[120 total points] (public health) in one of the largest human experiments ever conducted, in 1954 a randomized controlled trial was run to see whether a vaccine developed by a doctor named jonas salk was effective in preventing paralytic polio. a total of 401,974 children (ages 6–9), chosen to be representative of those who might be susceptible to the disease, were randomized to two groups: 200,745 children (the control group c) were injected with a harmless saline solution (a placebo) and the other 201,229 children (the treatment group t) were injected with salk’s vaccine. what was the point of giving saline solution to the children who didn’t get the vaccine? explain briefly.

Which of the following represents the results of a review of well-controlled studies of vitamin c supplementation on the resistance to, and recovery from, colds? there was a reduction in the duration of colds by 50% on the average. there was a slight effect on reducing the duration and severity of colds for people taking vitamin c supplements. there was a significant reduction in the duration of colds in people who consumed at least one gram a day. there was a significant reduction in the number of colds only in people who consumed > three grams per day.

Tessa’s friend milo offers her a ride home. tessa does not like riding with milo. he insists that everyone wear a seat belt, and he listens to classical music. he drives a small car, and usually texts while driving. why should tessa refuse milo’s offer? milo texts while driving. milo listens to classical music. milo drives a small car. milo insists that everyone wear a seat belt.

Which of the following best reflects what we know about how the flu virus moves between species? a) the flu virus in a pig is mutated and replicated in alternate arrangements so that humans who eat the pig products can be infected.b) a flu virus from a human epidemic or pandemic infects birds; the birds replicate the virus differently and then pass it back to humans.c) an influenza virus gains new sequences of dna from another virus, such as a herpesvirus; this enables it to be transmitted to a human host.d) an animal such as a pig is infected with more than one virus, genetic recombination occurs, the new virus mutates, the virus is passed to a new species such as a bird, and the virus mutates again and can now be transmitted to humans.