Issuu

VOLUME 136: SPRING 2021

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

Student Engineering Magazine at the University of Illinois

Monday, March 8, 2021

Attention University of Illinois Seniors:

Last call for Class of 2021

Senior Pictures FEB. 23 - MAR. 14 Your safety is our #1 concern. See our website for more details. Portraits are from the waist up so dress accordingly. We provide the cap & gown!

Schedule your appointment at illioyearbook.com illio yearbook

O F F I C I A L Y E A R B O O K AT T H E U N I V E R S I T Y O F I L L I N O I S S I N C E 1 8 9 4

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Table of Contents 4 Google searches reveal not all feelings that result from COVID-19 policies were negative

5 Senior takes huge strides in early detection of Alzheimer’s disease

9 Oil-eating bacteria help combat climate change

11 Champaign residents share interest in birding

6 Abriendo Caminos

7 Chemosensory losses could indicate COVID-19 infection

12 Optimize your research with these simple steps

13 What are non-fungible tokens?

8 Higher cardiorespiratory fitness is linked to improved cognitive function in children

14 Optimize your research with these simple steps

CHAMPAIGN’S ALTERNATIVE

LIVE STREAM AT WPGU.COM

wpgu1071

wpguillini

wpgu107.1FM

wpgu1071

Monday, March 8, 2021

The Daily Illini

ANGELINA CHAN THE DAILIY ILLINI

Google searches reveal COVID-19 policy sentiments BY KIMBERLY STINSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Bita Fayaz Farkhad, economist and postdoctoral researcher in psychology at the University, along with her fellow researcher Dolores Albarracín, professor in LAS, Medicine and Business, recently conducted and published a study on the mental health implications resulting from COVID-19 mitigation measures. Farkhad came to Illinois for research after earning her doctoral from Lehigh University in Pennsylvania in 2019. She is now affiliated with the Department of Psychology, where she works with Albarracín in the Social Action Lab. Her main interest is in discovering how different policies affect individual behavior, as well as health-related behavior in general. Farkhad’s work abruptly shifted focus during the initial coronavirus outbreak. “Suddenly everything started to be about COVID-19,” she said. “People were really interested in understanding...the actual effects of COVID-19 policies.” When asked about how she and Albarracín became interested in this specific topic, Farkhad explained that there was much discussion about how much the COVID-19 policies truly reduced the risk of transmission and a lot of evidence indicating that the mitigation measures were “actually quite effective.”

However, having considered the positives, Farkhad and Albarracín sought to understand whether the policies had any negative effects. “Especially when you think about a pandemic lockdown, you know, you get negative feelings,” Farkhad said. “You may feel worried or isolated because you no longer have the freedom to go wherever you want to go. And that is what we really wanted to test.” Due to the unprecedented nature of the pandemic and the unknown duration of the policies, Farkhad admitted she did not quite know what to expect. She suspected there to be negative feelings but also believed in the strength and ability that many people possess to adjust their life to a new situation when facing hardship and restrictions. Therefore, she personally expected the study to reveal findings that were not entirely negative. The researchers wanted to source the data in an organic way in order to truly understand how people were feeling. They also wanted to be able to measure feelings over a period of time so that they could compare how feelings evolved as policies changed, including during a window of time before any mandates were enacted. Additionally, they needed to take into consideration that different states have had different timelines and levels of restrictions. All of those factors considered, they chose to examine Google searches associ-

ated with terms of depression and anxiety, ranging from January 2020 through the end of June. According to Farkhad, they used the data from online searches to analyze “how trends in searches for negative feelings, state by state, were changing over time and whether the trend was really being affected by the different restrictions — especially measures like stay-at-home orders and restaurant/ bar closures.” From there, they specifically examined the search trends for clues about the extent to which people were experiencing feelings of isolation or depression. A challenge of the study, Farkhad noted, was examining the search data and looking exclusively at the impact of the policies — not the effects of the pandemic as a whole. “Some people may be feeling bored or depressed, but that may not necessarily be because of the restrictions; it might be because of a financial loss they had due to the pandemic itself or negative feelings about the pandemic in general,” Farkhad said. After an analysis of the searches they found, Farkhad explained that “interestingly, we saw that the spike (in negative feelings) went away after two to four weeks. People were still under jurisdiction, but we

really didn’t see the same pattern of negative feelings (after the four-week period). We also saw that there was an increase in searches for certain positive activities, like exercise, or people really searched a lot for things like cooking.” The findings indicate that people felt worried immediately after the policy implementation, but soon found different ways to spend their time. People were not able to go to restaurants, but they had more time to cook at home. “That might be the reason that those negative feelings were much lower after a couple of weeks,” Farkhad said. She also suggested that the positive feelings may have stemmed from the sense of security the policies offered. People could be more certain that their loved ones were safer, especially those with family members living in other countries. “Certainly, we have all experienced discomfort in some way throughout this pandemic,” Farkhad said. However, likely to the surprise of many, the results of Farkhad and Albarracín’s study prove that there have been positive effects of the pandemic too. Kimberly is a senior in LAS. kstin3@readtechno.com

