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- Title
- Differences in situational perception moderated by presence (absence) of others.
- Creator
- Brown, Nicolas A., Serfass, David G., Sherman, Ryne A., Graduate College
- Date Issued
- 2013-04-12
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3361277
- Subject Headings
- Situations, Psychology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Neuropsychological correlates of emotion regulation in women with HIV: an ERP study.
- Creator
- McIntosh, Roger C., Graduate College
- Date Issued
- 2012-03-30
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3342403
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Is there a Future for the Study of Religion at American Universities? A Content Analysis of Selected Higher Education Institutions.
- Creator
- Wolfe, Kathryn A., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The researcher began to notice that religion and religious studies courses were starting to disappear off of course lists and that religion as a discipline was not as prevalent in many university departments. Additionally, noting from her teaching experience at various universities, the study and approach to teaching religion differed at the type of institution it was and the mission of that university. Therefore, this study aimed at discovering just how religion is taught in institutions of...
Show moreThe researcher began to notice that religion and religious studies courses were starting to disappear off of course lists and that religion as a discipline was not as prevalent in many university departments. Additionally, noting from her teaching experience at various universities, the study and approach to teaching religion differed at the type of institution it was and the mission of that university. Therefore, this study aimed at discovering just how religion is taught in institutions of higher education at selected universities in the United States of America.
The rationale behind this study was twofold: first, to determine if religion is currently being taught at selected institutions of higher education in the U.S. and second, how the instruction and teaching of religion is approached within these institutions. And so, the purpose of this study was to determine if universities are still teaching religion and religious studies courses; if so, what are the structures and approaches that are used when teaching religion at both top-tiered and southeastern universities; and what are the similarities and differences between the two aforementioned types of institutions’ programs. Thus, we may infer from the data whether or not there is a future for these programs within higher education in the U.S.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005173
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Preliminary Census of Free Ranging Vervet Monkeys, Chlorocebus sabaeus,in Dania Beach, Forida.
- Creator
- Williams, Deborah, Broemel, Erin T., Graduate College, Detwiler, Kate M.
- Abstract/Description
-
Observations of vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus sabaeus, have been documented in 3700 hectares of mangrove preserves of Dania Beach, Florida since the 1950’s. A scientific census in 1995 provided confirmation of this population. Endemic to West Africa, research suggests this primate has adapted to the ecology of the mangrove environment in Southeast Florida. The 1995 census showed the population consisted of two groups with a total of 36 individuals. We resurveyed the population from January...
Show moreObservations of vervet monkeys, Chlorocebus sabaeus, have been documented in 3700 hectares of mangrove preserves of Dania Beach, Florida since the 1950’s. A scientific census in 1995 provided confirmation of this population. Endemic to West Africa, research suggests this primate has adapted to the ecology of the mangrove environment in Southeast Florida. The 1995 census showed the population consisted of two groups with a total of 36 individuals. We resurveyed the population from January-February 2014 by visiting sites where monkeys have been reported either in the media or by local residents. We found the vervets inhabit two geographically isolated areas, separated by a man-made waterway. The population is divided into three groups with a total of 18 individuals. Group A, which occupies the northern most part of the mangroves consists of 3 adult males, 1 juvenile male, 5 adult females, and 1 infant. Group B, which occupies the central part of the mangroves consists of 1 adult male, 2 adult females, 1 sub-adult female, and 2 juveniles. Group C, which occupies the southern part of the mangroves consists of 2 adult females. In the 1995 study, this southern group ranged in size from 19-23 individuals. Our results indicate the total population decreased significantly in size over the past 19 years. To confirm this population decrease, research will expand surveys into unexplored areas of the mangrove preserve to document the presence or absence of additional groups. Ongoing research will investigate day ranges, behavior, and feeding ecology of this feral primate population.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005172
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Land of Contrast: Osteological Analysis of Human Remains From Salango, Ecuador and a Comparison of Paleopathologies Between Coastal and Highland Sites in Ecuador.
