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Title: DESIGNING SMART ARTIFACTS FOR ADAPTIVE MEDIAT~ON OF SOCIAL VISCOSITY: TRIADIC ACTOR-NETWORK ENACTMENTS AS A BASIS FOR INTERACTION DESIGN
Creator: Salamanca, Juan
Date: 2012-10-10, 2012-12
Description: With the advent of ubiquitous computing, interaction design has broadened its object of inquiry into how smart computational artifacts...
Show moreWith the advent of ubiquitous computing, interaction design has broadened its object of inquiry into how smart computational artifacts inconspicuously act in people's everyday lives. Although user-centered design approaches remain useful for exploring how people cope with interactive systems, they cannot explain how this new breed of artifacts participates in people's sociality. User-centered design approaches assume that humans control interactive systems, disregarding the agency of smart artifacts. Based on Actor-Network Theory, this research recognizes that artifacts and humans share the capacity of influencing society and meshing with each other, constituting hybrid social actors. From that standpoint, the research offers a triadic structure of networked social interaction as a methodological basis to investigate how smart devices perceive their social setting and adaptively mediate people's interactions within activities. These triadic units of analysis account for the interactions within and between human-nonhuman collectives in the actor-network. The within interactions are those that hold together humans and smart artifacts inside a collective and put forward the collective's assembled meaning for other actors in the network. The between interactions are those that occur among collectives and characterize the dominant relational model of the actor-network. This triadic approach was modeled and used to analyze the interactions of participants in three empirical studies of social activities with communal goals, each xiii mediated by a smart artifact that enacted – signified – a balanced distribution of obligations and privileges among subjects. Overall, the studies found that actor-networks exhibit a social viscosity that hinders people's interactions. This is because when people try to collectively accomplish goals, they offer resistance to one another. These design experiments also show that the intervention of smart artifacts can facilitate the achievement of cooperative and collaborative interaction between actors when the artifacts enact dominant moral principles which prompt the preservation of social balance, enhance the network's information integrity, and are located at the focus of activity. The articulation of Actor-Network Theory principles with interaction design methods opens up the traditional user-artifact dyad towards triadic collective enactments by embracing diverse kinds of participants and practices, thus facilitating the design of enhanced sociality.
PH.D in Design, December 2012
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Title: ENVIRONMENTAL AND SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY IMPLICATIONS OF DOWNTOWN HIGH-RISE VS. SUBURBAN LOW-RISE LIVING: A CHICAGO CASE STUDY
Creator: Du, Peng
Date: 2015, 2015-12
Description: This research is focused on quantitatively investigating and comparing the environmental and social sustainability of people’s lifestyles in...
Show moreThis research is focused on quantitatively investigating and comparing the environmental and social sustainability of people’s lifestyles in terms of embodied energy, operational energy use, and overall satisfaction with their quality of life in both downtown high-rise and suburban low-rise living using Chicago, IL and a surrounding suburban area of Oak Park, IL as a case study. Specifically, in both cases, the study seeks to evaluate factors such as the embodied energy of the materials that comprise buildings in each location; the predicted and actual monthly energy consumption of the homes; travel via all modes of transport including automobile, public transport, walking, and biking; and the embodied and operational energy of the infrastructure to support each mode of transportation. In addition, this research also engages with the individual building occupants, including single individuals, couples, and families, in a large subset of downtown and suburban Chicago households to directly evaluate perceptions of their life satisfaction and sense of community, which offers a unique direct comparison between dense high-rise and suburban low-rise living. The findings of the study show that downtown high-rise living in Chicago accounts for approximately 58% more life-cycle energy per person per year than Oak Park low-rise living, on average, contrary to some common beliefs (best estimates were ~260 and ~165GJ/person/year, respectively). Building operational energy was estimated to be the single largest contributor of the total life-cycle energy in both the downtown high-rise and suburban low-rise cases, followed by vehicle OE. The findings of the study also show that downtown high-rise residents were associated with higher life satisfaction than suburban low-rise residents when controlling for demographic differences in the research sample. Residence type was not found to be associated with sense of community when controlling for demographic differences, and the factor that was found to be significantly associated with sense of community was household size in the research sample. Also, accessibility and safety were found as the strongest predictors of overall residential environment for individuals.
Ph.D. in Architecture, December 2015
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Title: ENGINEERING OF CLINICAL-SCALE, IN VITRO VASCULARIZED BONE TISSUE FOR IMPLANTATION
Creator: Gandhi, Jarel K.
Date: 2016, 2016-05
Description: Tissue engineering has been a rapidly expanding field dedicated to regeneration of tissue. The field has focused on application through...
Show moreTissue engineering has been a rapidly expanding field dedicated to regeneration of tissue. The field has focused on application through combinations of 3 key components: cells, signals, and scaffolds. One ambitious combination of all three is the desire to engineer functional tissues in vitro to meet the clinical-demand of organ replacement. While major advances have been made, a critical obstacle that has yet to be overcome is the need to grow large volumes of complex 3D tissue. In this proposal, this issue is addresed in two ways: the use of a perfusion bioreactor system to culture 3D scaffolds to enhance mass transport, and engineering of a vascular network withing the scaffold for rapid perfusion once implanted in vivo. This thesis aims to address both aspects for bone tissue engineering by engineering pre-vascularized, mineralizing scaffolds that can be scaled up to clinically-relevant volumes by using a tubular perfusion bioreactor system (TPS). To address this, 3 aims were addressed. First, 3D culture of endothelial colony forming cells (ECFCs), a clinically-relevant cell population, was demonstrated utilizing fibrin gels within the TPS. The TPS allowed for viable culture of ECFCs within fibrin bead scaffold up to 1 week without a reduction in cell amount or genomic quality of the cells. Second, a co-culture model of angiogenesis utilizing ECFCs and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) was demonstrated to reproducibly form pre-formed vessel networks within a mineralizing fibrin scaffold. Data shows that MSC suspension concentration and fibrinogen concentration modulate the angiogenic response. Mineralization is demonstrated without the use of osteogenic media utilizing shear stress within the TPS. Finally, functionality of the pre-formed vessels is demonstrated following implantation to a SCID mouse model. Engineered human vessels showed anastasmosis to the host vasculature, with evidence of interconnected host and human vessel networks as well as formation of hybrid vessels. Additionally, evidence of mineralization within the scaffolds is maintained in TPS-cultured samples. In demonstrating these aims, future work should focus on fortifying the scaffold material to enable addressing implantation and persistence of clinically-relevant tissue volumes. In conclusion, pre-vascularization within bioreactor-cultured scaffolds represents a promising solution for future tissue engineering application.