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Student breaks ground in Alzheimer’s disease detection BY KIMBERLY STINSON CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Shrey Patel, senior in LAS studying chemical engineering and on the pre-med track at the University, has been breaking ground in the research of early detection of Alzheimer’s disease — despite pandemic-related disruptions. Patel found his inspiration for Alzheimer’s disease research after witnessing his grandmother, who he is close to, start developing symptoms of the disease. She was officially diagnosed a few years ago. Patel has been researching Alzheimer’s disease for a collective period of over two years, starting his initial research in his junior year of high school at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy. While attending the academy, Patel performed two research projects through Northwestern University. During his junior year, he began his research by investigating the early detection of Alzheimer’s disease. Patel explained how Alzheimer’s disease is a complex illness. “ Amyloid-Ð oligomers are the proteins that accumulate in the brain and cause memory loss,” he said. “If you have enough of them, it disrupts brain function and leads to other impairments.” Patel’s job at Northwestern was to detect the size of the proteins that specifically cause Alzheimer’s disease. He used a high-pressure liq-

uid chromatography machine to “detect exactly what combinations of these (amyloid-Ð) oligomers would lead to Alzheimer’s disease,” he said. Patel found that tetramers, molecules made of four subunits, were the most abundant species of oligomers in Alzheimer’s disease. The following year, while continuing to conduct research at Northwestern, Patel took his initial study one step further. He began to analyze the brains of mice at three-month intervals during a nine-month period. Patel particularly compared male and female mice to see how early Alzheimer’s would affect different genders while considering age as an additional variable. The study utilized Alzheimer’s-induced mice, which meant all the mice would have a genetic mutation that would lead to the formation of amyloid-Ð peptides in the brain. From this study, he discovered that female mice were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s at an earlier age than male mice. “And with this study, if you look into humans, there is a similar result,” Patel said. Patel works in the Mirica Group, where he is in the process of developing diagnostic and therapeutic compounds for the early detection of Alzheimer’s. In his junior year at the University, Patel contacted Dr. Liviu M. Mirica, expressing interest in Mirica’s research on Alzheimer’s. Shortly after, Patel joined the Mirica Group. During his junior year before the pandemic, Patel said

Immediate Positions Available • Civil Engineers

(Site Development, Municipal)

• Structural Engineers

(Industrial/Commercial Buildings, Bridges)

CADE WHARTON THE DAILY ILLINI

he tested “other graduate students’ (diagnostic and therapeutic) compounds to see how well they were able to detect the (amyloid-Ð) oligomers.” He would put the compounds and the oligomers together and then measure the fluorescence of the compounds to determine how well they could bind to the oligomers. However, after COVID-19 disrupted his trips to the lab, Patel had to take on a more virtual role. Over the summer of 2020, he began developing a compound library and trained a computer

Use the QR code to sign up for our newsletter and get headline news sent to your email!

(HVAC)

• Architects

(Commercial, Healthcare & Education)

• Landscape Architects

Email: jwest@shive-hattery.com

Phone: 319-892-3677 EOE

w w w. s h i v e - h a t t e r y. c o m

Kimberly is a senior in LAS. kstin3@readtechno.com

THE BEST WAY TO KEEP UP WITH THE NEWS

• Mechanical Engineers

• Land Surveyors

model to predict future compounds based on the previous compounds and fluorescence data that had been collected. Now that he is back in the lab, he has shifted his focus back to developing the compounds for early detection. Patel plans on graduating this May and taking a gap year before applying to medical school.

dailyillini.com

Monday, March 8, 2021

Gregory St.

Goodwin Ave.

Lincoln Ave.

University Ave.

North Quad

YOU COULD LIVE HERE

Siebel

THE DAILY ILLINI FILE PHOTO

Students rest in La Casa Cultural Latina on March 7, 2016. The Abriende Caminos program concentrates on bettering Hispanic health.

Stoughton St.

Program aids Hispanic health

DCL

Springfield Ave.

BY ABIGAIL GREETIS

CONTRIBUTING WRITER Gregory St.

Grainger

Matthews Ave.

Transportation Building

Loomis

Green St.

LIVE CLOSE, SLEEP IN

Lincoln Ave.

Wright St.