- Creator
- Van Voorhis, Laura, Broadfield, Douglas C., Graduate College, Martinez, Valentina L.
- Abstract/Description
-
New data on human skeletal remains from Site 35 in Salango, Ecuador is combined with existing data presented by Jastremski 2006 to compile a more comprehensive report about the health conditions of the people from this locale. Site 35, which is associated with the Manteno culture that flourished in the Integration period from A.D. 500 – 1532, has been determined to comprise a singular population that is represented by a minimum of 27 individuals.
In addition to more comprehensive conclusions...
Show moreNew data on human skeletal remains from Site 35 in Salango, Ecuador is combined with existing data presented by Jastremski 2006 to compile a more comprehensive report about the health conditions of the people from this locale. Site 35, which is associated with the Manteno culture that flourished in the Integration period from A.D. 500 – 1532, has been determined to comprise a singular population that is represented by a minimum of 27 individuals.
In addition to more comprehensive conclusions about Site 35, this thesis uses the compiled data from Site 35 in an extended comparison of health among prehistoric sites from six additional sites to observe general trends over time and across geography. Through an in-depth analysis of six distinct health traits, it can be concluded that the most dramatic trend observed across time was a decline in the overall quality of health.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005171
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Integrated Modeling Approach for Energy Alternatives and Green House Gas Mitigation Assessment in the State of Florida.
- Creator
- Thakkar, Kuntal, Ghenai, Chaouki, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The International Panel on Climate Change IPCC suggests that by the end of the year 2050, the overall GHG emission has to be reduced by 50-80 of the emission level of year 2000. At the same time to meet the energy demand worldwide the energy supplies must double by 2050 World Energy Council. This research proposed a methodology to mitigate the climate change problems and to reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources through an integrated modeling approach.
An integrated modeling tool...
Show moreThe International Panel on Climate Change IPCC suggests that by the end of the year 2050, the overall GHG emission has to be reduced by 50-80 of the emission level of year 2000. At the same time to meet the energy demand worldwide the energy supplies must double by 2050 World Energy Council. This research proposed a methodology to mitigate the climate change problems and to reduce the reliance on non-renewable energy sources through an integrated modeling approach.
An integrated modeling tool was used in this study to 1 track energy consumption, production, and resource extraction, 2 track greenhouse gases emissions and 3 analyze emissions for local and regional air pollutions.
The model was used in this study for short and long term energy and GHG emissions reduction analysis for the state of Florida. The integrated modeling methodology will help to evaluate the alternative energy scenarios and examine emissions-reduction strategies.
The mitigation scenarios have been designed to describe the future energy strategies. They consist of various demand and supply side scenarios.
One of the GHG mitigation scenarios is crafted by taking into account the available renewable resources potential for power generation in the state of Florida to compare and analyze the GHG reduction measure against “Business As Usual” and “Florida State Policy” scenario.
Two more “integrated” scenarios, “Electrification” and “Efficiency and Lifestyle” are crafted through combination of various mitigation scenarios to assess the cumulative impact of the reduction measures such as technological changes and energy efficiency and conservation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005170
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TLR agonists differentially induce maturation of nicotine-exposed dendritic cell.
- Creator
- Tamjidi, Saba, Nourishirazi, Erika, Graduate College, Bible, Brittany, Zeng, Menghua, Nouri-Shirazi, Mahyar
- Abstract/Description
-
Background: Vaccines aid in saving lives from infections and biological warfare attacks. They should be effective in all target populations otherwise the likelihood that an unprotected person will transmit disease to a vulnerable individual is greatly increased. There is compelling evidence that smokers are less responsive to vaccination. We have reported that both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines fail to protect and cure animals from disease due to negative effects of nicotine in...
