Posted 5/14/2015 -- Tim Finin

CSEE faculty member Tulay Adali has been appointed as a Distinguished University Professor for UMBC. Professor Adali is being recognized for:

"…outstanding theoretical contributions to the field of signal processing that have enabled significant advances in medical imaging, and excellence in teaching and mentoring the next generation of engineers and scholars who continue to advance the field of signal processing."

Professor Adali started teaching at UMBC in 1992, the same year that she received her Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering from North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Shortly after joining UMBC, she began forging lasting collaborations, first locally, and then nationwide and internationally. This resulted in the steady buildup of a research program, with continuous and growing funding from major federal agencies, including the prestigious NSF CAREER grant, the U.S. Army, and industry. She took full advantage of UMBC’s advantageous position, with respect to proximity to major medical institutions. She moved her application domain to biomedical data analysis early in her career, where she helped define the field of data-driven image analysis and fusion, an area that continues to grow in importance. She is a very popular teacher and is mentor to an impressive number of Ph.D students, several of whom have assumed faculty positions at institutions such as Virginia Tech, the University of New Mexico, and Yale.

Professor Adali has been also active within her professional community, having chaired the Machine Learning for Signal Processing (MLSP) Technical Committee of the IEEE Signal Processing Society, and having served on a number of boards of the IEEE Signal Processing Society. She has also assisted in the organization of numerous international conferences and workshops, including the IEEE International Conference on Acoustics, Speech, and Signal Processing (ICASSP), the IEEE International Workshop on Neural Networks for Signal Processing (NNSP), and the IEEE International Workshop on MLSP. She has been on the editorial boards of a number of transactions and journals and is currently serving on the Editorial Board of the Proceedings of the IEEE, among others.

In addition, Professor Adali is a Fellow of the IEEE and the AIMBE, and has received the following awards: the 2010 IEEE Signal Processing Society Best Paper Award, the 2013 University System of Maryland Regents' Award for Research, and an NSF CAREER Award. She was also an IEEE Signal Processing Society Distinguished Lecturer for 2012 and 2013.

“UMBC: An Honors University in Maryland” continues to serve the institution well, but digital media has dramatically transformed the world of communications since the wordmark’s development in 1995. The current mark sometimes limits our ability communicate the brand effectively with a consistent look. UMBC’s 50th anniversary and new campus entrance provide a great opportunity to add an icon to our graphic identity system, which will allow greater flexibility.

We have spent the past year developing and testing icon options with the campus community that included early versions at last August’s University retreat and a revised set at the campus-wide Strategic Planning Interactive Gallery in February. With feedback from those sessions, we offer four options in an online survey to find out which you prefer—and why.

Click here to see the new icon options and tell us what you think.

A Continuum of Care

UMBC Center for Aging Studies researchers receive $1.4 million grant for work to enhance the well-being of older adults.

There are nearly 5,000 adult day care centers in the United States, but estimates from several health organizations make the case there should be at least double that number. Why is there such demand for these facilities and how are they different from other assisted living centers for older adults?

Robert Rubinstein and a team of researchers from UMBC’s Center for Aging Studies (CAS) recently received a $1.4 million grant from the National Institute on Aging for the study “Adult Day Services (Adult Day Care): Cultural Contexts and Programming Effects.” Rubinstein, professor of sociology and anthropology, director of the Center for Aging Studies, and principal investigator for the study, says the goal is to understand how adult day services (ADS) programming affects clients’ health and well-being, something that hasn’t been examined closely before.

“If you imagine care for older people on a continuum, is it better for somebody to stay alone in their home all day, or is it better for them to go out to some kind of group that does activities?” Rubinstein says.

Adult day care centers are facilities that provide services for adults who need assistance during the day so they are able to continue living at home. There are three models of care provided at ADS centers: medical, social, and mixed care, with everything ranging from an on-site nurse taking blood pressure and administering lipid screenings to gaming activities for clients.

The Center for Aging Studies plans to study six ADS facilities throughout Maryland to better understand the daily life of clients and their families, to inform service providers, consumers, policymakers, and health care professionals of the benefits and concerns that affect quality of life and care in ADS centers.

“It’s apparent…if you even spend ten minutes in one of these facilities, the people there for the most part love it and it really brings them out of their shells. Part of that social relationship that they have with other people really is a cognitive function to get their minds active and invested in something,” Rubinstein observes.

The CAS team of researchers is using ethnographic research methods to observe and interact with clients and staff at adult day care centers to gain an understanding of what takes place on a daily basis. A second phase of the research will involve more formal interviews with a set of guiding questions to further understand the benefits and effects of programming and decision-making at ADS centers for clients, families, and staff.

