Open Access Theses Copyright (c) 2017 University of Miami All rights reserved. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses Recent documents in Open Access Theses en-us Sun, 30 Jul 2017 01:42:22 PDT 3600 Initial Non-attendance at a Specialty Clinic for Childhood Internalizing Disorders: A Pilot Study of a Video Intervention http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/684 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/684 Fri, 28 Jul 2017 13:34:43 PDT Internalizing disorders in youth are highly prevalent and impairing, yet most children and adolescents never receive treatment for these conditions. Of those who do seek services, it is estimated that as many as 35% of youth do not attend their initial appointments at mental health clinics. Prior research on predictors of and interventions for initial appointment or intake attendance in youth mental health settings has primarily utilized samples of children exhibiting externalizing disorders, with largely inconclusive or modest findings. However, there are indicators that predictors of initial appointment attendance may be unique based on clinical concerns (e.g. internalizing versus externalizing disorders), and clinically tailored interventions may be more effective for improving attendance, particularly in youth with internalizing disorders. This study aimed to better identify predictors of non-attendance at intake in a sample of families seeking treatment for youth with internalizing disorders, and to test the acceptability and utility of a preparatory video for improving intake attendance compared to usual screening procedures. An extended phone screen, which included a series of items hypothesized to predict attendance, was used to collect data prior to appointment scheduling. Fifty five families scheduled for an intake were randomized to receive either an informational video about the nature of the intake appointment and parenting tips for managing child anxiety and distress before the appointment (n = 27), or screening as usual (n = 28). Families that viewed the video rated it as moderately helpful, but only 51.85% viewed the video. Ratings of parent motivation were relatively high, and few parents reported concerns about their child being ambivalent about coming to the clinic. Furthermore, few families cancelled their appointments, and no families in the sample no-showed. This indicates the intervention tested may not have been needed in the present sample. Exploratory analyses using logistic regression revealed that higher family income was a marginally significant predictor of the odds of attendance without cancelling or rescheduling. Several bivariate correlations indicated significant associations between measures on the phone screen, including a positive relationship between family accommodation and anxiety symptom severity, as well as an inverse relationship between child age and parental participation in children’s anxiety related behaviors. Implications of the findings and future directions are discussed.

]]> Rebecca A. Grossman DTMF Audio Communication for Nao Robots http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/683 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/683 Mon, 17 Jul 2017 13:53:51 PDT We propose an alternative to Wi-Fi for robotic communication, as its increased use in a competition environment has lead to highly overlapping and interfering networks. This interference often causes unreliable transmission of data, which affects teams’ ability to coordinate complex behaviors. Our method uses fixed length Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) messages and uses a basic packet structure designed to reduce data corruption as a result of noise. We conducted twelve different experiments varying the distance between robots and message format, as well as whether the robots are walking or sitting silently. Methods for scheduling messages to avoid crosstalk were also developed and tested. The results show that while this method appears to be sensitive to motor noise, room reverberation and multipath effects, it has very low data corruption rates, which makes it suitable for use in some applications.

]]> Kyle Poore The Psychology of Common Knowledge Explains the Appearance of Altruistic and Moral Motivation http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/682 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/682 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:17:09 PDT Theorists of human nature have long debated whether prosocial behavior is always self-interested, or instead is at least sometimes explained by altruism or moral motivation. Experiments testing the empathy-altruism hypothesis appear to confirm the existence of altruism, while results from an experimental economic paradigm called the “dictator game” provide evidence of moral motivation. However, both experimental paradigms feature an explicit prompt to behave prosocially. Explicit prompts make the helping opportunity common knowledge among the participant, experimenter, and (sometimes) the potential recipient, and therefore confound unselfishness with a self-interested desire to avoid social censure. The present experiment (N= 334) recreated both the empathy-altruism and dictator game paradigms and manipulated whether the opportunity to benefit another person was explicitly prompted or merely permissible. Removing the explicit prompt dramatically reduced prosocial behavior: Giving in the dictator game paradigm disappeared completely, while giving in the empathy-altruism paradigm was attenuated and not explained by empathy. Empathy only predicted prosocial behavior when the ability to engage in prosocial behavior was common knowledge. These results undercut previous evidence that altruistic and moral considerations motivate prosocial behavior and suggest that empathy tracks the magnitude of perceived social censure from failing to help needy persons.

