Digital Commons Network^™

The Use Of M-Sequences To Optimize Underwater Acoustic Communications In Shallow Waters, Fabio B. Louza

Open Access Theses

The relationship between dynamic ocean acoustic fluctuations and the underwater communication in shallow waters acoustic propagation channels will be investigated, as they present a challenging environment for the transmission of information, causing inter-symbol interference (ISI) and multipath signal spreading and fading. The study and simulations will be based on data from an upwelling monitoring buoy located in the shallow waters of Arraial do Cabo – Brazil. The focus of this thesis is to perform a systematic analysis of the role of the internal waves and upwelling on phase stability of a signal propagating through the channel, in terms of temporal …

Use Of Microplate Respirometry To Measure Respiration Of Individual Adult Coral Polyps Exposed To Deepwater Horizon Oil, Brittany A. Jensen

Open Access Theses

The Deepwater Horizon (DWH) blowout of 2010 exposed many coastal and marine ecosystems in the Gulf of Mexico (GoM) to the acute and chronic effects of crude oil. To date, no studies have investigated the toxicity of DWH oil on shallow reef-building corals despite the relative proximity of some reef sites to the DWH (Flower Garden Banks, TX) and the potential for downstream oil transport to other more distant sites (Pulley Ridge and Florida Keys, FL). In this study, we investigated the effect of acute DWH oil exposure on reef corals, both alone and in combination with elevated temperature, to …

Factors Influencing Long Distance Movements Of Tiger Sharks, Galeocerdo Cuvier, Stacy A. Assael

Open Access Theses

The purpose of this project was to identify the effects of various environmental factors (sea surface temperature, salinity, sea surface currents, and Earth's magnetic field intensity) on tiger sharks (Galeocerdo cuvier) movements in the Atlantic Ocean, with a primary focus on the influence of Earth's magnetic field. Previous studies concluded that several species of sharks are capable of detecting small electromagnetic pulses under controlled experimental conditions, however evidence is lacking regarding sharks utilize the Earth's magnetic field to navigate the open ocean. To investigate this, four mature female tiger sharks were satellite tagged and tracked for a minimum …

Survey Of Fishes Within A Restored Mangrove Habitat In Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, Key Biscayne, Florida, Alison Enchelmaier

Open Access Theses

Restoration and monitoring are important conservation tools to ensure the recovery and maintenance of human impacted habitats. Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park, located in Key Biscayne, Florida, has been impacted by urban development and hurricanes, leading to the historical removal of much of the park’s native habitat, including mangrove forest. After Hurricane Andrew in 1992, restoration efforts led to the replanting of a 30-hectare mangrove forest within the park. Part of the forest’s design involved incorporating a series of 28 mangrove pools within the forest to act as nursery habitat. While there have been several studies examining fish using …

Advancing U.S. Seafood Production: Developing Hatchery Technology For Florida Stone Crab (Menippe Mercenaria), Craig W. Purcell

Open Access Theses

These experiments will be conducted in order to refine and implement reliable techniques for larval rearing of Florida stone crab (Menippe mercenaria). The aim is to secure the technology for production of large quantities of stone crab larvae for transfer to nursery growout environments to support domestic aquaculture production. Establishing a successful larval rearing protocol that maximizes total survivability and growth is essential for all aquacultures species. This experiment sought to define optimal larval rearing parameters from the first zoeal stage through the megalope stage (settlement). Four treatments, which included instar 1 Artemia (T1), decapsulated instar 1 Artemia (T2), enriched …

Understanding The Legalization Of Child Labor: A Case Study Of The Bolivian Child And Adolescent Code Reform, Jiaqi Yu

Open Access Theses

On August 4 2014, the Law N. 548 Boy, Girl and Adolescent Code (Ley No. 548 Código de Niña, Niño y Adolescente) went into force in the Plurinartional State of Bolivia (Liebel, 2014: 1). According to the legislative provisions, Bolivia officially legalizes the socioeconomic existence of child labor and reduces the minimum age of entry into labor market to 10 years old, rendering it the lowest in the entire globe (Greenwood, 2014). Bucking the interntional trend of restrictive child labor regulation, the law leaves the country at odds with the International Labor Organization (ILO) and the United Nations (UN), who …

