Keeping Up with COVID - Exel: Drexel University's Research Magazine

<!DOCTYPE html> <html lang="en"> <head> <meta charset="utf-8"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width"> <link rel="shortcut icon" href="https://drexel.edu/~/media/Images/core/FavIcon.ashx"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" href="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/apple-touch-icon.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="72x72" href="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/apple-touch-icon-72x72.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon-precomposed" sizes="114x114" href="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/apple-touch-icon-114x114.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/css/main.css" type="text/css" media="all"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/type/fontcustom/fontcustom/fontcustom.css" type="text/css" media="all">  <meta name='robots' content='max-image-preview:large' /> <style>img:is([sizes="auto" i], [sizes^="auto," i]) { contain-intrinsic-size: 3000px 1500px }</style> <script type="text/javascript"> /* <![CDATA[ */ window._wpemojiSettings = {"baseUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/72x72\/","ext":".png","svgUrl":"https:\/\/s.w.org\/images\/core\/emoji\/15.0.3\/svg\/","svgExt":".svg","source":{"concatemoji":"https:\/\/exelmagazine.org\/wp-includes\/js\/wp-emoji-release.min.js?ver=6.7.2"}}; /*! This file is auto-generated */ !function(i,n){var o,s,e;function c(e){try{var t={supportTests:e,timestamp:(new Date).valueOf()};sessionStorage.setItem(o,JSON.stringify(t))}catch(e){}}function p(e,t,n){e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(t,0,0);var t=new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data),r=(e.clearRect(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height),e.fillText(n,0,0),new Uint32Array(e.getImageData(0,0,e.canvas.width,e.canvas.height).data));return t.every(function(e,t){return e===r[t]})}function u(e,t,n){switch(t){case"flag":return n(e,"\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200d\u26a7\ufe0f","\ud83c\udff3\ufe0f\u200b\u26a7\ufe0f")?!1:!n(e,"\ud83c\uddfa\ud83c\uddf3","\ud83c\uddfa\u200b\ud83c\uddf3")&&!n(e,"\ud83c\udff4\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc62\udb40\udc65\udb40\udc6e\udb40\udc67\udb40\udc7f","\ud83c\udff4\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc62\u200b\udb40\udc65\u200b\udb40\udc6e\u200b\udb40\udc67\u200b\udb40\udc7f");case"emoji":return!n(e,"\ud83d\udc26\u200d\u2b1b","\ud83d\udc26\u200b\u2b1b")}return!1}function f(e,t,n){var r="undefined"!=typeof WorkerGlobalScope&&self instanceof WorkerGlobalScope?new OffscreenCanvas(300,150):i.createElement("canvas"),a=r.getContext("2d",{willReadFrequently:!0}),o=(a.textBaseline="top",a.font="600 32px Arial",{});return e.forEach(function(e){o[e]=t(a,e,n)}),o}function t(e){var t=i.createElement("script");t.src=e,t.defer=!0,i.head.appendChild(t)}"undefined"!=typeof Promise&&(o="wpEmojiSettingsSupports",s=["flag","emoji"],n.supports={everything:!0,everythingExceptFlag:!0},e=new Promise(function(e){i.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded",e,{once:!0})}),new Promise(function(t){var n=function(){try{var e=JSON.parse(sessionStorage.getItem(o));if("object"==typeof e&&"number"==typeof e.timestamp&&(new Date).valueOf()<e.timestamp+604800&&"object"==typeof e.supportTests)return e.supportTests}catch(e){}return null}();if(!n){if("undefined"!=typeof Worker&&"undefined"!=typeof OffscreenCanvas&&"undefined"!=typeof URL&&URL.createObjectURL&&"undefined"!=typeof Blob)try{var e="postMessage("+f.toString()+"("+[JSON.stringify(s),u.toString(),p.toString()].join(",")+"));",r=new Blob([e],{type:"text/javascript"}),a=new Worker(URL.createObjectURL(r),{name:"wpTestEmojiSupports"});return void(a.onmessage=function(e){c(n=e.data),a.terminate(),t(n)})}catch(e){}c(n=f(s,u,p))}t(n)}).then(function(e){for(var t in e)n.supports[t]=e[t],n.supports.everything=n.supports.everything&&n.supports[t],"flag"!==t&&(n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&n.supports[t]);n.supports.everythingExceptFlag=n.supports.everythingExceptFlag&&!n.supports.flag,n.DOMReady=!1,n.readyCallback=function(){n.DOMReady=!0}}).then(function(){return e}).then(function(){var e;n.supports.everything||(n.readyCallback(),(e=n.source||{}).concatemoji?t(e.concatemoji):e.wpemoji&&e.twemoji&&(t(e.twemoji),t(e.wpemoji)))}))}((window,document),window._wpemojiSettings); /* ]]> */ </script> <style id='wp-emoji-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> img.wp-smiley, img.emoji { display: inline !important; border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; height: 1em !important; width: 1em !important; margin: 0 0.07em !important; vertical-align: -0.1em !important; background: none !important; padding: 0 !important; } </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-block-library-css' href='https://exelmagazine.org/wp-includes/css/dist/block-library/style.min.css?ver=6.7.