Linguistic communication skills in rural Appalachian preschoolers

The impact of risk and protective factors on rural Appalachian preschoolers’ (4-years-old) language skills was explored in a longitudinal study of 85 high socioeconomic risk families. Factors examined were family demographics and social support status, mother-child attachment relationships, maternal personality and attitudes, mother interactional behaviors, and infant and child temperament and behaviors. Child language outcome measures included the Preschool Language Scale-3 and pragmatic analyses of spontaneous speech. Data indicated that this population had significantly less developed linguistic skills than other comparison groups, both standardized and low socioeconomic (SES) risk. Differences in language skills for this sample can be predicted from a combination of SES, mother, and child characteristics. Attachment status alone or in combination with risk factors did not serve a protective function for linguistic communication development in this group

Understanding avian soaring to extend UAV mission endurance through remote detection of thermal updrafts

Thermal updrafts can be utilized to increase an aircraft's flight endurance and range. However, much of the discussion involving thermal updrafts comprise of flight techniques within a known thermal updraft and very little is discussed over the detection of thermals without the influence of the upward or downward velocity component. This paper discusses possible thermal locating methods discovered from looking at thermal detection primarily from an avian viewpoint. An avian study was conducted to gather information on how avian soaring species locate thermal updrafts, in which no definitive answer was found. Of the possible theories of avian thermal location methods, combined with methods used from RC aircraft, a single method was chosen for further study through simulation and experimentation to construct possible applications to unmanned aerial systems. By quantifying wind shifts in the local area, the direction and location of local thermal updrafts was theorized to be able to be calculated. However, due to the high magnitudes of uncertainty found during the experimental approach and then portrayed in additional simulations with added uncertainty, this method is shown to be unfavorable for use in remotely detecting thermal updrafts

Advancement of Computational Fluid Dynamics Visualization for Finite Element Applications

This thesis focuses on a current CFD visualization program: current capabilities and required upgrades. New features are added to the CFD visualization program to allow for continued operation. Drawbacks of the previous visualization program in OpenGL are also analyzed during this process, and a new visualization program is envisioned. The work on the new visualization system in VTK is shown in detail along with the vision of the final product, which includes later research in a remeshing system for geometry files used in CFD visualization. The additions of four new plot-able variables were added to the previous CFD visualization program: velocity magnitude, total energy, internal energy, and vorticity. Along with these new variables a minimum and maximum feature was incorporated which allows for the range of the color and data scale to be changed based on user input. Programming for new visualization program was started. This thesis focuses on the initial phases of the program: learning new tool kit architecture and programming methods; integrating new tool kit with current geometry and solution file types. A program was written that has the capabilities to plot an object's geometry and eight different property distributions. Multiple test cases were plotted by the new visualization program and the current program to compare and validate the new system. Recommendations were made for the continued progression on the new visualization program.Mechanical & Aerospace Engineerin

Depression Among Type 2 Diabetes Rural Appalachian Clinic Attendees

The prevalence and impact of type 2 diabetes in Appalachia is understudied despite the presence of high-risk socioeconomic conditions (e.g., low levels of education and income). Appalachian counties experience greater burdens of poverty, income inequality, unemployment (1), and diabetes compared with non-Appalachian counties (2–5). Rates of comorbid depression have not been documented in this region. Patients with type 2 diabetes are two times more likely to experience depressive symptoms than their peers without diabetes (6). Depression prevalence in studies using self-report depression inventories was found to be 32.9%, with lower rates (28.5%) observed in studies using diagnostic interview schedules (6,7). Depressive symptoms are associated with worsened blood glucose levels (8), diabetes complications (9), increased functional disability (10), worsened adherence to diabetes regimen (11), higher ambulatory care costs (12), and increased mortality (13). The current study was conducted to identify rates of self-reported depression and to identify the socioeconomic and medical correlates of depression among type 2 diabetic patients attending family medicine and endocrinology appointments from rural Appalachian counties of southeastern Ohio and West Virginia. It was hypothesized that poverty would increase the risk of comorbid depression in this region

Are Menstrual and Nonmenstrual Migraine Attacks Different?

Migraine is the second most common headache condition next to tension-type headache. Up to one fourth of all women have migraine, and 20% of them experience migraine without aura attack in at least two thirds of their menstrual cycles. The current literature is analyzed in response to the question of whether menstrual and nonmenstrual migraine attacks are different. The different studies provide conflicting results, so it is not possible to answer the question firmly. Future studies should be based on the general population. Collection of both prospective and retrospective data is warranted, and headache diagnosis base on interviews by physicians with interest in headache are more precise than lay interviews or questionnaires