Understanding The Integration Of Foreign-Educated Cuban Physicians Into The U.S. Medical Field, Wendy Jordana Moore

Open Access Theses

In the U.S., immigrants and refugees are often unable to continue their profession after arrival. This paper describes a qualitative study of Cuban foreign-educated physicians (FEPs) who have attempted to integrate into the U.S. medical field. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with Cuban FEPs who varied in age, gender, job, marital status, and amount of time in U.S. Participants were recruited via snowball sampling and thematic analysis was utilized to identify various pathways. Findings describe the importance of professional identity and how it influences participants’ transcultural process as well as their journey to find a “match” within the U.S. medical field. …

Identifying Suitable Habitat For Three Highly Migratory Sharks (Great Hammerhead, Tiger, And Bull) And Assessing Their Spatial Vulnerability To Commercial Longline Fishing In The Southwest Atlantic Ocean And Gulf Of Mexico, Hannah J. Calich

Open Access Theses

Aquatic highly migratory species (HMS) are economically and ecologically important, however, their highly migratory nature makes them difficult to study and thus there are knowledge gaps relating to their movement and habitat use patterns. Highly migratory sharks are likely to interact with commercial longline fishing gear and be caught as target or bycatch, which can threaten their populations. Understanding the environmental factors that influence and drive the movements of highly migratory sharks may help researchers better predict their presence and subsequently identify areas where they are vulnerability to fisheries. Here I evaluated the overlap between habitat suitability and gear restricted …

Characterizing The Function Of Amino Acid Transporter Acypi008971 In The Pea Aphid/Buchnera Symbiosis, Yu-Ching Hsu

Open Access Theses

Sap-feeding insect have associated with bacterial symbionts for hundreds of millions years. These symbioses have increased insect fitness, facilitating their persistence through evolutionary time. The symbionts of sap-feeding insects provide their hosts with amino acids that are found at very low concentrations in their diets. Typically amino acid metabolism is partitioned between host and symbiont so that the host synthesizes non-essential amino acids while the symbiont contributes essential amino acids. The biosynthesis of some amino acids however, requires enzymes encoded by both the host and the symbiont. Understanding how amino acid metabolism is integrated between insect host and bacterial symbiont …

Characterizing Egg Quality And Larval Performance From Captive Mahi-Mahi (Coryphaena Hippurus) Spawns Over Time, Steven J. Kloeblen

Open Access Theses

Mahi-mahi Coryphaena hippurus, a high performance pelagic species, is a promising species for aquaculture development and has been used as a model species for oil toxicology and physiology studies. This species has one of the fastest growth rates of any marine teleost and a unique reproductive biology due to the species high spawning frequency and energy allocation into spawning events. These characteristics lend the species to being an excellent model for understanding broodstock nutrition for other high energetic pelagic species in captivity. The reproductive performance of wild-caught mahi-mahi was investigated in this study. Egg morphometries and larval survival were tracked …

The Disconnect Of Hawaiian Culture And Marine Management In West Hawaii: A Case Study On The Aquarium Trade, Alohi L. Nakachi

Open Access Theses

In West Hawaii, marine management and the Hawaiian culture share common goals and ideals. However, the reasoning, beliefs and ethnic identities behind such goals greatly differ. As such, there is a lack of communication and even cooperation between groups. This paper seeks to understand the conflict and interactions between these groups and other interest groups involved with the aquarium trade. The area studied is in West Hawaii where the majority of fish in the state are caught for the aquarium trade (Walsh, 2014). The aquarium trade is analyzed to asses the extent in which social and Hawaiian cultural aspects are …

Pathways To Better Prediction Of The Madden-Julian Oscillation Over The Indian Ocean, Ajda Savarin

