Assessing Post-ADA Employment: Some Econometric Evidence and Policy Considerations

This article explores the relationship between the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the relative labor market outcomes for people with disabilities. Using individual-level longitudinal data from 1981 to 1996 derived from the previously unexploited Panel Study of Income Dynamics (“PSID”), we examine the possible effect of the ADA on (1) annual weeks worked; (2) annual earnings; and (3) hourly wages for a sample of 7120 unique male household heads between the ages of 21 and 65 as well as a subset of 1437 individuals appearing every year from 1981 to 1996. Our analysis of the larger sample suggests the ADA had a negative impact on the employment levels of disabled persons relative to non-disabled persons but no impact on relative earnings. However, our evaluation of the restricted sample raises questions about these findings. Using these data, we find little evidence of adverse effects on weeks worked but strong evidence of wage declines for the disabled, albeit declines beginning in 1986, well before the ADA’s passage. These results therefore cast doubt on the adverse ADA-related impacts found in previous studies, particularly Acemoglu and Angrist (2001). The conflicting narratives that emerge from our analysis shed new light on, but also counsel caution in reaching final conclusions about, the impact of the ADA on employment outcomes for people with disabilities

Assessing Post-ADA Employment: Some Econometric Evidence and Policy Considerations

This article explores the relationship between the Americans with Disabilities Act (“ADA”) and the relative labor market outcomes for people with disabilities. Using individual-level longitudinal data from 1981 to 1996 derived from the previously unexploited Panel Study of Income Dynamics (“PSID”), we examine the possible effect of the ADA on (1) annual weeks worked; (2) annual earnings; and (3) hourly wages for a sample of 7120 unique male household heads between the ages of 21 and 65 as well as a subset of 1437 individuals appearing every year from 1981 to 1996. Our analysis of the larger sample suggests the ADA had a negative impact on the employment levels of disabled persons relative to non-disabled persons but no impact on relative earnings. However, our evaluation of the restricted sample raises questions about these findings. Using these data, we find little evidence of adverse effects on weeks worked but strong evidence of wage declines for the disabled, albeit declines beginning in 1986, well before the ADA’s passage. These results therefore cast doubt on the adverse ADA-related impacts found in previous studies, particularly Acemoglu and Angrist (2001). The conflicting narratives that emerge from our analysis shed new light on, but also counsel caution in reaching final conclusions about, the impact of the ADA on employment outcomes for people with disabilities

Patient Portals: Who uses them? What features do they use? And do they reduce hospital readmissions?

Patient portals have demonstrated numerous benefits including improved patientprovider communication, patient satisfaction with care, and patient engagement. Recent literature has begun to illustrate how patients use selected portal features and an association between portal usage and improved clinical outcomes

Conversational Agents and Connected Devices to Support Chronic Disease Self-Management

This dissertation focused on designing, developing, and evaluating the usability of a conversational agent for hypertension self-management. The objectives were to: 1) assess patient needs and preferences of a conversational agent; 2) design, develop, and evaluate a conversational agent prototype; and 3) identify physical activity clusters from wearable devices and evaluate the association between physical activity and health status, which could be used to facilitate future contextually aware dialogues as physical activity can be used to improve hypertension control. Leveraging a user-centered design process, patients with hypertension (n=15) participated in semi-structured interviews to elicit needs and perceptions towards using conversational agents to assist with managing blood pressure and medications. Based on these needs, a functional prototype was iteratively designed and developed. Another sample of patients with hypertension (n=10) participated in task-based usability testing to assess the usability and acceptability for assisting with self-management tasks. Cluster analysis of wearable device data from patients (n=430) was conducted to identify physical activity patterns that could inform tailored coaching strategies. We examined the relationship between physical activity clusters and health status using cross-sectional and longitudinal analyses. Usability testing revealed that patients demonstrated curiosity towards interacting with conversational agents for hypertension self-management behaviors for managing medications and refills, communicating with the care team, and maintaining healthy lifestyles. Patients expressed concerns about conversational agents being intrusive and providing too much information. Usability testing showed high rates of task completion and acceptability. Conversational user experience could be improved with additional navigational features of menu and back buttons, contextual error messages, and a health professional persona. Cluster analysis revealed three activity phenotypes of low, moderate, and high physical activity. Patients in the low activity cluster reported significantly worse patient-reported outcomes compared to those with moderate and high physical activity (p<0.05). The majority of patients remained in their original physical activity cluster across 6-month periods. Within this emergent field, this research contributes towards improving the design, usability, and dialogues of self-management conversational agents. This research is an important step towards realizing the potential and implications of conversational agents to support chronic disease self-management and improve health outcomes.Doctor of Philosoph

Photometrically-Classified Superluminous Supernovae from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Survey: A Case Study for Science with Machine Learning-Based Classification

With the upcoming Vera C. Rubin Observatory Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST), it is expected that only $\sim 0.1\%$ of all transients will be classified spectroscopically. To conduct studies of rare transients, such as Type I superluminous supernovae (SLSNe), we must instead rely on photometric classification. In this vein, here we carry out a pilot study of SLSNe from the Pan-STARRS1 Medium-Deep Survey (PS1-MDS) classified photometrically with our SuperRAENN and Superphot algorithms. We first construct a sub-sample of the photometric sample using a list of simple selection metrics designed to minimize contamination and ensure sufficient data quality for modeling. We then fit the multi-band light curves with a magnetar spin-down model using the Modular Open-Source Fitter for Transients (MOSFiT). Comparing the magnetar engine and ejecta parameter distributions of the photometric sample to those of the PS1-MDS spectroscopic sample and a larger literature spectroscopic sample, we find that these samples are overall consistent, but that the photometric sample extends to slower spins and lower ejecta masses, which correspond to lower luminosity events, as expected for photometric selection. While our PS1-MDS photometric sample is still smaller than the overall SLSN spectroscopic sample, our methodology paves the way to an orders-of-magnitude increase in the SLSN sample in the LSST era through photometric selection and study.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Ap

Discussion of Bar Applicants Taking Noncommunist Oath

With responses from two Bar members

Effectiveness of TED Stockings on Circulation and Blood Clotting

Circulatory issues can stem from many disease that cause blood clots specifically in the legs, adding compression is known to help reduce blood clotting. The goal of this research project is to better understand the purpose and effectiveness of TED stocking on circulation and blood clotting and whether it is still an effective practice. The outcome of this research project is to improve our practice through the use of TED stockings for circulation and blood clotting

Farm Data: Ownership and Protections

The issue of farm data has been a contentious point of debate with respect to ownership rights and impacts when access rights are misappropriated. One of the leading questions farmers ask deals with the protections provided to farm data. Although no specific laws or precedence exists, the possibility of trade secret is examined and ramifications for damages discussed. Farm management examples are provided to emphasize the potential outcomes of each possible recourse for misappropriating farm data.AgManager.info, Kansas State University, Agricultural Law Education Initiative, and University of Marylan