This study investigated predictors of anticipatory grief among 70 caregivers using hospice services to care for a dying individual. Anticipatory grief (AG) was positively associated with disengagement coping; more specifically, it was negatively associated with problem avoidance and positively associated with wishful thinking and social withdrawal. Additionally, attachment anxiety was positively associated with anticipatory grief, while attachment avoidance was negatively related. Lastly, spirituality was found to be negatively associated with anticipatory grief. Engagement coping, caregiver strain, and masculine and feminine gender role identification did not significantly predict AG. Implications for clinical practice with caregivers as well as recommendations for future research are offered.

The electromyogram has numerous applications in engineering and science. One specific application is to model a system for the torque generated by the elbow joint. This application has been long studied and applied in controller designs for artificial prosthetics limbs. Previous research had shown that nonlinear and multiple channel whitened EMG signal models gave the best EMG to torque estimates compared to linear un-whitened models. This thesis describes the methodologies for predicting the torque into the future up to 1 second. Four specific types of finite impulse response models (linear and nonlinear, single channel un-whitened and multi-channel whitened) are compared based on the EMG-based predicted torque and the actual torque. The errors were measured as the difference between actual and predicted torque. It was observed that the error was mostly constant at the minimum error value between 0 and 80 ms for all four models, with the lowest error being 5.48 % maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) flexion. Further comparison was performed between different lower order models and a Butterworth second order model for predicting torque ahead in time. Such models are common in the literature. This thesis separately investigates the effect of band limiting the whitened EMG signal and using the advanced EMG processors for estimating the torque. Whitened EMG data were passed through a low pass filter with selectable cutoff frequency from 2048 Hz down to 20 Hz to limit the whitened band width. It was observed that the error was not significantly different for bandwidths down to approximately 400-600 Hz, grew gradually as the band width further decreased to 200 Hz, beyond which the error increased sharply. It can be inferred that for this particular study consisting of lower contraction levels, there is no significant power usable for whitening in the EMG signal at higher frequencies, providing an opportunity for lower sampling rate, effective noise suppression, better signal to noise ratio and implementation of low cost electrodes. This research work lead to two conference paper publications at the 2013 IEEE 39th Annual Northeast Bioengineering Conference. Two journal papers are in the writing and preparation stage which will be submitted after their completion.

In response to the increase in anned robberies to banks and building societies during the 1980s and 1990s, a training programme was developed within one building society to buttress employees against the potentially hannful psychological consequences of being involved in an anned raid. The 'Coping With Robberies' training programme consisted of a package of practical, procedural and psychological coping techniques based on Meichenbaum's (1985) 'Stress Inoculation Training' principles utilising video, workbook and discussion formats. It was delivered over four months to 4,000 employees of the Society via monthly, branch-based training sessions. The programme was evaluated using a mixed qualitative and quantitative methodology to determine whether the training would improve employees' predicted confidence that they would cope in a raid and reduce their symptoms of post -traumatic stress should they be raided. In addition, aspects of both the individual and the training were assessed to investigate which of these aspects were related to confidence and post-traumatic stress symptoms. The training improved confidence, employees felt empowered by the training and viewed it almost entirely positively. However, for those employees subsequently raided, there was no evidence that the training reduced symptoms of psychological distress in either the immediate or longer term. Other personal and environmental factors were related to confidence and post-traumatic stress symptoms, most notably degree of involvement in the raid, job position/role in the Society, social support and coping style. Although levels of initial distress post-raid were high, the majority of those involved recovered quickly.The implications for training employees exposed to the potential for criminal assault are that the majority will appreciate and benefit from both procedural and simple psychological techniques for use during a raid but will be less appreciative of attempts to be taught anxiety management techniques for post-raid stress. Although the majority of those involved in raids will recover from their initial distress, a small minority of employees are very vulnerable to psychological ill health as a consequence of being involved in a raid. This group should be given the opportunity for specialised one-to-one training and therapy to enable them to cope should they be raided.

