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- Title
- WINTER FRESH VEGETABLE FARMING IN FLORIDA: ITS ACREAGE PATTERNS AND MARKETING FLOWS.
- Creator
- MCJUNKIN, JOYCE P., Florida Atlantic University, Schultz, Ronald R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Florida is the major supplier of winter vegetables in the United States. This dominance is examined historically and geographically during the time span 1937-1974 to determine the reasons, causes, and extent of this dominance. The gravity model is used to analyze the significance of the major markets to the Florida supply and the significance of the Florida supply to the markets. Distance and size of the market were found to be strongly related to flows from Florida. The greater stability of...
Show moreFlorida is the major supplier of winter vegetables in the United States. This dominance is examined historically and geographically during the time span 1937-1974 to determine the reasons, causes, and extent of this dominance. The gravity model is used to analyze the significance of the major markets to the Florida supply and the significance of the Florida supply to the markets. Distance and size of the market were found to be strongly related to flows from Florida. The greater stability of the larger northeastern markets was considered in relation to several socioeconomic characteristics. Intra-state measures of market and physical losses, production totals, county acreages, and regional shifts of crop emphasis are examined geographically. It was found that Florida acreage totals increased over time as did relative production and that there was a southern production shift. Beans showed the greatest county stability and cucumbers the least.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1978
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13955
- Subject Headings
- Vegetables--Florida--Marketing
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Wind speed analysis for Lake Okeechobee.
- Creator
- Hu, Mingyan, Florida Atlantic University, Qian, Lianfen, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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In this thesis, we analyze wind speeds collected by South Florida Water Management District at stations L001, L005, L006 and LZ40 in Lake Okeechobee from January 1995 to December 2000. There are many missing values and out-liers in this data. To impute the missing values, three different methods are used: Nearby window average imputation, Jones imputation using Kalman filter, and EM algorithm imputation. To detect outliers and remove impacts, we use ARIMA models of time series. Innovational...
Show moreIn this thesis, we analyze wind speeds collected by South Florida Water Management District at stations L001, L005, L006 and LZ40 in Lake Okeechobee from January 1995 to December 2000. There are many missing values and out-liers in this data. To impute the missing values, three different methods are used: Nearby window average imputation, Jones imputation using Kalman filter, and EM algorithm imputation. To detect outliers and remove impacts, we use ARIMA models of time series. Innovational and additive outliers are considered. It turns out that EM algorithm imputation is the best method for our wind speed data set. After imputing missing values, detecting outliers and removing the impacts, we obtain the best models for all four stations. They are all in the form of seasonal ARIMA(2, 0, 0) x (1, 0, 0)24 for the hourly wind speed data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2002
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12883
- Subject Headings
- Winds--Speed--Florida--Okeechobee, Lake, Okeechobee, Lake (Fla )--Environmental conditions
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- VISUAL RESOURCE ASSESSMENT: A COMPARISON OF TWO APPROACHES.
- Creator
- BERNSTEIN, ARLA GAIL., Florida Atlantic University, Schultz, Ronald R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis investigates and applies methods for evaluating the visual landscape for scenic and recreational purposes. Two specific approaches--the METLAND (quantitative) approach and the McHarg (qualitative) approach--are applied to a case study of two sites in Broward County, Florida. Data sources for the study include Florida Land Use and Cover Classification maps, the Vegetation Inventory for Broward County, and a survey of professional evaluators. Visual resource assessment of these...
Show moreThis thesis investigates and applies methods for evaluating the visual landscape for scenic and recreational purposes. Two specific approaches--the METLAND (quantitative) approach and the McHarg (qualitative) approach--are applied to a case study of two sites in Broward County, Florida. Data sources for the study include Florida Land Use and Cover Classification maps, the Vegetation Inventory for Broward County, and a survey of professional evaluators. Visual resource assessment of these sites is illustrated through a step by step process and should provide a basis for future assessment of additional sites. The McHarg approach is found to be more expeditious for small scale studies, while the METLAND approach is more efficient for multi-objective or regional analysis. Also, the METLAND quantitative approach increases the objectivity of assessment. The final chapter evaluates the two approaches used and provides recommendations for future research in the area of visual resource assessment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1982
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14104
- Subject Headings
- Landscape assessment
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Vegetation time series analysis of the Loxahatchee Slough, Palm Beach County, Florida: A GIS incorporating satellite imagery with black and white aerial photography.
