Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy
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Validating a Bird Detection Machine-Vision Model
No full textRecent development of large-scale solar farms could pose an environmental threat to birds, calling for accurate monitoring to ensure that photovoltaic solar energy development does not come at the cost of wildlife conservation. Recently, Argonne National Laboratory has produced a novel machine-vision model to track bird activity, but its performance for bird prediction requires further evaluation.
Here, we aim to compare bird detections from manual video review alongside the model’s output, noting possible discrepancies and the underlying factors that could have caused them. The results show that bird detection agreement between human interpretation and model prediction is higher when fewer birds are present yet increased when the model detected no birds or when human counts exceeded seven birds. With two sets of data collected on differing days, the disagreement percentage was calculated at 2.70% on the May 8 dataset and 17.24% for the May 14 dataset, notable inconsistencies in the model’s performance. These discrepancies were mostly observed in the early morning and late afternoon, suggesting that lighting conditions may impact the model’s accuracy. These findings in this study will help in improving the current bird monitoring technology for solar farms
Computational analysis of TEMPO derivatives catholyte on redox-couple potential
No full textThis paper aims to find and evaluate optimal catholytes materials for Aqueous Organic Redox Flow Batteries (AORFBs) through using Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation and other techniques. DFT is an atomistic modeling method that can provide accurate performance predictions of electrodes, electrolyte and membranes, significantly reducing experimental time and cost. The organic material I chose to focus on is 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxyl (TEMPO) and its derivatives containing electron-withdrawing groups. TEMPO compounds often face challenges including insufficient solubility and low redox potential in AORFB applications so this study finds noble derivatives and performs atomistic modeling to observe different derivatives\u27 effect on redox potential
Developing a User-friendly System for Home-based Monitoring of Arm Use after Stroke
No full textStroke rehabilitation faces challenges in providing real-time care outside clinical settings, as they require in-person supervision and lack personalized monitoring of continuous progression in stroke rehabilitation. Recent advances in wearable sensors (e.g., inertial measurement unit (IMU), electromyography (EMG)) offer avenues to longitudinally track arm use in the real-world setting, e.g. during activities of daily living at home. However, challenges remain in translating such technology mainly due to practical barriers in transferring the technical knowledge and skills required for operating the sensor/device to acquire data. The main objective of this project was to develop a user-friendly system that consists of: 1) “easy-to-don and-doff” wearable sensors, 2) “easy-to-use” graphical user interface (GUI) for data acquisition, and 3) “on-the-go” receiver unit for reliable wireless connection. To this end, we used Myo Armband (Thalmic Labs, CANADA), which is a consumer-grade bracelet sensor capable of capturing IMU data and EMG signals to assess movement and muscle activity that communicates via bluetooth. We developed a Python-based GUI that collects and displays real-time data visualization for the two Myo Armbands on the upper arm and forearm. This system has enabled real-time monitoring, reliable tracking, and scalable rehabilitation, enhancing accessibility, engagement, and recovery outcome
Gene Editing Human Lung Cells to Better Understand Distal Lung Progenitors
No full textThe human lung contains two major types of basal cells: large airway basal cells (LABCs) and distal airway basal cells (DABCs). LABS are found in proximal airways of the lung, such as the trachea or large bronchi, while DABCs are found in the periphery, alveolar regions of the lung. Using known single cell data, the TP63 transcription factor is expressed at different levels in LABCs and DABCs. TP63 transcription factor is important for lung and epithelial cell development. Data shows that LABCs express high levels of TP63 and DABCs express low levels of TP63. Using an ORF gene editing plasmid with red fluorescence, TP63 levels were overexpressed in DABCs. Cells that contained mCherry, red fluorescent protein, were sorted using Fluorescence-Activated cell sorting (FACS). FACS allows us to observe the success of reprogramming distal airway cells as they become large by isolating successfully infected cells, which emit a red fluorescent color. Red fluorescent cells are then differentiated via ALI to create basal cell progeny as a second checkpoint of a successful reprogramming. Future steps include obtaining three samples to successfully differentiate and analyze the modified cells by staining them for known large airway cell markers
Signal Processing and Classification Techniques of Surface Electromyography to Understand Muscle Atrophy Due to Aging
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Musical Instrument Project
Get PDFIn our Physics: Sound and Light class at IMSA, students make musical instruments to play Mary Had a Little Lamb. I\u27ll introduce the project here and provide templates for you to replicate the project in your classes. Student samples will also be share
New AI Curriculum Overview
Get PDFJoin us for an insightful session on our school\u27s newly developed AI curriculum. We\u27ll discuss its core components, learning objectives, and how it prepares students for a tech-driven future. Engage in conversations about hands-on projects and strategies for fostering critical thinking. This is an excellent opportunity for educators to learn about the IMSA\u27s New AI Curriculum. Don’t miss out on shaping the future of learning
Reducing Errors in Lepton Jet Reconstruction
No full textCurrently, the most accurate model at describing observations in particle physics is the Standard Model. However, there are many phenomena that it fails to explain, such as dark matter: an unknown type of matter detectable only by its gravitational effect on regular matter. One explanation is that it is made of many different undiscovered dark matter particles in a dark sector. This dark sector doesn\u27t interact with regular matter directly- instead, portal matter mediates the interaction. One such particle theorized to be in the dark sector is the dark photon, which is similar to the regular photon. However, the dark photon can decay into portal matter, which then produces lepton jets. If dark photons are produced in the Large Hadron Collider, these lepton jets can be detected. Once they are detected, they need to be identified as leptons in a process called reconstruction. We work on identifying and resolving errors within our current methods of lepton jet reconstruction
Department of Human Genetics Genetic diversity at the frontier of Central and South Asia: investigating genetic origins and migrations in Chitral district of Pakistan
No full textChitral, a district in northern Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, lies in the Hindu Kush mountains at the crossroads of Central and South Asia. This strategic location has facilitated human genetic exchange for centuries. Despite its rich history, limited genetic studies have explored how past migrations shaped its present-day diversity. This study investigates Chitral’s genetic diversity and historical gene flow, focusing on five tribes: Dashmanay, Maxay, Machak, Shahmiray, and Zondray. A total of 100 individuals (19–21 per tribe) were sampled in Pakistan, with DNA extracted and sequenced at the University of Chicago. Genetic analysis includes mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and genome-wide autosomal DNA. mtDNA analysis examines matrilineal lineages, identifying shared and unique genetic signatures within and between tribes, as well as comparisons with global populations to trace migration patterns. Autosomal DNA analysis provides a broader view of genetic relationships among tribes and with global datasets. This research enhances our understanding of Chitral’s tribal genetic history and highlights the role of frontier zones in shaping human diversity