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*WINNER* The Economic Effects of COVID-19 on Medical Research
No full textDuring 2020, much of the medical research community focused on developing treatments and preventative measures for COVID-19 to save lives, end suffering, and lift restrictions around the world. However, this focus may have pulled economic resources away from other fields of medical research, causing negative effects for thousands of patients around the world. To study this, we compared the quarterly financial statements of pharmaceutical companies that specialize in oncology (4) and gastroenterology (3) to companies researching COVID-19 (7). We analyzed Research and Development expenditures and revenues between 2019 and 2020. Oncology and gastroenterology companies reported average revenue decreased by 9% and average research and development expenses decreased by 12% from 2019 to 2020. Covid-related companies reported revenue growth of 842% and research and development expenses growth of 93%.
Our findings suggest that a concentration of research funding in one field comes at the expense of other fields. These trends which we discovered may not continue as vaccines and treatments for COVID-19 are being distributed. However, if further research is required as new variants and long-term health complications are discovered, we could see these economic impacts well into the future. Patients suffering from non-viral conditions, such as cancer and gastrointestinal disease, would suffer if more focus remained on the ongoing pandemic rather than these other major medical fields
Stock Trading: Prediction of Auction Volumes
Get PDFWith data analysis methods comes the ability to make predictions about the future behavior of numerous types of data. This project seeks to analyze stock market closing auctions. Stock exchanges hold closing auctions at the end of a trading day to determine the closing price for each stock. We analyzed volume, the total value of stock exchanged, during the closing auctions from stock exchanges covering a set of 900 stocks over 800 days. In order to complete this project, we built a model to predict stock trade volumes utilizing data provided on challengedata.ens.fr. A benchmark was created by Capital Fund Management, the providers of the challenge, that utilizes a linear fit method for our model to be compared against. We have interpreted and cleaned the data in order to predict exchanged volume of a given stock during closing auctions
The Correlation of Fad Diets and Eating Disorders
Get PDFIs there a correlation between fad diets and eating disorders? Fad diets are popular societal trends that promote eating styles that promise results in weight loss at an expedited rate and extraordinary health benefits through dietary and lifestyle changes via various methods. Eating disorders are commonly known for their association with unhealthy eating habits due to psychological aspects. Due to the nature of fad diets being unsustainable, strict, and limiting in certain facets, the aim of this project is to explore literature that opposes or supports whether fad diets and eating disorders are related. The method being utilized is a literature synthesis. The search strategies included words like “correlation”, “linked”, “associated with”, “and”, and “related” within the Volpe library search engine, Google scholar and Google search engine. Research acknowledges that there is a correlation between certain fad diets and eating disorders, but the limiting factors include the type of fad diet, the diagnosis of which eating disorder, and whether these variables affect individuals positively or negatively for long-term. The correlation seems to favor the idea that certain risks associated with fad dieting can impact individuals who might already have precursors for negative eating behaviors and habits. Future research should address a direct correlation of all fad diets and all eating disorders. In conclusion, fad diets and eating disorders may be correlated but may not be heavily supported due to gaps in research and limited information available on the direct correlation of the factors
Physical activity's impact on academic achievement in school-aged children
Get PDFPhysical activity is an integral part of wellness, but does it have an impact on academic outcomes? The purpose of this review of literature was to examine the relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes in school aged children. School has become a propagator of sedentary life-style de-emphasizing the importance of physical activity. The current recommendations from physical activity are one hour per day. A literature review was conducted in order to gain understanding of the relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes. Search terms used included: physical activity and academic performance, physical activity and its impact on academic achievement, and physical activity and its impact on academic outcomes for school aged children. Physical activity was positively impactful on the academic outcomes of the school aged children who took part in it.There has yet to be a study to identify the mechanism of this phenomenon or determine if this is nothing more than a casual relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes. However, there is strong evidence that aerobic fitness improved the function and structure of the brain as well as improving academic performance and cognitive control.Physical activity is an integral part of wellness, but does it have an impact on academic outcomes? The purpose of this review of literature was to examine the relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes in school aged children. School has become a propagator of sedentary life-style de-emphasizing the importance of physical activity. The current recommendations from physical activity are one hour per day. A literature review was conducted in order to gain understanding of the relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes. Search terms used included: physical activity and academic performance, physical activity and its impact on academic achievement, and physical activity and its impact on academic outcomes for school aged children. Physical activity was positively impactful on the academic outcomes of the school aged children who took part in it.There has yet to be a study to identify the mechanism of this phenomenon or determine if this is nothing more than a casual relationship between physical activity and academic outcomes. However, there is strong evidence that aerobic fitness improved the function and structure of the brain as well as improving academic performance and cognitive control
The relationship between social media and teens' eating habits
Get PDFIs there a relationship between social media and teens’ eating habits? The goal for this research is to help teens be able to discern reality from fake on social media and stay safe from harmful eating habits that can be promoted by social media. Methods for this research include writing down my own questions and then searching for reputable articles and studies based on my questions. It is arguable that social media impacts our decisions and social norms whether it be for a teenager or an adult. Magner (2018) discussed the shift in the way kids socialize because of social media. Is this all bad? that is what I will be delving into in my research. So, it is clear that social media is impacting the upcoming generation and their eating habits. Many social media posts contain fancy filters and have been edited to make someone look more desirable; this results in younger people with brains that are not fully developed disliking the way they look. If a teenager is in this situation and does not like their body because of how social media makes them perceive themselves, then it can force them into doing extreme things with their diet such as cutting calories to harmfully low levels. Sometimes even developing eating disorders that can cause deficiencies in their diet that may be irreversible
The Correlation Between Mental Illnesses and Eating Disorders
Get PDFIs there a correlation between mental illnesses and eating disorders? Eating disorders are not a topic a lot of people talk about. Usually, if it is talked about it is short and not a lot of information is given. With anorexia, bulimia, and binge eating goes into the clinical description, theories of etiology, diagnostic signs, and treatment. For example, antidepressants, antipsychotics, and appetite stimulants are all medications that can help the treatment strategy (Williamson et al., 2004). Eating disorders treatments undergo psychotherapy, biological, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (Williamson et al., 2004). Psychotherapy is where the problems are addressed, and helped identified . Biological therapy is where the genetics are examined to contributing the development of eating disorders. Cognitive-behavioral therapy is where the actual fear of the patient’s body image is challenged into a rational mind set to eating and weight (William et al., 2004). The model used for the initial assessment was inpatient where the BMI is measured below 17, medical problems, failure of treatments; partial hospitalization, where BMI is between 17-19, no medical or psychiatric issues, rapid weight lost; intensive outpatient, where BMI is lower than 19, motivation for treatment, and social support; and outpatient treatment, where there is motivation to prevent relapse, and BMI is above 19 (Williamson et al., 2004). Anorexia nervosa is best treated with medical stabilization, bulimia nervosa is best treated with outpatient therapy, and binge eating disorder is best treated by pharmacotherapy and psychotherapy treatments (William et al., 2004)
*WINNER* Reducing Textile Water Waste
No full textThere is a growing concern for the abundance of water waste produced by the textile industry. This research explains how the industry generates pollution, destroys water ecosystems, and how to diminish the waste caused by the textile industry as a whole. With the rise in human civilization, a rapid increase in population, the industrial revolution, rapid urbanization, and oceans being used as a dumping ground for industrial waste, there is a major concern regarding the availability of freshwater sources. There is no denying that nature has the ability to tackle small amounts of water pollution, however, it would be catastrophic if a large amount of untreated wastewater was to be discharged into these natural bodies of water. (Bhatia, Sharma, Kanwar, & Singh, 2018, pg. 1) If this were to occur, the receiving bodies of water would carry precarious industrial pollutants, which affect the quality of water, into other more fragile aquatic ecosystems. This could cause irreversible damage to the water systems humans rely on for survival. This research explores the different ways to reduce water waste in the industry and whether or not it's possible to use household water saving techniques on a mass industrial scale to effectively cut back on water usage and waste