Open Access Theses

The Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO) is the leading source of predictability on seasonal and subseasonal scales in the tropics, and is one of the least understood phenomena of tropical meteorology. Although extensive research has been done on the topic of MJO initiation and its eastward propagation, there is not a single widely-accepted theory that explains the phenomenon. The lack of understanding is reflected in the poor representation of the MJO in global and numerical weather prediction models. In this study, a regional, atmosphere-ocean coupled model is used to perform a series of high- and low- resolution experiments in coupled and uncoupled …

The Role Of Air-Sea Interaction In Structure And Intensity Change In Hurricane Ophelia (2005): Coupled Modeling And Rainex Observations, Andrew W. Smith

Open Access Theses

Intensity and intensity change remain one of the most significant challenges in tropical cyclone (TC) prediction. Instantaneous intensity and its evolution result from complex storm-environment interactions and internal structure changes across multiple time and spatial scales. These interactions truly couple the TC to the ocean as well as the ambient environment, however have been insufficiently observed and are difficult to model. Many earlier studies have demonstrated the impact of air-sea coupling to TC intensity, as well as the physical processes involved in the ocean response to TC passage. More recent work however has shown air-sea coupling affects both structure and …

Integrating Physiological And Reflex Biomarkers Of Fishing Capture Stress In Coastal Shark Species, Jacob M. Jerome

Open Access Theses

In both commercial and recreational fisheries, many sharks are captured and released alive due to harvest regulations, the capture of non-target species, or conservation ethics. Nevertheless, released individuals may suffer post-release fitness loss or even mortality due to capture stress. Additionally, some of these species that would otherwise be intended for release are found dead upon capture. Understanding physiological and behavioral responses of sharks to capture stress is important for determining best fishing practices and for establishing effective management strategies. In this study, I investigated sub-lethal effects of capture through monitoring blood glucose, lactate, hematocrit and reflex impairment on four …

Testing The Assumptions Of The Provocation Doctrine, Carlton J. Patrick

Open Access Theses

The provocation doctrine, which mitigates the punishment for killings made “in the heat of passion,” is a longstanding and often criticized area of United States law. At the crux of these criticisms is the doctrine’s imprecision: courts and lawmakers continue to struggle to both delineate specific standards for its application and to offer a satisfying rationale for its continued existence. Here, we use an evolutionary-computational model of anger and intimate partner violence to inform these problems. Using the archetypal case of provocation—a male discovering his partner’s infidelity—we surveyed 1,939 males to address and test two of the doctrine’s core assumptions: …

The Effect Of Film Score On Emotion And Self-Talk, Angela Nanette Davis

Open Access Theses

The purpose of this study was to first assess the effect of film score on affect in healthy young adults. Second, the study examined the subsequent effect of mood change on self-talk in relation to a stressor. Participants were 131 University of Miami undergraduate students between the ages of 18 and 24 who were not musicians, recruited from all departments of study, excluding the Frost School of Music. Each participant completed a mood assessment, resulting in both a PASS (positive) and Dysphoria (negative) score, prior to one of three mood induction conditions: negative film score, positive film score, and control. …

Using Academic And Learning Analytics To Explore Student Success In An Online Graduate Program In Communication, Megan N. Bergman

Open Access Theses

Fueled by the increase in data associated with the use of learning management systems, scholars and practitioners alike have been trying to explain and predict student success; yet the use of data analytic methods (academic and learning analytics) in higher education has created challenges and shortcomings for those who wish to adopt learning and academic analytics practices for their institution or program. Very little is known about either online education, particularly in the field of communication, as well as in online graduate and professional degree programs in any field from a learning and academic analytics perspective. This work reviews the …

Prevalence And Antimicrobial Resistance Patterns Of Salmonella Isolated From Poultry Farms, Carmen G. Velasquez Moreno

Open Access Theses

Antimicrobial agents are used in human medicine to treat infections by inhibiting the growth of bacteria. The same or similar drugs are used in in food-producing animals for therapeutic and sub-therapeutic purposes. Antimicrobial resistant bacteria that develop on farms are a public health risk as these organisms may contribute to treatment failures in infected humans. The main objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of Salmonella isolated from poultry farms in two different seasons to evaluate the effect of recommended biosecurity practices. Specifically, we identified Salmonella serotypes, measured antimicrobial resistance (AMR), and characterized AMR patterns. We hypothesized that …

