Across the country, budget cuts to education have resulted in decreased funds available for extracurricular activities. This trend in policy may have a significant impact on future outcomes, as reflected in student success measures. Using two datasets that were collected over the last two decades, in the present study, the researcher assessed the relationship between participation in extracurricular activities and the future socioeconomic outcomes in respondents' lives, including post-secondary education, full-time employment status, and income. Two existing large-scale longitudinal studies of the U.S. secondary students, i.e., the National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988 (NELS: 88) and the Education Longitudinal Study of 2002 (ELS: 2002), served as data sources. As these surveys were conducted about a decade apart, the information they yielded was suitable for meeting the study aims. Generalized linear models, such as multiple regression and logistic regression analyses, by applying sample weights, were performed to examine the impacts of extracurricular activity participation on the aforementioned outcome measures. The implications of the study findings, including the comparison of the results from two different datasets collected at different time points, were interpreted with respect to school budget policy. Results from the NELS: 88 and ELS: 2002 were also compared to evaluate the trends in the characteristics and performance of U.S. high school students during the 1988-2012 period. / Ph. D.

This research study addressed a gap in literature regarding academic college readiness of English learners (ELs). The Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test 8/9 (PSAT 8/9) was utilized to analyze the college readiness of English learners (ELs) in one large urban school district (LUSD) in Central Florida. The study analyzed if there were differences in achievement scores in mathematics and evidence-based reading and writing (EBRW) scores of Grade 9 ELs, non-ELs, and ELs with disabilities. Student Grade 9 PSAT scores from the 2016-2017 school year through the 2021-2022 school year were examined (N = 53,105). Results from the study demonstrated differences in the college readiness of ELs and non-EL Grade 9 students with non-ELs demonstrating higher achievement. Results of this study can be used by comparable school districts to provide earlier intervention and additional supports for ELs support in the development of academic college readiness.

Thesis advisor: Laura M. O'Dwyer / As the nature of work continues to evolve and diversify in the 21st century, issues related to the attainment of high-quality work are paramount. Initially defined by the International Labour Organisation [ILO], Decent Work exists as a standard for the expected quality of work to which all should have access in modern society. Central to the definition of Decent Work is the guarantee that “women and men enjoy working experiences that are safe, allow adequate free time and rest, take into account family and social values, provide for adequate compensation in case of lost or reduced income, and permit access to adequate healthcare” (ILO, n.d.). While issues of work quality are relevant to all members of the workforce, young adults are at heightened risk of not securing work that is Decent, if they are able to secure work at all. Using nationally representative data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 [ELS:02], this study investigates Decent Work attainment among young adults through the lens of their experiences as high school students ten years prior. The Psychology of Working Theory (Duffy et al., 2016) guides this investigation, explicitly accounting for both individual (student-level) and contextual (school-level) characteristics in the prediction of future Decent Work attainment and overall employment status. Results from a series of multilevel analyses indicate that most of the variability in Decent Work attainment and employment status exists at the individual level, as opposed to the high school level. Structurally, this suggests that schools are not the primary drivers of students’ contextual influences when it comes to their work outcomes. Furthermore, the collection of school- and student-level predictors found to be significantly associated with the various facets of Decent Work and employment status varies widely from model to model. This suggests that the Psychology of Working Theory is far from a one-size-fits-all theory, and that the predictors of work attainment are highly complex. Implications for education policy and future research are discussed in Chapter 5. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

Thesis advisor: Laura M. O'Dwyer / As the nature of work continues to evolve and diversify in the 21st century, issues related to the attainment of high-quality work are paramount. Initially defined by the International Labour Organisation [ILO], Decent Work exists as a standard for the expected quality of work to which all should have access in modern society. Central to the definition of Decent Work is the guarantee that “women and men enjoy working experiences that are safe, allow adequate free time and rest, take into account family and social values, provide for adequate compensation in case of lost or reduced income, and permit access to adequate healthcare” (ILO, n.d.). While issues of work quality are relevant to all members of the workforce, young adults are at heightened risk of not securing work that is Decent, if they are able to secure work at all. Using nationally representative data from the Educational Longitudinal Study of 2002 [ELS:02], this study investigates Decent Work attainment among young adults through the lens of their experiences as high school students ten years prior. The Psychology of Working Theory (Duffy et al., 2016) guides this investigation, explicitly accounting for both individual (student-level) and contextual (school-level) characteristics in the prediction of future Decent Work attainment and overall employment status. Results from a series of multilevel analyses indicate that most of the variability in Decent Work attainment and employment status exists at the individual level, as opposed to the high school level. Structurally, this suggests that schools are not the primary drivers of students’ contextual influences when it comes to their work outcomes. Furthermore, the collection of school- and student-level predictors found to be significantly associated with the various facets of Decent Work and employment status varies widely from model to model. This suggests that the Psychology of Working Theory is far from a one-size-fits-all theory, and that the predictors of work attainment are highly complex. Implications for education policy and future research are discussed in Chapter 5. / Thesis (PhD) — Boston College, 2019. / Submitted to: Boston College. Lynch School of Education. / Discipline: Educational Research, Measurement and Evaluation.

