Despite being safe and effective, human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination rates are lower than other recommended adolescent vaccines. CDC recommends catch-up vaccination for all persons through age 26 years if not adequately vaccinated when younger making college campuses an important site for catch-up vaccination programs. The project is a quality improvement project being implemented on a public southeastern college campus. The campus health services clinic is the setting for the practice change. Aims: The overall purpose of the QI project is to enhance usage of current CDC HPV recommendations and increase campus population awareness of HPV. Processes: The project received a “Determination of Not Human Subjects Research” from the ETSU Human Research Protection Program. Staff in-service detailing the practice change for routine HPV vaccine status assessment and promotion of HPV vaccination, based on CDC HPV recommendations. Digital-based HPV education materials are being shared with both health services and the student wellness ambassador group. The ambassador group will share items with the campus community via social media and flyers. An optional, anonymous survey will be available when accessing the digital HPV content. De-identified chart audit data will be monitored to assess adoption of the practice change. Nonidentifiable digital access data will be used to assess usage of the educational materials. Results: The final results of the QI project will not be available. Preliminary descriptive statistics will be presented. Limitations: The vaccine isn’t available on campus and the electronic health record lacks directed HPV vaccine assessment on most visit forms. Conclusions: The preliminary conclusions and impact will be presented.

I used on-site interviews and angler counts to estimate angler effort, catch and harvest rates, and total catch and total harvest. On the Smith River, angling pressure per km was most intense in the special management area, with most use occurring on weekend days. Anglers harvested approximately 90% of the rainbow trout they caught, and 63% of the rainbow trout stocked during the study period. Anglers harvested only 5% of the brown trout they caught. Philpott Reservoir was overwhelmingly a nonconsumptive black bass fishery (anglers harvested only 9% of the black bass they caught). I also estimated net economic value of both fisheries using the travel cost method (TCM) and contingent valuation method (CVM). In addition to estimating net economic value for the fisheries under current fishing conditions, I also explored changes in economic value under different fishing scenarios and alternative flow regimes. On the Smith River, doubling an angler's chance of catching a large trout (> 16 in.) had the highest net economic value of any scenario in all three river sections. The wild trout scenario had the highest net economic value in the special management area. On Philpott Reservoir, doubling an angler's chance of catching a black bass had the highest net economic value. Total economic value (including angler expenditures) of both fisheries was $656,140, only $13,000 less than the value of power produced at Philpott Dam during Fiscal Year 1995. / Master of Science

No description available.

This study examined the "Catch Them Young" approach as a game-changer in the fight against religious extremism in Nigeria with the aim of fashioning a Virtue Ethics-based framework for tackling and erasing religious extremism from Nigeria, especially in its violent forms. The study utilized the qualitative methodology, designed with the Almajiri Islamic system of education practiced in Northern Nigeria as case study. In data collection, the study utilized archival research and secondary data collection, using existing datasets from paperback and electronic books, academic journals, other academic works, newspapers, websites, electronic magazines, and other available media sources. The method of analysis was thematic. The study explored the theoretical frameworks through which the question of religious extremism has been studied. The study probed the approaches which the Nigerian goverenment has applied in its response to violent religious extremism and terrorism in Nigeria. The key findings of the study showed that political interest, unemployment, poverty, deprivation, ignorance and inadequate education are the major factors contributing to religious extremism in Nigeria. The existing approaches of military means (hard power) in combating religious extremism have not worked, and a feasible, proactive, non-military (soft power) means is needed. Results equally showed the Almajiri system in it's present state as counterproductive. Based on the success of youth programs with nearly the same goals as the catch them young strategy in other fields and/or in other places, the success of the "Catch Them Young" approach in virtue or character education of the Nigerian child is a feasible game-changing stratey to pursue in fighting religious exteremism in Nigeria. One limitation of the study is the small sample size, the Almajiri of norther Nigeria, which may not be representative of the entire population of Nigeria. This study serves as a reference for creating virtue ethics-based frameworks in the fight against religious extremism in Nigeria. More research is needed to give traction to the formulation and utilization of virtue ethics-based frameworks in the fight against religious extremism, and in every other field of human endeavor in Nigeria. This makes available more material to researchers, professionals and policymakers. / Thesis (STL) — Boston College, 2023. / Submitted to: Boston College. School of Theology and Ministry. / Discipline: Sacred Theology.

