Recent research suggests that sedentary behaviours have detrimental effects on the health and well-being of children, including effects on obesity. Specifically, television viewing is consistently associated with childhood obesity. Two explanations have been proposed: 1) reduced energy expenditure, and 2) increased food intake. However, it has been suggested that the association between television viewing and childhood obesity may be better explained by an increase in energy intake than by a reduction in energy expenditure. To date, children of different weight status have not been compared in their dietary patterns in front of the television, and it is not known if total sedentary time is linked with food intake in children. The objectives of this thesis are: 1) to determine if obese children consume food more frequently while watching television than normal weight children, and 2) to examine which of television viewing or total sedentary time better predicts dietary patterns in children. Overall, our results re-affirm the notion that television viewing is associated with obesity, although physical activity plays a role in this association. Also, children who are obese consume fast food and fruits/vegetables more frequently during television watching than normal weight children. Furthermore, television viewing appears to be a better predictor of dietary patterns in children than overall sedentary time. Globally, these results provide evidence for the deleterious effects of television viewing on children’s dietary patterns and justification for future intervention studies designed to reduce television viewing in children with obesity.

This thesis documents the construction of a performance project, At Last Sight, which was made with a group of undergraduates at University College Chester. The leader of that project is the same person as the writer of this thesis; this locates the act of writing as something embedded within the process of performance making. The writing forms an address to the unreliability of objective observational analysis. It does so through a resistance to those attempts at impartiality and detachment that might usually be expected in an academic investigation. In this case partiality and involvement are more than central to the investigative process, they form the very structure of enquiry. The body of this work was written at the same time as At Last Sight was being constructed, and the ideas encountered herein possess many of the rhythms of performance making. Space is both somewhere performance is made and an integral aspect of the made work. In a similar way the following chapters amount to more than the site where work has been recorded. In tracing the footprints that led to At Last Sight the thesis reveals itself as an element of that which is being traced. Where At Last Sight revealed the performers as the to-be-watched and also as the watchers, the study functions as the to-be-read and also as the reading. In this way the documentation becomes the documented. This notion of integration between the subject and its study runs through the thesis. Approaching performance analysis as something `other' creates a gap between it and its subject that can deny the best attempts to bring the two together. Approached in a less compartmentalised way the analysis is allowed to form an indivisible correspondence with the analysed. When the division between the act and the analysis is dissolved the documentation is able to exist as both fixed object and time-based event. Something of the fluidity of process is acknowledged and articulated in each of the sections presented.

To date, more than 300 planets orbiting stars other than our sun have been discovered using a range of observing techniques, with new discoveries occuring monthly. The work in this thesis focused on the detection of exoplanets using the transit method. Planets orbiting close to their host stars have a roughly 10 per cent chance of eclipsing (transiting) the star, with Jupiter?sized planets causing a one per cent dip in the flux of the star over a few hours. A wealth of orbital and physical information on the system can be extracted from these systems, including the planet density which is essential in constraining models of planetary formation. To detect these types of planets requires monitoring tens of thousands of stars over a period of months. To accomplish this, we conduct a wide-field survey using the 0.5-meter Automated Patrol Telescope (APT) at Siding Spring Observatory (SSO) in NSW, Australia. Once candidates were selected from the data?set, selection criteria were applied to separate the likely planet candidates from the false?positives. For this thesis, the methods and instrumentation used in attaining data and selecting planet candidates are discussed, as well as the results and analysis of the planet candidates selected from star fields observed from 2004?2007. Of the 65 planet candidates initially selected from the 25 target fields observed, only two were consistent with a planet transit. These candidates were later determined to be eclipsing binary stars based on follow up observations using the 40-inch telescope, 2.3-m telescope, and the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope, all located at SSO. Additionally, two planet candidates from the SuperWASP-North consortium were observed on the 40-inch telescope. Both proved to be eclipsing binary stars. While no planets were found, our search methods and results are consistent with successful transit surveys targeting similar fields with stars in a similar magnitude range and using similar methods.

