xii, 98 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The purpose of this study was to examine how conversations about appearance between adolescents and their best friends predicted eating pathology during adolescence and early adulthood. Participants were 711 adolescents and their best friends who were observed using a videotaped observation protocol and completing a number of conversational tasks. The tapes of these friend dyads were coded for content relating to attitudes and behaviors regarding appearance, weight, and dieting. There were four types of appearance talk related to comments about other people's appearance, their best friend's appearance, their own weight and dieting, and other people's weight and dieting. Appearance talk was frequent in conversations between adolescents, especially comments about other people's appearance. Eating pathology was measured using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 during adolescence and as a symptom count during early adulthood. Eating pathology during adolescence predicted eating pathology during early adulthood. Adolescents who met clinical criteria for an eating disorder had higher rates of appearance talk than those who did not meet criteria. Multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between eating pathology and the four types of appearance talk. For females, talking about their best friend's appearance predicted adolescent and early adult eating pathology. For males, talking about their own weight and dieting predicted adolescent eating pathology. Talking about other people's weight and dieting also predicted early adult eating pathology for both males and females, even when controlling for adolescent eating pathology. Although appearance talk was common among adolescents, specific types of appearance talk predicted eating pathology differently for males and females. Furthermore, the most frequent types of appearance talk for males and females were not those that predicted eating pathology. This study supports the importance of the influence of friendship on eating pathology. Treatment implications are informed by these findings. This study informs future research and suggests the importance of observational methods in examining conversations about appearance. / Committee in charge: Elizabeth Stormshak, Chairperson, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Krista Chronister, Member, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Paul Yovanoff, Member, Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership; Thomas Dishion, Outside Member, Psychology

abstract: Communication skills within dating contexts are developed during the adolescent years, and are associated with a lifelong ability to have satisfying, enduring, and non-violent partnerships. As such, they are currently and increasingly implemented into both more general forms of healthy relationship education, as well as that targeting the prevention of teen dating violence specifically. Reaching Mexican American youth with culturally and developmentally appropriate relationship education, including communication skills, may be particularly important given their earlier transitions to marital and parenting relationships, acculturative stressors that present them with unique coupling challenges, and their higher rates of teen dating violence as compared to European American youth. We know very little about how Mexican American dating couples communicate about areas of conflict. This dissertation research utilizes Bell and Naugle's (2008) framework of interpersonal violence to explore how cultural and developmental considerations may be integrated in order to better understand how communication behaviors contribute to Mexican American middle adolescents' experiences with dating conflict. I use an observational study design in order to 1.) Qualitatively explore the communication strategies used by a sample of committed couples, including integration of culturally- and developmentally-relevant contexts, 2.) Quantitatively examine whether couple-level discrepancies in acculturation are associated with observed negativity, including whether this relationship may be mediated by dissimilar gender-related beliefs, and to 3.) Review empirical findings pertaining to the communication behaviors of Mexican American adolescents and to integrate ecodevelopmental theory in said framework as informed by Papers 1, 2, and literature specific to this topic area. The ultimate aim of this dissertation research is to generate findings that may improve the dating health of Mexican American adolescents living in the United States. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Social Work 2013