]]> William H.B. McAuliffe La Otra Cara Del Punk: Punk Rock and Resistance at the End of the Argentine Guerra Sucia, 1981-1982. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/681 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/681 Wed, 12 Jul 2017 08:17:05 PDT The origins of punk in Argentina grew from a distinctive socio-political context unlike its British and American counterparts. The country's final military dictatorship (1976-1983) was marked by a period of constant violence. After the 1976 coup d'état, a military dictatorship established power, vowing to fix many issues in the country, including the rampant violence and economic crisis that the government inherited from the previous administration of Isabel Perón. Although the military dictatorship intended to address the country's problems, it soon arose as one of the most oppressive regimes in the late 20th century that initiated a repressive movement known as the Guerra Sucia (Dirty War). Numerous individuals were abducted off the streets or from their homes, regardless of their political affiliations. Despite the tight grip the junta imposed on the media, creative artists used their work to protest against the government and decry the human rights violations that occurred within the country. While many popular Argentine musicians hid their anti-junta messages through the use of metaphors and ambiguous lyrics, punk groups conveyed resistance more overtly. This thesis explores the early punk rock scene in Argentina as a form of social protest during the Guerra Sucia. It focuses on two of the most notable bands, Los Violadores and Alerta Roja, who wrote songs that resisted the military dictatorship. Even though they opposed the junta directly, they managed to avoid abduction or arrest. This project explores the use of music as an tool of resistance and offers ideas about how these groups managed to avoid persecution by the military government. In addition, this study reflects a scholarly interest in bringing together ideas and perspectives from the fields of historical musicology and ethnomusicology. It focuses on the punk scene as a whole through multiple perspectives, giving voice to the bottom-up ideas and social practices of punk fans, as well as the top-down creative activity of Argentine musicians. Although limitations of time and resources made it impossible conduct to fieldwork in Argentina, I endeavored whenever possible to collect oral accounts of the punk scene through both interviews and documentary sources. Through this analysis, I examined how the genre conveyed popular opposition to the dictatorship during an era of massive human rights violations and harsh censorship in Argentina. Because both Los Violadores and Alerta Roja continued their careers after the Guerra Sucia ended, I also aim to examine the elements of their music that changed after the 1983 restoration of democracy.

]]> Alexander S. Javizian Cues to Paternity: An Evaluation of Offspring Resemblance, Partner Fidelity, and Maternal Perinatal Association http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/680 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/680 Thu, 06 Jul 2017 08:00:56 PDT Despite the profound influence of relatedness on mating and cooperative behavior in humans, the cues men use to assess paternity and guide offspring-directed behavior have yet to be fully resolved. According to leading theories of kin detection, kinship cues should influence both sexual and altruistic motivations, because of fitness consequences associated with inbreeding and welfare tradeoff decisions, respectively. Prior work with paternity assessment, however, has generally evaluated candidate cues solely by demonstrating associations with altruism. Here I (i) replicate past work that found effects of phenotypic resemblance and perceived partner fidelity on offspring investment; (ii) evaluate whether these two cues meet the more stringent criteria suggested by theory—that is, whether they predict both altruistic motivations and inbreeding aversions; (iii) propose and test a novel candidate cue to paternity: observations of maternal-infant perinatal association (MPA); and (iv) examine whether the significant effects of empirically validated kinship cues on altruistic and sexual motivations are mediated by reported certainty of relatedness. I conduct these tests using existing datasets, one from a population-based sample of Finnish fathers (N = 390), the other a Mechanical Turk sample (N = 744). Results provide the strongest evidence yet assembled in support of perceived partner fidelity as a cue to paternity; support for resemblance as a cue to paternity is limited by comparison. No evidence is found to support a role for MPA in paternity assessment. Findings regarding self-reported relatedness certainty as a possible mediator of the effects of paternity cues are mixed.

