Burlington puts more data online

New Data Tools for Public, City Savings Identified

Brian Lowe, brian@burlingtonvt.gov Chief Innovation Officer, Burlington

Announcement

Improved Data Tools for Public, City Team
Good data management for an organization is becoming nearly as important as strong financial management. Having easy access to the different types of data the City collects can help researchers, businesses, and community members advance their work or get a better understanding of how the City is operating. And, having readily accessible data collected by multiple departments can also help City staff get information for grant applications, policy decisions, required reports, or operational evaluations that might not be accessed easily even within the City. With more than a dozen different departments and sometimes different legacy IT systems, the Mayor has requested centralized data platforms that increase opportunities for collaboration and should save City resources over time.

These factors drove the development of a new interactive dashboard, overhauled open data platform, and the first City open data policy the City Innovation & Technology (I&T) department released at the end of January. The dashboard shows City performance measures over time, and allows residents to look at particular time periods or specific data types by clicking on the various elements of the dashboard. The open data portal provides foundational City data sets in a machine readable format and in a way that can be easily exported or analyzed by the public. Carolyn Felix led this work for the I&T team. You can access the dashboard at https://www.burlingtonvt.gov/btvstat and the open data platform at https://data.burlingtonvt.gov/pages/home/. Please take a look and let us know at btvstat@burlingtonvt.gov what you think or what other information you'd like to see.

Fwd: "Automatic self-configurable machine learning to enable `small-data' science for non-experts" job talk Thursday noon

Please join us for our third tenure-track faculty job talk Thursday noon, the position focus is on Data Science in the Department of Computer Science.

Nick Cheney

University of Vermont

Thurs Feb 27, 12 - 1pm, John Dewey Lounge (325 Old Mill)

Sandwiches and drinks to be served.

Automatic self-configurable machine learning 

to enable "small-data" science for non-experts

The dramatic rise and popularity of machine learning, and especially deep learning, has accelerated automation, innovation, and scale in the many industries that seek to monetize "big data".  In other domains, such as in academia, the adoption of deep learning has been tempered, limited largely by the scarcity of experienced data scientists and the lack of large labeled datasets. I conjecture that the development of machine learning methods that are increasingly robust and self-configurable will help to remove the hard-earned machine-learning expertise and intuition that is currently required to configure deep learning architectures, hyperparameters, and data-processing pipelines – helping to open the use of these techniques to non-machine-learning-experts.  These automatic machine learning (AutoML) pipelines often rely on meta-learning – which employs a machine learning process to automatically configure other machine learning processes (i.e. learning how to learn). In this talk, I will demonstrate a meta-learning technique that is robust to the ordering of data fed into the model (enabling online continual learning) and automatically adjusts hyperparameters such as effective learning rates with unprecedented granularity. I'll further show how this technique enables "small data" or few-shot learning – successfully training a deep neural network on just 15 examples of never-before-seen classes.  Finally, I'll give examples of how deep learning can impact and accelerate fields like environmental science and medicine across the UVM campus, and explore other ongoing and potential areas of future work in both theoretical and applied AutoML.  

Bio: Nick Cheney is a Research Assistant Professor of Computer Science at the University of Vermont.   He directs the UVM Neurobotics Lab, is a core faculty in the Vermont Complex Systems Center, an Affiliate of the Gund Institute for Environment, and a Participating Faculty in the Quantitative and Evolutionary STEM Traineeship (QuEST).  Nick earned a PhD in Computational Biology from Cornell University – co-advised by Hod Lipson and Steve Strogratz – following a BS in Mathematics from the University of Vermont. He has held visiting researcher and faculty positions at Columbia University, NASA Ames, the Santa Fe Institute, and the University of Wyoming.  Nick's research in machine learning focuses on multi-scale learning-to-learn processes (meta-learning) and automatic machine learning (AutoML) to design self-configurable and robust machine learning pipelines for a wide range of applications. Nick's work has also won numerous awards for scientific visualization and public communication, and been featured in popular media venues such as Wired, Popular Science, The New Yorker, NBC News, and TED. 

Fwd: New Release on Prevalence of Children With Developmental Disabilities

February 25, 2020 | NHSR No. 139

Prevalence of Children Aged 3–17 Years With Developmental Disabilities, by Urbanicity: United States, 2015–2018  About this report: This report uses data from the 2015–2018 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS) and examines the prevalence of developmental disabilities among children in both rural and urban areas as well as service utilization among children with developmental issues in both areas. Findings from this study highlight differences in the prevalence of developmental disabilities and use of services related to developmental disabilities by rural and urban residence. Keywords: attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, urban, rural, National Health Interview Survey Full Report >

Prevalence of Children Diagnosed With a Developmental Disability

More Information on NCHS Products & National Health Statistics Reports

NHIS homepage	Other NCHS publications and information products	NHSR homepage

Suggested Citation

Zablotsky B, Black LI. Prevalence of children aged 3–17 years with developmental disabilities, by urbanicity: United States, 2015–2018. National Health Statistics Reports; no 139. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.

