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Title: DIRECT AND INDIRECT PATHWAYS FROM LONELINESS TO PEER EXPERIENCES.
Creator: Altman, Robert L., Laursen, Brett, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Loneliness is a common experience for many people (Rubenstein et al., 1979) and most lonely individuals experience a variety of comorbid disorders (Heinrich & Gullone, 2006). Adolescent loneliness is particularly problematic, due to the rapid changes that take place in the peer social world (Laursen & Hartl, 2013). Prior evidence ties loneliness to low group status and victimization (Asher & Paquette, 2003), but we do not fully understand the transmission mechanisms. A full longitudinal...
Show moreLoneliness is a common experience for many people (Rubenstein et al., 1979) and most lonely individuals experience a variety of comorbid disorders (Heinrich & Gullone, 2006). Adolescent loneliness is particularly problematic, due to the rapid changes that take place in the peer social world (Laursen & Hartl, 2013). Prior evidence ties loneliness to low group status and victimization (Asher & Paquette, 2003), but we do not fully understand the transmission mechanisms. A full longitudinal mediation design (Fritz & MacKinnon, 2012) was used to test the hypotheses that social withdrawal mediates the association from loneliness to changes in peer status and peer difficulties victimization among adolescents. Results indicated that the longitudinal associations between loneliness and peer outcomes were mediated by social withdrawal. Successful engagement with peers is vital to navigating the complex social world of adolescence, thus the results provide an impetus for aiding lonely adolescents in improving their social connections.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013590
Subject Headings: Loneliness, Loneliness in adolescence
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: SORPTIVITY, RESISTIVITY AND POROSITY OF CONCRETE CONTAINING SUPPLEMENTARY CEMENTITIOUS MATERIALS.
Creator: Barman, Sanjoy, Presuel-Moreno, Francisco, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), are beneficial when used as partial replacement of cement in concrete mixtures for coastal concrete structures, blended with Portland cement (binary or ternary mixes), i.e., high-performance concrete provides improved properties when exposed to marine harsh environment. In order to characterize selected durability properties of different concrete mixtures, a testing program was established. The intent of this study consists of testing 10cm diameter...
Show moreSupplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), are beneficial when used as partial replacement of cement in concrete mixtures for coastal concrete structures, blended with Portland cement (binary or ternary mixes), i.e., high-performance concrete provides improved properties when exposed to marine harsh environment. In order to characterize selected durability properties of different concrete mixtures, a testing program was established. The intent of this study consists of testing 10cm diameter x 20cm long concrete specimens prepared with a range of different mix designs. 1) to evaluate the rate of water absorption due to capillary suction, referred to as sorptivity, 2) to evaluate the concrete surface resistivity, 3) to evaluate and compare the total porosity of specimens with different mixes, and 4) to obtain correlations between resistivity and sorptivity. All of these experimental tests were carried out according to ASTM International Standards (Sorptivity, Porosity) and Florida Method of Test (Resistivity). The tests were performed on concrete samples at various ages. Moreover, The results provided a fast and reasonable approximation of the concrete durability over time. Ordinary portland cement was partially replaced with supplementary cementitious materials including: fly ash (20%), silica fume (8%) and blast furnace slag (50%). These SCMs are highly effective in creating more durable concrete design mixtures. The water-to-cementitious (w/cm) ratios of 0.41 and 0.35 were investigated. The concrete that contains pozzolanic materials has demonstrated progress in extending the time for initiation of corrosion. The test results obtained indicate that the concurrent inclusion of fly ash and silica fume greatly reduced water penetration. The mixes containing slag also showed lower porosity and water absorption result, when compared to specimens containing fly ash only. Ternary concrete mixtures specimens showed much higher surface resistivity values than binary mixture specimens. These results suggest that reducing w/cm ratio, adding SCMs to concrete mixtures improved the concrete durability. The possibilities for the risks of corrosion initiation would be minimized (delayed) by prescriptive and then performance-based concrete blends with SCM materials optimized for service exposure in aggressive environments.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013633
Subject Headings: Fly ash, High performance concrete, Porosity, Silica fume, Slag
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: LEADERSHIP CHARACTERISTICS OF GUATEMALAN PUBLIC PRE-PRIMARY SCHOOL LEADERS: A CASE STUDY IN AN AREA NORTH OF GUATEMALA CITY.
