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Examining the Role of Executive Functions on the Intention-Behavior Gap of Alcohol Harm Reduction Strategy Use
No full textAlcohol harm reduction strategies are health behaviors that aim to minimize the likelihood or severity of consequences associated with alcohol use. Despite the demonstrated usefulness of harm reduction strategies, there is variability in who and when the strategies are used, leading to the question “if they work, why not use them all the time?” One potential explanation is a discrepancy between the intention to drink safely and actually drinking safely, termed the intention-behavior gap. It is unclear to what extent college drinkers plan on engaging in safe drinking behaviors but fail to follow through. It is plausible some drinkers have the intention to drink safely but lack the ability to effectively initiate and execute the harm reduction behaviors. As such, executive functions (EF: cognitive abilities associated with goal-directed behavior) may be one mechanism that helps explain the gap between safe drinking intentions and behavior. Using ecological momentary assessment, the current study explored the extent to which an intention-behavior gap in harm reduction strategy use exists among college student drinkers (n=77), and investigated how potential individual differences in EF (i.e., working memory, set-shifting, and inhibition) were associated with translating intentions of drinking safely into action. Daily monitoring assessments contained brief measures of intention to use harm reduction strategies, actual strategy use, and alcohol-related behaviors, and were assessed daily for twenty-one days. Multilevel model analyses revealed that although intention to use strategies predicted actual strategy use, measures of EF did not significantly moderate the relationship. Efforts to increase intentions to use alcohol harm reduction strategies should be included in alcohol use prevention and intervention programs for all drinkers, regardless of differences in EF ability
Classification of Finite Topological Quandles and Shelves via Posets
No full textThe objective of this dissertation is to investigate finite topological quandles and topological shelves. Precisely, we give a classification of both finite topological quandles and topological shelves using the theory of posets. For quandles with more than one orbit, we prove the following Theorem.
Proposition 0.0.1. Let X be a finite quandle with n orbits X1, ... , Xn. Then any right continuous poset on X is n-partite with vertex sets X1, ... , Xn.
For connected quandles, we prove the following Theorem.
Theorem 0.0.2. There is no T0-topology on a finite connected quandle X that makes X into a right topological quandle.
We used computer programming to help in exploring and analyzing various finite topological quandles and shelves. Since right multiplications in topological quandles are homeomorphisms, this implies that there is no T0-topology on a finite connected quandle X that makes X into a right topological quandle. By ignoring this condition and investigating topological shelves in which right multiplications are not homeomorphisms, we were able to obtain T0-topology on a finite connected shelves. For example we obtained the following Theorem
Proposition 0.0.3. Let S be a shelf such that Ra1 = Ra2 = Ra3 = ... = Ram and La1 (x) = a1, La2 (x) = a2, ... , Lam (x) = am, for some a1, ... , am ∈ S and for all x ∈ S. Then S has at least γ(m) partial orders continuous on S, where γ(m) is number of To topologies on m symbols.
The results of this study reveal the significance of topological quandles and shelves as important mathematical structures that can be used to study a wide range of problems in topology and knot theory. One of the key findings is that there is no connected topological quandle, while there exist onnected topological shelves. Additionally, an enumeration of topological quandles and shelves was provided, which has important implications for the study of these structures
Characteristics and Hydraulic Behavior of Adsorptive Media for Use in Permeable Reactive Barriers
No full textThe Cargill ditch is located on the property of Se7en Wetlands, a 1600-ac treatment wetland system in Lakeland, Polk County, Florida. The Se7en Wetlands property was previously utilized for phosphate mining prior to the construction of the system. Nonpoint nutrient sources derived from remnants of abandoned phosphate mines – known as “legacy phosphorus” – become mobilized by stormwater runoff and impair surface water bodies by promoting harmful algal blooms (HABs). Thus, the Cargill ditch likely conveys nutrient rich flow resulting from legacy phosphorus and is thought to be one contributing factor in the occurrence of HABs within the treatment wetland cells. The objective is to implement a PRB utilizing an adsorbent media at the Cargill ditch in Lakeland, Florida. The media removes phosphorus from runoff through filtration, sedimentation, and adsorption processes. This study evaluates four types of media for use in a PRB at the Cargill ditch: three types of unmodified biochar materials (Sunshine Organics biochar, Biochar now, and Biochar Supreme) and a mineral-based adsorptive media called Phosflow.
