RR Lyrae stars as high-precision standard candles in the mid-infrared

In this work, we provide the theoretical and empirical framework to establish RR Lyrae stars (RRL) as the anchor of a Population II distance scale. We present new theoretical period-luminosity-metallicity (PLZ) relations for RRL at Spitzer and WISE wavelengths. The PLZ relations were derived using nonlinear, time-dependent convective hydrodynamical models for a broad range in metal abundances (Z=0.0001 to 0.0198). We also compare our theoretical relations to empirical relations derived from RRL in the field. Our theoretical PLZ relations were combined with multi-wavelength observations to simultaneously fit the distance modulus and extinction of each individual Galactic RRL in our sample. The results are consistent with trigonometric parallax measurements from the Gaia mission\u27s first data release. This analysis has shown that when considering a sample covering a typical range of iron abundances for RRL, the metallicity spread introduces a dispersion in the PL relation on the order of 0.13 mag. However, if this metallicity component is accounted for in a PLZ relation, the dispersion is reduced to ~0.02 mag at MIR wavelengths. On the empirical side, we present the analysis of five clusters from the Carnegie RR Lyrae Program (CRRP) sample (M4, NGC 3201, M5, M15, and M14). M4, the nearest one of the most well studied clusters, was used as a test case to develop a new data analysis pipeline for CRRP. Following the analysis of the five clusters, the resulting calibration PL relations are $M_{[3.6]} = -2.424\pm0.079 \log P -1.205\pm 0.057$ and $M_{[4.5]} = -2.245\pm0.076 - 1.225\pm0.057$. The slope of the PL relations was determined from the weighted average of the cluster results, and the zero point was fixed using five Galactic RRL with geometric parallaxes measured by Hubble Space Telescope. The dispersion of the RRL around the PL relations ranges from 0.05 mag in M4 to 0.3 mag in M14. The resulting band-averaged distance moduli for the five clusters agree well with results in the literature. The systematic uncertainty will be greatly reduced when parallaxes of more stars become available from the Gaia mission, and we are able to use the full CRRP sample of 55 Galactic RRL to calibrate the relation

Mitigating the Effects of Poverty in Elementary Schools in Windsor and Essex County

In this phenomenological design, I explored the perspectives of teachers from Windsor and Essex County, Ontario, Canada concerning their roles in mitigating poverty for students in their elementary school classroom. The study explored teachers’ viewpoints on the impacts of poverty when it comes to student learning and holistic school experiences, and the implications that these effects have on their roles as teachers. Data from Statistics Canada indicates that in 2017 Windsor and Essex County has the highest poverty rates in all of Canada and that as many as one in four children were living in poverty. The study used qualitative research strategies to explore how teachers, schools, and school boards are responding to the effects of poverty on students. The goal was to identify exemplary practices in local schools throughout Windsor and Essex County and within school boards that may offer lessons to other jurisdictions across Canada and elsewhere. The data collected from this research suggested that teachers in Windsor and Essex county are lacking the necessary training and professional development to work with vulnerable students. The teachers interviewed for this research suggested additional professional development in teachers college and throughout their career to support vulnerable students. Additional classroom supports and resources would also be beneficial

An Evaluation of a Hospital’s Communication Cultural Competence Staff Training to Increase Disclosure and Data Collection on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity: Toward Reducing Health Disparities for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Patients