Creator: Bartram, Lydia, Mountford, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: Despite many decades of simultaneous research on early childhood development and leadership, numerous gaps remain in the current literature regarding the characteristics of school leaders of early childhood programs in low and middle income (LAMI) countries. Past studies of school leaders in LAMI countries have only focused on primary and secondary education. A multitude of factors impact public pre-primary education in LAMI countries, such as Guatemala, which make the study of school...
Show moreDespite many decades of simultaneous research on early childhood development and leadership, numerous gaps remain in the current literature regarding the characteristics of school leaders of early childhood programs in low and middle income (LAMI) countries. Past studies of school leaders in LAMI countries have only focused on primary and secondary education. A multitude of factors impact public pre-primary education in LAMI countries, such as Guatemala, which make the study of school leadership in pre-primary education critical for understanding what is needed to provide high-quality learning environments. The identification of leadership characteristics helps to inform the field of early childhood education and establish critical directions for school leadership practice. The purpose of this study was to identify the characteristics of successful school leaders of public, pre-primary programs in an area north of Guatemala City, Guatemala. The characteristics were defined as those leadership behaviors and factors that contribute to the success of leaders of public, pre-primary schools in Guatemala. Leadership behaviors were defined as those actions a leader exhibits that support the operation of a public, pre-primary school. Leadership factors were defined as the influences that support or hinder the ability of a leader to achieve and maintain the operation of a public, preprimary school. Developmental factors were defined as environmental influences that impacted on their decision to become a leader of a public, pre-primary school.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013608
Subject Headings: Educational leadership, Early childhood education, Guatemala (Guatemala), Educational leadership--Case studies
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: Hydrodynamic Interactions of Pitching Hydrofoils in Close Formation.
Creator: Boltri, Michael A., Curet, Oscar M., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Hydrodynamics interaction is a factor in the performance of fish schooling or underwater vessels in close formation. In this work, we visualized the wake structure of pitching hydrofoils using an inclined soap film. We considered one-, two-, three- and nine-foil configurations with different spacing and actuation parameters: amplitude (A), frequency (f), phase difference (), and flow speed (U). The wake structures were recorded with a high-speed camera and analyzed to measure the vortex...
Show moreHydrodynamics interaction is a factor in the performance of fish schooling or underwater vessels in close formation. In this work, we visualized the wake structure of pitching hydrofoils using an inclined soap film. We considered one-, two-, three- and nine-foil configurations with different spacing and actuation parameters: amplitude (A), frequency (f), phase difference (), and flow speed (U). The wake structures were recorded with a high-speed camera and analyzed to measure the vortex angle created. The wake structure of two- and three-foil configurations were compared with the Strouhal number, St = fA/U, of a single foil. For the nine-foil configuration, the wake velocity and the standard deviation of the velocity were used to interpret the hydrodynamic interaction. It was found that both spacing and phase difference between foils are relevant in the hydrodynamic interaction. Qualitative observations are also made, and vortex street behavior characteristics are identified.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013627
Subject Headings: Hydrodynamics, Hydrofoils
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: USING CULTURALLY SUSTAINING SYSTEMIC FUNCTIONAL LINGUISTICS-INFORMED LESSONS TO SUPPORT EMERGENT BILINGUAL STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC LANGUAGING.
Creator: Cavallaro, Christina Joan, Sembiante, Sabrina F., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry, College of Education
Abstract/Description: Emergent bilingual (EB) students enter classrooms with rich, diverse language repertoires. Too often, students’ linguistic assets are not meaningfully integrated to foster or support opportunities of academic languaging in which students can engage their full range of semiotic resources. This is particularly problematic in middle school during which literacy demands increase, academic genres need to be reproduced rather than solely comprehended, and explicit literacy instruction typically...
