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UML Honors Local 9/11 Victims at Remembrance Ceremony

September 10, 2021 by Kristin Cole

On Thursday morning, UMass Lowell (UML) held a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony honoring the seven members of the university community and all other victims of the terrorist attacks. The ceremony marked the 20th anniversary of the tragedy, which is this Saturday, Sept. 11.

The outdoor ceremony took place at “Unity,” UMass Lowell’s outdoor memorial sculpture to the victims of Sept. 11, located on the banks of the Merrimack River. The memorial is inscribed with the names of those with ties to UML who perished on Sept. 11, 2001: Douglas Gowell ’71 of Methuen; Robert Hayes ’86 of Amesbury; Brian Kinney ’95 of Lowell; John Ogonowski ’72 of Dracut, who was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11; Patrick Quigley IV of Wellesley, the husband of alumna Patricia Quigley ’86; Billerica native Jessica Leigh Sachs, daughter of UML alumni Stephen and Karen Sachs ’69; and Christopher Zarba ’79 of Hopkinton.

 

Attendees of the event included members of the victims’ families, U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan, state Rep. Thomas Golden, a UML graduate; UML Chancellor Jacquie Moloney; Campus Minister Rev. Imogene Stulken; and National Park Service Acting Deputy Regional Director Celeste Bernardo.

During the event, UML students read brief biographical tributes to each of the seven members of the UML community who were victims of the attacks. In addition to the individuals, the university recently learned that UML graduate Ryan D. Fortini, a retired New York state police trooper passed away on Jan. 1, 2020, from illnesses stemming from his assignment aiding in search and recovery efforts at the World Trade Center. Chancellor Moloney honored him in her speech.

The UML Chamber Singers and music students Olivia Minchello of Lowell and Cristian Ramos Delgado of Methuen performed the national anthem and other selections during the event.

Filed Under: Community, Education Tagged With: 9/11, honor, Lowell, remembrance ceremony, UML

UML Nutrition Professor Says a Sustainable Diet is a Healthier Diet

September 7, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

By Katharine Webster

A sustainable diet is healthier for the planet – and for us, says biomedical and nutritional sciences Assoc. Prof. Kelsey Mangano.

There are three keys to helping the environment while improving our own health, she says: Eat a wide variety of foods, cut portion sizes and food waste, and substitute plant proteins for some animal proteins.

“Variety in our choices is going to be the most beneficial, and listening to our hunger cues,” she says. “Try swapping out meat, dairy and eggs for plant alternatives – and try new things. It’s OK if you don’t like them the first time. Eventually, you’re going to find the plant choices that you do like.”

Mangano, a member of the university’s Center for Population Health, researches the nutritional value and health effects of different protein sources, as well as gut health and food additives. Recently, she spoke about the connections between food and a healthy planet.

 

Q: What is a sustainable diet?

A: It’s part of a food system that provides healthy food to all people in a way that protects the environment. There are so many food inequities in the United States and around the world. Making sure that all people have access to healthy, nutrient-dense foods is the foundation of a sustainable food system. That means a shift away from overconsumption of all foods and toward a more varied diet that includes more plants and fewer animal products.

Q: The United Nations’ Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change recently released a report with a bleak warning about the environment, saying it’s “code red for humanity.” What were your main food-related takeaways from the report? 

A: Of the 4 billion tons of food produced globally each year, one-third of it is wasted. That blew my mind, especially since there are such high rates of food insecurity.

In the United States, we have an obesity epidemic that is getting worse every year. Overeating is bad for our health, and through that overconsumption, we’re using all these fossil fuels in agribusiness to produce highly processed foods that we shouldn’t be eating in the first place.

The No. 1 thing we can do for ourselves and the planet is to reduce food waste overall. It’s really about getting back in tune with what our bodies need, and those hunger cues.

Q: The U.N. report says cows and rice are the two biggest agricultural sources of methane gas, one of the most damaging greenhouse gases. Is pork or chicken better for the environment than beef? What about eggs and dairy products?

A: All ruminant animals – cows, sheep and goats – release methane gas during digestion, so eating dairy products is only slightly better for the environment than eating beef, lamb and goat.

Rice production releases more methane gas than wheat or corn farming because of certain bacteria that grow in rice paddies when they’re flooded. But overall, industrial animal farming uses far more fossil fuels and other resources than plant agriculture, so eating plant-based foods is more sustainable than consuming beef, pork, chicken, fish, dairy and eggs.

However, animal products provide a special combination of nutrients important to our overall health, so eating moderate amounts of sustainably produced meat, eggs and dairy from local farms is good for us. Pay attention to where your food comes from.

Q: If someone says, “I hate tofu and I’m never going to give up steak,” is there anything else they can do to cut down on greenhouse gas emissions?

A: I ask my students to self-evaluate their food intake for a week. If someone finds that they’re eating meat at every meal – a sausage, egg and cheese sandwich for breakfast, a deli meat sandwich for lunch and then a big piece of meat for dinner – they can try to remove meat from one or two meals a day and replace it with plant protein.