- Creator
- Hohner, Susan Marie., Florida Atlantic University, Roberts, Charles, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The Loxahatchee Slough is the largest wilderness island refuge existing in Palm Beach County, Florida. Cultural impacts have altered the hydrology of the area. This study provides a database of historical and geographical information regarding the Slough. Aerial photography and satellite imagery from pre- and post-channelization dates are classified according to vegetation ecosystems. GIS analysis is used to compare these diverse data sets. Changes in hydroperiod are examined, using...
Show moreThe Loxahatchee Slough is the largest wilderness island refuge existing in Palm Beach County, Florida. Cultural impacts have altered the hydrology of the area. This study provides a database of historical and geographical information regarding the Slough. Aerial photography and satellite imagery from pre- and post-channelization dates are classified according to vegetation ecosystems. GIS analysis is used to compare these diverse data sets. Changes in hydroperiod are examined, using vegetation as an indicator. Results show a general trend toward dryer hydroperiod vegetation land cover. Since 1979, the Army Corps of Engineers has raised water levels back toward pre-channelization levels, in a portion of the study area known as the Historic Region. Results indicate a positive response, with a net increase of longer hydroperiod vegetation in this region since 1979.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1994
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15079
- Subject Headings
- Vegetation mapping--Florida--Palm Beach County, Plant communities--Remote sensing, Geographic information systems--Remote sensing, Aerial photography in geography--Florida--Palm Beach County, Swamp ecology--Florida--Palm Beach County
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Variation in the Major Histocompatibility Gene is Maintained By Selection Imposed By Infectious Disease.
- Creator
- Blair, Zizah J., Hughes, Colin, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Major Histocompatibility (MH) genes play critical roles in mounting adaptive immune responses to infectious diseases and parasites. There are two classes of MH genes: Class I and II; Class II can be further divided into Class II A and II B genes, this study focuses on Class IIB. Class II B genes are exceptionally variable in sequence. Leading hypotheses propose that this genetic variation is maintained by selection for resistance to pathogens. Since pathogens are constantly evolving to avoid...
Show moreMajor Histocompatibility (MH) genes play critical roles in mounting adaptive immune responses to infectious diseases and parasites. There are two classes of MH genes: Class I and II; Class II can be further divided into Class II A and II B genes, this study focuses on Class IIB. Class II B genes are exceptionally variable in sequence. Leading hypotheses propose that this genetic variation is maintained by selection for resistance to pathogens. Since pathogens are constantly evolving to avoid detection, and new pathogens regularly enter populations, which MH proteins confer immunity fluctuates over time. This study examines MH Class II B in Centropomus undecimalis, the common Snook. Genes will be sequenced, and their variability quantified using approaches that include: database searches (NCBI), PCR, and sequencing. Sequencing of the MH gene will provide insight on how high polymorphism results from immune responses to infectious pathogens.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005177
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Using geographic information systems to produce time area diagrams for the Clark Hydrograph Method.
- Creator
- Kohler, Michael Francis, Florida Atlantic University, Restrepo, Jorge I., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Methodologies in GIS are used to compute stream flows for a watershed in Northern California by implementing the Clark Hydrograph Method. GIS algorithms are used to produce time area diagrams with time of concentration formula. These methods are compared to a simulation in HEC-HMS with the dimensionless TAD equation and the ModClark Method. Each GIS method is used to estimate the hydrograph for a measured rainfall event. The accuracy of each of the methods is explored using the HEC objective...
Show moreMethodologies in GIS are used to compute stream flows for a watershed in Northern California by implementing the Clark Hydrograph Method. GIS algorithms are used to produce time area diagrams with time of concentration formula. These methods are compared to a simulation in HEC-HMS with the dimensionless TAD equation and the ModClark Method. Each GIS method is used to estimate the hydrograph for a measured rainfall event. The accuracy of each of the methods is explored using the HEC objective function, mean squared error, and other statistical measures of correlation. Advantages and limitations of the GIS methodologies are examined and topics of further study are suggested.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2001
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12769
- Subject Headings
- Geographic information systems, Hydrology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Urban Growth’s Effect on the Florida Everglades.
