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Self-dual association schemes, fusions of Hamming schemes, and partial geometric designs
No full textPartial geometric designs can be constructed from basic relations of association schemes. An infinite family of partial geometric designs were constructed from the fusion schemes of certain Hamming schemes in work by Nowak et al. (2016). A general method to create partial geometric designs from association schemes is given by Xu (2023). In this paper, we continue the research by Xu (2023). We will first study the properties and characterizations of self-dual association schemes. Then using the characterizations of self-dual association schemes and the representation theory (character tables) of commutative association schemes, we obtain characterizations and classifications of self-dual (symmetric or nonsymmetric) association schemes of rank 4 that produce as many as possible nontrivial partial geometric designs or 2-designs
Occupational Therapists’ Perceptions Of Practice During The Covid-19 Pandemic And The Impact On Their Mental Health And Well-Being
Get PDFThroughout the COVID-19 pandemic occupational therapists worked through a plethora of stressors. Research concerning the mental health of occupational therapists working in inpatient settings during the COVID-19 pandemic has been underexplored. The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study is to understand the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on mental health and perceptions of healthcare for occupational therapists working in inpatient settings. Ten occupational therapists, recruited via purposive sampling, completed a semi-structured interview. The transcription was coded using thematic analysis finding five main themes. The five main themes included: fear impacts occupational therapists\u27 performance patterns; workplace barriers influence quality of care; growth from within: occupational therapists\u27 path forward; occupational therapists living in occupational imbalance; and there is resilience in meaningful connection. In conclusion, the implication of this research provides further insight on what occupational therapists experienced throughout the COVID-19 pandemic and how healthcare delivery settings can provide greater support for employees
Do Stress and Sun Exposure Alter the Rate of Squamous and Basal Cell Carcinoma Diagnoses?
No full textSkin cancer is the most common form of cancer in the United States with about 9,500 people diagnosed every day.1 Basal and squamous cell carcinoma affect more than 3 million Americans per year.1 Past studies determined that chronic stress suppresses immune function and may increase susceptibility to skin cancer.2 Former studies have also found that as sun exposed skin ages, it becomes more susceptible to transforming events like cancer.3 The goal of this study was to determine whether lifestyle factors (sun exposure and stress) alter the prevalence of basal and squamous cell carcinoma in humans. Surveys were administered to patients (n=124), ages 18-55+, in a dermatology practice in Kentucky. In these patients, high sun exposure did not correlate with increased rates of skin cancer. Of the patients reporting high sun exposure, 74% had no skin cancer diagnosis. Similarly, patients reporting high stress levels did not have a significant increase in skin cancer diagnosis; and 64% of patients who had low stress also had skin cancer. Chi square analysis revealed no correlation between sun exposure, stress, and skin cancer diagnosis. These data do not support previously published studies indicating stress and sun exposure affect the occurrence of skin cancer. It is possible that other lifestyle factors may impact the incidence of cancer in this group of patients. Moreover, there may be differences between sun exposure, stress, and the type of skin cancer (e.g., melanoma) that affects patients. Further studies to examine these factors are warranted.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1327/thumbnail.jp
How Do Accents Influence a Speaker\u27s Credibility?
No full textThere are around 1 billion people in the world who speak English as a second language and accents are likely to be acquired when a person learns a second language later in life. In this study, we examined accent prestige and the effects that accents have on a speaker’s credibility, specifically, we looked at whether English speakers believed non-native speakers to be less credible than native speakers. Participants listened to a variety of statements and rated a speaker’s credibility from true to false. We used audio recordings from four accented speakers; Cambodian, German, Midwestern, and Appalachian. We predicted that 1) those with an accent from a second language will be rated as less credible than those with a variation of English, 2) those with a low-prestige accent will be rated as less credible than those with a high-prestige accent, and 3) that the more linguistic exposure listeners have, the more credible the speakers will be perceived as. Key words: accents, credibility, second language, native speakershttps://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1330/thumbnail.jp
Pathways to Educational Attainment for Latinx Students
No full textThe achievement gap for the educational attainment of underrepresented populations has been the subject of study for decades. According to the Kentucky School Report Card data for school year 2018-2019, the Latinx community has an achievement gap rate of 42.0% with differences of -19.1% compared to White (non-Hispanic) students. Therefore, it is essential to find pathways to close the educational attainment gap and achieve equity. In this poster, I will research best practices for improving diverse student performance and educational opportunities, including the recruitment and retention of diverse educators and staff. A research report by the Learning Policy Institute states that students of color have better academic performance, improved graduation rates, and are more likely to attend post-secondary education when taught by an educator of color. In addition, according to the report, students also feel academically challenged and cared for by those educators. Another significant factor is the experience of the educators that serve Latinx youth. Diverse students and students of low-income backgrounds are more likely to be placed in classrooms with inexperienced educators compared to White (non-Hispanic) students. Diverse students\u27 critical learning opportunities are affected by this as a result of inequity. I will analyze evidence-based strategies for re-evaluating teacher preparation programs and making the appropriate or necessary curricular changes to better prepare culturally competent teachers. The goal is to offer insights on what are the needs in the preparation of teachers in the state so that we can better recruit and retain teachers to empower the next generations of Kentuckians.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1341/thumbnail.jp
