Grand Launch of the Black Resource Center: Michael Tadesse-Bell\u27s Speech

This speech was given by Michael Tadesse-Bell at the Grand Opening of the Black Resource Center (BRC) - the third component of the Black Academic Success and Engagement Program (BASE). Michael has a BS in Business Administration and an MA in Sports Management, both from USF. He is the BASE Program Manager and Assistant Dean of Retention and Persistence Programs here at USF

O papel do treino no taekwondo e o bem-estar subjetivo dos adolescentes em Adis Abeba, Etiópia

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of taekwondo (TKD) training on the subjective well-being (SWB) of adolescents (12-18 years old) in Addis Ababa city. A cross-sectional survey method was used; self-administered questionnaire was the main data collection tool. A total number of 162 adolescents (108 TKD adolescents from four randomly selected TKD clubs and 54 non-TKD adolescents from a randomly selected public high school), participated in the study. The study sought to determine TKD adolescents’ level of SWB as measured by the Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children (PWI-SC). Besides, adolescents in different groups (TKD adolescents in three groups according to rank/belt level and TKD adolescents and non-TKD adolescents) were compared based on their score of PWI-SC. Results of the study showed that: (1) TKD adolescents had high level (mean points) of SWB as measured by the PWI-SC, i.e., 81.95 (95%CI: 79.70 to 84.20); (2) there was no significant difference in SWB among the three groups of TKD adolescents (lower, middle and high level belts) (F(2, 81) = 1.58, p > .05.); and (3) when compared with non-TKD adolescents, TKD adolescents were found to have a significantly higher mean points of SWB, (t = 4.25(77.97), p < 0.001; d = 0.79). Overall, the results of this study indicated the training of TKD can have a positive contribution to adolescents’ well-being.El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el papel del entrenamiento en taekwondo (TKD) en el bienestar subjetivo (BS) de adolescentes (12-18 años) en la ciudad de Adís Abeba. Se utilizó un método de encuesta transversal, y un cuestionario autoadministrado como principal herramienta para la recolección de datos. Un total de 162 adolescentes (108 practicantes de TKD de cuatro clubes de TKD seleccionados aleatoriamente y 54 adolescentes no practicantes de TKD de una escuela pública secundaria seleccionada aleatoriamente), participaron en el estudio. El trabajo trató de determinar el nivel de bienestar subjetivo de los adolescentes de TKD a través del Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children (PWI-SC). Además, se compararon los adolescentes por grupos (adolescentes de TKD en tres grupos según su grado/cinturón y adolescentes practicantes – no practicantes) de acuerdo a sus puntuaciones de PWI-SC. Los resultados del estudio mostraron que: (1) los adolescentes de TKD tenían un nivel alto (puntuación media) de BS medido por el PWI-SC (81,95 ; 95%IC: 79,70 a 84,20); (2) no hubo diferencias significativas en el BS entre los tres grupos de adolescentes de TKD (cinturones de nivel bajo, medio y alto) (F(2, 81) = 1.58, p> .05.); y (3) en comparación con los adolescentes no practicantes de TKD, los adolescentes de TKD tuvieron una puntuación media de BS significativamente más alta (t = 4,25(77,97), p <0,001; d = 0,79). En general, los resultados de este estudio indican que el entrenamiento en  puede suponer una contribución positiva al bienestar de los adolescentes.O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar o papel do treino no taekwondo (TKD) no bem-estar subjetivo (BS) dos adolescentes (12-18 anos) na cidade de Adis Abeba, Etiópia. Utilizou-se um método transversal e um questionário autoadministrado, como principal ferramenta para a recolha de dados. Um total de 162 adolescentes (108 praticantes de TKD de quatro clubes de TKD selecionados aleatoriamente e 54 adolescentes não praticantes de TKD de uma escola pública secundária selecionada aleatoriamente) participaram no estudo. O trabalho tratou de determinar o nível de bem-estar subjetivo dos adolescentes de TKD através do “Personal Wellbeing Index-School Children” (PWI-SC). Por outro lado, comparou-se os adolescentes por grupos (adolescentes de TKD em três grupos segundo a graduação/cinto e adolescentes praticantes – não praticantes), de acordo com as suas pontuações de PWI-SC. Os resultados do estudo revelam que: (1) os adolescentes de TKD tinham um nível elevado (pontuação média) de BS medido pelo PWI-SC (81,95; 95%IC: 79,70 a 84,20); (2) não houve diferenças significativas no BS entre os três grupos de adolescentes de TKD (graduações de baixo nível, médio e alto) (F(2, 81) = 1.58, p> .05.); e (3) em comparação com os adolescentes não praticantes de TKD, os adolescentes tiveram uma pontuação média de BS significativamente más alta (t = 4,25(77,97), p <0,001; d = 0,79). Em geral, os resultados deste estudo indicam que o treino pode contribuir positivamente para o bem-estar dos adolescentes

