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(01/27/14 4:36am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The future of medical technology might come in the form of a decision-making computer.An artificial intelligence could search an entire patient’s medical history, warn of complications and recommend possible treatments based on a patient’s current stage of illness. Such a computer is the pet project of two IU computer science and informatics professors, Kris Hauser and Sriraam Natarajan.They, along with Dr. Shaun Grannis, a biomedical informatics physician from the Regenstrief Institute, have been awarded a National Science Foundation exploratory grant for more than $686,000 to pursue the development of artificial intelligence in medicine. Still in its early stages, the project uses statistical models from clinical studies, medical data and patient histories to analyze a patient’s vital information and symptoms to provide doctors with a list of possible treatments. “A doctor uses information that is readily available and a short screening to then plan a treatment based on what he or she has inferred,” Natajaran said. “We are looking for a way to mathematically formulate this.”More than 40 years have passed since the first integration of computers into the patient care settings. The computerized records of medical data have been constantly expanding ever since. “The idea is to fuse the raw data with your entire patient history and then use the models to track relationships and provide more reliable recommendations,” Hauser said.The initial models being developed in this exploratory project are cardiology, clinical depression and emergency room readmission. “After we have analyzed the medical data on these specific areas, written code and tested the system, we will have a clearer view of whether this concept can be expanded upon and put into actual use,” Natarajan said.Hauser said the current evolution of medical technology is closer to supporting this type of technology but is incompatible due to the differing formats of medical records.“Most medical data is being recorded on computers,” Hauser said. “The problem is that the formats aren’t the same. In the future, I think we will see a push for a standardization of formatting. Then all hospitals, physicians and insurance companies will be able to share data.”The scientists said they acknowledge the possibility of concern about computers making medical decisions instead of a traditional doctor, but dispute the difference between decision making and decision assistance.“We are not manipulating the data in any way,” Natajaran said. “We are certainly not looking to replace a physician. The goal is to provide a system that can analyze a life time of medical history and data, which will then provide solutions for a doctor to consider.”
(12/06/13 2:28am)
Brothers of the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity lead a moment of silence for the late Nelson Mandela at their fraternity sponsored CrossOver Stepshow on Thursday at Willkie Auditorium.
(12/06/13 2:27am)
Audience members at the Kappa Alpha Psi sponsored CrossOver Stepshow participated in a moment of silence honoring the late Nelson Mandela on Thursday evening at Willkie Auditorium.
(11/08/13 12:27am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Philanthropist Hannah Davis signed a contract in 2009 to teach English for a year in China. She landed in the country with a decent knowledge of Mandarin, a political science degree from Clemson and a textbook she found boring and didn’t want to teach.She noticed many of the students and passersby wore olive green army boots that they bought secondhand. Her observation inspired her to create a shoe company based on global philanthropy. “I suddenly woke up one night and realized that I could use the shoes I kept noticing to make a company built on long-term, positive change,” Davis said.Davis bought the original shoe, an olive green army boot, and had BANGS stitched to the toe of the shoe and the company’s “Stand on Issues” tag attached to the side. The BANGS name comes from the phonetic spelling of the Mandarin word for help, which is BANG. Her company grew into an active nonprofit shoe retailer that supports six different global charities, she said.Those charities include organizations such as Drop in the Bucket, a nonprofit organization dedicated to building wells and schools in Africa, as well as Global DIRT, or Disaster Immediate Response Team, an organization dedicated to short term disaster relief initiatives. “Our charities are our mission,” she said. “We support them by selling shoes. A different colored shoe represents each charity. We then donate to their cause based on monthly sales.”Davis is now touring American universities marketing her product and building support for the organization. Davis visited IU on Tuesday and spoke with several honors classes in the Kelley School of Business. Her visit to IU allowed her to speak at events and get the word out about BANGS in order to create a grassroots retail network, she said. “Our company is based on social change,” Davis said. “I started the company because I knew that in order to be happy in whatever I was doing, I needed to be giving back and have a positive social impact in the world.” She visited several factories in China before selecting the one she believed could offer her the highest quality product at the lowest price. From there she got the original investment for the company from her parents and had the original run of BANGS shoes made.Davis said she hopes her college tour will engender support for her product and help to advance her company’s mission. “I believe in our message,” she said. “I hope to remind people that their actions should be conscious and that they have the power to enact positive change, even through retail.”
