Thesis (D. Mus. Arts)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 290-299).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Chicago, School of Social Service Administration, August, 2001. / Includes bibliographical references. Also available on the Internet.

Thesis (Ed. D.)--University of La Verne, 2003. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 184-191).

Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of California, San Diego, 2003. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 149-160).

This study used data from the 2008 wave of the Health and Retirement Study to examine variations in relationships among selected psychosocial characteristics, race/ethnicity and expectations of nursing home utilization in the United States, with a particular focus on Latino/a subgroups. This study sought to test a modified version of the Andersen and Newman model of health service utilization. Findings revealed that expectations of nursing home utilization remained lower among Latino/as than in the Non-Latino White sub-groups, even when levels of need, enabling, and predisposing factors were controlled for. However, for Mexican Origin respondents (who are often arbitrarily combined with other individuals of various Latino nationalities as one homogenous group) never differed significantly from the White reference group. The inclusion of the selected psychosocial characteristics (attitudes towards one's own aging, personal mastery, religiosity, and perceived family support/ family satisfaction) increased the explanatory power of regression models tested. Having a high sense of personal mastery, as well as having a more positive attitude towards one's own aging, were associated with lower expectations of nursing home use. An important implication of this study is that the Latino/a population in the United States should not be treated as a homogenous, pan-ethnic group, particularly in regards to health service use. Also, psychosocial characteristics are relevant when considering expectations for nursing home use

Broad spectral tunability is a desired feature of many photonic and plasmonic components, such as optical filters, semiconductor lasers, and plasmonic materials. Here I show that unique properties of long-range surface plasmon polaritons (LR SPP) allow one to produce optical components with very wide tuning range using small variations in the refractive index of the dielectric cladding material. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, I present operation of LR-SPP-based bandpass optical filters in which a 0.004 variation in the refractive index of the cladding dielectric translates into 210 nm of bandpass tuning at telecom wavelengths. The tuning mechanism proposed here may be used to create monolithic bandpass filters with tuning range spanning over more than an optical octave, compact and widely-tunable diode and quantum cascade laser systems, multi-spectral imagers, and other plasmonic components with broadly-tunable optical response. / text

The impact of the physical environment on communication for residents of long-term care (LTC) facilities has not been examined in depth. No study currently exists which explores environmental influences on communication within the long-term care setting. Investigation of such facilities is important because of the a large impact environmental features have on the quality of life of residents due to the often restricted nature of daily routines and reduced level of cognitive and/or physical function of residents. A definition of environment is needed in order to create a methodology for assessment and treatment of residents in LTC facilities. This study investigates what factors contribute to a positive communication environment in long-term care facilities and how the physical environment should be assessed. Observational data was obtained for three LTC residents with different types of physical and communicative impairments to determine what environmental factors inhibit or support communication. Barriers and facilitators to communication are identified, and recommendations for assessment of the long-term care environment are made. Contributions from the fields of aphasiology, environmental gerontology, and environmental psychology are described in order to contribute to the understanding of what contributes to a positive communication environment. Study results included support for: participant observation as a component of resident assessment, assessment of multiple environments, the importance considering individual needs during assessment, and assessment of resident perception of environment. Furthermore, this study presents a checklist to be used to guide observational assessments. / text

A reactive distillation column for the alkylation of benzene with long chain linear olefin was studied. The study involved design, construction, experimentation, and simulation of the column. Establishing the design required study of reaction rates, thermodynamic relationships, and packing structures. A heuristic was developed for the design of such columns. This heuristic involved estimating an amount of catalyst loading and subsequently determining the operating parameters for a column. This method is particularly applicable to systems with high concentrations of inert feeds. A column was constructed following the design. Data was collected from the column and compared to simulations. The simulations were performed with Aspen Plus RADFRAC. In this manner, the data was used to validate the commercial steady state models for reactive distillation. In addition, dynamic simulations of the system were performed. These dynamic simulations provided insight into more design considerations. For example, steady state simulations indicated an optimal feed stage based on steady state conversion of the olefin. However, the dynamic simulations showed a potential disadvantage to the utilization of the optimal feed stage. With some disturbances, a column configured with the feed stage with the highest steady state conversion also deviated from the steady state faster and with greater amplitude than other configurations. These considerations were further explored in developing a control scheme for reactive distillation columns. Control of reactive distillation differs from traditional distillation in that one control variable is conversion. Traditional distillation generally focuses on production rates and product purity. To this end, control schemes were analyzed and dynamic simulations were performed. These simulations showed an advantage to a variable pairing in which duty is paired with conversion. The conversion was inferred from a stage temperature in the reactive zone. In addition, distillate rate may be paired with product composition. In conclusion, the reactive distillation column design for long chain olefin alkylation of benzene requires careful estimation of catalyst requirements and valid simulation tools. In addition, dynamic response should be considered in the design. Finally, a simple inferential control scheme may be adequate. / text

Working memory and long-term memory are two types of memory associated with children’s learning and academic performance. A number of memory models have suggested there is a relationship between working memory and long-term memory; however, there is a lack of empirical research measuring this relationship using standardized assessment tools. Further, there are currently no studies measuring this relationship in children. The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between children’s working memory (i.e., verbal working memory, visual-spatial working memory, verbal short-term memory, visual-spatial short-term memory, and the central executive) and long-term memory, using standardized assessment tools. The Automated Working Memory Assessment was used to measure working memory and the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities – Third Edition was used to measure long-term memory. This study utilized secondary data from a larger SSHRC funded study. Participants included 41 children between grades 1 and 8. The majority of parents who volunteered to have their children participate identified them as having a disability (e.g., speech/language difficulty; learning disability). Kendall’s tau-b revealed statistically significant correlations between four areas of working memory (i.e., verbal working memory, visual-spatial working memory, visual-spatial short-term memory, and central executive) and long-term memory. Mann-Whitney tests revealed children with higher working memory abilities differed significantly from children with lower working memory abilities on measures of long-term memory. The findings from this study may have implications for both theory and practice. The relationship observed between working memory and long-term memory appears to align with widely accepted memory models (e.g., Baddeley, 2000; Dehn, 2008). The findings also suggest interventions designed to improve children’s working memory may have the potential to enhance long-term memory abilities.

Since its early discovery as a messenger, RNA has been shown to play a diverse set of regulatory, structural and even catalytic roles. The more recent understanding that the genome is pervasively transcribed stimulated the discovery of a new prevalent class of long non coding RNAs (lncRNAs). While these are lower abundant and relatively less conserved than other class of functional RNAs, lncRNAs are emerging as key players in different cellular processes in development and disease.