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, May 2016
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Title: DESIGN AND ANALYSIS OF DATAPATH CIRCUITS USING MULTI-GATE TRANSISTORS
Creator: Garcia Martin, Martin
Date: 2015, 2015-07
Description: Multi-Gate Field-E ect Transistors are transistors with more than one gate that allows continuation of Moore's Law and performance increases...
Show moreMulti-Gate Field-E ect Transistors are transistors with more than one gate that allows continuation of Moore's Law and performance increases for CMOS tran- sistors. Introduction of multi-gate devices has been a turning point for the semi- conductor industry in facilitating transition from planar to 3D structures. Intel rst introduced commercial products using 3D structures (called Tri-Gate transistors) in late 2011 with Ivy Bridge CPUs using 22nm processes. Signi cant performance gains have been reported; i.e., 37% performance increase at low voltage and 50% power reduction. Multi-gate transistors based on 3D structures can vary greatly in their con guration and architectures leading to ambiguity in their design. It is necessary to investigate the performance of datapath circuits when multi-gate and independent- gate devices replace the conventional planar transistors. Therefore, key objective of this work has been to analyze these transistors' performance and to design new dat- apath circuits to leverage the inherent qualities of multi-gate transistor structures. Multiple-gate devices can be modeled using the BSIM-CMG (Common Multi- Gate) and BSIM-IMG (Independent Multi-Gate) compact models from University of Berkeley Device Group. In this research, both device types have been characterized for a variety of parameters to study their basic properties, functionality and to build a foundation for improved circuit designs. In particular, BSIM-CMG devices have been compared with CMOS planar technology demonstrating signi cant advantages in all design metrics, meanwhile the BSIM-IMG have been used to design new gates and improve datapath designs. In the rst part of this study, essential logic gates, i.e. Inverter, NAND and NOR, have been implemented using BSIM-CMG devices. After being analyzed and compared with the CMOS technology, a 32% reduction on dynamic power consump- tion and 82% reduction for the leakage current has been obtained. For a compre-hensive look on full adder designs, several novel adder architectures have been im- plemented including ultra low power and minimum number of transistor (10T) de- signs. The analysis of these implementations shows 54% dynamic power reduction, 98% static current reduction and 26% delay reduction. These results lead to a 68% improvement on the Power-Delay product comparing with the 32nm CMOS planar technology. In order to investigate dynamic logic circuits with multi-gate transistors, two recent dynamic circuit techniques have been implemented with novel enhancements to reduce the leakage current. Data Driven Dynamic Logic (D3L) and Split-Path Data Driven Dynamic Logic (SPD3L) have been used to analyze the dynamic logic circuits resulting in 11% reduced dynamic power, 52% reduced leakage current and 33% reduced delay. Second part of this study deals with the independent gate devices. Using the BSIM-IMG model, new XOR/XNOR logic gate designs are introduced for im- plementing novel low-power adders. With these new adder architectures, the average improvement on Dynamic power is an 8% and the designs are 6% faster. Furthermore, a new design technique is proposed combining the possible modes (Short Gate-SG, Low-Power-LP, Independent Gate-IG) that the BSIM-IMG provides. Using this novel mixed design, the Power-Delay product is improved on average 7.2% and 54%, com- pared to the Short-Gate (SG) and Low-Power (LP) modes, respectively. The properties of the BSIM-IMG logic have been applied to improve the Dy- namic logic designs as well. The Domino and SPD3L design techniques have been implemented and enhancements such as merging the pull-up transistors have been proposed for sleep and power-gating techniques. With these enhancements, the Dy- namic power is reduced 13% in average and the designs are 18% faster. The trade-o is an increase on leakage current of 8%. Another major contribution of the work has been the development of shell script les for generating a custom toolbox for datapath designs with multi-gate and independent-gate transistors.
Ph.D. in Electrical and Computer Engineering, July 2015
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Title: PMU DATA APPLICATIONS IN SMART GRID: LOAD MODELING, EVENT DETECTION AND STATE ESTIMATION
Creator: Ge, Yinyin
Date: 2016, 2016-05
Description: The thesis mainly includes four parts of research, event detection, data archival reduction, load modeling, state estimation. Firstly, we...
Show moreThe thesis mainly includes four parts of research, event detection, data archival reduction, load modeling, state estimation. Firstly, we present methods on real-time event detection and data archival reduction based on synchrophasor data produced by phasor measurement unit (PMU). Event detection is performed with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and a second order difference method with a hierarchical framework for the event notification strategy on a small-scale Microgrid. Compared with the existing methods, the proposed method is more practical and efficient in the combined use of event detection and data archival reduction. Secondly, the proposed method on data reduction, which is an “Event oriented auto-adjustable sliding window method”, implements a curve fitting algorithm with a weighted exponential function-based variable sliding window accommodating different event types. It works efficiently with minimal loss in data information especially around detected events. The performance of the proposed method is shown on actual PMU data from the IIT campus Microgrid, thus successfully improving the situational awareness (SA) of the campus power system network. Thirdly, we present a new “event-oriented” method of online load modeling for the IIT Microgrid based on synchrophasor data produced PMU. Several load models and their parameter estimation methods are proposed. It is given great importance on choosing the best models for the detected events. The online load modeling process is based on an adjustable sliding window applied to two different types of load step changes. The load modeling tests and related analysis on the synchrophasor data of the IIT Microgrid are demonstrated in this paper. Finally, we present a three-phase unbalanced distribution system state estimation (DSSE) method based on Semidefinitetheir parameter estimation methods are proposed. It is given great importance on choosing the best models for the detected events. The online load modeling process is based on an adjustable sliding window applied to two different types of load step changes. The load modeling tests and related analysis on the synchrophasor data of the IIT Microgrid are demonstrated in this paper. Finally, we present a three-phase unbalanced distribution system state estimation (DSSE) method based on Semidefinite Programming (SDP). A partitioning strategy with the aid of PMU and another distributed optimization algorithm alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM) are also proposed for large-scale DSSE. Compared with a traditional weighted least square (WLS) method based on the Gauss-Newton iteration, the proposed DSSE by SDP method delivers a more accurate estimation, and the application of ADMM can lead to high performance for large scale DSSE while deriving satisfying estimation.
