Latest news with #UniversityofTexas
Pink Villa
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Pink Villa
Young Sheldon Actress Valerie Mahaffey Passes Away at 71: Remembering Her Life and Legacy
Valerie Mahaffey, the Emmy-winning actress known for her roles in Northern Exposure, Desperate Housewives, and Young Sheldon, has died at the age of 71. Her publicist, Jillian Roscoe, confirmed that Mahaffey passed away on Friday in Los Angeles after a battle with cancer. Mahaffey won an Emmy in 1992 for her role as Eve in Northern Exposure. She also appeared in Desperate Housewives as Alma Hodge. In Young Sheldon, she was seen as teacher Victoria MacElroy. Mahaffey also had roles on Seinfeld, ER, Cheers, The Mindy Project, and in films such as Seabiscuit and Sully. On the film front, she starred in French Exit (2020), for which she received a Spirit Award nomination. She acted alongside Michelle Pfeiffer and Lucas Hedges in that movie. Born in Indonesia on June 16, 1953, Mahaffey moved to the U.S. at age 11. She studied at the University of Texas and later began her acting career on Broadway. She appeared in six Broadway productions and earned Obie Awards for her theater performances. She is survived by her husband, Joseph Kell, and their daughter, Alice. In a statement, Kell said, 'I have lost the love of my life, and America has lost one of its most endearing actresses.'
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Oakdale High graduates encouraged to better the world, cherish relationships
Arya Paghdal, one of the graduates in Oakdale High School's class of 2025, told the crowd at Knott Arena that the relationships and bonds that this class has made have become part of the fabric of the graduates' lives. She was one of two student speakers at Oakdale's graduation ceremony Friday afternoon. Hundreds of threads, each representing one of the graduates, were woven together to create the class's high school experience. Photos: Oakdale High School Graduation There are other threads in each graduate's life as well, like their connections to faculty, family and other friends. Paghdal said the most powerful thread is 'the one that binds us to those we serve.' Paghdal's high school career was one immersed in community service and helping others. She has volunteered for 12-hour shifts on ambulances and has taught English to students in Ukraine. She will attend the University of Texas at Austin, where she will major in human biology and pursue becoming a cardiothoracic surgeon. 'Those we serve have never just been recipients of our efforts. They're actually our guides and our mirrors. Through serving others, we gain insight into who we truly are and the kind of society we wish to create,' Paghdal said. '... Class of 2025, we have what it takes to better society, feed the unseen, hear the unheard and to do the unthinkable.' There are 424 graduates in Oakdale's class of 2025, according to Frederick County Public Schools spokesperson Eric Louérs-Phillips. Throughout the graduation, multiple speakers told the class that they can do whatever they dream of and that they should treasure and cultivate bonds with others. As the graduates processed into the center of the arena donning black and white robes, colorful cords and medals, audience members held up phones to film the graduates they came to see and waved eagerly to get their attention. Several performances were sprinkled throughout the ceremony. Oakdale's choir sang 'For Good,' a song from the musical 'Wicked,' that's about how crossing paths with people can shape and change individuals as they embark on their separate journeys. And graduate Nicholas Alimo, who was the president of the Tri-M Music Honor Society at Oakdale, played the national anthem on saxophone. Bailey Roman, the other student speaker at the graduation, brought up a quote from poet Maya Angelou during her speech: 'People might forget what you said or did, but they'll never forget how you made them feel.' She asked her fellow graduates to carry that message with them as they move into their next chapter. 'While you sit here today and might forget what I have said here, I know you will never forget the feelings and emotions that are rushing through you right now,' Roman said. '... In the end, [it's] the kindness we've shared, the lives we've touched and the memories we've created together that truly make us an Oakdale Bear.' Martina Agaba said high school taught her that everything happens for a reason. She was involved in a plethora of extracurriculars, including the National Honor Society, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and different volleyball teams. She plans to either attend Mount St. Mary's University or go to Frederick Community College for two years and transfer later to a historically Black college or university. Where she goes depends on how much scholarship money she receives from the Mount. Regardless of where she attends, she plans to pursue a pre-med track so she can achieve her goal of becoming a surgeon. Whenever something didn't work out the way Agaba wanted or expected it to, so many other opportunities appear afterward. That's something she plans to keep in mind after graduation. She is very excited to graduate and start life after high school. 'I think it will be a great opportunity for me to learn more about myself, grow as a person and just keep creating memories in life,' she said. Larry Larbi, the class of 2025's senior class president, is also looking forward to graduating and becoming more independent. He'll be pursuing a biology degree on the pre-med track and a music performance degree at Xavier University in Louisiana. He wants to become a doctor of internal medicine. In addition to being the senior class president, Larbi was also in Oakdale's band and had played on the football team. Some of his favorite memories from high school were spending time with his friends and making music, something that he's enjoyed and has been a part of his life since childhood. 'I'm trying to branch out, be independent and learn who I am without some factors of my life that usually hold me back,' Larbi said.
