This study examined school staff’s trauma-informed practices and experiences in an urban alternative high school that serves former high school dropouts, many of whom have experienced trauma. In light of the growing concern about trauma among students and the interest in trauma-informed education, this study offers a significant contribution by analyzing educators’ meaning-making, highlighting both what their practices look like “on the ground,” and identifying the consequences. Framed by Contemporary Trauma Theory as well as the concept of educational trauma (Sullivan, 2004), this study used ethnographic methods to examine the practices school staff used to create a schooling environment that was responsive to the needs of students with trauma histories. Observations and interviews were conducted with a total of 8 staff and 27 students over the course of one school year. The findings indicate that staff members’ trauma-informed practices centered on building relationships and using those relationships as a knowledge base in order to decipher and respond to negative student behavior. Together, these practices overlap with defining features of trauma-informed schools outlined in the literature. Staff practices had both positive and negative impacts on the school community. / Urban Education

Physics Informed Machine Learning (PIML) has emerged as the forefront of research in scientific machine learning with the key motivation of systematically coupling machine learning (ML) methods with prior domain knowledge often available in the form of physics supervision. Uncertainty quantification (UQ) is an important goal in many scientific use-cases, where the obtaining reliable ML model predictions and accessing the potential risks associated with them is crucial. In this thesis, we propose novel methodologies in three key areas for improving uncertainty quantification for PIML. First, we propose to explicitly infuse the physics prior in the form of monotonicity constraints through architectural modifications in neural networks for quantifying uncertainty. Second, we demonstrate a more general framework for quantifying uncertainty with PIML that is compatible with generic forms of physics supervision such as PDEs and closed form equations. Lastly, we study the limitations of physics-based loss in the context of Physics-informed Neural Networks (PINNs), and develop an efficient sampling strategy to mitigate the failure modes. / Doctor of Philosophy / Owing to the success of deep learning in computer vision and natural language processing there is a growing interest of using deep learning in scientific applications. In scientific applications, knowledge is available in the form of closed form equations, partial differential equations, etc. along with labeled data. My work focuses on developing deep learning methods that integrate these forms of supervision. Especially, my work focuses on building methods that can quantify uncertainty in deep learning models, which is an important goal for high-stakes applications.

Launch vehicle development programs have experienced significant difficulties in achieving first flight. Optimism during the initiation of these complex programs, coupled with the innovative nature of the technologies they employ, has resulted in a long list of programs unable to remain within the national means. A recent example of this challenge is the Constellation program which was canceled in 2011 due to excessive cost overruns and schedule slippage. The budgetary constraints currently placed on NASA's Space Launch System (SLS) highlights the need for a greater emphasis on affordability. Where affordability is defined in this research as the ability to remain under the mandated funding curve for all points in a system's life cycle while simultaneously meeting schedule goals given that performance requirements are met. The proposed research aims to address the gap between current practices and an affordability-centric design approach by capturing manufacturing technology effects on the affordability of the baseline vehicle concept. Historically, cost overruns and schedule slippages escalate once production begins and are only truly realized at the first launch of a system. These trends, based upon systems which leveraged traditional materials and processes, suggest a shortcoming in the ability of current practices to assess manufacturing implications during the early design phases. The advent of advanced materials and the new process required to fabricate parts from them, further challenges these practices, and threaten to exacerbate the already excessive overruns experience once production begins. Manufacturing technologies, such as composite materials, automated fabrication processes, and the use of stiffener concepts, can no longer be considered independently. This observation leads to the conclusion that improvements in vehicle affordability can only be realized by bringing manufacturing information forward into the Conceptual Design phase. The goal of this research is to support the development of affordable launch vehicles by quantitatively capturing the effects of manufacturing technology selection during Conceptual Design. A manufacturing influenced design methodology is combined with established techniques of time-phasing and risk propagation to evaluate the expected affordability of a launch vehicle baseline concept. The method is benchmarked against expected performance and affordability trends established in literature. The experiments used to build this methodology provide interesting insight into the excess risk typically carried into Preliminary Design due to a lack of the temporal nature of cost. Fundamental implications include the notion that the most expensive candidate (i.e. the highest total cost) does not correspond to the candidate with the highest annual cost insurance. Furthermore, the assessment of risk — within the traditional total cost domain — by overlaying vertical constraints onto uncertainty distributions results in the inclusion of many unaffordable candidates. The final chapter of this thesis applies the method to a relevant launch vehicle, the Exploration Upper Stage (EUS) of the SLS Block IB, which is currently in its Conceptual Design phase. This chapter compares two viable candidate manufacturing technologies based on affordability criteria established herein. The application of this methodology provides the decision maker with a significant amount of information previously unavailable and affords her additional degrees of freedom regarding appropriate Design, Development, Testing, Evaluation, and Production (DDTE&P) planning. This will ultimately enable the selection of an affordable vehicle baseline which will be robust to uncertainty in congress-appropriated funding and thus circumvent risks associated with government program cancellation.