- Creator
- Sapienza, Valerie, Holman, Mirya R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Urban growth, also known as urbanization or urban sprawl, is the spreading of metropolitan growth that consumes natural areas, which has many harmful effects on the environment. This study provides information on how urban growth is affecting the Florida Everglades in destructive ways, with a focus on the water in the Everglades. A plethora of water pollutants, such as phosphorous, nitrogen and mercury come directly from human activities associated with urban sprawl. This pollution affects...
Show moreUrban growth, also known as urbanization or urban sprawl, is the spreading of metropolitan growth that consumes natural areas, which has many harmful effects on the environment. This study provides information on how urban growth is affecting the Florida Everglades in destructive ways, with a focus on the water in the Everglades. A plethora of water pollutants, such as phosphorous, nitrogen and mercury come directly from human activities associated with urban sprawl. This pollution affects many parts of the Everglades’ natural ecosystem including sawgrass marshes and mangrove swamps, as well as endangered species, such as, the crocodile and Florida panther. This study also addresses limits on chemical pollution that can be placed by the President through executive orders. Overall, the water pollution in the Everglades is destructive in many ways and can be reduced through executive orders from the President to limit the use of chemicals in urban fringe areas.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005208
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Trophic linkages of primary producers and consumers in fringing mangroves of tropical lagoons.
- Creator
- Kieckbusch, David Keith, Florida Atlantic University, Koch, Marguerite, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed to investigate the trophic linkages between primary producers and consumers in fringing mangrove ecosystems of The Bahamas and Biscayne Bay, Florida. The isotope ratios, in conjunction with stomach content analysis, were used to trace the flow of organic matter from the primary organic sources (mangroves, seagrass and macro-algae) to primary consumers and ultimately to the gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus). We found the mean delta^13C...
Show moreStable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratios were analyzed to investigate the trophic linkages between primary producers and consumers in fringing mangrove ecosystems of The Bahamas and Biscayne Bay, Florida. The isotope ratios, in conjunction with stomach content analysis, were used to trace the flow of organic matter from the primary organic sources (mangroves, seagrass and macro-algae) to primary consumers and ultimately to the gray snapper (Lutjanus griseus). We found the mean delta^13C value of the primary consumers (-17.1%) to be closely related to the mean values of the macro-algal material (-16.7%) and the seagrass (-10.5%) with very little correlation to the carbon signature of mangroves (mean = -27.4%). Our results suggest the ultimate source of carbon for the primary and secondary consumers, located at our study sites, is algal and seagrass material, individually or possibly as a mixture, and that mangroves are not the sole source of carbon in these systems.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2001
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12754
- Subject Headings
- Mangrove ecology, Food chains (Ecology)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TRANSPORT MEASUREMENTS ON SEMICONDUCTING TCNQ SALTS.
- Creator
- LANE, JOHN EUGENE, Florida Atlantic University, Blakemore, John S., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
-
This work consists mainly of two parts. First was the development of the necessary experimental techniques for measuring single crystal conductivity of anisotropic charge transfer salts. Difficulties included high impedance problems and limited size of available crystals. Cs2(TCNQ)3 was used as a test material with which to develop these techniques. An extensive investigation was undertaken to study the possibility of intrinsic and extrinsic behavior in this material. The second phase of this...
Show moreThis work consists mainly of two parts. First was the development of the necessary experimental techniques for measuring single crystal conductivity of anisotropic charge transfer salts. Difficulties included high impedance problems and limited size of available crystals. Cs2(TCNQ)3 was used as a test material with which to develop these techniques. An extensive investigation was undertaken to study the possibility of intrinsic and extrinsic behavior in this material. The second phase of this work was the study of TCNQ charge transfer salts in which the donors were structurally related pyridinium ion radicals. Four types of donors were synthesized using a methyl or benzyl substituent along with a cyano group in the 3 or 4 position of the ring. A total of eight compounds were studied including salts of the 1:1 and 1:2 stochiometry. Compaction conductivity was measured for all eight materials along with single crystal conductivity of three of the salts.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1977
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13835
- Subject Headings
- Charge transfer, One-dimensional conductors, Organic semiconductors, Salts--Electric properties
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A transient mechanism for the perception of apparent motion.
- Creator
- Gilroy, Lee Alan, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
This study investigated the viability of a transient mechanism for the detection of counter-changing luminance, argued by Hock, et al. (2002) to be the informational basis for the perception of apparent motion. A series of experiments verified assumptions of the proposed mechanism and provided additional support for counter-changing luminance as the basis for apparent motion perception. It was found that: (1) The likelihood of perceiving apparent motion is best predicted by the product of...
