The current set of experiments sought to address a variable involved in slot machine gambling that has been termed the near-miss effect. In the present paper, the conceptual underpinnings of this `effect' were examined from a behavioral as well as a non-behavioral psychological perspective. The experiments and rationale for conducting them were prefaced with an in-depth analysis of problem gambling in general including prevalence, demographics, etiology, assessment, and treatment. A comprehensive review of behavioral analytic investigations on gambling in the areas of programmed contingencies, structural features, verbal behavior, the near miss effect, and treatment components was also presented. In terms of the empirical analyses, Experiments 1 and 2 examined the near miss effect as measured by response allocation to concurrently available simulated slot machines in non-pathological gamblers. The results of these studies indicated that verbal rule formation, only when it was presented through multiple exemplars, was significant enough to override programmed contingencies as well as near miss outcomes. Experiments 3 and 4 incorporated participants with a history of problem gambling and sought to reduce the verbal rule involved in the near miss effect through varying treatment strategies associated with Acceptance and Commitment Therapy. Experiment 3 demonstrated that one process of ACT was not sufficient in suppressing this behavior however, Experiment 4 showed that a brief ACT intervention incorporating all of its core processes was successful in treating the near miss effect. Implications of these findings are discussed in terms of a functional approach to the treatment of problem gambling and future extensions of this research are offered.

Master of Science / Food Science Institute / David L. Wetzel / Grain processing and handling requires quality determinations to ensure wholesome products that meet or surpass legal standards and specifications required by the end consumer. Near infrared spectroscopy has proven to be a useful and versatile tool to enable grain processers to make adjustments as needed. Near infrared chemical imaging also provides spatial information within the image and relative composition of chemically distinct components within the product. The potential use of chemical imaging to determine extraneous material in bread baking quality flour was addressed. A specimen preparation technique was developed. Insect fragment spiked specimens were imaged to determine their imaging effectiveness for application near the allowable limit of insect fragment concentration. Imaging was achieved using indium antimonide array detection of diffusely reflected radiation. The detector array of 81,920 pixels collected radiation from an area of 30.72 mm by 38.4 mm with a pixel size of 120 µm². Spectra were collected simultaneously from each pixel without moving parts by scanning with a liquid crystal tunable filter. Partial least squares analysis of each pixel within the sample allowed a summation of the insect quantity. The chemical structural distinction of chitin in the high protein matrix of the insect residue was in contrast to the non-digested carbohydrate residue in the lesser protein matrix of the flour. The method developed provided a linear response for a concentration range from approximately half the allowable limit to twice the limit for two insects that commonly contaminate flour. For the two insects studied the slopes are comparable with a slight off-set over a practical working range, so that insect concentration can be determined independently of species recognition.

No description available.

The early marine period for juvenile salmon is a critical life history stage for growth and survival. The health of near-shore ecosystems where juvenile salmon spend their early marine life, and the capacity of these habitats to provide prey are thus important for overall salmon returns. While near-shore habitat is generally accepted as being of critical importance, few studies have examined how juvenile salmon use this habitat during their early marine life. Understanding the trophic dynamics in these ecosystems and the characteristics of these habitats that are important for food provision will help us gauge the value of near-shore areas to the early marine phase of juvenile salmon. The importance of this avenue of research is underscored by declined rates of early marine survival of salmon, and suggestions that the rapid development of the shoreline is contributing to this decreased survival. My project investigates the role that near-shore habitat plays in promoting growth and survival of juvenile salmon by evaluating eelgrass as foraging grounds for juvenile salmon in the Comox Estuary, British Columbia. In 2015, we compared juvenile Chum salmon diets to prey availability in zooplankton tows and in epifaunal and infaunal eelgrass samples across a gradient of eelgrass shoot density. We complemented diet analysis with the use of stable isotope ratios of carbon (δ13C) and nitrogen (δ13N) to examine the relative contribution of zooplankton, eelgrass, and terrestrial invertebrates to juvenile Chum salmon diet. In 2016, we collected additional eelgrass samples to cover a wider range of eelgrass density, and compared juvenile Chinook salmon diets to prey availability in eelgrass. Prey invertebrates, such as polychaete worms, harpacticoid copepods, and amphipods, increased with eelgrass shoot density. Juvenile Chum salmon and juvenile Chinook salmon assessed in this study fed primarily on benthic species, specifically on harpacticoid copepods, which were only abundant in epifaunal eelgrass samples. The abundance of prey invertebrates in eelgrass beds and the benthic diet of juvenile salmon in the Comox Estuary leads us to conclude that the presence of eelgrass is an important habitat feature for juvenile salmon. / Graduate