Show moreEmergent bilingual (EB) students enter classrooms with rich, diverse language repertoires. Too often, students’ linguistic assets are not meaningfully integrated to foster or support opportunities of academic languaging in which students can engage their full range of semiotic resources. This is particularly problematic in middle school during which literacy demands increase, academic genres need to be reproduced rather than solely comprehended, and explicit literacy instruction typically decreases (Humphrey, 2017; Rose, 2010). Through a design-based research (DBR) approach, this study showcases how Culturally Sustaining Systemic Functional Linguistics (CSSFL), a theoretical and pedagogical approach, can support middle school students’ engagement in explicit and equitable literacy practices within the unique context of an intensive reading English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) classroom. Throughout the DBR phases, qualitative data from observations, student artifacts, lesson plans, and researcher notes were collected and analyzed to address the following research questions: (RQ1) What are the cultural, linguistic, and literacy practices of EB students within a culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) intensive reading middle school classroom? (RQ2) What do CSSFL-informed lessons comprise when created in response to the EB middle school students’ needs and practices through a DBR approach? (RQ3) How do the students engage in the practices of the CSSFL-informed lessons? Designing, implementing, and evaluating the CSSFL-informed lessons demonstrated how the use of multimodal resources eased students’ hesitancy and facilitated meaning-making opportunities, how students used translanguaging for multiple purposes, and how students became conscientious about language use while establishing connections to their existing linguistic knowledge. Results of this study offer insights into how theory-practice bridges can be established in middle school classrooms to develop spaces where students have opportunities to expand on their cultural and linguistic assets as they understand, manipulate, and remix for academic purposes (Harman & Khote, 2018). Moreover, the findings illuminate the feasibility of implementing culturally sustaining, language focused practices that can push boundaries of restrictive curricular structures while forefronting students’ language backgrounds in their learning.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013602
Subject Headings: Education, Bilingual, Functional linguistics, English for Speakers of Other Languages Program
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2D AND 3D SHAPE VARIATION AMONG ELASMOBRANCH OLFACTORY ROSETTES.
Creator: Clark, Aubrey E., Porter, Marianne E., Meredith, Tricia L., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The functional impacts of olfactory rosette variation in elasmobranchs is unresolved. Our goal was to quantify rosette morphology and shape from 14 species using dissections, phylogenetic comparisons, and microCT imaging. We hypothesized that lamellar count and rosette shape (fineness ratio) would not scale with animal size, but internal rosette size variables must scale positively. We found that fineness ratio and lamellar counts varied significantly among species, and were positively...
Show moreThe functional impacts of olfactory rosette variation in elasmobranchs is unresolved. Our goal was to quantify rosette morphology and shape from 14 species using dissections, phylogenetic comparisons, and microCT imaging. We hypothesized that lamellar count and rosette shape (fineness ratio) would not scale with animal size, but internal rosette size variables must scale positively. We found that fineness ratio and lamellar counts varied significantly among species, and were positively correlated. The first two principal components of the pPCA explained 82% of the variation, with fineness ratio and lamellar count contributing the most. There were no significant differences between rosette structure or volume when comparing dissected values to in situ values obtained using diceCT. Based on our results, we hypothesize that variations in rosette shape and morphology will impact hydrodynamics and optimize odorant detection, and these data can be used to create 3D models for future hydrodynamic studies.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013591
Subject Headings: Elasmobranchs, Olfactory sensors, Morphology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Materialist Critique of the Settler Occupation of Maine in Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.
Creator: Cleaver, Nathan, Balkan, Stacey, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This project seeks to give Stephen King and Pet Sematary full consideration through applying a multi-faceted ecocritical approach to a novel so clearly founded on the relationship between the land and its inhabitants. Through my analysis of the environment’s role in Pet Sematary, I will engage with important questions asked by both Historical and New Materialists in order to examine as completely as possible the relationship between Indigenous peoples and colonist conceptions of property,...
Show moreThis project seeks to give Stephen King and Pet Sematary full consideration through applying a multi-faceted ecocritical approach to a novel so clearly founded on the relationship between the land and its inhabitants. Through my analysis of the environment’s role in Pet Sematary, I will engage with important questions asked by both Historical and New Materialists in order to examine as completely as possible the relationship between Indigenous peoples and colonist conceptions of property, land use, and nonhuman agency present in the pages. Study of this sort engages in a critique of settler colonial ideals through a thorough examination of one of popular culture’s most successful and apparently errant offenders of intentional appropriation of Indigenous belief. Ultimately, this project seeks to reclaim not only Pet Sematary or King’s oeuvre, but the horror genre more broadly. Given the genre’s affordances for critiquing material histories, this project asserts horror’s utility for the development of new understandings of old fears and particularly as a means of asserting nonhuman agency.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013603
Subject Headings: King, Stephen, 1947-, Materialism, Ecocriticism
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THE STRUCTURAL ORGANIZATION AND SPECTRAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VISUAL WORKING MEMORY IN THE MONKEY FRONTOPARIETAL NETWORK.
Creator: Conklin, Bryan, Alexander, William, Florida Atlantic University, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Working memory is a mental workspace which utilizes short and long-term memory to maintain and manipulate information. It is crucial in enabling cognitive control and is largely controlled by interactions within and between frontal and parietal cortices. Recent work has identified visual nonspatial, spatial, and visuospatial working memory spectral characteristics of the local field potential through simultaneous recordings from various areas across the monkey frontoparietal network. However,...