National Center for Health Statistics 3311 Toledo Rd   Hyattsville, MD 20782   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348 Questions or Problems  |  Unsubscribe

Fwd: Save the Date - MEPS Workshop

You are subscribed to the Mailing List for the MEPS Periodic Digest for the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). SAVE THE DATE AHRQ will be conducting a one-day hands-on MEPS-HC Data Users' Workshop in Rockville, MD, on April 14, 2020. This workshop will consist of lectures designed to provide a general overview of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS) https://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/ along with lectures on MEPS-HC survey design, , health care utilization, expenditures, medical conditions;  and statistical issues and challenges researchers face while analyzing MEPS-HC data. There will also be time allotted for the hands-on experience to participants. The participants will apply the knowledge gained from the morning lectures and work with programmers and analysts on MEPS data in the afternoon.  They will learn how to identify and assemble variables to build a data file to answer their research questions. Sample SAS as well as STATA exercises will be demonstrated. Participants are asked to bring their own laptops with their choice of software preloaded on it. We will provide the digital version of the exercises (SAS & STATA) and slides to the attendees. During the Hands-on session, participants will have opportunity to talk to programmers individually for answering their specific research questions and there will be time allotted for open discussion. The workshop is offered free of charge. A full program description, registration form, and logistical information will be available at the beginning of March on the Workshops & Events page of the MEPS Web site at: http://meps.ahrq.gov/mepsweb/about_meps/workshops_events.jsp. For any other questions, please e-mail workshopinfo@ahrq.hhs.gov.

Fwd: Open Positions | Data Releases | Upcoming Workshop Deadlines

IPUMS Census and Survey Data                                                        View this email in your browser Dear Benjamin, Read on for news on data releases, workshops, and job openings at IPUMS HQ OPEN POSITIONS IPUMS is hiring! We are looking for two or more data analysts and/or senior data analysts to work on IPUMS USA and IPUMS Health Surveys. For more information and to apply, visit ipums.org/about/jobs. DATA RELEASES IPUMS USA The 2018 5-year American Community Survey and Puerto Rican Community Survey data are now available. IPUMS HEALTH SURVEYS IPUMS Health Surveys released variables covering the MEPS Diabetes Care Survey (DCS), a supplemental survey about how people with diabetes care for their diabetes. IPUMS TIME USE 2017 and 2018 U.S. data are now available via MTUS. WORKSHOPS 2020 IPUMS CPS Summer Workshop: Using the Panel Component of CPS May 18-20 Minneapolis, MN IPUMS is accepting applications for the IPUMS CPS Summer Data Workshop. The workshop will familiarize researchers with the under-utilized panel component of the Current Population Survey. Up to $1,000 travel support for selected candidates. Additional workshop information, including application submission details, is available at cps.ipums.org/workshops. Applications are due February 23, 2020. Please share this information widely with colleagues and students. How to Use IPUMS to Study the Health Workforce February 25, 2020 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m. CST In collaboration with the AcademyHealth Health Workforce Interest Group and the Health Workforce Technical Assistance Center, this webinar will cover the basics of using IPUMS for studying the health workforce. PAA Can you believe it? PAA is only two months away. Consider these workshops when planning your conference. We will be in touch with more ways to tell us about or check out #poweredbyIPUMS research on the PAA program.  Analyzing and Linking Full Count U.S. Census Data from IPUMS April 22, 2020 Washington, D.C. 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Learn how to use the newly available full count U.S. Census microdata from the IPUMS data experts that made it at our full-day, pre-PAA workshop on April 22, 2020 in Washington, DC. Be sure to reserve your spot for this unique opportunity.  Linking IPUMS Time Use & CPS ASEC Data to Study Health & Well-Being April 22, 2020 Washington, D.C. 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. The IPUMS Time Use team (Sayer, Flood, Hofferth) is hosting a pre-PAA workshop on linking ATUS and CPS data. Registration is limited, so reserve your spot now! . Data, Transformed - CANCELED April 21, 2020 Washington, D.C. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. We have canceled the Data, Transformed workshop scheduled for April 21, 2020. Use it for good! The IPUMS Team THE LATEST FROM IPUMS HQ NEW BLOG POST New Products! IPUMS GeoMarker and NHGIS APIs The IPUMS spatial team has two new products that expand the ways to access NHGIS data: IPUMS GeoMarker and IPUMS APIs. READ HERE UPCOMING EVENTS American Association of Geographers April 6-10, 2020 | Denver, CO Consortium of Universities In Global Health April 18-20, 2020 | Washington D.C. SEE MORE IPUMS.ORG | University of Minnesota Copyright © 2019 University of Minnesota, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: IPUMS 225 19th Ave South Minneapolis, MN 55455