Aquesta tesi doctoral consisteix en una sèrie de deu articles (8 publicats y 2 en premsa) basats en dades recollides a l'estudi AMICS (Asthma Multicentre Infant Cohort Study), portat a terme a Ashford (UK) a Barcelona y a Menorca. A més dels propis articles, s'inclouen una introducció i una discussió generals per a mostrar de forma conjunta les troballes i posar-les en el context de l'evidència científica actual. També s'inclou un apartat sobre les implicacions dels resultats obtinguts tant per la recerca etiològica de l'asma com per a la salut pública, així com una llista de recomanacions finals. Des de l'any 1997 soc el responsable del estudi de cohort AMICS a Menorca, que ha comptat amb diverses beques del Ministeri de Sanitat i Consum, de la Comunitat Europea i d'una fundació privada. L'objectiu inicial principal del projecte europeu era mesurar el paper del aeroal.lergens domèstics més comuns en el procés d'iniciació de l'atòpia i l'asma. La cohort de Menorca va ampliar el seus objectius incloent dades addicionals sobre dieta i nivells d'organoclorats a la sang. El projecte continua a Menorca i en el moment de presentar la tesi s'està realitzant el seguiment del 9 anys. / The present doctoral thesis consists of a series of ten articles (8 published and 2 in press) based on data collected from the Asthma Multicentre Infant Cohort Study (AMICS), carried out in Ashford (UK) and Barcelona and Menorca (Spain). In addition to the articles themselves, a general introduction and a general discussion are included to put together the findings of the articles in the light of present scientific evidence. A section on the implications for the etiologic research of asthma and for public health and a list of final conclusions are also included. I have been responsible of the AMICS cohort in Menorca since its origin in 1997, which has been funded by different grants from the Spanish Ministry of Health, the European Commission and a private foundation. The main initial objective of the European project was to measure the role of common domestic aeroallergens in the inception of atopy and asthma. The Menorca cohort extended its objectives including additional data on dietary habits and blood levels of organochlorine compounds. The project continues in Menorca and at the moment of presenting this thesis the 9 years follow-up work is being carried out.