]]> William J. Billingsley Treatment Complexity in Cystic Fibrosis: Revision and Validation of a Measure of Treatment Complexity and its Association with Adherence http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/679 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/679 Thu, 29 Jun 2017 13:24:33 PDT Medical advancements over the last few decades have significantly increased the life expectancy of individuals with cystic fibrosis (CF), but have led to high levels of complexity in the daily treatment regimen, and considerable burden upon patients and caregivers. Currently, the treatment regimen for CF can take between 2 and 4 hours per day. In addition, many studies have shown that adherence to these treatments among adolescents and adults is low; with estimates of approximately 50% or less. Although increasing treatment complexity has been hypothesized as a possible variable influencing adherence, this relationship has not yet been tested in adolescents and adults with CF. In addition, the only existing measure of treatment complexity for CF treatments, the Treatment Complexity Score (TCS) was created based on clinical expertise and has not been validated. Therefore, the two main goals of this study were to: (1) update and better articulate a measure of TCS for CF treatments by using feedback on complexity obtained from 33 adults living with CF, 18 parents of children and adolescents with CF, and 17 healthcare providers from CF clinics; and (2) examine the relationship between the updated TCS and adherence to CF pulmonary medications and airway clearance treatments collected via a Daily Phone Diary from a separate sample of 53 adolescents and adults with CF. Results of the first study indicated that, although there were differences in the average complexity ratings by adults with CF, and providers, the three groups ranked complexity similarly. Additionally, treatment complexity scores calculated using the revised TCS scoring formula were significantly correlated with subjective ratings of these treatments and medications by the stakeholders. The second study assessed the relationship between the revised TCS and adherence in a second sample of 53 adolescents and adults with CF. Results indicated there was no relationship between treatment complexity and adherence in this sample. However, higher treatment complexity was associated with worse Role Functioning scores. Although results of this study did not find a relationship between treatment complexity and adherence, it highlighted the importance of understanding the perspective of different stakeholders involved in the care of individuals living with CF. Specifically, adults with CF, parents, and providers may rate complexity differently at the individual treatment level, but have an overall similar perspective on the complexity rankings of these treatments and medications. This information could be used to facilitate communication between patients, parents, and their providers.

]]> Estefany Carolina Saez-Flores Development of Standard Operational Procedures for Bacterial Management in Marine Fish Hatcheries http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/678 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/678 Wed, 31 May 2017 20:07:14 PDT Live feeds are utilized in marine fish hatcheries to feed and promote the health of finfish larvae due to their nutritional advantages. The presence of detrimental bacteria in rotifer culture can cause disease outbreaks in larval rearing. Nevertheless, the use of UV application to disinfect seawater is not very effective to eliminate and inactivate all pathogenic agents presented in the raw surface water. To investigate new methods of disinfection, two experiments were conducted at the University of Miami Experimental Hatchery (UMEH) to quantify and test for antibiotic susceptibility for Vibrio spp. and the total coliforms by using plate counting method and treating with two water-soluble antibiotics, Tobramycin and Minocycline, at concentrations of 30 μg/mL, 100 μg/mL and 200 μg/mL. In the first experiment, water samples from Virginia Key Bear Cut, Florida were collected from five locations beginning from surface water, settling tank, sand filter, after a 120 watts UV instrument and after a 80 watts UV instrument respectively. No fecal coliform colonies were observed by plate counting method after UV disinfections, implying a complete inactivation by UV irradiation, but V. vulnificus, V. parahaemolyticus and V. alginolyticus were observed in all samples. In the second experiment, the isolation of several pure strains of bacteria was performed to test the susceptibility to these antibiotics on Mueller Hinton Agar (MHA). After measuring the zone of inhibition, all bacteria strains isolated after the 80 watts UV instrument were highly sensitive to the antibiotics, but when antibiotics were applied to bacteria in UV treated water, resistance to all dosages of antibiotics was observed indicating the presence of multi- antibiotic resistance (MAR) bacteria in the water. The transmission of multi-antibiotic resistance bacteria through the food chain may cause serious problems to consumers and different treatments and technologies are needed, such as ozone and ultrasound, to completely disinfect incoming and discharge water to generate pathogen free water.