xviii, 150 p. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / This dissertation examined how cultural influences transmitted within the familial context impact the psychological adjustment of ethnic minority youth through the development of an observational measure of ethnic-racial socialization. Specifically, a behavioral observational paradigm and companion coding system were developed to examine ethnic-racial socialization processes among 140 American Indian, African American and European American adolescents and their families. Despite its interactional nature, to date there are no observational measures of ethnic-racial socialization, highlighting the important contributions of this study. This study was conducted in a series of phases. Phase I consisted of measurement development through use of qualitative data. Qualitative information from cultural informants was incorporated to develop two observational paradigms (observed family discussions on Family Culture and Coping with Discrimination) and an accompanying coding system. Phase II examined the underlying factor structure of this observational measure through confirmatory and exploratory factor analytic techniques. The Discrimination Paradigm derived the ethnic-racial socialization dimensions: (a) Proactive Preparation, (b) Racial Awareness, (c) Promotion of Mistrust, and (d) Other Group Orientation. The Family Culture paradigm derived: (a) Cultural Socialization, (b) Ethnic Heritage Exploration, (c) Family Centeredness, and (d) Spiritual Involvement. In Phase III correlational analyses supported convergent and ecological validity of the observed dimensions for American Indian and African American youth, but not European American youth. Phase IV examined the mediational effects of the observed measures, suggesting that among American Indian and African American youth, observed ethnic-racial socialization is central to the relationships between family context, discrimination, ethnic identity and youth adjustment. In Phase V, moderation effects indicated that only for American Indian youth, observed ethnic-racial socialization significantly reduced the impact of discrimination on youth adjustment. Last, Phase VI analyses revealed that observed dimensions uniquely contributed to adolescent problem behavior above and beyond the effect of discrimination and familial contextual factors among American Indian and African American youth. In sum, these findings support the reliability and validity of the observed ethnic-racial socialization measures, and suggest its promising capability to efficiently capture important, observable, transactional familial processes of ethnic-racial socialization that are integral to the development of cultural resilience. / Adviser: Thomas, J. Dishion

[pt] O presente trabalho apresenta a Barragem de Terzaghi em um contexto da evolução tecnológica da construção de barragens de terra, colocando em foco sua construção e desempenho ao longo de 65 anos de operação bem como a verificação atual de suas condições físicas, analisando o impacto que a carga de sedimentos causa sobre a face montante da barragem, em termos de percolação, tensões e deformações. Tendo como base os métodos observacionais aplicados ao longo da operação da barragem e modelagem por elementos finitos, foram traçadas expectativas do fator de segurança para a seção principal da barragem ao longo do tempo. / [en] This work presents the Terzaghi Dam in a technological evolutionary context of the construction of earthfill dams, focusing on its own construction a performance after 65 years in operation as well as a scrutinized assessment of its physical conditions, implying the sediment load on its upstream slope, regarding seepage, stresses and strains. Taking into account observational methods applied throughout the operation of the dam and finite element simulations, the evolution of factor of safety over the dam lifetime and on was evaluated for the main section of the dam.

Theories of how galaxies form and evolve depend greatly on constraints provided by observations. However, when those observations come from different datasets, systematic offsets may occur. This causes difficulties measuring variations in parameters between filters. In this thesis I present the variation in total luminosity density with wavelength in the nearby Universe (z<0.1), produced from a consistent reanalysis of NIR and optical observations, taken from the MGC, UKIDSS and SDSS surveys. I derive luminosity distributions, best-fitting Schechter function parameterisations and total luminosity densities in ugrizYJHK, and compare the variation in luminosity density with cosmic star formation history (CSFH) and initial mass function (IMF) models. I examine the r band luminosity distribution produced using different aperture definitions, the joint luminosity- surface brightness (bivariate brightness) distribution in ugrizYJHK, comparing them to previously derived distributions, and how the total luminosity density varies with wavelength when surface brightness incompleteness is accounted for. I find the following results. (1) The total luminosity density calculated using a non-Sersic (e.g. Kron or Petrosian) aperture is underestimated by at least 15%, (2) Changing the detection threshold has a minor effect on the best-fitting Schecter parameters, but the choice of Kron or Petrosian apertures causes an offset between datasets, regardless of the filter used to define the source list, (3) The decision to use circular or elliptical apertures causes an offset in M* of 0.20 mag, and best-fitting Schechter parameters from total magnitude photometric systems have a flatter faint-end slope than Kron or Petrosian photometry, (4) There is no surface brightness distribution evolution with luminosity for luminous galaxies, but at fainter magnitudes the distribution broadens and the peak surface brightness dims. A Choloniewski function that is modified to account for this surface brightness evolution fits the bivariate-brightness distribution better than an unmodified Choloniewski function, (5) The energy density per unit interval, vf(v) derived using MGC and GAMA samples agrees within 90% confidence intervals, but does not agree with predictions using standard CSFH and IMF models. Possible improvements to the data and alterations to the theory are suggested.