Submitted by Luiz Carlos Teixeira da Silva (luiz@doisdi.com) on 2018-08-17T21:16:43Z No. of bitstreams: 1 dissertacao-lctsilva.pdf: 20150026 bytes, checksum: b389dc63924196877499adadf5ca7a27 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Lucilene Cordeiro da Silva Messias null (lubiblio@bauru.unesp.br) on 2018-08-21T12:34:18Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_lct_me_bauru.pdf: 20150026 bytes, checksum: b389dc63924196877499adadf5ca7a27 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-08-21T12:34:18Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 silva_lct_me_bauru.pdf: 20150026 bytes, checksum: b389dc63924196877499adadf5ca7a27 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-06-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / A presente pesquisa verificou se os problemas enfrentados por alguns alunos de curso superior de Design ao desenhar, podem ser solucionados ou amenizados por técnicas que melhoram a capacidade representativa no desenho de observação. Inicialmente, por meio de pesquisa bibliográfica, o desenho foi explorado como manifestação artística e ferramenta projetual, abordando seu conceito, taxonomia, ensino, sua contribuição para o Design e alguns dos problemas comuns que as pessoas enfrentam. Em seguida, por meio de pesquisa experimental, foi aplicada uma metodologia com os materiais para desenho de observação e de coleta de informações, utilizando duas técnicas na produção de desenhos lineares e tridimensionais. Essa pesquisa se destinou a contribuir com o desenho de observação e a forma como é ensinado, com foco especial em estudantes de Design com deficiência na prática do desenho e nos problemas ocorridos em disciplinas de desenho de observação. Os resultados indicaram melhoria significativa nos resultados dos desenhos com o emprego de duas técnicas auxiliadoras. / The present research sought to verified if the problems faced by some students of graduation in Design can be solved or ameliorated by techniques that improve the representative capacity in the drawing of observation. Initially, through a bibliographic research, the drawing was explored as an artistic manifestation and a project tool, approaching its concept, taxonomy, teaching, its contribution to Design and some of the common problems that people face. Then, through an experimental research, a methodology was applied with materials for observation design and information collection, using two techniques in the production of linear and three-dimensional drawings. This research was intended to contribute to the observation design and the way it is taught, with a special focus on Design students with a disability in the practice of drawing and the problems that have occurred in observation drawing discipline. The results indicated a significant improvement in the results of the drawings with the use of two auxiliary techniques. / 88882.180475/2018-01

The following studies examined the effectiveness and the efficiency of individual and small group equivalence-based instruction on English and math relations with elementary school children. The first experiment implemented a multiple-probe design across three typically developing third graders using an automated procedure to evaluate the stimulus equivalence paradigm (SEP) on establishing English and math equivalence classes. Since some researchers have proposed that covert behavior facilitates in the formation of equivalence classes (Horne & Lowe, 1996; Stromer, Mackay, & Remington, 1996), the second experiment examined the possible role of covert behavior, more specifically, a visual imagining strategy, on correct responding after remedial instructional sessions. To further extend SEP into more academic environments, the third experiment used an observational learning procedure to evaluate the formation of English and math symmetry relations as well as the formation of equivalence classes in a small group format. The emergence of topography-based responding was also assessed after instruction for all three experiments.

xii, 98 p. : ill. A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / The purpose of this study was to examine how conversations about appearance between adolescents and their best friends predicted eating pathology during adolescence and early adulthood. Participants were 711 adolescents and their best friends who were observed using a videotaped observation protocol and completing a number of conversational tasks. The tapes of these friend dyads were coded for content relating to attitudes and behaviors regarding appearance, weight, and dieting. There were four types of appearance talk related to comments about other people's appearance, their best friend's appearance, their own weight and dieting, and other people's weight and dieting. Appearance talk was frequent in conversations between adolescents, especially comments about other people's appearance. Eating pathology was measured using the Eating Attitudes Test-26 during adolescence and as a symptom count during early adulthood. Eating pathology during adolescence predicted eating pathology during early adulthood. Adolescents who met clinical criteria for an eating disorder had higher rates of appearance talk than those who did not meet criteria. Multiple regression was used to examine the relationship between eating pathology and the four types of appearance talk. For females, talking about their best friend's appearance predicted adolescent and early adult eating pathology. For males, talking about their own weight and dieting predicted adolescent eating pathology. Talking about other people's weight and dieting also predicted early adult eating pathology for both males and females, even when controlling for adolescent eating pathology. Although appearance talk was common among adolescents, specific types of appearance talk predicted eating pathology differently for males and females. Furthermore, the most frequent types of appearance talk for males and females were not those that predicted eating pathology. This study supports the importance of the influence of friendship on eating pathology. Treatment implications are informed by these findings. This study informs future research and suggests the importance of observational methods in examining conversations about appearance. / Committee in charge: Elizabeth Stormshak, Chairperson, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Krista Chronister, Member, Counseling Psychology and Human Services; Paul Yovanoff, Member, Educational Methodology, Policy, and Leadership; Thomas Dishion, Outside Member, Psychology