]]> Muyassar H. Abualreesh The Regulatory Potential of OTUD4 in DNA Damage Repair http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/677 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/677 Tue, 23 May 2017 07:15:04 PDT The choice of DNA repair pathway and the subsequent initiation of a select pathway in response to a DNA lesion are complex, and many questions remaining as to their regulation. We identified the deubiquitinase OTU deubiquitinase 4 (OTUD4) as a novel putative interactor of Xeroderma pigmentosum complementation group C protein (XPC), one of the crucial sensors of DNA damage in global genome nucleotide excision repair (GG-NER). The goal of this study was to establish a greater understanding of the role of OTUD4 in the DNA damage response. While the complexity of the structure and function of OTUD4 remain to be fully unraveled, our study found that knockout of OTUD4 led to altered XPC ubiquitination and, intriguingly, to a specific sensitivity to cisplatin. Further studies will allow more understanding of the role of OTUD4 in the DNA damage response.

]]> Abigail R. Lubin The People's Whisperers: A Comparative Discourse Analysis of Donald Trump's and Silvio Berlusconi's Campaign Speeches http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/676 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/676 Fri, 19 May 2017 13:55:49 PDT A new wave of populism is hitting the world. New political profiles are emerging to international politics. This case study develops a comparative discourse analysis of Italy’s Primer Minister Silvio Berlusconi and United States’ President Donald Trump during their first campaign as politicians. This comparison confirms the media outlets’ theory that both candidates are almost the same, at least when it comes to their populist speeches. To understand these outsiders of politics, two speeches per candidate were analyzed through three different discourse analysis methods. Despite the fact that each candidate came from different contexts, the study showed that they both used their speeches to get the forgotten masses through populist techniques. This study intends to collaborate with the formation of a universal concept of populism.

]]> Andrea Bolinaga Effect of Dietary Moisture on Growth and Intestinal Histology in California Yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/675 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/675 Tue, 16 May 2017 14:13:53 PDT Standard, commercial aquaculture feeds contain less than 10% moisture, while the natural diet of most carnivorous marine fish (i.e. forage fish, crustaceans) contains between 60-80% moisture and provides an important dietary source of fresh water. Following ingestion, marine teleosts hydrate dry formulated pellets via luminal secretions and ingested seawater. The pathways enabling absorption and excretion of salts, consequent of seawater drinking, are energetically costly to marine fish. Supplementation of feed with increased moisture content and decreased osmolarity may reduce the requirement for exogenous chyme hydration. We hypothesize that the use of feeds with a high moisture content may decrease this osmoregulatory cost. This study examines the effect of dietary moisture content on growth and intestinal histology in California Yellowtail, Seriola dorsalis. The industry standard for feed production requires cooking extrusion and drying to <10% moisture, which helps prevent spoilage. Forgoing the drying process of this method may yield a moisture level of 25%, but water stability and nutrient retention of the feed are impaired. A modification to this extrusion method allows for the production of water stable particles with up to 55% moisture. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted at Hubbs SeaWorld Research Institute in San Diego, CA on juvenile S. dorsalis (27g). A moist feed developed by the USDA-ARS, was manufactured and fed at two levels of moisture (5% and 50%). A third group was fed a commercial control diet (5% moisture). Dietary ration was calculated as % BW on a dry-weight basis and maintained across treatment groups. The results form a histological analysis indicate no difference in intestinal morphology among treatments. Histological indications of intestinal distress were absent from all treatment groups. Increased dietary moisture content had a negative effect on growth. A comparable growth rate among dry diets suggests that formulation or processing method did not explain the divergence in growth observed in the high-moisture treatment. Proximate composition of the juvenile California yellowtail was statistically different only in lipid content. The moist feed treatment had a significantly lower whole-body lipid content as well as hepatosomatic index.

]]> Mark Portman Comparison of Reinforced Concrete Bridge and Fiber Reinforced Polymer Bridge Using Life Cycle Assessment http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/674 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/674 Mon, 15 May 2017 14:22:30 PDT Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) is an important tool assessing environmental impacts of the entire life cycle of a product or service. It provides an alternative method to enable reducing carbon emission and embodied energy (EE). The purpose of this study is to use LCA to compare two different structural materials used as reinforcement in a concrete bridge. The two materials are conventional steel reinforcement and Fiber Reinforced Polymer (FRP). The results show that FRP reinforced bridge produces 50% less carbon dioxide and requires 59% less EE throughout all the stages of LCA based on predicted equal life-span of two bridge applications.

