Out of the Blue: A Mother\u27s Memoir of Our Family\u27s Transgender Experience

OUT OF THE BLUE: A MOTHER\u27S MEMOIR OF OUR FAMILY\u27S TRANSGENDER EXPERIENCE is a memoir about what it has been like to discover that the baby girl I gave birth to almost forty years ago, now identifies as a female to male transgender person. He began his transformation both physically and legally over five years ago. Though it is a story about our entire family\u27s transformation, it focuses mainly on what this has been like for me as a mother and the relationship I have with my first-born child. Noted psychologist, Arlene Ishtar Lev states in Transgender Emergence: Therapeutic Guidelines for Working with Gender-Variant People and Their Families Transgendered people have too often been viewed as people without families, or, sadly, as though their families are disposable (Lev, 271). One of the purposes of this memoir is an effort to dispel that view. Transgender people do have families and the transformation process is a family process. Our family stories need to be heard. This is one of them

Variable fidelity modeling as applied to trajectory optimization for a hydraulic backhoe

Modeling, simulation, and optimization play vital roles throughout the engineering design process; however, in many design disciplines the cost of simulation is high, and designers are faced with a tradeoff between the number of alternatives that can be evaluated and the accuracy with which they can be evaluated. In this thesis, a methodology is presented for using models of various levels of fidelity during the optimization process. The intent is to use inexpensive, low-fidelity models with limited accuracy to recognize poor design alternatives and reserve the high-fidelity, accurate, but also expensive models only to characterize the best alternatives. Specifically, by setting a user-defined performance threshold, the optimizer can explore the design space using a low-fidelity model by default, and switch to a higher fidelity model only if the performance threshold is attained. In this manner, the high fidelity model is used only to discern the best solution from the set of good solutions, so that computational resources are conserved until the optimizer is close to the solution. This makes the optimization process more efficient without sacrificing the quality of the solution. The method is illustrated by optimizing the trajectory of a hydraulic backhoe. To characterize the robustness and efficiency of the method, a design space exploration is performed using both the low and high fidelity models, and the optimization problem is solved multiple times using the variable fidelity framework.M.S.Committee Chair: Paredis, Chris; Committee Member: Bras, Bert; Committee Member: Burkhart, Roger; Committee Member: Choi, Seung-Kyu

Value-based global optimization

Computational models and simulations are essential system design tools that allow for improved decision making and cost reductions during all phases of the design process. However, the most accurate models are often computationally expensive and can therefore only be used sporadically. Consequently, designers are often forced to choose between exploring many design alternatives with less accurate, inexpensive models and evaluating fewer alternatives with the most accurate models. To achieve both broad exploration of the alternatives and accurate determination of the best alternative with reasonable costs incurred, surrogate modeling and variable accuracy modeling are used widely. A surrogate model is a mathematically tractable approximation of a more expensive model based on a limited sampling of that model, while variable accuracy modeling involves a collection of different models of the same system with different accuracies and computational costs. As compared to using only very accurate and expensive models, designers can determine the best solutions more efficiently using surrogate and variable accuracy models because obviously poor solutions can be eliminated inexpensively using only the less expensive, less accurate models. The most accurate models are then reserved for discerning the best solution from the set of good solutions. In this thesis, a Value-Based Global Optimization (VGO) algorithm is introduced. The algorithm uses kriging-like surrogate models and a sequential sampling strategy based on Value of Information (VoI) to optimize an objective characterized by multiple analysis models with different accuracies. It builds on two primary research contributions. The first is a novel surrogate modeling method that accommodates data from any number of analysis models with different accuracies and costs. The second contribution is the use of Value of Information (VoI) as a new metric for guiding the sequential sampling process for global optimization. In this manner, the cost of further analysis is explicitly taken into account during the optimization process. Results characterizing the algorithm show that VGO outperforms Efficient Global Optimization (EGO), a similar global optimization algorithm that is considered to be the current state of the art. It is shown that when cost is taken into account in the final utility, VGO achieves a higher utility than EGO with statistical significance. In further experiments, it is shown that VGO can be successfully applied to higher dimensional problems as well as practical engineering design examples.PhDCommittee Chair: Paredis, Chris; Committee Member: Bras, Bert; Committee Member: Leamy, Michael; Committee Member: Romero, David; Committee Member: Wu, C.F. Jef

Reflections on the Impact of COVID-19 on Pre-College Engineering Education: An Afterword to the Special Issue

In our call for proposals, our aim was to explore and document how COVID-19 has impacted pre-college engineering education (Alemdar et al., 2021). During COVID-19, engineering pre-college educators quickly adapted to new learning environments and technologies for teaching and learning. It was important to document these adaptations and lessons learned in formal and informal learning settings. The papers that made up this special show how lessons learned during this challenging time can inform the future of precollege engineering education. The papers offer both theoretical argumentation and empirical evidence to support their answers to the question of how adaptations during COVID-19 impacted pre-college engineering learning. A recurring theme of these papers is that worthy pre-college engineering learning experiences are possible even during unprecedented times. In this paper, we reflect on the papers, their individual and collective findings, and we highlight the impact of COVID-19 on education

Call for Papers: A Special Issue of the Journal of Pre-College Engineering Education Research on ‘‘The Impact of Covid-19 on Pre-College Engineering Education’’

We invite original manuscripts that explore and document how COVID-19 has impacted pre-college engineering education

(Re)claiming an activist identity as criticalmathematics educators: addressing anti-black racism because #BlackLivesMatter

