The goal of the research in this dissertation is to develop techniques for 1) system-on-package integration of passive circuits using ultra-thin advanced polymers called RXP (Rogers experimental polymer), 2) extraction of frequency-dependent material properties up to millimeter-wave frequency, 3) development and synthesis of high-rejection filter topologies, 4) design and characterization of high performance miniaturized embedded passive circuits for microwave and millimeter-wave applications, and 5) development of via and through-silicon via (TSV) enhanced filter design method for integration in high-loss substrate. The RXP material is developed to reduce the layer-count for multi-layer configuration and adoption of advanced fabrication technologies. Frequency-dependent material properties of RXP, ceramic, and other materials have been extracted up to millimeter-wave frequency using parallel-plate resonator method. An automated extraction algorithm has been proposed to handle a large number of frequency samples efficiently. The accuracy of the extraction result has been improved by including the surface roughness effect for conductor operating at high frequency. Using extracted RXP material properties, 2.4/5 GHz WLAN bandpass filters have been designed and characterized. High-rejection bandpass filter topologies for narrow 2.4 GHz and wide 5 GHz have been proposed. The proposed topologies have been synthesized to provide design equations as well as graphical design methodologies using Z-parameters. A new capacitor design called 3D stitched capacitor has been proposed to achieve more symmetric layout by providing balanced shunt parasitics. The proposed topologies and design methodologies have been verified through the measurement of high-rejection RXP bandpass filters. Good correlation between the simulation and measurement was observed demonstrating an effective design methodology and embedding bandpass filters with good performance. Dual-band bandpass filters for WLAN applications have been implemented and measured. Instead of connecting two bandpass filter circuits, a new single bandpass filter topology has been developed with a compact size as well as high isolation between passbands. High-rejection duplexer has been designed in RXP substrate for chip-last embedded IC technology, and a novel matching circuit has been applied for the miniaturization as well. The 60 GHz V-band has special interest for wireless applications because of its high attenuation characteristics because of atmospheric oxygen. Millimeter-wave passive circuits such as bandpass filter, dual-band filter, and duplexer have been designed, and self-resonant frequency of passive components has been carefully avoided using the proposed method. For low-cost system integration, silicon interposer with through-silicon-via (TSV) technology has been studied. The filter design method for high-loss substrate has been proposed. The coupling characteristic of TSV has been investigated for obtaining good insertion loss in lossy substrates such as silicon, and TSV characteristics has been used to design bandpass and highpass filters. To demonstration of concept, bandpass filters with good insertion loss have been realized on high-loss FR4 substrate.

The prescriptive authority for psychologists (RxP) movement contends that psychologists who receive specialized training should attain licensure to prescribe psychotropic medication. The RxP movement has presently culminated in psychologists in the United States prescribing at both the state and federal levels. However, the RxP movement remains contentious, and both supporters and opponents continue to disagree over its validity as a professional movement. Division 17 of the American Psychological Association, the counseling psychology specialty’s professional organization, has not officially discussed the RxP movement since 1994. Given the developments within the RxP movement since then, this study endeavored to investigate the current perceptions of prescriptive authority among the Executive Board leadership of Division 17. Researchers conducted semi-structured interviews with current and former members of the Executive Board and then used a consensual qualitative research (CQR) methodology to qualitatively generate findings across participants’ responses. Participants shared qualified support of prescriptive authority, despite indicating no interest in prescribing themselves, and they reported that they saw prescriptive practice as consistent with the professional identity of counseling psychology. Participants also suggested that Division 17 could proceed with the RxP movement by developing a Special Task Group (STG) to investigate prescriptive authority among its members. These conclusions indicate that members of the Executive Board are well positioned to lead Division 17 forward in addressing prescriptive authority by creating a STG to further explore the issue for counseling psychology.

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