(11/05/13 3:30am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The ability of a disabled child to enjoy a playground is directly affected by the ground surface on which he or she is playing, a recent IU study shows. Results from a five-year study analyzing the accessibility and safety measurements of playground surfaces were released last week by the National Center on Accessibility, part of the Department of Park, Recreation and Tourism Studies at IU. The study, which reviewed surfaces from more than 35 parks in Indiana and Chicago, focused on the play requirements and safety concerns of those with disabilities, according to a press release. Principal investigator Jennifer Skulski said when playground surfaces lack proper maintenance and upkeep, it can limit children’s access.“If a surface is installed incorrectly, it can crack and cause changes in the level of the material,” Skulski said. “Those imperfections can make it difficult for a person in a wheelchair or crutches, for example, to enjoy themselves.”The United States Access Board, a federal agency that enacts facility accessibility guidelines, awarded the National Center on Accessibility $60,000 to complete the study.The results of the study prompted new safety regulations as soon as the first-year results were published, Skulski said. “There was no standard instruction guide to the installation of playground surfaces until after our first-year findings were published,” Skulski said. “But, after publication, the International Play Equipment Manufactures Association announced standardized guidelines pertaining to the correct installation of surfaces and equipment.”The study analyzed seven different playground surfaces. The most common surface used was poured-in-place rubber, followed by engineered wood fiber. “The mulch people see in playgrounds isn’t actually mulch at all,” Skulski said. “It is actually a processed wood fiber that is designed to form together into a sheet as it is walked over.”The study determined that the safest playground surface in use today is the hybrid surface. The hybrid system consists of a foam mat covered with either an outdoor carpet or a synthetic turf. The Sophia Travis playscape, a playground located in the Karst Farm Park across the street from the Monroe County Convention Center, has a hybrid surface, said Kelli Witmer, associate director of the Monroe County Parks and Recreation Department. “We have seen very good results from the hybrid surface at the Sophia Travis playscape,” Witmer said. “In fact, we have seen such positive results that we have decided to use the hybrid surface in a second park.”Though the hybrid surface is the most expensive option, Skulski stressed that playground owners can use the study to find safe alternatives within their budget. “It is kind of like buying a used car,” Skulski said. “You consider all of your options and your budget and then make an informed decision.” Skulski said she hopes the results of the study are used to encourage playground owners to make informed decisions about their playground surfaces. “We are here to help facilitate an inclusive environment,” Skulski said. “I want to stress the importance of play, and I hope this study allows more children the opportunity to participate.” Follow reporter Grayson Harbour on Twitter @GraysonHarbour
(10/14/13 2:53am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The largest anatomically correct sculpture of the human brain now stands on the corner of 10th and North Walnut Grove streets.The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences unveiled the brain sculpture as part of the department’s 125th anniversary celebration.Sculptor Amy Brier designed the brain in conjunction with Mike Donham, from Accent Limestone, and his team, who carved the sculpture. It was formed entirely from local Indiana limestone from the Reed Quarry in Bloomington.The Department of Psychological and Brain Science celebrated its anniversary along with the fact that it is the oldest university psychology department in the United States. “This department is a shining example of what can be done with a faculty who are interdisciplinary,” said IU Provost and Executive Vice President Lauren Robel. Robel spoke at the dedication of the sculpture.“There are a lot of big brains on this campus, but this one really takes the cake,” she said. The Harlan family of Harlan Laboratories in Indianapolis underwrote the sculpture, Department Chair Bill Hetrick said. Harlan Laboratories has had a long-standing relationship with the psychology department, Hetrick said. “Our relationship is an example of the successful merger between industry and academia,” he said.Hetrick said the Harlan family also pledged half a million dollars to the department, which will further studies of the brain.The department expressed its gratitude and desire that the brain be made a monument to its long-standing history of scientific study. “This department is dedicated to the systematic discovery of the human brain,” Robel said. “But there is more to being human than just synapses firing inside the brain.“It is fitting that we should also pay tribute to the spirit of exploration, which is an essential part of what it means to be human.”