Ph.D. in Electrical Engineering, May 2016
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Title: THE VETERAN/MILITARY COUPLE RELATIONSHIP IN THE CONTEXT OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER: THE ROLE OF RELATIONSHIP-FOCUSED COPING AND CONGRUENCY/DISCREPANCY OF COPING
Creator: Gela, Natalie R.
Date: 2016, 2016-07
Description: Intimate relationship functioning is an area of great concern for Veterans and military personnel coping with clinically significant...
Show moreIntimate relationship functioning is an area of great concern for Veterans and military personnel coping with clinically significant posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), as well as for their significant others. Research findings based on couples affected by chronic physical illnesses indicate that specific relationship-focused coping strategies (active engagement, protective buffering, and overprotection) are linked to dyadic adjustment and individual well-being, yet this type of interpersonal coping has not been investigated in the context of Veteran/military samples affected by PTSD. The present study used a sample of Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and their significant others (N = 71 pairs) to examine associations between: (a) relationship-focused coping and dyadic adjustment; (b) relationship-focused coping and PTSD symptom severity; and (c) relationship-focused coping and significant other emotional distress. Actor-Partner Interdependence Models revealed significant associations between relationship-focused coping strategies and dyadic adjustment in the predicted directions. Furthermore, protective buffering and overprotection were positively associated with, and active engagement was negatively associated with, Veteran PTSD symptom severity and significant other emotional distress. Congruency/discrepancy of couple members’ relationship-focused coping was also examined in order to investigate whether or not patterns of coping within a couple impact dyadic adjustment in the context of PTSD, and these findings were not significant. Overall, findings from the present study demonstrate the importance of interpersonal coping processes within the context of military Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and their significant others. The implications of these findings in regards to current theoretical models of PTSD and relationship functioning are discussed. Implications for clinical interventions aimed at treating Veterans diagnosed with PTSD and/or couples coping with a Veteran’s PTSD diagnosis are also discussed.
Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2016
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Title: CHARACTERIZATION AND MODELING OF A COMMERCIAL NATIONWIDE WI-FI HOTSPOT NETWORK
Creator: Divgi, Gautam
Date: 2014, 2014-12
Description: We present a thorough analysis of a commercial nationwide Wi-Fi hotspot network. The analysis is approached in two ways, characterization and...
Show moreWe present a thorough analysis of a commercial nationwide Wi-Fi hotspot network. The analysis is approached in two ways, characterization and modeling. First we characterize the network from a ve month long log of user activ- ity and traffic collected by a wireless network service provider operating hotspots in restaurants, serviced apartments, hotels and airports all over Australia. The users are categorized based on their account time limits to analyze the impact of account strati cation on the overall user behavior. A similarity index is developed to com- pare two data sets. This is used to quantitatively measure how similar or different various types of accounts are. The user population in the network is found to be highly uctuating, hence user speci c, population independent metrics are proposed to manage this transience. We also introduce metrics to measure account time and data utilization. We then follow through with detailed modeling of session and traffic parame- ters. We develop the truncated loglogistic (T-LL) distribution which can model light and heavy tailed data using a modi cation of Lavalette's law. A novel method to t the T-LL distribution to data by minimizing a goodness-of- t metric is presented. The T-LL distribution and the tting method are subsequently used to model session and traffic parameters of the network based on the categorization methodology de- veloped previously. We address concerns about the speci city of the model by using it to model other publicly available Wi-Fi network traces. The property of the introduced T-LL distribution to model both light and heavy tailed data makes it uniquely quali ed for modeling web le sizes. Thus we extend the applicability of the introduced model by tting it to publicly available web le size data. The T-LL models outperform those of the Pareto and lognormal distributions used to model such data currently.
Ph.D. in Computer Science, December 2014
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Title: The Impact of Professional Devlopment in Informal Science Contexts on Teachers' Content Knowledge and Discourse
Creator: Holliday, Gary
Date: 2011-07, 2011-07
Description: Little in the research has addressed how professional development at an Informal Science Institution (ISI) might influence teachers’ learning...
Show moreLittle in the research has addressed how professional development at an Informal Science Institution (ISI) might influence teachers’ learning of science content or how exhibits and exhibit-related instructional approaches used during such courses contribute to this learning. It has also been noted that informal science professional development programs are often underutilized (Phillips, Finkelstein, & Wever-Frerichs, 2007) and it has been suggested that this may be due to ISIs not fulfilling teachers’ science content needs. The Contextual Model of Learning (CML; Falk & Dierking, 1992, 2000) and reform documents have emphasized the unique learning environments that ISIs provide and the social aspects of that learning. As a result, individuals are able to use “each other as vehicles for reinforcing beliefs and meaning making” (Kisiel, 2003, p. 3). This study looked at two science content courses that were taught over two years by education staff of a large science and technology museum located in the Midwest. Data from six courses, with 187 participating elementary and middle school teachers, included content tests, portfolios and graduate credit assignments, daily and final evaluations of the course, as well as audio and video recordings of teachers while they were interacting with exhibits or engaged in an exhibit related activity. Results of this study found that PD educators’ use of exhibits during both courses did not fully take into account the sociocultural context of CML and did not actively incorporate opportunities for discourse into the course instruction. However, when PD staff did make explicit connections between exhibits, science content, and activities, xi participants were more likely to be involved in in-depth, content related and pedagogical conversations while engaged in the courses. At the same time, even though teachers were very satisfied with the courses and felt that PD staff was effective in their instruction, participating teachers did not increase their science content knowledge even when explicit content connections were made to exhibits. It was unclear what outcomes the PD educators expect or want for their teacher students other than relaying content in a didactic manner (which was a secondary concern), sparking an interest in science, and providing many hands-on activities to bring back to the classroom. There is a need for a standardized professional development program for ISI educators and a need for restructuring ISI professional development so that it will address elementary and middle school teachers’ need for science content. Further, developing instructional strategies for informal sites will be important since the learning potential that can be found through exhibits and exhibitions are not being fully realized.
