Emerging adulthood is a unique developmental stage during which significant transitions in living environment, social networks, personal responsibilities, and identity development occur. Stress resulting from such transitions relates to increases in health risk behaviors. As such, emerging adults (EAs) have a high prevalence of substance use disorders and sexually transmitted infections. However, EAs are less likely to seek treatment. Therefore, brief methods of intervention, such as Motivational Interviewing (MI) and the Family Check-up (FCU), might be useful approaches for working with this unique population. MI and the FCU are linked with decreases in health risk behaviors. The FCU comprises three sessions: an initial interview, an ecological assessment, and a feedback session. MI techniques are used during the feedback session. Only a few studies have investigated treatment fidelity of the FCU and no studies have examined the use of MI techniques within the FCU. The current study aims to assess treatment fidelity of the FCU, specifically measuring the extent to which therapists adhere to principles of MI during FCU feedback sessions. The current study also aims to determine if a positive relationship exists between therapists’ MI-adherence and client change talk (CT), and to determine if MI-adherence and client CT predict post-intervention health risk behaviors among the 134 EAs who participated in the FCU. Measures of health risk behaviors were collected pre- and post-intervention. MI-adherence was measured with the Motivational Interviewing Treatment Integrity (MITI 4) and client change language was measured using the Client Language Easy Rating Scale (CLEAR) and the Motivational Interviewing Skills Code 2.1 (MISC 2.1) self-exploration code. Four therapists were assessed for treatment fidelity. Results indicate overall fair treatment fidelity. Significant differences between therapists were observed. MI-adherence was positively related to client CT, but not client self-exploration. Several indicators of MI-adherence predicted decreases in EA post-intervention health risk behaviors. Client CT predicted a decrease in EA post-intervention marijuana quantity and client self-exploration predicted increases in marijuana quantity and number of sexual partners. These results have important implications for FCU training and implementation, and indicate that MI-adherence might be a mechanism of change within the FCU intervention.

The purpose of this study was to identify the major problem areas of freshmen community college students and to determine if significant differences in problems of freshmen students existed as a variable of age, sex, or marital status. The population consisted of 674 community college students enrolled in an Orientation to College program during the fall or spring semester of 1976, 1977, 1978 or 1979. Each student was administered the Mooney Problem Check List (MPCL), College Form (1950) during the first week of enrollment at the community college. he data were analyzed in order to determine if a significant difference existed in the problem areas reported by students according to a Friedman Two-Way Analysis of Variance by Ranks. A significant difference produced by the Friedman ANOVA indicated a need to apply a Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed Ranks Test in order to determine which problem areas differed significantly from one another. A Mann Whitney U Test was employed to statistically compare the problem areas of male students and female students as well as married students and single students. A Kruskal-Wallis one-way analysis of variance by ranks for k independent samples was employed to test differences in the responses of four student age groups: 18 and under, 19 and 20, 20 through 29 and 30 years of age and over.

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio de Janeiro / Neste trabalho discutimos vários sistemas de dígitos verificadores utilizados no Brasil, muitos deles semelhantes a esquemas usados mundialmente, e fazemos uma análise da sua capacidade de detectar os diversos tipos de erros que são comuns na entrada de dados em sistemas computacionais. A análise nos mostra que os esquemas escolhidos constituem decisões subotimizadas e quase nunca obtêm a melhor taxa de detecção de erros possível. Os sistemas de dígitos verificadores são baseados em três teorias da álgebra: aritmética modular, teoria de grupos e quasigrupos. Para os sistemas baseados em aritmética modular, apresentamos várias melhorias que podem ser introduzidas. Desenvolvemos um novo esquema ótimo baseado em aritmética modular base 10 com três permutações para identificadores de tamanho maior do que sete. Descrevemos também o esquema Verhoeff, já antigo, mas pouquíssimo utilizado e que também é uma alternativa de melhoria para identificadores de tamanho até sete. Desenvolvemos ainda, esquemas ótimos para qualquer base modular prima que detectam todos os tipos de erros considerados. A dissertação faz uso ainda de elementos da estatística, no estudo das probabilidades de detecção de erros e de algoritmos, na obtenção de esquemas ótimos. / In this paper we present several check digit systems used in Brazil, many of them similar to schemes used worldwide, and we do an analysis of their ability to detect various types of errors that are common in data entry computer systems. This analysis shows that the schemes constitute suboptimal decisions and almost never get the best rate possible error detection. Check digit schemes are based on three algebra theory: modular arithmetic, group theory and quasigroup. For the schemes based on modular arithmetic we present several improvements that can be made. We developed a new optimal scheme based on modular arithmetic base 10 with three permutations for identifers larger than 7. We also present the Verhoeff scheme, already old but used very little and that is also a good alternative for improvement identifers for size up to 7. We have also developed,optimum schemes for any modular base prime that detect all types of errors considered. The dissertation also makes use of elements of statistics in the study of the probability of error detection and algorithms to obtain optimal schemes.