Permeability, porosity, aggregate stability, column/adsorptive studies, and flume-scale tests were conducted. Two dimensionless parameters may be used to scale laboratory tests to field conditions. The Froude number can be used to make comparisons between laboratory flume experiments and onsite conditions at a selected cross-section of the Cargill ditch. The Stanton number has been used to evaluate the applicability of scaling between laboratory column experiments to understand how media thickness and flow rate impact the adsorptive performance of the media.
Laboratory experiments were conducted to evaluate the media characteristics and hydraulic behavior in a laboratory-scale barrier. A constant-head permeability test and porosity testing were completed on all four materials to assess the ease with which water flows through particles. Of the four materials tested, Phosflow yielded the largest value of permeability at 1.95 cm/s. Inter-aggregate (flow between particles) and intra-aggregate porosities (flow within the pore space of particles) also control implementation of a PRB in terms of build-up of flow upstream and adsorptive capacity. As phosphorus comes into contact with media it adsorbs to the media surface, eventually diffusing into the inner pore space or chemically precipitating out of the solution. Phosflow in particular was found to have high intra-aggregate porosity relative to the biochar materials. Wet and dry sieve analyses were performed on Phosflow and Sunshine Organics biochar to assess the stability or resistance to fragmentation, in which a stability index of 0.98 and 0.94 were determined. However, more fragmentation of particles was observed for the biochar. Both Phosflow and the Sunshine Organics biochar were placed in a flume-scale barrier to observe the relationship between flow rate and energy (loss) gradient across the barrier. It was found that at higher flow rates, there was a slight departure from the linear relationship between flow and head loss described by Darcy’s law, indicating transition to more turbulent flow patterns. Through the Froude numbers, implementing a PRB would also cause a transition from subcritical flow, compatible with existing conditions at the Cargill ditch, to supercritical flow. Finally, column experiments were conducted on Phosflow alone, considering its high stability, uniform particle size distribution, and expectations for adsorptive performance. For two columns of varying thicknesses and flow rates, adsorptive performances below 1 mg {\mathrm{PO}}_\mathrm{4}^{\mathrm{3-}}-P/g Phosflow were obtained, and a model utilizing the Stanton number as an input was fit to column removal data. Overall, these results show that dimensionless numbers, such as the Froude number and Stanton number, can be used to make inferences about the flow conditions and the rate of mass transfer observed for laboratory tests
Mask Making on Social Media: Women’s Mask Making Practices and Advocacy During the COVID-19 Pandemic
No full textBackground: COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus SARS-COV-2, can create serious respiratory problems, or even death, for those affected. Individuals who share messages about its risks and related risk reduction behaviors have the potential to make a broader health impact. Early in the pandemic, some individuals made homemade masks to address the limited supply of personal protective equipment (PPE) and posted about their efforts on social media.Aim: To understand the grassroots application of the Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) theoretical model concerning effective messages in early phases of a crisis. Methods: Using both individual interviews and observations, researchers conducted a study of 15 Appalachian women making masks during the Covid-19 pandemic and analyzed 9 of their social media accounts. Results: Through interviews and observations, the researchers gained understanding as to how mask makers used social media to create and distribute masks and engage their communities. Social media messages often contained calls to action, personal connections to the issue, and supported the mask makers’ efforts to reach a broader network of individuals. Discussion: An evaluation of the grassroots efforts of mask makers extends the CERC framework to the individual level. Conclusions: This study provides insight into the role of grassroots health advocacy, and the role of user-generated social media messaging in pandemic risk reduction
Sam Crutchfield Oral History Interview
No full textIn this interview Samuel Crutchfield, a former Florida commercial fisherman, discusses his decades of experience fishing in the Florida waters, the changes he has seen on the fishing industry and the evolution of laws and regulations governing fishing. Born in 1939 in Fort Meade, Polk County, Florida, Crutchfield recalls spending his childhood fishing with his dad, joining the Coast Guard right out of high school, and his early days of commercial fishing in the 1960s. He concludes with anecdotes about finding abandoned boats, accidents he witnessed and humorous fishing episodes
Approach to problem solving and use of intuition by engineering technology students