Show moreWorking memory is a mental workspace which utilizes short and long-term memory to maintain and manipulate information. It is crucial in enabling cognitive control and is largely controlled by interactions within and between frontal and parietal cortices. Recent work has identified visual nonspatial, spatial, and visuospatial working memory spectral characteristics of the local field potential through simultaneous recordings from various areas across the monkey frontoparietal network. However, the reports are minimal in number, and there is no clear narrative tying together the heterogenous functionality of the characteristics. Here, a new spectral model of monkey visual working memory is proposed to address these shortcomings. It highlights functional roles for low, mid, and high frequency bands. Next, the organization of structural connectivity which gives rise to these spectral characteristics is investigated. A new binary association matrix representing connections in the frontoparietal network is proposed. A graph theoretic analysis on the matrix found that a 3-node dynamical relaying M9 motif was a fundamental building block of the network. It is optimally structured for the synchrony found in the spectral model. The network was also found to have a small-world architecture, which confers the integration and specialization of function required by visual working memory. Afterwards, three hypotheses generated by the spectral model are tested on non-spatial data. The low and mid band hypotheses were supported by evidence, while the high band hypothesized activity was not observed. This adds credibility to the roles identified in the model for the low and mid band and identifies a need for further investigation of the high band role. Finally, opportunities to expand the spectral model, analyze the M9 motif, and further test the model are explored. In the future, the spectral model could evolve to apply its predictions to humans in the pursuit of treatments for neurological disorders.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013584
Subject Headings: Memory, Short-Term, Working memory, Monkeys, Graph theory
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THE IMPACT OF GENDER ON THE INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC EXPERIENCES OF FEMALE HIGH SCHOOL BAND DIRECTORS.
Creator: Cox, Tiffany, Brown, Susannah, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry, College of Education
Abstract/Description: This mixed methods study examines the lived experiences of six female high school band directors in the state of Florida as they related to the perceptions of the professional band association membership. This research focuses on how women and men perceive their experiences in relation to gender roles and gender-stereotyping in the traditionally masculine field of secondary instrumental music. A quantitative survey was distributed to the professional band association membership and 99...
Show moreThis mixed methods study examines the lived experiences of six female high school band directors in the state of Florida as they related to the perceptions of the professional band association membership. This research focuses on how women and men perceive their experiences in relation to gender roles and gender-stereotyping in the traditionally masculine field of secondary instrumental music. A quantitative survey was distributed to the professional band association membership and 99 responses were recorded. Participants answered questions regarding years of teaching experience, grade levels taught, primary instrument, and their thoughts on the impact of gender on several aspects of instrumental music education. The survey results revealed that women feel strongly about the impact that gender has on instrument selection, performance opportunities, and job opportunities while men remain largely neutral. Out of the 99 responses, 6 participants that met the criteria for the qualitative interview portion of the study were contacted to arrange interviews
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013604
Subject Headings: Music education, Band directors, Gender
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THE EFFECTS OF WILLOW SHRUB ENCROACHMENT ON SOIL ORGANIC CARBON STORAGE IN A SOUTH FLORIDA HERBACEOUS WETLAND.
Creator: Dell, Jessica Ann, Benscoter, Brian, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Storing almost a third of the global soil carbon pool, wetlands are an essential component of the carbon cycle, and carbon-rich peat soil accumulates when carbon input through primary productivity exceeds output through decomposition. However, woody shrub encroachment in herbaceous wetlands can alter soil carbon processes, potentially diminishing stored carbon. To examine the effects of shrub encroachment on soil carbon, I compared soil carbon input through litterfall and fine root production...