The study used a pre-/post-test design within a secondary analysis of existing de identified data obtained from a major Northeastern hospital for use by permission, in order to evaluate the impact of a communication cultural competency training of hospital registration personnel focused on teaching the collection of gender identity and sexual orientation data (SOGI). The study’s convenience sample (N=240) was diverse, given 34.6% (N=83) identified as White/Caucasian, 28.3% (N=68) as Hispanic/Latino, 27.1% (N=65) as Black /African American, and 10.0% (N=24) as Asian. For gender identity, 74.6% (N=179) identified as female, and 15.8% (N=37) as male. Those who identified their sexual orientation as heterosexual comprised 79.6% (N=191) of the sample. The mean time in current role for the sample was 3.97 years (Min = 1-1 to 6 months, Max = 6-over 10 years, SD = 1.547). For example, 18.3% (N=44) indicated being in their current role for between 5-10 years. Some 74.2% (N=178) indicated that they know someone who is LGBTQ+. Of note, 16.7% (N=38) indicated that they had other training in the last three months. Cronbach’s Alphas ranged from .858-.978 for the 11 new study scales, as very good to excellent internal consistency. As main study findings, paired t-tests for all five global scale scores (knowledge, self-efficacy, skill/ability level, and personal preparation for collecting SOGI data—and engagement in recommended SOGI data collection behavior) demonstrated significant differences from pre- to post- training in this sample (p˂.000; Bonferroni Significance level, p<.007). This suggested that participation in the training was associated with statistically significant improvements from pre- to post-training for knowledge, self-efficacy, skill/ability level, personal, and engagement in recommended SOGI data collection behavior. Through backward stepwise regression, having higher post-training self-efficacy was significantly predicted by: higher pre-training personal skill/ability (B=.589, SEB=.468, p=.000); and, higher post-training overall evaluation (B=.244, SEB=.305, p=.000). The adjusted R-squared value for this model was 0.346, meaning that 34.6% of the variance for higher post-training self-efficacy for collecting for collecting patients’ sexual orientation and gender identity data was explained by this model. Findings suggest the need for further dissemination, implementation and evaluation of the new communication cultural competence training

MEMS 411 - Self-Leveling Drone

1.1 The objective of this senior design project was to design and build an aerial drone with a landing gear system that would allow leveling and take off from a sloped terrain. The drone should be able to level on a slope with a maximum incline of 20 degrees and the leveling process should not exceed 30 seconds. In addition, the leveling system must be automatic and deployed using the flight controller

"We were Already in Lockdown" : Exploring the Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Asylum Seekers and Refugees in Australia - Mental Health, Social Isolation, Abandonment, and Financial Precarity

The aim of this study was to give a voice to people from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds in Australia during the COVID-19 pandemic and to explore their perspectives concerning their experiences of everyday life. The findings highlight the impacts the pandemic had on these groups, how it exacerbated existing vulnerabilities, worsened mental health, increased social isolation, affirmed a sense of abandonment, and heightened financial precarity. The study adhered to a social constructivist approach. It used a qualitative methodology guided by a narrative research approach. Semistructured in-depth interviews with thirteen participants were thematically analyzed to generate a global theme and subthemes. For people from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds in Australia, the government-mandated lockdown measures led to increased feelings of loneliness and loss of social support networks, reduced access to public spaces, and limited engagement in face-to-face activities and opportunities for socializing and maintaining mental well-being. The pandemic intensified domestic partner violence incidents and financial stress emerged as a major concern. Participants lost or had reduced employment, and many were ineligible for government financial support. These challenges intersected with preexisting hardships which contributed to feelings of abandonment. Based on the findings, implications include the need for inclusive policies and targeted healthcare support, measures to prevent and respond to partner violence, and inclusive financial assistance schemes that address the unique needs of people from asylum seeker and refugee backgrounds in Australia. Further research is needed to inform therapeutic supports and trauma-informed services for these groups

An Introduction to Interprofessional Education for First Semester Doctoral Occupational Therapy and Physical Therapy Students