The Daily Illini

• Fully furnished • Affordable • Minutes to Engineering Campus • Newly remodeled units available REMODLED UNITS INCLUDE: ! Stainless steel appliances ! New carpeting and flooring ! Replaced interior doors ! Brand new balconies ! and more...

www.baileyapartments.com

The University of Illinois is known for many of its renowned groups of faculty and research projects that aim to solve realworld issues, ranging from climate-related complications to societal issues like those that arise from racism within public school systems. On campus, the Family Resiliency Center is an example of the institution’s efforts to understand and remedy the many issues that directly impact families in the ChampaignUrbana community. This center was established in 2000 and aims to use research to inform its work with families and help them build resiliency, thus better preparing them for the many challenges they may face in the world. The center has many branches of research projects that address different issues. One, in particular, is the project Abriendo Caminos. Abriendo Caminos focuses on bettering Hispanic health through research and applying this research by educating families on how to improve their health outcomes. Margarita Teran-Garcia is the principal investigator for this project. She got her medical degree at National Autonomous University in Mexico City, Mexico, her Pediatric Specialty at the National Institute of Pediatrics in Mexico City, Mexico and her doctorate at the University of Texas Austin. Her primary academic focus is on the topic of obesity and other nutrition-related diseases, and she applies this interest directly to Abriendo Caminos. Abriendo Caminos began as a pilot program conducted in 2008. Evidence suggested the impact of this program was large and effective, thus it was expanded and now exists in five different locations: California, Illinois, Iowa, Puerto Rico and Texas. The program helps Hispanic-heritage families who have transitioned to life in America

by educating them about clean diets in an American lifestyle and providing them with resources that allow them to make these clean diets a reality. “We know that low-income, low-literacy families have a hard time adapting to their surroundings in their community, to really make a good selection of the foods they need for their healthy living, and they lose many of their traditional meals, which causes a lot of problems for their health,” Teran-Garcia said. This term is specifically called the “health paradox.” “Many Hispanics and many recent immigrants, when they arrive to the states, they are healthy if they continue their traditions,” Teran-Garcia said. “The more they adapt to the American lifestyle and the ways of eating, the worse they do with their health.” Abriendo Caminos works with researchers and volunteers to combat this health paradox from happening, and the families are loyal. Even in the age of the COVID-19 pandemic, the program is adapting to continue to serve families. Teran-Garcia explained how the program has turned to online virtual meetings and pre-recorded videos to reach its clients, and families do what they can to get access to these resources, even if it means driving to a parking lot that has better WiFi than their household does. It is organizations like these that allow families to make these big cultural transitions. “Whatever country you are, be proud of your heritage and the good things that culinary heritage brings to you,” Teran-Garcia said. The organization has been immensely successful at creating a support base with its families, and the success is likely to continue far into the future. Abigail is a freshman in LAS. greetis4@readtechno.com

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Chemosensory losses could indicate virus infection BY SHIVALI SHUKLA SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic more than one year ago instigated a number of new research projects, particularly bringing attention to the underrated olfactory and gustatory senses, according to the The New York Times. Our senses of smell and taste are considered minor senses compared to vision and audition, according to M. Yanina Pepino, assistant professor in ACES at the University of Illinois. But the chemical senses, or the senses of taste and smell, have become an important red flag for COVID-19 infection, Pepino says. For many, the idea of losing one’s sense of smell seemed unworthy of attention until cases of anosmia continued to appear as the COVID-19 pandemic raged on. Anosmia, a disorder characterized by a complete loss of smell, is thought to affect at least two million people across the United States alone. Feb. 27 marked International Anosmia Awareness Day, a day Pepino believes deserves more attention. Pepino is one of the hundreds of researchers affiliated with the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research trying to understand both our sense of smell and sense of taste a little bit better. The GCCR, developed around March of 2020, was borne as a result of increasing reports of chemosensory losses due to COVID-19 infection. According to Pepino, who is one of 11 members of the GCCR Leadership team, the goals of the GCCR are to understand the chemosensory issues reported alongside respiratory illness, particularly COVID-19, to increase awareness of the chemical senses and to make science and research more transparent and equitable worldwide. “The GCCR was created out of the need for understanding what was going on with taste and smell as these senses relate to COVID,” Pepino said. “We want to increase knowledge and awareness of the senses of taste and smell, but we are also a group of people who want to advance trust in science through open science.” All hypotheses and data the GCCR creates and collects are pre-registered in the Open Science Framework, and they use statistical packages that are accessible to everybody to ensure that all countries can utilize the same tools, regardless of socioeconomic background. “It’s not just for countries with more funding for science,” Pepino said. “That’s a big plus of this consortium. I also like that it is so diverse, not only in language and culture, but also through promoting interdisciplinary science.” Affiliates of the GCCR range from researchers and physicians to patient advocates, artists and perfumers. Loss of smell is a common side effect of nasal inflammation and congestion caused by cold and flu viruses, but researchers and