[ES] A mediados del siglo XX inició en el continente europeo, especialmente en Francia y Bélgica, una nueva disciplina denominada Ergonomía Centrada en la Actividad. Esta disciplina está enfocada en el análisis del trabajo con el fin de optimizar las condiciones laborales. El propósito de la intervención ergonómica es mejorar componentes que interactúan en el sistema o en la actividad del trabajo (las personas, la organización, la tecnología y el ambiente), interrelacionando aspectos de salud, seguridad, productividad y calidad. En investigaciones anteriores a la presente el doctorando identificó la necesidad de mejora de las herramientas empleadas por los profesionales para la evaluación de factores de riesgo ergonómico, motivando así el desarrollo de la presente investigación. Inicialmente se analizaron métodos generales empleados por los diseñadores para establecer aquellos susceptibles de mejora con la introducción de nuevas tecnologías. En una segunda fase se identificaron y analizaron dispositivos tecnológicos orientados al rastreo de la actividad humana aplicables en el ámbito de las metodologías de la ergonomía ocupacional para los sectores productivos. Como resultado se concluyó que los sensores RGB-D y el Eye-Tracking (rastreo ocular) son dispositivos aplicables para ayudar a mejorar las condiciones en los puestos de trabajo, el primero para distribuir las áreas de trabajo y el segundo para la mejora de las interfaces del usuario. En esta TD se desarrollaron técnicas y métodos para el empleo de estos dispositivos logrando el diseño ergonómico de puestos de trabajo con aplicación práctica (artículos 2 y 3). Durante la realización de esta TD, bajo las directrices del Programa de Doctorado en Tecnologías para la Salud y el Bienestar de la Universidad Politécnica de Valencia, se publicaron tres artículos en revistas que durante el año de su publicación estuvieron indexadas en el primer cuartil de su categoría en el Journal Citation Report, las cuáles sustentan los resultados de la investigación. En ellos se evidenció cómo los avances tecnológicos implementados en Ergonomía producen cambios importantes en el diseño de los puestos de trabajo, y minimizan los tiempos y los movimientos que se requieren en las diferentes actividades laborales, garantizando así una ubicación óptima del recurso humano en los sistemas de producción y generando a su vez estrategias que disminuyen los Trastornos Músculo Esqueléticos (TMEs). / [CA] A mitjan segle XX es va desenvolupar en el continent europeu, especialment a França i Bèlgica, una nova disciplina denominada Ergonomia Centrada en l'Activitat. Aquesta disciplina està enfocada en l'anàlisi del treball amb la finalitat d'optimitzar les condicions laborals. El propòsit de la intervenció ergonòmica és millorar els components que interactuen en el sistema o en l'activitat del treball (les persones, l'organització, la tecnologia i l'ambient), interrelacionant els aspectes de salut, seguretat, productivitat i qualitat. En investigacions anteriors a la present el doctorand va identificar la necessitat de millora de les eines emprades pels professionals per a l'avaluació de factors de risc ergonòmic, motivant així el desenvolupament de la present investigació. Inicialment es van analitzar els mètodes habituals empleats pels ergónoms per a establir aquells susceptibles de millora amb la introducció de noves tecnologies. En una segona fase es va identificar i analitzar els dispositius tecnològics orientats al monitoratge de l'activitat humana aplicables en l'àmbit de les metodologies de l'ergonomia ocupacional per als sectors productius. Com a resultat es va concloure que els sensors RGB-D i el Eye-Tracking són dispositius aplicables per a ajudar a millorar les condicions en els llocs de treball, el primer per a distribuir les àrees de treball i el segon per a la millora de les interfícies de l'usuari. En aquesta TD es van desenvolupar tècniques i procediments per a l'ús d'aquests dispositius aconseguint el disseny ergonòmic de llocs de treball amb aplicació pràctica (articles 2 i 3). Durant la realització d'aquesta TD, sota les directrius del Programa de Doctorat en Tecnologies per a la Salut i el Benestar de la Universitat Politècnica de València, es van publicar tres articles en revistes, que durant l'any de la seua publicació, van estar indexades en el primer quartil de la seua categoria en el Journal Citation Report, les quals sustenten els resultats de la investigació. En ells es va evidenciar com els avanços tecnològics implementats en Ergonomia produeixen canvis importants en el disseny dels llocs de treball, minimitzen els temps i els moviments que es requereixen en les diferents activitats laborals, garantint així una ubicació òptima del recurs humà en els sistemes de producció i generant al seu torn estratègies que disminueixen els Trastorns Músculesquelètics. / [EN] Around the middle of XX century in Europe, especially in France and Belgium, a new discipline named Activity Focused Ergonomics was developed. This concept is based on the task analysis aiming to optimize working conditions. The purpose of the ergonomic intervention is to improve the components interacting within the system or the work