(10/04/13 2:58am)
Duane Thomson and Alyssa Muscarello, members of INPIRG, announce Thursday the launch of the "So you need health insurance. Now what?" campaign.
(10/04/13 2:31am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences will celebrate its 125th year anniversary Oct. 11. The celebration will include lectures, career luncheons and the unveiling of a 10,000-pound limestone sculpture of a human brain near the entrance to the Psychology Building.The department celebrates its history as the oldest university psychology program in the country, according to a press release.The program began in 1888 when former university president William Lowe Bryan established a psychological laboratory inside the Department of Philosophy. The laboratory evolved into a large interdisciplinary program that today offers more than 1,500 majors, the largest in the College of Arts and Sciences, according to the press release. The faculty credits the department’s success largely to its beginnings, Psychology and Brain Sciences Department Chair William Hetrick said. “We as a faculty take great pride in our department,” Hetrick said. “It is understood that our department was on the cutting edge from the beginning, and once you get that leg up, it is easy to remain strong.”The desire to be on the cutting edge is not limited to the faculty. Psychology major and freshman Rebecca Dvorak said she feels fortunate to be part of IU’s prestigious psychology program. “I feel confident that I am getting a quality education that my future employers will recognize and appreciate,” Dvorak said. The celebration will begin at 8:30 a.m. Oct. 11 in the Psychology Building with a lecture from two distinguished faculty members discussing major new breakthroughs in the field, according to the press release.“The celebration is open to the public and meant to attract everyone, young and old,” Hetrick said. The lectures will last until 2:30 p.m. and will be followed immediately by a career luncheon with alumni. The luncheon is restricted to undergraduates who must sign up on the department website in order to attend.“The luncheon will be especially exciting,” Hetrick said. “It is an opportunity for our undergraduate students to interact with alumni who have received degrees in the field of psychology but have gone on to do other things in the workplace environment.” The celebration will end with a presentation at 4 p.m. by IU President Michael McRobbie, College of Arts and Sciences Executive Dean Larry Singell, Psychological and Brain Sciences Historian James Capshew and Hetrick. The day is meant to be a commemoration of 125 years of the study of the brain and how it functions at IU, Hetrick said. “We need to celebrate many years of being at the forefront of psychological study,” Hetrick said. Follow reporter Grayson Harbour on Twitter @GraysonHarbour.
