Social Determinants of Economic Self-Sufficiency (ESS) in Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG): Focusing on the Process of Health Care Career Pathways

The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate the social determinants of economic self-sufficiency among low-income jobseekers in a federally sponsored healthcare career pathways program. Particularly this dissertation focused on the effects of the process element of self-sufficiency called psychological self-sufficiency, which consist of perceived employment barriers (PEB) and employment hope (EH) (Hong 2013; 2016). Although many studies have evaluated the effectiveness of workforce development programs that focus on economic outcomes, little empirical research has been conducted to examine the psychological prerequisites for achieving economic self-sufficiency. To address this gap in the literature, this dissertation examined potential effect of psychological self-sufficiency (PSS) - representing diverse aspects of an individual\u27s circumstances - in a government-funded workforce development program.The purpose of the first study was to investigate the relationship between the rate of PSS change and one\u27s later levels of economic self-sufficiency. A lagged multivariate regression model was conducted using a sample of 350 participants in a government-sponsored health sector career pathway training program. Results showed that increased PSS score positively affects economic self-sufficiency outcome, controlling for other demographic and economic-related variables. The purpose of the second study was to examine the relationship between PSS score groups and economic self-sufficiency among workforce development program participants. Propensity score matching was used to eliminate selection bias and divide the participants into treatment and control groups based on the PSS score. Results indicated that the treatment group (increased PSS) is positively related to economic self-sufficiency. The purpose of the third study was to find distinct patterns of perceived employment barriers among welfare-to-work program participants. Four meaningful patterns of employment barriers - All high levels of employment barriers, Work-related barriers, Work-related + Community-related barriers, and Low levels of employment barriers - were found using latent class analysis (LCA). By examining the effect of PSS on ESS and finding patterns of employment barriers, these three present studies supported the importance of the processual element of self-sufficiency in workforce development evaluation. Each of the studies proposes a discussion of the implications for social work practice, research, and policy

Lumped Parameter Model for a Self Powered Fontan Palliation of the Hypoplastic Left Heart Syndrome

Out of all newborn infants with congenital heart disease (CHD), 8% have a single functioning ventricle. The Fontan surgical procedure, where the superior and inferior venous returns are connected directly to the pulmonary arteries to allow the single functioning ventricle to perfuse the systemic circulation, has been around for decades, yet the patients who undergo this operation suffer from chronic illnesses and their survivability is less than 50% by adulthood [1-10]. Some suggest that the Fontan operation can be improved by implanting a synthetic pump. However, synthetic pumps also present some complications due to mechanical failure, risk of stroke, and risk of infection [23-30]. The purpose of this study is to numerically simulate the hemodynamics of a self-powered Fontan circulation aided by the reserve ventricular energy captured by the entrainment effect of an Injection Jet Shunt (IJS). A simulation is created to identify important physiological parameters caused be the IJS. By numerically approximating the solution using a lumped parameter model (LPM) of a single ventricle cardiovascular system, the physiological parameters can be approximated. Systemic flow, pulmonary flow, caval pressure and ratio between the pulmonary and systemic flows will be determined to verify whether the IJS is beneficial to the Fontan circulation

Microfabrication of Microchannels for Fuel Cell Plates

Portable electronic devices such as notebook computers, PDAs, cellular phones, etc., are being widely used, and they increasingly need cheap, efficient, and lightweight power sources. Fuel cells have been proposed as possible power sources to address issues that involve energy production and the environment. In particular, a small type of fuel-cell system is known to be suitable for portable electronic devices. The development of micro fuel cell systems can be achieved by the application of microchannel technology. In this study, the conventional method of chemical etching and the mechanical machining method of micro end milling were used for the microfabrication of microchannel for fuel cell separators. The two methods were compared in terms of their performance in the fabrication with regards to dimensional errors, flatness, straightness, and surface roughness. Following microchannel fabrication, the powder blasting technique is introduced to improve the coating performance of the catalyst on the surface of the microchannel. Experimental results show that end milling can remarkably increase the fabrication performance and that surface treatment by powder blasting can improve the performance of catalyst coating

The Light and Period Variations of the Eclipsing Binary AA Ursae Majoris

We present new multiband CCD photometry for AA UMa made on 8 nights between January and March 2009; the $R$ light curves are the first ever compiled. Historical light curves, as well as ours, display partial eclipses and inverse O'Connell effects with Max I fainter than Max II. Among possible spot models, a cool spot on either of the component stars and its variability with time permit good light-curve representations for the system. A total of 194 eclipse timings over 81 yrs, including our five timings, were used for ephemeris computations. We found that the orbital period of the system has varied due to a periodic oscillation overlaid on an upward parabolic variation. The continuous period increase at a fractional rate of $+$1.3$\times$10$^{-10}$ is consistent with that calculated from the W-D code and can be interpreted as a thermal mass transfer from the less to the more massive secondary star at a rate of 6.6$\times$10$^{-8}$ M$_\odot$ yr$^{-1}$. The periodic component is in satisfactory accord with a light-time effect due to an unseen companion with a period of 28.2 yrs, a semi-amplitude of 0.007 d, and a minimum mass of $M_3 \sin i_3$=0.25 $M_\odot$ but this period variation could also arise from magnetic activity.Comment: 23 pages, including 5 figures and 8 tables, accepted for publication in PAS