Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Pipe bombs are a common form of improvised explosive device, due in part to their ease of construction. Despite their simplistic nature, the lethality of pipe bombs should not be dismissed. Due to the risk of harm and their commonality, research into the pipe bomb deflagration process and subsequent chemical analysis is necessary. The laboratory examination of pipe bomb fragments begins with a visual examination. While this is presumptive in nature, hypotheses formed here can lead to subsequent confirmatory exams. The purpose of this study was to measure the mass and velocity of pipe bomb fragments using high speed video. These values were used to discern any trends in container type (PVC or black/galvanized steel), energetic filler (Pyrodex or double base smokeless powder), and ambient temperature (13°C and -8°C). The results show patterns based on container type, energetic filler, and temperature. The second stage of a laboratory exam is chemical analysis to identify any explosive that may be present. Legality calls for identification only, not quantitation. The purpose of this study is to quantitate the amount of explosive residue on post-blast pipe bomb fragments. By doing so, the instrumental sensitivities required for this type of analysis will be known. Additionally, a distribution of the residue will be mapped to provide insight into the deflagration process of a device. This project used a novel sampling technique called total vaporization solid phase microextraction. The method was optimized for nitroglycerin, the main energetic in double base smokeless powder. Detection limits are in the part per billion range. Results show that the concentration of residue is not uniform, and the highest concentration is located on the endcaps regardless of container type. Total vaporization solid phase microextraction was also applied to automotive racing samples of interest to the National Hot Rod Association. The purpose of this project is two-fold; safety of the race teams in the form of dragstrip adhesive consistency and monitoring in the form of fuel testing for illegal adulteration. A suite of analyses, including gas chromatography mass spectrometry, infrared spectroscopy, and evaporation rate, were developed for the testing of dragstrip adhesives. Gas chromatography mass spectrometry methods were developed for both nitromethane based fuel as well as racing gasolines. Analyses of fuel from post-race cars were able to detect evidence of adulteration. Not only was a novel technique developed and optimized, but it was successfully implemented in the analysis of two different analytes, explosive residue and racing gasoline. TV-SPME shows tremendous promise for the future in its ability to analyze a broad spectrum of analytes.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Loneliness is a known risk factor for poor mental and physical health outcomes in the general population, and preliminary research suggests that loneliness is linked to poorer health in cancer patients as well. Various aspects of the cancer experience (e.g., heightened existential concerns) lend themselves to making patients feel alone and misunderstood. Furthermore, loneliness theory suggests that negative social expectations, which may specifically relate to the cancer experience, precipitate and sustain loneliness. Thus, loneliness interventions in cancer should be tailored to address illness-related social conditions and negative social expectations. Prior to the development of loneliness interventions for cancer populations, cancer-specific tools are needed to assess: (1) loneliness attributed to cancer (i.e., cancer-related loneliness), and (2) negative social expectations related to cancer. In the current project I developed measures of cancer-related loneliness and cancer-related negative social expectations for use in future theory-based loneliness research. A mixed-methods study design was employed. First, I developed items for the measure of cancer-related loneliness (i.e., the Cancer Loneliness Scale) based on theory, prior research, and expert feedback. Second, I conducted a clinic-based qualitative study (n=15) to: (1) obtain cancer patient feedback on the Cancer Loneliness Scale items, and (2) inform development of the item pool for the measure of negative social expectations (i.e., the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale). Interviews were audiotaped, transcribed verbatim, and then transferred to Atlas.ti for analysis. Content analysis was used to analyze data regarding patient feedback and theoretical thematic analysis was used to analyze data regarding negative social expectations. Overall, patients said they liked the Cancer Loneliness Scale and no changes were made to the items based on patient feedback. Based on results, I also created five content domains of negative social expectations that were represented in the item pool for the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Third, I conducted a telephone and mail-based quantitative study (n=186) to assess psychometric properties of the two new measures. Dimensionality was determined using confirmatory factor analysis. Reliability was assessed by examining internal consistency coefficients and construct validity was assessed by examining theoretical relationships between the Cancer Loneliness Scale, the Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale, and existing reliable and valid measures of health and social well-being. The final products of the project included a 7-item unidimensional Cancer Loneliness Scale and 5-item unidimensional Cancer-related Negative Social Expectations Scale. Excellent evidence for reliability and validity was found for both measures. The resulting measures have both clinical and research utility.