Investment Portfolio Management: A Financial Ratio Approach

Many of us know that our investment portfolio should be diversified, but implementing and assessing this diversification is complex. In addition, a good portfolio is tuned to match the risk tolerance and individual needs of each unique investor. To address these challenges we build portfolios based on industry and financial diversity as well as historical returns and volatility. We standardized key financial metrics (profitability, liquidity, efficiency, market value, and leverage) for each stock using robust scaling. These standardized scores indicate how each company’s financial metrics compare relative to peers. For instance, although Apple and Microsoft operate within similar industries, Microsoft’s liquidity score (1.2) shows it performs significantly above the median, while Apple’s liquidity (-0.3) falls below the typical level. However, Apple demonstrates superior efficiency (2.11 vs. 0.14) and market value (2.20 vs. 1.33), suggesting stronger operational performance and higher market valuation relative to Microsoft. Using these metrics we visualize differences using principal component analysis and cluster stocks using dendrogram and K-Means clustering. To build a diversified portfolio we select stocks from each cluster, making our selections based on a balance of expected risk and reward. Our program builds a diversified portfolio tailored to an individual’s risk tolerance. With each recommendation we deliver unique insight into the qualities of each stock

Photolysis and Study of Reactive Carbene Intermediates from Diazo and Sulfonium Ylide Precursor Molecules

Carbenes are reactive intermediates comprised of a carbon atom with a lone pair of electrons. Carbenes can be found in interstellar space and their study helps inform our understanding of the formation of early complex molecules that may have contributed to life. This study focused on the photolysis of dibenzyl sulfonium ylide malonate and dibenzyl diazo malonate, two carbene precursors. When these molecules are irradiated, a bond is broken and the carbene intermediate is formed. The unstable carbene reacts immediately with a trapping agent, in this case, methanol, which also serves as the solvent for the reaction. These trapping experiments yield stable products that can be studied and analyzed for evidence of carbene intermediate formation. Carbene intermediates can exist in either a singlet or triplet electronic state, with the latter suspected to be favored. Analysis by 1H NMR and GC-MS spectroscopies suggests that a malonate product was formed, indicating a triplet carbene intermediate

Perry Canyon Mine Closure: Access Road Design

In partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), our project primarily centers on developing an efficient access road to the Perry Canyon Mine site near Reno, Nevada. A well-designed road is essential for providing a safe and reliable means of transportation to and from the mine closure site. To achieve this, we utilize LiDAR data from USGS and Civil 3D modeling to analyze critical factors such as road alignment, grading, drainage, and soil stability. Particular focus is placed on accommodating large trucks and construction equipment, which requires careful optimization of road width, turning radii, and the integration of drainage solutions like culverts or temporary bridges where necessary. By addressing these complex design considerations, our project ensures secure and dependable access for a wide array of vehicles, contributing to the successful completion of site restoration efforts

A Geospatial Approach to Assessing Water Availability Around Drummond, Montana

SRF poster. Abstract only.In rural areas, water availability can be scarce. Therefore, landowners often rely on geospatial interpretation to identify possible water sources. Spatial interpolation, which is the estimation of new data based on a discrete set of known information, assumes that values change in a continuous manner and are spatially dependent. It is often used in site selection when the data being weighed is not concrete. In order to find the most suitable sites, a weighted suitability model can be used. A weighted suitability model allows raster data to be ranked based on fitness and then analyzed for the best probable outcomes. In this research project, I aim to interpolate a water table using a weighted suitability model in ArcGIS Pro. The study area is 80 acres of land within the Garnet Range, just northwest of Drummond, MT. Already there are wells drilled within the area. Using present well depth data, I will spatially interpolate a digital elevation model of an underlying water table. Using data on the underlying geology, aquitard layers, subsurface soil horizons, surface vegetation, and land ownership, I will create a weighted suitability model to find the probability of a well head drill site for water usage

The Effects of Bovine Colostrum on the Response of Tetrahymena thermophila to Starvation

Abstract only.Bovine colostrum, which is derived from milk produced by cows after giving birth, has risen in popularity due to its rich supply of nutrients, bioactive proteins, vitamins, and minerals. Despite its increased use, little research has been done regarding its cellular and molecular mechanisms of action. The goal of this study was to determine whether treatment with bovine colostrum would alleviate the impacts of starvation in the model organism, Tetrahymena thermophila. It was hypothesized that T. thermophila treated with bovine colostrum would overcome the impact of starvation as indicated by changes in feeding and metabolic behaviors, along with changes in expression of the IFT122 gene, which is essential for cilia regeneration, and BCD1, which is involved in vacuole formation. To investigate this hypothesis, T. thermophila were exposed to a diluted nutrient medium for 48 hours to mimic starvation, with one group receiving a physiologically-relevant dose of bovine colostrum. Throughout the treatment period, cell counts were taken to monitor growth rate, followed by feeding and deciliation assays. Furthermore, RT-qPCR was used to determine the expression of the IFT122 and BCD1 genes. Due to the supplemented nutrients of colostrum, it was predicted that T. thermophila would exhibit decreased feeding, increased growth, and enhanced cilia regeneration compared to starved cells. Expression of the BCD1 gene was also predicted to decrease in the colostrum-treated cells due to decreased feeding while expression of IFT122 was predicted to increase as a result of an increased metabolic rate

