Thesis (Ed. D.)--Illinois State University, 2006. / Title from title page screen, viewed on April 27, 2007. Dissertation Committee: Thomas P. Crumpler, Thomas S. Haynes (co-chairs), Aimee D. Adkins, Barbara B. Meyer. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 173-180) and abstract. Also available in print.

Longitudinal substance abuse research has often been compromised by high rates of attrition, thought to be the result of the lifestyle that often accompanies addiction. Several studies have used a standardized follow-up protocol to minimize attrition, however it is unclear whether this protocol is equally effective for participants struggling with varying levels of housing stability, support for sobriety, and substance abuse severity. The current study extends research supporting the effectiveness of this protocol by demonstrating the importance of two central aspects of the follow-up protocol: locator form completion and continual verification contacts. Results indicated that each additional piece of locator form information and verification contact significantly and independently increased the odds for completing a follow-up interview, and that these effects were not moderated by participant characteristics. Practical and theoretical implications for longitudinal substance abuse research are discussed.

Data from longitudinal surveys give rise to many statistical challenges. They often come from a vast, heterogeneous population and from a complex sampling design. Further, they are usually collected retrospectively at intermittent interviews spaced over a long period of time, which gives rise to missing information and loss to follow-up. As a result, duration data from this kind of surveys are subject to dependent censoring, which needs to be taken into account to prevent biased analysis. Methods for point and variance estimation are developed using Inverse Probability of Censoring (IPC) weights. These methods account for the random nature of the IPC weights and can be applied in the analysis of duration data in survey and non-survey settings. The IPC estimation techniques are based on parametric estimating function theory and involve the estimation of dropout models. Survival distributions without covariates are estimated via a weighted Kaplan-Meier method and regression modeling through the Cox Proportional Hazards model and other models is based on weighted estimating functions. The observational frameworks from Statistics Canada's Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) and the UK Millenium Cohort Study are used as motivation, and durations of jobless spells from SLID are analyzed as an illustration of the methodology. Issues regarding missing information from longitudinal surveys are also discussed.

The objective of this thesis is to explore how human beings manipulate their dexterous operation skills to produce follow shot, stop shot, and draw shot while playing billiard. According to basic mechanics, the forces exerted on a billiard ball are analyzed in three different conditions. They include the cue stick hitting the cue ball, collision between the cue ball and the object ball, and the interaction between the ball and the surface. Mathematical models for those three fundamental techniques: the follow shot, the stop shot, and the draw shot, are developed by incorporating the rolling resistance. The friction between the surface and the ball, and the dent on the surface due to the mass of the ball are considered. Furthermore, reverse derivations are also implemented to solve initial hitting conditions between the cue stick and the cue ball for certain final states for the cue ball and the object ball. Computer simulations in virtual reality are conducted using the 3D Studio Max 8 software tool. Opinions from billiard experts are also collected for the purpose of verification. Based on simulation results, reversed derivation can accurately predict final states of the cue ball and the object ball for both stop shot and draw shot. However, for the case of follow shots, final position of the object ball cannot be fully determined. Besides, no unique solution exists for the hitting condition in all three types of shot.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Göteborg : Göteborgs universitet, 2008. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

Anxiety disorders commonly co-occur in children and adolescents with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Recently, treatment of anxiety using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) has been modified and studied in youth with ASD, with results consistently demonstrating positive treatment outcomes. In typically developing populations, CBT gains are well maintained as long as 14-years post-treatment; however, maintenance of CBT has not yet been studied in anxious youth with ASD. Using a sample of 32 youth who previously completed one of three CBT for anxiety in ASD treatment studies, the present study re-assessed parent report of anxiety symptoms in youth, 12-26 months (M = 17.16 Months; SD = 4.32) following treatment completion. Retrospective data from the original studies' screening/baseline and post-treatment time points were used in combination with newly obtained follow-up data to determine treatment maintenance. Compared to baseline, follow-up scores on all measures of anxiety were associated with large effects for treatment. Compared to post-treatment, no significant differences in scores were observed; however, scores on the Pediatric Anxiety Rating Scale suggested a small effect for return in symptoms. While the percentage of individuals with remission of their primary anxiety diagnosis was identical at post-treatment and follow-up, significantly fewer individuals were rated as responders at follow-up as compared to post-treatment. Similar to CBT for anxiety in neurotypical youth, CBT for anxiety in youth with ASD appears to be relatively durable over a one to two year interval. Despite this, a significant portion of participants demonstrate some level of symptom regression. Future study should investigate factors associated with poor treatment maintenance, as well as modifications or additions to treatment protocols (e.g., booster sessions) that may help maintain treatment gains.

