Thesis (Ph. D.)--University of Washington, 2001. / Vita. Includes bibliographical references (leaves 72-95).

The illicit use of prescription stimulants among college undergraduates is a prevalent and dangerous problem on college campuses across the United States. Though classified by the U. S. Drug Enforcement Agency as schedule II controlled substances (U.S. Department of Justice, 2008), undergraduates obtain these medications through peers and friends, and report misusing of these stimulants to aid their concentration and studying (DeSantis, Webb, & Noar, 2008). Because extant research concludes that the prevalence of the misuse of prescription stimulants (MPS) peaks among undergraduates, this research was guided by the Theory of Planned Behavior (Ajzen, 1985, 1991) as well as a memorable messages framework (Knapp, Stohl, & Reardon, 1981), and sought to examine the messages that college students recall about MPS, how those messages are associated with student’s intention to use stimulants directly, as well as indirectly through changes in attitudes, normative beliefs, and efficacy, and finally, to examine if receiving a memorable message predicts changes in intention to use, or actual use of stimulants over time. Data for the main study were collected in October 2014, and 137 undergraduate students reported a memorable message about MPS and were retained for analysis. Four weeks later, a follow-up survey was launched, and 89 undergraduates also completed the second survey. Results suggest that undergraduates do recall memorable messages about MPS, and the content focuses on the themes of academics, health outcomes, and responsible use. Additionally, memorable messages tended to be more negative than positive, and came from a variety of sources including close friends and peers, family members, instructors, and medical professionals, to name a few. Further, participants’ attitudes and normative beliefs were positively associated with behavioral intention at Time 1. Additionally, behavioral intention at Time 1 was positively associated with behavioral use at Time 2. The findings from this research provide several practical implications for future health education and promotion campaigns.

Pollution studies have sought to understand the relationships between adverse health effects and harmful exposures. Many environmental health studies are predicated on the idea that each exposure has both acute and long term health effects that need to be accurately mapped. Considerable work has been done linking air pollution to deleterious health outcomes but the underlying biological pathways and contributing sources remain difficult to identify. There are many statistical issues that arise in the exploration of these longitudinal study designs such as understanding pathways of effects, addressing missing data, and assessing the health effects of multipollutant mixtures. To this end this dissertation aims to address the afore mentioned statistical issues. Our first contribution investigates the mechanistic pathways between air pollutants and measures of cardiac electrical instability. The methods from chapter 1 propose a path analysis that would allow for the estimation of health effects according to multiple paths using structural equation models. Our second contribution recognizes that panel studies suffer from attrition over time and the loss of data can affect the analysis. Methods from Chapter 2 extend current regression calibration approaches by imputing missing data through the use of moving averages and assumed correlation structures. Our last contribution explores the use of factor analysis and two-stage hierarchical regression which are two commonly used approaches in the analysis of multipollutant mixtures. The methods from Chapter 3 attempt to compare the performance of these two existing methodologies for estimating health effects from multipollutant sources.

