AIAA Design, Build, Fly Team - MULLET Competition Aircraft 2021-2022

MULLET, the Medical Unmanned Low-Level Electric Transport, is Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University Daytona Beach’s aircraft for the 2021–2022 AIAA Design, Build, Fly competition. This UAV was designed to perform four missions, including a ground mission and three flight missions. Mission 1 is a deployment flight that demonstrates the aircraft’s flight capability; Mission 2 is a staging flight for the transportation of vaccine syringes; Mission 3 is a delivery flight for the transportation and deployment of vaccine vial packages; and the Ground Mission is a demonstration of the ability to rapidly prepare the aircraft for flight. The aircraft was designed, manufactured, and flown by a team of 40 undergraduate aerospace engineering students. The design process comprised three phases: conceptual, preliminary, and detail design. Initially, the conceptual design focused on analyzing the requirements with a scoring analysis to select the optimal payload that maximized the mission scores. After the aircraft and subsystem configurations were selected, the weight, wing, tail, and propulsion system were sized during the preliminary design. A detail design then focused on the aircraft’s structural characteristics and systems integration. The manufacturing process followed with the goal of fabricating the aircraft to the designed specifications and weight. A detailed schedule was developed and was continuously refined to manufacture each aircraft iteration in a timely manner, enabling rapid prototyping throughout the design, build, and fly process. Finally, a testing plan was established to evaluate a series of test objectives essential to the aircraft’s mission performance

Effect of genetic testing for risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus on health behaviors and outcomes: study rationale, development and design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent chronic condition globally that results in extensive morbidity, decreased quality of life, and increased health services utilization. Lifestyle changes can prevent the development of diabetes, but require patient engagement. Genetic risk testing might represent a new tool to increase patients' motivation for lifestyle changes. Here we describe the rationale, development, and design of a randomized controlled trial (RCT) assessing the clinical and personal utility of incorporating type 2 diabetes genetic risk testing into comprehensive diabetes risk assessments performed in a primary care setting.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>Patients are recruited in the laboratory waiting areas of two primary care clinics and enrolled into one of three study arms. Those interested in genetic risk testing are randomized to receive <it>either </it>a standard risk assessment (SRA) for type 2 diabetes incorporating conventional risk factors plus upfront disclosure of the results of genetic risk testing ("SRA+G" arm), <it>or </it>the SRA alone ("SRA" arm). Participants not interested in genetic risk testing will not receive the test, but will receive SRA (forming a third, "no-test" arm). Risk counseling is provided by clinic staff (not study staff external to the clinic). Fasting plasma glucose, insulin levels, body mass index (BMI), and waist circumference are measured at baseline and 12 months, as are patients' self-reported behavioral and emotional responses to diabetes risk information. Primary outcomes are changes in insulin resistance and BMI after 12 months; secondary outcomes include changes in diet patterns, physical activity, waist circumference, and perceived risk of developing diabetes.</p> <p>Discussion</p> <p>The utility, feasibility, and efficacy of providing patients with genetic risk information for common chronic diseases in primary care remain unknown. The study described here will help to establish whether providing type 2 diabetes genetic risk information in a primary care setting can help improve patients' clinical outcomes, risk perceptions, and/or their engagement in healthy behavior change. In addition, study design features such as the use of existing clinic personnel for risk counseling could inform the future development and implementation of care models for the use of individual genetic risk information in primary care.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>ClinicalTrials.gov: <a href="http://www.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00849563">NCT00849563</a></p