This dissertation unpacks "innovation" along its constituent dimensions, namely technological, geographic, and people. I study how these dimensions interact among each other to define the course or trajectory of innovation. The setting for this study is the global wind power industry, a rapidly evolving innovation-intensive emerging industry. The innovations are studied at two levels - location-level and firm-level. At the location-level, I measure breadth and depth of innovation along the three dimensions. I then examine how the innovation breadth and depth at a location impact the locations' innovation performance. I find negative curvilinear effects for both but breadth having a larger impact than depth. Since breadth has the potential to develop earlier than depth, I argue that late entering new locations can catch-up faster with leading incumbent locations in emerging industries. At the firm-level, I study the development of firm's innovation capabilities. A special focus is given to emerging economy multinational enterprises (EMNEs) as they start with lower amounts of technological and market knowledge but exhibit a fast catch-up to get on par with the industry leading advanced economy multinationals (AMNEs). EMNEs are catching up with AMNEs even in emerging, high technology industries, where their knowledge-based disadvantages are most severe. I explain this phenomenon by distinguishing between output and innovation capabilities. By comparing the knowledge bases of an industry leading AMNE and a fast follower EMNE, I find that AMNE's knowledge base is deeper and composed of more distinct technology groups than that of the EMNE. Thus, although the EMNE has caught up in terms of output capabilities, it still lags in terms of innovation capabilities. Next, I study closely the process of innovation catch-up by analyzing firms' R&D internationalization strategies. I study EMNE R&D internationalization by comparing it to that by AMNE to find that its purpose and drivers are different for EMNEs. While the internationalization of AMNEs' R&D activities can to a large extent be explained in terms of the twin strategies of competence exploitation and competence creation, EMNE R&D internationalization is rooted in the firms' overall catch-up strategy to get on par with industry leaders. An in-depth comparison of knowledge flows reveals that within AMNEs, headquarters often serves the primary source of knowledge for R&D subsidiaries. In contrast, within EMNEs, headquarters accesses knowledge from R&D subsidiaries in advanced economies for innovation catch-up. Within this dichotomy, accessing is more difficult and slower than sourcing making EMNE innovation catch-up harder and slower. / Business Administration/Strategic Management