Safeguards and security (S&S) systems for nuclear facilities include material control and accounting (MC&A) and a physical protection system (PPS) to protect nuclear materials from theft, sabotage and other malevolent human acts. The PPS for a facility is evaluated using probabilistic analysis of adversary paths on the basis of detection, delay, and response timelines to determine timely detection. The path analysis methodology focuses on systematic, quantitative evaluation of the physical protection component for potential external threats, and often calculates the probability that the PPS is effective (PE) in defeating an adversary who uses that attack path. By monitoring and tracking critical materials, MC&A activities provide additional protection against inside adversaries, but have been difficult to characterize in ways that are compatible with the existing path analysis methods that are used to systematically evaluate the effectiveness of a site’s protection system. This research describes and demonstrates a new method to incorporate MC&A protection elements explicitly within the existing probabilistic path analysis methodology. MC&A activities, from monitoring to inventory measurements, provide many, often recurring opportunities to determine the status of critical items, including detection of missing materials. Human reliability analysis methods are applied to determine human error probabilities to characterize the detection capabilities of MC&A activities. An object-based state machine paradigm was developed to characterize the path elements and timing of an insider theft scenario as a race against MC&A activities that can move a facility from a normal state to a heightened alert state having additional detection opportunities. This paradigm is coupled with nuclear power plant probabilistic risk assessment techniques to incorporate the evaluation of MC&A activities in the existing path analysis methodology. Event sequence diagrams describe insider paths through the PPS and also incorporate MC&A activities as path elements. This work establishes a probabilistic basis for incorporating MC&A activities explicitly within the existing path analysis methodology to extend it to address insider threats. The analysis results for this new method provide an integrated effectiveness measure for a safeguards and security system that addresses threats from both outside and inside adversaries. / text

abstract: Research on psychological help seeking has continued to grow as the field of psychology has expanded. Much of the research is often variable driven and assumes this construct is a global construct. The current study used the Theory of Planned Behavior to provide a theory based approach to understanding psychological help seeking intention. Also, the theory was tested for three common presenting concerns: Anxiety or Depression, Career Choice Concerns, and Alcohol or Substance Use. Two samples of over 400 university students completed surveys for all three concerns. Results produced invariance across path loadings for the concerns being compared. When thinking about seeking psychological help, university students do not appear to consider the type of concern but do rely on attitude, stigma, and how much control and efficacy they have to address their problems on their own. Mean differences emerged for some variables in the model, but no meaningful mean differences were noted for gender. Overall, the variables used in the decision making process do not appear to consider concern when seeking help, but the beliefs about seeking help differ some. These results extend the Theory of Planned Behavior to consider the importance of an individual's ability to address their problem on their own. When considering psychological help seeking, college students have similar attitudes and beliefs about their ability to access mental health resources, their beliefs about stigma, ability to address their problems on their own, and their intention to seek help vary more by concern. The specific concerns being addressed does not appear to impact the weight each variable is given in the decision making process; attitude, stigma, and ability to solve the problem on their own appear to be the variables given greatest consideration. / Dissertation/Thesis / Ph.D. Counseling Psychology 2011

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo compreender sistemas de produção agrícola e agropecuária a campo pela avaliação da diversidade, funcionalidade e dinâmica espaço-temporal de espécies, assim como pelo padrão de variação da qualidade do solo e dos fatores que a determinam. Para isso, foi avaliado na “Agropecuária Guajuvira” localizada no município de São Miguel das Missões – RS quatro sistemas conservacionistas de produção. Foram eles: 1- sistema agrícola tradicional, representando a sucessão soja/trigo e soja/aveia preta amplamente praticada na região; 2- Sistema agrícola irrigado, semelhante ao anterior, mas, com recente inserção de milho no verão; 3- Sistema integrado de produção agropecuária 1, representando a sucessão soja/pastejo de azevém e 4- Sistema integrado de produção agropecuária 2, representando um sistema misto por apresentar alterações na composição de espécies no inverno pela sucessão soja/aveia preta pastejada, soja/aveia preta não pastejada e soja/nabo forrageiro/trigo O estoque de carbono (EC), estabilidade de agregados do solo (EAS) e índice de manejo de carbono (IMC) foram escolhidos como indicadores da qualidade sistêmica do solo. Seus padrões de variação foram compreendidos pela integração de atributos químicos, físicos e biológicos do solo, assim como por variáveis de paisagem inerentes às unidades amostrais. Os fatores que caracterizaram os sistemas de produção e o uso da análise de caminhos permitiram um maior entendimento de sistemas complexos de produção agrícola e agropecuária a campo. / The aim of this research was to understand agricultural and integrated crop-livestock production systems by the species diversity, functionality and spatial-temporal dynamics evaluation, as well as of the variation pattern of soil quality and factors that determine then. For this, four no-tillage production systems were evaluated on the "Agropecuária Guajuvira" located in São Miguel das Missões county in southern Brazil. The production systems were: 1- Traditional agricultural system, representing the succession soybean/wheat and soybean/black oat widely practiced in the region; 2- Irrigated agricultural system, similar to the previous one, but, with recent insertion of corn in the summer; 3 - Integrated crop-livestock system 1, representing the succession of soybean /grazed ryegrass and 4 - Integrated crop-livestock system 2, representing a mixed system due changes in species composition during winter by succession of soybean/grazed black oat, soybean/no-grazed black oat and soybean/forage radish/wheat The carbon stock (CS), soil aggregate stability (SAS) and carbon management index (CMI) were chosen as systemic soil quality indicators. Their variation patterns were understood by the integration of chemical, physical and biological soil attributes, as well as by landscape variables inherent to the sampling units. The factors that characterized the production systems and the path analysis utilization allowed a greater understanding of complex agricultural and integrated crop-livestock production systems in the field.