La presente investigación tiene un enfoque cuantitativo que resuelve el problema de la productividad en la fabricación de estructuras metálicas que influye en los costos de la empresa Servicios Metálicos Especializados S.A.C., y para resolver este problema se trazó mejorar la productividad en la fabricación de estructuras metálicas para minimizar los costos de la empresa, aplicando la herramienta del Lookahead, que es de la metodología del Last Planner System que viene de la filosofía Lean Construction. Obteniendo una mejor planificación en el proyecto “Nuevo Almacén – Unitrade S.A.C.”, logrando un ahorro del 11.97% en los costos directos de mano de obra de fabricación de estructuras metálicas de la etapa casco, ya que se logró reducir el tiempo en un 40% comparado con el cronograma elaborado por la empresa, lo que nos dio un ahorro del 6.00% del costo directo total del proyecto. This research is a quantitative approach that solves the problem of productivity in the manufacture of metal structures influencing costs Servicios Metálicos Especializados S.A.C., and to solve this problem was traced improve productivity in manufacturing steel structures for minimize the costs of the company, Lookahead applying tool, which is the methodology of the Last Planner System next Lean Construction philosophy. It getting better planning in the “Nuevo Almacén – Unitrade S.A.C.” project, achieving a saving of 11.97% on the direct costs of labor manufacturing metal structures of town stage, since it is possible to reduce time by 40% compared with the schedule prepared by the company, which gave a saving of 6.00% of the total direct cost of the project.

Kyoto University (京都大学) / 0048 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(工学) / 甲第14913号 / 工博第3140号 / 新制||工||1471(附属図書館) / 27351 / UT51-2009-M827 / 京都大学大学院工学研究科社会基盤工学専攻 / (主査)教授 中川 一, 教授 関口 秀雄, 教授 藤田 正治 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当

In mobile communication, the user’s information is transmitted through a wireless communication link that is subjected to a range of deteriorating effects. The quality of the transmission can be presented by the rate of transfer and the reliability of the received stream. The capacity of the communication link can be reached through the use of channel coding. Channel coding is the method of adding redundant information to the user’s information to mitigate the deteriorating effects of the communication link. Mobile WiMAX is a technology that makes use of orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) modulation to transmit information over a wireless communication channel. The OFDM physical layer has a high peak average to power ratio (PAPR) characteristic that saturates the transmitter’s amplifier quite easily when proper backoff is not made in the transmission power. In this dissertation an optimized graph code was used as an alternative solution to improve the system’s performance in the presence of a saturated transmission’s amplifier. The graph code was derived from a degree distribution given by the density evolution algorithm and provided no extra network overhead to implement. The performance analysis resulted in a factor of 10 improvement in the error floor and a coding gain of 1.5 dB. This was all accomplished with impairments provided by the mobile WiMAX standard in the construction of the graph code. / Dissertation (MEng)--University of Pretoria, 2009. / Electrical, Electronic and Computer Engineering / unrestricted

Commercial viability of Wave Energy Converters (WEC) depends on addressing not only the energetic effciency, but also in solving the practical issues related to manufacturing methods, access to technology, handling, transportation and installation, operation and maintenance, impact on marine life and most importantly the cost per kW-h. The UFCAP WEC is one concept which has the potential to facilitate handling, manufacturing, and installation activities as well as to be able to lower the current wave energy cost per kW-h, however its feasibility had not been properly assessed nor proved. It consists of multiple interconnected Oscillating Water Columns (OWC) chambers, it is modular, and simple, with no-moving parts in contact with the water and can use a simpler one-direction turbine which is more economic, and more effcient than self-rectifying turbines used in most of the OWCs devices. Testing of the device to fully assess its feasibility required a low pressure check-valve, and a customized turbine which were developed during the present work. Check-valves are widely used in the industry for medium or high-pressures, but were not available at all for large-flows with low-pressure-differences. A novel check-valve was devised for this application, along with the scaled UFCAP prototypes developed to be tested in a wave-flume and in the ocean to validate UFCAPs concept feasibility, and identify critical design parameters and features such as the conduit/air-chamber ratio. Ocean tests allowed to observe performance at component and assembly levels, learning new failure-modes and stablishing best-practices for future deployments. Testing confirmed the UFCAP WEC is not only an idea, but a concept which works and can generateing electricity at a competitive cost. / Graduate

In this paper, we utilize White's Reality Check, White (2000), and Hansen's SPA test, Hansen (2004), to evaluate technical trading rules while quantifying the data-snooping bias. Secondly, we discuss the result with Probability of Backtest Overfitting framework, introduced by Bailey et al. (2015). Hence, the study presents a comprehensive test of momentum trading across the US futures markets from 2004 to 2016. The evidence indicates that technical trading rules have not been pro?table in the US futures markets after correcting for the data snooping bias.

Pre-Employment Background Screening (abbreviated PEBS) can be characterized as a set of activities usually conducted before the commencement of the employment under which an employer collects selected personal information voluntarily provided by his job applicants and verify with their consent the completeness, accuracy and veracity of this information, all with a view to selecting the most suitable prospective employees.

The United States (U.S.) Army Yuma Proving Ground (YPG) conducted a series of rotary-wing flight tests for the sole purpose of checking out Telemetry data link instrumentation. Four flights were conducted at YPG in February 2016 that built upon an earlier test flight conducted in June 2015. The most recent iteration of testing examined the benefits of frequency diversity on aircraft and the spatial diversity of receiving sites using existing hardware at YPG. Quantitative analysis from those flight results will be presented and include discussion on how results will affect future mission operations at YPG.