A new approach for predicting drought-related vegetation stress: Integrating satellite, climate, and biophysical data over the U.S. central plains

Droughts are normal climate episodes, yet they are among the most expensive natural disasters in the world. Knowledge about the timing, severity, and pattern of droughts on the landscape can be incorporated into effective planning and decisionmaking. In this study, we present a data mining approach to modeling vegetation stress due to drought and mapping its spatial extent during the growing season. Rule-based regression tree models were generated that identify relationships between satellite-derived vegetation conditions, climatic drought indices, and biophysical data, including land-cover type, available soil water capacity, percent of irrigated farm land, and ecological type. The data mining method builds numerical rule-based models that find relationships among the input variables. Because the models can be applied iteratively with input data from previous time periods, the method enables to provide predictions of vegetation conditions farther into the growing season based on earlier conditions. Visualizing the model outputs as mapped information (called VegPredict) provides a means to evaluate the model. We present prototype maps for the 2002 drought year for Nebraska and South Dakota and discuss potential uses for these maps

Impact assessment in schools: impact of WASH provision in teaching-learning process, Benishangul Gumuz, Assosa Zone, Menge Woreda

Most of schools in Menge woreda had no safe water supply for the school community. To address this problem, WaterAid Ethiopia constructed water supply schemes and sanitation facilities in the schools’ vicinity. To assess the impact of facilities on the teachinglearning process, data was collected for five months that is the study period (from 01 Nov. 07 to 31 March 08) using questionnaires. The study found that the major reason for absence or tardiness is the sum result of household workloads, such as fetching water; followed by lack of hygiene awareness and resulting health problems. Majority of health problems are due to WASHrelated diseases. Yet, the students’ reasons for poor hygiene are not related to a lack of awareness. Recommendations are provided for action. These include establishing effective school sanitation clubs, raising parent awareness through education, strengthening sector collaboration and advocacy on relationship between education and WASH

El papel del entrenamiento en taekwondo en el bienestar subjetivo de adolescentes en Adís Abeba, Etiopía

[ES] El objetivo de este estudio fue investigar el papel del entrenamiento en taekwondo (TKD) en el bienestar subjetivo (BS) de adolescentes (12‐18 años) en la ciudad de Adís Abeba. Se utilizó un método de encuesta transversal, y un cuestionario autoadministrado como principal herramienta para la recolección de datos. Un total de 162 adolescentes (108 practicantes de TKD de cuatro clubes de TKD seleccionados aleatoriamente y 54 adolescentes no practicantes de TKD de una escuela pública secundaria seleccionada aleatoriamente), participaron en el estudio. El trabajo trató de determinar el nivel de bienestar subjetivo de los adolescentes de TKD a través del Personal Wellbeing Index – School Children (PWI‐SC). Además, se compararon los adolescentes por grupos (adolescentes de TKD en tres grupos según su grado/cinturón y adolescentes practicantes – no practicantes) de acuerdo a sus puntuaciones de PWI‐SC. Los resultados del estudio mostraron que: (1) los adolescentes de TKD tenían un nivel alto (puntuación media) de BS medido por el PWI‐SC (81,95 ; 95%IC: 79,70 a 84,20); (2) no hubo diferencias significativas en el BS entre los tres grupos de adolescentes de TKD (cinturones de nivel bajo, medio y alto) (F(2, 81) = 1.58, p> .05.); y (3) en comparación con los adolescentes no practicantes de TKD, los adolescentes de TKD tuvieron una puntuación media de BS significativamente más alta (t = 4,25(77,97), p .05.); and (3) when compared with non‐TKD adolescents, TKD adolescents were found to have a significantly higher mean points of SWB, (t = 4.25(77.97), p .05.); e (3) em comparação com os adolescentes não praticantes de TKD, os adolescentes tiveram uma pontuação média de BS significativamente más alta (t = 4,25(77,97), p <0,001; d= 0,79). Em geral, os resultados deste estudo indicam que o treino pode contribuir positivamente para o bem‐estar dos adolescentes

Beneficios y desafíos en la práctica de taekwondo por adolescentes en Adís Abeba, Etiopía