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <style id='classic-theme-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> /*! This file is auto-generated */ .wp-block-button__link{color:#fff;background-color:#32373c;border-radius:9999px;box-shadow:none;text-decoration:none;padding:calc(.667em + 2px) calc(1.333em + 2px);font-size:1.125em}.wp-block-file__button{background:#32373c;color:#fff;text-decoration:none} </style> <style id='global-styles-inline-css' type='text/css'> :root{--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--square: 1;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--4-3: 4/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-4: 3/4;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--3-2: 3/2;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--2-3: 2/3;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--16-9: 16/9;--wp--preset--aspect-ratio--9-16: 9/16;--wp--preset--color--black: #000000;--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray: #abb8c3;--wp--preset--color--white: #ffffff;--wp--preset--color--pale-pink: #f78da7;--wp--preset--color--vivid-red: #cf2e2e;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange: #ff6900;--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber: #fcb900;--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan: #7bdcb5;--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan: #00d084;--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue: #8ed1fc;--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue: #0693e3;--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple: #9b51e0;--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(6,147,227,1) 0%,rgb(155,81,224) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(122,220,180) 0%,rgb(0,208,130) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(252,185,0,1) 0%,rgba(255,105,0,1) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red: linear-gradient(135deg,rgba(255,105,0,1) 0%,rgb(207,46,46) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(238,238,238) 0%,rgb(169,184,195) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(74,234,220) 0%,rgb(151,120,209) 20%,rgb(207,42,186) 40%,rgb(238,44,130) 60%,rgb(251,105,98) 80%,rgb(254,248,76) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,206,236) 0%,rgb(152,150,240) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(254,205,165) 0%,rgb(254,45,45) 50%,rgb(107,0,62) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,203,112) 0%,rgb(199,81,192) 50%,rgb(65,88,208) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,245,203) 0%,rgb(182,227,212) 50%,rgb(51,167,181) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(202,248,128) 0%,rgb(113,206,126) 100%);--wp--preset--gradient--midnight: linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(2,3,129) 0%,rgb(40,116,252) 100%);--wp--preset--font-size--small: 13px;--wp--preset--font-size--medium: 20px;--wp--preset--font-size--large: 36px;--wp--preset--font-size--x-large: 42px;--wp--preset--spacing--20: 0.44rem;--wp--preset--spacing--30: 0.67rem;--wp--preset--spacing--40: 1rem;--wp--preset--spacing--50: 1.5rem;--wp--preset--spacing--60: 2.25rem;--wp--preset--spacing--70: 3.38rem;--wp--preset--spacing--80: 5.06rem;--wp--preset--shadow--natural: 6px 6px 9px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--deep: 12px 12px 50px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.4);--wp--preset--shadow--sharp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2);--wp--preset--shadow--outlined: 6px 6px 0px -3px rgba(255, 255, 255, 1), 6px 6px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);--wp--preset--shadow--crisp: 6px 6px 0px rgba(0, 0, 0, 1);}:where(.is-layout-flex){gap: 0.5em;}:where(.is-layout-grid){gap: 0.5em;}body .is-layout-flex{display: flex;}.is-layout-flex{flex-wrap: wrap;align-items: center;}.is-layout-flex > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}body .is-layout-grid{display: grid;}.is-layout-grid > :is(*, div){margin: 0;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;}.has-black-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-color{color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-background-color{background-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-black-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--black) !important;}.has-cyan-bluish-gray-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-white-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--white) !important;}.has-pale-pink-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-pink) !important;}.has-vivid-red-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-red) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--luminous-vivid-amber) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--light-green-cyan) !important;}.has-vivid-green-cyan-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-pale-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--pale-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-cyan-blue) !important;}.has-vivid-purple-border-color{border-color: var(--wp--preset--color--vivid-purple) !important;}.has-vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--vivid-cyan-blue-to-vivid-purple) !important;}.has-light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--light-green-cyan-to-vivid-green-cyan) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-amber-to-luminous-vivid-orange) !important;}.has-luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-vivid-orange-to-vivid-red) !important;}.has-very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--very-light-gray-to-cyan-bluish-gray) !important;}.has-cool-to-warm-spectrum-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--cool-to-warm-spectrum) !important;}.has-blush-light-purple-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-light-purple) !important;}.has-blush-bordeaux-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--blush-bordeaux) !important;}.has-luminous-dusk-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--luminous-dusk) !important;}.has-pale-ocean-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--pale-ocean) !important;}.has-electric-grass-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--electric-grass) !important;}.has-midnight-gradient-background{background: