A two-step fusion process for multi-criteria decision applied to natural hazards in mountains

Mountain river torrents and snow avalanches generate human and material damages with dramatic consequences. Knowledge about natural phenomenona is often lacking and expertise is required for decision and risk management purposes using multi-disciplinary quantitative or qualitative approaches. Expertise is considered as a decision process based on imperfect information coming from more or less reliable and conflicting sources. A methodology mixing the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP), a multi-criteria aid-decision method, and information fusion using Belief Function Theory is described. Fuzzy Sets and Possibilities theories allow to transform quantitative and qualitative criteria into a common frame of discernment for decision in Dempster-Shafer Theory (DST ) and Dezert-Smarandache Theory (DSmT) contexts. Main issues consist in basic belief assignments elicitation, conflict identification and management, fusion rule choices, results validation but also in specific needs to make a difference between importance and reliability and uncertainty in the fusion process

The Use of Humor With Families During Pediatric Trauma Intake Assessments

Traditionally from a positive psychological view, humor is regarded as an adaptive force, a vital aspect of healing, and possibly a beneficial coping tool when faced with traumatic circumstances. Despite these beliefs, little is known about how humor relieves stress with parents in the initial intake assessment when their child has been traumatically injured. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to explore social workers\u27 use of humor during pediatric trauma assessments. A sample of 6 parents were from pediatric parent trauma support groups to participate in this study, which employed a subject-intensive theoretical framework. Face-to-face interviews and participant observation were used to analyze the experience of the parents with the social worker that used some form of humor consisting of jokes, laughter, smiles, and verbal or nonverbal body language during their intake process. All encounters were audio taped and the data were manually transcribed. Theming was used to analyze the data of the study, and 9 themes emerged with a set of subthemes. The findings provided narratives from the parents regarding their initial perceptions of the social worker, forms of humor used, parenting skills, and factors that either support or oppose the social workers\u27 intake assessment using humor. The study also reaffirms the benefits of the use of some form of humor in the pediatric medical field, revealing that humor benefits not only help the children, but parents and clinicians as well. These findings provide an outlook on how social workers make connections with parents at the onset of the hospital experience to create better lines of communication and improve relationships for all parties. The findings have implications for training and raise awareness around social workers use of humor in pediatric trauma assessments

A Dynamic Hair Rigging System for Maya

This thesis will cover the creation, use, and process of an automated rigging tool in Maya. The dynamic hair-rigging system’s purpose is to help control the function, style, and movement of hair, along with other uses. A solution for controlling and manipulating sections of hair is using an automated rigging system that allows for full artistic freedom over styling and animating hair. An interface was designed to aid rigging artists with producing quick and efficient rigs for hair. Along with the use for hair, the dynamic hair-rigging tool could also be used to drive and control chain, rope, and other secondary objects

Evaluation of Lifestyle Modification Program for Polycystic Ovary Syndrome in Infertile Women

Abstract Problem: Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) affects a large proportion of the female population worldwide. PCOS can have a wide variety of health implications for the woman including difficulty achieving pregnancy. Methods: A retrospective chart review of 368 patient records were assessed for inclusion criteria yielding 163 patients with PCOS suffering from infertility. Demographic and health data were gathered for each patient to provide a baseline comparison between the first two quarters of 2019 and the first two quarters of 2020. Results: The results of the study were mixed. Patients who lost weight did have a higher positive pregnancy rate. However, as a byproduct of the study it was found that the Health and Wellness program is being underutilized and is using only a single modality for treatment. The clinic is losing patients due to a lack of follow-up and there are communications disconnect between the Health and Wellness program and the clinic. Implications for Practice: The study has shown that weight loss does help improve positive pregnancy rates. The study also identified some areas of improvement that needs to be addressed in the Health and Wellness program. Implementing a more well-rounded and holistic program by adding components to address physical activity, stress reduction, and mental and physical health oversight would transform the Health and Wellness program into a true lifestyle modification program

Synthetic Routes to Therapeutic Agents Via Masked Functionalities: From Orthogonal Peptide Crosslink to Photothermal Cancer Prodrug

The theonellamides are a family of compounds distinguished by their crosslinking ô-histidinoalanine (ô-HAL) residue. Part one of this dissertation details the synthesis of an orthogonally protected ô-HAL building block that will be incorporated into a total synthesis of theonellamide C. Selective deprotection of each amine and acid of this orthogonally protected building block is also demonstrated. Various reaction partners for the assembly of ô-histidinoalanine were explored. One approach involved the coupling of N-Fmoc-â-iodoalanine benzyl ester and (Nðim)-blocked histidine nucleophiles including a fused bicyclic urea and a Boc-His(Nð-Pac)-OMe. While the imidazolium salts were identified by mass spectrometry, elimination of the iodide group was a major side reaction. Successful nucleophilic opening of a five-membered ring sulfamidate (derived from Fmoc-D-Ser-OH) by Boc-L-His-OTCE led to preparation of a regiochemically and stereochemically pure ô-HAL derivative. Thus, a new set of orthogonal protecting groups have been identified: Fluorenylmethyloxycarbonyl (Fmoc), 2,2,2-trichloroethylester (TCE), tert-butyl carbamate (Boc), and benzyl (Bn) ester. Part two of this dissertation outlines the synthesis of a trimethyl lock-based prodrug model system, wherein photothermal activation of a salt containing a cationic near-IR dye and an anionic prodrug, releases a paclitaxel side-chain fragment via a tandem aryl Claisen rearrangement and lactonization. The prodrug model system was prepared via coupling of the paclitaxel sidechain alcohol to an acid with a pendant substrate for the rearrangement-lactonization. Claisen rearrangement studies in various solvent systems on the release of the paclitaxel fragment demonstrated that aqueous alcoholic solutions of allyl aryl ethers accelerated the rearrangement relative to hydrocarbon solvents, temperatures achieved were still too high to be feasible in biological systems. The 1,1-dimethylallyl group was identified for its rate-accelerating properties. Studies of the Claisen rearrangement in aqueous methanol demonstrated that the aryl dimethylallyl ether derivatives rearranged significantly faster than the unsubstituted allyl ethers. Moreover, electron donating groups facilitated the reaction. A salt was formed from a cationic near-IR laser dye (IR-780) and 1-(1,1-dimethylallyl ether)-4-benzoic acid, then suspended as nanoparticles in water. Photothermal studies of these aggregated species are underway