As espécies herbáceas terrícolas têm papel fundamental nas interações bióticas que ocorrem no interior de florestas. Entender as relações ecológicas que envolvem este grupo de plantas é essencial para a compreensão da dinâmica de florestas tropicais, sobretudo em ambientes perturbados e complexos, como a floresta tropical atlântica brasileira. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar como as comunidades herbáceas terrícolas se relacionam com as características ambientais de floresta tropical atlântica primária e secundária, no sul do Brasil. Nós coletamos dados sobre composição e estrutura (riqueza, cobertura e altura média) de comunidades herbáceas em 16 parcelas de 36m² em cada habitat florestal. Nós analisamos a variação da composição herbácea nos dois habitats através de Análise de Variância Multivariada por Permutação (PerManova) e executamos uma análise de caminhos, utilizando a abordagem PLS-PM (Partial Least Square Path modeling), para testar efeitos diretos e indiretos da estrutura do componete arbóreo, fertilidade do solo, luminosidade e do componente lenhoso regenerativo na estrutura das comunidades herbáceas. Os resultados da PerManova mostraram que as comunidades herbáceas foram diferentes entre floresta primária e floresta secundária; as variáveis ambientais que significamente contribuiram para essa variação foram a abertura da copa, o pH e o teor de matéria orgânica. A análise de caminhos mostrou que na floresta primária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada direta e positivamente pela fertilidade do solo e indireta e negativamente pela estrutura do componente arbóreo através de sua influência direta no componente lenhoso regenerativo; na floresta secundária a estrutura da comunidade herbácea foi afetada diretamente, tanto positivamente pela disponibilidade de luz, quanto negativamente pelo componente lenhoso regenerativo. De uma forma geral, as variáveis consideradas explicaram bem a variação nos dados das comunidades herbáceas. As comunidades herbáceas de florestas primárias e secundárias são diferentes em resposta ao ambiente biótico e abiótico peculiar de cada habitat florestal. A interação entre espécies herbáceas e o componente lenhoso regenerativo parece aumentar na floresta secundária, reforçando a ideia de que as relações entre esses grupos de plantas são intensificadas em ambientes perturbados. / Terrestrial herbs play a fundamental role in biotic interactions occurring inside forests. The study of the ecological relationships involving this plant group is essential for the understanding of the dynamics of tropical forests, especially in complex and disturbed environments, as the Brazilian Atlantic forest. The objective of this study was to evaluate how herb communities are related to environmental characteristics of old-growth and secondary tropical Atlantic Forest in southern Brazil. We collected data on composition and structure (cover, richness and average height) of herbaceous communities in 16 plots with 36 m² in each forest habitat. We used a permutation multivariate analysis of variance (PerMANOVA) to evaluate the variation in composition of herb communities in old-growth and secondary forest and performed a path analysis to test direct and indirect effects of tree component structure, canopy openness, soil fertility and understory woody component on herb community structure. PerMANOVA results showed that composition of herb communities were different between old-growth and secondary forest; the environment variables canopy openness, organic matter, and pH significantly explained a proportion of the variability of the composition of herb communities. Path analysis indicated that in old-growth forest the herb community structure was affected direct and positively by soil fertility and indirect and negatively by the structure of tree component structure as above mediated by its influence on understory woody component. In secondary forest the herb community structure was affected directly and positively by light availability and negatively by the understory woody component. In general, the analysed variables explained well the variation in the herbaceous community data. Herb communities in old-growth and secondary forests respond differently to biotic and abiotic variables. Interactions between woody regeneration and herbaceous communities seem to increase in secondary forest, reinforcing the idea that relations between these plant groups are intensified in disturbed environments.