activities (people, organization, technology and environment), correlating all health, safety, productivity and quality facts. In previous research, the ergomists identified the improvement need of those tools used by professionals to assess ergonomic risk factors, enhancing therefore the development of this present research. In the beginning, regular methods used by ergonomics specilists were analized in order to define those that could be improved with the introduction of new technologies. In a second phase, technological devices aimed to monitorize human activity, as well as those applicable for the occupational ergonomics methodologies in productive sectors were identified and analyzed. The conclusion that came as a result was that RGB-D sensors and Eye-Tracking are actual workstations conditions' improving devices, the first one is used to better organize working areas and the second one to optimize the user's interfaces. This Doctoral Thesis develops techniques and procedures to correctly use these devices obtaining workstations ergonomic designs with practical applications (articles 2 and 3). Along the development of this Doctoral Thesis, under the Polytechnic University of Valencia Doctoral School for Health and Wellbeing Technologies program directions, three articles were published in magazines which, throughout their publication year were indexed within its cathegory's first quartile at the Journal Citation Report, supporting the research results. The articles evidenced how the technological progress implemented in Ergonomics produce important changes in the workstations design and minimize times and movements required in different working activities, ensuring human resources' optimal location within the production systems and also developing Musculoskeletal Disorders reduction strategies. / Garzón Leal, DC. (2020). Nuevas tecnologías aplicadas a la ergonomía ocupacional. Empleo de sensores RGBD y EyeTracking en la mejora ergonómica de puestos de trabajo [Tesis doctoral]. Universitat Politècnica de València. https://doi.org/10.4995/Thesis/10251/156052 / TESIS

Clinical and research practice in the context of Autism rapidly evolved in the last decades. Finer diagnostic procedures, evidence-based models of intervention and higher social inclusivity significantly improved the possibility for autistic children to participate in the fabric of social life. In terms of health best practices, gold-standard procedures still need to be improved, and bridging research and clinical practice still presents several challenges. From the clinical standpoint, the role of process variables, predictors, mechanisms, and timing of change still requires extensive investigation in order to explain response variability and design optimized interventions, tailored to individual needs and maximally effective. Observational techniques represent the elective research methods in child development, especially in clinical contexts, due to their non-invasiveness. However, they still suffer from limited objectivity and poor quantification. Further, their main disadvantage is that they are highly time-consuming and labor-intensive. The aim of this thesis was moving forward to promote translational research in clinical practice of Autism intervention with preschool children. At first, we tried to design and apply quantitative observational techniques to longitudinally study treatment response trajectories during developmental intervention. We tried to characterize different response profiles, and which baseline predictors were able to predict the response over time. Secondly, we investigated mechanisms of change. In particular, we focused on the role of the child-therapist interaction dynamics as a possible active mediator of the process of intervention, especially in the developmental framework that stresses the importance of interpersonal aspects. We also aimed at understanding whether certain time-windows during the intervention were particularly predictive of the response, as well as which specific interaction aspects played a role. Finally, to promote the translational application of observational methods and to improve objective quantification, we proposed and validated an Artificial Intelligence (AI) system to automate data annotation in unconstrained clinical contexts, remaining completely non-invasive and dealing with the specific noisy data that characterize them, for the analysis of the child-therapist acoustic interaction. This effort represents a base building block enabling to employ downstream computational techniques greatly reducing the need for human annotation that usually prevents the application of observational research to large amounts of data . We discuss our findings stressing the importance of assuming a developmental framework in Autism, the key role of the interpersonal experience also in the clinical context, the importance of focusing on trajectories of change and the important need to promote the acquisition of large amounts of quantitative data from the clinical contexts exploiting AI-based systems to assist clinicians, improving objectivity, enabling treatment monitoring, and producing precious data-driven knowledge on treatment efficacy.