Show moreStoring almost a third of the global soil carbon pool, wetlands are an essential component of the carbon cycle, and carbon-rich peat soil accumulates when carbon input through primary productivity exceeds output through decomposition. However, woody shrub encroachment in herbaceous wetlands can alter soil carbon processes, potentially diminishing stored carbon. To examine the effects of shrub encroachment on soil carbon, I compared soil carbon input through litterfall and fine root production, output through decomposition, and below-canopy microclimate conditions between Carolina willow shrub (Salix caroliniana) and herbaceous sawgrass (Cladium jamaicense) in the Blue Cypress Marsh Conservation Area (BCMCA), FL. To assess the level of production and its response to water level, I compared aboveground green biomass by measuring normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photosynthetic stress by measuring photochemical reflectance index (PRI) between sawgrass and willow. I collected willow litterfall using litter traps and measured sawgrass and willow fine root production with fine root ingrowth bags. Litter decomposition was measured with decomposition bags deployed using a reciprocal litter placement design at BCMCA and incubated in a greenhouse to examine the effects of char and water level on decomposition. Above and belowground microclimate conditions were measured using sensors installed within sawgrass and willow canopies. Despite experiencing more photosynthetic stress, willow produced more green biomass than sawgrass. However, willow produced fewer fine roots than sawgrass and these roots were deeper within the soil. Willow litter decomposed faster even though sawgrass decomposition increased under drier conditions. Compared to the sawgrass canopy, the willow canopy had greater light availability, lower evaporative demand plus warmer and drier soils; however, litter decomposition did not differ between the canopies. These results suggest that willow encroachment can reduce the amount and alter the distribution of carbon within an herbaceous wetland, likely resulting in a net loss of soil carbon. Although willow encroachment may increase aboveground biomass carbon stocks, these stocks will likely be offset by a loss of soil carbon due to reduced fine root production and increased decomposition. Therefore, the transition from herbaceous wetland to shrub wetland will likely result in a loss of stored soil carbon.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013621
Subject Headings: Wetlands, Blue Cypress Water Management Area (Fla), Carbon cycle (Biogeochemistry), Soils
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: AN EXAMINATION OF SELF-DIRECTED LEARNING READINESS AND ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT AMONG COMMUNITY COLLEGE STUDENTS ENROLLED IN STUDENT SUCCESS COURSES.
Creator: Downes, Kim-Le Thuy, Bryan, Valerie C., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: The objective of this correlation study was to describe the association between the self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) and academic achievement among community college students enrolled in student success courses. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 35 community college students enrolled in student success seminar courses in central New Jersey. Total scores obtained from the administration of the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) were used to measure...
Show moreThe objective of this correlation study was to describe the association between the self-directed learning readiness (SDLR) and academic achievement among community college students enrolled in student success courses. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 35 community college students enrolled in student success seminar courses in central New Jersey. Total scores obtained from the administration of the Self-Directed Learning Readiness Scale (SDLRS) were used to measure participants’ degree of SDLR. Participants’ GPA and final student success course grade was used as metrics of academic achievement. Additional analyses were conducted to determine if participants’ age and gender changed the association between SDLRS score and academic achievement.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013592
Subject Headings: Student success, Community college students, Academic achievement, Self-directed learning, Student success programs
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: POPULATION LIMITATIONS OF THE FLORIDA APPLE SNAIL (POMACEA PALUDOSA).
Creator: Drumheller, Danielle, Dorn, Nathan, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: In this thesis I examined factors limiting population success of apple snails (Pomacea spp.) in Florida wetlands. First, I examined effects of summertime hydropattern in replicated wetlands on reproduction and juvenile growth. Annual reproductive effort of Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) and the invasive apple snail P. maculata under was not affected by deeper water in the summer. When juvenile P. paludosa were forced to grow in reportedly favorable and relatively deeper summertime...
Show moreIn this thesis I examined factors limiting population success of apple snails (Pomacea spp.) in Florida wetlands. First, I examined effects of summertime hydropattern in replicated wetlands on reproduction and juvenile growth. Annual reproductive effort of Florida apple snails (Pomacea paludosa) and the invasive apple snail P. maculata under was not affected by deeper water in the summer. When juvenile P. paludosa were forced to grow in reportedly favorable and relatively deeper summertime depths survival was high between treatments and growth was unaffected. In the other chapter I examined interactions between the two snails with a series of observations and experiments. I examined historical data on the assemblages and found that P. paludosa were locally extinguished in one of the wetlands within six years of invasion by P. maculata. Two field experiments gave conflicting results about the importance of interspecific inhibition of P. paludosa by the invasive snail, but in either case resource reduction could not be demonstrated. Lab exposure to P. maculata chemical cues strongly inhibited P. paludosa growth, although P. paludosa did not behaviorally avoid mucus of P. maculata. In mesocosms Pomacea paludosa growth was reduced with increasing exposure to adult P. maculata waterborne cues, and the results suggest that contact with mucus at a low exposure may even have a greater inhibiting effect. This interspecific direct chemical growth inhibition was novel for gastropods, but could be more generally important, and its potential impacts to P. paludosa populations should be explored further.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013593
Subject Headings: Florida applesnail, Pomacea paludosa, Snail populations
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: PHOSPHORUS SEQUESTRATION AND BIOREMEDIATION: PHOSPHORUS-31 NUCLEAR MAGNETIC RESONANCE SPECTROSCOPY.
