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How Much Did the Rise of Energy Prices Contribute to the EUR/USD Exchange Rate Reaching Parity in 2022?
No full textIn July 2022, the EUR/USD exchange rate hit parity for the first time in 20 years, meaning that 1 USD = 1 Euro. Prior to this, the Euro was stronger relative to the USD. During this time, Oil and Gas prices were also rising due to the Russia-Ukraine war as Russia is a main exporter of energy to the Euro Area. In my research, I want to analyze how much this increase in the energy prices, due to the geopolitical environment, pushed the EUR/USD to reach parity in 2022. I used monthly data from January 1999 to February 2023 for the EUR/USD exchange rate, Brent oil price, Henry Hub gas price, US interest rate, and Euro Area interest rate. For the analysis, I conducted a vector autoregression to conclude that an increase in the energy prices over an 8-month period led to the exchange rate to change by -0.0115 and the energy prices explain 26.42% of the decrease in the EUR/USD exchange rate. Therefore, as the Euro Area was reliant on Russian energy, it relatively depreciated and as the US is a net exporter of energy it relatively appreciated, helping bring the exchange rate to parity. Thus, the increase in energy prices did contribute to the EUR/USD exchange rate to reach parity to a certain extent, but there are other factors that impacted this exchange rate
Mapping Hemlock Stand Distribution and Structure in Otsego County, NY to Develop Site-specific Mitigation of Hemlock Woolly Adelgid
Full text linkThe invasive hemlock woolly adelgid insect (Adelges tsugae, HWA) threatens eastern hemlock trees (Tsuga canadensis) throughout eastern North America and is an increasing threat in Otsego County, NY. Different management strategies can mitigate the spread and effect of HWA, but landowners need information on the distribution and characteristics of hemlock stands to inform their decision-making process. We used field sampling of stand structure combined with remotely sensed data to a) map eastern hemlock in Otsego County and b) model stand structural characteristics of these stands. This information will be used to develop and disseminate site-specific recommendations on mitigation options to land owners. During the summer of 2022 we used point sampling (n= 5-10 per stand) to measure basal area and density of all tree species from 21 hemlock dominated stands distributed across the county. Stand total basal areas were between 24 and 54 m2/ha with relative basal area of hemlock between 37 to 88 %. The majority of the stands were west to north facing and were at elevations ranging from 362m to 557m. Supervised classification was employed with the Semi-Automatic Classification Plugin in QGIS using Sentinel-2 imagery Level 1C ((09/02/2022) and Level 2A (11/06/2021)) on a training set of 81 plots. This classified the vegetation into categories of Cultivated Field, Hay Field, Deciduous Forest, Pine Stands, Spruce Stands and Eastern Hemlock Stands. We were able to map areas of majority eastern hemlock with 97% accuracy. Stepwise multiple regression results showed that Sentinel-2 bands can be used to estimate percent eastern hemlock, total basal area and total density all with more than 70% accuracy. Together a map of land cover classification and hemlock stand structural characteristics can inform land owner\u27s decisions on mitigation of hemlock woolly adelgid either by cultural, chemical, silviculture and/or biological controls
Asking For It: An Examination of Victim Blaming Reasons and Correlates
Full text linkPrevious research has demonstrated the relationship between masculine honor and just world beliefs on victim blaming of sexual assault victims. However, little research has investigated the specific reasons for that blame, nor how these reasons differ for male versus female victims. As such, we sought to examine how participants with higher levels of masculine honor beliefs and just world beliefs would respond to a news story depicting a sexual assault of either a male or female victim. Based on prior research on rape myths, participants read the news story and described what they had read, followed by items assessing the degree to which participants blamed the victim in the story on the basis of promiscuity and weakness, as well as overall deserving. We hypothesized that participants higher in both masculine honor and just world ideologies would have greater victim blaming than those lower in these belief systems. Furthermore, we hypothesized that the male victim would be blamed more based on being perceived as weak, and as acting like he desired sex, while the female victim would be blamed more based on being perceived as promiscuous in appearance and behavior, and acting like she desired sex. Consistent with our hypotheses, masculine honor beliefs and just world beliefs predicted victim blaming across all dimensions assessed. It was also consistent with our hypotheses that the male victim was blamed more for perceptions of weakness, while the female victim was blamed for a promiscuous appearance. We hope that this research can be used to educate against victim blaming and perpetuation of rape myths, as well as to continue research on the effects of dominant ideologies
