Parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often exhibit high parental stress which may be caused by parent-child behaviors, child behaviors, and parent distress. Awareness and understanding of ASD is critical for parents and educators to connect students with support services and resources. The purpose of this bounded, descriptive case study was to identify perceived parental stressors and to determine the primary stressors of parents with low socioeconomic status who are raising a child with ASD in a rural area. The foundation of family systems theory framed this study. Ten parents raising a child with ASD were purposefully selected and volunteered to participate in this study. The quantitative data were collected using the Parental Stress Index-Short Form, a 36-item Likert scale with items related to parent-child dysfunctional relationships, parenting distress, and child behavior. Descriptive analysis determined which domain and items were most stressful and were the basis for developing 6 semistructured interview questions. Interview data were open-coded and analyzed thematically to identify the greatest stressors to parents. Based on these findings, it is recommended that school personnel coordinate an autism support group to include educators, parents of children with ASD, and professional service providers to share formal and informal supports within the school district and the community. These endeavors may contribute to positive social change by providing parents and educators access to resources and therapeutic and social supports, thus allowing students with ASD to receive appropriate and timely support and to reduce parental stress.

Students with intellectual and other disabilities who age out of transition programs or graduate from high school may experience marginalization as young adults. There exists scant literature on the perceptions of parents about access to employment and services for their adult children with disabilities. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore how parents perceived educational services, financial burdens, social isolation, and lack of access to employment for their children with intellectual and other disabilities. Critical disability theory and transformational theory constituted the study's conceptual framework. The research questions concerned how parents perceived access to services related to financial assistance, postsecondary education, employment, and vocational consultation. The design was a case study with a purposefully selected sample consisting of 5 parents from a Western U.S. state. Data sources included field notes, interviews, and artifacts. A field log, newspaper articles, and interview transcriptions were gathered, sorted, and categorized into themes. Results of the study revealed that employment gaps for adults with disabilities decreased with better knowledge about disability strengths, social capital, employer and employee diversity training, and competitive employment opportunities. A position paper was developed based on study findings, which was targeted to employers and included information on the reasons for a business to embrace diversity in the workplace. Business leaders' promotion of social enterprises that enable community inclusion and financial independence for people with disabilities may result in a positive paradigm shift towards equitable employment as a positive social change outcome.

La télédétection spatiale de la couleur de l’océan implique l’élimination de la contribution atmosphérique, appelée correction atmosphérique (CA). Au-dessus des eaux claires, cette dernière se base sur l’hypothèse que l’eau est totalement absorbante dans le Proche Infra-Rouge (PIR) pour estimer la réflectance atmosphérique et déterminer la réflectance marine. À l’opposé, au-dessus des eaux côtières turbides, la contribution du signal marin n’est pas négligeable dans le PIR. De ce fait, différentes méthodes alternatives ont été proposées. La thèse se consacre à l’évaluation des algorithmes de CA proposés et leur amélioration pour le capteur Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) au-dessus des eaux côtières en exploitant sa synergie avec le capteur Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR). Dans ce but, des mesures radiométriques in-situ ont été acquises dans deux zones côtières françaises contrastées : Manche orientale et Guyane Française, avec le spectro-radiomètre ASD, suivant un nouveau protocole d’acquisition et de post-traitement. Le post-traitement s’est basé sur le coefficient de variabilité et la différence relative de la médiane dans le contrôle de qualité, en plus du score d’assurance de qualité (QAS). Suivant l’analyse statistique basée en partie sur l’angle spectral moyenné (SAM), l’inter-comparaison radiométrique de l’ASD avec les autres radiomètres (TriOS-above et Radeau), a révélé la cohérence des mesures ASD. L’utilisation de ces dernières a permis l’inter-comparaison de la performance de cinq algorithmes de CA, où l’algorithme Polymer est le plus performant d’après un système à points avec une seule métrique. Cependant aucun algorithme a atteint le maximum de points soulignant la grande marge de progression à accomplir, surtout en eau côtière. Dans cette optique, trois relations spectrales de la réflectance des aérosols ont été testées sur une base de données simulées suivant la synergie OLCI/SLSTR. Une autre relation, Full Spectrum AC (FSAC) a été développée initialement en combinant deux relations existantes, après l’élimination de l’hypothèse du pixel noir dans l’ultra-violet (UV) et l’intégration d’un schéma itératif. L’inter-comparaison des relations révèle la cohérence de FSAC qui est légèrement moins performante qu’une relation publiée. L’application de FSAC sur des images OLCI/SLSTR ouvrirait des perspectives dans l’amélioration de la CA au-dessus des eaux côtières. / The ocean color remote sensing involves the removal of the atmospheric contribution, the so-called atmospheric correction (AC). Over clear waters, the latter is based on the hypothesis that the sea water is totally absorbent in the Near Infra-Red (NIR), to estimate the atmospheric reflectance and to determine the water reflectance. By contrast, over coastal turbid waters, the marine signal is not negligible in the NIR. Accordingly, different alternative methods were proposed. The thesis is committed to evaluate the proposed AC algorithms and their improvement for the Ocean and Land Colour Instrument (OLCI) sensor over coastal waters exploiting its synergy with the Sea and Land Surface Temperature Radiometer (SLSTR) sensor. For this purpose, radiometric in-situ measurements were acquired in two contrasted French coastal areas : Eastern English Channel and FrenchGuiana, with the ASD spectro-radiometer, according to a newly developed measurement and post-processing protocol. The post-processing was based on the coefficient of variability and the median relative difference, in addition to the Quality Assurance Score (QAS). Following the statistical analysis in part based on the Spectral Angle Mean (SAM), the radiometric inter-comparison of the ASD and other radiometers (TriOS-above and TriOS in-water), shows the consistency of the ASD measurements. The use of these measurement leads to carry out the performance inter-comparison of five AC algorithms, where the Polymer algorithm is the most efficient according to a unique metric scoring system. However, neither algorithm obtained the maximum score, highlighting the big room for improvement, especially for coastal waters. With this in mind; three spectral relationships of aerosols reflectance were tested with a simulated data set based on OLCI/SLSTR synergy. Another relationship, Full Spectrum AC (FSAC) was initially developed combining two existing relationships, after excluding the black pixel hypothesis in the Ultra-Violet and integrating a iterative scheme. The relationships inter-comparison shows consistency ofFSAC which is slightly less performing than one published relationship. The application of FSAC on OLCI/SLSTR images could have perspectives to improve the AC over coastal waters.

Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) experience difficulties with social communication and restrictive, repetitive, and stereotyped behavior patterns that place them at an increased risk for developing challenging behaviors that warrant early intervention (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). These problems are unlikely to decrease without intervention. Research indicates that parents’ involvement in behaviorally based interventions improves the functioning of children with ASD (Horner, Carr, Strain, Todd, & Reid, 2002). . Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (Eyberg & Funderburk, 2011) is an empirically supported intervention for young children with disruptive behaviors. PCIT shares similarities with numerous proven ASD treatments including caregiver involvement, structure and predictable schedule, and the use of behavioral strategies (e.g., positive reinforcement, differential attention). As such, children with ASD are increasingly referred to PCIT. Researchers and clinicians have started to address the use of PCIT for targeting child compliance and social responsiveness in children with ASD. However, there is a need for research on the feasibility of PCIT for children with ASD and barriers to treatment participation for these families. The present study utilized a non-concurrent multiple baseline design with three parent-child dyads enrolled in PCIT to examine the degree of stability and immediacy of effect in caregivers parenting skill use and in patterns of challenging behaviors, ASD symptoms, and expressive communication exhibited by young children with ASD. Due to a significant attrition rate in the study, barriers to treatment participation were also examined. Findings suggested that PCIT improved children’s challenging behaviors and parent’s use of labeled praises.

This thesis describes the research undertaken for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy, testing the hypothesis that spectrometer data can be used to establish usable relationships for prediction of pasture quality attributes. The research data consisted of reflectance measurements of various temperate pasture types recorded at four different times (years 2000 to 2002), recorded by three hyperspectral sensors, the in situ ASD, the airborne HyMap and the satellite-borne Hyperion. Corresponding ground-based pasture samples were analysed for content of chlorophyll, water, crude protein, digestibility, lignin and cellulose at three study sites in rural Victoria, Australia. This context was used to evaluate effects of sensor differences, data processing and enhancement, analytical methods and sample variability on the predictive capacity of derived prediction models. Although hyperspectral data analysis is being applied in many areas very few studies on temperate pastures have been conducted and hardly any encompass the variability and heterogeneity of these southern Australian examples. The research into the relationship between the spectrometer data and pasture quality attribute assays was designed using knowledge gained from assessment of other hyperspectral remote sensing and near-infrared spectroscopy research, including bio-chemical and physical properties of pastures, as well as practical issues of the grazing industries and carbon cycling/modelling. Processing and enhancement of the spectral data followed methods used by other hyperspectral researchers with modifications deemed essential to produce better relationships with pasture assay data. As many different methods are in use for the analysis of hyperspectral data several alternative approaches were investigated and evaluated to determine reliability, robustness and suitability for retrieval of temperate pasture quality attributes. The analyses employed included stepwise multiple linear regression (SMLR) and partial least squares regression (PLSR). The research showed that the spectral research data had a higher potential to be used for prediction of crude protein and digestibility than for the plant fibres lignin and cellulose. Spectral transformation such as continuum removal and derivatives enhanced the results. By using a modified approach based on sample subsets identified by a matrix of subjective bio-physical and ancillary data parameters, the performance of the models were enhanced. Prediction models from PLSR developed on ASD in situ spectral data, HyMap airborne imagery and Hyperion and corresponding pasture assays showed potential for predicting the two important pasture quality attributes crude protein and digestibility in hyperspectral imagery at a few quantised levels corresponding to levels currently used in commercial feed testing. It was concluded that imaging spectrometry has potential to offer synoptic, simultaneous and spatially continuous information valuable to feed based enterprises in temperate Victoria. The thesis provide a significant contribution to the field of hyperspectral remote sensing and good guidance for future hyperspectral researchers embarking on similar tasks. As the research is based on temperate pastures in Victoria, Australia, which are dominated by northern hemisphere species, the findings should be applicable to analysis of temperate pastures elsewhere, for example in Western Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, North America, Europe and northern Asia (China).