Objectives: This study was designed to address whether or not the level (high or low) of Streptococcus mutans in the saliva of preschool children can be used as an indicator of caries risk. Material and Methods: Levels of Streptococcus mutans was assessed in saliva of 100 preschool children, before and approximately 6-months after receiving a health promotion intervention known as anticipatory guidance. The S. mutans bacterial level was assessed using an immunoassay system (Saliva-Check MUTANS) based on monoclonal antibody technology. Bacterial counts were determined at baseline as well as at a six month recall examination. Obtained data was analyzed using SPSS 20.0 for Windows to report frequencies and to look for trends and associations between the dependent and independent variables. Bivariate analysis (ANOVA, Chi Square/Fishers/McNemar exact test) was used to identify associations between variables. Results: The main finding of this study was that higher levels of Streptococcus mutans were associated with higher caries prevalence at baseline, and caries incidence at follow-up. Furthermore following anticipatory guidance, the levels of Streptococcus mutans were reduced at the subsequent follow-up examination, approaching but not reaching statistical significance, and caries incidence was significantly lower in subjects demonstrating low Streptococcus mutans levels. Conclusions: Results from this study have shown that anticipatory guidance, offered to caregivers and children at an initial examination, led to a statistically non-significant reduction in the proportion of children with high Streptococcus mutans levels upon recall six mothers later. Children with low Streptococcus mutans levels were also less likely to develop new dental caries. These findings suggest that Streptococcus Mutans counts could be used to assess caries risk and encourages clinicians to provide anticipatory guidance to their patients to help avoid the development of new caries.

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Louisville, 2009. / Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences. Vita. "December 2009." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 65-76).

In their Covert Repair Hypothesis (CRH), Postma and Kolk (1993) proposed that stuttering-like disfluencies arise, in both normal and stuttered speech, as a consequence of speakers‟ attempts to repair phonological-encoding errors before they start to speak. They posited that stutterers are particularly disfluent because they make larger numbers of such errors compared to normally-fluent speakers. To date, however, experimental research has provided little reliable evidence to support or counter this hypothesis. This thesis constitutes a systematic attempt to provide such evidence. Using a tongue-twister paradigm in conjunction with manipulations of auditory masking, it first documents (a) the vigilance with which normally-fluent speakers monitor for such errors; (b) the relative accuracy with which they detect them; and (c) the frequency with which they occur – in both inner and overt speech. A second set of experiments then extends the same investigation to a group of stutterers and matched controls and explores the relationship between the occurrence of participants‟ errors in the experimental paradigm and the frequency of their stuttering-like disfluencies in everyday speaking situations. Together, these experiments reveal that, compared to controls, participants who stutter monitor their speech with similar levels of vigilance; identify phonemic errors with similar degrees of accuracy; and, as predicted by the CRH, produce significantly more errors – in both their inner and overt speech. However, contrary to the predictions of the CRH, no relationship was found between the frequency of such errors in inner speech and the severity of participants‟ disfluencies. In a final set of experiments, a speech-recognition paradigm is employed to explore an alternative hypothesis: that stuttering-like disfluencies can be precipitated, in a speaker, by the mere anticipation that his words will result in communication failure. Results revealed that, for stutterers, stuttering decreased on words that were consistently followed by feedback implying correct recognition, but not on words followed by feedback implying incorrect recognition. For normally-fluent speakers, equivalent correlations were not found. The thesis concludes that slow or impaired phonological encoding may play a role in the development of the disorder. But, once established, the anticipation of communication failure may be a more important factor in determining where and when stuttering-like disfluencies actually occur. It then discusses implications of the experimental findings for hypotheses that posit a connection between phonological encoding and stuttering.