The chemical analysis of feed samples can be time consuming and expensive. The use of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy was evaluated in a range of studies as a rapid technique to predict the chemical constituents in feedstuffs and compound ostrich feeds. The prediction of accurate results by NIR spectroscopy relies heavily upon obtaining a calibration set which represents the variation in the main population, accurate laboratory analyses and the application of the best mathematical procedures. This research project was designed to meet five objectives: The first objective was to determine the feasibility of using near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy to predict dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, oil content, and fatty acids such as palmitic acid (C16:0), stearic acid (C18:0), oleic acid (C18:1) and linoleic acid (C18:2) in sunflower seed meal. The second objective was to develop calibration models to predict the dry matter, crude protein and oil content in milled canola seed, compared to whole canola seeds. The third objective was to investigate the feasibility of using NIR spectroscopy to predict the dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre and oil content in milled lupin seeds, compared to whole lupin seeds. The fourth objective was to describe the development of near infrared reflectance (NIR) spectroscopy calibration equations for the prediction of chemical composition and amino acid content from different populations of alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa L.). The last objective was to determine the potential of NIR spectroscopy to predict the dry matter, ash, crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, acid detergent fibre (ADF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF), calcium, phosphorus, in vitro organic matter digestibility (IVOMD) and amino acids such as lysine, methionine, threonine and arginine in compound ostrich feed samples. The results of this study indicate that NIR spectroscopy calibrations in sunflower seed meal are only applicable in sunflower breeding programmes for a fast screening as it was not suitable for prediction purposes. Screening of sunflower seeds by NIR spectroscopy represents a rapid, simple and cost effective alternative that is a great utility for users who need to analyse a large number of samples. Calibrations developed for crude protein and oil content in milled canola seeds proved to be better than calibrations for whole canola seeds. Although the results indicated that calibrations were better for milled canola seeds, it indicated values that were typical of equations suitable for screening purposes to select samples for more detailed chemical analysis. According to calibration statistics obtained for crude protein, crude fibre and oil content in whole lupin seeds, there is no need to grind the seeds to scan the meal as similarly accurate results were obtained by analysing whole seeds. Screening of whole lupin seeds by NIR spectroscopy represents a rapid, simple and cost effective alternative that may be of great utility for users who need to analyse a large number of samples with no sample preparation. The calibration and validation statistics obtained in the study to test the potential of NIR spectroscopy to predict the chemical composition and amino acid contents in alfalfa hay, showed the accuracy was too low for routine analysis, although NIR spectroscopy could be used as a screening tool. Further research needs to be done to improve the accuracy of the NIR spectroscopy analysis, including more samples from different cultivars and years. In the study to examine the possibility of using NIR spectroscopy to predict the chemical composition of compound ostrich feeds, the results indicated that NIR spectroscopy is a suitable tool for a rapid and reliable prediction of the crude protein, crude fibre, ether extract, IVOMD, ADF and NDF in compound ostrich feeds. Calibrations can be improved for amino acids if a larger sample pool is used to develop the calibrations. These studies indicated that NIR spectroscopy can be a rapid and successful tool for the prediction of the nutritive value up to certain amino acid contents of feedstuffs and compound ostrich feeds.