var(--wp--preset--gradient--midnight) !important;}.has-small-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--small) !important;}.has-medium-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--medium) !important;}.has-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--large) !important;}.has-x-large-font-size{font-size: var(--wp--preset--font-size--x-large) !important;} :where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-flex){gap: 1.25em;}:where(.wp-block-post-template.is-layout-grid){gap: 1.25em;} :where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-flex){gap: 2em;}:where(.wp-block-columns.is-layout-grid){gap: 2em;} :root :where(.wp-block-pullquote){font-size: 1.5em;line-height: 1.6;} </style> <link rel='stylesheet' id='wp-components-css' href='https://exelmagazine.org/wp-includes/css/dist/components/style.min.css?ver=6.7.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <link rel='stylesheet' id='godaddy-styles-css' href='https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/mu-plugins/vendor/wpex/godaddy-launch/includes/Dependencies/GoDaddy/Styles/build/latest.css?ver=2.0.2' type='text/css' media='all' /> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/modernizr-2.5.3.min.js" id="modernizr-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery.min.js?ver=3.7.1" id="jquery-core-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-includes/js/jquery/jquery-migrate.min.js?ver=3.4.1" id="jquery-migrate-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery-ui.1.10.3.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.ui-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.waitforimages.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.waitforimages-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.scrollTo.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.scrollTo-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.initial-letter.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.initial-letter-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.fittext.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.fittext-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.fitvids.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.fitvids-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.easing.1.3.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.easing-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.hoverIntent.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.hoverIntent-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.hotkeys.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.hotkeys-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.vjs-video.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.vjs-video-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.imagesloaded.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.imagesloaded-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.bigvideo.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.bigvideo-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.supersized.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.supersized-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/jquery.supersized.shutter-custom.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="jquery.supersized.shutter-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/royal-slider-8.1.min.js?ver=6.7.2" id="royal-slider-js"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/themes/exel/a/js/drexel-lib.js" id="app-js"></script> <link rel="https://api.w.org/" href="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-json/" /><link rel="EditURI" type="application/rsd+xml" title="RSD" href="https://exelmagazine.org/xmlrpc.php?rsd" /> <meta name="generator" content="WordPress 6.7.2" /> <link rel="canonical" href="https://exelmagazine.org/article/keeping-up-with-covid/" /> <link rel='shortlink' href='https://exelmagazine.org/?p=8042' /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (JSON)" type="application/json+oembed" href="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexelmagazine.org%2Farticle%2Fkeeping-up-with-covid%2F" /> <link rel="alternate" title="oEmbed (XML)" type="text/xml+oembed" href="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-json/oembed/1.0/embed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fexelmagazine.org%2Farticle%2Fkeeping-up-with-covid%2F&format=xml" />   <script>(function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start': new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0], j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src= '//www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f); })(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-TJCKC2');</script>    <meta