Bakgrund: SBU (2006) efterfrågade mer evidens för Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, (ACT) mot långvarig smärta då det både är en stor orsak till lidande och en dyr samhällskostnad (87,5 miljarder kr, år 2003). Enheten för Långvarig Smärta – Avdelning, (ELS-A) är den enda vårdavdelningen i Sverige som behandlar långvarig smärta med ACT. Syfte: Att undersöka hur patienter, som för minst ett år sedan genomgått ACT-behandling på en slutenvårdsavdelning med långvariga smärttillstånd som specialitet, upplevde behandlingsmetoden och dess resultat samt sjuksköterskans roll vid behandlingen. Metod: Kvalitativ forskningsintervju med semi-strukturerade frågor tillämpades för datainsamling. Fem färdigbehandlade patienter intervjuades och därefter analyserades intervjuinnehållet i en analysmodell. Resultat: Patienterna ställde sig väldigt positiva och tacksamma till både ACT-behandlingen och resultatet av den. Alla patienter upplevde en minskning av smärtproblematik, medan själva smärtnivån inte påverkats något nämnvärt. Efter avklarad sexveckorsbehandling valde två av fem av patienterna att fortsätta vidareutbilda sig i ACT på egen hand. Patienterna upplevde både positiva och negativa delar med ACT som gruppbehandling, medan ingen ställde sig negativ till individuell träning. Sjuksköterskans roll uppfattades som väsentlig och vital för avdelningens dagliga arbete. Det mest uppskattade med sjuksköterskan var hennes höga kompetens i form av vidareutbildning och yrkeserfarenhet samt hennes ständiga närvaro på avdelningen. Slutsats: ACT som behandlingsmetod uppskattades främst för det multiprofessionella arbetet. Behandlingen gav goda resultat gällande smärtupplevelsen för patienter med diagnosen långvarig smärta. ACT var uppskattat och intervjupersoner fortsatte därför egenbehandlingen efter utskrivning från ELS-A. Sjuksköterskan var en uppskattad person med sin höga kompetens och dagliga närvaro på avdelningen. / Background: SBU (2006) has requested more evidence-based research about the efficiency of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy on chronic pain, a disease that cost Sweden 87,5 million Krona in 2003. ELS-A is today the only department in Sweden where patients diagnosed with chronic pain can enroll for treatment. The treatment at the clinic is based on the philosophy of Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT). Aim: To examine how patients diagnosed with chronic pain, one year after finalized treatment at ELS-A, evaluated the method of treatment, their level of pain today, and what role the nurse had during the enrollment. Method: Qualitative research interviews with semi-structured questions were applied for data collection. Five patients were interviewed and the data was analyzed. Results: The patients were very supportive and grateful both towards the experience of the ACT treatment itself, and the results of said therapies. All five patients experienced a reduction in how their pain previously negatively affected their lives, however the level of pain they felt remained the same. After the six weeks of clinical treatment two out of five of the interviewed patients continued studying the ACT-method independently. The patients all had both positive and negative experiences from the group interactions, and found greater appreciation for the individual treatment. The nurse played an important role in the department's everyday order of business. The nurse's performance during these days of testing was excellent. Her level of higher education, work experience and work ethic during the program was most appreciated by all. Conclusion: ACT treatment was appreciated mainly for the multi-professional team. The treatment gave good results in terms of pain perception in patients with a diagnosis of chronic pain. ACT was appreciated and interviewees therefore continued self-treatment after discharged from ELS-A. The nurse was a popular team-member with her high knowledge and daily presence at the department.

OBJECTIVE: Anxiety disorders are among the most common comorbid conditions in youth with bipolar disorder (BP). We aimed to examine the prevalence, correlates, persistence (>50% of the follow-up time), and the onset of new anxiety disorders in youth with comorbid anxiety disorders and BP. METHODS: As part of the Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth study (COBY), 446 youth ages 7 to 17, who met DSM-IV criteria for BP-I (n=260), BP-II (n=32) or operationalized criteria for BP not otherwise specified (BP-NOS; n=154) were included. Subjects were evaluated for current and lifetime Axis-I psychiatric disorders at intake using the Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia for School-Aged Children–Present and Lifetime version (K-SADS-PL), and standardized instruments to