Migraine in women: the role of hormones and their impact on vascular diseases

Migraine is a predominantly female disorder. Menarche, menstruation, pregnancy, and menopause, and also the use of hormonal contraceptives and hormone replacement treatment may influence migraine occurrence. Migraine usually starts after menarche, occurs more frequently in the days just before or during menstruation, and ameliorates during pregnancy and menopause. Those variations are mediated by fluctuation of estrogen levels through their influence on cellular excitability or cerebral vasculature. Moreover, administration of exogenous hormones may cause worsening of migraine as may expose migrainous women to an increased risk of vascular disease. In fact, migraine with aura represents a risk factor for stroke, cardiac disease, and vascular mortality. Studies have shown that administration of combined oral contraceptives to migraineurs may further increase the risk for ischemic stroke. Consequently, in women suffering from migraine with aura caution should be deserved when prescribing combined oral contraceptives

The Importance of Proper Glucose Levels Prior to Conception: A Community Awareness Project

Uncontrolled blood glucose levels prior and during pregnancy is associated with devastating adverse pregnancy outcomes for the mother and infant (Collier, Mulhonlland, Williams, Mersereau, Turay, and Prue, 2011). The percentage of live births affected by diabetes each year is alarming at about 5% of more than 4 million births (Collier et al, 2011). Uncontrolled diabetes during pregnancy is one of the most preventable causes of birth defects (Graham, 2014). Unfortunately, lack of knowledge regarding the impact of unmanaged diabetes on pregnancy remains one of the most predominant barriers in achieving optimal glucose levels prior to conception (Mersereau et all, 2011). Sadly, about one out of four people with diabetes is not even aware they have the disorder (CDC, 2012). Therefore, the purpose of this project was to educate and empower women of childbearing age with the knowledge of the importance of proper glucose levels prior to conception, and teach basic steps to promote adequate pre-conception health care through developing an educational program that can be delivered at trusted community sites such as faith-based organizations (FBOs). According to the Center of Disease Control, diabetes has devastating effects on pregnancy outcomes, and yet it is frequently diagnosed during childbearing age (CDC, 2012). Studies have shown that proper pre-conception health care can make a difference in birth outcomes especially among the diabetic population (CDC, 2012). Uncontrolled diabetes is associated with multiple birth defects and other health problems for the infant, as well as serious maternal complications (CDC, 2012). The rising incidence of diabetes and unplanned pregnancy is alarming. Therefore, it is crucial to raise awareness among women at childbearing age regarding the importance of proper glucose levels prior to conception. Ultimately adequate care prior to gestation will result in improved health, quality of life, and decreased healthcare costs. Unfortunately, this teaching is not taking place enough at the healthcare provider's office during routine visits, many women have limited or no access to care, and we lack community outreach programs with this focus, which all limit proper preconception health care in the presence of diabetes. This project is a community outreach evidence-based educational program, which was developed by me, reviewed by my chair and content experts and implemented at a local faith-based organization (FBO), which is a trusted community site. Studies show that FBOs are ideal places to promote preventive health care; it is free, accessible, and usually trusted by the women. Objective 1: Develop an evidence-based educational program to teach women about the impact of diabetes on pregnancy. This objective was implemented by developing an evidence-based program and evaluated by reviewing it with my chair and content experts. Objective 2: Present the program to a group of women (age 18 and up) in a local faith-based community setting. The program was presented to a group of women at a local FBO. Objective 3: Evaluate the effectiveness of the educational program and modify pending women's feedback. Pre and posttests were giving to the women who attended the workshop to evaluate the effectiveness of the program. Objective 4: Create a packet with evidence-based materials for women and faith-based community leaders for future use. I implemented this objective by distributing the packet and evaluated it by asking the participants if they found the resource packet helpful. Objective 5: Disseminate the program by identifying a local health conference and submit an application to do a poster presentation. To fulfill this objective, I identified the Snowbird CME 2015 conference and applied for a poster presentation

Fuel Flow Reduction Impact Analysis of Drag Reducing Film Applied to Aircraft Wings

In this paper, we present an analysis of flight data in order to determine whether the application of the Edge Aerodynamix Conformal Vortex Generator (CVG), applied to the wings of aircraft, reduces fuel flow during cruising conditions of flight. The CVG is a special treatment and film applied to the wings of an aircraft to protect the wings and reduce the non-laminar flow of air around the wings during flight. It is thought that by reducing the non-laminar flow or vortices around and directly behind the wings that an aircraft will move more smoothly through the air and provide a safer and more fuel-efficient flight. Analysis was performed on over a year’s worth of flight data collected from four different aircraft corresponding to nearly 100,000 total flight hours. The analyses presented in this paper are intended to add to and complement the previous analysis done by Edge Aerodynamix. It focuses on modeling the data using a multiple linear regression technique. The results from this analysis compare well with the results previously obtained by Edge Aerodynamix. On average, the difference in fuel flow achieved using multiple linear regression were similar to the results achieved by Edge Aerodynamix. We found the model to best fit the data to be the simple MLR model and the model to produce the best results the RFR model