[ES] El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar los beneficios y desafíos de la práctica de taekwondo (TKD) por adolescentes en Adís Abeba. Se investigó la naturaleza del entrenamiento de taekwondo, beneficios y desafíos/problemas relacionados con su práctica. Se utilizó un diseño de investigación con métodos mixtos, concurrentes y descriptivos. La parte cuantitativa del estudio contó con 108 practicantes de TKD adolescentes, y 12 en la parte cualitativa (ocho adolescentes y cuatro entrenadores de TKD), de cuatro clubes de TKD de Adís Abeba. Se emplearon técnicas de muestreo por conglomerados en una sola etapa y técnicas de muestreo intencional para seleccionar, respectivamente, a los participantes de las partes cuantitativas y cualitativas del estudio, utilizando cuestionarios y entrevistas en profundidad para la recogida de datos. Los resultados del estudio indicaron que: (1) el entrenamiento de TKD realizado en los cuatro clubes estudiados respondía a una forma moderna / deportivizada de TKD; (2) los adolescentes y entrenadores de TKD percibían que los beneficios del TKD para los adolescentes son multifacéticos, i.e., beneficios sociales, físicos, mentales, defensa personal, evitar adicciones y otros beneficios; y (3) aunque la mayoría (63,6%) de los encuestados afirmó que no se enfrentaba a ningún problema como resultado de la práctica de TKD, se identificaron los siguientes como aquellos que podrían poner en peligro el bienestar de los adolescentes: problemas relacionados con el ámbito familiar, con el ámbito comunitario y con la competición. En general, los resultados muestran que el entrenamiento en TKD puede contribuir de un modo positivo y multifacético al bienestar de los adolescentes.[EN] This study aimed at examining the benefits and challenges of practicing Taekwondo (TKD) to adolescents in Addis Ababa. In so doing, the study investigated the nature of TKD training, benefits of practicing TKD, and challenges/problems related with practicing TKD. A descriptive concurrent mixed methods research design was used. Accordingly, the quantitative part of the study had 108 TKD adolescent participants while the qualitative part had 12 participants (eight TKD adolescents and four TKD coaches), from four TKD clubs in Addis Ababa. Both one‐stage cluster sampling technique and purposive sampling technique were employed to select participants for the quantitative and qualitative parts of the study, respectively. Questionnaires and in‐depth interviews were used to collect data from participants. Results of the study indicated: (1) the TKD training provided by the four TKD clubs was more of a modern/sport form of TKD; (2) TKD adolescents and coaches perceived that the benefits of TKD for adolescents are multifaceted, i.e., social benefits, physical benefits, mental benefits, self‐defense, addiction avoidance, and other benefits; and (3) though majority (63.6%) of the respondents claimed that they did not face any problem as a result of practicing TKD, the following were identified as major problems that could threaten the wellbeing of TKD adolescents: family‐related problems, community‐related problems, and competition‐related problems. In general, results show that the training of TKD can have a multifaceted positive contribution to adolescents’ wellbeing.[PT] O objetivo deste estudo foi o de analisar os benefícios e os desafios da prática deTaekwondo (TKD) em adolescentes, em Adis Abeba. Investigou‐se a natureza do treino no taekwondo, dos benefícios e dos desafios/problemas relacionados com a prática. Recorreu‐se a uma investigação com métodos mistos, concorrentes e descritivos. A parte quantitativa do estudo contou com 108 praticantes de TDK adolescentes e 12 na parte qualitativa (oito adolescentes e quatro treinadores de TDK), de quatro clubes de TDK, em Adis Abeba. Empregaram‐se técnicas de amostragem por clusters e técnicas de amostragem intencional para selecionar, respectivamente, os participantes das partes quantitativas e qualitativas do estudo, utilizando questionários e entrevistas em profundidade para a recolha de dados. Os resultados do estudo indicam que: (1) o treino de TDK, realizado nos quatro clubes estudados, respondiam a uma forma moderna/desportiva de TDK; (2) os benefícios nos adolescentes são multifacetados (benefícios sociais, físicos, mentais, defesa pessoal, evita dependências e outros benefícios); (3) ainda que a maioria (63,6%) dos entrevistados afirmasse que não se enfrentava nenhum problema como resultado da prática de TDK, identificaram‐se os alguns que poderiam colocar em perigo o bem‐estar dos adolescentes: problemas relacionados com o âmbito familiar, com o âmbito comunitário e com a competição. Em geral, os resultados mostram que o treino em TDK pode contribuir de um modo positivo e multifacetado com o bem‐estar dos adolescentes