<p> The civil war in Syria has caused a mass influx of Syrian refugees all over the world. Jordan has received a large share of Syrian refugees, now reaching an alarming number. The presence of Syrian refugees drains Jordan, as it is a vulnerable state with limited resources. In an effort to better understand the impact of the humanitarian crisis and the challenge to the Jordanian government, this study examined the impact of Syrian refugees on the total public expenditure and the spending of the health care sector and public education in a step toward assessing the burden of Syrian refugees on the Jordanian government. Alongside that, a comprehensive analytical framework was developed to explore the impact of refugees on receiving states. Particularly, it goes on to provide evidence from Jordan to describe the effect of Syrian refugees&rsquo; presence on Jordan as a receiving state. This study utilized quasi-mixed designs as research strategies: quantitative analysis of governorate-level data and systematic reviews of gray literature and peer-reviewed articles. It concluded that the presence of Syrian refugees has increased the public spending at the expense of the public investment projects in northern and centered governorates that received more refugees. The analytical framework addressed the political, economic, sociocultural, and environmental impact of Syrian refugee adoption in Jordan. The analysis has resulted in a better capacity to discover the potential consequences of a massive refugee influx, including vital factors that contribute to shaping refugees&rsquo; burden and formulating policies based on specific critical arenas that need more attention and resources in response to the influx of the refugee crisis. </p><p>

This thesis takes a novel, inter-disciplinary approach to an examination of the Markan evangelist’s portrayal of Jesus’ interface with Gentiles in a central section of his Gospel (Mk 4.35-9.29). As a framework to this section, Mark created a connected account of Jesus’ itinerary that included trips to perform miracles in the Gentile territories of Gerasa, Tyre, Bethsaida, the wider Decapolis and Caesarea Philippi. This thesis examines the role of these pericopae in the narrative as a whole and challenges the view that Mark’s geographical references were largely symbolic, rural and for the most part aimed at Jewish followers. The study scrutinizes Mark’s choice of geographical locations, systematically examines recent research on the religious milieu in these specific locations and brings this research into connection with the Gentile mission portrayed by Mark. The polytheistic and social environment in which Mark’s first century audience functioned has received little attention in recent scholarship and represents a lacuna in New Testament historical-critical research which this study addresses. A detailed exegesis of this section of the narrative concludes that Mark (a) deliberately redacts his text to place miracles in geographical regions where Gentiles predominate; (b) emphasizes obduracy and faithlessness on the part of Jewish officialdom and the Jewish disciples, in contrast to an implied understanding on the part of the Gentiles; (c) orchestrates a prolonged and sustained Jesus mission to the Gentiles as a precursor to his own community’s mission, to respond to their need for support and reassurance and (d) formulates his narrative to engage with his intended first century audience's Graeco-Roman religious and social worldview, inviting them to make comparison between the activities of Jesus and other contemporary miracle-performing men and polytheistic gods.