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:32:16Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2009-07-08Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:03:32Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 morcelijunior_aa_dr_jabo.pdf: 253578 bytes, checksum: a622cbed7dc1ba334a4322ea34888299 (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Dentro de um programa de melhoramento é de suma importância o conhecimento da variabilidade, especialmente do quanto esta variabilidade é devido à diferença genética ou ambiental, pois permite conhecer o potencial da população para a seleção. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de selecionar genótipos de soja através da estimativa de parâmetros genéticos como herdabilidade, ganhos com a seleção e análise de trilha em cinco cruzamentos biparentais de soja. As populações F6 de soja foram avaliadas na safra 2006/07 sendo o ensaio conduzido no esquema de famílias com testemunhas intercalares. A população Liderança X BRS 137 apresentou maiores valores de herdabilidade e se apresentou como a mais promissora em relação ao caráter produtividade de grãos. Concluiu-se que a seleção entre famílias é mais promissora comparando-se com a seleção dentro de famílias. Em relação as estimativas de ganho genético foram observados maiores resultados na seleção entre e dentro de famílias em comparação com a seleção massal. A decomposição das correlações fenotípicas por meio da análise de trilha evidenciou que houve diferenças entre as populações para a escolha de características a serem utilizadas na seleção indireta, e em geral, as que tiveram maior potencial foram número de vagens por planta, número de sementes por planta, número de nós e valor agronômico. / In a breeding program is very important the knowledge of the variability, especially as this variability is due to genetic or environmental differences, it allows to know the potential of population for the selection. The present work had the objective to select soybean genotypes through the estimate of genetic parameters as heritability, selection gains and path analysis in five biparents crosses. The soybean F6 populations had been evaluated in 2006/07, being conducted on the scheme of families inserted between of the checks. The population Liderança X BRS 137 presented greater values of heritability and presented as the most promising in relation to the yield. It was concluded that the selection between families is more promising comparing itself with the selection inside of families. In relation to the estimates of gains selection, it was observed higher results in the selection between and within families compared with mass selection. The decomposition of the phenotypic correlation analysis in path analysis showed that there were differences among the populations for the choice of characteristics to be used in the indirect selection, in general, which have greater potential were number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of us and agronomic value.

Resumo: Dentro de um programa de melhoramento é de suma importância o conhecimento da variabilidade, especialmente do quanto esta variabilidade é devido à diferença genética ou ambiental, pois permite conhecer o potencial da população para a seleção. O presente trabalho teve o objetivo de selecionar genótipos de soja através da estimativa de parâmetros genéticos como herdabilidade, ganhos com a seleção e análise de trilha em cinco cruzamentos biparentais de soja. As populações F6 de soja foram avaliadas na safra 2006/07 sendo o ensaio conduzido no esquema de famílias com testemunhas intercalares. A população Liderança X BRS 137 apresentou maiores valores de herdabilidade e se apresentou como a mais promissora em relação ao caráter produtividade de grãos. Concluiu-se que a seleção entre famílias é mais promissora comparando-se com a seleção dentro de famílias. Em relação as estimativas de ganho genético foram observados maiores resultados na seleção entre e dentro de famílias em comparação com a seleção massal. A decomposição das correlações fenotípicas por meio da análise de trilha evidenciou que houve diferenças entre as populações para a escolha de características a serem utilizadas na seleção indireta, e em geral, as que tiveram maior potencial foram número de vagens por planta, número de sementes por planta, número de nós e valor agronômico. / Abstract: In a breeding program is very important the knowledge of the variability, especially as this