Ph.D. in Science Education, July 2011
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Title: MULTIPHASE CFD MODELING AND SIMULATION OF GAS-SOLID FLOW SYSTEMS INCLUDING CO2 CAPTURE PROCESSES
Creator: Ghadirian Hoseinabadi, Emad
Date: 2016, 2016-05
Description: Carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is one of the key technologies needed to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and its effects on...
Show moreCarbon capture and sequestration (CCS) is one of the key technologies needed to reduce the carbon dioxide (CO2) emission and its effects on climate change. The goal of this study is to develop an advanced design and scale-up tool for a regenerable solid sorbent carbon capture process using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). In this study, a systematic methodology was established, starting from investigating the properties of the sorbent and its reaction kinetics, to developing models to design, evaluate, troubleshoot, and scale-up of the reactors that are needed to deploy this technology for an advanced power plant (i.e., integrated gasification combined cycles [IGCC]). To develop a realistic CFD model, the effect of formation of clusters in the system was studied using an energy minimization multi-scale (EMMS) approach and was shown to calculate the fluidized bed expansion with high accuracy. The effect of compaction of particles was also investigated and a model capable of simulating independent experimental data for the angle of repose was presented. In addition, this dissertation provides detailed investigations of a magnesium oxide (MgO)-based sorbent and its performance for CO2 capture from a syngas stream including the development of shrinking core models (SCM). Initially, the regenerator fluidized bed reactor at elevated temperature and pressure was simulated and several case studies were performed. Furthermore, a three-dimensional (3D) CFD simulation of a full-loop circulating fluidized bed was provided based on the developed constitutive relations and coupling them with two-fluid model equations. In order to reduce the computational time, a CFD simulation in a two-dimensional (2D) domain including heterogeneous regeneration and carbonation reactions based on the shrinking core model was performed that can be used for parametric studies and optimization of the CO2 sorption and desorption processes in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) reactor. In addition, a coupled CFD-PBE (population balance equation) model based on the FCMOM (finite size domain complete set of trial functions method of moments) approach was developed and was shown to have broad application in reaction engineering and reactor design where the poly-disperse nature of the phases has a strong effect on the hydrodynamics of the system such as coal gasifiers. Finally, the base case design for CFB reactors incorporated in the CO2 capture process using techno-economic analysis was developed and the operating and capital costs of the unit were demonstrated. It was shown that capturing CO2 in an IGCC power plant by pre-combustion technology is economically viable and can compete with other available technologies.
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, May 2016
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Title: POWER GRID OPERATION RISK MANAGEMENT: V2G DEPLOYMENT FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
Creator: Haddadian, Ghazale J.
Date: 2014, 2014-05
Description: The production, transmission, and delivery of cost–efficient energy to supply ever-increasing peak loads/demands along with a quest for...
Show moreThe production, transmission, and delivery of cost–efficient energy to supply ever-increasing peak loads/demands along with a quest for developing a low-carbon economy require significant evolutions in the power grid operations. Lower prices of vast natural gas resources in the United States, Fukushima nuclear disaster, higher and more intense energy consumptions in China and India, issues related to energy security, and recent Middle East conflicts, have urged decisions makers throughout the world to look into other means of generating electricity locally. As the world look to combat climate changes, a shift from carbon-based fuels to non-carbon based fuels is inevitable. It is possible to knock a lot of carbon out of the electric power system through large-scale integrations of renewable sources. However, the variability of distributed generation assets (such as wind and solar) in the electricity grid has introduced major reliability challenges/risks for power grid operators. While spearheading sustainable and reliable power grid operations, this dissertation develops a multi-stakeholder approach to power grid operation design; aiming to address economic, security, and environmental challenges of the constrained electricity generation. It investigates the role of Electric Vehicle (EV) fleets integration, as distributed and mobile storage assets to support high penetrations of variable and renewable energy sources, in the power grid. The vehicle-to-grid (V2G) concept is considered to demonstrate the bidirectional role of EV fleets both as a provider and consumer of energy in securing a sustainable power grid operation. The V2G concept is regarded as a novel, low-cost, low-emission and sustainable strategy that can address xv challenges involve with using renewable energy sources, which require means of storing large quantities of energy. The proposed optimization modeling is the application of Mixed-Integer Linear Programing (MILP) to large-scale systems to solve the hourly security-constrained unit commitment (SCUC) – an optimal scheduling concept in the economic operation of electric power systems. The Monte Carlo scenario-based approach is utilized to evaluate different scenarios concerning the uncertainties in the operation of power grid system. Further, in order to expedite the real-time solution of the proposed approach for large-scale power systems, this dissertation considers a two-stage model using the Benders Decomposition (BD) and applies the BD method to the hourly SCUC solution of electric power systems with significant uncertainties. The numerical simulation demonstrate that the utilization of smart EV fleets in power grid systems would ensure a sustainable grid operation with lower carbon footprints, smoother integration of renewable sources, higher security, and lower power grid operation costs. Further, simulation results indicate that intelligent-controlled mode, in which electric power system operators control the EV fleets charge/discharge decisions based on the system operation requirements, is more effective compare to the rule-based mode, in which consumers control charging/discharging decisions. The numerical simulations, additionally, illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed MILP approach and its potentials as an optimization tool for sustainable operation of large scale electric power systems.
PH.D in Management Science, May 2014
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Title: RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH POSTPARTUM DEPRESSION: A FOCUS ON PERINATAL ANXIETY
Creator: Getch, Sarah
Date: 2011-12, 2011-12
Description: Our objective was to expand previous research examining the course of anxiety and the comorbidity of anxiety and depression during pregnancy...