The Effects of Night Shift Work on Cardiovascular Health in Healthcare Workers

Abstract only.Night shift work is critical to any healthcare system, yet its potential health risks are often underrecognized. Cardiovascular health is one area of concern that is growing among healthcare workers who work night shifts. Results revealed that when comparing night shift work to day shift work, night shift workers experienced higher rates of elevated blood pressure, increased waist circumference, and a greater risk for ischemic and coronary heart disease. Findings were particularly notable in male night shift workers who averaged more than six night shifts per month. Although the results are not definitive, it is believed that a disruption in the circadian rhythm can play a role and be worsened by other confounding factors, such as increased stress levels, poor sleep quality, and irregular eating patterns. Findings suggest a significant connection between working night shifts and adverse effects on cardiovascular health. This evidence-based practice review aims to examine how night shift work impacts the cardiovascular health of healthcare workers compared to day shift workers. Healthcare workers can utilize this information to understand how working alternative shift hours impacts their cardiovascular health. Therefore, they can make more informed decisions about their health and well-being. Providing education and resources on regular cardiovascular screenings, the importance of sleep hygiene, and participating in heart-healthy behaviors can empower healthcare workers to prioritize their own health in an occupation where they often prioritize the health of others

Object Detection Using OpenCV in Low-Visibility Environments

Object detection is crucial to autonomous vehicles’ ability to navigate environments and avoid collisions. In developing the “Snowbot” autonomous snow plow robot, we will employ the tools from Python’s OpenCV package to attempt to clean images from the live camera feed so that OpenCV models can correctly identify objects to avoid (OpenCV Documentation, n.d.). Snowbot is intended to operate in a low-visibility environment where snow, clouds, and other vision impairments will obscure objects, people, and animals. A successful Snowbot should be able to use OpenCV object detection models to detect common obstacles and interface with other programs to determine a path that avoids collisions with obstacles. In this thesis, we will lay out a workflow for image cleaning, object detection, and object tracking for Snowbot’s navigation system. Reliably identifying and tracking objects is critical to Snowbot's safety and functionality

Exploring Chess Through Linear Algebra

Chess has long been used as a tool: from training the human mind for battle strategies to gauging the potential for artificial intelligence and computers, chess is more than a game; it is a way to learn. While it is unattainable to classify all possible 10120games (called the Shannon number1 after mathematician Claude Shannon), certain board configurations can be studied to provide a broader understanding of the game. This thesis explores the mathematical modeling of chess in terms of dominance and non-attacking scenarios. A dominance configuration consists of pieces of one specific type (bishops, knights, rooks, queens) which control the whole board; the player’s goal is to achieve that control using the minimum number of pieces. A non-attacking configuration looks at the maximum number of pieces that can be placed on the board without threatening (i.e. attacking) each other. While not part of the game of chess itself, these puzzles can be used to learn mathematical concepts using a familiar format. This thesis is a synthesis of domination and non-attacking modeling strategies using the work of cliques from Foulds and Johnston to study domination. New board constraints are also an avenue for exploration, as are vector representations of the game

Leveraging Character Development as a Therapeutic Tool in Dungeons and Dragons

Two PDF files are provided. Full screen slides for best viewing, and a version with presenter's notes provided with the slides where relevant.Literature review indicates that Dungeons and Dragons (D&D), a tabletop role playing game (TTRPG) that provides players the opportunity to navigate a fictional world while role playing as a character that they design with skills, traits, values, personality, and flaws based on an established rule framework, could be impactful as a therapeutic tool. Leveraging concepts from narrative therapy, play therapy, role-play therapy, and psychodrama, D&D is used in therapeutic environments to support clients in reaching their treatment goals. In this therapeutic method clients create a character, with the support of their therapist or group leader, that is specifically designed to support them in achieving their treatment goals. This presentation will review the character development process from a D&D research project conducted in spring of 2025 with adult clients with severe mental illness (SMI) that evaluated the impact of engagement in a therapeutic D&D group on client wellbeing through the use of a grounded theory approach. Kilmer et al. (2023) describe four archetypes based on Jungian personality types that can be used to categorize the characters clients create for themselves – Looking Glass, Shadow, Amplified Self, and Aspirational. In this research client treatment plans, clinical assessments, and character materials are used to match each player character with one of the four archetypes. This information is then used as a lens through which to view engagement in group sessions

Synthesis of Spiropyran for Light-Induced Vesicle Lysing

Photoinitiated site-specific drug release is a new frontier of research with significant implications for therapeutic applications. An area of research that has become increasingly central is the development of vesicles that selectively release their contents upon light activation. The membranes of these vesicles are a key focus of this research. To enable site-specific release, the membranes can be designed to incorporate photoinitiated compounds that induce membrane lysis in response to specific light wavelengths. One such compound is spiropyran, which undergoes a ring-opening reaction upon exposure to intense 400 nm light, converting it into merocyanine and causing a transition from a non-polar to a polar state. This structural alteration disrupts the membrane integrity, resulting in vesicle lysis and facilitating site-specific drug release. This research focuses on the successful synthesis of spiropyran, which was confirmed using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis and validated by demonstrating its ability to undergo a photo-initiated ring opening