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Instrument assisted soft tissue mobilization (IASTM) is a form of massage using rigid manufactured or cast devices. The delivered force, which is a critical parameter in massage during IASTM, has not been measured or standardized for most clinical practices. In addition to the force, the angle of treatment and frequency play an important role during IASTM. As a result, there is a strong need to characterize the delivered force to a patient, angle of treatment, and stroke frequency. This thesis proposes two novel mechatronic designs for a specific instrument from Graston Technique(Model GT3), which is a frequently used tool to clinically deliver localize pressure to the soft tissue. The first design is based on compression load cells, where 4-load cells are used to measure the force components in three-dimensional space. The second design uses a 3D load cell, which can measure all three force components force simultaneously. Both designs are implemented with IMUduino microcontroller chips which can also measure tool orientation angles and provide computed stroke frequency. Both designs, which were created using Creo CAD platform, were also analyzed thorough strength and integrity using the finite element analysis package ANSYS. Once the static analysis was completed, a dynamic model was created for the first design to simulate IASTM practice using the GT-3 tool. The deformation and stress on skin were measured after applying force with the GT-3 tool. Additionally, the relationship between skin stress and the load cell measurements has been investigated. The second design of the mechatronic IASTM tool was validated for force measurements using an electronic plate scale that provided the baseline force values to compare with the applied force values measured by the tool. The load cell measurements and the scale readings were found to be in agreement within the expected degree of accuracy. The stroke frequency was computed using the force data and determining the peaks during force application. The orientation angles were obtained from the built-in sensors in the microchip.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Stigma is a barrier to recovery for people with mental illness. Problematically, stigma also has been documented among mental health practitioners. To date, however, most research has focused on explicit attitudes regarding mental illness. Little research has examined implicit attitudes, which has the potential to reveal evaluations residing outside of conscious control or awareness. Moreover, research has tended to use a mixed sample of practitioners and programs. The extent to which both explicit and implicit stigma is endorsed by mental health practitioners utilizing evidence-based practices is unknown. The purposes of the current study were to 1) carefully examine implicit and explicit stigmatizing attitudes, or biases, among Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) staff and 2) explore the extent to which explicit and implicit biases predicted the use of treatment control mechanisms. Participants were 154 ACT staff from nine states. They completed implicit (Implicit Association Test) and explicit measures of stigma. Overall, participants exhibited positive explicit and implicit attitudes towards people with mental illness. When modeled using latent factors, implicit, but not explicit bias significantly predicted the endorsement of restrictive or controlling clinical interventions. Practitioners who perceived individuals with mental illness as relatively more dangerous and helpless (both explicit and implicit), as well as participants from Indiana and those with less education were more likely to endorse use of control mechanisms. Thus, despite overall positive attitudes toward those with mental illness for the sample as a whole, even low levels of stigma at the individual level were found to affect clinical care. Mental health professionals, and specifically ACT clinicians, should work to be aware of ways in which their biases influence how they intervene with consumers.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / El propósito de esta investigación es ahondar más en las expectativas que forman los estudiantes de un programa Máster de la enseñanza de segunda lengua para su experiencia de estudio en el extranjero (EE). El investigador intenta observar la formación y la evolución de estas expectativas y, después del programa, la realización percibida de estas expectativas y sus posibles explicaciones. También espera ver la conexión entre la formación y realización de sus expectativas y estar en programa de enseñanza de segunda lengua. Además, se considera que esta investigación valdrá para evaluar informalmente la experiencia de EE provista por el programa de Másters en la enseñanza de segunda lengua y para arrojar más luz sobre qué expectativas son realistas para un programa de este tipo.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Evidence based practice (EBP) is essential to the practice of nursing for purposes of promoting optimal patient outcomes. Research suggests that the implementation of EBP by staff nurses is problematic and influenced by beliefs, nursing leadership and the work environment. The purpose of this descriptive study was to examine variables that describe the relationship among beliefs about EBP, the work environment and nursing leadership on the EBP implementation activities of the staff nurse. The variables of interest were 1) individual staff nurse characteristics, 2) beliefs about EBP, 3) the EBP work environment and 4) nursing leadership for EBP. A descriptive, quantitative method was used. A sample of 422 Registered Nurses from two urban hospitals (one Magnet and one non-Magnet) completed an online 58 item survey that included questions related to individual belief’s about EBP, the EBP work environment and nursing leadership for EBP as well as EBP implementation activities. Education, tenure and Magnet status were not significantly related to EBP implementation activities in either the univariate or multivariate analysis. EBP beliefs had a significantly positive relationship with EBP implementation activities in both the univariate and multivariate analyses. Work environment and nursing leadership support for EBP had significant positive relationships with self-reported implementation activities in only the univariate analysis. The most surprising finding was that there were no differences between Magnet and non-Magnet work environments for EBP implementation scores, yet the Magnet hospitals reported higher means on the EBP Beliefs Scale than the non-Magnet hospital. The results of this have implications for identifying and testing strategies to influence EBP implementation activities through development of nursing leadership skills for EBP and creating a more EBP friendly work environment.