Fwd: On Behalf of Jean Harvey, CALS Interim Dean ~ UVM-ARS Food Systems RFA - Due June 1, 2020

Dear Colleagues,

 

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is pleased to invite proposals for $75,000 awards for research that will support the new UVM-ARS Center for Food Systems Research.  The mission of this newly developed center is described in full in the attached document but briefly is as follows:

 

The Center will become a leader in food systems sustainability research, with a core focus on small and medium farms. It will develop new knowledge that expands our understanding of the suite of benefits that small and medium farms contribute to farm families, local and global communities, and people that consume their products. A key goal of the Center is to improve our ability to measure and document sustainability outcomes from small and medium farms that may not be fully recognized or valued by markets and policies.    

 

The ambitious research goals of the Center can only be realized by catalyzing the broader UVM community in a process to identify the types of metrics, measurement techniques, analysis and integration that is necessary and possible across scales to measure small and medium farm sustainability.  Therefore, the Center invites proposals for concept/white papers to identify the suite of key food system metrics, measurement techniques, and/or data integration tools that can be deployed across the Center's research projects. 

 

Proposals are due June 1, 2020 in the Dean's Office of the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (see attached RFA for details).  Awards will begin July 1, 2020 and end December 15, 2020. 

Please direct questions to Jean Harvey, Interim Dean, CALS (jharvey@uvm.edu)

 

 

Jean R. Harvey, PhD, RDN

Interim Dean, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences

Robert L. Bickford, Jr. Endowed Professor

University of Vermont

146 University Place; 108 Morrill Hall

Burlington, VT 05405

Ph: 802-656-0668

 

Fwd: New Release:Problems Paying Medical Bills, 2018

Problems Paying Medical Bills, 2018

February 12, 2020 | Data Brief No. 357

Problems Paying Medical Bills, 2018 Key Findings Data from the National Health Interview Survey: Overall, the percentage of persons who were in families having problems paying medical bills in the past 12 months decreased from 19.7% in 2011 to 14.2% in 2018. In 2018, the percentage of persons who were in families having problems paying medical bills was higher among females (14.7%), children (16.2%), and non-Hispanic black persons (20.6%) compared with males, adults, and other racial and ethnic groups, respectively. Among persons under age 65, those who were uninsured were more likely than those with Medicaid or private coverage to have problems paying medical bills. Among adults aged 65 and over, those with Medicare and Medicaid, and Medicare only were more likely than those with Medicare Advantage or private coverage to have problems paying medical bills. Keywords private coverage, Medicare, Medicaid, National Health Interview Survey Full Report in HTML >  Full Report in PDF >

Problems Paying Medical Bills, 2018

Ways to Access Related Information & the National Health Interview Survey

2019 Redesign	Questionnaires, data sets, and related documentation	NHIS fact sheet

Suggested Citation

Cha AE, Cohen RA. Problems paying medical bills, 2018. NCHS Data Brief, no 357. Hyattsville, MD: National Center for Health Statistics. 2020.

National Center for Health Statistics 3311 Toledo Rd   Hyattsville, MD 20782   Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 1600 Clifton Rd   Atlanta, GA 30329   1-800-CDC-INFO (800-232-4636)   TTY: 888-232-6348 Questions or Problems  |  Unsubscribe

New publications by Levi Bonnell

Congratulations to Levi Bonnell, MPH, CTS PhD candidate, for these recent publications of work done in a prior life.

Using Finger Puppets in the Primary Care Setting to Support Caregivers Talking With Their Infants: A Feasibility Pilot Study.

Domek GJ, Szafran LH, Bonnell LN, Berman S, Camp BW.

Clin Pediatr (Phila). 2020 Feb 10:9922820903407. doi: 10.1177/0009922820903407. [Epub ahead of print]

PMID: 32037858

 

Cumulative risk, the cognitive home environment and vocabulary in early childhood.

Shriver AE, Bonnell LN, Berman S, Camp BW.

Child Care Health Dev. 2020 Mar;46(2):244-246. doi: 10.1111/cch.12738. Epub 2020 Jan 9.

PMID: 31849078