name="google-site-verification" content="VIMLpniel0t1EqNoNBSGqlucpl04CZOy8BrmSpLRB0o" />  <script type="text/javascript"> ;(function(window, document, undefined, $) { $(function() { exel.handle_jquery('article'); }); })(window, document, undefined, jQuery); </script> <style type="text/css"> .exel-x-image { background: url(/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/exel-department-public-health.png) 0 0 no-repeat; filter: progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/exel-department-public-health.png',sizingMethod='scale'); -ms-filter: "progid:DXImageTransform.Microsoft.AlphaImageLoader(src='/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/exel-department-public-health.png',sizingMethod='scale')"; } </style> <title> Keeping Up with COVID - Exel: Drexel University's Research Magazine</title> </head> <body class="article-template-default single single-article postid-8042 keeping-up-with-covid article-type-mini article-background-white article-topic-machine+learning article-department-public-health article-issue-2023 article-template-standard article-highlight-red">  <div class="white-out"><div class="spinner"></div></div>  <header class="navbar navbar-fixed-top"> <div class="row-fluid"> <div class="header-bar">  <div class="overhead-map-container"> <div class="overhead-map"> </div> </div> <div class="logo-container"> <h3 class="logo"></h3> <p class="magazine">_Drexel University Research Magazine</p> </div> <nav> <ul> <li id="nav-home"><a href="/"><i class="icon-reorder"></i></a></li> <li id="nav-contents"> <a href="/2023/contents">Contents</a> <div id="menu-contents-container" class="menu-dropdown issue-year-2023"> <div id="menu-contents-arrow" class="dropdown-arrow"></div> <div id="menu-contents" class="menu-dropdown-inner"> <dl id="menu-contents-2"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-body-of-research"></div> _Body of Research </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/the-path-to-lift-off"> Battery Science: Charging Forward </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-3"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-culture-society"></div> _Culture / Society </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/pay-gaps-thrive-in-nonprofits"> Pay Gaps Thrive in Nonprofits </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/the-limits-of-limited-time-sales"> The Limits of Limited-Time Sales </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/digital-forensics-that-spot-deepfakes"> Digital Forensics that Spot Deepfakes </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/ais-niche-value-in-retailing"> AI’s Niche Value in Retailing </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/pencil-it-in"> Pencil It In </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/beyond-bottom-lines"> Beyond Bottom Lines </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/trustworthy-arbitration"> Trustworthy Arbitration </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/covert_classroom_bullies"> Covert Classroom Bullies </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-4"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-examine"></div> _Examine </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/birding-with-hasselblad"> Birding with Hasselblad </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-5"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-feature"></div> _Feature </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/land-talent-and-science"> Land, Talent and Science </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/experiments-at-the-edge-of-the-metaverse"> Experiments at the Edge of the Metaverse </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/ten-experiments-to-save-the-earth"> Ten Experiments to Save the Earth </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/how-to-build-a-lab-in-six-weeks"> How to Build a Lab in Six Weeks </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/row-homes-versus-refineries"> Rowhomes Versus Refineries </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/putting-the-treat-into-treatment"> Putting the ‘Treat’ into Treatment </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/were-not-in-oz-anymore"> We’re Not in ‘Oz’ Anymore </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-6"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-medicine"></div> _Medicine </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/estrogen-and-brain-injury"> Estrogen and Brain Injury </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/finding-early-alzheimers"> Finding Early Alzheimer’s </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/patched-up-hearts"> Patched Up Hearts </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/editing-genes-to-cure-hiv"> Editing Genes to Cure HIV </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/fighting-addiction-stigma"> Fighting Addiction Stigma </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/a-turn-toward-custom-ankle-implants"> A Turn Toward Custom Ankle implants </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/starving-breast-cancer-in-the-brain"> Starving Breast Cancer in the Brain </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/an-early-test-for-lyme"> An Early Test for Lyme </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-7"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-nature-environment"></div> _Nature / Environment </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/ever-ready-braniacs"> Ever-ready Brainiacs </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/fossil-reveals-fish-to-land-transition"> Fossil Reveals Fish-to-Land Transition </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/do-sea-turtles-need-shade"> Do Sea Turtles Need Shade? </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/taking-the-citys-temperature"> Taking the City's Temperature </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/evolving-on-the-fly"> Evolving on the Fly </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/modern-day-dousing-rod"> Modern-day Dousing Rod </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/antique-data-confirms-owl-discovery"> Antique Data Confirms Owl Discovery </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/safe-skylines-for-birds"> Safe Skylines for Birds </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-8"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-public-health"></div> _Public Health </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/opioid-improvements"> Opioid Improvements </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/designing-for-and-with-the-community"> Designing for, and With, the Community </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/city-to-city-vax-disparities"> City-to-City Vax Disparities </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/five-minute-autism-diagnosis"> Five-Minute Autism Diagnosis </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/clock-is-ticking-for-pennsylvanias-health"> Clock Is Ticking for Pennsylvania’s Health </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/keeping-up-with-covid"> Keeping Up with COVID </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/overdose-survival-risks"> Overdose Survival: Risks </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/hug-tree-have-granola"> Hug Tree, Have Granola </a> </dd> </dl> <dl id="menu-contents-9"> <dt> <div class="dept-x dept-technology"></div> _Tech / Science </dt> <dd> <a href="/article/this-extra-curricular-is-the-bomb"> This Extra-Curricular is the Bomb </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/shoestring-science-with-a-smartphone"> Shoestring Science, with a Smartphone </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/power-patch-for-wearable-tech"> Power Patch for Wearable Tech </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/how-to-study-a-condo-collapse"> How to Study a Condo Collapse </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/algo-knits-for-smart-fabrics"> Algo Knits for Smart Fabrics </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/mercury-falling"> Efficient Mercury Removal </a> </dd> <dd> <a href="/article/forever-contaminated"> Forever Contaminated </a> </dd> </div>  </div> </li> <li id="nav-issues"> <a href="#">Recent Issues</a> <div id="menu-issues-container" class="menu-dropdown"> <div id="menu-issues-arrow" class="dropdown-arrow"></div> <div id="menu-issues" class="menu-dropdown-inner"> <a href="/2018" class="issue issue-right" id="issue-2018"> <div class="issue-image"></div> <h3 class="issue-title">Exel 2018</h3> </a>  <a href="/2019" class="issue issue-middle" id="issue-2019"> <div class="issue-image"></div> <h3 class="issue-title">Exel 2019</h3> </a>  <a href="/2021" class="issue issue-middle" id="issue-2021"> <div class="issue-image"></div> <h3 class="issue-title">Exel 2021</h3> </a>  <a href="/2023" class="issue issue-middle" id="issue-2023"> <div class="issue-image"></div> <h3 class="issue-title">Exel 2023</h3> </a>  </div> </div>  </li>  <li><a href="/issues/">Archives</a></li> </ul> <div class="quick-search-container"> <form id="qsearchform" method="get" action="https://exelmagazine.org/" style="margin: 0; padding: 0;"> <input id="quick-search" name="s" placeholder="Search" type="text" /> <span class="quick-search-icon icon-thin-search" onclick="jQuery('#qsearchform').submit();"></span> </form> </div> </nav> </div> </div> </header>  <div id="top-pad"> </div> <div class="white-section story-section article-news"> <div class="exel-x"> <div class="exel-x-image"> </div> <h3>2023<br/><span class="article-department">_PUBLIC HEALTH</span> Machine Learning</h3> </div> <div class="row-fluid news-header"> <h2 class="news-title">_Keeping Up with COVID</h2><div class="news-excerpt">Drexel is using machine learning to spot the rise of dangerous COVID variants that may emerge in the future. <span class="article-byline"></span></div> </div>  <div class="row-fluid row-main"> <div class="article-content"> <div class="article-researcher"><div class="article-researcher-image"><img src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/Bahrad-Sokhansanj.png" alt="" /></div><h3>_Bahrad A. Sokhansanj</h3><p>Sokhansanj is an assistant research professor in the College of Engineering.</p></div> <div class="article-content-inner"> <p>Drexel researchers hope to be among the first to spot the signs of the next dangerous COVID variant, thanks to a computer model developed in the College of Engineering.</p> <p>The model uses <a href="https://drexel.edu/news/archive/2022/August/machine-learning-covid-sequencing-projecting-severity-of-new-variants">machine learning algorithms</a> trained to identify correlations between changes in the genetic sequence of the COVID-19 virus and upticks in transmission, hospitalizations and deaths.