446 research outputs found
Using Empathy Maps to Investigate Complex Problems
The empathy map is a powerful tool that can provide insight into complex problems by revealing stakeholders’ unspoken perspectives and needs which interfere with seemingly optimal solutions.
As institutions strive to meet LCME standards, complex problems, such as mistreatment in the clinical learning environment, arise. Institutions pour resources into solutions but repeated roadblocks often result in abandoned initiatives before real change can take place.
For a solution to work it needs to be desirable (people want to do it), functional (it does what we want), and feasible (we have the resources). Often metrics for functionality and feasibility can be well defined but assessments of desirability are based on faulty assumptions which can keep an initiative from succeeding.
Empathy-based problem-solving sets you up for success by centering the human factors which make or break systemic changes. Empathy maps are part of the suite of “design thinking” tools used to solve complex problems. They make data gathered through surveys, interviews, and focus groups more tangible and reveal patterns that are otherwise lost in the details. Using empathy maps early in the design of a solution helps unearth hidden obstacles and unique levers for change thereby providing a solid foundation for successful solutions
Inclusivity in the Archives: Expanding Undergraduate Pedagogies for Diversity and Inclusion
This chapter uses the experience of two undergraduate students conducting research in their university archives to consider the “hidden curriculum” entailed in archival research at some institutions. When diverse identities and experiences are not represented in our archives, we run the risk of communicating a lack of value for those identities, producing a feeling of marginalization and exclusion for some students and foreclosing an opportunity to build solidarity across difference for others. In light of the limited holdings at many university archives and the increased prevalence of archival research in the undergraduate classroom, the authors draw on research from writing studies, anthropology, archival research, and public memory to produce recommendations for students, faculty, and institutions working to compose inclusive archives and research experiences
EvryFlare II: Rotation Periods of the Cool Flare Stars in TESS Across Half the Southern Sky
We measure rotation periods and sinusoidal amplitudes in Evryscope light
curves for 122 two-minute K5-M4 TESS targets selected for strong flaring. The
Evryscope array of telescopes has observed all bright nearby stars in the
South, producing two-minute cadence light curves since 2016. Long-term,
high-cadence observations of rotating flare stars probe the complex
relationship between stellar rotation, starspots, and superflares. We detect
periods from 0.3487 to 104 d, and observe amplitudes from 0.008 to 0.216 g'
mag. We find the Evryscope amplitudes are larger than those in TESS with the
effect correlated to stellar mass (p-value=0.01). We compute the Rossby number
(Ro), and find our sample selected for flaring has twice as many intermediate
rotators (0.040.44) rotators; this may
be astrophysical or a result of period-detection sensitivity. We discover 30
fast, 59 intermediate, and 33 slow rotators. We measure a median starspot
coverage of 13% of the stellar hemisphere and constrain the minimum magnetic
field strength consistent with our flare energies and spot coverage to be 500
G, with later-type stars exhibiting lower values than earlier-types. We observe
a possible change in superflare rates at intermediate periods. However, we do
not conclusively confirm the increased activity of intermediate rotators seen
in previous studies. We split all rotators at Ro~0.2 into Prot10
d bins to confirm short-period rotators exhibit higher superflare rates, larger
flare energies, and higher starspot coverage than do long-period rotators, at
p-values of 3.2 X 10^-5, 1.0 X 10^-5, and 0.01, respectively.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Ancillary machine-readable files
included. Accepted for publication in ApJ (proofs submitted). Includes
significant new material, including starspot color that depends on stellar
mass, more rotation periods, potential changes in activity during spin-down,
and examples of binary rotator
Variables in the Southern Polar Region Evryscope 2016 Dataset
The regions around the celestial poles offer the ability to find and
characterize long-term variables from ground-based observatories. We used
multi-year Evryscope data to search for high-amplitude (~5% or greater)
variable objects among 160,000 bright stars (Mv < 14.5) near the South
Celestial Pole. We developed a machine learning based spectral classifier to
identify eclipse and transit candidates with M-dwarf or K-dwarf host stars -
and potential low-mass secondary stars or gas giant planets. The large
amplitude transit signals from low-mass companions of smaller dwarf host stars
lessens the photometric precision and systematics removal requirements
necessary for detection, and increases the discoveries from long-term
observations with modest light curve precision. The Evryscope is a robotic
telescope array that observes the Southern sky continuously at 2-minute
cadence, searching for stellar variability, transients, transits around exotic
stars and other observationally challenging astrophysical variables. In this
study, covering all stars 9 < Mv < 14.5, in declinations -75 to -90 deg, we
recover 346 known variables and discover 303 new variables, including 168
eclipsing binaries. We characterize the discoveries and provide the amplitudes,
periods, and variability type. A 1.7 Jupiter radius planet candidate with a
late K-dwarf primary was found and the transit signal was verified with the
PROMPT telescope network. Further followup revealed this object to be a likely
grazing eclipsing binary system with nearly identical primary and secondary K5
stars. Radial velocity measurements from the Goodman Spectrograph on the 4.1
meter SOAR telescope of the likely-lowest-mass targets reveal that six of the
eclipsing binary discoveries are low-mass (.06 - .37 solar mass) secondaries
with K-dwarf primaries, strong candidates for precision mass-radius
measurements.Comment: 32 pages, 17 figures, accepted to PAS
Long-term outcomes after elective sterilization procedures — a comparative retrospective cohort study of Medicaid patients
Objectives: The objectives were to compare the long-termoutcomes, including hysterectomy, chronic pelvic pain (CPP) and abnormal uterine bleeding (AUB), in women post hysteroscopic sterilization (HS) and laparoscopic tubal ligation (TL) in the Medicaid population.