xlix, 348 p. : ill. (some col.) A print copy of this thesis is available through the UO Libraries. Search the library catalog for the location and call number. / Supernovae Ia are viable standard candles for measuring cosmological distances because of their enormous light output and similar intrinsic brightness. However, dispersion in intrinsic brightness casts doubt on the overall reliability of supernovae as cosmological distance indicators. Moreover, as shown in this thesis, the dependence of peak brightness on host galaxy properties significantly contributes to this dispersion. As a result, there is good reason to doubt that the nearby sample of supernovae Ia is identical to the distant samples, which occur in host galaxies that are billions of years younger. This study explores the validity of supernovae Ia as standard candles by examining regions of nearby galaxies that hosted supernovae and modeling their observational selection function. The approach is two-fold. First, photometry is performed on the stellar population environment of supernovae to characterize that region as a function of supernova type. Then, the observational selection function is simulated to determine the true supernovae production rate of the z < 0.1 redshift limit. We find that, on average, type Ia events occur in redder and older populations; underluminous supernovae Ia occur in regions that seem to be preferentially dusty, whereas normal Ia coming from the same galaxy type occur in a wide range of extinction environments. Furthermore, redder peak colors correspond to redder underlying population colors. This finding implies that dust extinction effects can cause systematic errors in the luminosity calibration of Ia events Finally, a single supernova rate does not adequately describe all supernovae Ia within z < 0.1. A rate of 0.25 SNu describes the population up to z < 0.03, and a much smaller rate, 0.1 SNu or less, describes supernovae past this distance. This finding indicates that observed supernova rates per galaxy remain biased by sample selection effects and that the intrinsic rate is likely uncertain by a factor of 2 to 3. / Committee in charge: Raymond Frey, Chairperson, Physics; James Imamura, Member, Physics; Gregory Bothun, Member, Physics; Stephen Hsu, Member, Physics; James Isenberg, Outside Member, Mathematics

Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a chronic auto-immune disease that causes in ammation in the joints. Left uncontrolled, this prolonged in ammation can lead to pain and structural damage, resulting in erosions to the bones and total breakdown of the surrounding cartilage. Structural joint damage, measured by plain radiographs, is an important outcome measure of RA. It provides an objective marker of disease activity to assess any improvements or failures of treatments in controlling for the disease. Increased long-term joint damage has been linked with increased functional disability and decreased quality of life for RA patients. While a range of studies have looked at radiographic outcomes from observational data, they tend to be restricted to historical cohorts, with little long-term data on how radiographic progression may have changed in line with changes in clinical management. Additionally, these studies have not used the appropriate statistical methods to account for non-normal data distributions and within-patient variation over time. As a result, the main aim of this thesis is to investigate the long-term progression of structural joint damage in patients with early RA. The speci c objectives were to; (1) investigate the current evidence base to identify common methods in measuring and analysing radiographic outcomes, (2) assess what statistical methods are most appropriate in modelling long-term radiographic data, (3) use these models to understand the natural progression of radiographic damage using data from two UK inception cohorts, and nally, (4) expand these models to investigate the long-term relationship of radiographic damage with two important clinical outcomes; disease activity and functional disability. The analysis is based on longitudinal data from two UK prospective, multi-centre, early RA observational cohorts. These cohorts represent two distinct eras in the management and treatment of RA, making them invaluable for investigating how key RA outcomes have progressed in clinical practice over time. Using multi-level count models, precise rates of radiographic progression for both cohorts are presented. The models look at how seropositive RA and increased disease activity are related to increased radiographic progression, and what impact this has on functional disability. The results show that rates of radiological damage have declined dramatically in recent years. Possible attributable factors to these declines include both milder disease and more e ective treatment strategies. Analysis of the earlier cohort (1986-2001) shows how seropositive RA and increased disease activity lead to clinically meaningful increases in radiological damage. Conversely, their impact on patients in the more recent cohort (2002-2011) suggest that their e ect on radiographic progression is reduced, where increases in radiological damage were not larger than clinically meaningful thresholds. This has large implications on the debate around the use of biologic therapies in patients with less severe RA. However more data is sorely needed, particularly long-term radiographic data from those patients on biologics treatments, before any de nitive conclusions can be made. The possible impact of these declines on functional disability appears to be relatively small. The analysis shows that radiographic damage is more strongly associated with functional disability in later disease, but there is little evidence to indicate that declines in radiographic damage has lead to large improvements in long-term functional disability. These ndings are explored within the framework of a dual-pathway model, which suggests that functional disability is caused by two distinct mechanisms, either structural joint damage, or through increased pain. Research so far has predominantly focused on pharmacological treatments in reducing in ammation. More research is needed to explore the role of psychosocial factors and pain perception in order to create a more holistic treatment programme for RA patients.