In the 8th annual meeting of the International Mathematics Education and Society (MES-8), Martin (2015) asked the critical question, “where does critical mathematics education stand, and demonstrate unequivocal action, against anti-black racism, racial terror, and global white supremacy?” This question marked a call to action for criticalmathematics educators to think not only about the liberatory and emancipatory possibilities of mathematics education, but to specifically address race and racism more explicitly as a field. Using Powell’s (2012) “futuristic definition” of a criticalmathematics educator as mathematician, educator, and activist, the authors argue that while criticalmathematics educators have successfully pushed educators to consider improved pedagogical strategies for greater equity, more social action is needed to fight racism. The authors advocate for greater attention to Martin’s call to action and the need for criticalmathematics educators to actively and explicitly engage in more unequivocal action against global white supremacy and anti-black racism

Providing recommendations for a workplace-initiated intervention to reduce alcohol use in retirement: views of older drinkers and occupational health professionals

Introduction and Aims The frequency and consumption of alcohol by older people is an increasing public health concern and literature suggests that retirement may influence this. The aims of this thesis were to explore alcohol use across retirement and to determine if and how an intervention could be implemented upon retiring to reduce the frequency of alcohol consumption. Design and Methods The thesis comprised three studies in order to fully answer my research questions. Study 1 was a systematic review of interventions to reduce alcohol use in later life. Study 1 informed the interview guides for Studies 2 and 3, which used semi-structured interviews with 17 individuals who were five years pre/post retirement (Study 2) and 10 individuals working in human Resources/Occupational Health (Study 3) to gain perspectives of alcohol use in retirement and recommendations for an intervention. Data were analysed using a Framework approach, with emergent themes being established throughout analysis. Results Study 1 consisted of a review of seven papers, examining the success of interventions aimed at older adults and found that there was varying success, and that interventions often lacked detail to establish exactly what worked and for whom. Results from Study 2 suggested that an intervention would be acceptable and should focus holistically on retirement; not solely on alcohol. Individuals also felt that delivering an intervention by smartphone or a computer application would be appropriate, providing there was some face-to-face support. Human Resources interviewees in Study 3 were open to an intervention and felt that incorporating more support for employees was their responsibility, but not their obligation. Conclusions This thesis presents novel findings related to alcohol use in retirement and has the potential to inform a future intervention that could be implemented in the workplace prior to retirement

Harmful Traditional Practices in the Workplace – New Zealand context: Guidance for Best Practice.

Organisations have become increasingly aware that their staff, and the people who use their services, are multidimensional. Employees and service-users bring to an organisation their skills and abilities as well as their personal relationships and problems. For employers to address harmful traditional practices (HTPs), an important first step is to understand what these are, why they take place, and who is affected. For instance, it is important to know that worldwide, every social grouping has specific traditional practices, often spanning generations, that reflect the values and beliefs held by members of a community. While some are beneficial, others are harmful. The term HTPs is used to describe specific forms of abuse committed primarily against girls and women. However, HTPs occur across all sexes, sexual identities, and genders, and are not unique to any one culture, country, or religion. Honour Abuse Research Matrix (HARM) is an international consortium of researchers, practitioners, policy makers and support agencies, working to research and pioneer strategies to eliminate harmful practices, including ‘honour’ abuse, forced marriage, and female genital mutilation (FGM). HARM, UK version was funded by Research England to produce this jargon free, evidence-based, workplace guidance for best practice so organisations and their employees feel motivated, confident, and empowered to respond appropriately when they suspect or encounter HTP

Contributions of Astronauts Aerobic Exercise Intensity and Time on Change in VO2peak during Spaceflight

There is considerable variability among astronauts with respect to changes in maximal aerobic capacity (VO2peak) during International Space Station (ISS) missions, ranging from a 5% increase to 30% decline. Individual differences may be due to in-flight aerobic exercise time and intensity. PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of in-flight aerobic exercise time and intensity on change in VO2peak during ISS missions. METHODS: Astronauts (N=11) performed peak cycle tests approx 60 days before flight (L-60), on flight day (FD) approx 14, and every approx 30 days thereafter. Metabolic gas analysis and heart rate (HR) were measured continuously during the test using the portable pulmonary function system. HR and duration of each in-flight cycle ergometer and treadmill (TM) session were recorded and averaged in time segments corresponding to each peak test. Mixed effects linear regression with exercise mode (TM or cycle) as a categorical variable was used to assess the contributions of exercise intensity (%time >70% peak HR or %time >90% peak HR) and time (min/wk), adjusted for body weight, on %change in VO2peak during the mission, and incorporating the repeated-measures experimental design. RESULTS: 110 observations were included in the model (4-6 peak cycle tests per astronaut, 2 exercise devices). VO2peak was reduced from preflight throughout the mission (FD14: 13+/-13% and FD 105: 8+/-10%). Exercise intensity (%peak HR: FD14=66+/-14; FD105=75+/-8) and time (min/wk: FD14=82+/-46; FD105=158+/-40) increased during flight. The models showed main effects for exercise time and intensity with no interactions between time, intensity, and device (70% peak HR: time [z-score=2.39; P=0.017], intensity [z-score=3.51; P=0.000]; 90% peak HR: time [zscore= 3.31; P=0.001], intensity [z-score=2.24; P=0.025]). CONCLUSION: Exercise time and intensity independently contribute to %change in VO2peak during ISS missions, indicating that there are minimal values for exercise time and intensity required to maintain VO2peak. As the FD105 average exercise intensity and time did not prevent a decline in VO2peak from preflight, astronauts' exercise prescriptions should target at least 160 min of weekly aerobic exercise at an average above 75% peak HR with increased time at intensities above 90% of peak HR starting early in the mission

The Forum: Winter 2001

Winter 2001 journal of the Honors Program at the University of North Dakota. The issue includes stories, poems, essays and art by undergraduate students.https://commons.und.edu/und-books/1047/thumbnail.jp