Reef fisheries are important activities that support the livelihoods of millions of people. Reef fisheries exploit different habitats and typically target a diversity of species caught with a matching diversity of fishing gears. However, previous studies of reef fisheries have generally lacked detailed information on the catch and effort by gear and habitat type. In this dissertation, the sustainability of a coral reef fishery at the Marine Protected Area Costa dos Corais, Northeastern Brazil is assessed. In 1,833 landing interviews with local fishers, 100 fished species were identified and the total catch in kilograms for each species, the size composition of captured individuals and the habitat type exploited were recorded. First, the dissertation explores how fishing gears selected for distinct functional traits. A low competitive interaction between different gears was noted. Gears used in reef habitats selected for sedentary and benthic species, while gears used in coastal lagoons targeted highly mobile and pelagic. Second, the dissertation assesses how different gear affected the catch rates of coral reef fishes. Gears used on coral reef habitats had a more negative effect on catch rates than those used in coastal lagoons. The three gear types that affected catch rates more severely were hook and line, gillnet and cast net. Based on the results it is argued that the effects of reef fisheries on catch rates were highly depended on the vulnerability of target species. Finally, the dissertation assesses the ability of the fishing-down concept to assess the sustainability of the local fishery; the fishing-down is used to describe the process of moving away from catching large fish to progressively targeting smaller fish. I found strong support for the fishing-down, as fisheries decreased the average size of the fish assemblage and affected more heavily the catch rates of fishes with higher index of vulnerability. Overall results show that fisheries management should focus on the conservation of vulnerable taxa that are responsible for key ecological processes in coral reefs such as herbivory and coral predation. The decision-making process on management measures must be based on clear discussions with all stakeholders involved. / Doctor of Philosophy / Coral reefs are one of the richest environments on the planet, but overfishing threatens their conservation. Reef fishers use many techniques, or fishing gears, such as hook and line and nets, to catch a high diversity of fish species. Reef fisheries are often unsustainable as fishers are allowed to employ high levels of effort. Thus, studies are needed to assess the sustainability of coral reef fisheries and determine which gears are more negative to reef fishes. In a series of three studies, I investigated how reef fisheries affected fish communities in Northeastern Brazil. I used a total of 1,833 interviews with fishers in which I recorded the total catch for each species, obtained size of fish individuals, and asked about the environment that was exploited, coral reefs or coastal lagoons. First, I evaluated how the different gears selected for groups of species with unique life-history characteristics, such as size, mobility and period of activity. I found that gears such as hook and line and harpoon selected for species with sedentary traits that live near the bottom of the ocean, whereas nets selected for very mobile species that inhabit surface waters. In general, fishers did not compete for the same resources with different gears. Second, I assessed how the different gears affected the relative abundance of coral reef fishes. The three gear types that affected more heavily the relative abundance of fishes were hook and line, gillnet and cast net. I argue that the negative effects occurred because these gears caught species with characteristics that made them vulnerable to exploitation, such as slow body growth. Third the dissertation assesses the ability of the fishing-down concept to assess the sustainability of the local fishery; the fishing-down is used to describe the process of moving away from catching large fish to progressively targeting smaller fish. I found strong support for the fishing-down as the studied fisheries impacted the size and the abundance of local fishes. My results suggest that fisheries management should focus on the conservation of vulnerable fish responsible for key ecological processes such as herbivory and coral predation. The decision-making process regarding fisheries management must also be based on clear discussions with all stakeholders involved.

Blue Catfish were introduced in the tidal tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay in the 1970s and 1980s to establish new fisheries during a time period when many fisheries were in decline due to pollution, habitat alteration, disease, overfishing, and environmental catastrophes. Having expanded their range to most Bay tributaries, the species has drawn concern from many stakeholders and scientists for its effects on at-risk and economically important native and naturalized species. My study focused on understanding the dynamics of this species based on multiple long-term monitoring data and evaluating potential management strategies to meet stakeholder needs. I sought to understand how is growth variability was partitioned over time and space, how Blue Catfish populations changed from 1994 to 2016, and how predation on native species and fishery-based performance measures may respond to management intervention. As Blue Catfish length-at-age is exceptionally variable in Virginia tributaries of the Chesapeake Bay, I evaluated the variability in growth using candidate non-linear mixed effects models that described variability in growth over time and space. Linear trend tests supported declines in growth over time within river systems, but did not support the presence of synchronous growth responses among river systems. To better understand population dynamics of Blue Catfish in the Chesapeake Bay watershed, I developed a statistical catch-at-length model for the James River to estimate population size, instantaneous fishing mortality, and size structure over time. The statistical catch-at-length model estimated that Blue Catfish abundance increased slowly and peaked in the mid-2000s before undergoing a recent decline. The model estimated a large spike in abundance due to an estimated large recruitment event in 2011, but may be an artifact of missing data in 2012 in both relative abundance indices examined. The newly developed statistical catch-at-length model provides most detailed information on population dynamics of Blue Catfish in the James River and can be expanded and updated as new data become available. Based on results of the statistical catch-at-length model, I examined population responses to unregulated, maximum length limit (60 cm), and harvest slot limit regulations (harvest allowed 25 –60 cm) in a management strategy evaluation framework. The management strategy evaluation supported that the James River Blue Catfish population could be reduced with increased harvest, but trophy-size fish would decline. Consequently, fishery managers tasked with invasive species management must consider this tradeoff of fishery economic benefits and predation on native populations, especially those prey in which population sizes are unknown. / Doctor of Philosophy / Blue Catfish are non-native to the Chesapeake Bay watershed, but were stocked in the 1970s and 1980s to provide fishing opportunities to the region. Unknowingly, Blue Catfish expanded downstream and beyond the boundaries of the rivers to which they were originally stocked and now exist in extremely dense populations in places. This expansion in population size and distribution has generated concern for the health of the Chesapeake Bay and calls for population control. I wanted to learn more about Blue Catfish in Virginia, specifically Blue Catfish growth rates, population dynamics, and how they might respond to control efforts. I examined Blue Catfish growth rates and found growth rates differed over time and across river systems. Blue Catfish tended to grow more slowly over time as their populations matured. As growth rates declined, population size increased with maximum population sizes in the late 2000s in the James River with a subsequent decline in abundance. Many invasive species exhibit this sort of phenomenon, where population sizes increase and reach a maximum before declining. Finally, I looked at Blue Catfish responses to different fishing regulations and harvest levels, finding that increased harvest could help control Blue Catfish population sizes. However, Blue Catfish management objectives are in conflict as regulations that limit predation of native species of interest also reduce the proportion of large fish in populations. Blue Catfish management will require stakeholder-driven approaches to ensure buy-in and reduce user conflicts.

