Honeybee Reflection
(Research Notes Attached)
Bees are essential to life as we know it. They account for an immense amount of the food we eat, either directly, through fruits and vegetables, or indirectly, through the pollination of alfalfa or other crops, which we then feed to animals. Without bees, we would be without a very large portion of our food. The problem is, bees are dying in increasingly large numbers as the years progress. Over time, more and more colonies have fallen prey to the mystery condition, colony collapse disorder.
For this project, I chose to focus on the projection of bee loss over time. In my research, I learned that there are several various factors that may be causing CCD, such as pesticides or cold weather, but no confirmed cause. This was important for my project because it allowed me to understand the limits of the data I had. For exhibition, I created two graphs that display the data provided, and future projections. My data suggests that by 2020, bee loss will reach roughly 62 million bees if things continue moving in the same direction. For this project, I was very proud of the complexity and effort involved in the creation of the final product. Not only did I use a machine learning technique, known as a Genetic Algorithm, but I successfully applied this algorithm to learn from and predict data. I wish that I had run this program over more generations, so I could get more accurate results.
Bees are essential to life as we know it. They account for an immense amount of the food we eat, either directly, through fruits and vegetables, or indirectly, through the pollination of alfalfa or other crops, which we then feed to animals. Without bees, we would be without a very large portion of our food. The problem is, bees are dying in increasingly large numbers as the years progress. Over time, more and more colonies have fallen prey to the mystery condition, colony collapse disorder.
For this project, I chose to focus on the projection of bee loss over time. In my research, I learned that there are several various factors that may be causing CCD, such as pesticides or cold weather, but no confirmed cause. This was important for my project because it allowed me to understand the limits of the data I had. For exhibition, I created two graphs that display the data provided, and future projections. My data suggests that by 2020, bee loss will reach roughly 62 million bees if things continue moving in the same direction. For this project, I was very proud of the complexity and effort involved in the creation of the final product. Not only did I use a machine learning technique, known as a Genetic Algorithm, but I successfully applied this algorithm to learn from and predict data. I wish that I had run this program over more generations, so I could get more accurate results.
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Dissection Reflection
For this project I chose a pig. This is because of two factors, specifically that pigs are very close anatomically to humans. Also, I don't think I could dissect a cat from a mental standpoint, or a shark from an ethical standpoint. Throughout this project, I learned several things about both pig and human anatomy. For instance, the fact that the thymus gland changes in size as an animal grows. I also learned that pigs don't have an appendix, and that humans are the only animal who have this organ. During this dissection I learned that I have a much higher gore tolerance than I had previously thought. I expected it to be difficult to do things like breaking bones or touching organs, but I had no trouble at all in the end. For me this was a very pleasant surprise about myself.
CSI Evidence Report II
Crime scene: #3
Evidence being examined: Fingerprints
Forensic science used: Superglue fingerprinting
Summary of science:
To begin this process you will need a few materials. First, a tube of superglue is required, this is essential to this technique due to the fact that the fumes created by superglue interact with the oils found in fingerprints. Be careful as these fumes are extremely toxic. You will also need a heating element for this process, such as a coffee warmer. Powerful heaters can be a serious fire hazard in small spaces, particularly when they’re generating combustible fumes. You’ll also need some sort of container to hold the glue while it’s warming up. If the air is dry or the fingerprints have sat for some time, heating water(in a different container from the glue) may be helpful to speed up the process. A fuming container is required, even a cardboard box will do.
Once you’ve assembled your enclosure, put all the other elements inside it. Then, put your item with prints into the enclosure. Seal the enclosure and begin heating the glue. You will know your prints are ready when you can clearly see white ridges formed along the lines of the print. Finally, remove your prints and dust them with powder for clarity.
CSI Evidence Report I
Crime scene: #3
Evidence being examined: Tire Tracks
Forensic science used: Casting Techniques
Summary of science:
Impression evidence is evidence used to link a suspect or vehicle to a crime scene, such as shoeprints or tire tracks. The most commonly used method for collecting impressions of tire tracks or shoeprints is casting. Impression evidence is easily damaged so it’s extremely important to secure the scene. Photographs of the evidence are taken, sometimes enhanced by chemicals or alternative light sources. These photographs must be taken at a 90 degree angle to the impression, otherwise the true shoe size can be difficult to determine.
Casts are made with a casting material such as dental stone. Plaster of Paris is not recommended as an acceptable casting material, simply because dental stone is stronger. Due to funding restrictions, Plaster of Paris will be used for casting in this investigation. To begin the casting process, put about two pounds of Plaster of Paris into a plastic bag, this will be about enough for an average-sized shoeprint. Spray some hairspray on the print for easy removal and print preservation. After you’ve created a coating of hairspray, putting some sort of support around the print is suggested. Then proceed to slowly pour the Plaster of Paris into the print, filling it slightly more than needed so that some of the plaster overflows out of the impression. Allow the cast to dry and then carefully lift it from the print. Do not try to clean it on the spot, cleaning will occur later. Put the cast somewhere dry and allow it to harden for another 48 hours. Once dry, write identifying marks on the print so that you can differentiate between samples.You can then analyze the cast and make observations about the print.
After casting the tire tracks, I concluded that the tracks were from bike tires and thus were irrelevant. However, Colleen provided us with tracks from the vehicle in question. After analyzing the tires of the most likely suspects, we found blood on part of one of the vehicles. This would suggest that this vehicle came into contact with some form of blood.Though it’s not possible to determine where the blood came from at this point, it’s probably a safe assumption that it was the blood of the victim.
Sources:
http://iape.org/emanual/footwear_and_tire_track_evidence.htm
http://www.forensicsciencesimplified.org/fwtt/how.html
CSI Project Reflection
During this project, we studied various types of evidence analysis. We did this through looking at the scene of a murder and trying to discover information about the victim and how they died. We met with a man who was wrongfully imprisoned for twenty years and learned about the justice system. We also looked at potential flaws in the justice system, such as witness misidentification and how they can be resolved, specifically with DNA evidence.
To begin with, we analyzed the tire tracks found at the scene. We matched these tracks to a vehicle parked in colleen’s parking spot. We then matched blood found on the victim’s blood and determined that this blood was indeed that of the victim. As investigated the story of each potential suspect, we eventually got a confession from one of the suspects.
Overall in this project, I think that the DNA extraction lab that we performed was what I enjoyed the most. I like the idea of analyzing DNA and I find the topic very interesting. I wish we could have gone deeper into this aspect of the project. Throughout the project, I feel like I did a good job analyzing the evidence and understanding the concepts, but I believe I could’ve done a better job at writing my reports and turning things in on time.
To begin with, we analyzed the tire tracks found at the scene. We matched these tracks to a vehicle parked in colleen’s parking spot. We then matched blood found on the victim’s blood and determined that this blood was indeed that of the victim. As investigated the story of each potential suspect, we eventually got a confession from one of the suspects.
Overall in this project, I think that the DNA extraction lab that we performed was what I enjoyed the most. I like the idea of analyzing DNA and I find the topic very interesting. I wish we could have gone deeper into this aspect of the project. Throughout the project, I feel like I did a good job analyzing the evidence and understanding the concepts, but I believe I could’ve done a better job at writing my reports and turning things in on time.