]]> Ezgi Ozcoban HIV-Associated Neurocognitive Dysfunction: Relationships with Coping, Psychological Distress, and Mortality http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/673 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/673 Thu, 11 May 2017 15:32:18 PDT Neurocognitive dysfunction is a prevalent and disabling consequence of living with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) infection. To date, there is a dearth of conceptual models depicting interrelationships among HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction, coping strategies, and psychological distress. Additionally, it remains unclear whether HIV-associated neurocognitive impairment (NCI) is a predictive marker of early mortality during the era of antiretroviral (ARV) medication availability, especially among individuals who are in the mid-range of their illness, prior to advanced disease progression. The present thesis is comprised of two studies intended to address these gaps in the literature. Study 1 and Study 2 both utilized an ethnically diverse sample of 209 HIV-positive men and women (Mage=37.69; 72% male; 67% attending some college or more) predominantly in the mid-range of their illness (MCD4=323.02 cells/mm3, range: 150-700 cells/mm3; no previous AIDS-defining symptoms). Study 1 sought to examine whether poorer global cognitive status and poorer executive control were each related to elevated psychological distress through greater use of avoidant coping strategies and diminished use of cognitively-oriented coping strategies, using structural regression methodology. Global cognitive status was measured using the HIV-dementia scale (HDS), and executive control was measured with the Trail Making Test B-A completion time; avoidant coping (i.e., denial and behavioral disengagement) and cognitive coping (acceptance and cognitive reappraisal) were measured using subscales of the brief-COPE; a composite measure of psychological stress was indicated by measures of depressive symptoms (BDI), anxiety symptoms (STAI-S), and HIV-related distressing thoughts (IES). Study 2 aimed to determine whether global NCI (HDS total score < 10) and poorer executive control were each independently related to greater mortality risk over a follow-up duration of up-to 13 years. In both studies, demographic (i.e., age, gender, African American race/ethnicity, education) and disease-related (i.e., CD4 lymphocyte count, viral load, ARV medication regimen status) covariates were included.

Results of Study 1 showed that the hypothesized model fit the data (χ2=21.83, CFI=.99, RMSEA=.03, SRMR=.03) and indicated that lower HDS score was significantly related to greater avoidant coping (β=-.22, pp=.048). In turn, greater avoidant coping (β=.30, ppp=.01). Poorer executive control was indirectly associated with greater psychological distress through avoidant coping. Study 2 revealed that 31 (15%) subjects scored in the NCI range at baseline, and 58 subjects (28%) died during the study. Participants with NCI at baseline were significantly more likely to die during the follow-up period (median=11 years) compared with their cognitively within normal limits (WNL) counterparts (HR: 2.10; 95% confidence interval, 1.10, 4.00), controlling for covariates. Executive control was not related to mortality. The findings of Study 1 indicate that poorer HIV-associated neurocognitive functioning is linked to maladaptive coping behaviors, which are in turn related to greater psychological distress. These novel findings suggest that HIV-associated neurocognitive changes might influence coping behavior, and highlight the utility of assessing cognitive functioning (especially using the HDS) as an important correlate of emotional well-being in HIV-positive patients. Therefore, patients with HIV-associated neurocognitive dysfunction may benefit from aggressive intervention efforts targeting coping skills, especially those which are avoidant in nature. Study 2 demonstrated that subjects scoring in the NCI range on the HDS were twice as likely to die during the (up to) 13-year study period than subjects scoring in the WNL range, independent of demographics and key illness variables previously associated with mortality. This study confirms previous reports that HIV-associated NCI is an independent marker of morality risk, and extends this finding to a diverse sample of patients predominantly in the mid-range of illness, without AIDS-defining symptoms. This finding suggest that the HDS can be utilized as brief screening measure that offers potential prognostic utility for assessing mortality risk in HIV. Moreover, it extends previous literature by identifying NCI as an independent marker of mortality risk among HIV-positive adults without advanced immunological compromise, during the era of highly active ARV availability.