assess functioning and family history. Subjects were followed on average 5 years using the Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. RESULTS: Forty-four percent (n=194) of the sample met DSM-IV criteria for at least one lifetime anxiety disorder, most commonly separation anxiety (24%) and generalized anxiety disorders (16%). Nearly 20% met criteria for two or more anxiety disorders. Overall, anxiety disorders predated the onset of BP. BP-II subjects were more likely than BP-I or BP-NOS subjects to have a comorbid anxiety disorder. After adjusting for confounding factors, BP youth with anxiety were more likely to have BP-II, longer duration of mood symptoms, more severe ratings of depression, and family history of depression, hopelessness and somatic complaints during their worst lifetime depressive episode than those without anxiety. Of the 170 youth who had anxiety at intake, 80.6% had an anxiety disorder at any time during the follow-up. Most of the anxiety disorders during the follow-up were of the same type as those present at intake. About 50% of the youth had persistent anxiety, particularly Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). Persistence was associated with multiple anxiety disorders, less follow-up time in euthymia, less conduct disorder, and less treatment with antimanic and antidepressant medications (all p-values≤0.05). Twenty-five percent of the sample who did not have an anxiety disorder at intake developed new anxiety disorders during follow-up, most commonly GAD. New onsets were significantly associated with being female, lower socioeconomic status, presence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and substance use disorder and more follow-up time with manic or hypomanic symptoms (all p-values≤0.05) CONCLUSIONS: Comorbid anxiety disorders are common in youth with BP, and most often predate BP onset. BP-II, a family history of depression, and more severe lifetime depressive episodes distinguish BP youth with comorbid anxiety disorders from those without. In addition, anxiety disorders in youth with BP tend to persist and new anxiety disorders onset in a substantial proportion of the sample. Careful consideration should be given to the assessment of comorbid anxiety in BP youth. Furthermore, early identification of factors associated with the persistence and onset of new anxiety disorders may enable the development of strategies for treatment and prevention. / OBJECTIUS: Els trastorns d'ansietat són les condicions comòrbides més comuns en nens i adolescents amb trastorn bipolar (TB), però fins on sabem, cap estudi ha examinat l'evolució dels trastorns d'ansietat en joves i adults amb TB. L'objectiu de l'estudi va ser examinar els factors associats amb la persistència (>50% del temps de seguiment) i l'aparició de nous trastorns d'ansietat en nens i adolescents amb TB. MÈTODE: Com a part de l’estudi Course and Outcome of Bipolar Youth (COBY), 413 nens i adolescents entre 7 i 17 anys que complien els criteris per el Manual Diagnòstic i Estadístic IV (DSM-IV) pel TB-I (n=244), TB-II (n=28) o el criteri operacionalitzat pel TB no especificat (TB-NOS; n=154) van ser reclutats principalment de consultoris d'atenció ambulatòria. Els subjectes van ser seguits de mitjana durant 5 anys utilitzant el Longitudinal Interval Follow-up Evaluation. RESULTATS: Dels 170 nens i adolescents que presentaven ansietat a l'inici de l’estudi, el 80.6% tenia un trastorn d'ansietat en qualsevol moment durant el seguiment. La majoria dels trastorns d'ansietat durant el seguiment van ser del mateix tipus que els presents a l'inici de l'estudi. Al voltant del 50% dels joves tenien persistència d'ansietat, sobretot trastorn d'ansietat generalitzada (TAG). La persistència es va associar amb trastorns d'ansietat múltiple, menys temps de seguiment en eutimia, menys trastorn de conducta i menor tractament amb medicaments antidepressius i antimaníacs. Vint-cinc per cent de la mostra que no tenien un trastorn d'ansietat a l'inici, va desenvolupar nous trastorns d'ansietat durant el seguiment, en general TAG. L'inici de nous trastorns d'ansietat es va associar significativament amb ser dona, baix nivell socioeconòmic, presència del trastorn per dèficit d'atenció i hiperactivitat, trastorn per consum de substàncies i més temps de seguiment amb símptomes maníacs o hipomaníacs. CONCLUSIONS: Els trastorns d'ansietat en nens i adolescents amb TB tendeixen a persistir i l'ansietat de nou inici apareix en una proporció substancial de la mostra. S'ha de prestar atenció a l'avaluació de l'ansietat comòrbida en nens i adolescents amb TB i la identificació precoç dels factors associats amb la persistència i l'aparició de nous trastorns d'ansietat poden permetre el desenvolupament d'estratègies pel tractament i la seva prevenció.