Creator: Duersch, Bobby G., Louda, J. William, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Eutrophication is an increase in primary plant nutrients (Nitrogen [N] and Phosphorus [P]) in oceans, estuaries and lakes. The consequences of eutrophication are harmful algal blooms (HABs), resulting in algal toxin production and the depletion of oxygen as the extensive biomass decays. P is often the limiting nutrient and is viewed as a significant environmental problem. Most of the excess P that enters aquatic ecosystems originates from anthropogenic sources such as fertilizers, sewage,...
Show moreEutrophication is an increase in primary plant nutrients (Nitrogen [N] and Phosphorus [P]) in oceans, estuaries and lakes. The consequences of eutrophication are harmful algal blooms (HABs), resulting in algal toxin production and the depletion of oxygen as the extensive biomass decays. P is often the limiting nutrient and is viewed as a significant environmental problem. Most of the excess P that enters aquatic ecosystems originates from anthropogenic sources such as fertilizers, sewage, animal wastes, compost, crop residues, and wastewater. Over time, one of the main reservoirs of P becomes organic P (Po). We investigated the chemical nature and dynamics of P in cyanobacteria, horse manure, stormwater treatment areas, and rice fields. To better understand the chemical nature of P, the identification of specific P compounds was required, which was achieved through 31P nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We investigated how paramagnetic metals and quadrupolar nuclei cause severe line broadening, peak shifts, and decreased the signal to noise ratio. Results revealed that certain Po forms are readily bioavailable to Microcystis aeruginosa. Additionally, the potential heterotrophic use of the organic portion (e.g., glucose, glycerol) of these P compounds are indicated for the growth and persistence of Microcystis aeruginosa. We showed that the cultivation of rice (Oryza sativa L.) had been found to effectively reduce P from agrarian soil and water through plant uptake and, therefore, minimizing downstream eutrophication. Soil, water, sugarcane, and rice plants at two different stages were analyzed for twelve different elements. Finally, we examined how a “relic” agrarian ditch in Stormwater Treatment Area 1 East (STA-1E) can be used for the retention and sequestration of P and other nutrients. The STAs were established to capture P from agricultural and other sources before reaching the Everglades. Retained P is primarily stored in the wetland soils and sediments, generated through a collection of interrelated physical, chemical, and biological processes.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013594
Subject Headings: Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy, Eutrophication, Phosphorus--Environmental aspects, Bioremediation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES FOR PREPARING AND SUPPORTING FLORIDA COLLEGE STUDENTS IN ELEARNING: CASE STUDY OF A FLORIDA PUBLIC STATE COLLEGE’S STUDENT SUCCESS IN ELEARNING.
Creator: Edris, David D., Bryan, Valerie, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: eLearning continues to be the fasted growing segment of higher education. With this growth, challenges for higher education institutions have arisen. One of these difficulties is preparing students for learning online. A qualitative case study examined what strategies and processes contributed to student success in eLearning at a Florida public college based on the views of eLearning educators, faculty teaching online courses and the students who have taken online courses. The aspects...
Show moreeLearning continues to be the fasted growing segment of higher education. With this growth, challenges for higher education institutions have arisen. One of these difficulties is preparing students for learning online. A qualitative case study examined what strategies and processes contributed to student success in eLearning at a Florida public college based on the views of eLearning educators, faculty teaching online courses and the students who have taken online courses. The aspects reviewed were: 1. what contributed to student success, 2. what hindered student success, 3. what prepared students for learning online, and 4. what assistance was available for students that face challenges with online courses. The interviews and questionnaire were examined and compared from the perspectives of educators (eLearning staff and faculty teaching online courses), and students taking the courses, and documents reviewed from the site chosen, to show what are the most significant contributors and hindrances to eLearning success for participants at a Florida public state college. The findings of this study show what helped student success, what hindered student success, what prepared students for eLearning, and what support was available to students while taking an eLearning course from the data collected through the student questionnaire, faculty and staff interviews, and document review. The data supports the finding that student motivation, student time management skills, eLearning course design, and the responsiveness and supportiveness of faculty contribute to the success of the student in eLearning courses. The data supports the finding that what hinders student success is when the student is overwhelmed, distracted, or lacks motivation or time management skills. Additionally, the design of the eLearning course can hinder the student and if there is a lack of faculty communication. The data supports the finding that what prepared students for eLearning was the College’s free eLearning orientation course that explains how to use the Learning Management System and the best practices of learning online. The data supports the finding that the support available to assist students that are enrolled in eLearning is College “Support”, Tutoring (both online and on campus), and their course professor.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013607
Subject Headings: College students--Florida, Online learning and distance education, Student success
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ANNIHILATORS AND A + B RINGS.
