Speech-Language Pathologists’ Perceptions Regarding Augmentative and Alternative Communication Implementation and Assessment in the Adult Population

The goal of this research project is to bring awareness to a part of the population that is severely lacking in both representation and research in regard to the use of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC), bringing attention to the scarcity of studies centered around AAC use in adults. This study hopes to increase the number of SLPs who are comfortable in assessing and implemeneting AAC systems with adults. The survey included questions pertaining to how long SLPs had been practicing, what populations they are most familiar with, their comfort levels regarding both AAC implementation and assessment, and memorable experiences they may have had regarding AAC. The survey was sent via email to 589 licensed SLPs practicing in settings with primarily adult populations in the state of Mississippi. A total of 72 surveys were submitted, and 61 complete responses were obtained. Preliminary results indicated that although many SLPs have implemented a multitude of systems in their career, they do not necessarily feel confident when implementing AAC systems; data also indicated that an overwhelming majority of SLPs find AAC to be helpful when implemented correctly. This project and its outcomes contribute to SLPs’ awareness of AAC implementation and assessment in adults, along with bringing attention to the insufficient number of studies centered around AAC use in adults. Keywords: speech-language pathology, AAC, augmentative and alternative communication, adults, S

A Spectroscopic Study of Anomalous Stellar Populations in M67

A population of stars exists in the old, open cluster M67, whose photometry, color magnitude diagram locations and associated evolutionary states cannot be explained by current, standard single star evolution theory. These stars are often referred to as ``yellow straggler\u27 stars. Yellow stragglers have been identified in multiple star clusters suggesting that these stars constitute a real population. Additionally, according to independent studies, at least some of the yellow straggler stars in M67 are likely cluster members. Therefore, cluster non-membership is not a sufficient explanation for the observed anomalous photometry of these stars. It is possible that the yellow stragglers occupy their precarious color magnitude diagram positions as a result of the evolution of mass transfer blue straggler stars. These are stars which have been formed by Roche Lobe overflow mass transfer in close binary systems. If this the case for the yellow stragglers, it is hypothesized that they could potentially exhibit two spectroscopic characteristics that can be indicative of this type of mass transfer system. Specifically, variable radial velocities can be used to indicate that the yellow stragglers exist in binary systems and enhancements of s-process elements in yellow stragglers can indicate Roche Lobe overflow mass transfer from a once asymptotic giant branch star which has since evolved into a white dwarf. This Dissertation details the radial velocity survey and the chemical abundance analysis that have been conducted to investigate the yellow stragglers with regard to this hypothesis. The radial velocity survey revealed that eight of the ten yellow stragglers studied exhibit variable radial velocities indicating that the yellow straggler population of M67 possess a high binary frequency. However, the chemical abundance analysis revealed that none of the yellow stragglers exhibited enhancements of the s-process elements Y and Ba. Therefore, a history which involves Roche Lobe overflow mass transfer cannot be confirmed for the yellow straggler stars

S12RS SGB No. 9 (CC Reqs)

A BILL to amend Article V of the student Government Bylaws To require that all college councils host “Council Chats” for their respective colleges once per semeste

Mindfulness Meditation: A Practical Intervention in Addressing Stress and Anxiety in Inmates

This research study explores the history of meditation, and the evolution and use of mindfulness and mindfulness-based interventions to address certain physical, emotional and mental health conditions. It also reviews scholarly literatures regarding the use of mindfulness meditation as a rehabilitation intervention in various correctional settings. More specifically, this research studies the overall impact and practical implications of using mindfulness meditation as an intervention to address stress and anxiety among inmates in the New York Monroe County Sheriff’s, Monroe Correctional Facility (MCF). The results from this study revealed that inmates who practiced mindfulness meditation at MCF showed a substantial reduction in their levels of stress and anxiety

Comparison of Theory-Practice Link in US and UK Student Nurses

Nurse education in Higher Education aims to prepare student nurses to develop their abilities to integrate theory taught within the classroom into their clinical or practice placement. A collaborative, qualitative research project was undertaken between the University of South Carolina Aiken, USA and University of Hertfordshire, UK to explore, compare and evaluate the influence of Academic Professors/ Link Lecturers* in enabling 1st year student nurses to make the connection between theory and practice. The study was informed by current literature on theory-practice, Academic Professors/ Link Lecturers and student nurses’ experiences and perspectives. (*faculty in the US are called academic professors, and faculty in UK are called Link Lecturers.

Image-based mapping system for transplanted seedlings

Master of ScienceDepartment of Mechanical and Nuclear EngineeringDale SchinstockDevelopments in farm related technology have increased the importance of mapping individual plants in the field. An automated mapping system allows the size of these fields to scale up without being hindered by time-intensive, manual surveying. This research focuses on the development of a mapping system which uses geo-located images of the field to automatically locate plants and determine their coordinates. Additionally, this mapping process is capable of differentiating between groupings of plants by using Quick Response (QR) codes. This research applies to green plants that have been grown into seedlings before being planted, known as transplants, and for fields that are planted in nominally straight rows. The development of this mapping system is presented in two stages. First is the design of a robotic platform equipped with a Real Time Kinematic (RTK) receiver that is capable of traversing the field to capture images. Second is the post-processing pipeline which converts the images into a field map. This mapping system was applied to a field at the Land Institute containing approximately 25,000 transplants. The results show the mapped plant locations are accurate to within a few inches, and the use of QR codes is effective for identifying plant groups. These results demonstrate this system is successful in mapping large fields. However, the high overall complexity makes the system restrictive for smaller fields where a simpler solution may be preferable

A Spectroscopic Investigation of the Rho Puppis Stars

The Rho Puppis stars are mid F-type stars that show peculiar chemical abundance patterns similar to those of the hotter Am stars. This means that they typically exhibit overabundances of iron-peak elements like Fe and Ni as well as s- and r-process elements such as Sr and Eu, but show underabundances of other elements like He and Ca. There are currently two hypotheses that may explain these peculiar chemical abundances. One hypothesis suggests that these stars are evolving Am stars in a short-lived phase that occurs between the re-establishment of convection and the consequent erasure of the chemical peculiarities. The second hypothesis requires that these stars have acquired their peculiar abundance patterns in a fashion similar to the Barium dwarf stars. More specifically, it is suspected that they may have gained the s-process element enhancements via mass transfer from a once Asymptotic Giant-Branch companion star, now turned white dwarf. This thesis details my efforts to investigate the Rho Puppis stars with regard to these two hypotheses, so that we may understand these stars and their significance in terms of stellar evolution

Potential In The Central Bar Structure

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