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Syftet med föreliggande studie var att belysa hur några individer, på ett positivt sätt, handskats med problematiken runt alopeci vid cytostaticabehandling. Följande frågeställningar har varit i fokus: Hur såg dessa individers copingstrategier ut innan, under och efter håravfall? Finns det någon gemensam nämnare mellan individer som till synes har en väl fungerande  copingstrategi? Ostrukturerade intervjuer genomfördes samt skriftliga källor såsom bloggar och berättelser användes. Det resultat som kunde utläsas ur materialet har bland annat pekat på hur olika kamoufalgestrategier använts samt hur situationsbundna dessa var. Flertalet deltagare använde sig av såkallade anicipatory coping, såsom att införskaffa olika typer av camoufalge som inte nödvändigtvis kom till användning senare. Två olika strategier användes för att handskas med alopecin, antingen inkorporrerades hårlösheten som en del av personligheten eller så sågs utseendeförändringen som en ovidkommande del av sjukdomsförloppet som var skiljd från personligheten. Vidare var det gemensamt för deltagarna en acceptans av situationen och ett erkännande av olikheten snarare än ett försök att dölja och normalisera.

abstract: Cities around the globe struggle with socio-economic disparities, resource inefficiency, environmental contamination, and quality-of-life challenges. Technological innovation, as one prominent approach to problem solving, promises to address these challenges; yet, introducing new technologies, such as nanotechnology, into society and cities has often resulted in negative consequences. Recent research has conceptually linked anticipatory governance and sustainability science: to understand the role of technology in complex problems our societies face; to anticipate negative consequences of technological innovation; and to promote long-term oriented and responsible governance of technologies. This dissertation advances this link conceptually and empirically, focusing on nanotechnology and urban sustainability challenges. The guiding question for this dissertation research is: How can nanotechnology be innovated and governed in responsible ways and with sustainable outcomes? The dissertation: analyzes the nanotechnology innovation process from an actor- and activities-oriented perspective (Chapter 2); assesses this innovation process from a comprehensive perspective on sustainable governance (Chapter 3); constructs a small set of future scenarios to consider future implications of different nanotechnology governance models (Chapter 4); and appraises the amenability of sustainability problems to nanotechnological interventions (Chapter 5). The four studies are based on data collected through literature review, document analysis, participant observation, interviews, workshops, and walking audits, as part of process analysis, scenario construction, and technology assessment. Research was conducted in collaboration with representatives from industry, government agencies, and civic organizations. The empirical parts of the four studies focus on Metropolitan Phoenix. Findings suggest that: predefined mandates and economic goals dominate the nanotechnology innovation process; normative responsibilities identified by risk governance, sustainability-oriented governance, and anticipatory governance are infrequently considered in the nanotechnology innovation process; different governance models will have major impacts on the role and effects of nanotechnology in cities in the future; and nanotechnologies, currently, do not effectively address the root causes of urban sustainability challenges and require complementary solution approaches. This dissertation contributes to the concepts of anticipatory governance and sustainability science on how to constructively guide nanotechnological innovation in order to harvest its positive potential and safeguard against negative consequences. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Sustainability 2013

abstract: The burden of adaptation has been a major limiting factor in the adoption rates of new wearable assistive technologies. This burden has created a necessity for the exploration and combination of two key concepts in the development of upcoming wearables: anticipation and invisibility. The combination of these two topics has created the field of Anticipatory and Invisible Interfaces (AII) In this dissertation, a novel framework is introduced for the development of anticipatory devices that augment the proprioceptive system in individuals with neurodegenerative disorders in a seamless way that scaffolds off of existing cognitive feedback models. The framework suggests three main categories of consideration in the development of devices which are anticipatory and invisible: • Idiosyncratic Design: How do can a design encapsulate the unique characteristics of the individual in the design of assistive aids? • Adaptation to Intrapersonal Variations: As individuals progress through the various stages of a disability/neurological disorder, how can the technology adapt thresholds for feedback over time to address these shifts in ability? • Context Aware Invisibility: How can the mechanisms of interaction be modified in order to reduce cognitive load? The concepts proposed in this framework can be generalized to a broad range of domains; however, there are two primary applications for this work: rehabilitation and assistive aids. In preliminary studies, the framework is applied in the areas of Parkinsonian freezing of gait anticipation and the anticipation of body non-compliance during rehabilitative exercise. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Computer Science 2020