published_or_final_version / Community Medicine / Master / Master of Public Health

Program evaluation is a form of systematic inquiry designed to meet the needs of those who are working on or who are responsible for a program. One challenge faced by the field of evaluation is responding to the increasing complexity of social programing and diverse informational needs. Methodological innovation is a trait of the field of program evaluation that provides opportunity for responding to challenge faced by the field. Evaluation orientations that rely on qualitative methodologies, which seek to describe, to understand or to interpret complex phenomena are potential sites for arts-informed inquiry. Arts-informed inquiry draws from creative strategies in the arts, where art is produced for the sake of inquiry. Accordingly, through this research I adopt dual roles of evaluator and researcher, to gather empirical evidence about the power of integrating arts-informed inquiry into frameworks for evaluation. In this research, I document how arts-informed inquiry draws from artistic processes to broaden perceptions, make meaningful contributions, and expand evaluator skills. Specifically, the potential for arts-informed inquiry in evaluation is investigated by conducting an evaluation of one program, in one school district. Analysis of this two-phase process occurred by applying a heuristic of three groupings of key concepts within the field of evaluation: methods, values and use. In doing so, I provide a detailed description of the potential for arts-informed inquiry within one program evaluation. This study provides a transparent account of the inquiry process to document the implications for undertaking arts-informed inquiry in program evaluation. In addition, there are theoretical implications for the field of evaluation when they consider the process and representations shaped by inclusion of arts-informed inquiry. / Thesis (Ph.D, Education) -- Queen's University, 2013-06-28 21:49:48.1

This thesis examined the evidence, policy decision-making, and implementation of HPV vaccination in Canada as a case study to explore normalization versus individualized decision making in public health programs. Mixed methods were used: a systematic review, content analyses and policy document analysis. Overall, the scientific evidence supported an effect of vaccination against HPV infection and precancerous cervical lesions, but evidence regarding cervical cancer incidence or mortality is lacking. Scientific and medical communities appeared optimistic about the vaccine, but cautious about its readiness for routine implementation. Policy decision-making was initially cautious, but shifted towards active program implementation, possibly related to the availability of federal funding. The educational materials and media coverage both sent clearly normalizing messages about HPV vaccination. The discussion suggests that HPV vaccination might be more suited to an individualized than population approach, but many factors coincided to promote its implementation, in Canada, within a traditional public health model.