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Personal protective equipment materials lay on a table at the ARC COVID-19 testing site on Feb. 1. A loss of sense of smell can be an indicator of COVID-19 infection.

physicians across the globe now affiliated with the GCCR began to notice COVID-19 patients losing their sense of smell without having the expected physical blockage in their nose that would normally prevent scents from reaching their olfactory receptors. The GCCR’s efforts toward investigating the chemical senses in relation to COVID-19 infection have led to the development of a number of tools anyone over the age of 18 can use to detect changes in their gustatory and olfactory senses. There is a seven-day challenge and a longer, 30-day challenge, both of which ask participants to rate the taste and smell of the same product every day. For example, if a participant chooses coffee as their daily beverage, they will be asked each day to rank the bitterness, sourness, sweetness and other elements of their drink. At the end of the challenge, they will be presented with a graph depicting changes in their chemical senses. Any stark differences may alert a par-

ticipant to potentially concerning alterations in their ability to taste and smell, something that might encourage someone to see a healthcare provider or at least self-quarantine as a precautionary measure. The work of researchers at the GCCR has resulted in the publication of two papers in the journal, “Chemical Senses.” Their first paper indicates the association discovered between COVID-19 and a sudden loss of sense of smell, taste and chemesthesis. The second publication shows that a loss of sense of smell is the best predictor for COVID-19, even better than a fever or cough. Moving forward, the GCCR has begun to investigate the chemical senses beyond the realm of COVID-19. They want to uplift the voices of those born without the ability to taste and smell and continue to conduct research in an equitable manner. Global equity is something Pepino strongly advocates for, as she has seen the pandemic — and now vaccine distri-

bution — highlight socioeconomic disparities worldwide. Disadvantaged nations and individuals will continue to suffer for a much longer time than privileged ones, she says. On top of that, some countries and people who helped develop the vaccine are now the same people at the end of the line to receive it, according to Pepino, which highlights important global inequities in research. “Although we are in 2021, I feel like we are going through the same mistakes that we’ve seen in the history of research ethics on who gets exposed to the risks and who gets the benefits of the research,” Pepino said. “Through the GCCR, I’m learning a lot about how to make science more equitable, more transparent and how to reach populations, whether or not they are a developing country without as many resources.” Shivali is a senior in AHS. sshukl5@readtechno.com

Monday, March 8, 2021

The Daily Illini

Cardio fitness relates to cognitive function in kids BY SHIVALI SHUKLA SPECIAL SECTIONS EDITOR

Previous studies indicate a correlation between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function in adults. It has been shown that increased cardiorespiratory fitness relates to better cognitive function and could potentially be used as a preventative measure against cognitive decline. Shelby Keye, a second-year doctoral student in the Body Composition and Nutritional Neuroscience Lab led by Dr. Naiman Khan in the Department of Kinesiology and Community Health here at the University of Illinois, worked to determine if the same correlation can be seen in preschool-aged children. The study looked at the relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function. This correlation has been seen in older children, particularly adolescents and pre-adolescent children eight years of age and older. For Khan and Keye, the main question was whether that same relationship can be seen early on in life, which offers a sense of when it is best to intervene with physical activity and promote fitness. The study involved a series of tasks, the first of which was asking the cohort of 59 preschool-aged children to perform a sixminute walking test. Each child walked up and down a 20-meter hallway for six minutes, and the number of laps they completed was noted. According to Keye, it is thought that children with higher fitness are able to do more laps within the same amount of time. To assess cognitive function, the children were asked to complete a number of computerized tests that evaluated their ability to inhibit external stimuli and focus on a single stimulus. They were also tested on their ability to multitask, their academic achievement via pencil and paper tests and their IQ level. Keye explained that previous research has shown how specifically doing cardiorespiratory or aerobic exercise will affect different brain functions and structures. This kind of exercise will improve specific areas of the brain involved in the cognitive functions that her lab looked at, such as attention abilities, task switching and working memory. “The areas of the brain involved in those functions seem to improve when people participate in aerobic activity,” Keye said. “With our study, we did not find that; it’s not a causal study. It’s more just a relationship. Other studies with adults or adolescents have been able to look at brain structure and see improvements after exercise, but our study did not see that because we didn’t look at brain structure.” While analyzing the data, the researchers controlled for variables such as diet, fat mass, age, sex and IQ. They also explored household income but did not find any sta-

PHOTO COURTESY OF DOUG HOOD

A child focuses on virtual lessons at the YMCA in Red Bank, New Jersey on Feb. 17. Studies have indicated a correlation between fitness and cognitive function in children.