The ADS project, which is a four-year study, is one of more than 20 multi-year studies, totaling over $20 million in funding, that the Center for Aging Studies has conducted since 1997. Recent projects include “Autonomy in Assisted Living” and “The Subjective Experience of Diabetes among Urban Older Adults.” Faculty and staff conduct this interdisciplinary research through close collaboration with graduate and undergraduate students who are committed to furthering a comprehensive approach to the study of aging.

A major overarching goal of the center is to demystify aging and help people realize that older adulthood is an important stage of life. Rubinstein reflects, “For me, the reason I do this work is that it’s so important that we come to know older people as people because there’s so much unconscious discrimination.” This ongoing challenge motivates Rubinstein and the new generation of aging researchers he is training through his center’s ongoing work.

(5/14/2015)

Compiled by the Retriever Weekly Features Staff

Virgo- You’ll try to get out of bed, but there will be no login servers available.

Libra- You’ve learned a lot about friendship this semester. Too bad you’re not majoring in friendship, huh?

Scorpio- It’ll be a nice week to soak up some rays. To the physics labs!

Sagittarius- Your plan to graduate early by hiding under someone else’s gown will be a great success.

Capricorn- This week, you’ll try to rub True Grits for good luck, but you won’t be able to find the dining hall’s nose.

Aquarius- You won’t be able to believe the semester is over. It seems like just yesterday that you fell through the time rift. Wait, was it yesterday? Or was it tomorrow?

Pisces- This week, you’ll forget your roommate’s name for the final time.

Aries- You’ll round out the semester with a solid 4.0 (BAC not GPA, sorry.)

Taurus- This week, you’ll finally figure out what that random light switch in your apartment does (it launches the missiles).

Gemini- On the bright side, the random extra arm you are growing will let you finish your exams twice as fast.

Cancer- You’ll finish your last paper just over your sigh/groan quota.

Leo- This week, you’ll help set the bittersweet end-of-semester mood by blasting “Closing Time” by Semisonic everywhere you go.

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UMBC Anime Society’s non-stop anime marathon

Students powered through the UMBC Anime Society’s non-stop anime marathon Saturday night. Fueled by ramen and potato chips, many students made it through the whole event.

The UMBC Anime Society held its biannual 24 hour anime marathon on Friday night, May 8. Attendees prepared for the long night, and brought pillows and blankets. The club provided soda, chips, popcorn and ramen to help fuel people through the event. In the morning, they offered homemade doughnuts with icing and powdered sugar toppings.

UAS has hosted the anime marathon at the end of the Fall and Spring semesters since the club’s inception in 1994. Rachel Crane, a junior who is double majoring in social work and sociology, is the outgoing secretary and will be next year’s president of the club. Crane felt that UAS and the marathon offered a great way for the club to connect with the community.

“There’s a stigma that people who watch anime don’t talk to other people,” Crane said. “Here everyone can get together and share common interests.”

The event was certainly well attended. By 7:30 p.m., close to 35 people were enjoying One Piece, a show about the misadventures of a group of friendly pirates. The viewing lineup was chosen carefully by the UAS marathon committee based on suggestions from club members. They attempted to show titles that people would enjoy watching, and also hoped to introduce new shows to people.

There was also opportunity for the attendees to decide what to watch. Seven of the time slots were dedicated to viewers choice, where people could nominate a show they wanted to watch, and the group voted on it. The only stipulation was that titles had to have a TV-14 rating, since the event was open to the public.

Jason Hughes, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, heard about UAS from a friend in the fall. At the last marathon, he left around 2 a.m. to sleep, then came back the next morning.

“I brought a pillow in case I want to sleep this time,” Hughes said. By midnight, he was still awake and enjoying the viewing.

Adding to the festivities, a TV was set up in the hall behind ENG 027 for people to play Smash Brothers 3DS, a fighting game featuring characters from various Nintendo titles. Club officers brought card and board games as well. A small group played Cards Against Humanity in the hallway around midnight.

By 3 p.m. on Saturday, fifteen people were still in the audience. There was much less enthusiasm than the night before. Some fidgeted in their seats from tiredness. Hughes had gone back to his dorm room to get some sleep, and came back rested and ready for the rest of the event.

Crane felt the effects of sleep deprivation. Much more soft spoken than the night before, she was able to catch an hour and a half of sleep Saturday morning in the back of the room. Running a 24 hour anime marathon is exhausting work, but Crane’s spirits were high.

“This is probably one of the best things I’ve ever done,” Crane said of the marathon and her involvement in UAS, “I’ve made a lot of friends here.”