United Kingdom (UK) health policy over the past thirty years has been predicated on a partnership model focusing on empowering service users to be fully involved in their care. Within maternity care partnership relationships have been conceptualised as empowering women to have continuity, choice and control (Department of Health (DoH), 1993), within a relationship of personal autonomy between the woman and her carers. In this study I sought to identify the extent to which the Government agenda for partnership working and choice is realised or desired by women during pregnancy and childbirth. In addition, I wanted to examine the level of alignment between the views of midwives with that of women accessing the maternity services. This study took a qualitative approach, drawing on the principles of grounded theory. In the first phase of the study a purposive sample of sixteen pregnant women were recruited and invited to complete a diary and to take part in two interviews. Women maintained diary entries following appointments with the midwife during pregnancy and childbirth. Semi–structured interviews were undertaken at 36 weeks of pregnancy and four weeks after the birth, based on the diary entries. In the second phase, four focus groups were undertaken with two groups of community midwives and birth centre midwives from two National Health Service (NHS) Trusts. Quotes from the diary-interviews from phase one were utilised to develop three vignettes which acted as a prompt during the focus group interviews. Following a thematic analysis of the data, I analysed women’s views on partnership working and choice. Most women in this study did not feel that they developed a partnership relationship with the midwife. This was associated with a lack of continuity of care and insufficient time to engage in meaningful discussion in an environment which was not conducive to shared decision making. Women described wide variations on the midwives role in supporting decision making. This ranged from decisions being dictated to midwives guiding choices and for some women, being facilitated to make informed choices. Many women described input of family and friends and widespread use of the internet as an information source. Women depicted their antenatal midwifery care as medicalised and felt that whilst their bio-medical needs were met their psycho-social and emotional needs were not. Women described the visits frequently as ‘in and out’ or ‘ticking the boxes’ to describe this approach to care. A small number of women (n=5) did experience a partnership relationship. Three of these women knew the midwife from a previous pregnancy; the remaining two women attended a midwifery led unit for all of their care. In relation to the choice agenda, most of the women who participated in this study were not aware that they had a choice about who provided their care or where they would have their care. The midwife focus groups concurred with the women’s findings and suggested that a lack of time was a significant factor hindering the formation of a partnership relationship. Midwives felt that this was exacerbated by the paperwork they were required to complete in order to audit care and meet the ‘payment by results’ agenda (DoH, 2003b). During the focus groups midwives identified strategies which could be implemented to enhance midwifery led care, including offering antenatal care to small groups of women and undertaking an antenatal home visit towards the end of pregnancy, to provide women with the time to discuss any issues that they wanted to explore in more depth. The findings from this study contribute to the current body of knowledge on midwifery led care particularly in providing the women’s perspective on partnership working. Women want to experience midwifery care that meets their psycho-social needs as well as bio-medical needs through a model of care that provides continuity. In contrast to previous research findings, the women in this study described community based care as mechanistic, clinically focused and time bound, more in line with an obstetric model of care than a midwifery model. However, midwifery led care offered within a birth centre was perceived by women as providing a more holistic, social model of care. Whilst continuity of care is not a new concept, what this study contributes is that despite successive administrations supporting partnership working and informed choice over the past twenty years, most of the women in this study did not experience this level of care. The findings from this study resulted in the development of a midwifery partnership model as a theoretical framework that could be utilised in future research studies to evaluate the extent to which a partnership relationship exists within a range of midwifery care settings.

Purpose: To determine which method of anesthesia risk presentation parents understand and prefer across their demographic variables Methods: As a cross-sectional study, questionnaires were distributed to 50 parents of patients (<7 years of age) in the VCU Pediatric Dental Clinic. Parents were asked of their own and their children’s demographics, previous dental and anesthesia experiences, and anesthesia understanding. Parents were then asked to rate the level of risk of several risk presentations and finally asked which method of risk presentation they most understood or preferred. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics, correlation coefficients, likelihood chi square tests, and repeated measures logistic regression. Results: There was no evidence of a differential preference due to gender (P = 0.28), age (P > .9), education (P = 0.39) or whether they incorrectly answered any risk question (P > 0.7). There was some evidence that the three types were not equally preferred (likelihood ratio chi- square = 5.31, df =2, P-value = 0.0703). The best estimate is that 60% prefer charts, 34% prefer numbers, and 36% prefer activity comparisons. There was a relationship between the average relative risk of general anesthesia and age (r = –0.38, P = 0.0070). Younger individuals indicate High risk more often and older individuals indicate Low risk more often. Conclusion: There was no preference of risk presentation type due to gender, age, or education, but there was evidence that each was not equally preferred. Healthcare providers must be able to present the risk of anesthesia in multiple ways to allow for full patient understanding.