Estimation of natural mortality within statistical catch-at-age models has been relatively unsuccessful and is uncommon within stock assessments. The models I created estimated population-dynamics parameters, including natural mortality, through Metropolis-Hastings algorithms from Gulf of Mexico red-snapper Lutjanus campechanus data. I investigated the influences of assumptions regarding model configuration of natural mortality and selectivity-at-age parameters by comparing multiple models. The results of this study are preliminary due to parameter estimates being bounded by uniform priors and thus a potential lack of convergence to the posterior distribution. Estimation of a natural-mortality parameter at age 0 or a Lorenzen natural-mortality parameter could be confounded with selectivity-at-age-1 parameters for bycatch from the shrimp fisheries. The Lorenzen natural-mortality curve was calculated by dividing the parameter by red snapper length at age. An age-1 natural-mortality parameter might not be estimable with the currently available data. Values of the natural-mortality parameter for ages 2 and older appear to be slightly less influenced by assumptions regarding selectivity-at-age parameters. We conducted a simulation study to determine the accuracy and precision of natural-mortality estimation assuming the selectivity-at-age-1 parameter for bycatch from the shrimp fisheries equaled 1.0 and a Lorenzen natural-mortality curve. The simulation study indicated that initial abundance-at-age parameters may be inestimable within the current model and may influence other parameter estimates. The preliminary simulation results showed that the Lorenzen natural-mortality parameter was consistently slightly underestimated and apical-fishing-mortality parameters were considerably underestimated. The estimation of natural mortality within a statistical catch-at-age model for Gulf of Mexico red snapper has many caveats and requires additional investigation. / Master of Science