]]> Nikhil Banerjee Recreational Angler Perceptions, Attitudes, and Resource Use in Biscayne National Park http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/672 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/672 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:52 PDT In 2015, Biscayne National Park approved a new General Management Plan. The plan includes no-take marine reserve zone for ~ 6% of the park’s total area. The recreational fishing community criticized the action, and legislative initiatives coalesced at state and federal levels aimed at reversing the decision to implement a marine reserve zone. A survey of licensed saltwater anglers in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Monroe counties was conducted online. Participants were ranked by recreation specialization and their attitudes towards the plan, its development process, recreational fishing impacts, awareness of the plan and participation in the development process were compared to specialization. Specialization has a significant relationship with all factors, notably with opposition to the plan and strong pro-use attitudes. Survey results demonstrate that the vocal opposition is not representative of the majority opinion (14%). Spatial use data were also collected, and findings estimate only minor displacement (2.6%) and determine that highly and very specialized anglers are most impacted by displacement. These results support previous findings that stakeholders with negative perspectives about proposed management changes are more likely to vocalize their opposition publicly (Sutton, 2006; Sutton, 2008). Understanding the spectrum of attitudes within a stakeholder group promotes greater compliance and leads to more stable biological outcomes for the protected area.

]]> Michelle Harangody Stratocumulus-to-Cumulus Transition in the North Pacific Ocean as Understood from an Observational Case Study http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/671 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/671 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:48 PDT One prominent feature while observing marine boundary layer (MBL) cloud morphology in the tropical and sub-tropical eastern ocean basins is the transition of shallow stratocumulus (Sc) to fair-weather marine cumulus (Cu) in the trade wind region. As the sea surface temperature (SST) increases equatorward, the shallow Sc, generally in a well-mixed boundary layer topped with a strong temperature inversion evolves, into scattered and broken Cu with diffuse inversion heights. This stratocumulus-to-cumulus transition (SCT), has a strong effect on the planetary albedo. The SCT was studied during the Cloud System Evolution in the Trades (CSET) experiment, using the NSF/NCAR Gulfstream V aircraft to collect in-situ, dropsonde and remote sensing datasets between California and Hawaii from 1 July to 15 August 2015. A unique aspect of the experimental design was a Lagrangian sampling strategy, whereby the second flight of a pair sampled air corresponding to a HYSPLIT-calculated forward-trajectory from the earlier flight two days prior. Observations from one such flight pair (RF06- 17 July CA to HI, and RF07- 19 July HI to CA), are analyzed. Guiding questions are how well the observations conform to the ‘deepening-warming-decoupling’ paradigm of Bretherton and Wyant (1997), using estimates based on: (a) vertical thermodynamic profiles, (b) the correspondence between cloud base and lifting condensation level and c) turbulence profiles. The surface latent heat fluxes (LHF), drizzle evaporation in the sub-cloud layer, and net longwave (LW) cooling at cloud top are analyzed for their contribution towards boundary layer (BL) decoupling. Unlike in Bretherton and Wyant (1997), where surface LHF was the dominant factor contributing to BL decoupling, during this case study, surface LHF decreased with increasing SST, due to the weakening of near-surface horizontal wind towards the equator, hypothesized to reflect mesoscale subsidence from a neighboring tropical storm. Sub-cloud evaporative cooling fluxes increase for the deeper, more convective, clouds sampled closer to Hawaii, hinting at an increasing stabilization between the cloud and sub-cloud layers. The net LW cooling at cloud top is also higher for the clouds closer to Hawaii because of their increased depth, which would support more entrainment-led decoupling. Finally, the large-scale influences are studied using re-analysis and satellite datasets. While the SST increases towards the equator, the lower tropospheric stability (LTS) decreases, implying a weaker inversion along warmer water. Free tropospheric (FT) specific humidity is decreasing and FT potential temperature is increasing which implies a warmer and drier FT towards the equator. The southerly decrease in surface LHF along with weakening near-surface horizontal wind is confirmed by OAFlux LHF and AMSR-2 10-m wind datasets.