Show moreBackground: Vaccines aid in saving lives from infections and biological warfare attacks. They should be effective in all target populations otherwise the likelihood that an unprotected person will transmit disease to a vulnerable individual is greatly increased. There is compelling evidence that smokers are less responsive to vaccination. We have reported that both therapeutic and prophylactic vaccines fail to protect and cure animals from disease due to negative effects of nicotine in biological activities of DCs. Using in vitro mouse culture system we have identified an appropriate TLR agonist capable of correcting the defects in DCs exposed to nicotine. Hypothesis: In order to translate these studies to human, we tested the hypothesis that appropriate TLR agonists will also correct the degrading effects of nicotine on human DCs and consequently DC-NK cross talk and T cell polarization. Methods: Monocyte-derived DCs were generated in culture media containing growth factors GM-CSF and IL-4 with or without nicotine treatment. DCs were activated with indicated TLR agonists and their phenotypes and cytokine profiles were analyzed by flow cytometry and ELISA, respectively. Results: Among the TLR agonists tested, we found that nicotine has less effect on human DC maturation in response to TLR4 plus TLR7/8 agonists as evidenced by expression levels of their costimulatory CD80/83/86/40 and antigen-presenting HLA-DR molecules as well as inflammatory cytokines IL-12, IL-10,TNF-α and IL-1β production. Conclusion: We are currently investigating whether these TLR agonists also augment human DC-NK bidirectional signals essential for T cell differentiation in a nicotinic environment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005169
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Connectivity and Plasticity of Mesophotic Corals in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.
- Creator
- Studivan, Michael, Voss, Joshua, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Coral reef ecosystems worldwide are threatened by disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change. Recently mesophotic coral ecosystems MCEs have been discovered and characterized as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths. Because MCEs appear to be sheltered from many of the stressors known to affect shallow reefs, Glynn 1996 originally proposed that deeper reefs may act as a refuge for coral species by providing larvae to nearby shallow reefs. My dissertation...
Show moreCoral reef ecosystems worldwide are threatened by disease, anthropogenic damage, and climate change. Recently mesophotic coral ecosystems MCEs have been discovered and characterized as continuations of shallow reefs below traditional SCUBA depths. Because MCEs appear to be sheltered from many of the stressors known to affect shallow reefs, Glynn 1996 originally proposed that deeper reefs may act as a refuge for coral species by providing larvae to nearby shallow reefs. My dissertation research will address key questions that underlie this theory and advance our knowledge of coral ecology and physiology at mesophotic depths. including: 1 How well are MCEs connected to shallow reefs, and 2 Can corals adapt their morphology and gene expression to match changing environmental stimuli? Microsatellite based analysis of genetic connectivity will be complemented by morphometric analyses of corallite phenotypic plasticity and gene expression profiling in the dominant coral species, Montastraea cavernosa. MCEs in the Flower Garden Banks and Pulley Ridge have been surveyed and sampled using both ROVs and technical diving in 2011-2013, with additional expeditions planned for 2014-2015. A reciprocal transplant experiment on Carrie Bow Cay, Belize will assess the physiological and morphological plasticity of M. cavernosa in shallow and mesophotic environments. This project will address the influences of both environment and genotype control on coral’s potentially plastic responses. Additionally, this research is designed to provide data for improved regional management of mesophotic coral reef ecosystems and to strengthen collaborative marine research through NOAA’s Cooperative Institute for Ocean Exploration, Research, and Technology CIOERT.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005168
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Lime Softening System for Individual-Household Use Powered through Solar Energy.
- Creator
- Slater-Williams, Alexandria, Abtahi, Homayoon, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
In a study conducted by the World Health Organization WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, approximately 768 million people worldwide are not receiving sanitary drinking water suitable for consumption. The greatest levels of water contamination are within the less developed countries where individuals are unable to afford modern water treatment facilities. While there are many water treatment methods, lime softening proves to be one of the more effective approaches as it removes...