Urban stormwater is today recognized as a significant source of pollution that has contributed to the deterioration of water quality in lakes and streams. Of the pollutants, metals are commonly occurring in stormwater and can cause major damage when released into the receiving waters. A promising treatment method for removing these metals before it reaches the receiving waters is to filter the water in various filter technologies such as catch basin inserts. In this study, the potential of five materials to remove dissolved copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) from stormwater was investigated. The study was initiated with batch equilibrium tests to assess the sorption capacity of the materials at different metal concentrations relevant for stormwater. This was done in both single and binary batches to investigate whether or not any competitive sorption occurred between the metals. Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips isotherm models were adapted to the obtained data. Through geochemical modelling, it was also possible to investigate whether precipitation of metals was likely. Finally, kinetic studies were conducted to investigate whether the reaction rate of Cu and Zn was relevant in the context of catch basin inserts. The results showed that the biochar had the highest sorption capacity followed by peat, bark, milkweed, and polypropylene. It could also be noted that Cu competed with Zn binding sites at high concentrations and that the sorption capacity of biochar, peat and bark, at concentrations between 50-100 μg/l Cu and 50-500 μg/l Zn, was sufficient to meet the limits set for stormwater emissions. For these sorbents, the reaction rate was also significant. Kinetics tests showed that at an initial concentration of 1,000 μg/l, 83% of the metals were sorbed after 5 minutes and after 10 minutes this number was 93%. Bark and peat also showed low effluent pH and leaching of dissolved organic carbon (DOC). The Langmuir and pseudo-second order equation could be well adapted to the data while geochemical modelling showed that precipitation of metals was unlikely. This suggests that chemical adsorption may be the mechanism that largely accounted for the removal of Cu and Zn. The results of this study can hardly be used to estimate the field performance of stormwater filters, but can be used as a basis for comparing and selecting sorbents for subsequent column tests. / I denna studie undersöktes potentialen för fem material att avskilja löst koppar (Cu) och zink (Zn) från dagvatten. Studien inleddes med skaktest för att testa sorptionsförmågan hos materialen vid olika metallkoncentrationer relevant för dagvatten. Detta gjordes i både singel och binära test för att undersöka om någon konkurrerande sorption skedde mellan metallerna. Langmuirs, Freundlichs och Sips isotermmodeller anpassades även till resultatet. Genom geokemisk modellering var det även möjlig att undersöka om utfällning av metaller var sannolik. Till sist gjordes kinetiska studier för att undersöka om reaktionshastigheten för sorption av Cu och Zn till filtermaterialen var relevanta i ett brunnsfiltersammanhang. Resultaten visar att biokol hade den största sorptionsförmågan följt av torv, bark, sidenört och polypropylen. Det kunde även konstateras att koppar konkurrerade om sorptionsplatser för zink vid högre koncentrationer och att sorptionskapaciteten för biokol, torv och bark, vid koncentrationer mellan 50-100 µg/l Cu och 50-500 µg/l Zn, är tillräckligt hög för att uppfylla gränsvärdena för utsläpp av dagvatten. För dessa sorbenter var reaktionshastigheten betydande. Kinetiktesten visade att vid en initial koncentration på 1,000 µg/L var 83% av metallerna sorberade efter 5 minuter och efter 10 minuter var denna siffra uppe i 93%. Bark and torv uppvisade även ett lågt uppmätt pH och lakade löst organisk kol (DOC). Langmuir och pseudo-andra ordningens ekvation kunde anpassas väl till datat samtidigt som den geokemiska modelleringen visade att utfällning av metaller var osannolikt. Detta antyder att kemisk adsorption kan vara den mekanism som till störst del stod för avskiljningen av Cu och Zn. Studien kan inte fastställa något om filtermaterialens fältprestanda, men kan användas som underlag för att jämföra och att välja sorbenter för efterföljande kolumntester. / Formas project 2016-75

Yes / Integrating and extending new growth theory and resource-based views, this paper provides a theoretical foundation for the catch-up hypothesis. It examines the role of technology gap, technological capability, and cultural proximity in local firms’ catch-up with MNEs. Hypotheses are developed and tested with a dynamic model on a large firm-level panel dataset from Chinese manufacturing. The results confirm that catch-up is positively related to technology gap and technological capability. Furthermore, in the presence of cultural proximity, the speed of local Chinese firms’ catch-up with MNEs from Hong Kong, Macau, and Taiwan is not significantly lower than that with other MNEs. / The National Natural Science Foundation of China (NSFC: 71302179 and 71240026); the Project of Humanities and Social Sciences, Ministry of Education, China (Project No. 11XJA630001), and the “211 project” of the Southwestern University of Finance and Economics.