Show moreThis study investigated the viability of a transient mechanism for the detection of counter-changing luminance, argued by Hock, et al. (2002) to be the informational basis for the perception of apparent motion. A series of experiments verified assumptions of the proposed mechanism and provided additional support for counter-changing luminance as the basis for apparent motion perception. It was found that: (1) The likelihood of perceiving apparent motion is best predicted by the product of local changes in luminance. This provided the basis for the multiplicative combination of subunit responses in the proposed mechanism (i.e. there is no motion signaled without coincident activation of both subunits). (2) When a brief interval of time separates a sequence of luminance onsets and offsets, or a sequence of luminance offsets, at a single element location, subunits exhibit summation of excitatory/inhibitory and excitatory/excitatory responses, respectively. This was consistent with the output of each subunit being determined by its biphasic temporal impulse response. (3) Apparent motion is specified only when there is a luminance offset at one location accompanied by a luminance onset at another location, and the likelihood of perceiving motion decreases with increases in the interval of time (ISI) separating the luminance offset from the luminance onset. Evidence that motion is not perceived beyond a limited range of ISI values indicated that the subunits respond transiently to luminance change. Accordingly, the effects of (ISI) are attributed to a reduction in the temporal coincidence of transient responses. This was supported by evidence that motion can be perceived when a luminance onset (indicating the end of the motion path) occurs before a luminance offset (indicating the start of the motion path). Computational simulations based on the product of transient responses to luminance offsets and onsets provide good qualitative matches to the experimental findings.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2002
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12004
- Subject Headings
- Psychology, Experimental, Psychology, Cognitive
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TPL, A TUTORIAL PROGRAMMING LANGUAGE.
- Creator
- Huang, Chien-Jen, Florida Atlantic University, Hadlock, Frank O., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The object of this reaearch is to define and implement an experimental language, Tutorial Programming Language (TPL). Basic language concepts and definitions are introduced initially to provide the background for defining TPL, which is intended as a means to illustrate language concepts, and has Type-3 grammar as a data type. A formal definition of TPL is given in the form of an SLR(1) grammar. TPL is implemented by a syntax directed compiler and a hypothetical machine for which the compiler...
Show moreThe object of this reaearch is to define and implement an experimental language, Tutorial Programming Language (TPL). Basic language concepts and definitions are introduced initially to provide the background for defining TPL, which is intended as a means to illustrate language concepts, and has Type-3 grammar as a data type. A formal definition of TPL is given in the form of an SLR(1) grammar. TPL is implemented by a syntax directed compiler and a hypothetical machine for which the compiler provides code. The machine is emulated by a Pascal program, making TPL highly portable. It is also possible for the interested user to enhance the power of TPL by writing more functions for practical purposes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1986
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14337
- Subject Headings
- Programming languages (Electronic computers)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Time series analysis and correlation dimension estimation: Mathematical foundation and applications.
- Creator
- Jiang, Wangye, Florida Atlantic University, Ding, Mingzhou, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
A time series is a data set of a single quantity sampled at intervals T time units apart. It is widely used to represent a chaotic dynamical system. The correlation dimension measures the complexity of a dynamical system. Using the delay-coordinate map and the extended GP algorithm one can estimate the correlation dimension of an experimental dynamical system from measured time series. This thesis discusses the mathematical foundation of the methods and the corresponding applications. The...
Show moreA time series is a data set of a single quantity sampled at intervals T time units apart. It is widely used to represent a chaotic dynamical system. The correlation dimension measures the complexity of a dynamical system. Using the delay-coordinate map and the extended GP algorithm one can estimate the correlation dimension of an experimental dynamical system from measured time series. This thesis discusses the mathematical foundation of the methods and the corresponding applications. The embedding theorems and their relationship with dimension preservation are reviewed in detail, but more attention is focussed on the concept development.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1995
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15213
- Subject Headings
- Time-series analysis--Mathematical models, Chaotic behavior in systems
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The tight-binding coherent potential approximation embedded cluster method Monte Carlo approach and approximations to the quadratic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method.
- Creator
- Horvath, Eva Antoinette, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
-
The coherent potential approximation (CPA) can yield information about the long-range characteristics of an alloy. However, since it is a single-site theory, the effect of the local environment cannot be taken into account. The CPA can be extended to more than one site using the embedded cluster method, thereby including short-range order effects. The tight-binding coherent-potential approximation embedded cluster method can be used to generate the densities of states corresponding to all...