Study design: This was a retrospective observational cohort analysis using data from the US Medicaid Analytic Extracts Encounters database.Women aged 18 to 49 years with at least one claimfor HS (n=3929) or TL (n=10,875) between July 1, 2009, through December 31, 2010, were included. Main outcome measures were hysterectomy, CPP or AUB in the 24 months poststerilization. Propensity score matching was used to control for patient demographics and baseline characteristics. Logistic regression analysis investigated the variables associated with a 24-month rate of each outcome in the HS versus laparoscopic TL cohorts.
Results: Postmatching analyses were performed at 6, 12 and 24 months post index procedure. At 24 months, hysterectomy was more common in the laparoscopic TL than the HS group (3.5% vs. 2.1%; p=.0023), as was diagnosis of CPP (26.8% vs. 23.5%; p=.0050). No significant differences in AUB diagnoseswere observed. Logistic regression identified HS as being associated with lower risk of hysterectomy ( odds ratio [OR] 0.77 [95% confidence interval {CI} 0.60–0.97]; p=.0274) and lower risk of CPP diagnosis (OR 0.91 [95% CI 0.83–0.99]; p= .0336) at 24 months poststerilization.
Conclusion: In Medicaid patients,HS is associated with a significantly lower risk of hysterectomyor CPP diagnosis 24 months poststerilization versus laparoscopic TL. Incidence of AUB poststerilization is not significantly different.While some differences in outcomes were statistically significant, the effect sizes were small, and the conclusion is one of equivalence and not clinical superiority.
Implications statement: This propensity score matching analysis confirms that pelvic pain andAUBarecommon in women before and after sterilization regardless of whether the procedure is performed hysteroscopically or laparoscopically. Moreover, HS is associated with a significantly lower risk of hysterectomy or a CPP diagnosis in the 24 months poststerilization when compared to TL
Evryscope and K2 Constraints on TRAPPIST-1 Superflare Occurrence and Planetary Habitability
The nearby ultracool dwarf TRAPPIST-1 possesses several Earth-sized
terrestrial planets, three of which have equilibrium temperatures that may
support liquid surface water, making it a compelling target for exoplanet
characterization. TRAPPIST-1 is an active star with frequent flaring, with
implications for the habitability of its planets. Superflares (stellar flares
whose energy exceeds 10^33 erg) can completely destroy the atmospheres of a
cool star's planets, allowing ultraviolet radiation and high-energy particles
to bombard their surfaces. However, ultracool dwarfs emit little ultraviolet
flux when quiescent, raising the possibility of frequent flares being necessary
for prebiotic chemistry that requires ultraviolet light. We combine Evryscope
and Kepler observations to characterize the high-energy flare rate of
TRAPPIST-1. The Evryscope is an array of 22 small telescopes imaging the entire
Southern sky in g' every two minutes. Evryscope observations, spanning 170
nights over 2 years, complement the 80-day continuous short-cadence K2
observations by sampling TRAPPIST-1's long-term flare activity. We update
TRAPPIST-1's superflare rate, finding a cumulative rate of 4.2 (+1.9 -0.2)
superflares per year. We calculate the flare rate necessary to deplete ozone in
the habitable-zone planets' atmospheres, and find that TRAPPIST-1's flare rate
is insufficient to deplete ozone if present on its planets. In addition, we
calculate the flare rate needed to provide enough ultraviolet flux to power
prebiotic chemistry. We find TRAPPIST-1's flare rate is likely insufficient to
catalyze some of the Earthlike chemical pathways thought to lead to RNA
synthesis, and flux due to flares in the biologically relevant UV-B band is
orders of magnitude less for any TRAPPIST-1 planet than has been experienced by
Earth at any time in its history.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures. Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal, in pres
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Kernochan Center for Law, Media and the Arts Panel Transcript: Who’s Left Holding the [Brand Name] Bag? Secondary Liability for Trademark Infringement on the Internet
Proposed Secondary Liability Regimes for Trademark Infringement Online: Commentary
JANE GINSBURG: This is our last panel, and the object is to bring a number of experts, including practitioners and academics, from the United States and from abroad, to react to the two proposals that we just heard. Each of the panelists will give initial comments, and then we are going to go around the table again so that our panelists can react to one another’s comments
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Drought supersedes warming in determining volatile and tissue defenses of piñon pine (Pinus edulis)