Background: Various follow-up studies show that there are deficiencies in the care of patients affected by stroke. In order to provide good care according to the National Board of health and welfare and national guidelines for stroke care systematic quality audits need to be carried out. Purpose: To investigate if the local guidelines for stroke care in Örebro County are followed and to explore how people with stroke experience care and rehabilitation in hospital, primary care and community. Method: Primary health care records were reviewed using quality indicators in the local stroke guidelines. Samples of patients were obtained from the County´s three hospitals. Differences between men and women, younger and older, were analysed with chi-squared test. Eleven people were interviewed about their experiences of care, rehabilitation, support and participation. The interviews were analysed with qualitative content analysis. Result: 123 records were reviewed and for 69% referrals had been sent to the primary health care. Of the referred patients 78% were followed up within 6 months. Men were treated in significantly higher extent with lipid-lowering medicines compared with women, and people below 75 years in significantly higher extent than those over 75 years. Diagnosis was significantly more frequent registered in records for younger people. The interviewed people were at large satisfied with the hospital care. Those who lived in municipal residents enjoyed company of the staff and the other people living there but could also feel restricted by the ward routines and partially lose their autonomy. Some experienced the primary health care as a security while others experienced a lack of follow-up despite the fact that it happened.  Several felt not involved in the health care planning, but instead relied on staff´s judgement. Conclusion: Quality indicators were met in large in the primary health care but there were differences between gender and between older and younger. People were generally satisfied with care but they did not feel involved in the health care planning. People living in municipal  residents experienced some shortcomings and described loss of autonomy.

A steady-state model for the calculation of temperature and pressure distributions, and heat and work balance for the STAR-LM and the STAR-H2 systems was developed. The STAR-LM system is designed for electricity production and consists of the lead cooled reactor on natural circulation and the supercritical carbon dioxide Brayton cycle. The STAR-H2 system uses the same reactor which is coupled to the hydrogen production plant, the Brayton cycle, and the water desalination plant. The Brayton cycle produces electricity for the on-site needs. Realistic modules for each system component were developed. The model also performs design calculations for the turbine and compressors for the CO2 Brayton cycle. The model was used to optimize the performance of the entire system as well as every system component. The size of each component was calculated. For the 400 MWt reactor power the STAR-LM produces 174.4 MWe (44% efficiency) and the STAR-H2 system produces 7450 kg H2/hr. The steady state model was used to conduct quasi-static passive load follow analysis. The control strategy was developed for each system; no control action on the reactor is required. As a main safety criterion, the peak cladding temperature is used. It was demonstrated that this temperature remains below the safety limit during both normal operation and load follow.

Data from longitudinal surveys give rise to many statistical challenges. They often come from a vast, heterogeneous population and from a complex sampling design. Further, they are usually collected retrospectively at intermittent interviews spaced over a long period of time, which gives rise to missing information and loss to follow-up. As a result, duration data from this kind of surveys are subject to dependent censoring, which needs to be taken into account to prevent biased analysis. Methods for point and variance estimation are developed using Inverse Probability of Censoring (IPC) weights. These methods account for the random nature of the IPC weights and can be applied in the analysis of duration data in survey and non-survey settings. The IPC estimation techniques are based on parametric estimating function theory and involve the estimation of dropout models. Survival distributions without covariates are estimated via a weighted Kaplan-Meier method and regression modeling through the Cox Proportional Hazards model and other models is based on weighted estimating functions. The observational frameworks from Statistics Canada's Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (SLID) and the UK Millenium Cohort Study are used as motivation, and durations of jobless spells from SLID are analyzed as an illustration of the methodology. Issues regarding missing information from longitudinal surveys are also discussed.

There has recently been an intense debate about the increased rate of bipolar disorders (BPD) in children and adolescents observed in clinical settings. Thus, there is great interest in child and adolescent symptoms of hypomania and whether these symptoms subsequently will develop into BPD. More knowledge about early signs could give insight into the development of the disorder. There are also concerns that hypomanic symptoms in adolescence indicate excess risk of other health conditions. It has been reported that patients with mood disorders have a high consumption of prescription drugs in different ATC classes. The primary objective of this thesis was to better understand the mental health outcome of adolescents with hypomania spectrum symptoms and to identify early risk factors for adult bipolar disorder among adolescents with mood disorders. In order to widen the scope and investigate health outcome of mood disorder in general psychopharmacological outcomes were included. A community sample of adolescents (N=2 300) in the town of Uppsala, Sweden, was screened for depressive symptoms. Both participants with positive screening and matched controls (in total 631) were diagnostically interviewed. Ninety participants reported hypomania spectrum episodes, while another 197 fulfilled the criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) without a history of a hypomania spectrum episode. A follow-up after 15 years included a blinded diagnostic interview, a self-assessment of personality disorders, and national register data on prescription drugs and health services use. Adolescent mood symptoms, non-mood disorders, and family characteristics were assessed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were used. The results indicate that the phenomenology of the hypomania spectrum episodes during childhood and adolescence per se does not predict adult bipolar disorder. However, having both affective symptoms during adolescence and a family history of bipolar disorder increases the risk of developing bipolar disorders in adulthood. Disruptive disorder in childhood or adolescence as well as family histories of BPD emerged as significant risk factors that differentiated between the future development of BPD and MDD. Adolescents with hypomania spectrum episodes and adolescents with MDD do not differ substantially in health outcomes in adulthood. Both groups are at increased risk for subsequent mental health problems, high consumption of prescription drugs, and high health care use, compared with the control group. The high rates of prescription drugs in many ATC classes found among the former depressed females seem to indicate a series of co-morbid somatic illnesses. Thus, it is important to identify and treat children and adolescents with mood disorders, and carefully follow the continuing course. Characteristics such as disruptive disorders and family history warrant particular attention.