Soy is the only plant we know of that’s a complete protein comparable to meat, so tofu and tempeh are good protein sources. Other beans and legumes combined with whole grains, nuts and nut butters, some veggie burgers and even mushrooms are good choices, too.

Plant proteins provide so many vitamins and minerals, antioxidants, fiber and healthy oils that aren’t typically in animal protein. By swapping out animal protein for plant protein once or twice a day, you’re really bumping up the nutritive value of your diet and you have less of a carbon footprint. It’s a win-win.

Q: What about some of the new meat substitutes, like Impossible Burgers and Beyond Burgers?

A: Say somebody has a portion-controlled, 4-ounce steak and a plate full of fruits and vegetables: I’d much rather see that than something that’s highly processed and loaded with salt or synthetic food additives.

Many meat substitutes currently on the market are highly processed. Research in my lab and across the country suggests that processed foods and some food additives increase inflammation in the gut, which leads to chronic disease development, such as diabetes and cardiovascular disease.

I’m an omnivore: I eat a mixture of plant protein and sustainably raised meat, but I try to eat food that’s as minimally processed as possible.

Q: What are some other tips for healthy, sustainable eating?

A: Take advantage of the unique, diverse environment in Lowell. If you can afford to eat out, it’s a neat opportunity to expand your cultural awareness and try more plant-based foods. Although plant proteins are not traditionally a staple in the westernized diet, they are a staple throughout the rest of the world.

There’s a big push in university dining for more vegetarian options and more locally sourced food. If you’re cooking for yourself, Lowell has a year-round farmer’s market at Mill No. 5 every Sunday and an outdoor farmer’s market downtown on Fridays from July through October.

Buying locally grown fruits and veggies cuts down on fossil fuels used to transport food long distances, and you’re also getting more nutrients for your buck because exposure to air, heat and sunlight breaks down important vitamins. For example, you’re getting 80% more Vitamin C out of the greens in your backyard or from the farm down the street than if you bought them in the grocery store.

Filed Under: Education, Health & Wellness Tagged With: diet, Health, Healthy, Nutrition, sustainable, UML, Wellness

UML Researchers Developing Wireless Sensor Network to Detect Coronavirus

September 7, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

By Edwin L. Aguirre

A team of researchers from UMass Lowell (UML) and Northeastern University is creating and testing a low-cost, automated wireless sensor network that could detect SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, in the air and in wastewater in real time, and predict potential outbreaks before they occur.

Asst. Prof. Sheree Pagsuyoin of UML’s department of civil and environmental engineering is leading the project, called “DiSenDa,” which stands for Disease Surveillance with Multi-Modal Sensor Network and Data Analytics.

“Our goal is to track COVID-19 transmission and prevent outbreaks before they spiral out of control and cost people’s lives and livelihoods,” she says. “The probes attached to the sensors have been specifically designed to detect the presence of biomarkers for SARS-CoV-2 in the air and in wastewater samples.”

According to Pagsuyoin, this is the first time that cutting-edge technologies such as wireless sensing, genomic testing, cloud computing, real-time data analytics, artificial intelligence/machine learning and mobile apps are being used together to fight the pandemic.

“Our three-year pilot study will target COVID-19 first, but ultimately, we hope to use the same technique to detect other pathogens, such as cholera, a deadly illness that is prevalent in many low-income countries with poor sanitation,” she says. “The World Health Organization is very much interested in this type of health surveillance.”

Aside from Pagsuyoin, other members of the UML team include electrical and computer engineering Prof. Yan Luo, biology Asst. Prof. Frederic Chain and Jack Lepine of the university’s Next Generation Sequencing & Genomics Lab. The Northeastern University team includes Profs. Hongwei Sun and Nian Sun.

For the pilot study, the team is planning to set up three monitoring sites — two in Massachusetts and one in the Philippines (in collaboration with researchers from the University of the Philippines).

 

Innovative Sensors and AI-Driven Data Analytics

The DiSenDa system relies on two sensing technologies: an acoustic sensor for wastewater detection and an electronic “nose” sensor for air detection.

“Both sensors are patented and have shown high sensitivity,” says Pagsuyoin. “The probe array in the acoustic sensor can be custom-designed to detect new SARS-CoV-2 variants or other pathogens, and is attached to the sensor using an inexpensive, replaceable sticker. New pathogen templates can be easily imprinted for the e-Nose sensor.”

The sensors work independently, so they don’t have to be positioned at the same location.

“The water sensor could be installed in the sewer line while the air sensor could be mounted inside a ventilation duct in a residential building,” Pagsuyoin says.

All sensor measurements will be transmitted continuously and in real time to the data cloud, where they will be processed along with the other datasets and combined with other supporting data such as health reports, demographics, weather and the movement of people in a given geographic area.

“We’ll use machine learning algorithms to identify emerging disease patterns or outbreaks,” says Pagsuyoin. “The weather data would be useful for predicting outbreaks of seasonal illnesses such as the flu. A community’s mobility data would allow us to not only identify where an outbreak is occurring, but also predict the potential spread of the disease and where contact tracing is going to be needed.”

