Functional behavioral assessment (FBA) is defined as a range of behavior assessment procedures that are used to identify or clarify functional relationships between behavior and environmental events. A variety of methods and instruments are used within a FBA (e.g., record reviews, interviews, rating scales, direct observations, experimental analysis conditions) and the increased awareness of this methodology has created interest in properly investigating the psychometric properties (e.g., reliability, validity) of the measures. Preliminary convergent validity has been demonstrated across some of the measures used to identify functional relationships; however, further evaluation is needed to establish the psychometric properties as well as the utility of functional assessment measures. The primary purpose of the current research was to evaluate psychometric properties of a newly developed informant record (e.g., Functional Assessment Informant Record for Parents-Checklist; FAIR-P-CL). Specifically, the reliability of the measure (i.e., test-retest and inter-scorer reliability), validity of the measures (i.e., convergence with the Functional Assessment Screening Tool-Revised; FAST-R and convergence across phases of FBA), and socially validity (i.e., use of acceptability rating scales) were assessed. Results of the study suggested appropriate test-retest reliability of the FAIR-P-CL. Convergent validity was obtained across all phases of FBA with the majority of participants. The FAIR-P-CL identified the target behavior noncompliance as a multiple function behavior for 4 out of 5 participants suggesting the use of a treatment package in contrast to a specific function-based intervention. Appropriate social validity was obtained across the FAIR-P-CL, assessment and intervention phases of the study. Overall results of the study provided preliminary support for the psychometric properties of the FAIR-P-CL and extended the utility of functional assessment instruments to typically developing children in a clinic-based setting.

This thesis examines the effect that functional heads have on the interpretation of arguments. It focuses on the functional head Agr, which is implicated in predicate-argument agreement relations; the import that other functional heads have on interpretation is a subsidiary concern. The argument of the thesis goes as follows: firstly, reference must be made to both an independently projecting functional head Agr and to a level of discourse representation in order to adequately analyse the phenomenon of predicate argument agreement. This theory sheds light on an unusual complementarity between agreement and overt arguments in Celtic because it provides a natural constraint on morphological feature checking mechanisms. The thesis shows that functional heads are therefore implicated in the interpretation of arguments.

International Telemetering Conference Proceedings / November 04-07, 1991 / Riviera Hotel and Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada / NASA’s reaction to requirements for the Space Station Freedom era’s telemetry data systems has been the continuing effort to combine a modular design approach with stateof-the-art VLSI technology for developing telemetry data processing systems. As part of this effort, NASA’s Data Systems Technology Division, in cooperation with Clemson University, is developing a Macintosh II based Telemetry and Command (MacTAC) system. This system performs telemetry data processing functions including frame synchronization, Reed-Solomon decoding, and packet reassembly at moderate data rates of 5 Mbps (20 Mbps burst). The MacTAC is a low-cost, transportable, easy to use, compact system designed to meet requirements specified by the Consultative Committee for Space Data Systems (CCSDS) while remaining flexible enough to support a wide variety of other user specific telemetry processing requirements (e.g., TDM data). In addition, the MacTAC can accept or generate forward data (such as spacecraft commands), calculate and append a Polynomial Check Code (PCC), and output this data to NASCOM to provide full Telemetry and Command (TAC) capability. Semi-custom VLSI gate arrays perform the return link functions of NASCOM deblocking, correlation, and frame synchronization. Reed-Solomon decoding (for error detection) and packet reassembly are also performed by modern microprocessor and semi-custom VLSI components. The local user interface is a standard Macintosh application with the wellknown look and feel of the Macintosh environment. A remote interface is possible via Ethernet which allows the system to be completely controlled from any location capable of generating the required remote operating commands. Return link data may be viewed in real time on the local or remote user interface screen in a variety of formats along with system status information. In addition, data may also be archived on SCSI disks for later retrieval and analysis as needed. This paper describes the general architecture and functionality of this MacTAC system including the particular custom telemetry cards, the various input/output interfaces, and the icon driven user interface.

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published_or_final_version / Mathematics / Doctoral / Doctor of Philosophy

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The pervading theme of this thesis is the development of insights that contribute to the understanding of whether certain classes of functional differential equation have solutions that are all oscillatory. The starting point for the work is the analysis of simple (linear autonomous) ordinary differential equations where existing results allow a full explanation of the phenomena. The Laplace transform features as a key tool in developing a theoretical background. The thesis goes on to explore the corresponding theory for delay equations, advanced equations and functional di erential equations of mixed type. The focus is on understanding the links between the characteristic roots of the underlying equation, and the presence or otherwise of oscillatory solutions. The linear methods are used as a class of numerical schemes which lead to discrete problems analogous to each of the classes of functional differential equation under consideration. The thesis goes on to discuss the insights that can be obtained for discrete problems in their own right, and then considers those new insights that can be obtained about the underlying continuous problem from analysis of the oscillatory behaviour of the analogous discrete problem. The main conclusions of the work are some semi-automated computational approaches (based upon the Principle of the Argument) which allow the prediction of oscillatory solutions to be made. Examples of the effectiveness of the approach are provided, and there is some discussion of its theoretical basis. The thesis concludes with some observations about further work and some of the limitations of existing analytical insights which restrict the reliability with which the approach developed can be applied to wider classes of problem.