In the first essay, I examine the impact of the introduction of exchange traded funds (ETFs) options on the information related trading of index options. Two option pairs, NASDAQ 100 index (NDX) and ETF (QQQ, currently QQQQ ) options, and Standard and Poor's 500 index (SPX) options and S & P Depository Receipts (SPY) options, are studied. I test the hypothesis, based on the theory of Chowdhry and Nanda (1991), and Admati and Pleiderer (1988), that the information component of spreads for index options should decline after ETF options were introduced. The method of George, Kaul and Nimalendran (1991) is used to estimate the adverse selection proportion of log quoted spread and revenue from quoted spread. Primary results show that the adverse selection component of index options declines after the introduction of ETF options, and that the adverse selection component of options on index ETFs is greater than that of options on index, suggesting more informed trading for ETF options. The second essay examines whether the liquidity premium decreases as the costs of transactions decline. Nine liquidity measures are estimated to form liquidity deciles portfolios. I use several benchmark asset pricing models in fixed and rolling 36-month samples to estimate time variation liquidity premia. Surprisingly, the results show that the liquidity premium does not monotonically decline over time, and it increases in the period from 2001 to 2006. This is inconsistent with the implication of liquidity-adjusted capital asset pricing models (L-CAPM). It is likely that the liquidity premium is generated by size and book-to-market factors, rather than the liquidity factor.

Esta pesquisa consiste na realização de um estudo sobre um grupo de terapia ocupacional, na tentativa de se observar um processo grupal no campo da reabilitação, no que diz respeito à articulação entre subjetividade e lugar social de seus integrantes. Refletir sobre a possibilidade do grupo de terapia ocupacional constituir-se em espaço para a construção de novos projetos de vida para os participantes, considerando-se a manifestação de limites - sejam eles de ordem física, psíquica, social ou institucional - e de potencialidades que emergem, é nosso objetivo. A discussão apóia-se em pesquisa realizada com sujeitos portadores de deficiência ou transtorno psíquico na Estação Especial da Lapa, através da constituição de um grupo de Terapia Ocupacional e o acompanhamento de seu processo durante 7 meses. Foram realizadas atividades internas à instituição e também algumas saídas aos espaços sociais. Para a análise do processo grupal, utilizou-se o referencial teórico de E. Pichon-Rivière (embora a condução do grupo respeitasse os procedimentos da Terapia Ocupacional), aliado aos conhecimentos da prática em terapia ocupacional. Pela utilização do referencial pichoniano, considera-se que os aspectos institucionais são constituintes do processo, portanto a leitura grupal é mediada pelas questões do contexto institucional. A partir da reflexão sobre o campo das deficiências e o campo da saúde mental, busca-se discutir a possibilidade de maior diálogo entre essas duas áreas de conhecimento, no sentido de apontar o grupo como dispositivo de investigação e intervenção em reabilitação. A abordagem grupal em terapia ocupacional é pensada sobre sua condição de permitir a manifestação de conteúdos relativos às histórias subjetivas e inter-subjetivas, sua elaboração e a possibilidade de sua re-significação. Pelos conteúdos que se manifestaram e pela análise do processo grupal, considerou-se a efetividade deste dispositivo e a (Continuacao) possibilidade do mesmo oferecer uma abertura, uma ampliação do campo de ação e teorização no trabalho com reabilitação / The present project focus on an occupational therapy group in order to study a group process in the rehabilitation field in terms of the relationship between the participants subjectivity and their social space. It is our aim to consider the possibility of making the occupational therapy group a space to build new life project for the participants, taking into account their limitations - physical, psychic, social and institutional -and their potentialities. This discussion is supported by a seven-month study carried out at Estação Especial da Lapa in an Occupational Therapy group formed by disabled or psychically disturbed people. Activities were developed inside the institution as well as in social environments outside. The group process analysis was based on E. Pichon-Rivières theoretical reference (although the group work followed the Occupational Therapy procedures) combined with the knowledge obtained in the occupational therapy practice. According to the Pichonian reference, the institutional aspects take part in the process, therefore, the group reading includes the institutional context issues. Considering the disability and mental health fields, we discuss the possibility of a more intensive interchange of knowledge between these two areas in order to make the group a device for the rehabilitation investigation and intervention. The Occupational Therapy group approach is analyzed in terms of its condition to promote the manifestation of contents related to subjective and inter-subjective history and in terms of its formation and the its possibility of acquiring a new meaning. Based on the manifested contents and the group process analysis, the effectiveness of this device as well as its prospects to provide new practical and theoretical basis were studied