No full textEngineering technology students often forgo a methodical approach of solving or answering questions on assignments or exams in favor of an intuition-based approach, emphasizing educated guessing (Broberg et al., 2008). Faculty observations have noted these student solutions often provide explanations, usually sans calculations, to support answers the students believe to be reasonable when in reality deviated from the correct answer. An extensive study was developed to assess several distinctions between student intuition and use of cognition in problem solving, as related to a generalized student population. The study was comprised of a survey and interview. The survey utilized two instruments, the Types of Intuition Scale (TIntS) and the Cognitive-Experiential Self Theory (CEST). The interview element was comprised of questions related to the student’s background and personal experience with math phobia. Data provided by study participants responding to specific questions from the TIntS and CEST instruments allowed researchers to determine how likely students are to use intuition rather than analytical processes. The results of the study found these students prefer to approach problems using logic but tend to rely upon their intuition when problem solving, especially in unfamiliar and high-pressure scenarios. Furthermore, this paper is intended to enlighten educators and other related groups regarding the degree to which intuition is used as a means of solving problems, and the types of intuition generally involved, especially for engineering technology students. Thus, providing practitioners and administrators with a better idea of what these students may provide in response to homework or other problem-solving situations
Assessing the application of -weights and structure coefficients in published hospitality and tourism research
No full textMultiple regression is one of the most powerful analysis techniques available to hospitality and tourism researchers for complex problems that may include prediction, mediation, and moderation. The interpretation of the results requires a two-step hierarchical approach. The first step is to determine whether the researcher has findings worth interpreting and reporting and the second step is to determine the effect(s) origins. This second step involves evaluating both the -weights and structure coefficients. The purpose of this study is to examine the use of -weights and structure coefficients while reporting univariate multiple regression results by hospitality and tourism researchers. The findings suggested that while researchers reported -weights, structure coefficients were not consulted. Additionally, although -weights were reported, they were misinterpreted in some cases. This study is helpful to hospitality management researchers as they interpret their findings as well as conduct peer reviews
Communication during COVID-19 crisis: A case of hotels in Turkey
No full textDuring the COVID-19 pandemic, which has spread all over the world, the importance of communication in terms of knowledge sharing has increased even more in the tourism sector, as in all sectors. Each hotel business has benefited from various communication tools in the pandemic crisis. The aim of this study is to provide an understanding of the crisis communication strategy tackled by the hotels in Turkey during this unprecedented period, via both conventional and internet based public relations and communication platforms within the framework of crisis communication management. For this purpose, in-depth interviews were conducted with 25 hotel managers in Turkey who are members of SKÅL International. After the recordings of the interviews were transcribed, the collected data were coded and analyzed by MAXQDA. Some of the striking answers from the participants that were given in the findings section by making descriptive analysis. 9 themes and 43 codes emerged in the findings of the study. Social media usage and informing are the most emphasized topics for crisis management by the participants
Why the delay in recognizing terrestrial obligate cave species in the tropics?
No full text“Nothing could possibly live there!” They believed. Indeed, until recently, few specialized cave- adapted animals were known from volcanic, tropical, or oceanic island caves, and plausible theories had been put forward to explain their absence. But assume nothing in science! One must illuminate, explore, and survey habitats before declaring them barren. Our understanding of cave biology changed dramatically about 50 years ago following the serendipitous discovery of cave-adapted terrestrial arthropods in Brazil and on the young oceanic islands of the Galápagos and Hawai‘i. These discoveries and subsequent studies on the evolutionary ecology of cave animals have revealed a remarkable hidden fauna and created new sub- disciplines within biospeleology. Biological surveys of caves in other regions have continued to expand our understanding of the evolution, adaptation, and ecology of the subterranean biome. We now predict that, rather than being relicts trapped in caves by changing climate, many animals actively colonized caves and adapted to exploit food resources wherever there were suitable subterranean voids. The physical environment in caves can be determined with great precision because the habitat is buffered by rock. Furthermore, the bizarre adaptations displayed by obligatory cave animals are similar across many taxonomic groups. These two characteristics make caves nearly ideal natural laboratories for studying evolution and ecology. However, to the untrained researcher, caves can appear hostile and dangerous, and in fact, fieldwork in caves requires a unique marriage of athletic ability and science. In other words, cave research is exciting! In this contribution, I describe the exploration, discovery, and research in tropical caves and describe the factors that delayed the recognition of a significant tropical cave fauna