Show moreIn a study conducted by the World Health Organization WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, approximately 768 million people worldwide are not receiving sanitary drinking water suitable for consumption. The greatest levels of water contamination are within the less developed countries where individuals are unable to afford modern water treatment facilities. While there are many water treatment methods, lime softening proves to be one of the more effective approaches as it removes calcium, magnesium, arsenic, barium, beryllium, chromium, cooper, fluoride, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, uranium, radium, and radionuclides under the correct conditions. The US Environmental Protection Agency EPA has even defined lime softening as the best available technology BAT for removing uranium and radium. The issue with lime softening is that it is typically used for larger systems that serve whole communities. This project utilizes previous knowledge of lime softening to design a cost-efficient water clarification system with the ability to function on an individual-household basis while being powered by a solar unit. By condensing the system, we hope to make lime softening technology available for a wider spectrum of societies and expend the applications of lime softening.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005167
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Coastal Sediment Reflectance Analysis using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing.
- Creator
- Selch, Donna, Zhang, Caiyun, Graduate College, Oleinik, Anton E.
- Abstract/Description
-
Quantitative assessment of substrate classification for sand properties is needed for land management and conservation. Establishing a sand spectral library is the first step in this process. Hyperspectal analysis allows for rapid, nondestructive data acquisition. This process uses an ASD spectrometer in a laboratory setting with an artificial light source to collect the spectra. Sand collected worldwide was also analyzed for grain size and composition. Development of spectral libraries of...
Show moreQuantitative assessment of substrate classification for sand properties is needed for land management and conservation. Establishing a sand spectral library is the first step in this process. Hyperspectal analysis allows for rapid, nondestructive data acquisition. This process uses an ASD spectrometer in a laboratory setting with an artificial light source to collect the spectra. Sand collected worldwide was also analyzed for grain size and composition. Development of spectral libraries of sand is an essential factor to facilitate analytical techniques to monitor coastal problems including erosion and beach nourishment. This in turn can affect various flora and fauna which requires specific substrate to grow, nest, or live. Preliminary results show that each sand sample has a unique signature that can be identified using hyperspectral data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005166
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Experimental Archaeology and Hominid Evolution: Establishing a Methodology for Determining Handedness in Lithic Materials as a Proxy for Cognitive Evolution.
- Creator
- Ruck, Lana, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Many acknowledge that stone tool manufacture, handedness, and brain evolution are intricately linked in Homo sapiens and other hominids, and there is extensive literature on the value of lithic analysis in understanding hominid biological, cognitive, and cultural evolution. Analyses of handedness as preserved in the paleoarchaeological record, however, are rare, despite their relevance and importance to understanding structural and functional asymmetries in the human body and brain. I will...
Show moreMany acknowledge that stone tool manufacture, handedness, and brain evolution are intricately linked in Homo sapiens and other hominids, and there is extensive literature on the value of lithic analysis in understanding hominid biological, cognitive, and cultural evolution. Analyses of handedness as preserved in the paleoarchaeological record, however, are rare, despite their relevance and importance to understanding structural and functional asymmetries in the human body and brain. I will attempt to address the inherent issues in analyzing certain aspects of hominid evolution—particularly evidence of handedness as a proxy for hemispheric specialization of the brain—via experimental archaeology. Three people, including myself, assessed Acheulean handaxes and associated debitage created by two right- and two left- handed expert flintknappers using previously established methods, including: Toth’s 1985, Rugg & Mullane’s 2001, and Bargalló & Mosquera’s 2013 methods. While these publications form the basis of handedness-related lithic analysis, they have methodological inconsistencies that have lead to poor reliability and replicability. The goals of this project are to address issues within this scope of analysis, particularly the combination of expert and novice subjects and a lack of objectivity. Improving the existing methodologies will encourage analysis of fossil evidence from Paleolithic assemblages in the future. The ultimate goal of this approach is to be able to track population-level hominid handedness rates through time via preserved stone tools, and use them as a proxy for the development of human lateralities, cognitive evolution, and the acquisition of language.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005165
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Phosphate Analysis of Prehistoric Structures in Rio Blance, Ecuador.
