abstract: Conceptual design stage plays a critical role in product development. However, few systematic methods and tools exist to support conceptual design. The long term aim of this project is to develop a tool for facilitating holistic ideation for conceptual design. This research is a continuation of past efforts in ASU Design Automation Lab. In past research, an interactive software test bed (Holistic Ideation Tool - version 1) was developed to explore logical ideation methods. Ideation states were identified and ideation strategies were developed to overcome common ideation blocks. The next version (version 2) of the holistic ideation tool added Cascading Evolutionary Morphological Charts (CEMC) framework and intuitive ideation strategies (reframing, restructuring, random connection, and forced connection). Despite these remarkable contributions, there exist shortcomings in the previous versions (version 1 and version 2) of the holistic ideation tool. First, there is a need to add new ideation methods to the holistic ideation tool. Second, the organizational framework provided by previous versions needs to be improved, and a holistic approach needs to be devised, instead of separate logical or intuitive approaches. Therefore, the main objective of this thesis is to make the improvements and to resolve technical issues that are involved in their implementation. Towards this objective, a new web based holistic ideation tool (version 3) has been created. The new tool adds and integrates Knowledge Bases of Mechanisms and Components Off-The-Shelf (COTS) into logical ideation methods. Additionally, an improved CEMC framework has been devised for organizing ideas efficiently. Furthermore, the usability of the tool has been improved by designing and implementing a new graphical user interface (GUI) which is more user friendly. It is hoped that these new features will lead to a platform for the designers to not only generate creative ideas but also effectively organize and store them in the conceptual design stage. By placing it on the web for public use, the Testbed has the potential to be used for research on the ideation process by effectively collecting large amounts of data from designers. / Dissertation/Thesis / Masters Thesis Mechanical Engineering 2014

The prevalence of sexual harassment among college women has been reported to range from 33% to 97% (Klein, Apple, & Khan, 2011; Yoon, Funk, & Kropf, 2010) across the lifespan. In any one year of college, the prevalence of sexual harassment reported by women ranges from 33% to 57% (Crown & Roberts, 2007; Huerta, Cortina, Pang, Torges, & Magley, 2006). The severity and frequency of sexual harassment has been found to be related to reports of psychological distress (Nielsen & Einarsen, 2012), feelings of shame (Yoon et al., 2010), anxiety and depression symptoms (Murdoch, Pryor, Polusny, & Gackstetter, 2007), and social isolation (Pershing, 2003). These consequences of sexual harassment are concerning given the association between depression, isolation, and suicidality (Boardman, Grimbaldeston, Handley, Jones, & Willmott, 1999; DeWall, Gilman, Sharif, Carboni, & Rice, 2012). While there are numerous studies documenting the negative consequences experienced by women who are sexually harassed, little is known about the relationship of sexual harassment to the more severe negative outcomes of suicidal ideation and self-harm behaviors and what variables might facilitate this hypothesized relationship. Thus, the purpose of this study is to explore whether the experience of sexual harassment is related to increased suicidality and if this hypothesized relationship is mediated or moderated by other factors such as an individual’s response style and/or degree of connection to or isolation from others.

Background: Suicidal thoughts affect 12% of Canadian adolescents. Previous research has linked many factors to suicidality but has not considered how these factors may act together or their effect on non-mental health outcomes. Methods: I used the National Longitudinal Survey of Children and Youth to construct predictive models for suicidal thinking. Recursive partitioning models were constructed and the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) for suicidal thoughts and secondary outcomes was calculated. I tested the models in the Avon Longitudinal Survey of Parents and Children. Results: Predictive model sensitivity was 24.2%, specificity was 89.8%, PPV was 24.7%, and NPV was 89.5% and had similar accuracy in the second dataset. The models were better at predicting other adverse outcomes compared to suicidal ideas. Conclusion: Exposure to multiple risk factors is predictive of several poor outcomes in adolescence including suicidal thoughts.

In recent years superhero movies have skyrocketed in popularity, bringing with them plots and characters that tend to exhibit high levels of aggression. As social learners, humans often learn from what they observe, and especially emulate characters they admire – including fictional superheroes and villains. Consequently, this study content analyzed non-physical aggressions (verbal aggression, relational aggression, and violent ideation) in the top 25 highest grossing superhero movies between 2005 and 2015. Results found an average of 171.8 acts of non-physical aggression per movie. Females in these movies were also significantly more likely to engage in verbal and relational aggressions, which contributes to gender stereotypes about aggression. Unfortunately, due to a failure in intercoder reliability testing, these results are unreliable.