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Universities should foster debate and critical thinking. SB 37 will stifle that
Several years ago, on the last day of my argumentation and debate class at the University of Wisconsin, where I taught before coming to the University of Texas, a student approached me. 'The semester is over,' said the student, who sat in the front row with a bumper sticker for then-Republican Gov. Scott Walker on his computer. 'Will you tell me what your personal politics are?' 'To be honest, I'm very far left of the Democratic party,' I told him. 'Damn,' he said, 'I could've sworn you were a Libertarian.' My job as professor is to treat my students with respect. This student did the work: He defended his views with evidence, engaged with material from diverse viewpoints and learned the best scholarship my field had to offer, regardless of whether it lent itself to particular political conclusions. Column: Under SB 37, Texas universities will focus on educating, not indoctrinating | Opinion People from both sides of the political spectrum have accepted the premise that universities silence students. Research partly corroborates this view. A Knight Foundation-Ipsos study on campus free speech found that roughly two-thirds of students self-censor in classroom discussions, especially when the topics involve race, gender, LGBTQ issues or religion. That same study found 60% of students said that campus climate contributes to the stifling of free speech, but the nature of that climate is not defined. The Right has taken this as evidence that conservative students suffer, but the Knight study found that Black students, who are more likely to have liberal or left-leaning politics, are the most likely to report difficulty using their free speech rights. What are we to make of this information? There have always been students who don't feel safe sharing their views. The largest constituency of students who still feel that way are the ones that have historically felt that way. This certainly tracks with my experience as a university educator for the past 25 years. What is missing in analyses about campus free speech and safety is a discussion of power. Many college students are white, and Black students are a small minority. When it comes to national power, it is still unusual to find people of color in positions of power, from the government to the lectern to the board room. When the group you identify with does not have structural power, it is easy to understand why you wouldn't feel safe expressing yourself. This is not the situation that white students find themselves in on campuses, regardless of whether their opinions are in the minority. This is also why classes with Black professors who intervene in that power structure are vital. What to know: House moves to advance SB 37 on faculty senate, core curriculum review. Professors are not here to validate every opinion that may exist on a given issue. My role as professor is to create an affirming environment for students to learn how to defend their views with evidence, to critically interrogate the views they hold, and to learn the best scholarship in my field of study. My job is also to teach students how to think critically, to write well, to solve problems, and to understand those who are different from them. The Texas Legislature is poised to pass Senate Bill 37, which would place ideological litmus tests on courses in the state core curriculum. This proposal is based, at least in part, on the belief that conservative views are being stifled at our universities by professors like me. I vehemently disagree with this premise. I encourage our elected officials to use their critical thinking skills to discern what a university education is for. If it is to prevent students from engaging with diverse viewpoints in their required curriculum, then our democracy is truly at risk. Karma R. Chávez is the chair of the Department of Mexican American and Latina/o Studies at the University of Texas. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Universities should foster debate. SB 37 will stifle that | Opinion
The Independent
a day ago
- Health
- The Independent
E-tattoo could help you work harder – or slow down if you're too stressed
An electronic ' tattoo ' that can track when your brain is working too hard – or not hard enough- has been developed by researchers. The wearable tech is a non-permanent wireless forehead e-tattoo that can decode brainwaves and measure mental strain. Researchers hope this technology will be able to track the mental workload of truck drivers and traffic controllers, whose lapses in focus can have serious consequences. Humans have an 'optimal mental workload' which differs from person to person, said Nanshu Lu, the study's author, from the University of Texas at Austin. "Technology is developing faster than human evolution. Our brain capacity cannot keep up and can easily get overloaded," he said. However, there is a mental sweet spot where humans are neither overwhelmed nor bored and finding a balance is key to optimal performance. This e-tattoo analyses brain activity and eye movement in processes known as electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG). But unlike other bulky EEG caps, which monitor brain activity, this e-tattoo is wireless and paper thin and just has a small battery pack. In a study published in the Cell Press journal Device, the e-tattoo was tested on six participants who completed a memory test that increased in difficulty. As the participant's mental load rose they showed higher activity in theta and delta brainwaves, signalling increased cognitive demand, while alpha and beta activity decreased, indicating mental fatigue – showing the device can reveal when the brain is struggling. Currently the best way of measuring mental workload is the Nasa Task Load Index. This questionnaire is used by workers, such as astronauts after completing a task. But the e-tattoo can deliver continuous real-time data. It's also cheaper than current devices. Researchers say EEG equipment can exceed $15,000, while the e-tattoo's chips and battery pack costs $200, and disposable sensors are about $20 each. 'Being low cost makes the device accessible,' said author Luis Sentis from UT Austin. 'One of my wishes is to turn the e-tattoo into a product we can wear at home.' But currently the e-tattoo only works on hairless skin and researchers are working to make sensors that work on hair. This will allow for full head coverage and more comprehensive brain monitoring, study authors said. As robots and new technology increasingly enter workplaces and homes, the team hopes this technology will enhance understanding of human-machine interaction. 'We've long monitored workers' physical health, tracking injuries and muscle strain,' said Sentis. 'Now we have the ability to monitor mental strain, which hasn't been tracked. This could fundamentally change how organisations ensure the overall well-being of their workforce.'
