Temperament is thought to be the foundation for normative personality and subsequent behaviors later in life. To assess the relationship of early temperament with variation in structural brain development, this study examined rhesus macaque mother-infant behavior, and then three years later, used MRI to assess neurostructural differences. Individual differences in mother-infant interactions and emotionality were then linked to brain differences. Extensive behavioral data obtained over the first year of life under both resting and stressful conditions was used to assess the quality of mother-infant interactions and emotionality. The MRI focused on brain volume in areas thought to be related to emotional regulation and such as the cingulate gyrus and corpus callosum structures. These structures are often mentioned as areas that modulate emotions, temperament and general social behavior. The methods involved in this research include behavior coded from group-housed infant rhesus macaques (Macaca mulatta). The subjects were 15 mother-reared subjects, each housed in a social group of 12-20 subjects, living in social settings with their mothers, other adult females, two adult males, and other same-aged subjects; conditions that approximate the social composition of the natural setting. Behaviors related to temperament and mother-infant interactions were assessed using an objective behavioral scoring system. Behavior was coded under three conditions, and each behavioral coding session was 5-minute long. Homecage: Two behavioral coding sessions were recorded weekly for each subject as it interacted naturally with its mother and peers over the first six-months of life. Preseparation (month 6): Two weeks before four, sequential, 4-day social separations, behavioral data were collected once each day. Reunion with mother: Following each of the social separations, data were collected twice immediately following return to mother and again on the morning before the separation. Subjects underwent MRIs 1-2 years later when they were 2-3 years of age. The result of this research was that during pre-separation interactions, anterior cingulate size to brain ratio showed a positive correlation with mutual ventral contact (being cradled and held closely), a measure of the use of mother as a secure base to calm anxiety and fear.

Research has suggested that the differential experiences of children in the same family were often greater than those of children across different families. Although studies identified potential moderators (e.g., age, gender) associated with differential parenting, there has been less investigation of mediators. The current study examined attachment as a mediator in the relationship between differential parenting and parents' perceptions of their children. As part of this study, 132 culturally diverse mothers with children who ranged in age from 2- to 10-years rated how differently they treat their own children, their children's attachment, their parenting characteristics, and their children's functioning (i.e., temperament and emotional and behavioral functioning). Meditational and hierarchical regression analyses suggested the importance of examining both parenting characteristics as well as attachment variables in understanding how mothers rated both their older and younger children. In particular, results demonstrated that the parent-child attachment relationship is particularly important for older children in families with a younger sibling present. For younger siblings, this study corroborated existing research and found that punitive parenting was especially important in predicting parents' ratings of these children's emotional and behavioral functioning. These findings are particularly helpful for professionals working with families with multiple children and with parents who are reporting troubling behaviors in these children.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are chronic, debilitating illnesses. Impairments in cognitive processes such as social cognition, episodic simulation, and neuropsychological performance have been documented separately in both disorders. Despite our increasing knowledge of these impairments, the potential underlying transdiagnostic mechanisms remain relatively unexplored. This thesis examines correlates of these processes in persons with a primary diagnosis of MDD with a history of trauma exposure, and in persons with PTSD. The first study examined the association between the social cognitive domain of empathy and parental bonding in women with PTSD associated with childhood abuse. Participants with PTSD reported altered levels of cognitive and affective empathy, compared to controls. Paternal care during childhood was the only predictor of cognitive empathy (i.e., perspective taking). The second study investigated the specificity of episodic simulation of future positive, negative, and neutral events in relation to parental bonding and neuropsychological functioning among participants with MDD. Optimal parental bonding and higher scores on measures of neuropsychological functioning were associated with increased specificity of episodic simulation. In the third study, we examined the relation between dissociative symptoms and neuropsychological functioning in participants with MDD. Patients with MDD report significantly higher levels of dissociation as compared to controls, and more severe dissociation was related to poorer neuropsychological performance among this patient group. Lastly, using independent component analysis of resting-state fMRI data, the fourth study examined the association between intrinsic connectivity networks and neuropsychological performance among participants with MDD. Connectivity within the default mode, salience, and central executive networks was associated with neuropsychological and clinical (i.e., depression, dissociation, PTSD) variables. Overall, this thesis demonstrates that variables such as parental attachment, dissociation, and intrinsic connectivity networks may underlie some of the alterations in cognitive processes seen in MDD and trauma-related disorders. / Dissertation / Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) / Major depressive disorder (MDD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) negatively affect quality of life and day-to-day functioning. These populations show difficulties in domains related to cognitive processing, such as empathy, imagining future events, and neuropsychological functioning (e.g., memory and attention). This thesis focuses on examining variables that may be related to these difficulties. In particular, we study developmental variables, such as parental bonding, clinical symptoms, such as dissociation, and neuroimaging data. Our findings suggest that these variables are all related to impairments in different areas of cognitive processing. By understanding what may be contributing to these cognitive difficulties, we may be able to design treatment strategies that target the underlying causes of these difficulties.