Individuals who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ) are at a higher risk for suicide compared to the general population, but little is known about why this is. Many LGBTQ individuals face some form of discrimination or victimization in their lifetime, and some evidence suggests these experiences may contribute to this group’s higher suicide risk. Unfortunately, research has only examined the impact of direct discrimination/victimization on suicidality and has neglected to examine how ambient discrimination/victimization relates to suicidality. Additionally, although some links exist between discrimination, victimization, and suicide, the mechanisms by which these are related are unknown. This study aims to address these gaps in the literature by exploring the effect of ambient discrimination/victimization on suicidal ideation and examining psychological pain as a mediator and social connectedness as a moderator between various forms of discrimination and victimization and suicidal ideation. Regression, mediation, and moderation analyses were conducted in order to examine these relationships in a sample of 200 LGBTQ-identified individuals. Results of this study may provide insight into why the LGBTQ community is at an increased risk for suicide.

No description available.

Background: Individuals experiencing negative and potentially traumatic life events are at increased risk for suicidal thoughts and behaviors; however, suicidal outcomes are not inevitable. Individuals who attribute negative life events to external, transient, and specific factors, rather than internal, stable, and global self-characteristics, may experience fewer deleterious outcomes, including suicidal behavior. Aims: This study examines the moderating effect of explanatory style on the relationship between negative life experiences and suicide ideation in a college student sample. Methods: A total of 138 participants (73% female) were recruited from a rural. Eastern college and completed a self-report psychosocial assessment. Results: Optimistic explanatory style mitigates the influence of negative and potentially traumatic life events on thoughts of suicide, above and beyond the effects of hopelessness and depression. Conclusions: Beliefs about the origin, pervasiveness, and potential recurrence of a negative life event may affect psychological outcomes. Optimistic explanatory style was associated with reduced suicide ideation, whereas pessimistic explanatory style was associated with increased thoughts of suicide. Optimistic reframing of negative life events for clients may have treatment implications for the prevention of suicidal activity.

OBJECTIVE: Adults with mood disorders are at elevated risk for suicide. Psychological features such as hopelessness increase their risk for suicide ideation. Few studies have examined psychological constructs posited to lower risk for suicide ideation. The authors tested the hypothesis that reasons for living (RFL) are inversely related to suicide ideation. DESIGN: This report is a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data. SETTING: Participants were recruited from the clinical services of three teaching hospitals in Rochester, NY. PARTICIPANTS: The sample consisted of 125 adults 50 years or older receiving treatment for a mood disorder. MEASUREMENTS: A diagnostic interview and measures of suicide ideation, depression, hopelessness, and RFL were included in the assessment battery. Dependent variables were presence and severity of suicide ideation. Data were analyzed using multivariate logistic and linear regressions. RESULTS: Patients who reported higher levels of fear of suicide were less likely to report suicide ideation. The relationships between hopelessness and both the presence and severity of suicide ideation were stronger among those who reported greater levels of responsibility to family. CONCLUSIONS: Clinicians working with at-risk older adults are encouraged to explore their patients' RFL. These cross-sectional findings point to the need for prospective research examining the associations among different RFL, hopelessness, and suicide ideation in depressed older adults.

No description available.

Background: As the landscape of the fashion industry is challenged by the emergence of big data and high sustainability demands, efficient solutions for product innovation and development are required. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is generating organizational shifts in various industries, but the fashion industry is still very early in its adoption. AI shows abilities to facilitate the challenges of the industry, and its application in creative design and product development processes is estimated to hold potential. Problem: As the fashion industry is characterized by creativity and human ideation, there is a need to evaluate if AI is compatible with the values of the industry. Management’s attitudes are proven to influence the adoption of digital technologies, leaving implications to study the attitudes of professionals in design and product development towards AI as well. Further, it is relevant to understand the possibilities and limitations of utilizing generative AI in creative processes, to ensure a successful implementation. Purpose: This thesis aims to investigate the implementation of AI in creative ideation and product development within the fashion industry, particularly exploring the attitudes of fashion professionals toward the relationship between human ideation and AI to determine the industry’s current position. Method: This study utilized qualitative research design by conducting 10 semi-structured interviews with professionals working in the fields of fashion design, product development, and AI. Conclusion: The results show that AI is currently not implemented within fashion, among the interviewees. The study identified determinants, such as awareness, attitudes, data, knowledge, objectives, and competencies that influence the adoption of AI, in the early stages. The attitudes toward AI are an essential factor in the early stages of adoption.