Vegetation Outlook (VegOut): Predicting Remote Sensing–Based Seasonal Greenness

Accurate and timely prediction of vegetation conditions enhances knowledge-based decision making for drought planning, mitigation, and response. This is very important in countries that are highly dependent on rainfed agriculture. For example, studies show that remote sensing–based observations and vegetation condition prediction have great potential for estimating crop yields (Verdin and Klaver, 2002; Ji and Peters, 2003; Seaquist et al., 2005; Tadesse et al., 2005a, 2008; Funk and Brown, 2006), which in turn may help to address agricultural development and food security issues, as well as improve early warning systems. Many studies have demonstrated the value of Vegetation Indices (VIs), such as the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), calculated from satellite observations for assessing vegetation cover and conditions (Tucker et al., 1985; Roerink et al., 2003; Anyamba and Tucker, 2005; Seaquist et al., 2005), and such data have become a common source of information for vegetation monitoring. The term vegetation condition in this chapter refers to vegetation greenness or vegetation health, as inferred from canopy reflectance values measured by satellite observations (Mennis, 2001; Anyamba and Tucker, 2005). The vegetation greenness metric is commonly calculated from time-series NDVI (Reed et al., 1994) and represents the seasonal, time-integrated NDVI at a specific date, which has been shown to be representative of indicators of general vegetation health including net primary production (NPP) and green biomass (Tucker et al., 1985; Reed et al., 1996; Yang et al., 1998; Eklundh and Olsson, 2003; Hill and Donald, 2003). As a result, VIs and VI derivatives such as time-integrated VI can be used to characterize the temporal and spatial relationships between climate and vegetation and improve our understanding of the lagged relationship between climate (e.g., precipitation and temperature) and vegetation response (Roerink et al., 2003; Anyamba and Tucker, 2005; Seaquist et al., 2005; Camberlin et al., 2007; Groeneveld and Baugh, 2007). Quantitative descriptions of climate-vegetation response lags can then be used to identify and predict vegetation stress during drought

Quantitative Assessment of Drought Impacts Using XGBoost based on the Drought Impact Reporter

Under climate change, the increasing frequency, intensity, and spatial extent of drought events lead to higher socio-economic costs. However, the relationships between the hydro-meteorological indicators and drought impacts are not identified well yet because of the complexity and data scarcity. In this paper, we proposed a framework based on the extreme gradient model (XGBoost) for Texas to predict multi-category drought impacts and connected a typical drought indicator, Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), to the text-based impacts from the Drought Impact Reporter (DIR). The preliminary results of this study showed an outstanding performance of the well-trained models to assess drought impacts on agriculture, fire, society & public health, plants & wildlife, as well as relief, response & restrictions in Texas. It also provided a possibility to appraise drought impacts using hydro-meteorological indicators with the proposed framework in the United States, which could help drought risk management by giving additional information and improving the updating frequency of drought impacts. Our interpretation results using the Shapley additive explanation (SHAP) interpretability technique revealed that the rules guiding the predictions of XGBoost comply with domain expertise knowledge around the role that SPI indicators play around drought impacts.Comment: 4 pages with 2 figures and 1 table. NeurIPS workshop on Tackling Climate Change with Machine Learning, 202

TweetDrought: A Deep-Learning Drought Impacts Recognizer based on Twitter Data

Acquiring a better understanding of drought impacts becomes increasingly vital under a warming climate. Traditional drought indices describe mainly biophysical variables and not impacts on social, economic, and environmental systems. We utilized natural language processing and bidirectional encoder representation from Transformers (BERT) based transfer learning to fine-tune the model on the data from the news-based Drought Impact Report (DIR) and then apply it to recognize seven types of drought impacts based on the filtered Twitter data from the United States. Our model achieved a satisfying macro-F1 score of 0.89 on the DIR test set. The model was then applied to California tweets and validated with keyword-based labels. The macro-F1 score was 0.58. However, due to the limitation of keywords, we also spot-checked tweets with controversial labels. 83.5% of BERT labels were correct compared to the keyword labels. Overall, the fine-tuned BERT-based recognizer provided proper predictions and valuable information on drought impacts. The interpretation and analysis of the model were consistent with experiential domain expertise

The Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI): A New Integrated Approach for Monitoring Drought Stress in Vegetation

The development of new tools that provide timely, detailed-spatial-resolution drought information is essential for improving drought preparedness and response. This paper presents a new method for monitoring drought-induced vegetation stress called the Vegetation Drought Response Index (VegDRI). VegDRI integrates traditional climate-based drought indicators and satellite-derived vegetation index metrics with other biophysical information to produce a 1 km map of drought conditions that can be produced in near-real time. The initial VegDRI map results for a 2002 case study conducted across seven states in the north-central United States illustrates the utility of VegDRI for improved large-area drought monitoring