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abstract: Romantic relationships are often viewed as an important, meaningful part of a person's life. Most romantic relationships do not last forever. Research regarding romantic relationship satisfaction and quality have thus grown. The purpose of this study was to determine whether individuals who train for endurance events such as running, cycling, or triathlons with their romantic partner have greater relationship satisfaction and quality than do individuals who do not train with their romantic partner. Participants, 54 males and 60 females whose mean age was 33.4, completed a demographic questionnaire, the Quality of Relationships Inventory (QRI), the Perceived Relationship Quality Component (PRQC), the Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS), and the Revised Dyadic Adjustment Scale (RDAS). Of these 114 participants, 52 trained with their romantic partner. A multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) revealed that individuals who trained with their romantic partner reported higher relationship satisfaction and quality compared to those that did not train for an endurance event with their romantic partner. There were no statistically significant differences in relationship satisfaction or relationship quality between men and women or between married individuals and dating individuals. These findings suggest that couples may benefit from engaging in shared activities. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Counseling 2014

Thesis (Ed.D.)--Boston University / PLEASE NOTE: Boston University Libraries did not receive an Authorization To Manage form for this thesis or dissertation. It is therefore not openly accessible, though it may be available by request. If you are the author or principal advisor of this work and would like to request open access for it, please contact us at open-help@bu.edu. Thank you. / This research focused on understanding the process of nonprofit growth through geographic expansion, including challenges, opportunities, and critical decision points. A qualitative case study design was used. City Year and Citizen Schools, two Boston based, youth-serving organizations, served as the subjects of this study. Data collection included interviews with founders/leaders, board members, staff members, and other key informants; observation; and a review of internal and external documents. Using the principles of grounded theory, a Preliminary Nonprofit Geographic Expansion Model was developed through analysis of the two cases. Several major themes that emerged from the analysis were explored. This discussion of themes led to a Revised Nonprofit Geographic Expansion Model. Further study is required to test the generalizability of the Revised Nonprofit Expansion Model and relevant insights. / 2999-01-02

Mathematical models that are built in order to simulate the behavior of structures, most often, tend to respond differently than the actual structures in their initial state. In order to use the mathematical models and their computational outputs instead of testing the real structure under every possible case, it is mandatory to have a mathematical model that reflects the characteristics of the actual structure in the best possible way. In this thesis, the so called model updating techniques used for updating the mathematical models in order to make them respond in the way the actual structures do are investigated. Case studies using computationally generated test data are performed using the direct and indirect modal updating techniques with the software developed for each method investigated. After investigating the direct and indirect modal updating techniques, two of them, one using frequency response functions and the other using modal sensitivities, are determined to be the most suitable ones for aircraft structures. A generic software is developed for the technique using modal sensitivities. A modal test is carried out on a scaled aircraft model. The test data is used for updating of the finite element model of the scaled aircraft using the modal sensitivities and the usability of the method is thus evaluated. The finite element model of a real aircraft using the modal test data is also updated using the modal sensitivities. A new error localization technique and a model updating routine are also proposed in this thesis. This modal updating routine is used with several case studies using computationally generated test data and it is concluded that it is capable of updating the mathematical models even with incomplete measured data.

Structural changes in society have often been related to social problems such as crime, alcoholism and social elimination. In this analysis of the development of social elimination in Sweden during the period 1860-1975, which is mainly based on official data, it is demonstrated that there is not always a causal relationship between structural change and such social problems. If structural changes lead to social problems or not depend on whether the structural changes occur according to a "Budding" or an "Ex­pansion" model. The historical period in which a rapid structural change followed the "Budding" model closely was the time right before and after the turn of the century in which the final leap into the industrial society occured. This was a period characterized by an increasing number of industries, communities and organizations. During this period the structural changes increased the legal economic opportunities, strengthened the social and cultural integration as well as the informal social control within the working class. This period was also a period with decreasing human malad­justment symptoms and social elimination. After World War II a new period of rapid structural changes occured. But now the development followed closely to the "Expansion" model. This was a period when different subsystems in society became larger, more centra­lized specialized and difficult to survey. The consequences were not only more individual freedom and higher standards of living but also many individuals experienced a great deal of social stress together with a decreasing social and cultural integration. Increasing opportunities for crime and drugs to­gether with a decreasing social control increased the risks for social mal­adjustment for many people. This latter period can also be described as a period of rapidly increasing human maladjustment symptoms and increasing social elimination of the socially maladjusted. / digitalisering@umu

This paper develops and applies a Bayesian approach to Exploratory Factor Analysis that improves on ad hoc classical approaches. Our framework relies on dedicated factor models and simultaneously determines the number of factors, the allocation of each measurement to a unique factor, and the corresponding factor loadings. Classical identification criteria are applied and integrated into our Bayesian procedure to generate models that are stable and clearly interpretable. A Monte Carlo study confirms the validity of the approach. The method is used to produce interpretable low dimensional aggregates from a high dimensional set of psychological measurements. (authors' abstract)