Show moreThe coherent potential approximation (CPA) can yield information about the long-range characteristics of an alloy. However, since it is a single-site theory, the effect of the local environment cannot be taken into account. The CPA can be extended to more than one site using the embedded cluster method, thereby including short-range order effects. The tight-binding coherent-potential approximation embedded cluster method can be used to generate the densities of states corresponding to all possible configurations of any cluster, but in particular a cluster consisting of an atom and its nearest neighbors. It is then demonstrated that the interaction energies can be calculated and used in conjunction with the Monte Carlo approach to generate the phase diagram of an alloy. In addition, the formalism for two new approximations to the Quadratic Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method is developed and is applied to a system consisting of one metal.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1992
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12321
- Subject Headings
- Physics, Condensed Matter
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THERMALLY INDUCED VARIATIONS IN VERTEBRAL NUMBER IN LUCANIA PARVA BAIRD (ANTHERINIFORMES: CYPRINODONTIDAE) REARED IN THE LABORATORY.
- Creator
- MCCARTHY, LINDA J., Florida Atlantic University, Courtenay, Walter R. Jr., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Embryos of Lucania parva Baird from two sites in the Florida Keys were raised in four temperature regimes, 18°, 22°, 26°, and 30°C to determine the response of vertebral numbers to different incubation temperatures. The result was in inverse linear relationship, with vertebral numbers increasing with decreasing temperature. Temperature modified the developmental rates, causing the embryos in the warm temperatures to hatch earlier than those in the cold temperatures.
- Date Issued
- 1978
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13951
- Subject Headings
- Biology, Zoology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Therapeutic Options for the Treatment of Breast Cancer: Using Cytoreg and Genistein Isoflavone.
- Creator
- Johnson, Michelle M., Kumi-Diaka, James, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
In spite the heavy investments in therapeutic research breast cancer still impacts the lives of women globally. The projected incidence of new cases in USA for 2008 is 67,770, with estimated 40,480 deaths. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Cytoreg®-genistein combination treatment on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were treated with genistein and Cytoreg® single and combination treatments for 24- 48hr; and the chemosensitivity assessed using bioassays:...
Show moreIn spite the heavy investments in therapeutic research breast cancer still impacts the lives of women globally. The projected incidence of new cases in USA for 2008 is 67,770, with estimated 40,480 deaths. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy of Cytoreg®-genistein combination treatment on MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. MCF-7 cells were treated with genistein and Cytoreg® single and combination treatments for 24- 48hr; and the chemosensitivity assessed using bioassays: Trypan Blue and MTT for cell viability; Ethidium bromide/Rhodamine 123 to assess apoptosis induction; F AM PolyCaspase binding assay for mechanism of action. The overall data indicated dose- and timedependent cell death in the MCF-cells and that apoptosis was the major means of treatmentinduced growth inhibition. There was evidence of Cytoreg®-induced autophagy in the cells. The overall findings indicated that genistein-Cytoreg® combination was more efficacious than either genistein or Cytoreg® alone. Cytoreg® enhanced the phytosensitivity of MCF-7 cells to genistein isoflavone.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000777
- Subject Headings
- Breast--Cancer--Treatment, Phytochemicals--Physiological effect, Apoptosis--Molecular aspects, Phytoestrogens--Health aspects, Outcome assessment (Medical care)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The relationship between item difficulty and discrimination indices in multiple-choice tests in a physical science course.
- Creator
- Hotiu, Angelica, Jordan, Robin G., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
-
We have developed a method of quantifying multiple-choice test items in an introductory physical science course in terms of the various tasks required to solve the problem. We assign a numerical level of difficulty to each task so that any question can be assigned a degree of difficulty, which is the sum of the individual levels of difficulty associated in each steps. Using the questions and results from the tests we have investigated the relationship between the degree of difficulty of each...