The results would be shared with community leaders, public health officials and other stakeholders so they could issue timely advisories or an emergency response. The information can also help them prioritize the allocation and deployment of limited health resources and staff.

“We like to think of DiSenDa as an inexpensive, low-maintenance early warning system for disease outbreaks,” says Pagsuyoin. “It’s like having an army of sentinels constantly guarding people’s health.”

Filed Under: Education, Health & Wellness Tagged With: covid19, innovation, Lowell, sensors, Technology, UML, wireless

UML to Host Remembrance Ceremony for Victims of 9/11

September 7, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

Ceremony will mark 20th anniversary to honor members of the university community lost in the attacks.

WHEN: Thursday, Sept. 9, 9:30 a.m.

WHERE: “Unity,” UMass Lowell’s outdoor memorial sculpture to the victims of Sept. 11. The installation is located behind Leitch Residence Hall, 111 Pawtucket St., East Campus. Contact UML media relations for directions and parking information. As the event will take place outside, face coverings will not be required but may be worn if preferred.

WHAT: UML will honor the seven members of the university community and all other victims of the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11, 2001 with a ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the tragedy.

The event will be held at UML’s memorial to the victims, which is located on the banks of the Merrimack River on the university’s East Campus, on land occupied by the university, city and Lowell National Historical Park. Called “Unity,” the unique circular-shaped memorial is inscribed with the names of those with ties to UML who perished on Sept. 11, 2001: Douglas Gowell ’71 of Methuen; Robert Hayes ’86 of Amesbury; Brian Kinney ’95 of Lowell; John Ogonowski ’72 of Dracut, who was the pilot of American Airlines Flight 11; Patrick Quigley IV of Wellesley, the husband of alumna Patricia Quigley ’86; Billerica native Jessica Leigh Sachs, daughter of UML alumni Stephen and Karen Sachs ’69; and Christopher Zarba ’79 of Hopkinton.

 

Originally dedicated in 2004, “Unity” was rededicated in 2011 for the 10th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. The memorial was commissioned by UML and its student government association and was designed by UML graduates Gail Miller, Rebekah Hermans and Janet Wittlinger while they were enrolled in a course taught by James Coates.

Members of the victims’ families are expected to attend the event, which is scheduled to include remarks by U.S. Rep. Lori Trahan; state Rep. Thomas Golden, a UML graduate; UML Chancellor Jacquie Moloney; Campus Minister Rev. Imogene Stulken; and National Park Service Acting Deputy Regional Director Celeste Bernardo. The UML Chamber Singers and music students Olivia Minchello of Lowell and Cristian Ramos Delgado of Methuen will perform the national anthem and other selections.

Filed Under: Community Tagged With: community, Lowell, remembrance, September 11, UML

Satellite built by UML Students Sent to International Space Station

September 7, 2021 by Merrimack Valley Magazine

It’s all systems go for SPACE HAUC, a miniature satellite designed and built by UMass Lowell (UML) students for NASA that was sent to the International Space Station who launched it into the Earth’s orbit on Sunday, Aug. 29.

Funded by a $200,000 grant from the space agency, the satellite was designed, built and managed by more than 100 students from UML’s Francis College of Engineering; Kennedy College of Sciences; College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; and Manning School of Business over the past five years. UML Physics Prof. Supriya Chakrabarti, who leads the university’s Lowell Center for Space Science and Technology is supervising the project.

On Sunday, Aug.29, the satellite was on board a SpaceX Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket that lifted off from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida. The launch marked NASA and SpaceX’s 23rd mission to deliver supplies to the space station. From there, NASA plans to deploy SPACE HAUC into Earth’s orbit in mid-October.

 

The satellite’s yearlong mission is to successfully demonstrate it can transmit data at up to 50 to 100 megabits per second – significantly faster than current models. Pronounced “Space Hawk,” the spacecraft’s name is a tip of the hat to UML’s athletic teams, the River Hawks. The acronym stands for Science Program Around Communications Engineering with High-Achieving Undergraduate Cadres.

“Our goal is to train students to be the next generation of astronomers and space scientists and engineers through hands-on involvement in all phases of the mission, from instrument development to data analysis,” Chakrabarti said. “The purpose of SPACE HAUC is to demonstrate technology that hasn’t been done in such a small package.”

The satellite will reach altitudes around 240 miles while circling the Earth approximately every 90 minutes at about 17,000 miles per hour. Four solar panels will supply electricity to power the satellite’s electronics. The students will maintain a communication link between it and ground stations at UML and the MIT Haystack Observatory in Westford. The satellite will stay in orbit for a year or more before it gradually loses altitude and falls back to Earth. As it re-enters the atmosphere, aerodynamic stress and heating will cause it to disintegrate and burn up harmlessly, high above the ground.

Filed Under: Education Tagged With: launch, NASA, satellite, space, UML

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