- Creator
- Reneau, Brittany L., Brown, Clifford T., Graduate College, Martinez, Valentina L.
- Abstract/Description
-
Archaeologists have identified many prehistoric structures affiliated with the Manteño culture 500 CE to 1532 CE of coastal Ecuador, but the function of those constructions is rarely understood. The majority of the buildings have not yet yielded clear evidence of their function. As part of an ongoing project by Florida Atlantic University to explore the function of these buildings, I conducted systematic soil phosphate testing in and around two archaeological structures and, for...
Show moreArchaeologists have identified many prehistoric structures affiliated with the Manteño culture 500 CE to 1532 CE of coastal Ecuador, but the function of those constructions is rarely understood. The majority of the buildings have not yet yielded clear evidence of their function. As part of an ongoing project by Florida Atlantic University to explore the function of these buildings, I conducted systematic soil phosphate testing in and around two archaeological structures and, for ethnoarchaeological comparison, four contemporary households. The two prehistoric structures are located 200 meters from each other and on two different river terraces within the same river valley. They are part of a larger site C4-084. I found clear spatial patterning in phosphate concentrations in and around the archaeological structures. The concentrations were higher inside the structures, while outside they decreased with distance from the structure. Statistical testing and spatial analysis have proved the two structures were used for different purposes
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005164
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Embedding convex polyhedral metrics using the adiabatic isometric mapping (AIM) algorithm.
- Creator
- Ray, Shannon, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Alexandrov proved that any simplicial complex homeomorphic to a sphere with strictly positive Gaussian curvature at each vertex could be isometrically embedded in three-dimensional Euclidean space as a convex polyhedron. Due to the nonconstructive nature of his proof, there have yet to be any algorithms that realize the Alexandrov Embedding in polynomial time. Following his proof, we produced the adiabatic isometric mapping AIM algorithm. The AIM algorithm is approximately quadratic in time...
Show moreAlexandrov proved that any simplicial complex homeomorphic to a sphere with strictly positive Gaussian curvature at each vertex could be isometrically embedded in three-dimensional Euclidean space as a convex polyhedron. Due to the nonconstructive nature of his proof, there have yet to be any algorithms that realize the Alexandrov Embedding in polynomial time. Following his proof, we produced the adiabatic isometric mapping AIM algorithm. The AIM algorithm is approximately quadratic in time and reproduces edge lengths up to arbitrary accuracy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005163
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Comparison of Treatment Plans Calculated using Ray Tracing (RT) and Monte Carlo (MC) Algorithms for Lung Cancer Patients Having Undergone Radiotherapy with Cyberknife.
- Creator
- Pennington, Andreea, Selvaraj, Raj, Graduate College, Leventouri, Theodora, Kirkpatrick, Steven, Oliveira, Silvana
- Abstract/Description
-
Purpose/ Objectives: The latest publications indicate that the Ray Tracing algorithm significantly overestimates the dose delivered as compared to the Monte Carlo MC algorithm. The purpose of this study is to quantify this overestimation and to identify significant correlations between the RT and MC calculated dose distributions.
Materials/Methods: Preliminary results are based on 50 preexisting RT algorithm dose optimization and calculation treatment plans prepared on the Multiplan treatment...
Show morePurpose/ Objectives: The latest publications indicate that the Ray Tracing algorithm significantly overestimates the dose delivered as compared to the Monte Carlo MC algorithm. The purpose of this study is to quantify this overestimation and to identify significant correlations between the RT and MC calculated dose distributions.
Materials/Methods: Preliminary results are based on 50 preexisting RT algorithm dose optimization and calculation treatment plans prepared on the Multiplan treatment planning system Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. The analysis will be expanded to include 100 plans. These plans are recalculated using the MC algorithm, with high resolution and 1 uncertainty. The geometry and number of beams for a given plan, as well as the number of monitor units, is constant for the calculations for both algorithms and normalized differences are compared.