Creator: Epstein, Alexandra Nicole, Klingler, Lee, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: A + B rings are constructed from a ring A and nonempty set of prime ideals of A. Initially, these rings were created to provide examples of reduced rings which satisfy certain annihilator conditions. We describe precisely when A + B rings have these properties, based on the ring A and set of prime ideals of A. We continue by giving necessary and su cient conditions for A + B rings to have various other properties. We also consider annihilators in the context of frames of ideals of reduced rings.
Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013588
Subject Headings: Rings (Algebra)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THE INTERSECTION OF QUEERLY LEADING: LIVED EXPERIENCES OF K-12 QUEER SCHOOL LEADERS.
Creator: Evans, Corinth M., Mountford, Meredith, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: This phenomenological research study examined the perceived experiences of K-12 queer school leaders in school workplaces. This study discussed events, state laws, workplace polices, and related repeated studies that demonstrate that K-12 queer school leaders experience challenges in school spaces because of their sexual and/or gender identities. The sample population for this study consisted of 10 participants. The data collection consisted of a recruitment survey, individual interviews, and...
Show moreThis phenomenological research study examined the perceived experiences of K-12 queer school leaders in school workplaces. This study discussed events, state laws, workplace polices, and related repeated studies that demonstrate that K-12 queer school leaders experience challenges in school spaces because of their sexual and/or gender identities. The sample population for this study consisted of 10 participants. The data collection consisted of a recruitment survey, individual interviews, and document review of state laws and policies. The analysis of data included survey data, transcribed interviews, and document reviews. The data were coded and triangulated for reliability and the analysis was guided by queer theory, script theory, and Foucault’s work on perspectives on power-knowledge. There were three key findings that emerged: queer school leaders’ suitability, queer negotiations in school spaces, and institutionalized homophobia and gender-based prejudices in the school spaces. The results contemporaneously indicate that policy, procedures, practices, and hegemonic power constitute the producers and pushers of an institutionalize cis/hetero-patriarchy narrative.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013587
Subject Headings: Phenomenology--Research, Educational leadership, Queer theory
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: WORLD HERITAGE SITES: EXPLORING VULNERABILITY VIA ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS AND POLICY INITIATIVES.
Creator: Feliciano, Patricia Eileen, Mitsova, Diana, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Urban and Regional Planning, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: This research examines historic preservation, sustainability, and environmental hazards in the face of climate change in reference to World Heritage Sites; particularly focusing on the question: Can UNESCO World Heritage Sites be conserved and protected in the face of climate change and environmental hazards? There are 1,121 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO and are categorized as cultural, natural, or a mix of both. The majority of these sites are at risk from different environmental...
Show moreThis research examines historic preservation, sustainability, and environmental hazards in the face of climate change in reference to World Heritage Sites; particularly focusing on the question: Can UNESCO World Heritage Sites be conserved and protected in the face of climate change and environmental hazards? There are 1,121 World Heritage Sites listed by UNESCO and are categorized as cultural, natural, or a mix of both. The majority of these sites are at risk from different environmental hazards that could threaten their existence or long-term survival; however, policy initiatives can mitigate some of these impacts. It was discovered that every continental region, with the exception of Oceania, had a site considered to be the most vulnerable. There were 27 sites deemed most vulnerable, only 2.4% of the World Heritage Sites. Most of these sites were located along the Pacific Coasts of Asia, and both North and South America.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013605
Subject Headings: World Heritage sites, Environmental hazards, Historic preservation, Cultural resources management
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: THE IMPACT OF DESCRIBING ACTORS AND ACTIONS ON SOURCE MEMORY.
Creator: Frank, Colin S., Kersten, Alan, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: This research is a first step towards investigating the impact verbal descriptions can have on an individual’s memory for actors performing actions. Previous research has found that verbal descriptions of mugshot-esque, face stimuli can have either a facilitative or inhibitory effect on later recognition. The current study implemented the Person Action Conjunction (PAC) test, along with three separate groups where participants provided descriptions of actions, features of the actors, and...