Adult Student Satisfaction in an Accelerated LPN-RN Nursing Program

This study was designed to examine the importance and degree of satisfaction placed by adult, nontraditional, accelerated LPN-RN students on student service item scales as measured by the results of the Noel-Levitz® Adult Student Priorities Survey™. In addition, the study examined the correlation between satisfaction with each of the scales and student success as measured by current nursing course grade point average (GPA). The student service scales of importance were: academic advising effectiveness, academic services, admissions and financial aid effectiveness, campus climate, instructional effectiveness, registration effectiveness, safety and security, and service excellence. The conceptual framework for the study was derived from Herzberg\u27s (1966) satisfaction theory. The sample was one of convenience and consisted of 54 nontraditional, accelerated LPN-RN students. Data analysis indicated that LPN-RN students identified instructional effectiveness as being most important followed by campus climate and registration effectiveness. The academic services scale was identified as least important however; it was still rated as highly important to the students. Students were most satisfied with the instructional effectiveness scale followed by safety and security and campus climate. Overall, students rated satisfaction with all scales as high. Data revealed no statistically significant relationship between accelerated LPN-RN student satisfaction on any of the identified scales and GPA. Items identified as being most important and delivering the most satisfaction by the students typically dealt with interpersonal and academic relationships between faculty and students, course expectations, and perceptions of students related to being respected, treated fairly and being cared for. For students, these factors are intrinsic to the job of being a student thus; Herzberg\u27s (1966) theory constructs related to the presence of intrinsic factors or motivators as being necessary for job satisfaction to occur are generally upheld. Services related to factors outside of the classroom and extraneous or extrinsic to the job of being a student were found to be least important to and to provide the least satisfaction for the accelerated LPN-RN students. These findings also lend support to Herzberg\u27s (1966) theory

The Professional Degree as Marital Property Under North Carolina\u27s Equitable Distribution Statute

The Legislature in enacting the North Carolina Act for Equitable Distribution of Marital Property altered the common law approach of dividing property upon divorce strictly according to record title. Under the new statute, marriage is viewed as a joint venture to acquire property through monetary and non-monetary efforts of each spouse. The Legislature authorizes the courts to reward these mutual efforts by dividing marital property in an equitable fashion. Marital property is that real or personal property acquired during marriage which is traceable to the joint efforts of both spouses. Under the new statute, only that property classified as marital property becomes divisible by the court. The appellate courts of North Carolina have had little opportunity to interpret the new statute and have not faced the difficult issue of whether a professional degree obtained by one spouse during marriage should be classified as marital property. The statute classifies professional licenses as separate, non-divisible property. While this classification exempts the professional license from distribution in North Carolina, the Legislature left unclear the issue of whether a professional degree could be valued and distributed upon divorce. Other equitable distribution states have faced the issue. This comment focuses on these states\u27 approaches and outlines North Carolina courts\u27 possible responses when the contributing spouse demands a share of the other\u27s future earnings derived from the professional degree

The Professional Degree as Marital Property Under North Carolina\u27s Equitable Distribution Statute

The Legislature in enacting the North Carolina Act for Equitable Distribution of Marital Property altered the common law approach of dividing property upon divorce strictly according to record title. Under the new statute, marriage is viewed as a joint venture to acquire property through monetary and non-monetary efforts of each spouse. The Legislature authorizes the courts to reward these mutual efforts by dividing marital property in an equitable fashion. Marital property is that real or personal property acquired during marriage which is traceable to the joint efforts of both spouses. Under the new statute, only that property classified as marital property becomes divisible by the court. The appellate courts of North Carolina have had little opportunity to interpret the new statute and have not faced the difficult issue of whether a professional degree obtained by one spouse during marriage should be classified as marital property. The statute classifies professional licenses as separate, non-divisible property. While this classification exempts the professional license from distribution in North Carolina, the Legislature left unclear the issue of whether a professional degree could be valued and distributed upon divorce. Other equitable distribution states have faced the issue. This comment focuses on these states\u27 approaches and outlines North Carolina courts\u27 possible responses when the contributing spouse demands a share of the other\u27s future earnings derived from the professional degree

Patriarchy and the Structure of Employment in Criminal Justice: Differences in the Experiences of Men and Women Working in the Legal Profession, Corrections, and Law Enforcement

Feminist scholars have long argued that patriarchy affects the structure and organization of society as well as the lived experiences of men and women. Although often referenced in discussions of gender differences in crime and justice, few have articulated more specifically the link between patriarchy and gender differences in the experiences of men and women as victims, offenders, or workers. We take up the challenge to theorize patriarchy and examine the extent to which it operates as an organizing principle with regard to employment in the criminal justice system. We consider differences in the representation of men and women working in the legal profession, corrections, and law enforcement, as well as the culture and structure of these workplace environments in the United States. We argue that patriarchy is a useful midlevel theoretical concept that helps explain both quantitative and qualitative gender differences in criminal justice work. This study complements the “doing gender” approach by focusing on gender at the institutional level, and describing how the culture and structure of the criminal justice system shape and constrain the experiences of individuals occupying social roles within it