Results: MC calculated doses were significantly smaller than RT doses. The D95 of the PTV was 27 lower for the MC calculation. The GTV and PTV mean coverage were 13 and 39 less for MC calculation. The first parameter of conformality, as defined as the ratio of the Prescription Isodose Volume to the PTV Volume was on average 1.18 for RT and 0.62 for MC. Maximum doses delivered to OARs was reduced in the MC plans. The correlation of the ratio of air in PTV to the PTV with the difference in PTV coverage had a coefficient of -0.54.
Conclusions: The preliminary results confirm that the RT algorithm significantly overestimates the dosages delivered confirming previous analyses.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005162
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Economic Optimization Model of Distributed Combined Heat, Cooling and Power System in a Smart Home.
- Creator
- Moradi, Hadis, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Smart homes are one part of smart grid and smart self generation is one of important components of smart homes. In this paper, smart production of energy in residential buildings is presented so that it brings minimum costs to the investors. CHCP technologies offer a smarter way to provide home heat, cooling and power with the added benefits of reduced environmental impact, high energy efficiency and independence from centralized power networks. An energy dispatch algorithm that minimizes the...
Show moreSmart homes are one part of smart grid and smart self generation is one of important components of smart homes. In this paper, smart production of energy in residential buildings is presented so that it brings minimum costs to the investors. CHCP technologies offer a smarter way to provide home heat, cooling and power with the added benefits of reduced environmental impact, high energy efficiency and independence from centralized power networks. An energy dispatch algorithm that minimizes the total cost of energy e.g., cost of electricity from the grid and cost of natural gas into the engine and boiler based on energy efficiency constrains for individual components is presented in this research. It is possible to buy from or sell electrical power to the electrical local utility. This system is composed of several kinds of loads electrical, thermal and cooling and energy sources external network, combined heat, power and cooling system, boiler, and chiller. A load profile is considered for a residential building and the best case with the least cost is chosen by the optimizer in each interval and then run. In addition, it determines the on and off status of CHCP, boiler and site chiller as well as their level of power, heating and cooling production. The utilization of these systems is possible by using different strategies. Three kinds of such strategies which are electrical dispatch, thermal dispatch and hybrid dispatch have been used in this paper.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005161
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Tissue-specific requirement of the autophagy gene atg-18 in controlling C. elegans dauer morphogenesis, fat metabolism and adult longevity.
- Creator
- Minnerly, Justin, Zhang, Jiuli, Graduate College, Jia, Kailiang
- Abstract/Description
-
The conserved insulin growth factor IGF signaling pathway is one of the major regulators of lifespan in many species including C. elegans. In C. elegans the insulin/IGF-like receptor is encoded by the daf-2 gene, mutations in which result in lifespan extension, fat accumulation and dauer formation. The daf-2 activity in the nervous system controls these phenotypes cell non-autonomously. Interestingly, the longevity phenotype of daf-2 mutant worms is dependent on macroautophagy hereafter...
Show moreThe conserved insulin growth factor IGF signaling pathway is one of the major regulators of lifespan in many species including C. elegans. In C. elegans the insulin/IGF-like receptor is encoded by the daf-2 gene, mutations in which result in lifespan extension, fat accumulation and dauer formation. The daf-2 activity in the nervous system controls these phenotypes cell non-autonomously. Interestingly, the longevity phenotype of daf-2 mutant worms is dependent on macroautophagy hereafter autophagy. Autophagy is a highly conserved lysosomal degradation pathway involved in the removal of long-lived proteins and cytoplasmic organelles. During autophagy, cellular components are sequestered into the double-membrane autophagosomes and delivered to lysosomes for degradation. Increasing evidence has emerged that the autophagy process is a central regulator of lifespan that is required for the effects of DAF-2 signaling, dietary restriction and some mitochondrial mutations on C. elegans longevity. It is unknown however whether autophagy activity in every tissue or in a single tissue mediates the influence of these longevity signals. To address this question, we examined the tissue requirement of autophagy gene atg-18 for the lifespan of wild type animals and the daf-2 mutant. We discovered that neurons and intestinal cells are two key tissues where atg-18 mediates the effect of DAF-2 insulin-like signaling on lifespan, fat accumulation and dauer morphogenesis, suggesting autophagy acts cell non-autonomously in controlling C. elegans dauer formation, fat metabolism and adult longevity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005160
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Is Infant Learning of Non-Adjacent Sequential Relations a Domain-General Ability and When Does It Emerge?.