Show moreThis research is a first step towards investigating the impact verbal descriptions can have on an individual’s memory for actors performing actions. Previous research has found that verbal descriptions of mugshot-esque, face stimuli can have either a facilitative or inhibitory effect on later recognition. The current study implemented the Person Action Conjunction (PAC) test, along with three separate groups where participants provided descriptions of actions, features of the actors, and holistic attributes of the actors. The results demonstrated that the description group impacted the attention placed on either the action or actor, causing participants to remember those described elements more. Furthermore, it was found that accurately recalling descriptions provided at encoding was significantly and positively correlated with recognition performance. Further research is necessary with different control conditions before an impact of verbal description on the memory for actors and actions can be known.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013635
Subject Headings: Memory, Recognition
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: CHARACTERIZING THE PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF LIVING CELLS THROUGH MICROFLUIDIC IMPEDANCE SENSING.
Creator: Galpayage, Dona Kalpani Nisansala Udeni, Lau, Andy W.C., Du, Sarah E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Physics, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this research is to explore and investigate the biophysical properties of living cells using microfluidics based electrical impedance sensing (EIS) technique. It provides a non-invasive approach to detect label-free biological markers in the regulation of cellular activities even at a molecular level. We specifically focus on the development, testing, and theoretical modeling of electrical impedance spectroscopy for neuroblastoma cells and endothelial cells. First, we...
Show moreThe purpose of this research is to explore and investigate the biophysical properties of living cells using microfluidics based electrical impedance sensing (EIS) technique. It provides a non-invasive approach to detect label-free biological markers in the regulation of cellular activities even at a molecular level. We specifically focus on the development, testing, and theoretical modeling of electrical impedance spectroscopy for neuroblastoma cells and endothelial cells. First, we demonstrate that the EIS technique can be used to monitor the progressive mitochondrial fission/fusion modification in genetically modified human neuroblastoma cell lines. Our results characterize quantitatively the abnormal mitochondrial dynamics through the variations in cytoplasm conductivity. Secondly, we employ a real time EIS method to determine the biophysical properties of the junctions which join one endothelial cell with one another in a monolayer of endothelial cells. In particular, we examine the role of the protein, c-MYC oncogene, in the barrier function. Our results show that the downregulation of c-MYC oncogene enhances the endothelial barrier dysfunction associated with inflammation. Finally, we measure and find that the electrical admittance (the reciprocal of the impedance) of the monolayer of endothelial cellular networks exhibits an anomalous power law of the form, Y ∝ ωα, over a wide range of frequency, with the value of the exponent, α, depending on the severity of the inflammation. We attribute the power law to the changes of the intercellular electric permeability between neighboring endothelial cells. Thus, the inflammation gives rise to relatively smaller values of α compared to that of the no-inflammation group. Furthermore, we propose a simple percolation model of a large R-C network to confirm the emergent of power law scaling behavior of the complex admittance, suggesting that the endothelial network behaves as a complex microstructural network and its electrical properties may be simulated by a large R-C network.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013595
Subject Headings: Microfluidics, Impedance spectroscopy, Cells
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ASSESSING METHODS AND TOOLS TO IMPROVE REPORTING, INCREASE TRANSPARENCY, AND REDUCE FAILURES IN MACHINE LEARNING APPLICATIONS IN HEALTHCARE.
Creator: Garbin, Christian, Marques, Oge, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Artificial intelligence (AI) had a few false starts – the AI winters of the 1970s and 1980s. We are now in what looks like an AI summer. There are many useful applications of AI in the field. But there are still unfulfilled promises and outright failures. From self-driving cars that work only in constrained cases, to medical image analysis products that would replace radiologists but never did, we still struggle to translate successful research into successful real-world applications. The...
Show moreArtificial intelligence (AI) had a few false starts – the AI winters of the 1970s and 1980s. We are now in what looks like an AI summer. There are many useful applications of AI in the field. But there are still unfulfilled promises and outright failures. From self-driving cars that work only in constrained cases, to medical image analysis products that would replace radiologists but never did, we still struggle to translate successful research into successful real-world applications. The software engineering community has accumulated a large body of knowledge over the decades on how to develop, release, and maintain products. AI products, being software products, benefit from some of that accumulated knowledge, but not all of it. AI products diverge from traditional software products in fundamental ways: their main component is not a specific piece of code, written for a specific purpose, but a generic piece of code, a model, customized by a training process driven by hyperparameters and a dataset. Datasets are usually large and models are opaque. We cannot directly inspect them as we can inspect the code of traditional software products. We need other methods to detect failures in AI products.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013580
Subject Headings: Machine learning, Artificial intelligence, Healthcare
Format: Document (PDF)

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