variability is due to genetic or environmental differences, it allows to know the potential of population for the selection. The present work had the objective to select soybean genotypes through the estimate of genetic parameters as heritability, selection gains and path analysis in five biparents crosses. The soybean F6 populations had been evaluated in 2006/07, being conducted on the scheme of families inserted between of the checks. The population Liderança X BRS 137 presented greater values of heritability and presented as the most promising in relation to the yield. It was concluded that the selection between families is more promising comparing itself with the selection inside of families. In relation to the estimates of gains selection, it was observed higher results in the selection between and within families compared with mass selection. The decomposition of the phenotypic correlation analysis in path analysis showed that there were differences among the populations for the choice of characteristics to be used in the indirect selection, in general, which have greater potential were number of pods per plant, number of seeds per plant, number of us and agronomic value. / Orientador: Antonio Orlando Di Mauro / Coorientador: João Carlos de Oliveira / Banca: Ivana Marino Bárbaro / Banca: Eduardo Antonio Gavioli / Banca: Antônio Luís de Oliveira / Banca: Maria Aparecida Pessôa da Cruz Centurion / Doutor

O presente trabalho teve por objetivo compreender sistemas de produção agrícola e agropecuária a campo pela avaliação da diversidade, funcionalidade e dinâmica espaço-temporal de espécies, assim como pelo padrão de variação da qualidade do solo e dos fatores que a determinam. Para isso, foi avaliado na “Agropecuária Guajuvira” localizada no município de São Miguel das Missões – RS quatro sistemas conservacionistas de produção. Foram eles: 1- sistema agrícola tradicional, representando a sucessão soja/trigo e soja/aveia preta amplamente praticada na região; 2- Sistema agrícola irrigado, semelhante ao anterior, mas, com recente inserção de milho no verão; 3- Sistema integrado de produção agropecuária 1, representando a sucessão soja/pastejo de azevém e 4- Sistema integrado de produção agropecuária 2, representando um sistema misto por apresentar alterações na composição de espécies no inverno pela sucessão soja/aveia preta pastejada, soja/aveia preta não pastejada e soja/nabo forrageiro/trigo O estoque de carbono (EC), estabilidade de agregados do solo (EAS) e índice de manejo de carbono (IMC) foram escolhidos como indicadores da qualidade sistêmica do solo. Seus padrões de variação foram compreendidos pela integração de atributos químicos, físicos e biológicos do solo, assim como por variáveis de paisagem inerentes às unidades amostrais. Os fatores que caracterizaram os sistemas de produção e o uso da análise de caminhos permitiram um maior entendimento de sistemas complexos de produção agrícola e agropecuária a campo. / The aim of this research was to understand agricultural and integrated crop-livestock production systems by the species diversity, functionality and spatial-temporal dynamics evaluation, as well as of the variation pattern of soil quality and factors that determine then. For this, four no-tillage production systems were evaluated on the "Agropecuária Guajuvira" located in São Miguel das Missões county in southern Brazil. The production systems were: 1- Traditional agricultural system, representing the succession soybean/wheat and soybean/black oat widely practiced in the region; 2- Irrigated agricultural system, similar to the previous one, but, with recent insertion of corn in the summer; 3 - Integrated crop-livestock system 1, representing the succession of soybean /grazed ryegrass and 4 - Integrated crop-livestock system 2, representing a mixed system due changes in species composition during winter by succession of soybean/grazed black oat, soybean/no-grazed black oat and soybean/forage radish/wheat The carbon stock (CS), soil aggregate stability (SAS) and carbon management index (CMI) were chosen as systemic soil quality indicators. Their variation patterns were understood by the integration of chemical, physical and biological soil attributes, as well as by landscape variables inherent to the sampling units. The factors that characterized the production systems and the path analysis utilization allowed a greater understanding of complex agricultural and integrated crop-livestock production systems in the field.