- Creator
- Minar, Nicholas J., Lewkowicz, David J., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Non-adjacent statistical relations are an important class of sequential structure because they aid in the acquisition of syntax and, thus, language. Previous work has demonstrated that 15-month-old infants are sensitive to distant sequential relations but that these types of relations are difficult to learn. Importantly, it is not known whether the ability to learn non-adjacent statistical relations is based on a domain-specific or domain-general pattern-learning mechanism. We examined the...
Show moreNon-adjacent statistical relations are an important class of sequential structure because they aid in the acquisition of syntax and, thus, language. Previous work has demonstrated that 15-month-old infants are sensitive to distant sequential relations but that these types of relations are difficult to learn. Importantly, it is not known whether the ability to learn non-adjacent statistical relations is based on a domain-specific or domain-general pattern-learning mechanism. We examined the domain-generality of this ability in separate groups of 10- and 12-month-old infants in two experiments utilizing the habituation/test procedure.
Experiment 1 habituated infants to sequences of five moving/sounding arbitrary shapes and sounds. The sequences contained two target elements that were always separated by a non-target element. Results indicated that neither age group displayed response recovery when the target elements were switched. Experiment 2 simplified the task by using sequences that were three elements in length e.g., ABC and DBE. During the test trials, the last element from the two unique pairings was again switched e.g., ABE and DBC. Results indicated that only the 12-month-olds detected a change in the sequence [t 48 1.76, p 0.05].
These results indicate that infants’ sensitivity to multisensory non-adjacent statistical dependencies is limited to simple 3 element sequences rather than complex 5 element sequences. Our findings also indicate that infants as young as 12 months of age can learn non-adjacent sequential relations embedded within arbitrary audiovisual sequences, suggesting that this critical ability is domain-general in nature.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005159
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Mulitmedia Technology to Enhance the Social Behavior and Verbal Communication Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder.
- Creator
- Minan, Maria Jose, Huang, Shihong, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Affecting one in every 88 children, Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD is one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities. Scientific research has proven that early behavioral intervention can improve learning, communication, and social skills. Similarly, studies have shown that the usage of off-the-shelf technology to this end boosts motivation in children under the spectrum while increasing their attention span and ability to interact socially. Embracing perspectives from different fields...
Show moreAffecting one in every 88 children, Autism Spectrum Disorder ASD is one of the fastest growing developmental disabilities. Scientific research has proven that early behavioral intervention can improve learning, communication, and social skills. Similarly, studies have shown that the usage of off-the-shelf technology to this end boosts motivation in children under the spectrum while increasing their attention span and ability to interact socially. Embracing perspectives from different fields can lead to the development of an effective tool that can complement the treatment of those with ASD. This thesis documents the re-engineering and extension of Ying, an existing mobile software application designed to aid in the learning of autistic children. Ying’s original methodology combined expertise from different fields including developmental psychology, semantic learning, and computer science. In this work, Ying is modified to incorporate additional aspects of traditional treatment, like applied behavior analysis and verbal behavior therapy, while enhancing the user experience by improving the audio and visual capabilities of the application. Using cutting-edge software technology in areas like voice recognition and mobile device applications, this project aspires to enhance social behavior and reinforce verbal communication skills in children with ASD, while detecting and storing learning patterns for later study.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005158
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A camera trap study of the cryptic, terrestrial guenon Cercopithecus lomamiensis in central Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Creator
- McPhee, Steven G., Ayali, Pablo, Graduate College, Hart, John A., Detwiler, Kate M.