Severe maternal morbidity generally refers to the most severe complications of pregnancy and includes: hemorrhage, embolism, acute renal failure, stroke, acute myocardial infarction, and other complications. These complications affect more than 50,000 women in the United States every year, with rates significantly increasing from 1998 to 2011. In an effort to reduce these increasing complication rates, clinicians and researchers have emphasized the need to identify potential modifiable risk factors for severe maternal morbidity, and the need to study the relationships between these risk factors and severe maternal morbidity. The overall goal of this study is to improve the understanding of the increasing rates of severe maternal morbidity. The objective of the first study is to examine the association between prepregnancy BMI and severe maternal morbidity in women residing in Florida who had a live birth during 2007-2014. Additionally, the specific association between prepregnancy BMI and the most common individual conditions that comprise the composite measure of severe maternal morbidity will also be examined. We conducted a population-based retrospective cohort study using Florida’s linked birth certificate and maternal hospital discharge data for the years 2007-2014. The risk of severe maternal morbidity associated with BMI was then estimated by odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) derived using generalized estimating equations (GEE) for logistic regression. This final model was rerun separately for the most common conditions that comprise severe maternal morbidity as the outcome measure to assess differences by type of condition. Unadjusted rates of severe maternal morbidity increased with increasing BMI; however, after risk adjustment overweight and obese women had slightly protective odds of severe maternal morbidity when compared with normal weight women. The association between prepregnancy BMI and severe maternal morbidity differs by types of severe maternal morbidity. A protective dose-response relationship was seen for blood transfusion and disseminated intravascular coagulation, with the odds of morbidity decreasing with increasing BMI. The odds of heart failure, adult respiratory distress syndrome, and ventilation all increased with increasing BMI. This study shows that severe maternal morbidity is a complex measure and not just a single condition. In future studies, it will be imperative to analyze severe maternal morbidity as a composite measure and as individual conditions to identify modifiable risk factors to focus on for interventions. The objective of the second study is to identify potential determinants of the increase in the rate of severe maternal morbidity among women residing in Florida who had a live birth during 2005-2014. We examined severe maternal morbidity rates and related risk factors in live births to Florida women between 2005 and 2014, using Florida’s linked birth certificate and hospital discharge data. We initially conducted a Kitagawa analysis to evaluate the components of the increased rate of severe maternal morbidity between 2005 and 2014. Additionally, we performed a multivariable regression analysis to estimate the contribution of the multiple factors to differences in the rate of severe maternal morbidity in 2005 and 2014. The rate of severe maternal morbidity in 2014 was 19.3 per 1,000 live births, which was 1.65 times higher than the rate in 2005. Nearly all of the excess severe maternal morbidity and blood transfusions in 2014 can be explained by differences in the rate of severe maternal morbidity and blood transfusion between the two time periods. In total, sociodemographic factors, medical factors, and individual and hospital health service factors explained 9.1% of the overall severe maternal morbidity increase in 2014 compared with 2005, and only explained 2.5% of the increase in blood transfusions during this time period. Our study findings indicate that the increase in the rate of severe maternal morbidity is comprised almost entirely by an increase in the rate of blood transfusions. Further research will need to be conducted to explain the increase in the rate of severe maternal morbidity and blood transfusions. Consistent with national trends, the rates of severe maternal morbidity have been increasing in Florida. This increase is driven almost entirely by blood transfusions and cannot be explained by traditional factors that are readily available in current datasets. In addition to the differences between the trends of blood transfusions and the 20 severe maternal morbidity conditions, there are also differences in risk factors associated with these different conditions. Prepregnancy overweight and obesity is associated with a protective effect with blood transfusions and disseminated intravascular coagulation that is not seen in the other conditions. Therefore, initiatives to decrease the rates of severe maternal morbidity will need to take these differences into account.

There was a massive influx of Afghan refugees into Pakistan following the Soviet military intervention in Afghanistan in December 1979. An attempt has been made here to analyze the political, ethnic, economic and social ramifications of the Afghan refugees on Pakistan. Among the consequences of the presence of Afghan refugees are: 1. A heavy burden on Pakistan's resources on account of sustaining the 2.8 million Afghan refugees 2. Friction between Afghan refugees and the Pakistani population, due to land, employment, animal grazing-pasture and water-supply disputes, and 3. A direct threat to Pakistan's internal security and political stability, which is made evident by numerous violations of Pakistan's western borders by Soviet-Afghan air and ground forces in pursuit of the refugees and Afghan Mujahidin. The political talks on the Afghan crisis are deadlocked on the question of a Soviet troop withdrawal. The Soviets and Afghans insist on the stoppage of foreign support to the Afghan counterrevolutionaries. The refugees in Pakistan will not return to their homes unless they are insured a safe and honorable life by the Afghan government.

This thesis will focus on spherical near-field antenna measurements and the methods developed or modified for the work of this thesis to estimate the uncertainty in a particular far-field radiation pattern. We will discuss the need for error assessment in spherical near-field antenna measurements. A procedure will be proposed that, in an automated fashion, can be used to determine the overall uncertainty in the measured far-field radiation pattern of a particular antenna. This overall uncertainty will be the result of a combination of several known sources of error common to SNF measurements. This procedure will consist of several standard SNF measurements, some newly developed tests, and several stages of post-processing of the measured data. The automated procedure will be tested on four antennas of various operating frequencies and directivities to verify its functionality. Finally, total uncertainty data will be presented to the reader in several formats.