Show moreWe have developed a method of quantifying multiple-choice test items in an introductory physical science course in terms of the various tasks required to solve the problem. We assign a numerical level of difficulty to each task so that any question can be assigned a degree of difficulty, which is the sum of the individual levels of difficulty associated in each steps. Using the questions and results from the tests we have investigated the relationship between the degree of difficulty of each question and the corresponding discrimination index. Our results indicate that as the degree of difficulty increases so does the capability of the item to discriminate between students with different abilities. There is a maximum degree of difficulty beyond which the discrimination starts to decrease. At that point, test items become too difficult. Thus, it should be possible in future to design items that will provide optimum discrimination.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000766
- Subject Headings
- Decision making, Curriculum planning, Examinations--Scoring, Educational tests and measurements, Universities and colleges--United States--Examinations--Design and construction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Phonological Constraints on the Assembly of Skeletal Structure in Reading: Grammatical or Statistical?.
- Creator
- Marom, Michal, Florida Atlantic University, Berent, Iris, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Much evidence suggests that readers assemble phonology in reading, yet little is known about the structure of these phonological representations. Linguistic research suggests that speakers represent prosodic structure via skeletal frames and that unmarked frames are preferred to marked frames. Seven experiments explore the role of the skeleton in reading focusing on these three questions: (a) do readers assemble the skeleton of printed words? (b) do readers prefer certain frames to others? (c...
Show moreMuch evidence suggests that readers assemble phonology in reading, yet little is known about the structure of these phonological representations. Linguistic research suggests that speakers represent prosodic structure via skeletal frames and that unmarked frames are preferred to marked frames. Seven experiments explore the role of the skeleton in reading focusing on these three questions: (a) do readers assemble the skeleton of printed words? (b) do readers prefer certain frames to others? (c) are skeletal preferences due to grammatical markedness and/or to the statistical properties of the language? Experiments I and 2 showed that in a forcedchoice task, readers favor non-words with unmarked eve and cvcc frames (e.g. , GOM/ TUSP) to non-words with marked VCC frame (e.g., ELM), regardless of segment similarity. Li!Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000869
- Subject Headings
- English language--Phonology--Research, Reading--Remedial teaching, Reading, Psychology of, Reading--Phonetic method, Autosegmental theory (Linguistics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Limbic Thalamus.
- Creator
- Hoover, Walter Boyd III, Florida Atlantic University, Vertes, Robert P., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The thalamus has been traditionally viewed as a structural relay to specific cortical areas behaviorally associated with sensory or motor functions, and thalamic nuclei that function in this manner are referred to as 'relay nuclei·. However. the parts of the thalamus interconnecting limbic association cortices (functionally involved in memory. reward, emotion. and decision making) comprise the midline and intralaminar nuclei. The midline thalamus has not been examined fully at the anatomical,...
Show moreThe thalamus has been traditionally viewed as a structural relay to specific cortical areas behaviorally associated with sensory or motor functions, and thalamic nuclei that function in this manner are referred to as 'relay nuclei·. However. the parts of the thalamus interconnecting limbic association cortices (functionally involved in memory. reward, emotion. and decision making) comprise the midline and intralaminar nuclei. The midline thalamus has not been examined fully at the anatomical, physiological. or behavioral level, and may serve as an important relay between cortical and subcortical structures and the limbic system. The work incorporated into this dissertation included five axonal tract tracing projects that were conducted in the rat. to explore and test the hypothesis that the midline thalamus serves as an important interface between limbic structures including the amygdala. nucleus accumbens. medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal formation. An important finding was the demonstration of a closed anatomical loop between the hippocampal formation, the ventral medial prefrontal cortex and the ventral midline thalamus: CA 1/subiculum > PLIIL > RE > CA 1/subiculum. Another finding was that 1) the hippocampal formation innervates the entire medial prefrontal cortex; and 2) the hippocampal formation projects more heavily to ventral as compared to dorsal cortices in the mPFC. The paraventricular, parataenial, rhomboid and reuniens nuclei of the midline thalamus were shown to distribute to limbic structures important for cognitive processing: the amygdala, nucleus accumbens, hippocampal formation, parahippocampal cortex, and the prefrontal cortex. Present results demonstrate that the ventral midline nuclei (reuniens and rhomboid) extensively innervate limbic cortical structures (the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampal formation) whereas dorsal midline nuclei (paraventricular and parataenial) distribute more heavily to subcortical limbic structures (the amygdala and the nucleus accumbens). These midline nuclei may, therefore, relay information between these limbic areas. This connectivity suggests that the midline nuclei could further be subdivided from the intralaminar and relay groups. The midline thalamic nuclei would, therefore, comprise the limbic thalamus.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000861
- Subject Headings
- Neuroanatomy, Limbic system--Physiology, Prefrontal cortex--Physiology, Thalamus--Physiology, Neurotransmitter receptors
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The fate of copper in flooded south Florida agricultural soils and its toxicological effects on the Florida apple snail, Pomacea paludosa.