Evaluation Of Several Pre-Clinical Tools For Identifying Characteristics Associated With Limb Bone Fracture In Thoroughbred Racehorses, Anthony Nicholas Corsten

Open Access Theses

Catastrophic skeletal fractures in racehorses are devastating not only to the animals, owners and trainers, but also to the perception of the sport in the public eye. The majority of these fatal accidents are unlikely to be due to chance, but are rather an end result failure from stress fractures. Stress fractures are overuse injuries resulting from an accumulation of bone tissue damage over time. Because stress fractures are pathological, it is possible that overt fractures can be predicted and prevented. In this study, third metacarpals (MC3) from 33 thoroughbred racehorse comprised of 8 non-fractured controls and 25 horses that …

Billbug (Sphenophorus Spp.) Chemical Ecology And Seasonal Biology In Indiana Turfgrass, Alexandra G. Duffy

Open Access Theses

Billbugs (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea: Sphenophorus) are serious pests of managed turfgrass across North America. Damage symptoms are most visible during stressful periods of the growing season and are commonly confused with disease, drought, or nutrient deficiency. Billbugs are frequently a perennial problem and when misdiagnosed, damage often results in seriously degraded stands of turfgrass that are easily encroached by weeds. Presently, management of billbugs relies heavily on chemical insecticides. Even then, the nationwide assemblage of multiple sympatric billbug species and the cryptic nature of the damaging larval stage makes management of these insects challenging. A better understanding of billbug biology …

Lightcraft Previzion In Distance Education, Perry L. Cox

Open Access Theses

Visual Effects has continued to progress at an astonishing rate and green screen technology can be seen in all aspects of the video industry from Hollywood blockbusters down to training videos and distance education.

As video technology has increased, so has the quality and capability of distance education. Purdue University has set itself to be at the forefront of distance education. This study looked to evaluate Purdue's investment in the Lightcraft Technology's Previzion system and its impact on distance education at Purdue. There were 65 initial participants and this study compared the impact of two separate videos on their learning. …

Tangible Interaction As An Aid For Object Navigation In 3d Modeling, Sanmathi Dangeti

Open Access Theses

This study introduced an interaction technique that used tangible interaction for 3D modeling. A hybrid interaction technique using a Kinect camera and a smartphone with a gyroscope was developed for the navigating objects in a 3D modeling software. It was then tested on 20 participants categorized as amateurs who had basic 3D/ CAD modeling experience and 20 participants categorized as the experts who had extensive experience working with the modeling software. This research study presents the need for existence of such interaction technique, gaps from the related previous studies, statistical findings from the current study and possible reasons for the …

Miocene-Pliocene Strike-Slip Basin Development Along The Denali Fault System In The Eastern Alaska Range: Chronostratigraphy And Provenance Of The Mccallum Formation And Implications For Displacement, Wai Kehadeezbah Allen

Open Access Theses

The Denali fault system represents one of the major strike-slip faults in North America but very little is known about the amount and timing of displacement on this 2000-km-long structure. The 7.9 M 2002 Denali Earthquake emphasized the importance of this fault system for understanding the deformational record of the upper plate of the southern Alaska convergent margin. Our analysis of the Miocene-Pliocene McCallum Formation located along the east-central part of the Denali fault provides one of the few records for Neogene displacement as well as changes in surface and basin processes related to tectonic transport. We have established a …

Assessing Fuel Burn Inefficiencies In Oceanic Airspace, Stephen Builta

Open Access Theses

Increasing the efficiency of aircraft operations offers a shorter term solution to decreasing aircraft fuel burn than fleet replacement. By estimating the current airspace inefficiency, we can get an idea of the upper limit of savings. Oceanic airspace presents a unique opportunity for savings due to increased separation differences vs. overland flight.