Show moreOur objective was to expand previous research examining the course of anxiety and the comorbidity of anxiety and depression during pregnancy and postpartum. The sample comprised 80 pregnant female participants varying in age, ethnicity, and primary diagnosis recruited through the Division of General Obstetrics and Gynecology at NMFF and PAC during routine obstetric visits or by advertisements placed on the internet via the website Craigslist. Clinical data were collected once during the second or third trimester of pregnancy and once at 6 weeks postpartum. Participants were asked to complete the Edinburgh Postpartum Depression Scale (EPDS), the Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptoms (QIDS), the Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), the Patient Health Questionnaire – 9 (PHQ-9), the State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), the Penn State Worry Questionnaire (PSWQ), the Zung Self-report Anxiety Scale (SAS), the Social Support Questionnaire - Short Form (SSQ-SF), and the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS). Results indicated that prenatal anxiety partially mediated the relationship between prenatal depression and postpartum depression. Additionally, prenatal anxiety fully mediated the relationship between prenatal social support and postpartum depression as well as the relationship between prenatal stress and postpartum depression.
Ph.D. in Psychology, December 2011
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Title: Conceptual Model of Design Creativity: Fostering Creative Cognition in Architecture and Design Pedagogy
Creator: Fakhra, Ahmad Jasem
Date: 2012-12-02, 2012-12
Description: Creativity in architecture and design disciplines is highly commended, considered essential in design processes, and regarded as invaluable to...
Show moreCreativity in architecture and design disciplines is highly commended, considered essential in design processes, and regarded as invaluable to the prosperity and survival of design organizations. Creativity is also considered a vital learning outcome in architecture and design pedagogy. Many teachers strive to cultivate creativity in their students and consider it as essential for shaping successful architects and designers. This research proposes a Conceptual Model of Design Creativity based on a synthesis of knowledge from architecture and design pedagogy and creative practice, and understandings of creativity from cognitive psychology and neurocognitive science. The purpose of the proposed model is to articulate the constituents necessary for conceptualizing design creativity and creative design processes. The model also provides the means for understanding how creativity emerges and what is involved in fostering creative cognition in the context of design pedagogy for architecture and other design disciplines. The research also proposes a Design Creativity Cards tool. The purpose of the tool is to help design students stimulate cognitive mechanisms and styles commonly associated with the production of creative results. This research adopts a mixed-methods qualitative research approach for a crossdisciplinary synthesis of creativity research between the literature on creativity from cognitive psychology and neurocognitive science and the literature on architecture and design pedagogy and practice. The development of the Conceptual Model of Design Creativity was informed by an extensive and critically framed literature review. The model was also informed by insights from Grounded Theory analysis of published interviews and reflective writings of twenty eminent creative individuals and xi organizations that identified influential elements of creativity in art, architecture, and design creative practice. The Conceptual Model of Design Creativity informed the development of the Design Creativity Cards tool deployed in the empirical research. The cards were informed by creativity methods from cognitive psychology. The research employed both the tool and the model to frame the development of a design experimental study and the data analysis and findings. The purpose of the design experimental study is to investigate the role of the Design Creativity Cards in stimulating creative cognition. The experiment was conducted with thirty-one undergraduate and master-graduate students from three architecture and design schools. Participants from each school were divided into control and experimental groups and were engaged in a simple design task. The experimental groups were introduced to the Design Creativity Cards in a preliminary workshop and were then asked to use the cards during the design task. The data collected were analyzed in relation to seven divergent thinking abilities; the seventh ability of “ideation leap” emerged through analysis as a contribution from and of this research. The data were also analyzed in relation to the Conceptual Model of Design Creativity. The findings provide a proof of concept for the Conceptual Model of Design Creativity and the Design Creativity Cards tool that suggests support for their role in enhancing creative cognition.
PH.D in Design, December 2012
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Title: Completing the Puzzle: Comparable Community Determination for Illinois Municipalities
Creator: Ahrens, Aric G.
Date: 2012-07-16, 1998-05
Description: In the process of negotiating for new contracts, public safety (i.e. Police and Firefighters) employee unions and municipal managers compare...
Show moreIn the process of negotiating for new contracts, public safety (i.e. Police and Firefighters) employee unions and municipal managers compare the essential elements of their contract (i.e. wages) with those of other “comparable” municipalities. The wages, benefits and working conditions of other “comparable” municipalities are used to provide evidence supporting the positions taken on both sides of the negotiating table. The problem is that negotiating teams rarely employ a consistent and accurate method to determine which municipalities should be compared to their own. Negotiating teams make their own determinations of comparability, which must be defended should arbitration proceedings become necessary. However, most of the methods of comparability determination currently employed by negotiating teams are extremely simple and are lacking a sound analytical basis. These methods are inadequate in terms of accuracy, and would be difficult to defend in arbitration proceedings. The method outlined in the following report provides a sound analytical basis for comparability determination. The recommendation is to employ the use of Comparability Tables. Comparability Tables : The Tables provide a list of which communities are most comparable to each particular community, and how comparable they are. This solution is augmented by three supporting elements which help to address the weaknesses apparent in the Comparability Tables. The three supporting elements are a Dissimilarity Matrix, Factor Analytic Rankings, and Factor Analytic Tables. Dissimilarity Matrix : The Matrix provides a comparability determination for communities not listed on a particular community’s Comparability Table. Factor Analytic Rankings : The Rankings allow a determination of why two communities are or are not comparable. Factor Analytic Tables : The Tables allow a quick reference to the particular characteristics of each community. The Comparability Tables, along with the supporting elements, provide negotiating teams with a list of comparable communities that is more accurate and defensible than the lists provided by other methods. This method describes which communities are comparable, how comparable they are, and why they are comparable. Negotiating teams who employ this method of comparability determination can approach their negotiations confident that their choice of comparable communities is accurate and can stand up to an arbitrator’s inquiry.