tistically significant correlation. “There are certainly ways to improve this type of study,” Keye said. “We can include things like genetics as potential confounding variables, increase the sample size and do more (event-related potentials).” Event-related potentials are a measure of brain activity in response to a specific sensory, cognitive or motor event, assessed via electroencephalography. Keye also said it would be ideal to look at the brain structure and function of these children, but doing that type of research on children as young as four is much more difficult, as it would involve MRI technology or another equivalent. While the results of this study do not provide direct evidence of a causal relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and cognitive function, Keye said there is a clear rela-

tionship between the two and that physical activity should still be encouraged. “It could be that these two factors are just developing together, or it could be that children that are more physically active are doing things at home that also somehow improve their cognitive function,” Keye said. “But I would definitely use this article to say, hey, there is this relationship here, so we should encourage physical activity at this age.” The Center for Disease Control and Prevention recommends at least 60 minutes of daily physical activity for children and adolescents ages six through 17. For preschoolaged children, the CDC continues to advocate for daily exercise to promote growth and development. However, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services indicates that only one in three children in the United States are physically active every day.

“We’ve seen this get worse with COVID, but more and more people are less active than they have been before,” Keye said. “It’s funny; we’re in a pandemic, but I’ve always felt we’re in some sort of pandemic when it comes to lack of physical activity. That’s why I do what I do. I think doing work like this and showing that exercise can be beneficial for more than just your physique can be encouraging for some people and get people to really think about being more active throughout the day for the rest of their lives.” Keye is the first author of this study, the findings of which have been published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine and can be found here. Shivali is a senior in AHS. sshukl5@readtechno.com

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Oil-eating bacteria help combat climate change BY ABIGAIL GREETIS CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Over the past several years as environmental health has come closer to the forefront of the minds of global citizens, researchers at the University of Illinois have taken to the books and labs in an effort to search for ways to both reduce the effects of climate change and repair the damage that has already been done. Ranging from pollution and coral bleaching to global warming, the environment has been negatively impacted in many ways. One particular issue our oceans confront is oil spills. Oil spills are not uncommon. They occur thousands of times each year in the United States alone. These spills can happen for a multitude of reasons, whether it be a spill from refueling a ship or a more large-scale event such as a pipeline break. Regardless of the way it happens, the effects are detrimental to ocean life nonetheless. Marine life can ingest the oil, damaging their lungs as well as their immune and reproductive systems. Plants that are vital to the underwater ecosystem lack oxygen to properly function and consequently shut down. The damage done is oftentimes irreversible, permanently destructing the ocean. At the University, professors and students are making an effort to understand and remedy

this phenomenon. A particular area of interest in research is oil-eating bacteria. Alcanivorax Borkumensis, this bacteria’s formal name, is an organism that ingests and decomposes the oil, naturally clearing the ocean of these oil particles. Nihar Mara, a junior in Engineering has been conducting research on the phenomenon known as “buckling,” which is the process by which these bacteria break down these oil molecules. Mara began this research project in April 2020. His main focus was creating models of this “buckling” phenomenon, which involved copious amounts of observation and subsequent coding to create these models. “The primary interest for our research was modeling the materials and their microstructures … and looking for new applications for these materials in extreme environments,” Mara said. “In the oceans, where these oil-eating (bacteria) would be working, they are in an extreme environment trying to break down all of this oil. We are trying to use materials to prevent and reduce the effects of these oil spills on the environment.” Mara was able to see, first-hand, how these bacteria specifically break down the oil. He describes the bacteria as growing “hands” and “wrapping the oil and squeezing” it, giving insight into the natural processes that occur within our very ecosystem to cleanse itself. If these natu-

KAITLIN MIKRUT THE DAILY ILLINI

ral processes are understood specifically and utilized efficiently, opportunities for replication may arise, creating potential remedies for existing environmental issues. Mara was unable to complete the research due to complications, though the outlook on this particular project is optimistic. The University of Illinois is an institution known for its renowned research breakthroughs and is rich with profes-

YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SO MANY GREAT MEMORIES FROM YOUR TIME AT COLLEGE. HOLD ON TO THEM FOREVER WITH THE OFFICIAL U OF I YEARBOOK.

sors who are dedicated to solving real-world problems like this one. In a world that seems to be crumbling before our eyes, where sea levels are rising and oceans are dying, it’s research like this that can potentially save, or at least help to save, our ecosystems that are the glue to our Earth. Abigail is a freshman in LAS. greetis4@readtechno.com

100

(Includes domestic shipping; International shipping $50 extra)

Order your yearbook online at

illioyearbook.com or call 217-337-8314

Monday, March 8, 2021

The Daily Illini

Leasing for 2021-2022 School Year

ROOMMATE MATCHING AND REDUCED RATES AVAILABLE!