Trees are suffering mortality across the globe as a result of drought, warming, and biotic attacks. The combined effects of warming and drought on in situ tree chemical defenses against herbivory have not been studied to date. To address this, we transplanted mature pinon pine trees-a well-studied species that has undergone extensive drought and herbivore-related mortality-within their native woodland habitat and also to a hotter-drier habitat and measured monoterpene emissions and concentrations across the growing season. We hypothesized that greater needle temperatures in the hotter-drier site would increase monoterpene emission rates and consequently lower needle monoterpene concentrations, and that this temperature effect would dominate the seasonal pattern of monoterpene concentrations regardless of drought. In support of our hypothesis, needle monoterpene concentrations were lower across all seasons in trees transplanted to the hotter-drier site. Contrary to our hypothesis, basal emission rates (emission rates normalized to 30 degrees C and a radiative flux of 1000 mu mol m(-2) s(-1)) did not differ between sites. This is because an increase in emissions at the hotter-drier site from a 1.5 degrees C average temperature increase was offset by decreased emissions from greater plant water stress. High emission rates were frequently observed during June, which were not related to plant physiological or environmental factors but did not occur below pre-dawn leaf water potentials of -2 MPa, the approximate zero carbon assimilation point in pinon pine. Emission rates were also not under environmental or plant physiological control when pre-dawn leaf water potential was less than -2 MPa. Our results suggest that drought may override the effects of temperature on monoterpene emissions and tissue concentrations, and that the influence of drought may occur through metabolic processes sensitive to the overall needle carbon balance.National Science Foundation, Division of Atmospheric and Geospace Sciences [0919189]; USDA National Institute of Food and Agriculture Hatch project [MONB00389, 228396]; National Science Foundation, Division of Integrative Organismal Systems [1755346]; National Science Foundation Division of Environmental Biology [1552976]; Department of the Energy National Institute for Climate Change Research (Western Region) [DE-FCO2-O6ER64159]; National Science Foundation Macrosystems Biology [EF-1340624, EF-1550756]; Critical Zone Observatories [EAR-1331408]; DIRENet [DEB-0443526]; Biosphere 2 through the Philecology Foundation (Fort Worth, TX); US Environmental Protection Agency (STAR Fellowship Assistance Agreement) [FP-91717801-0]Open access journalThis item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at [email protected]
Evryscope and K2 Constraints on TRAPPIST-1 Superflare Occurrence and Planetary Habitability
The nearby ultracool dwarf TRAPPIST-1 possesses several Earth-sized terrestrial planets, three of which have equilibrium temperatures that may support liquid surface water, making it a compelling target for exoplanet characterization. TRAPPIST-1 is an active star with frequent flaring, with implications for the habitability of its planets. Superflares (stellar flares whose energy exceeds 1033 erg) can completely destroy the atmospheres of a cool star's planets, allowing ultraviolet radiation and high-energy particles to bombard their surfaces. However, ultracool dwarfs emit little ultraviolet flux when quiescent, raising the possibility of frequent flares being necessary for prebiotic chemistry that requires ultraviolet light. We combine Evryscope and Kepler observations to characterize the high-energy flare rate of TRAPPIST-1. The Evryscope is an array of 22 small telescopes imaging the entire Southern sky in g' every two minutes. Evryscope observations, spanning 170 nights over 2 yr, complement the 80 day continuous short-cadence K2 observations by sampling TRAPPIST-1's long-term flare activity. We update TRAPPIST-1's superflare rate, finding a cumulative rate of 4.2−0.2+1.9 superflares per year. We calculate the flare rate necessary to deplete ozone in the habitable-zone planets' atmospheres, and find that TRAPPIST-1's flare rate is insufficient to deplete ozone if present on its planets. In addition, we calculate the flare rate needed to provide enough ultraviolet flux to power prebiotic chemistry. We find TRAPPIST-1's flare rate is likely insufficient to catalyze some of the Earthlike chemical pathways thought to lead to ribonucleic acid synthesis, and flux due to flares in the biologically relevant UV-B band is orders of magnitude less for any TRAPPIST-1 planet than has been experienced by Earth at any time in its history
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