- Creator
- Rogevich, Emily Catherine, Florida Atlantic University, Brooks, W. Randy, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Agricultural sites have been acquired under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) for the creation of water storage areas. Copper desorption and toxicity to the Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) were investigated using soils from these sites. Copper concentrations in II soils ranged from 5 to 234 mg/kg Cu dw, and when flooded, resulted in overlying water Cu concentrations from 9 to 308 11g/L Cu. Juvenile apple snails exposed to three flooded soils had high mortality and...
Show moreAgricultural sites have been acquired under the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) for the creation of water storage areas. Copper desorption and toxicity to the Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) were investigated using soils from these sites. Copper concentrations in II soils ranged from 5 to 234 mg/kg Cu dw, and when flooded, resulted in overlying water Cu concentrations from 9 to 308 11g/L Cu. Juvenile apple snails exposed to three flooded soils had high mortality and decreased growth within 9 to 16 days in two ofthe three soils examined. To assess Cu toxicity to the apple snail at various life stages and water quality parameters, 96 hour acute toxicity studies were conducted. Copper was more toxic to juvenile than adult apple snails. Copper toxicity increased as pH decreased and decreased as DOC increased. Hardness had no effect on Cu toxicity to the apple snail. Copper toxicity was a function of organism age, DOC and pH. Copper accumulation by juvenile and adult apple snails was determined for multiple exposure pathways. For 28 days, juvenile snails were exposed to aqueous Cu and adult snails were exposed to Cu contaminated soil, water and food. Whole body Cu in juvenile snails increased with time. The mean Cu bioconcentration factor (BCF) for juvenile snails was 1493. For adult snails, the dietary exposure pathway resulted in the highest bioaccumulation factor (BAF). Most Cu accumulated in soft tissue. During a chronic aqueous exposure, apple snails exposed to 8-16 flg /L Cu for 9 months had high Cu accumulation and significantly reduced clutch production (8-16 flg /L) and egg hatching (16 flg/L ). Chronic Cu exposure initially decreased growth in juvenile snails, but growth rebounded by adulthood and snails appeared to acclimate to chronic Cu exposure. When apple snails with high tissue Cu were fed to redear sunfish (Lepomis microlophus) Cu transfer was minimal, suggesting that the risk of trophic transfer (bioaccumulation) of Cu from the snail to redear sunfish is low and that biomagnification is unlikely. It is uncertain if other apple snail predators would be at risk for dietary Cu transfer.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000875
- Subject Headings
- Soil pollution--Florida, Florida applesnail--Habitat, Florida applesnail--Effect of heavy metals on, Copper--Toxicology, Ecosystem management--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The effect of filtered roadway lighting on nesting by loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta L.).
- Creator
- Pennell, Jeffrey P., Florida Atlantic University, Salmon, Michael, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this study was to determine if filtered street lighting affected the nesting behavior of loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta L.). My study site was a nesting beach at Carlin Park, Jupiter, Florida. During the 1999 nesting season, portions of the beach were either kept dark or were illuminated by four 70 W high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights, each housed in a cut-off fixture covered by an acrylic (model #2422) filter. These filters excluded all light wavelengths below...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to determine if filtered street lighting affected the nesting behavior of loggerhead sea turtles ( Caretta caretta L.). My study site was a nesting beach at Carlin Park, Jupiter, Florida. During the 1999 nesting season, portions of the beach were either kept dark or were illuminated by four 70 W high-pressure sodium (HPS) streetlights, each housed in a cut-off fixture covered by an acrylic (model #2422) filter. These filters excluded all light wavelengths below 540 nm. The excluded wavelengths repel nesting females. Daily counts of nesting and non-nesting crawls were made. Data from the 1999 nesting season were compared to historical records of nesting at the site between 1990 and 1998. I found no evidence that filtered lights affected nesting densities, or the ratio of successful to unsuccessful crawls. These results suggest that at Carlin Park, the nesting behavior of loggerhead females is unaffected by exposure of the beach to filtered street lighting.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2000
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12720
- Subject Headings
- Loggerhead turtle, Sea turtles--Nests
- Format
- Document (PDF)