1, 2, 3 & 4 bedrooms available Take a video tour at www.bankierapartments.com or call 217-328-3770 for a showing!

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Champaign residents share interest in birding BY JILLIAN LITTLE BUZZ EDITOR

Observing natural patterns in the wild has always been an important aspect of science. Many consider Charles Darwin as history’s most famous naturalist. However, since his expedition to the Galapagos in 1835, many scientists and organizations have contributed to ecological research. One of these grassroots organizations is the Audubon National Society, which has been around since 1905. Its mission is to promote interest in all aspects of the natural world and encourage restoration efforts worldwide. Luckily, there are opportunities for community members to get involved with the Champaign County Audubon Chapter. Sara Johnson is the communications committee chair for the Champaign County Audubon Chapter. She touches on the history of the national organization and the importance of birding. “The creation of Audubon was a response to a change in the views surrounding conservation at the time and concern that natural habitats and wildlife (particularly birds that were harvested in enormous numbers for the feather trade) were rapidly declining,” Johnson said. There are currently over 500 chapters in the United States, and Champaign’s chapter is part of the network. “There is a network of local chapters all over the state including our neighbors, Middlefork Audubon Society,” Johnson said. “The Champaign County Audubon Society started as a club in 1940 and was made a formal Audubon local chapter in 1945.” For $15 a year, members have access to Audubon’s newsletters and special memberonly events. The organization also offers public hikes open to members and the general public, monthly seminars where they host speakers and researchers and great programs like the Nerds Who Bird Trivia. One of their most popular activities is the Sunday Morning Bird Walks, which started over 75 years ago. “Not only is this a great opportunity for our local birders to get out and bird together, but the data we collect during these walks also acts as a bird census,” Johnson said. “Our records go back as long as the walks have been going!” Audubon also attracts those who are interested in research opportunities, which is a community effort. For example, the organization’s annual Christmas Bird Count relies on community members’ data documenting trends in resident birds throughout the country. Hundreds of scientific studies utilize this data to document species trends, identify hotspots of diversity and improve conservation for species at risk. “I think many view science as something

PHOTO COURTESY OF RACHEL VINSEL

The Champaign County Audubon Society searches for birds to watch during a morning walk in Fall 2017. Their annual Christmas Bird Count can help with scientific research efforts.

reserved for ‘people who know better,’” Johnson said. “If there is anything that birding teaches us, community-sourced data can be some of the most important and prevalent data we have regarding long-term trends of bird species in America.” Audubon often collaborates with local parks and preserves such as the Urbana Park District and the Champaign County Forest Preserve. They also join forces with Audubon Great Lakes, the Audubon Council of Illinois and the Illinois Ornithological Society to promote events and share experiences. Since the pandemic, the local chapter has shifted its focus to producing videos and offering webinars. “On our YouTube channel, you can find some of our past webinars as well as some other promotional videos regarding our bird counts and hikes,” Johnson said. “We also have been conducting bird-a-longs on Facebook Live in the new year.” While they are slowly opening back up to in-person programs, they focus on limiting the number of people to maintain safe con-

ditions for our attendees for spring birding. “We frequently have up to 40-50 people on our Sunday Morning Bird Walks!” Johnson said. “While this is very exciting, we, of course, can’t sustain those numbers during COVID-19 times, so we are adapting, but excited to see some of our friends in person again, safely.” Birding is not only fun, but it can reveal similarities between how humans and birds behave. Johnson believes that humans are tied to nature, and, as urban city-dwellers, we often try to quiet the natural cycles of life. Birding flows with this natural cycle. “Birds migrate south in the fall to their over-wintering grounds, sometimes in massive migrations like the Sandhill Crane, which pass through the Midwest,” Johnson said. “We return to the indoors to wait out the harsh cold days of winter, feeding our birds to catch a glimpse of them out our windows.” One of the first announcements of longawaited spring is the return of red-winged blackbirds in late February. Their return signals that migration is coming and soon

greenery will come back to the world. “Birding not only utilizes all our senses, allowing us to practice using our eyes and ears to look and listen for birds, but it also can be meditative, offering us peace and quiet in an otherwise hectic society,” Johnson said. The Champaign Country Audubon Chapter is trying to maintain its historical programs. However, members are thinking of better ways to be more inclusive and equitable in their programs and outreach efforts. “We have learned that we need to change with the times to stay relevant, and COVID has challenged us to reach people in new ways,” Johnson said. “We have been thrilled that our members have responded so graciously to our online events, but we look forward to engaging with our members, birders and friends again soon.” Jillian is a senior in LAS. jel3@readtechno.com

Monday, March 8, 2021

The Daily Illini

Optimize your research with these simple steps BY JJ KIM EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

and anything else that might contribute valuable information. After you gather some sources and begin to understand the scope of how much you can research, it’s important to go back and review your research question to see if the question is still realistically answerable. While gathering information, be sure to take diligent notes on what you’re finding, including a works cited page. It’s imperative you continuously cite your sources anytime you refer to someone else’s information. Next comes one of the most important yet difficult parts of researching: synthesizing. You’ve gathered a whole bunch of information, but now it’s time to interpret the information and compile your critical analysis of what the data means. After you synthesize what the data and information you gathered represent, it’s always a good idea to revisit your hypothesis and adjust it according to what you’ve found. Take a look over your work and proofread your analysis before submitting your research for review.