]]> Mampi Sarkar "Structure or Agency": Gaining Meanings and Insights into Alcohol Consumption in Botswana. http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/670 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/670 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:43 PDT Concern with the burden of alcohol has led many governments to develop social control strategies aimed at regulating consumption and its related harm. Such strategies include amongst others, increasing taxes, prices and reducing hours of operation, as well as stiff penalties for those who transgress alcohol laws. The current study investigated the social motives and meanings of alcohol drinkers and if the implementation of alcohol regulations had an impact on how their drinking experience. In 2008, the government of Botswana imposed a 30% levy on all alcohol products to reduce the consumption of alcohol and its associated harms. Over and above the levy, new laws regulating operating hours for drinking outlets were introduced to reduce drinking. The study applied grounded theory methods to examine alcohol consumption in the midst of these alcohol control policy mechanisms in Botswana and sought to highlight the social and subjective meanings accorded to alcohol consumption by Batswana drinkers. Four major categories and eight sub-categories emerged from the study. The core category was labelled as Negotiating the Drinking Self and is used by most drinkers to either adapt or resist the alcohol control measures throughout the life-course of drinkers. The study recognizes and theorizes resistance and highlights that contrary to the literature on resistance and alcohol policy, individual acts of resistance are as effective as organized resistance. In sum, the study findings highlight the need for the government of Botswana to seek, engage, and dialogue with alcohol drinkers and understand deep-seated meanings about how drinkers experience alcohol. The findings point to the need for government to “take the role of the drinkers” when formulating alcohol interventions. The implications of this study and its contributions to existing literature on alcohol studies are further outlined in this thesis.

]]> Tebogo B. Sebeelo The Effects of Dispersants on the Spatiotemporal Distribution of Hydrocarbons: Insights from the Gulf Science Data on the Nature of the Macondo Blowout http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/669 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/669 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:39 PDT During the Deepwater Horizon accident in 2010, oil spilled into the Gulf of Mexico and approximately 770,000 gallons of chemical dispersants were injected directly at the Macondo wellhead attempting to keep the oil submerged. Despite conducting thorough research in the past seven years, a detailed empirical analysis as the oil was spewing from the wellhead and after the well capping, has not yet been completely undertaken. Recently, BP made available a unique dataset (“Gulf Science Data”) of oil samples collected from May 2010 to July 2012. In this research, we examine this comprehensive dataset to determine the spatial-temporal distribution of the chemical signature of Macondo oil up to December 2010. We also analyze the hydrocarbon chemical data depending on the variable dispersant application period to provide an exhaustive sub-sea dispersant injection (SSDI) analysis. Additionally, the Gulf Science dataset is also used to investigate the role of Earth’s rotation on the plume dynamics. Our spatial data results confirm the presence of the so called “deep-plume” (i.e. a dominant intrusion layer centered around 1,100 m). The SSDI robust linear regression analysis reveals no significant differences on the vertical structure of the oil plume with variable dispersant injection, ranging from no dispersant to ca. 22,000 gal/day, thus questioning the effects of SSDI for deep-sea oil spills. Despite inhomogeneous sampling, the comprehensive BP Gulf Science Data sheds some light on understanding the nature of deep blowouts and required responses.

]]> Marcia L. Trillo Evaluating Management Effectiveness of Marine Protected Areas in Cuba's Southern Archipelagos: A Comparative Analysis Between Punta Francés and Jardines de la Reina National Parks http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/668 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/668 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:35 PDT This study compared the management effectiveness of two marine protected areas located in Cuba’s southern archipelagos: Punta Francés National Park (PFNP) and Jardines de la Reina National Park (JRNP). The goal of this study was to determine what factors influence management effectiveness in Cuban marine protected areas (MPAs) with a focus on PFNP and JRNP. The objectives were to identify and assess the factors related to management success, and to determine how these factors can be utilized to strengthen MPA performance across the island’s MPA network in light of increasing pressures on Cuba’s marine environment. Key informant interviews and relevant secondary sources were used to evaluate MPA performance and management. Results showed that the National Parks shared similar trends in pressures, threats, legal security, infrastructural gaps, and output successes; key differences were present in socioeconomic context, vulnerability, and management planning. However, JRNP exhibited higher management effectiveness than PFNP primarily due to ecotourism’s contributions to park management. This study illustrated the significant role public-private partnerships can play in strengthening MPA management effectiveness, and the results suggest replicating similar models in other Cuban MPAs.