Comprehensive knowledge and information about the static and dynamic behaviour of machine tools, cutting processes and their interaction is essential for machining system design, simulation, control and robust operation in safe conditions. The very complex system of a machine tool, fixture and cutting tools during the machining of a part is almost impossible to model analytically with sufficient accuracy. In combination with increasing demands for precision and efficiency in machining call for new control strategies for machining systems. These strategies need to be based on the identification of the static and dynamic stability under both the operational and off-operational conditions. To achieve this it is necessary to monitor and analyze the real system at the factory floor in full production. Design information and operational data can then be linked together to make a realistic digital model of a given machining system. Information from such a model can then be used as input in machining simulation software to find the root causes of instability. The work presented in this thesis deals with the static and dynamic capability of machining systems. The main focus is on the operational stability of the machining system and structural behaviour of only the machine tool, as well. When the accuracy of a machining system is measured by traditional techniques, effects from neither the static stiffness nor the cutting process are taken into account. This limits the applicability of these techniques for realistic evaluation of a machining system’s accuracy. The research presented in this thesis takes a different approach by introducing the concept of operational dynamic parameters. The concept of operational dynamic parameters entails an interaction between the structural elements of the machining systems and the process parameters. According to this concept, the absolute criterion of damping is used to evaluate the dynamic behaviour of a machining system. In contrast to the traditional theory, this methodology allows to determine the machining system's dynamic stability, in real time under operating conditions. This framework also includes an evaluation of the static deformations of a machine tool.  In this context, a novel concept of elastically linked system is introduced to account for the representation of the cutting force trough an elastic link that closes the force loop. In addition to the elastic link which behaves as a static element, a dynamic non-contact link has been introduced. The purpose is to study the non-linear effects introduced by variations of contact conditions in joints due to rotational speed. / QC 20111123

A partir de que la participación de los jóvenes se ha vinculado al desafío democrático de fortalecer la participación de los ciudadanos tanto a nivel individual como colectivo, se ha visto un interés en potenciar el aprendizaje de competencias para participar, aprendizaje que se asociaría al ejercicio de la participación como un medio y fin desde la escuela. Con lo cual se ha estimado que la formación para participar en la sociedad democrática se encontraría entre las tareas de la pedagogía actual. Bajo esta premisa la investigación siguiente corresponde a un estudio comparativo de casos, donde se abordaron las conceptualizaciones y acciones participativas que desarrollaban los jóvenes entre 16 y 18 años en dos institutos de Chile y dos de España. Los centros fueron escogidos porque mantenían y promovía actividades participativas, con lo cual se caracterizaban en su contexto por promover la participación de los jóvenes. Los objetivos fueron describir los tipos de participación que vivían los jóvenes en sus centros educativos y comparar las experiencias entre países. Teóricamente se realizó una revisión del sentido de la participación desde la idea de la democracia deliberativa, lo que permitió comprender desde la génesis occidental de la democracia un sentido de la participación individual y colectiva, así como su alcance en los niños y jóvenes. Entendiendo por democracia la forma de tomar decisiones, un modelo de organización social y también un sistema de gobierno, que conlleva significados, valores y principios universales. Posteriormente se revisaron algunas perspectivas educativas que han promovido el reconocimiento del niño en la escuela, específicamente a través de metodologías activas y una mirada confiada y respetuosa de sus capacidades e intereses, lo cual fue identificado como uno de los principios de la participación de los niños y jóvenes en los centros educativos. Además se revisaron las teorías que relacionaban el aprendizaje de la participación con la democracia y el aprendizaje moral, junto con estudios recientes que abordaban estas experiencias en la población adolescente a nivel global y en los contextos estudiados. Ante este escenario la investigación planteó indagar en centros de secundaria donde se realizaran buenas prácticas participativas tanto en Chile como en Cataluña. Para describir las particularidades de cada centro según sus protagonistas y luego comparar los aspectos comparables. La metodología de investigación comprendió recolección de datos cualitativos y cuantitativos de los sujetos implicados (estudiantes, docentes, directivos) además de la revisión de cada caso profundamente a través de sus documentos oficiales. Los resultados se expusieron a través del análisis de cada caso en particular a través de la triangulación de la información obtenida. Luego se compararon los institutos según titularidad y país de procedencia. Entre las conclusiones destacaron que la participación en los centros analizados prevalecían tipos de participación correspondientes a Asignados