Purpose: Interprofessional education (IPE) engages health care professional students in order to develop the knowledge, skills, and attitudes required of a health care practitioner. IPE can be challenging to execute; however, exposing students early in their professional education in IPE has positive results. Occupational therapy (OT) and physical therapy (PT) are health care professions who commonly work with each other. The purpose of this study is to describe the process and outcomes of implementing an IPE experience with first year doctoral OT (OTD) and PT (DPT) students completed within the first six weeks of the first semester of their respective programs. Methods: Ninety-one (31 OTD, 60 DPT) students were placed in small groups and discussed professional identities and interprofessional collaboration among OT/PT during pre-professional observations. Students completed the Readiness for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) pre-post-meeting and a written reflection post-meeting. Results: Ninety-one students completed the Pre-RIPLS survey, while only 58 Post-RIPLS were completed (13 OTD, 45 DPT). The response rate was 63.7% overall (41.9% OT and 75% PT). A statistically significant difference was found between pre- to post-test RIPLS score among the entire group (p = 0.013), and the DPT students (p = 0.020), but not the OTD students (p = 0.414). Written reflections included the following themes: influence of personal experiences leading to choice of profession, observations shaping knowledge of the professions, similarities and differences between the two professions, and future collaboration. Conclusion: An IPE activity can be implemented early in the professional education of OTD/DPT students with positive results

CYGNSS Launch and Early Ops: Parenting Octuplets

The eight micro-satellite Cyclone Global Navigation Satellite System (CYGNSS) constellation was launched on December 15, 2016. Each of the observatories carries a 4-channel GNSS-R receiver tuned to receive signals reflected by the Earth\u27s ocean surface from which near-surface wind speed is estimated. The mission is focused on providing high temporal and spatial sensing of the wind conditions under and near developing tropical storms and cyclones. CYGNSS is studying the relationship between ocean surface properties, moist atmospheric thermodynamics, radiation and convective dynamics to determine how a cyclone forms, whether it will strengthen, and how much. A recap of launch and early operations is presented via a somewhat humorous analogy to parenting octuplets, with lessons learned included throughout. Topics include the roller-coaster ride of false labor (launch delays); the excitement of the birth, er, launch; the euphoria of seeing all eight μ Sats born alive and breathing; the adrenaline rush of saving one μ Sat born on life support; the total exhaustion that comes with round-the clock care and feeding; and the mixed emotions that come with “sending them out into the world” after a few weeks of doting over them to see them grow up and make their mark in the world

Three year follow-up of an early childhood intervention : is movement skill sustained?

BackgroundMovement skill competence (e.g. the ability to throw, run and kick) is a potentially important physical activity determinant. However, little is known about the long-term impact of interventions to improve movement skills in early childhood. This study aimed to determine whether intervention preschool children were still more skill proficient than controls three years after a 10 month movement skill focused intervention: &lsquo;Tooty Fruity Vegie in Preschools&rsquo;.MethodsChildren from 18 intervention and 13 control preschools in NSW, Australia were assessed at ages four (Time1), five (T2) and eight years (T3) for locomotor (run, gallop, hop, leap, horizontal jump, slide) and object control proficiency (strike, bounce, catch, kick, overhand throw, underhand roll) using the Test of Gross Motor Development-2. Multi-level object control and locomotor regression models were fitted with variables time, intervention (yes/no) and a time*intervention interaction. Both models added sex of child and retained if significant, in which case interactions of sex of child with other variables were modelled and retained. SPSS (Version 17.0) was used.ResultsOverall follow-up rate was 29% (163/560). Of the 137 students used in the regression models, 53% were female (n = 73). Intervention girls maintained their object control skill advantage in comparison to controls at T3 (p = .002), but intervention boys did not (p = .591). At T3, there were no longer intervention/control differences in locomotor skill (p = .801).ConclusionEarly childhood settings should implement movement skill interventions and more intensively target girls and object control skills.<br /

Three year follow-up of an early childhood intervention: what about physical activity and weight status?

Fundamental movement skills are a correlate of physical activity and weight status. Children who participated in a preschool intervention had greater movement skill proficiency and improved anthropometric measures (waist circumference and BMI z scores) post intervention. Three years later, intervention girls had retained their object control skill advantage. The study purpose was to assess whether at three year follow up a) intervention children were more physically active than controls and b) the intervention effect on anthropometrics was still present