Research suggests that adult attachment is associated with various social roles, such as parenting, with insecure attachment patterns corresponding to lower levels of parenting competence. An increasing amount of research suggests that attachment patterns and social roles are interwoven with gender role beliefs. With family systems theory as an overarching framework, the current study extends the literature by examining dyadic associations between these variables in a sample of 61 cohabitating couples with at least one child under of the age of 18 in the home. Participants included opposite-sex and same-sex romantic partners who were recruited using online snowball sampling processes. The actor-partner interdependence model was used to assess the mutual influences between romantic partners in the parental dyads, specifically focusing on attachment patterns, parenting competence, and the moderating effect of individual gender role-beliefs and incongruence between the two partners' gender role beliefs in the co-parenting relationship. Results indicated both actor and partner attachment anxiety and avoidance were negatively correlated with parenting competence; gender roles beliefs moderated that association with egalitarian gender role beliefs buffering the negative effects of partners' high attachment avoidance or anxiety. Additionally, results indicated that gender role belief incongruence between partners also moderated the relationship between attachment strategies and parenting competence. In light of these findings, limitations, future directions, and clinical implications including attachment-focused individual assessment strategies and therapy techniques as well as couples therapy (i.e., EFCT) modalities are discussed.

Thesis (M.Sc.D.)--Boston University School of Graduate Dentistry, 1973. Prosthodontics. / Bibliography included. / Precision and semi-precision attachments have been utilized in fixed partial prostheses for many years. A review of the dental literature reveals a lack of clinical and laboratory information and their use in specific situations therefore must have been empiricly established . The purpose of this research was to contribute to the establishment of either a sound rationale for the use of precision attachments or, conversely, to an indictment of them based on factual testing under simulated clinical conditions. [TRUNCATED]

Due to the significant relationships between parenting style, attachment, and identity formation found in previous literature, this study investigated the possibility of attachment playing a mediational role in the relationship between parenting and identity style. A total of 264 students from two high schools participated in this study. Although not mediational, significant relationships between maternal responsiveness, attachment, and the normative identity style were found. An outstanding and unexpected finding of this study was that the attachment and responsiveness measurements, although thought to be assessing different variables, are now suspected to be looking at constructs that are almost one-in-the-same. Extending to practical applications, the results of this study could be used to aid programs focused on fostering positive youth development by emphasizing parental interaction, warmth, and support.

Stormwater runoff is a major environmental concern, particularly in urban environments. Trends in managing stormwater have evolved (and continue to evolve) from a quantity only approach into a sustainable approach, which integrates quantity, quality, the environment, and aesthetics. Best management practices (BMPs) and Low Impact Development (LID) are two well-documented techniques capable of managing to sustainable standards. There are a number of stormwater models available to design professionals today. However, there are few which integrate site-scale BMP/LID analysis in a simplified fashion. The purpose of this study is to determine if there is a demand in the design profession for simplified stormwater modeling tools to help designers make informed decisions about integrating BMP/LID strategies into site plans. A Web-based questionnaire was administered to a group of design professionals to determine their knowledge of BMPs and their technological needs and preferences in meeting stormwater goals and requirements.

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