pero informados (Hart, 1992) y Simple- Consultivo (Trilla y Novella, 2001), a la vez que se observó que la experiencia participativa es transformadora y formadora para los jóvenes que formaron parte de la investigación. Por último se halló que existía un énfasis en promover y valorar la democracia, en los centros investigados y que habría una generación de jóvenes, como los que formaron parte de la investigación, que propone una participación diferente a las que las instituciones ofrecen y que vale la pena revisar. / This research is a comparative case study which aimed to study the participatory conceptualizations and actions that were developed by young people aged 16 and 18 years old in two secondary schools in Chile and two in Spain. The institutions were selected because they support and promote participatory activities; therefore they were well recognized in their contexts to promote young participation. The goal was to describe the type of participation that young people experience in their educational institutions and to compare the experiences between countries. From a theoretical level, we approach the sense of the participation from the perspective of the deliberative democracy and from the understanding of the children’s right to participate. We reviewed as well the experiences related with the current of thought of democratic pedagogies together with the contemporary trends and finally the presence of the student’s participation in the legislature of both countries. Regarding this frame, we understood the student’s participation in their educational institutions as a means and a goal towards the learning of the participation, and as a valuable feature that leads people to be actively involved in the different areas of life in society. We also understood the participation as a right which articulates the essence of a democracy and the learning of the organizational skills in the common live. The research methodology involves the uses of quantitative and qualitative data, collected from the target individuals (students, teachers and directors) and also the analysis of official institutional documents. The results were exposed by single cases and by the triangulation of the information. Afterward, we compared the institutions regarding the country and the ownership (private or public). Among all the conclusions, is remarkable that the participation in the schools is not transferred to the vision of democratic experience in their scholar life, therefore it’s focused on the participation related with academic issues or student’s organization. At the same time, we consider relevant that the adults trust the participatory methodologies to promote meaningful learning, together with other factors, according each case and analysis level.

This dissertation examines the developing understandings of teacher candidates being prepared to teach ELs in general education PreK-12 classrooms. As the ethnic and linguistic diversity in U.S. classrooms continue to increase, it is crucial that teacher candidates receive high-quality, effective training in teaching culturally and linguistically diverse learners. Relatively few states currently require general education preservice teachers to participate in any formal training related to teaching ELs. The states that do have requirements and the teacher education programs within those states have the potential to provide valuable data on how the training being provided mediates the meaning making of teacher candidates preparing to enter the field of teaching. Conducted during the fall of 2016 and using survey data, class assignments, interviews, and fieldwork observations from 11 preservice teachers (eight early childhood majors; three secondary education majors), this study describes patterns in the ways that the teacher candidates made sense of artifacts (e.g., articles, experiences, interactions) available to them in a state-mandated undergraduate foundational course on teaching ELs and the accompanying fieldwork. The study uses sociocultural theory to explore how the teacher candidates use course and fieldwork artifacts to learn about ELs and about teaching ELs. By gathering data from early in the course through the end of the course, this study is able to describe the perspective transformation experienced by most of the focal participants, providing evidence of increased empathy, more nuanced beliefs, and new strategies for differentiating instruction for ELs. Despite having differing backgrounds (e.g., their race, language(s), hometown, crosscultural and crosslinguistic experiences), differing goals (e.g., their college major, anticipated areas of certification, preferred teaching position, preferred region or school district, perceived likelihood that they would teach ELs in the future), and differing orientations toward ELs at the beginning of the course (e.g., positive, ambivalent), the preservice teachers identified many of the same artifacts as mediating changes in their development. These artifacts fall into the broad categories of ELs’ stories and experiences, repeated interactions with ELs, and opportunities for application. This study suggests, therefore, that the efficacy of such courses may increase with the inclusion of the following artifacts: (a) stories, simulations, and videos from ELs’ perspectives; (b) a fieldwork component in which teacher candidates actively engage with ELs; and (c) opportunities for teacher candidates to put their developing cognition into practice through course assignments and teaching in the field. Finally, this study makes suggestions for studying the long-term study of teacher candidates’ ongoing development. / Applied Linguistics