</p> <p><a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0010482522006990">The program</a> can quickly hone in on the areas of the genetic sequence that are most likely to be linked to changes in the severity of the variant.</p> <blockquote><p> <img decoding="async" src="https://exelmagazine.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/EXEL2023_Web_sidebars_KeepingUpWithCovid.jpg" /></p> <h3></h3> <h4>Some estimates suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has only explored as little as 30–40% of the potential space for spike mutations.</h4> </blockquote> <p>“Our model is more like an early warning system for emerging variants,” says Bahrad A. Sokhansanj, an assistant research professor who led development of the computer model. “When we get a sequence, we can make a prediction about risk of severe disease from a variant before labs run experiments with animal models or cell culture, or before enough people get sick that you can collect epidemiological data.”</p> <p>Genetic and patient data from the GISAID database — the largest compendium of information on people who have been infected with the coronavirus — were used to train the algorithm.</p> <p>“Some estimates suggest that SARS-CoV-2 has only explored as little as 30–40% of the potential space for spike mutations,” says Gail Rosen, a professor in the College of Engineering who heads Drexel’s Ecological and Evolutionary Signal-processing and Informatics Laboratory. </p> <p>“When you consider that each mutation could impact key virus properties, like virulence and immune evasion, it seems vital to be able to quickly identify these variations and understand what they mean for those who are vulnerable to infection,” she says.</p> <div class="social-button-container"> <a target="_blank" href="http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://exelmagazine.org/article/keeping-up-with-covid/&t=Keeping Up with COVID"><span class="icon icon-facebook-sign"></span></a> <a target="_blank" href="http://twitter.com/home?status=Currently%20reading%3A%20%40DrexelUniv%27s%20EXEL%20Magazine%20https%3A%2F%2Fexelmagazine.org%2Farticle%2Fkeeping-up-with-covid%2F" title="Click to share this post on Twitter"><span class="icon icon-twitter-sign"></span></a> </div> </div> </div> </div>  </div> <script type="text/javascript">;(function(window, document, undefined, $) {$(document).ready(function(){ $('h6').fitText('.3');$(".article-content-inner p:nth-child(1)").initialLetter({ initialLetter: "dropped" });var exel_paras = 1; $(".article-content-inner p").each(function(){ $(this).addClass("article-paragraph-" + exel_paras); exel_paras = exel_paras + 1; });var exel_attachments = []; var i = ""; for (x in exel_attachments){ if (exel_attachments[x]["post_title"].toLowerCase()=="none"){ i = '<div class="article-main-image"><img src="'+exel_attachments[x]["large_image"][0] + '" /></div>'; } else { i = '<div class="article-main-image"><img src="'+exel_attachments[x]["large_image"][0] + '" /><div class="article-main-image-content"><h3>' + exel_attachments[x]["post_title"] + '</h3><p>' + exel_attachments[x]["post_content"] + '</p></div></div>'; } switch(x){ case "1": $(".article-paragraph-3").after(i); break; case "2": $(".article-paragraph-6").after(i); break; case "3": $(".article-paragraph-9").after(i); break; case "4": $(".article-paragraph-12").after(i); break; case "5": $(".article-paragraph-15").after(i); break; case "6": $(".article-paragraph-19").after(i); break; case "7": $(".article-paragraph-22").after(i); break; case "8": $(".article-paragraph-25").after(i); break; case "9": $(".article-paragraph-30").after(i); break; }; }$(".article-main-image").fadeIn("slow");});})(window, document, undefined, jQuery);</script> </div> <footer> <div class="row-fluid row-footer"> <div class="span3 footer-identity-container"> <img src="/wp-content/themes/exel/a/i/drexel-logo-white.png?v=32" alt="Drexel University" id="footer-identity"> </div> <div class="span3"> <dl> <dt>Drexel University</dt> <dd>3141 Chestnut Street</dd> <dd>Philadelphia, PA 19104</dd> <dd>215-895-2000</dd> <dd>© Copyright 2023 All Rights Reserved.</dd> </dl> </div> <div class="span3"> <dl> <dt>Quick Links</dt> <dd><a href="http://www.drexel.edu">Drexel Homepage</a></dd> <dd><a href="http://www.drexel.edu/research/">Drexel Research & Innovation</a></dd> <dd><a href="http://www.drexel.edu/academics/schools/">Drexel Colleges & Schools</a></dd> <dd><a href="http://drexel.edu/provost/">Drexel Office of the Provost</a></dd> </dl> </div> <div class="span2 exel-links"> <dl> <dt>Exel Magazine</dt> <dd><a href="/about/">About</a></dd> <dd><a href="https://drexel.edu/privacy">Privacy Policy</a></dd> <dd><a href="/letter/">Letter from President</a></dd> <dd><a href="/contact/">Contact</a></dd> </dl> </div> </div> </footer>    <noscript><iframe src="//www.googletagmanager.com/ns.html?id=GTM-TJCKC2" height="0" width="0" style="display:none;visibility:hidden"></iframe></noscript>   <script type="text/javascript"> (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-33235850-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview'); </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM

Keeping Up with COVID - Exel: Drexel University's Research Magazine