We assess fuel burn inefficiency by comparing estimated fuel burn for real world flights with the estimated optimal fuel burn. For computing fuel burn, we use the Base of Aircraft Data (BADA) with corrections based on research by Yoder (2005). Our fuel burn results show general agreement with …

Multimedia Techniques For Construction Education And Training, Wayne A. Bunnell

Open Access Theses

The current profession of civil engineering often focuses education and training on code compliance rather than constructability and construction techniques. Also, it is well accepted that it takes a decade or more for engineers to develop a high-level project construction understanding and many state departments of transportation rely on in-field training for entry-level inspectors, with little or no education provisions for contractors. This research investigated the use of time-lapse photography to develop training and education material that will improve the understanding of project construction and crucial quality control specifications of an entry-level engineer, contractor, or inspector. Overall, the project team …

Sugarcane Bagasse Hydrolysis Enhancement Using Bsa, Antonio Carlos Freitas Dos Santos

Open Access Theses

Lignocellulose is composed of polysaccharides linked to lignin and other aromatic compounds, making the sugars not readily available to fermentation. This entails that biomass must go through the unit operations of pretreatment and enzyme hydrolysis. Pretreatment opens the structure to allow the enzymes to act on and hydrolyze cellulose and hemicellulose to glucose and/or xylose which in turn are fermented to ethanol. Concomitantly, the enzymes interact with soluble phenols and insoluble solids derived from lignin that inhibit hydrolysis. This leads to high enzyme loadings and higher production costs. Soluble phenols can be eliminated through washing. Insoluble lignin, however, demands another …

Size Scaling Of Strength And Toughness For 3d Printed Polymer Specimens, Darren Thomas Bell

Open Access Theses

To find material systems that offer low density and high strength, stiffness or toughness, hierarchically designed material systems have provided a promising research area. This thesis lays the groundwork for designing efficient micro-architectured material systems by characterizing size effects for 3d printed polymer parts. Two methods were used to analyze data from 3-point bend tests for specimens of varying size: the load-separation method was used for finding the point of crack growth initiation and Bazant’s method was used to find shape independent strength at failure. The strength values were used as inputs for finding size independent material constants within a …

Thermal Transport In Lithium Ion Batteries: An Experimental Investigation Of Interfaces And Granular Materials, Aalok Jaisheela Uday Gaitonde

Open Access Theses

Increasing usage and recent accidents due to lithium-ion (Li-ion) batteries exploding or catching on fire has inspired research on the characterization and thermal management of these batteries. In cylindrical 18650 cells, heat generated during the battery's charge/discharge cycle is poorly dissipated to the surrounding through its metallic case due to the poor thermal conductivity of the jelly roll, which is spirally wound with many interfaces between electrodes and the polymeric separator. This work presents a technique to measure the thermal conduction across the metallic case-plastic separator interface, which ultimately limits heat transfer out of the jelly roll.

The polymeric separator …

Development And Initial Validation Of A Culturally Responsive Classroom Climate Scale, Horane A. Holgate

Open Access Theses

This study describes the development and initial validation for a measure of a culturally responsive classroom climate in postsecondary classrooms. By examining multiple frameworks of culturally responsive teaching four factors were identified as representing cultural responsiveness in the classroom: inclusiveness, cultural inclusion, diverse language and diverse pedagogy. Using these factors and conceptual definitions a survey measure was developed and the overall factor structure and reliability of the measure examined using Exploratory and Confirmatory Factor Analysis. The results provide evidence for a second order factor model with cultural responsiveness as a higher order construct represented by four factors. The results are …

Mitigating Conflict: A Human Dimensions Analysis Of Mesopredators And Their Management, Zoe Elizabeth Glas

Open Access Theses

Recent research on species that are both uncommon and unfamiliar to the public has shown that wildlife value theory may not be applicable to the management of all species. This stands in contrast to studies on charismatic megafauna like deer, bear and elk, in which wildlife value orientations could be used to predict the acceptability of various management actions. To further evaluate this phenomena, this study presents the findings of a survey of Indiana residents evaluating 1) the applicability of wildlife value theory to mesopredators, which are common and well known, but not charismatic megafauna, and 2) factors that may …