- Abstract/Description
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From October-December 2013, we conducted a camera trap study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the Lomami River Basin, DR Congo. The primary aim of the study was to examine how lesula fares in the presence of uncontrolled bushmeat hunting. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4-km2 grid located in the Yawende community conservation area outside the proposed Lomami National Park LNP. We compared an analysis of 72 lesula events over 842 camera trap days...
Show moreFrom October-December 2013, we conducted a camera trap study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the Lomami River Basin, DR Congo. The primary aim of the study was to examine how lesula fares in the presence of uncontrolled bushmeat hunting. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4-km2 grid located in the Yawende community conservation area outside the proposed Lomami National Park LNP. We compared an analysis of 72 lesula events over 842 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Yawende site to a pilot camera trap study 38 lesula events over 462 camera trap days at the Losekola study site within the LNP. Our data show an unexpected result: capture probability of lesula 0.08 is the same at both the hunted and non-hunted sites. This is in contrast to the sharp decline in capture probability of all other medium to large terrestrial mammals at the Yawende site. These findings suggest lesula’s cryptic behavior is an important adaptation buffering the species from the impact of hunting. However, hunting pressure on lesula may increase in the near future as hunters adjust effort in response to the decline of less cryptic prey species. Our study also expands knowledge on lesula’s diet, group composition, minimum group size, phenotypic traits, and home range. These findings represent the first new data on lesula since its discovery.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005157
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Control of RNA oxidation as a novel mechanism for preventing mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Creator
- Malla, Sulochan, Walker, Merritt, Graduate College, Li, Zhongwei
- Abstract/Description
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Mitochondria generate energy through oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotic cell and produce large amount of reactive oxygen species ROS as byproducts during this process. In particular in mitochondria, oxidative modifications of biomolecules by ROS can cause their inactivation. The situation is exacerbated during oxidative stress when excessive amounts of ROS are produced. Oxidative damage of macromolecules causes mitochondrial dysfunction and eventually leads to numerous diseases such as...
Show moreMitochondria generate energy through oxidative phosphorylation in eukaryotic cell and produce large amount of reactive oxygen species ROS as byproducts during this process. In particular in mitochondria, oxidative modifications of biomolecules by ROS can cause their inactivation. The situation is exacerbated during oxidative stress when excessive amounts of ROS are produced. Oxidative damage of macromolecules causes mitochondrial dysfunction and eventually leads to numerous diseases such as cardiovascular and neural disorders. Although the deleterious effects of oxidized DNA, proteins and lipids have been extensively characterized, little is known about the potential causative effects of oxidized RNA. Here, we assessed RNA oxidation levels in the mitochondria and cytosol of cultured human cells, which was analyzed by using 8-hydroxyguanosine 8-oxo-G on the RNA as a marker for oxidative stress. Interestingly, our result revealed that 8-oxo-G levels of mitochondrial mt-RNA was relatively higher than that of cytosolic RNA suggesting that RNA is one of the contributing factors leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. To further evaluate the consequence of RNA oxidation, we will examine mitochondrial functionality, permeability, and cell viability to determine a correlation with the levels of 8-oxo-G in mt-RNA. We previously showed that human polynucleotide phosphorylase hPNPase, which mainly localizes to mitochondria and binds oxidized RNA with high affinity, reduces RNA oxidation and protects HeLa cell during oxidative stress. We intend to elucidate the potential role of hPNPase and its associated RNA helicase, hSUV3, in reducing mt-RNA oxidation which is of relevance to diseases associated with mitochondrial dysfunction.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005156
- Format
- Document (PDF)