Sociological Analysis of Omicron\u27s Influences on Kentucky Counties
No full textThis study explores sociological explanations for Covid-19 incidence rates among Kentucky counties. The authors examine how incidence rates varied pre/post-Omicron variant based on a county’s educational attainment, poverty rates, political perspective, health status, and place status (Appalachian status, metropolitan status). The authors discovered that none of these variables effectively explained differences in county-level Covid-19 rates before Omicron. However, once Omicron became the prevalent variant in Kentucky, metropolitan status, Appalachian status, two measures of poverty rates, political perspective, three measures of educational attainment, and four measures of health all predicted differences in mean Covid-19 incidence rates.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1345/thumbnail.jp
The effects of resting membrane potential and synaptic transmissions by Doxapram at the Drosphila Neuromuscular Junction
No full textThe resting membrane potential of most cells is maintained by potassium K2p channels. The pharmacological profile and distribution of various K2p channel subtypes in organisms are still being investigated. The Drosophila genome contains 11 subtypes; however, their function and expression profiles have not yet been determined. Doxapram is clinically used to enhance respiration in humans and blocks the acid-sensitive K2p TASK subtype in mammals. The resting membrane potential of larval Drosophila muscle and synaptic transmission at the neuromuscular junction are pH sensitive. The present study investigated the effects of doxapram on membrane potential and synaptic transmission using intracellular recordings of larval Drosophila muscles. Doxapram (1 mM and 10 mM) depolarizes the muscle and appears to depolarize motor neurons, causing an increase in the frequency of spontaneous quantal events and evoked excitatory junction potentials. Verapamil (1 and 10 mM) paralleled the action of doxapram. These changes were matched by an extracellular increase in KCl (50 mM) and blocked by Cd2+. It is assumed that the motor nerve depolarizes to open voltage-gated Ca2+ channels in presynaptic nerve terminals because of exposure to doxapram. These findings are significant for building models to better understand the function of pharmacological agents that affect K2p channels and how K2p channels contribute to the physiology of tissues. Drosophila offers a genetically amenable model that can alter the tissue-specific expression of K2p channel subtypes to simulate known human diseases related to this family of channels.https://encompass.eku.edu/swps_undergraduategallery/1346/thumbnail.jp
Triggers of Migraine Headaches in Kentucky College Students
No full textAccording to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2015), 20.0% of women and 9.7% of men aged ≥18 years had a severe headache or migraine in the past 3 months in the United States. In a study among university students in Bangladesh, the overall prevalence of migraines was 21.4%. Migraine prevalence increases for females in puberty and decreases after menopause. Migraines are ranked as the second leading cause of disability worldwide. The purpose of this study is to assess the prevalence of migraines and migraine triggers of a group of Kentucky college students. A total of 111 college students attending a regional Kentucky university completed the Migraine Headache Triggers Survey measuring migraine frequency and triggers. Results indicated that the prevalence of migraine headaches was 64%. The study showed a statistically significant (p\u3c.05) relationship with skipping meals, and smoking or vaping (p\u3c.05) whereas school-related stress (p=.07), and hormonal medication (p=.068) approached statistical significance. Participants suffering with migraine headaches (n=71; 64%) reported the most common trigger as lack of sleep (n=56; 78.9%), followed by skipping a meal (n=35; 49.3%), menses (n=33; 46.5%), smoking (n=7; 9.9%), and alcohol (n=6; 8.5%). Onset of migraines was most common at puberty and 40.9% (n=71) of migraineurs reported 1-5 headaches per month.
Keywords: migraine headache, migraine triggers, college studentshttps://encompass.eku.edu/swps_graduategallery/1151/thumbnail.jp
Moving Forward Together: Reflections of a National Survey of OT/OTA Students’ Perceptions of Culturally Aware Educational Content Delivery
Get PDFIn June of 2020 in response to the murder of George Floyd and the additional atrocities against historically marginalized people and communities across the United States, the Commission on Education (COE) of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) sought to act within its scope. A retrospective survey (N= 1,692) was developed, deployed, and analyzed in accordance with the COE’s standard operating procedures relating specifically to monitoring trends that impact the education of occupational therapy (OT) and occupational therapy assistant (OTA) students. This survey aimed to capture perspectives from OT/OTA students regarding the delivery of culturally aware educational content in curricula provided by faculty. Results indicated that faculty are attempting to deliver aspects of culturally aware content with a limited number of delivery methods. Furthermore, findings suggested the need for rigorous and comprehensive improvements to content delivery related to diversity, equity, inclusion (DEI), social determinants of health (SDOH), and intersectionality across the classroom and clinical settings. Implementation of basic instruction, such as lectures/readings, and higher-level processing and application-based materials (i.e., case studies, discussions, role-playing, and simulations) need to be included throughout the entire OT/OTA curriculum experience and are critical to comprehensively educate and equip students for contemporary and culturally informed practice. Faculty would benefit from the development of instructional best practice strategies that expand beyond the delivery of knowledge acquisition. This study aims to lay the groundwork to advance and inform the skills of faculty, fieldwork, and capstone coordinators to deliver culturally aware curricula