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FROOT review

The third album from the sing-songwriter, Froot, heads in a direction vastly different from her 2012 release Electra Heart.

Those who know Marina Diamandis as the cute star with a tiny black heart on her upper left cheek will be shocked to note the evident transformation from her sophomore album, Electra Heart, to her 2015 release, Froot.

Gone is the fictional diva, Electra Heart, that Diamandis created as a satirical representation of pop culture. Instead, Diamandis has finally decided to uncover who she is in the form of this third album.

Froot is full of ballads and pop jams, all mixed together in an effort to capture what Diamandis really cares about. She told Time that “Froot felt symbolic of how I feel now: ripe and ready as an artist and as a person, like I’m ready to really enjoy things.”

The first track on Froot, titled “Happy,” is a piano-based ballad showcasing Diamandis’ powerful voice. She mentions that she has finally “found what I’ve been looking for in myself.”

Similarly, she expressed in the song “Froot” that she’s “Hanging like a fruit, ready to be juiced,” continuing with the album’s theme of Diamandis finally being comfortable with who she is.

“Can’t Pin Me Down” is another one of the songs on Froot that showcase Diamandis’ unique perspective on matters like feminism. Though she admitted that there are “all these contradictions pouring out of me,” she is quick to attribute that to the fact that she is “just another girl in the 21st century.”

The song itself takes on a slower pace, and Diamandis’ powerful voice takes on an echo-like quality that makes it stand out even more against the background instruments. When there is an important message Diamandis wants to emphasize, she uses the technique of a quieter instrumental to make her words, and therefore her message, louder and clearer.

Though Diamandis claims that she is not a political person, her interest in reforming society is explicit throughout Froot. Her song “Savages” is about how she fears man, not God, because these days, another day means “another tale of rape.”

She told Time that she believes “horrendous” actions like rape are natural to humans. She wrote “Savages” because she has seen how prominent rape culture has been these past few years, and she thinks it’s “sickening” that rape related incidents are always in the news. Diamandis thinks that we need to “start a conversation on why these things are in our human traits.”

Abandoning the Electra Heart character meant for Diamandis that she would get to re-enter the music industry, in a sense. Though some of her lyrics are still comedic, the satire is no longer what stands out in her songs. Now, Diamandis is ready to express who she is without hiding behind ambiguous words or fictional characters.

Photo credit: alanticrecords.com

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Speakers shared their stories at the Mental Health Awareness Panel

Students and faculty came together in the library’s gallery to hear four individuals share their challenges with mental health and their roads to recovery.

Many students would agree that juggling a full course load and responsibilities outside of school is not always easy. Still, students aren’t the only ones who face obstacles involving their mental health, as these issues are overwhelmly common in today’s society.

This month is Mental Health Awareness month and the Mental Health Awareness Panel was hosted in the library’s gallery on May 6. Student and alumni speakers shared their stories involving their struggles with mental health, as well as some advice on how to approach and overcome mental health issues inside and outside of school.

Dr. Jason Schiffman, associate professor and director of clinical training, said, “The goal of this panel is to bring people together to discuss issues related to mental health that include both challenges and sources of strength and hope.” Youth First (Youth Focused Identification, Research, and Service Team) has been established and is comprised of Schiffman and his research lab of graduate and undergraduate students.

Youth First was one of several sponsors of the panel, who produce meaningful and useful research in order to better provide clinical services. Their research lab is located right on campus, where they are also training future leaders in psychology.

The team with Youth First primarily focuses on creating mental health programs which provide education and awareness to their community. They have trained student consumer speakers, organized campus flashmobs and hosted awareness panels, such as this one.

Jordan Geddes, a UMBC alumnus and speaker at the event, said, “I spoke on the first panel we did two years ago as well. It’s a chance for students and former students to share their experiences with mental health in an honest and open way.” Geddes shared his experiences with being bullied and struggling with depression. It has been a long road to recovery, but he feels like he has finally made it to a better place.

Today, Geddes is the Youth Engagement Supervisor for the Maryland Coalition of Families, and helps run the youth advisory council, Taking Flight. Taking Flight is a diverse group of young leaders from different backgrounds who fight to make positive changes, such as promoting acceptance and reducing stigma.

Every single one of the speakers admitted that seeking help was daunting at first, but committing to it made all the difference. Many people are afraid to share what they’re going through out of the fear of being judged, but it’s important to remember that there’s someone out there who understands and is dedicated to helping those who suffer with mental health illnesses.