Stream Water Quality Responses in a Tornado Damaged Residential Watershed
Get PDFTornado damage has the potential to impact stream water quality from seeping anthropogenic compounds and scattered debris in affected areas. On 3 March 2020, an EF4 tornado (~282 km h-1 winds) hit Putnam County, Tennessee, destroying structures, trees, and removing vegetation across the area. This study assessed the influence of tornado damage on the water quality of streams draining the damaged area. We compared physiochemical conditions, fecal contamination, and chemical water quality measures for affected and unaffected watersheds over three months. We found differences between stormflow and baseflow conditions between watersheds, with elevated nutrients, dissolved metals, and fecal coliform bacteria after rain events. However, there were no significant differences between affected and unaffected watersheds for any parameter. Similarly, there were no relationships among nutrients or contaminants and distance to, or density of tornado wreckage. This study provides evidence that unlike other natural disasters, such as earthquakes and hurricanes, tornados may have minimal effects on water quality when residential areas are hit, possibly due to the localized area of destruction that tornados leave. However, tornado influence may still be event-specific and depend on the type of structures damaged
*WINNER* The Impact of a Large Surface Rock on Temperature and Decay Rate
No full textPurpose: Do cadavers on rocks decay more quickly? How do rocks affect insect succession and ground level temperature? Is this effect more dramatic on small or large carcasses?
Background:Assuming an organism is not consumed by scavengers, it goes through five stages in the process of decay– fresh, bloat, active decay, advanced decay, and putrid dry remains– which are distinguished through physical observation. Larger masses decay at slower rates, and hotter temperatures tend to expedite decay.
Methods: Four rabbit carcasses were placed out to decay. One small carcass and one large carcass were placed out in the sun on soil or on exposed rock. The mass, carcass dimensions, and ground level temperatures were monitored. This experiment was repeated three times over the summer. Insects were captured by hand and pitfall traps. In the fall and winter, temperature probes were placed at varying heights and lengths from a rocky surface and a non-rocky surface. Temperature was recorded every half hour from September to January.
Results: The effect of the rock on decay rate varied, so this experiment would need to be repeated. Ground level temperatures tended to be higher at the rock sites, and insect colonization was more abundant at the rock sites. Temperature changed more as height from the rock increased compared to length. The difference in temperature between rock and soil site was minimized when ground level temperatures reached 20C, as well as when it rained.
Significance:Cadavers next to rocks may decay more quickly in summer months
Liquid-Liquid extraction and spectroscopic methods for distinguishing between hemp and marijuana
No full textPassage of the Farm Bill in December 2018 legalized cannabis containing less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), otherwise known as hemp (1). This creates problems for law enforcement since current presumptive test kits either 1) don’t work at all or 2) work somewhat in differentiatingbetween legal and illegal hemp crops. This problem exists because most hemp crops and hemp products contain low levels of THC and the carboxylated form, THCA. Our approach involves the advancement of an efficient, mobile, liquid-liquid extraction (LLE) that provides presumptive, qualitative forensic evidence of the chemical extract of a bud or other plant material. This research is focused on developing a kit that functions in a similar manner to NIK kits, commonly used by law enforcement, where all components of the kit are contained within a bag. The current NIK kit for Marijuana provides a false positive when Hemp is placed in the bag, thus creating the need for a more reliable test (2). The evidence would later be sent to a crime lab for definitive analysis and quantitation of THC by ultraviolet- visible spectroscopy (UV-vis). This research has focused on the utilization of liquid-liquid extraction techniques and commercially available stains. The methods presented are rapid (requiring no more than five to six minutes to complete). The differentiation between two lots of commercially available hemp and seven lots of marijuana obtained from the CookevilleCity Police will be presented