The Dream Thief
No full textIn a world where humans are granted with the ability to live lucidly in their dreams, seventeen year old Saturn is incapable. Saturn believed she was unable to dream at all, that was until a scientist, Dr. Robino, revealed she is capable of much more: entering the dreams of others. When she begins to invade the dreams of her architect neighbor Fawn, she starts to question Dr. Robino\u27s morals
Effects of Gravidity on Maximal Jump Performance in the American Locust (Schistocerca americana)
No full textThe negative effects of gravidity on locomotion have been well documented in terrestrial vertebrates but are relatively unknown in insects. The gravid phase of Schistocerca americana lasts only four days, and during this time period, females can gain up to an additional 40% of their metabolic body mass. Larger grasshoppers have significantly more eggs, a larger egg mass, and a greater portion of their body dedicated to eggs. We investigated how jump biomechanics varied between nongravid and gravid grasshoppers. We used Qualisys infrared high-speed cameras (at 1121 fps) to track the locomotion of 19 sexually mature female grasshoppers of various gravidities. We then calculated the biomechanics of locomotion using the data processor Qualisys Track Manager (QTM) and analyzed one maximal jump from each grasshopper. We investigated factors such as take-off velocity, horizontal take-off velocity, vertical take-off velocity, take-off angle, jump distance, jump height, time spent in air, and rotations in the air. We found that more gravid grasshoppers have significantly shorter jump distances. We also found that these larger grasshoppers have a significantly slower take-off velocity. There was no significant difference in either vertical or horizontal take-off velocities. Gravid grasshoppers also produce less jump energy per gram muscle. There was no significant difference in take-off angle, jump height, time spent in air, center of mass, or rotations during jumps. Since the jumping muscles are the same size in gravid and nongravid grasshoppers and performance is decreasing, the muscles are not compensating for the additional mass. Additionally, egg mass compresses tracheal oxygen delivery, and therefore, gravid grasshoppers may potentially rely more on anaerobic metabolism (arginine phosphate and LDH) for jumping. Future work will investigate how ATP production varies
The Effect of Religiosity, Partisanship, and Identity-Seeking Behavior on Political Engagement
Full text linkIs politics increasingly substituting for religion as a source of identity? As organized religion is on the decline in the United States and the nones (those who are Atheist, Agnostic, or claim no religion) continue to be some of the most politically active people in the country, it seems that there is a shift away from religion and towards politics. The present study explored this idea by testing the relationships among religiosity, identity-seeking behavior, and political engagement. I hypothesized that people seeking an identity would become more politically engaged after a partisan threat, especially if they were lower in religiosity. I recruited 197 participants from the survey platform Prolific, who completed a series of scales relating to religiosity, partisanship, and identity-seeking. Participants also were randomly assigned to read a paragraph that either threatened the partisan identity of Democrats or Republicans, followed by questions about their future political engagement intentions. Linear regression analyses (though not statistically significant) revealed a trend in the data consistent with predictions: People low in religiosity, yet high in identity seeking, were more likely to say they wanted to engage politically in the future compared to people low in identity seeking. These findings have implications for the future navigation of our political and religious landscape as organized religion continues to decline and partisanship continues to become heightened
The Development and Testing of a Clean Cookstove Testbed
No full textThere are many people in developing nations who do not have access to modern cooking facilities (i.e., sinks, stoves, microwaves). In these nations, people often must cook over traditional cookstoves, which are essentially just open fires with stones added to support a pot or cooking vessel. The field of improved cookstoves has developed, which looks to design improved alternatives to traditional cookstoves. The goal of this project was to enable Union to participate in experimental ICS research, by developing a testbed in which ICS can be tested, and then determining the capabilities and limitations of the testbed itself. In doing this, we hope to learn about and hypothesize areas in which Union may be able to further develop improved cookstoves. After initial tests confirmed that the testbed could contain - and safely remove from the lab - all cookstove exhaust, we began running small fire tests in a commercially available rocket stove (a common type of ICS). These tests provided information on both the rate and total amount of fuel use. Temperature readings were also recorded at different locations on the testbed to ensure it did not become too hot during extended testing (i.e., did not exceed maximum temperature ratings for the materials). It was further observed (qualitatively) how much smoke was being released from the stove. Additionally, the flow was measured in the lab\u27s exhaust ducts using a flow grid and micromanometer. Through these tests and continuing tests in the future, it will be determined, with better certainty, what the capabilities and limitations of our cookstove testbed at Union College are, and therefore, how we will be able to research, test, and improve on ICS technology