Students with autism spectrum disorders present deficits in social interaction skills that may prevent their successful inclusion in general education placements. Considering the increasing number of children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) being educated in inclusive settings and recent requirements on the use of research-based interventions in schools, the purposes of this study were (1) to evaluate the quality of single-case research and determine whether behaviorally-based interventions to improve social interaction skills of children with ASD in inclusive settings can be considered evidence-based practices and (2) to conduct a meta-analysis investigating whether specific factors such as participants' age, behavioral components used in the intervention, target social interaction skills, intervention implementer, and peer training moderate effectiveness of the interventions. Specific criteria for quality of single-case research were used to classify studies according to their certainty of evidence. Tau-U, a non-parametric index of effect size in single-case research, was used to measure the intervention's magnitude of change on target outcomes. Differences between levels of the moderators were analyzed using statistical significance test (p = .05) through the use of 83.4% confidence intervals. Results indicate that the use of behaviorally-based interventions to improve social interaction skills of students with ASD in inclusive settings can be considered evidence based practices. In addition, the interventions produced overall high effect size, indicating their effectiveness based on studies meeting minimum standards of methodological quality. More specifically, the interventions are demonstrated to be effective for preschool and elementary school children between the ages of 2 and 10 years. Studies targeting social interaction initiations or responses in isolation were more effective than studies focusing on both skills. While interventions using planned reinforcement were shown to be more effective, no differential effects were found regarding the use of planned modeling. No differences were found regarding intervention implementer. Finally, the use of peer training did not appear to increase effectiveness of the behaviorally-based social skill interventions. The results and their implications for practice and future research are discussed.

The current study investigated types of social support needs through a number of domains reported by parents of children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) along with the relationship of these needs to reported parental stress. Female participants (N = 35) in the South Central Kentucky region responded to a number of measures regarding perceptions of their current stress levels on the Parenting Stress Index - Short Form (PSI-SF) and their perceptions on social support needs through a modified version of the Family Needs Questionnaire (FNQ). The results indicated that there was a moderately strong correlation between social support needs and parental stress. For exploratory analyses, the results indicated that several social support domains significantly correlated with parental stress. Further research was recommended to explore the seven social support need domains used in the current study with ASD families.

No description available.

Apomixis, or asexual seed development, if introduced into crop species, has the potential to greatly improve global food production. Towards this goal, this study focused on uncovering the genetic mechanisms that control the parthenogenesis step within apomixis whereby fertilisation is avoided. In the model apomict, Hieracium praealtum (Asteraceae), parthenogenesis is controlled by the LOSS OF PARTHENOGENESIS (LOP) locus. Previous research showed that in addition to genomic copies of candidate genes at LOP, the genome has at least three other copies referred to as alternative alleles. The main goal of this study was to investigate four candidate genes, Genes B, X, H and Y, at LOP by generating segregation data of the alternative alleles. BAC clones containing alternative allele sequences were identified and Roche 454 pyrosequenced. These sequences were used to design alternative allele specific primers for genotyping two Hieracium praealtum polyhaploid populations (~ 300 plants). Four major conclusions were drawn from this study. First, the alternative alleles were in fact acting like alleles to the LOP alleles of Genes B, X and Y. Second, allelic sequence divergence (ASD) of the LOP alleles of Genes B and X relative to the alternative alleles, indicated a recent and separate evolutionary history. Third and, unexpectedly, recombination was detected at the LOP locus, in contrast to other apomixis loci reported in the literature. Furthermore, Gene B was found to be very closely associated with parthenogenesis in the polyhaploid population indicating that it may be essential to parthenogenesis and therefore requires further investigation. On the other hand, the absence of Genes X, Y and H, due to recombination, had no impact upon parthenogenesis. Fourth, the sequence data suggested that the LOP and alternative alleles originated from a shared common allele ancestor. It is hoped that these findings have made a significant contribution towards the future goal of introducing apomixis into crop species.

In this thesis an analytical design method of the improved broadband passive harmonic filter (IBF) for three phase diode rectifier front-end type adjustable speed drives is presented. The method is based on frequency domain modeling of the rectifier and filter. The success of the method involves accurate representation of the load harmonics. With the harmonics well defined, the harmonic and fundamental frequency equivalent circuits are utilized to analytically calculate the voltages/currents. Thus, the size and the performance of the filter can be optimized. The analytical method is verified via computer simulations and laboratory experiments. Also a performance comparison of various passive harmonic filters for three-phase diode rectifier front-end type adjustable speed drives is provided. The comparison involves the input current total harmonic distortion, input power factor, rectifier voltage regulation, energy efficiency, size, and cost. The parallel/series harmonic resonance problem related issues are addressed and unbalanced operation performance investigated. The comparison is based on analysis and computer simulations and the results are validated by laboratory experiments.