Medscape
a day ago
- Health
- Medscape
Wireless Face e-Tattoo Tracks Mental Strain and Workload
A temporary electronic forehead tattoo that wirelessly measures brainwaves and eye movement may offer an accurate measurement of mental workload (MWL) and mental strain, new research suggested. E-tattoo to track mental workload in real time Using a lightweight battery and thin sensors, the e-tattoo was able to reliably collect electroencephalography (EEG) and electrooculography (EOG) data to estimate MWL in a small study of six participants as they completed increasingly difficult memory tests. The technology is a less bulky and cheaper alternative to conventional brain activity monitors and may help track the mental workload of workers in safety-critical jobs like aviation, air traffic control, and healthcare. Researchers say it also has applications for neurological monitoring of patients with epilepsy or to monitor cognitive decline. 'Our wireless electronic tattoo stands out for its ultrathin, skin-conformal design, which allows for stable EEG/EOG signal acquisition even during dynamic activities like walking or facial movements,' investigator Nanshu Lu, PhD, professor and chair of engineering, The University of Texas at Austin, told Medscape Medical News . 'Unlike other platforms like headbands or glasses, our tattoo is helmet-compatible, low-profile, and uses low-cost disposable materials, making it uniquely suitable for real-world deployment.' The findings were published online on May 29 in the journal Device . Study Details and Performance There is no universally accepted definition of MWL, but it can generally be described as the degree to which a person's working memory capacity and cognitive processes are engaged by an ongoing task, the authors noted. MWL levels can be assessed using subjective self-assessment questionnaires like the post-task NASA Task Load Index, as well as physiological measures such as heart rate, galvanic skin response, EEG, and EOG. The wireless e-tattoo features stretchable serpentine-shaped, graphite-deposited polyurethane electrodes coated with an adhesive poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly-styrene sulfonate composite to reduce impedance and improve adhesion to the skin. The e-tattoo is integrated with a battery-powered flexible printed circuit that transmits EEG and EOG data in real-time via Bluetooth Low Energy. To evaluate the e-tattoo efficacy, the researchers analyzed EEG and EOG signals collected on six healthy participants wearing the wireless forehead e-tattoo during cognitive tasks designed to measure working memory, called dual N-back tasks. Self-assessment using the NASA–Task Load Index, task performance metrics, and physiological features were also collected. Each participant completed a single experiment session lasting approximately 2.5 hours, which included three runs of N-back trials. 'This single-session design was sufficient to train individualized models, although variability between participants was observed, especially in the relative importance of EEG vs EGO features,' Lu said. As the cognitive workload increased, frontal delta- and theta-band powers increased, while alpha-, beta-, and gamma-band powers decreased. The authors noted this is in line with studies linking theta-band power to an increase in working memory load and increasing MWL with a decrease in alpha power and increase in frontal theta power. To test the viability of mental workload estimation using the e-tattoo, the researchers then built a random forest model to predict the level of mental workload experienced by participants during the N -back tasks. They found that the model successfully estimated the mental workload for all N levels for all six participants. 'Key findings of our study show that the wireless forehead e-tattoo reliably captures forehead EEG and EOG signals, and these signals can be used to accurately estimate mental workload during a dual N-back task, which is a widely used standard mental workload test,' Lu said. 'Our model achieved robust classification of cognitive load levels using only minimally processed physiological data.' The Road Ahead For forehead EEG/EOG–driven workload detection, the e-tattoo system is already self-sufficient but integration with other physiological sensors such as heart rate or galvanic skin response could improve accuracy and robustness in mental workload vs mental stress differentiation, Lu noted. 'In medical settings, this technology could be very useful for neurological monitoring, including early detection of cognitive decline, noninvasive epilepsy tracking, and assessing patient engagement during neurorehabilitation,' she said. 'Its comfort and unobtrusiveness make it especially appealing for pediatric or geriatric use.' The temporary e-tattoo also holds a cost advantage over traditional EEG systems, with the e-tattoo chips and battery pack priced at $200 and disposable sensors about $20 each. 'Being low-cost makes the device accessible,' study co-author Luis Sentis, PhD, also from The University of Texas at Austin, said in a news release. 'One of my wishes is to turn the e-tattoo into a product we can wear at home.' Currently, the e-tattoo works only on hairless skin but the researchers are working to combine it with ink-based sensors that work on hair. For this new study, Lu also noted that EEG signals were postprocessed and the predictions done offline. 'To make this technology really valuable, we can and need to achieve real-time mental workload assessment and provide timely micro-interventions, such as visual or audio alerts on the phone or even electro tactile stimulations applied to the skin by the e-tattoo before performance decline or burnout occurs,' she said. 'Evaluating these micro-interventions in real-world applications may prove our EEG system's capacity to significantly improve human-AI collaborations,' Sentis told Medscape Medical News .