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Title: BIOMATERIAL SYSTEMS WITH PERSISTENT GROWTH FACTOR GRADIENTS IN VIVO FOR TISSUE ENGINEERING APPLICATIONS
Creator: Akar, Banu
Date: 2016, 2016-12
Description: Tissue engineering aims to develop strategies for the replacement of damaged, injured or missing tissues with biologically compatible...
Show moreTissue engineering aims to develop strategies for the replacement of damaged, injured or missing tissues with biologically compatible substitutes such as bioengineered tissues. However, generating tissues of su cient volume for clinical application requires the formation of stable and extensive vasculature within the tissue constructs. The overall goal of this work is to enhance vascularization using a gradient biomaterial system and apply this research to engineering vascularized bone of clinical size. First, a method was developed to create persistent growth factor gradients with an adjustable gradient magnitude in vivo. This method generated persistent gradients of platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF-BB) within brin/poly (ethylene glycol) (PEG) sca olds. The presence of a growth factor gradient within the system was veri ed in vivo using near-infrared imaging. Also, a computational model was developed to investigate gradient characteristics within the system. Gradient properties can be controlled by varying the degradation rate of the gradient layer components or dose of PDGF-BB delivered. The angiogenic potential of gradient sca olds was tested in rodents using a subcutaneous implantation model. The depth of tissue invasion and density of blood vessels formed in response to the biomaterial increased with dose of the growth factor. The gradient biomaterial system allows formation of persistent gradients that can be in uenced by biomaterial characteristics, and enhances vascularization. Therefore, this biomaterial system can be used for tissue engineering applications. Second, the brin/PEG-based sca olds were modi ed to be degradable via hydrolysis and to include bioactive ceramic particles (hydroxyapatite and -tri-calcium phosphate). Characteristics of the hydrogel ceramic composites were investigated in vitro and in vivo. The presence of ceramic particles extended degradation time of thehydrogels in vitro and in vivo. Hydrogel ceramic composites were tested in a rodent cranial defect model and enhanced bone tissue regeneration. Third, strategies developed from the previous studies were combined to prepare ceramic supplemented gradient sca olds for bone tissue engineering applications. A gradient layer was applied to the hydrogel-ceramic composites and bone tissue response was evaluated in a periosteum guided large animal model. Ceramic supplemented gradient sca olds augmented vascularization and bone regeneration in vivo. In conclusion, a biomaterial system with persistent growth factor gradients was developed and enhanced vascularization and bone regeneration in vivo. This system holds a great potential for tissue engineering applications.
Ph.D. in Biomedical Engineering, December 2016
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Title: EVALUATION OF A MODIFIED ITEM PARAMETER REPLICATION METHOD FOR DIFFERENTIAL FUNCTIONING OF ITEMS AND TESTS ANALYSIS WITH UNEQUAL SAMPLE SIZES
Creator: Blitz, David L.
Date: 2016, 2016-05
Description: In 1995, Raju, van der Linden, and Fleer introduced the Differential Functioning of Items and Tests (DFIT) framework. However, some concerns...
Show moreIn 1995, Raju, van der Linden, and Fleer introduced the Differential Functioning of Items and Tests (DFIT) framework. However, some concerns have been raised regarding the accuracy of DFIT (e.g., Meade & Lautenschlager, 2004, 2005). More recently, it was suggested that large differences in sample sizes might affect the sampling variance of the NCDIF statistic (e.g., Raju et al., 2009). The purpose of this study was to confirm if differing subgroup sample sizes affect the accuracy of the NCDIF statistic and to propose and evaluate a modification to solve this problem. Monte Carlo results indicated that the old method generally maintained fairly stable power, but tended to be overly conservative when the focal group was smaller than the reference group and exhibit inflated Type I error when the focal group was larger than the reference group. The new method generally maintained reasonable Type I error regardless of subgroup sample size and demonstrated comparable or better power except for conditions where the old method exhibited inflated Type I error rates. When impact was present Type I error rates were slightly higher and power was slightly lower but results otherwise conformed to the general pattern.
Ph.D. in Psychology, May 2016
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Title: THE IMPACTS AND “BEST PRACTICES” OF UNDERGRADUATE – GRADUATE STUDENT MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS IN UNDERGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCES
Creator: Campanile, Megan Faurot
Date: 2015, 2015-12
Description: Undergraduate research has been identified as an educational practice in the U.S. that directly addresses issues with science education at...
