multiple useful outputs—such as electricity, fuels, heating, and cooling—from a single or integrated input. These systems are more efficient than traditional single-product systems, reducing waste and improving energy utilization. 2. System Configuration Overview The proposed P2X system consists of the following subsystems: Air Separation Unit (ASU): Provides pure oxygen and nitrogen. Direct Oxy-Combustion Supercritical CO₂ (DOC-sCO₂) Cycle: ...

  Most Shared Article Award 1. Overview The Most Shared Article Award is an accolade that honors the article which has achieved the highest number of shares, reposts, and engagement across digital platforms during a specified time frame. This award celebrates not only the quality and relevance of the content but also its widespread impact and ability to engage readers globally. 2. Purpose of the Award The purpose of the Most Shared Article Award is to: Recognize impactful storytelling and strong public resonance. Encourage writers and creators to focus on audience engagement. Highlight the importance of shareable content in the digital age. Showcase the role of digital media in amplifying ideas, research, or news. 3. Eligibility Criteria To qualify for this award, an article must: Be published within the designated time period. Be original content authored by the nominee or their team. Be publicly accessible and shareable on major platforms (e.g., Face...