Master of Science

thesisIt is common for children to occasionally display traits, interests, or behaviors that are not stereotypically associated with their sex. However, gender nonconforming children, who frequently display many of these traits and behaviors, are at risk for a variety of negative psychosocial outcomes, including internalizing symptoms, victimization, and even suicidality. Parents of gender nonconforming children likely play a crucial role in supporting their healthy development, yet many parents are uncomfortable with gender nonconformity and may even attempt to discourage it in their child. This study examined specific parent and child characteristics that predict how parents respond to their child engaging in gender nonconforming behaviors. A total of 279 parents reported on their child's gender nonconformity, their own gender expression, their attitudes towards gender roles, their parenting style, their degree of discomfort with gender nonconforming behaviors, and how frequently they would attempt to change those behaviors in their child. Results indicated that male child sex, lower degree of child gender nonconformity, and traditional attitudes towards gender roles predicted greater parent discomfort. After accounting for the effects of discomfort with gender nonconformity, male child sex, traditional attitudes towards gender roles, parent warmth, and parent psychological control predicted more frequent parent efforts to change gender nonconforming behaviors. Notably, parents of boys were less likely to attempt to change their son's gender nonconforming behaviors if their son frequently engaged in these behaviors. On the other hand, fathers of daughters were less likely to attempt to change their behaviors compared to fathers of sons or mothers in general. These data contribute to our understanding of the unique parent-child contexts that are associated with parents being uncomfortable with their child and attempting to unnecessarily intervene on their behaviors in order to fit in with societal expectations for gender roles

Using Graph Theory to Solve Scheduling Problems

This document is intended to introduce the instructor to the curriculum materials that we have compiled as part of the Arthur Vining Davis High Impact Fellows project. In this electronic packet, each of the following documents are included in PDF and LaTeX formats for your use: Class Handout for graph theory lesson, Instructor copy of Class Handout, Appendix containing additional examples, Presentation with applications of graphs, Student assignment with scheduling problems, Answer key to student assignmen

An Overview of the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) Facility, and the Gravity-Dependent Phenomena Research Performed in the MSG on the International Space Station (ISS)

The Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) is a double rack facility aboard the International Space Station (ISS) designed for gravity-dependent phenomena investigation handling. The MSG has been operating in the ISS US Laboratory Module since July 2002. The MSG facility provides an enclosed working area for investigation manipulation and observation, The MSG's unique design provides two levels of containment to protect the ISS crew from hazardous operations. Research investigations operating inside the MSG are provided a large 255 liter work volume, 1000 watts of dc power via a versatile supply interface (120, 28, +/-12, and 5 Vdc), 1000 watts of cooling capability, video and data recording and real time downlink, ground commanding capabilities, access to ISS Vacuum Exhaust and Vacuum Resource Systems, and gaseous nitrogen supply. With these capabilities, the MSG is an ideal platform for research required to advance the technology readiness levels (TRL) needed for the Crew Exploration Vehicle and the Exploration Initiative. Areas of research that will benefit from investigations in the MSG include thermal management, fluid physics, spacecraft fire safety, materials science, combustion, reaction control systems, in situ fabrication and repair, and advanced life support technologies. This paper will provide a detailed explanation of the MSG facility, a synopsis of the research that has already been accomplished in the MSG and an overview of investigations planning to operate in the MSG. In addition, this paper will address possible changes to the MSG utilization process that will be brought about by the transition to ISS as a National Laboratory