(09/20/13 3:41am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>A learning disability prevented 37-year-old Chris Schaaf from owning a home of his own. But on Saturday, despite his disability, Schaff will move into a financially-assisted apartment.Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County, in partnership with the Kelley Institute of Social Impac, and the Whirlpool Corporation, is building Schaaf a home. Schaaf’s home will come furnished and subsidized so it is below market cost, said his mother, Linda Schaaf. He will purchase it from Habitat for Humanity and will be independently responsible for the mortgage and utility payments.Linda said it was her son’s idea to purchase a home, and it was he who pursued it. “One day we were walking down the street toward his job, and there were people handing out Habitat flyers, and Chris mentioned that he wanted a house for himself,” she said. “Then he mentioned it again and again, and we realized he’s really serious. We need to make this happen.”Schaaf decided to apply for Habitat for Humanity’s home ownership program and was accepted in September. As a Habitat for Humanity requirement, Schaaf began taking home-ownership classes to teach him about basic repair, mortgage and financial obligations.Schaaf is a champion golfer in the state Special Olympics and now has a job bagging groceries at Marsh, as well as a volunteer position at the Habitat for Humanity warehouse. The build is one of 10 to 15 similar projects per year that Habitat for Humanity organizes in Monroe County. “We have staff direction, but our builds are run, completed and led by volunteer efforts,” said Kerry Thomson, president and CEO of Habitat for Humanity of Monroe County. This particular build has included more than 350 student volunteers who work half-day shifts around their classes, Thomson said.The build was scheduled to be completed in nine days beginning on Sep. 12 and ending on Sep. 21. Volunteers worked every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once the house is complete, it will be moved to a permanent location in north Bloomington. The volunteers, the vast majority of them graduate or undergraduate students in the Kelley School of Business, were encouraged to participate through the Kelley Institute of Social Impact. Institute Co-Director Kathleen Robbins said the Institute has been sending out emails and participating in volunteer fairs to attract students. “The opportunity and the desire to participate in service projects has greatly increased in recent years,” Robbins said.Robbins said because of the high interest, the number of student volunteers was capped at 350. The volunteers participating in the event had the chance to build the houses, participate in a service opportunity and meet people from the business community. “For the past year, we have tried a different approach to recruiting than just job fairs,” Whirlpool Recruiting Officer Allison Hogan said. “In addition of the normal fairs, we sponsor projects like this and then bring in company people for the students to meet while they are on breaks. We really stress leaving your tie at home and coming to help out instead.”Whirlpool donates a stove and refrigerator to every Habitat house in the world. “It really helps families like the Schaafs’ that their home is move-in ready,” Thomson said.On Tuesday morning, Schaaf and his parents helped install siding on the house. The Schaaf family has been on-site helping the volunteers throughout the process. Schaaf walked through the construction site, offering assistance to the builders. Schaaf’s new house will be dedicated at 5 p.m. Sep. 21. He will be given the keys on the Memorial Stadium field three hours before the kickoff of the football game against the University of Missouri. Linda Schaaf said she and her family feel grateful for the students’ and volunteers’ work on Schaaf’s new home. “The turnout here has been amazing,” Linda Schaaf said. “We could not have realized this dream without all of these people. They are amazing to work with.” Schaaf said he would rather people see his success as an ability rather than overcoming a disability. “We have always pushed him to explore and to see and to do,” Linda Schaaf said. “It is important that Chris be allowed to be whomever he wants to be. Nothing is impossible, and he represents that.”
(09/13/13 4:37am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>The IU Health system announced Thursday it would eliminate 800 jobs by the end of the year. This amounts to a total reduction of 2 percent of its overall workforce. “Nobody’s job will be the same” after these cuts have been finalized, President of IU Health Methodist and University Hospitals Jim Terwilliger said. Employees affected by the layoff should be notified of the decisions Oct. 1, with the cuts going into effect Dec. 1. The staff cuts are expected to affect IU Health hospitals across the state, Terwilliger said.“We are trying to operate and be successful in what is a rapidly changing industry,” he said. The cuts were first announced to IU Health employees in an email sent by IU Health Chief Executive Officer Dan Evans. In the email, Evans identifies the IU Health Academic Health Center, IU Health Ball Memorial Hospital, the North Central Region (IU Health North, Saxony and Tipton hospitals) and System Services as the areas that will be affected by the cuts. For the first time, IU Health will offer an early retirement option to employees who are at least 62 years old and will not reach 65 before Dec. 31, 2013. “We are aware of the impact these cuts will have on our employees and their families,” Evans said.In his email, Evans stressed loyalty to employees and staff. “Consistent with our values of mutual trust and respect, we will make every effort to support all IU Health team members through this difficult transition,” Evans said. “Team members whose jobs are impacted by this workforce reduction will be notified in early October and will be provided with severance and outplacement assistance.”IU Health Bloomington released a similar statement regarding the budgetary and staff cuts this morning. IU Health Bloomington has embraced efforts to find cost savings and become more efficient, President and CEO Mark Moore said. “Such efforts alone simply aren’t enough,” Moore said.“We anticipate that some positions may be eliminated in order to meet our financial targets that are necessary due to shrinking reimbursement. The specific number of positions is not known and will be lessened by attrition. Any actions we must take will not adversely impact patient care. Consistent with our values, we will make every effort to support all IU Health team members through this transition.” Follow reporter Grayson Harbour on Twitter @GraysonHarbour.