Conducting high-quality, well-thoughtout research is more important now than ever as misinformation and skewed numbers sway public opinion on controversial issues. Here are some quick pointers to ensure your research stays true to its original purpose. First things first, figure out what question you want to answer with your research. Make sure it’s a clear question with an independent and a dependent variable. An independent variable is able to stand by itself and manipulates the dependent variable. A dependent variable relies on the independent variable to make sense. Make sure the question you are answering is not too openended, as casting such a wide net may only raise more questions. With this question in mind, formulate a defendable thesis statement, as this will be the main question you’ll revolve your research around. Once you have formed your thesis, gather reliable sources to help develop your research question even more. Don’t limit yourself to just one type of source. Have an jjk7@readtechno.com expert source, a data spreadsheet, Freedom JJ is a junior in Media. of Information Act information if it applies

Photo Courtesy of Dreamstime Two workers collaborate at a computer. Taking diligent notes is an important part of quality research.

ALL NEW

DAILY ILLINI APP

NEWS AT YOUR FINGERTIPS • Stay up-to-date on all things Illini • Get breaking news immediately • News, sports, features, opinions

DOWNLOAD FREE. LISTEN NOW. Apple and the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

ALL NEW Exclusive offers only available in the app

Apple and the Apple logo and iPhone are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries and regions. App Store is a service mark of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Google Play and the Google Play logo are trademarks of Google LLC.

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Non-fungible tokens enable artist monetization BY NOAH DAVIS STAFF WRITER

The days of free, unfettered access to digital content may be numbered in the coming years. A new asset class is emerging and it represents a top-to-bottom, 100 point restoration of how individuals publish, distribute, access and monetize content online. According to Coindesk, “Non-fungible tokens (NFTs) are digital assets that represent a wide range of unique tangible and intangible items” from art, music and film to collectible sports cards, virtual real estate or even digital clothing items. NFTs, unlike cryptocurrencies, cannot be exchanged for one another, replicated, or divided into smaller denominates as Bitcoin can. They derive their value from scarcity, uniqueness and authenticity in the same way sports memorabilia operate as an investment or collector’s item. NFTs run on a blockchain network, which is the same underlying structure cryptocurrencies employ, operating on smart contracts. Since music or art became freely available online, musicians have struggled to directly profit from their work and succeed in the face of contracts with record labels or auction houses and galleries that rake in the vast majority of proceeds. NFTs preclude the necessity of the opportunistic middleman, allowing cre-

JULIA EVERSMANN THE DAILY ILLINI

ators to sell to buyers directly and program royalties to profit from secondary sales. On the platform SuperRare, artists receive 85% of the initial purchase price, and 10% of proceeds whenever their work is resold. While the iTunes store merely lets customers purchase rights to access content, NFTs allow individuals to own content like a digitally autographed MP3. NFTs are easily verifiable and can be traced back to the original owner or creator to protect buyers from being induced to pur-

play all sorts of collectibles they own on their profile. This potentially adds another dimension to our online personas, creating opportunities for people to signal status or lose their nest egg on speculative investments. The exclusively online marketplace NBA TopShot has amassed over $230 million in transactions since the fall of last year where “users can buy, sell and trade NBA highlights,” or as they are called on the platform, “moments.” Numerous platforms demonstrating the wide array of applications NFTs offer are growing in popularity, but require both purchasing its native token or cryptocurrency in order to trade on it and connecting a support crypto wallet application where funds must already exist. NFTs will likely serve as a catalyst for more widespread adoption of cryptocurrencies and blockchain tech among the public at large as opposed to the seemingly zealous, outspoken niche of crypto enthusiasts on social media. NFTs will also encourage talented artists to share their work with the world with less fear of it being subject to commercial exploitation and expanding opportunities to monetize the content they create.

chasing fake items, such as when a hypebeast drops hundreds of dollars on fake Yeezys, and inhibits creators from not profiting on illegally distributed or pirated content. Since NFTs are cryptographically encrypted and unable to be replicated, fewer incentives exist for people to screenshot, publish or distribute the image because, without ownership, they cannot trade or sell the asset. Instead of Tai Lopez using YouTube ads to Noah is a senior in Business. show off his car collection, everyone can dis- noahd3@readtechno.com

ATTENTION

UNIVERSITY DEPARTMENTS BLANK SPACE RIGHT HERE We’ve got a

and it could be yours for a

DISCOUNTED RATE! 8,000 copies of The Daily Illini are distributed to over 150 locations every Monday and Thursday.