Sayeda Khan, a senior biology major and speaker, said, “this was my first time sharing my full story. It felt great. I remember feeling so alone, but I realized you don’t have to go through these issues alone. There’s always someone who’s willing to listen and help.” Khan stressed how she has people who are there for her even when she doesn’t want to talk, and  they have really made the fight worth fighting for.

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“KAL” Kallaugher bashes Cartoon Wars

Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, a local political cartoonist, shares his thoughts on freedom of speech sparked by the Cartoon Wars and Charlie Hebdo Massacre.

After a decade long decline of political cartoons, cartoonists are slowly garnering attention once again, but not in a positive way.

Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, a local political cartoonist, shared his thoughts on the fight for freedom of speech brought on by Charlie Hebdo and the controversial Paris massacre.

Kallaugher has been a political cartoonist for the Economist Magazine for 37 years, and is currently contributing work to The Baltimore Sun.

Although he has won many awards, such as the 2015 Herblock Prize and The Grand Prix for Cartoonist of the Year in 2014, he knows this field of work is rather controversial.

He explained that today’s society consists of many taboos and cartoonists have a habit of pushing boundaries. Gun control, war and religion are just a few of the matters that cause heated discussion. Kallaugher believes proper communication is key in dealing with such topics.

In 2003, the “Cartoon Wars” began after cartoons of Prophet Muhammad were being distributed. These images were rejected because they were offensive to some readers. Protests and strikes took place in areas such as Germany and Bosnia, and reprints of the images began to creep up, including Hebdo’s 12 reprints of Muhammad and other political and religious figures.

Although Kallaugher does not agree with some of Charlie Hebdo’s work, he does not discount what he did with reprinting such controversial images. That was what sparked the debate on issues concerning freedom of speech and the press.

But where exactly do you draw the line? This was when Kallaugher went up to the board, and started drawing a cartoon in a box. “The wall behind you” he said, “is the first amendment and the line in front of you are societal pressures.” According to Kallaugher, as a cartoonist, you need to learn how to balance these two influences. In the end, it’s ultimately how we phrase things.

Kallaugher believes our generation will change the ideas of freedom of speech.

He said, “It’s not what we say it’s how we say it, and to make a change we have to fight for it.”

Photo credit: Patrick Alejandro

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UMBC students assemble for a flash mob to raise awareness for mental illness

UMBC students assembled for a flash mob on Wednesday, May 6 to raise awareness for mental illness and the fight against stigma. The event was organized and led by Dr. Jason Schiffman of the Psychology department.

A sunny and warm Wednesday afternoon proved to be a great day for some dancing. That’s right, dancing. Droves of UMBC students and faculty members gathered in the plaza between the University Center and the Math and Psychology Building for what is quickly becoming an annual tradition: a flash mob.

Students and faculty members suddenly broke into a well choreographed dance, accompanied by Taylor Swift’s smash hit “Shake It Off.” But the flash mob was so much more than just some silly dance moves to a chart topping single. It was a way to raise campus awareness for mental illness and the attached stigma.

Stigma is a mark of disgrace associated with a certain quality. Dr. Jason Schiffman, the organizer of the event and associate professor in the Psychology department, said, “Stigma against mental illness is the main barrier against people getting the help that they need.”

Schiffman was adamant that stigma has no place in relation to mental illness and that by raising awareness, stigma can be lessened, thus creating a more inclusive community.

In regards to why he chose a flash mob to raise awareness, Schiffman said, “My family likes to dance a lot. We thought this was a fun way to raise awareness, and just [do] anything we can do to hit home the point.”

Of course, it is an ongoing battle to inform the public, but Schiffman believes that the challenge can be met with a partnership between awareness and education.

“The flash mob is to raise to awareness, and the panel allows people in the community to ask questions, share stories, gain insight and just get to know each other in new ways,” said Schiffman of the organized dance and discussion panel of mental illness that followed later in the day.

Schiffman’s students in PSYC 455, a course on schizophrenia, echoed a similar sentiment of extreme importance surrounding the awareness of mental illness.

Brandy Wainwright, a senior psychology major, explained that even though a mental disorder is not a physically painful or visible, it can be just as debilitating. “People think that just because you can physically feel something that it isn’t as serious. When in reality, even though you can see it, it can be just as bad. It can even be worse,” she said.

Andrew Pennington, a senior psychology major, shared an insight of his following a conversation he had with a friend who questioned why UMBC would offer a course on a disorder that impacts so little of the population.

Pennington said, “The depth of mental illness impacts a lot more than the individual. It impacts family and friends and strains relationships. If the number of people impacted by mental illness isn’t zero, then we should have a class on it.”

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