]]> Alexandra Puritz Structural Comparisons of Natural versus Seawall Shoreline Mangrove Stands http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/667 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/667 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:30 PDT Mangroves are key indicator species that manifest the interplay of abiotic and biotic inputs or energy signatures of a particular location. Technological advancements in living shoreline design have resulted in a growing interest in understanding and comparing the ecological role of mangroves along hardened shorelines to mangrove communities in natural settings. The objective of the present study was to compare fringe seawall and natural shoreline mangrove stands using structural attributes in south Florida. Structural surveys were conducted in four study sites using the fixed-plot method where all sites were assessed for the following structural attributes: tree diameter, height, species, leaf size and area, and root density. Results demonstrated that there were few differences in structural characteristics both within and among study sites. A comparison with Neotropical mangroves showed that stands in south Florida exhibited similar structural attributes and complexities to natural fringe stands. Results from the present study have shown the importance of mangroves that exist in conjunction with hardened structures, highlighting the importance of incorporating mangroves as part of the urban landscape.

]]> Michael R. Timm Music as a Mnemonic Device for Verbal Recall in Healthy Older Adults http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/666 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/666 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:26 PDT This study examined the effects of rhythm, melody, and harmony on verbal recall in typical older adults. Ninety healthy older adults heard an audio recording of a 16-item grocery list in one of four conditions: 1) Rhythmic Speech, 2) Melody Only, 3) Melody and Harmony, or 4) Regular Speech. Each participant heard their assigned recording five times and recalled the list as accurately as possible after hearing the recording once, twice, five times, and following a 10-minute distraction task. A significant interaction between auditory condition and time was found. Specifically, the Rhythmic Speech group's recall scores were significantly higher than the Melody Only and the Melody and Harmony groups' after one listening. However, only the Melody Only and the Regular Speech groups maintained their recall scores following the distraction task. These findings suggest that rhythm provides easily perceived patterns that efficiently transfer verbal information into working memory. While melodic patterns may take longer to learn, this element may have enabled more accurate recall following the 10-minute distraction task. Thus, this study's results advocate for the incorporation of both rhythmic and melodic structural patterns into mnemonic songs. Further analyses indicated that cognitive functioning and musical training may have impacted older adults' verbal recall beyond the musical mnemonic itself. These findings may be useful in explaining the mechanisms underlying musical mnemonics. Professionals, including music therapists, working with older adults to improve memory may compose original music featuring repetitive, distinct, and easily perceived musical patterns to aid encoding and retrieval of verbal information.

]]> Brea Murakami Exploring the Use of Music Interventions on Emotion Competence in Individuals with Special Needs: A Systematic Review http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/665 http://scholarlyrepository.miami.edu/oa_theses/665 Thu, 11 May 2017 10:48:21 PDT Deficits in emotional competency negatively affect interpersonal skills, academic and occupational performance, and independent living skills. In individuals with intellectual and other developmental disabilities that affect cognitive functioning, increases in symptom severity tend to be correlated with increases in emotional deficits. Thus, these individuals may benefit from treatment programs that address emotion behaviors, such as emotion identification, emotion regulation, and emotional expression. One such treatment program can involve the use of music. As an initial exploration, this systematic review sought to summarize and analyze extant literature on the use of music interventions to address emotional skills in individuals with special needs. A comprehensive electronic database search yielded 18 studies that met predetermined inclusion criteria. Relevant data pertaining to the research questions were extracted, analyzed, and compared for trends and common findings. Results indicated an increasing interest in this clinical area in recent years, and that music therapists and other professionals most often utilize instrument playing, singing, and improvisation when addressing emotional skills. Implications for clinicians are discussed and theoretical guidelines for future research are explored.

]]> Alecia M. Meila