Effective Features of Algorithm Visualization for Education
No full textData structures and algorithms are vital topics in every undergraduate computer science curriculum. Visualizing algorithm is a popular way that helps improve students\u27 understanding of the material. I am exploring which features good Algorithm Visualizations (VAs) should have. I have developed my own VAs to visualize merge sort this Fall of 2022. For this winter term, I will run an experiment to test the effectiveness of different features. I will recruit students, and let them explore a version of my visualizer that have different features. Afterward, the students will take a quiz to test their understanding of merge sort
Comparing Newtonian Mechanics, Special Relativity and General Relativity for Motion Near a Mass
Full text linkWith both analytical and computational methods, we modeled an object\u27s orbit around a massive object using Newtonian orbits, using special relativistic orbits, and finally using general relativistic orbits. We know that when an object orbits around a massive object, there are certain velocities and radii where the object will no longer orbit and fall into the massive object, in a correct orbit model we should expect to see this feature. This distinctive feature is not captured by our Newtonian model. With special relativity, the feature appears, however, special relativity contains disparities that do not correctly model the effect of gravity. With general relativity, the feature is seen and the disparities from special relativity are no longer apparent. The general relativistic model correctly matches our predictions of the orbit around a massive object, the object either falls into, is bounded by, or is unbounded by the massive object, the model also contains a space where the physics starts to break down, inside the event horizon
Interrogating Historical Trauma Through the Lens of Black and Indigenous Artists
Full text linkWe live in a world wherein black, brown, and ethnic minorities are forced to navigate daily race-based stressors, including but not limited to discrimination, poverty, oppression, and micro-aggressions. These current events that are explicitly seen in areas such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Canada are, in part, the lasting consequences of historical trauma passed down through generations. Genocide, displacement, forced relocation, slavery, and the intentional destruction of cultural practices are deeply rooted in the fiber of our history. These past injustices are intrinsically linked to present events, wherein they have become part of our contemporary cultural narrative. While historical trauma is collective, it is also deeply personal and individualized. It combines external events with internal processes that linger on the souls of subsequent generations. It destroys families and threatens the vibrancy of entire cultures. Throughout history, activists, community leaders, politicians, and artists have revolted against racial violence, discrimination, and the hierarchies imposed by those in privileged positions of power. Artists of color have long challenged the status quo by challenging dominant oppressive discourse and existing racist ideologies through their own visual languages. They use their work as a catalyst to educate the oppressor and heal the oppressed by interrogating historical trauma and its contemporary consequences on an individual and collective level. There is an immediacy in addressing past injustices now inscribed in the fiber of our communities. With the help and guidance from Professor Lorraine Morales Cox, this thesis takes up the work of three black contemporary artist; specifically U.S artists Carl Robert Pope and Arthur Jafa and British artist Barbara Walker and three indigenous contemporary artists, specifically U.S artists Wendy Red Star and Nicholas Galanin, and Canadian artist Kent Monkman. The works of these six artists give us greater insight and understanding into how art can be committed to addressing and depicting historical trauma, Their work documents, memorializes, and intervenes in past injustices and current racial unrest. By creating empathy as a strategy, they explore the intersection of distrust between the oppressor and the oppressed based on historical and present antagonisms. To appreciate how art can respond to social and political upheaval, one must appreciate historical trauma\u27s significant disruption of traditional ways of life, culture, and identity. Accordingly, a contextual understanding of historical trauma is not only instructive but imperative