abstract: In the past three decades with the deployment of space-based from x-rays to infrared telescopes and operation of 8-10 m class ground based telescopes, a hand-full of regions of the sky have emerged that probe the distant universe over relatively wide fields with the aim of understanding the assembly of apparently faint galaxies. To explore this new frontier, observations were made with the Large Binocular Cameras (LBCs) on the Large Binocular Telescope (LBT) of a well-studied deep field, GOODS-North, which has been observed by a wide range of telescopes from the radio to x-ray. I present a study of the trade-off between depth and resolution using a large number of LBT/LBC U-band and R-band imaging observations in the GOODS-N field. Having acquired over 30 hours of data (315 images with 5-6 minute exposures) for U-band and 27 hours for R-band (828 images with 2 minute exposures), multiple mosaics were generated, starting with images taken under the best atmospheric conditions (FWHM <0.8"). For subsequent mosaics, data with coarser seeing values were added in until the final, deepest mosaic included all images with FWHM <1.8". For each mosaic, object catalogs were made to compare the optimal-resolution, yet shallower image to the low-resolution but deeper image. For the brightest galaxies within the GOODS-N field, structure and clumpy features within the galaxies are more prominent in the optimal-resolution image compared to the deeper mosaics. I conclude that for studies of brighter galaxies and features within them, the optimal-resolution image should be used. However, to fully explore and understand the faintest objects, the deeper imaging with lower resolution are also required. For the 220 and 360 brightest galaxies in the U-band and R-band images respectively, there is only a marginal difference between the optimal-resolution and lower-resolution light-profiles and their integrated total fluxes. This helps constrain how much flux can be missed in galaxy outskirts, which is important for studies of Extragalactic Background Light. Finally, I also comment on a collection of galaxies in the field with tidal tails and streams, diffuse plumes, and bridges. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Astrophysics and Astronomy 2018

abstract: Communication skills within dating contexts are developed during the adolescent years, and are associated with a lifelong ability to have satisfying, enduring, and non-violent partnerships. As such, they are currently and increasingly implemented into both more general forms of healthy relationship education, as well as that targeting the prevention of teen dating violence specifically. Reaching Mexican American youth with culturally and developmentally appropriate relationship education, including communication skills, may be particularly important given their earlier transitions to marital and parenting relationships, acculturative stressors that present them with unique coupling challenges, and their higher rates of teen dating violence as compared to European American youth. We know very little about how Mexican American dating couples communicate about areas of conflict. This dissertation research utilizes Bell and Naugle's (2008) framework of interpersonal violence to explore how cultural and developmental considerations may be integrated in order to better understand how communication behaviors contribute to Mexican American middle adolescents' experiences with dating conflict. I use an observational study design in order to 1.) Qualitatively explore the communication strategies used by a sample of committed couples, including integration of culturally- and developmentally-relevant contexts, 2.) Quantitatively examine whether couple-level discrepancies in acculturation are associated with observed negativity, including whether this relationship may be mediated by dissimilar gender-related beliefs, and to 3.) Review empirical findings pertaining to the communication behaviors of Mexican American adolescents and to integrate ecodevelopmental theory in said framework as informed by Papers 1, 2, and literature specific to this topic area. The ultimate aim of this dissertation research is to generate findings that may improve the dating health of Mexican American adolescents living in the United States. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Social Work 2013