Pets are a common aspect of life for many Americans. In 2012, 36.5% of American household owned dogs and 30.4% owned cats (American Veterinary Medical Foundation, 2012). The purpose on this study was to explore the influence of dog ownership on romantic relationships. Specifically, this thesis investigates how dog ownership acts as a catalyst of relational maintenance and conflict behavior in interactions about the couple's dog. No prior research has been conducted on the role dogs' play in enacting relational maintenance or conflict in romantic relationships, so it is unclear if there is an influence to the these behaviors. This study asks how dog ownership might act as a centripetal force pulling the relationship together (e.g. relational maintenance) and/or as a centrifugal force pushing the partners apart (e.g. conflict). A total of 379 participants were recruited through social media to complete a short online survey. The survey asked questions on the romantic relationship, dog ownership, conflict regarding the dog, relational maintenance activities regarding the dog, and demographics. The majority of participants reported engaging in 8 of the 24 relational maintenance activities "often" or "always" and 3 of the 30 conflict topics occurred at least one or more times. Satisfaction with the romantic relationship associated positively with partial weak and negligible correlations to the relational maintenance activities and one negligible association with a conflict topic. A thematic analysis provides details on the short answers participants provided. The results shows that dogs do provide couples opportunities for relational maintenance but also are the source of conflict. This research is the start to understanding the role of dog ownership within romantic relationship. While each couple and dog may produce different influences on the relationship, this study is the start for the investigation and provides guidance for future research.

The purpose of the research is to assess if the franchising conceptual model is an applicable model for the HWP international market expansion in China.  The assessment will be carried out through the extensive investigations into SSAB/HWP internal and external forces including transfer of knowledge in the MNC, position building in business networks, products positioning and sales situation on the Chinese market to define the risk and opportunity.  As well as the theories of the internationalization, marketing strategy and models will be referred to evaluate the franchising model, which can be adopted in China. The research questions are how can the franchising concept be adopted as an applicable model for the Hardox Wearparts international market expansion in China?  What are the appropriate suggestions for the improvements to the further implementation of the model? By adopting four research methods of qualitative research strategy, a multidimensional purpose of the research has been conducted in order to gather first-hand data, study a specific case and investigate the multidimensional environments for the implementation of the HWP international market expansion model.  The main research methods include 1) questionnaire & survey, 2) qualitative interviewing, 3) observation, and 4) collection and qualitative analysis of texts, document, e- research materials and data. The conclusion of the research is that there are several internal- and external factors, which have affected the HWP´s market expansion in China negatively during the year.  It is a sensible decision to emphasize China as a single largest market for the HWP business development. The market seeking strategy by the infusion of the franchising concept is an appropriate decision for the HWP market expansion in China.  The conceptual franchising model by SSAB is appropriate to both the theoretical model and Chinese regulation on the franchises.  However, to implement this franchising model in China, it requires several significant improvements on those four key components/success factors which are 1) internationalization entry model, 2) transfer of knowledge within the MNC, 3) learning in the foreign market network, and 4) position-building in the business networks.   Together with the improvements on four key components/success factors, the franchising concept will be an applicable model for the HWP international market expansion in China.

Concrete has proven to be, by far, one of the most reliable materials for the construction of critical infrastructure. However, despite its structural capacity, concrete members are susceptible to damage mechanisms that may decrease its performance and durability throughout its service life. One such mechanism is alkali-silica reaction (ASR), which takes place when unstable siliceous phases present in coarse or fine aggregates react with the alkali hydroxides from the concrete pore solution, generating a secondary product (i.e., ASR gel); this product swells upon moisture uptake from the surrounding environment, leading to cracking and expansion of the affected concrete. In severe cases of ASR-affected infrastructure, structural safety could become a problem, and thus requiring the demolition of affected members. It is, therefore, necessary to adopt effective protocols for the diagnosis and prognosis of aging infrastructure, to ensure its performance over time along with properly planning for rehabilitation strategies, whether required. This work presents a two-stage case study of the S.I.T.E. building at the University of Ottawa for the diagnosis and prognosis of ASR-affected members (i.e., columns) after nearly 20 years in service. The diagnosis phase was conducted with the aim of evaluating the cause and extent of distress and interpreting its impact on the performance of the affected structure. First, a visual inspection was conducted to evaluate potentially damaged members, in order to select the best location for core-drilling. Once ASR was confirmed through petrographic examination, specimens were evaluated through the multi-level assessment (i.e., coupling of microscopic and mechanical assessment). A range of damage was discovered among the examined columns (i.e., 0.03%, 0.05%, and 0.08% expansion). Moreover, evidence of developing freeze and thaw (FT) damage was discovered in columns with greater levels of expansion, raising future concerns regarding the durability and serviceability of members affected by this coupling of damage (i.e., ASR+FT). For the second stage of this project (i.e., prognosis), a novel ASR semi-empirical model was developed with the aim of predicting future ASR-induced expansion and damage in the S.I.T.E. building. The above model was developed and validated (using ASR exposure site data) through the coupling of existing chemo-mechanical macro-models, which were used to predict material behaviour on the structural scale, and novel mathematical relationships for the prediction of anisotropy in the columns. Moreover, the use of the multi-level assessment to predict the mechanical implications of predicted distress was found to enhance the model’s capacity for prognosis and demonstrated important potential for the accurate prediction of multi-level damage in the S.I.T.E. columns.