(09/06/13 3:20am)
____simple_html_dom__voku__html_wrapper____>Everyone called him “Big Dave” in high school.At 620 pounds, David Smith, now a junior at IU, said he didn’t mind the nickname. “It was more of a term of endearment,” Smith said. The 6-foot-10 high school football player, whose childhood passion for firetrucks never died, grew up with a weight problem. “I had to worry about little things most people never think about,” he said. “When I sat down I was concerned about whether or not the chair would hold my weight. When I got into cars I wasn’t sure about whether or not I would fit.” Smith said he went through high school managing his weight with ease. Not happy, not sad, he said he thought, “It was who I was. I was supposed to be big.” One day at school, three weeks before graduation, Smith recalled having a terrible stomach pain. “It was so bad that I had to leave school and go home,” he said. The next three weeks were spent in and out of the hospital. “I was diagnosed with gangrenous appendicitis, and coupled with my weight there was a risk of a very severe infection,” he said. “At that point the doctor came in and told me that if I didn’t lose weight I wouldn’t live a full life.”Smith returned to high school on the last day of the school year, graduated and made a commitment to lose the weight he’d grown up with. Today, Smith weighs 279 pounds, 341 pounds lighter than during his high school football days three years ago. A full-time student studying safety in the School of Public Health, Smith is a volunteer firefighter and EMT for two fire stations in Bloomington Township as well as a risk manager for the Student Recreational Sports Center. If he hadn’t lost the weight, Smith would have never been able to become a volunteer firefighter, he said. After taking a CPR and first aid class Smith was able to pursue his childhood dream of working in firetrucks. “Lots of people take the class because it is a requirement for athletic training, and then they never do anything with it,” Smith said. “I knew that I wanted to be out there, helping people and using the knowledge.”“I would never have imagined the Dave I knew in high school to be the guy he is today. I remember watching him play for the football team in high school and how physically straining a short period of playtime was for him,” said Lindsey Wilbur, a high school friend and current IU senior. “To go from that to an activity level greater than the majority of people I know is a total turn around.” Although rapid weight loss can be medically assisted, Smith takes pride in the way he lost the weight. “I lost all the weight naturally,” Smith said. “No meds, just diet control and exercise.” When Smith was growing up, he travelled with his family to watch his siblings at sporting events around the state.“We grew up travelling, and during that time on the road, I saw about seven or eight bad collisions,” he said. “That is the kind of thing that stays with a nine-year-old. That, coupled with living next to a fire station, made me realize what I wanted to do. I could just never do it before I lost the weight.” Smith, now leading the full life the doctor promised, stays busy with his studies and three jobs.“I am not a life saver. I don’t like that term,” Smith said. “So much of my job is sitting in the back of the ambulance holding the hand of the old lady who has had a stroke. Doctors save lives. I just take people from one place to the next as do so many other volunteer student EMTs.” Despite the rapid weight loss, Smith does not feel as though his transformation is what he calls a Biggest Loser moment. “Of course the weight loss is inspiring, but that’s just a small part of the transformation. What’s more important is what it has allowed him to accomplish since,” Wilbur said. “He will be doing a job that would have literally been impossible for him to do if he hadn’t lost weight. It’s opened up all kinds of opportunities for him."Smith hopes that in telling his story he might inspire others who are trying to lose weight to reaffirm their journey. “If I could, I would tell others who are struggling with weight loss that it is all about a routine,” Smith said. “The more weight you lose, the easier it gets. You become addicted to exercise.”