Show moreUndergraduate research has been identified as an educational practice in the U.S. that directly addresses issues with science education at both the undergraduate and graduate school levels. With the growth of undergraduate research in the U.S., over the past two decades, faculty are more often assigning graduate students to mentor undergraduate students than providing the one-on-one mentoring themselves. A critical gap that exists in the literature is how the mentoring relationships in undergraduate research influence the academic and career outcomes of both the undergraduate and graduate students. The two main research questions that framed this study were: (1) What, if any, changes occur in the academic and career paths of undergraduate and graduate students who participate in undergraduate research experiences? and (2) Are there variables that constitute “best practices” in the mentoring relationships in undergraduate research experiences and, if so, what are they?. The context of this study was the National Science Foundation (NSF) Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program at Illinois Institute of Technology (IIT) and the 113 undergraduate researchers and 31 graduate student mentors who participated from 2006 – 2014. In addition, there was a purposeful sample of six pairs selected to develop case studies and illustrate the complexities of the undergraduate – graduate student mentoring relationships. Data collection occurred in two phases: the first phase collected pre- and post-program data from the undergraduate researchers during the delivery of the 10-week REU program; and, the second phase collected follow-up data from both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors during the 2014 – 2015 academic year. Surveys and semi-structured interviews were administered to ask the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors about their academic and career paths and mentoring relationship experiences and views. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, content analysis method, and constant comparative method. The key findings on the undergraduate researchers’ academic and career paths were their actual earned graduate degree types (Ph.D. 20%, M.D. 20%, M.S. 48%, other 12%) and fields (STEM 57%, medical 35%, and other 8%). In addition, the career fields (STEM 68%, medical 26%, and 6% other) and sectors (industry 43%, healthcare 30%, academia 17%, and other 10%) that the undergraduate researchers were pursuing or working in. This is the first known study to examine the career paths of graduate student mentors of REU programs and it found that they were all pursuing or working in STEM fields and, specifically, in the career sectors of academia (50%), industry (40%), and government (10%). More than 75% of both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors paired together reported that their mentoring relationships in undergraduate research had a somewhat to extremely influential impact on their academic and career paths. To gain insight into how they influenced one another and to identify the “bestundergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors about their academic and career paths and mentoring relationship experiences and views. The data collected was analyzed using descriptive statistics, content analysis method, and constant comparative method. The key findings on the undergraduate researchers’ academic and career paths were their actual earned graduate degree types (Ph.D. 20%, M.D. 20%, M.S. 48%, other 12%) and fields (STEM 57%, medical 35%, and other 8%). In addition, the career fields (STEM 68%, medical 26%, and 6% other) and sectors (industry 43%, healthcare 30%, academia 17%, and other 10%) that the undergraduate researchers were pursuing or working in. This is the first known study to examine the career paths of graduate student mentors of REU programs and it found that they were all pursuing or working in STEM fields and, specifically, in the career sectors of academia (50%), industry (40%), and government (10%). More than 75% of both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors paired together reported that their mentoring relationships in undergraduate research had a somewhat to extremely influential impact on their academic and career paths. To gain insight into how they influenced one another and to identify the “best practices” of mentoring, the results on the mentoring experiences and views were triangulated which included a systematic compare and contrast of the six case studies. A set of “best practices” were developed for both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors and they focused on the positive and challenging experiences they can expect in a mentoring relationship related to learning and teaching about research; relationship dynamics and roles; and, planning, practicing, and preparing for the future. The findings on the academic and career paths and “best practices” have the potential to maximize and improve undergraduate research experiences for bothpractices” of mentoring, the results on the mentoring experiences and views were triangulated which included a systematic compare and contrast of the six case studies. A set of “best practices” were developed for both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors and they focused on the positive and challenging experiences they can expect in a mentoring relationship related to learning and teaching about research; relationship dynamics and roles; and, planning, practicing, and preparing for the future. The findings on the academic and career paths and “best practices” have the potential to maximize and improve undergraduate research experiences for bothpractices” of mentoring, the results on the mentoring experiences and views were triangulated which included a systematic compare and contrast of the six case studies. A set of “best practices” were developed for both the undergraduate researchers and graduate student mentors and they focused on the positive and challenging experiences they can expect in a mentoring relationship related to learning and teaching about research; relationship dynamics and roles; and, planning, practicing, and preparing for the future. The findings on the academic and career paths and “best practices” have the potential to maximize and improve undergraduate research experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students. More policymakers, research universities, and faculty may be willing to invest, both financially and operationally, in undergraduate research knowing that it benefits not only undergraduate students but graduate students’ academic and career paths. The “best practices” have the potential to make an impact once they are incorporated into mentor training programs that are delivered in conjunction with undergraduate research programs. Future studies recommended are longer duration longitudinal studies as well as comparative studies of undergraduate research program with and without mentor training programs. In addition, the future studies need to include larger and more diverse samples to increase the generalizability of the findings. Ultimately, by improving the mentoring relationships in undergraduate research it has the potential to improve both undergraduate and graduate education and produce more highly qualified scientists and engineers for the U.S. workforce.
Ph.D. in Science Education
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Title: THERMAL AND MECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF ELECTRON BEAM ADDITIVE MANUFACTURED TI-6AL-4V BUILD PLATE
Creator: Cao, Jun
Date: 2017, 2017-07
Description: Electron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM), used to fabricate net or nearnet- shaped components based on a sliced CAD model, offers a...
Show moreElectron Beam Additive Manufacturing (EBAM), used to fabricate net or nearnet- shaped components based on a sliced CAD model, offers a potential alternative solution for the processing of titanium components, especially for large parts. However, the components fabricated using EBAM exhibit significant difficulties in quality control and quality assurance due to lack of knowledge of thermo-mechanical-metallurgical relationship. In this work, the thermo-mechanical behavior of wire-feed EBAM for largescale Ti-6Al-4V build plates has been investigated computationally and experimentally, with special attention to the distortion and residual stress, as well as the microstructural evolution. A 3D transient fully coupled thermo-mechanical finite element (FE) model was built, calibrated, and rigorously validated. To ensure the accuracy of the model, the bulk residual strain distribution was measured using neutron diffraction (ND), and the numerically simulated thermal profiles were physically simulated using a Gleeble® 3500, in addition to the conventional model validation methods. Good agreement was found between the simulation results and experimental measurements. A series of simulations were performed to determine the optimum process conditions. The simulation results indicated that preheating, increasing deposition power and scan rate, and decreasing interval cooling time effectively mitigates the distortion and residual stress. For EBAM Ti-6Al-4V build plates, increasing the energy input and reducing the heat loss renders smaller temperature difference and thermal expansion mismatch, consequently, leading to a lower level of distortion and residual stress. The deposited cladding was characterized by large columnar grains growing across layers, a bottom region with repeated macroscopic bands and a top region without these bands. The band structure exhibits mostly colony α. A fine basket-weave structure is observed above the band structure, and a coarse basket-weave structure is observed below the band structure. The simulated thermal profiles were used to understand the observed microstructure. It was found that the microstructure variation in the cladding of EBAM Ti-6Al-4V build plates is strongly dependent on the peak temperature within the (α+β) phase region, and heating rate and cooling rate have insignificant effects on it. The non-equilibrium solid-solid phase transformation of Ti-6Al-4V under continuous heating/cooling were experimentally investigated. The kinetics of phase transformation was quantitively studied and modeled using a non-isothermal JMAK (Johnson-Mehl-Avrami-Kolmorgorov) model, with the activation energy QA=123.9 kJ/mole, JMAK exponent n=1.8, and the calculated ln (k0) varied between 9.15 to 10.6 for different heating rate.
Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering, July 2017
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Title: CARBON DIOXIDE CAPTURE USING SOLID SORBENTS IN A FLUIDIZED BED WITH REDUCED PRESSURE REGENERATION IN A DOWNER
Creator: Kongkitisupchai, Sunti
Date: 2012-11-11, 2012-12
Description: The most commonly used commercial technology for post-combustion CO2 capture for existing power plants is the amine solvent scrubber. However,...
Show moreThe most commonly used commercial technology for post-combustion CO2 capture for existing power plants is the amine solvent scrubber. However, the energy consumption for capturing CO2 from flue gases using amine solvent technology is 15 to 30% of the power plant due to the use of steam in solvent regeneration. Hence there is a need to develop more efficient methods of removing CO2. The objective of this thesis research is to demonstrate the design of a complete loop system of dry solid sorbent technology, which consumes less energy, as an alternative CO2 capturing technology. The design of a complete riser-sorber and downer-regenerator loop system for a dry solid sorbent technology is developed using the recently developed kinetic theory based multiphase computational fluid dynamics (CFD). The complete dry solid sorbent loop system comprises of an atmospheric fluidized bed riser-sorber and a reduced pressure downer-regenerator. The proposed dry solid sorbent used in this thesis research is a dry sodium carbonate sorbent recently developed at RTI and earlier by Gidaspow and Onischak. The dry solid sorbents capture CO2 and water vapor from flue gases through chemical sorption in the sorber-riser. The captured CO2 is released from the solid sorbent along with water vapor in the reduced pressure regenerator-downer where the solid sorbent regeneration occurred. The complete dry solid sorbent loop system demonstrates the possibility of solving three main technical challenges, which are the handling of large volumetric flow rate of the flue gases, the required operating power, and the quantity of CO2 sorption. xvii A new proposed pressure-equilibrium based sorption rate model for the dry sodium carbonate sorbents is used in the simulations. The simulations of both fluidized riser-sorber and downer-regenerator were done using commercial CFD code; Fluent. The energy efficiency of the proposed dry solid sorbent loop system was studied using thermodynamic availability analysis for both an individual vessel and for the overall process for evaluating the minimum energy requirement for CO2 separation. A T-s diagram of inlet and outlet streams for both the riser-sorber and the downer-regenerator are included in the thermodynamics analysis. The results from multiphase CFD simulations showed that the heat liberated during CO2 sorption in the riser-sorber can be nearly fully recovered in form of sensible heat in the solid sorbent. The captured heat in the solid sorbents is used as the energy for CO2 desorption in the sorbent regeneration process inside the reduced pressure downerregenerator. Hence, the only parasitic power loss will be the energy needed for sorbent circulation, air-lock rotary valves, and vacuum fan. The drastic energy saving is possible due to the high solid circulation rate between sorber-riser and downer-regenerator. Additionally, the simulation results showed that the core-annular regime flow pattern in the riser-sorber can be almost completely eliminated by using multiple jet inlets and increasing solid sorbent particle size, from 75 microns manufactured by RTI to 500 micron sorbent particles. Furthermore, the large sorbent particle size allows better solid settling in the downer. The simulations also showed that a core-annular flow pattern occurred inside the downer-regenerator. However, there is no negative effect of having a core-annular regime inside the downer-regenerator.
PH.D in Chemical Engineering, December 2012
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Title: BODY DISSATISFACTION, CORRELATES OF BODY IMAGE DISTURBANCE, AND PERCEPTIONS OF THE IDEAL FEMALE BODY SHAPE
Creator: Westercamp, Kindra L.
Date: 2012-07-16, 2012-07
Description: Body image concern is not a foreign experience among men; the literature indicates that men, like women, experience negative thoughts about...
Show moreBody image concern is not a foreign experience among men; the literature indicates that men, like women, experience negative thoughts about their body. It continues to be accepted that women experience greater body dissatisfaction than do men; however, based on prior research, this conclusion may be inaccurate. The primary aim of the present study was to examine whether the discrepancy between current body size and ideal body size differed by sex; the examination was conducted with the overall sample and then with only those men and women who preferred a slimmer physique. Self-esteem, internalization of the cultural-ideal, and body acceptance were examined in relation to weight concern, overall body dissatisfaction in women, muscularity dissatisfaction in men, and the body size discrepancy estimate. An additional purpose of the present study was the investigation of a potential consequence among women of misperceiving the body preferences of men. Also explored was whether the body size discrepancy, derived from a figural measure, is a valid measure of body dissatisfaction. Participants were 248 men and women college students who completed 10 self-report questionnaires and engaged in the Body Morph Assessment Program Version 2.0 (BMA 2.0), a computerized body image assessment procedure. Results indicated that the average body size discrepancy was greater for women in the overall sample; yet, in the restricted sample no sex difference was observed. In comparison to self-esteem and internalization of the cultural-ideal, body acceptance was found to be most consistently related to the aforementioned constructs. Also found was that the more slender a female figure women regarded as being most attractive to men the more they engaged in disordered eating. Results of the present study suggested that the discrepancy estimate likely measures a construct that is different than that measured by an evaluative measure of overall body dissatisfaction or weight concern.
Ph.D. in Psychology, July 2012
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Title: CHILD AND PARENT PSYCHOPATHOLOGY: COMBINATIONS RELATED TO THERAPY ATTENDANCE AND PROGRESS
Creator: Giannone, Carolyn D.
Date: 2012-04-30, 2012-05
Description: Disruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are among the most common and challenging diagnoses in children. It is well documented that family...
Show moreDisruptive behavior disorders (DBDs) are among the most common and challenging diagnoses in children. It is well documented that family therapy services can provide effective treatment for DBDs, but therapy dropout rates are high. This leaves many children untreated, particularly in urban settings. Literature supports relationships between several variables and premature termination of therapy services, including child gender, child psychopathology, parent psychopathology, and perceived barriers to treatment participation. The current study aimed explore if combinations of parent and child psychopathology and their relationship related to therapy completion. Multiple imputation was utilized due to the presence of several missing data points. Results indicated that combinations did not significantly predict therapy completion. Implications of the research, limitations, and suggestions for future research are discussed.
Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology, May 2012
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