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Chinese students are the biggest ethnic group of international students in the United States. Previous studies have identified many unique problems of Chinese students during their acculturation process and a higher level of acculturative stress than international students from other countries. A systematic review of instruments that assess acculturative stress revealed that none of the existing scales apply to Chinese students in the United States, either because of language issues or validity problems. Thus, this study aims to develop a reliable and valid scale to accurately measure the acculturative stress of Chinese students in the United States. A 72-item pool was generated by interviewing eight Chinese students and borrowing items from existing literature and scales. The item pool was sent online to 607 Chinese students and 267 of them completed the survey. Exploratory Factor Analysis was conducted to empirically derive the factor structure of the Acculturative Stress Scale for Chinese Students (ASSCS). The results produced a 32-item scale in five dimensions, which were Language Insufficiency, Social Isolation, Perceived Discrimination, Academic Pressure, and Guilt toward Family. The ASSCS demonstrated high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha = 0.939) and initial validity by predicting depression (Beta = 0.490, p<.001) and life satisfaction (Beta = -0.505, p<.001). It was the first Chinese scale of acculturative stress developed and validated among a Chinese student sample in the United States. Further studies need to be conducted to provide empirical support and confirm the validity for the scale. In the future, the scale can be used as diagnosing tool and self-assessment tool.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Improving performance management is a high priority for many organizations that want to improve the performance of their employees. Recently, researchers have focused on the social context to promote behavioral change, and have created new scales to examine context, such as the feedback environment. The current study examined internal and external accountability as mediators of the relationship between the feedback environment and developmental behaviors. Participants each completed three scales measuring the feedback environment, internal and external accountability, and developmental behaviors. Results suggested that internal and external accountability both mediate the relationship between the feedback environment and developmental behaviors, but neither is a stronger mediator than the other. In addition, internal and external accountability both mediate the relationship between each component of the feedback environment and developmental behaviors, but again neither is a stronger mediator than the other. This study contributed to the literature on performance management, and emphasized the importance of training supervisors to use the feedback environment to increase perceptions of accountability for employees.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / In recent decades, Petri nets (PNs) have been used to model traffic networks for different purposes, such as signal phase control, routing, and traffic flow estimation, etc. Because of the complex nature of traffic networks where both discrete and continuous dynamics come into play, the Hybrid Petri net (HPN) model becomes an important tool for the modeling and analysis of traffic networks. In Chapter 1 a brief historical summery about traffic systems control and then related work is mentioned followed by the major contributions in this research. Chapter 2 provides a theoretical background on Petri nets. In Chapter 3, we develop a HPN model for a single signalized intersection first, then we extend this model to study a simple traffic network that consists of two successive intersections. Time delays between different points of network are also considered in order to make the model suitable for analysis and simulation. In addition to HPN models, we also consider discrete Petri nets where their modeling simplicity enables the characterization of the occurrences of all events in the system. This discrete PN is particularly useful to give a higher-level representation of the traffic network and study its event occurrences and correlations. In Chapter 4, we build a discrete PN model to represent a traffic network with two successive intersections. However, we find that the model leads to unbounded places which cannot accurately reflect the dynamics of the traffic in terms of event occurrences. Hence, we introduce the Modified Binary Petri nets (MBPN) to overcome the limitation and resolve the confliction problem when we design our controllers. This MBPN model is a powerful tool and can be useful for the modeling and analysis of many other applications in traffic networks. Chapter 5 gives a summary for each chapter, provides conclusion and discusses future work for both discrete and hybrid Petri nets.

Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis (IUPUI) / Factor H is a newly identified phenomenon which describes a constellation of attributes of the new graduate nurse reflecting personality traits, intellectual abilities, and clinical judgment. In a previous pilot study conducted by this researcher nurse managers and experienced Registered Nurse (RN) preceptors described characteristics demonstrated by new graduate nurses demonstrating Factor H and the new graduate nurse’s ability to transition quickly and successfully into the RN role in the acute care environment. There is currently no instrument available to measure this phenomenon. The specific aim of this research was to develop and psychometrically test a scale designed to identify the presence of attributes of Factor H in the new graduate nurse. The Sims Factor H Assessment Scale (SFHAS) was developed and piloted with a sample of one hundred one new graduate nurses within three months of completing the their nursing program at one of three nursing schools in central and south central Indiana. Evidence of content validity was demonstrated through the use of the Content Validity Index conducted with a panel of four experts. Evidence of face validity was demonstrated through interviews with a group of new graduate nurses, nurse managers, and experienced RN preceptors. Principle Axis Factoring with Varimax rotation was used to demonstrate evidence of construct validity and the scale was found to have a single component which was identified as nursing personality. Evidence of criterion-related validity was demonstrated utilizing analysis of the SFHAS and the criterion scale for personality traits (NEO-FFI). Evidence of internal consistency reliability was demonstrated through analysis of inter-item correlations, Cronbach’s coefficient correlations, and item-total correlations. Test re-test reliability using interclass correlation was also conducted to demonstrate stability of the scale. The SFHAS was found to be reflective of nursing personality and not general mental ability or clinical judgment. Use of the SFHAS will allow organizations to evaluate the nursing personality of the new graduate nurse for fit into the work environment. Further study is recommended to gain clarity around the attributes which support successful transition of the new graduate nurse into practice in the acute care environment, also known as Factor H.