Contact us today at (217) 337-8382! We’re ready to wheel and deal to help you reach your target audience. *Digital advertising available as well.

advertise@illinimedia.com

PUT YOUR AD HERE!

Monday, March 8, 2021

The Daily Illini

UI proves to be forefront of COVID-19 testing BY SAMANTHA BOYLE MANAGING EDITOR FOR REPORTING

As a research institution, it is no surprise that the University has been at the forefront of COVID-19 testing and research. After online instruction began about a year ago, researchers were working tirelessly across campus until they developed a simple test that started being used in July. Since then, the tests have been picked up by other institutions and more recently, the test was approved for emergency use by the Food and Drug Administration. Here is a brief timeline of how Illinois became a top innovator in COVID-19 testing.

July

The first COVID-19 testing sites opened on July 8. The tests were developed by the University’s COVID-19 SHIELD: Target, Test, Tell team, chaired by Martin Burke, professor in LAS. This saliva test was one of the first of its kind with a 99.8-99.9% accuracy rate. The results of the test are available after six to 12 hours and cost less than the original nasal swab.

August

In late August, news broke that the saliva test received FDA Emergency Use Authorization. This authorization opened doors for other diagnostic laboratories to use the test and scale it across the nation. However, it was later announced in September that the University backtracked on the announcement of the authorization. A University program, Center for Health Informatics also allowed students to work with health agencies on data science projects. Students were analyzing social media data and developed information dashboards for local health departments. On Aug. 24, the University also released the COVID-19 dashboard that allows viewers to see how many tests were done and how many positive cases were found every day. More than 60,000 tests were administered by the end of August.

September

The month of September saw an effort to bring the saliva tests to the rest of the C-U community. “Its first major deployment should be to serve the community. K–12 education: We’ve had two meetings with the superintendents of the school districts, and we will be looking at a way to make it available to the general public,” Jones said at a Senate executive committee meeting back in September. At this point, the tests already made their way to the University of Illinois at Springfield and Chicago.

CAMERON KRASUCKI THE DAILY ILLINI

Illinois student Avery Robinson takes a University COVID-19 test at the ARC on Feb. 1. Illinois has been an innovator in COVID-19 testing.

By the end of September, more than 500,000 saliva tests had been administered.

December

The University was still waiting for its Emergency Use Authorization approval. The University also reached one million tests total since The Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory, the tests started. where the COVID-19 tests are processed, was designed to process 10,000 tests a day. Because the University started requiring students to be tested twice a week, more tests were coming Anyone who got tested starting in January in to be processed. In order to keep up with the was hit with the same question: Straw or funtests, the lab would need to automate the pro- nel? The new test tubes and way to take the test cess even more. started because of a new processing system About 650,000 tests were administered by that made testing more efficient. At the same the end of October. time, the new and smaller tubes have less of an environmental impact. As for the straw and funnel, Burke said there is no difference in their environmental impact, according to a previously In November, the University of Wisconsin- published article by The Daily Illini. Madison announced plans to adopt the saliva At the end of January, 1.2 million tests were test. Through Wisconsin’s Veterinary Diagnos- administered. tic Lab, about 10,000 nasal swabs were being tested per day. The saliva tests cost about $20$30 each, while the nasal swabs cost about $100. In February, UW Madison started adminis-

October

January

November

February

tering the saliva tests. The University’s Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory also started shifting toward a more automatic approach in processing the saliva tests. Two decapping robots and two liquid handling robots have been helpful in the automation process, making the testing more efficient. An online smell test was also developed in the month of February. This test was developed by a group of 11 people on the Global Consortium for Chemosensory Research, which M. Yanina Pepino, professor in ACES, is a part of.

March

The FDA finally approved the saliva test for emergency use on March 1. With this approval, the tests can be expanded more broadly beyond the University System. Samantha is senior in Media. sjboyle2@readtechno.com

The Daily Illini

Monday, March 8, 2021

Housing Find your next home with

The Daily Illini Start and end your housing hunt today!

housing.dailyillini.com

for more than 70 years, hrl's scientists and engineers have been on the leading edge of technology, conducting pioneering research, providing real-world technology solutions, and advancing the state of the art.

With more than 100 positions available Find your future at www.hrl.com/careers