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- Title
- SUSTAINABILITY PERFORMANCE IN AMERICAN HIGHER EDUCATION: A MULTIPLE CASE STUDY OF FOUR EXEMPLARY INSTITUTIONS THAT PARTICIPATED IN THE SUSTAINABILITY TRACKING, ASSESSMENT & RATING SYSTEM.
- Creator
- Chui, Qingqing, Floyd, Deborah, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this study was to describe the campus sustainability performance at four exemplary higher education institutions, i.e., Doctoral, Master’s, Baccalaureate, and Associate’s, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The case-by-case analysis and the cross-case analysis demonstrated the similarities and differences that emerged across the four cases in the area of the institutional dynamics, sustainability performance, the journey of campus...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to describe the campus sustainability performance at four exemplary higher education institutions, i.e., Doctoral, Master’s, Baccalaureate, and Associate’s, as measured by the Sustainability Tracking, Assessment & Rating System (STARS). The case-by-case analysis and the cross-case analysis demonstrated the similarities and differences that emerged across the four cases in the area of the institutional dynamics, sustainability performance, the journey of campus sustainability, and challenges, as well as drivers. In addition, the research aims to provide some implication to other institutions that intend to advance sustainability on their campuses. A multi-site case study was used to investigate the sustainability performance of four exemplary institutions that participated in the STARS program. Two forms of data collection techniques used for this research study were document analysis and in-depth interviews. Nurturing the student, serving the community, taking social responsibility, and making changes was the internal motivations which drove the four institutions to what they have achieved today. They shared the same purpose of helping students become more aware and informed on how they could apply sustainability into their work, business, and many other places to make the change.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013441
- Subject Headings
- Education, Higher, Sustainability, Education, Higher--Case studies
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SYNTHETIC FIBER REINFORCED CONCRETE PERFORMANCE AFTER PROLONGED ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE UTILIZING THE MODIFIED INDIRECT TENSILE TEST.
- Creator
- Ellis, Spencer G., Presuel-Moreno, Francisco, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
In order to study the mechanical performance of dry-cast synthetic fiber reinforced concrete (SynFRC), samples of varying geometry, fiber content, and environmental exposure were developed and tested using the modified indirect tensile test. The samples created consisted of three different thicknesses (with two different geometries), and six different fiber contents that differed in either type, or quantity, of fibers. Throughout the duration of this research, procedures for inflicting...
Show moreIn order to study the mechanical performance of dry-cast synthetic fiber reinforced concrete (SynFRC), samples of varying geometry, fiber content, and environmental exposure were developed and tested using the modified indirect tensile test. The samples created consisted of three different thicknesses (with two different geometries), and six different fiber contents that differed in either type, or quantity, of fibers. Throughout the duration of this research, procedures for inflicting detrimental materials into the concrete samples were employed at a number of different environments by implementing accelerated rates of deterioration using geometric adjustments, increased temperature exposure, wetting/drying cycles, and preparation techniques. The SynFRC samples studied were immersed in a wide range of environments including: the exposure of samples to high humidity and calcium hydroxide environments, which served at the control group, while the sea water, low pH, and barge conditioning environments were used to depict the real world environments similar to what would be experienced in the Florida ecosystem. As a result of this conditioning regime, the concrete was able to imitate the real-world effects that the environments would have inflicted if exposed for long durations after an exposure period of only 20-24 months. Having adequately conditioned the samples in their respective environments, they were then tested (and forensically investigated) using the modified indirect tensile testing method to gather data regarding each sample’s toughness and load handling capability. By analyzing the results from each sample, the toughness was calculated by taking the area under the force displacement curve. From these toughness readings it was found that possible degradation occurred between the fiber-matrix interface of some of the concrete samples conditioned in the Barge environment. From these specimens that were immersed in the barge environment, a handful of them exhibited multiple episodes of strain softening characteristics within their force displacement curves. In regard to the fibers used within the samples, the PVA fibers tended to pull off more while the Tuff Strand SF fibers had the highest tendency to break (despite some of the fibers showing similar pull off and breaking failure characteristics). When it comes to the overall thickness of the sample, there was clear correlation between the increase in size and the increase in sample toughness, however the degree to which it correlates varies from sample to sample.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013466
- Subject Headings
- Reinforced concrete, Fiber-reinforced concrete--Testing, Reinforced concrete--Mechanical properties, Tensile Strength, Concrete—Environmental testing
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Strap-on the Armor of God: Queer Christian Subjectivity and Struggle Against Power in Evangelical Christian Universities.
- Creator
- Hudnall, Andrew, Barrios, Barclay, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
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This thesis examines the way several evangelical Christian universities (and evangelicalism more broadly) speak about and conceive of sexuality and gender in order to consider implications for their students. It argues that these universities consider nonheterosexual, non-cisgendered identities to be incompatibile with Christian identity and, consequently, grounds for denial of subjectivity. It analyzes the language of student handbooks and the universities’ rhetorical self-positionings and...
Show moreThis thesis examines the way several evangelical Christian universities (and evangelicalism more broadly) speak about and conceive of sexuality and gender in order to consider implications for their students. It argues that these universities consider nonheterosexual, non-cisgendered identities to be incompatibile with Christian identity and, consequently, grounds for denial of subjectivity. It analyzes the language of student handbooks and the universities’ rhetorical self-positionings and stagings necessary to maintain authority while engaging and exploring the lived experiences of several queeridentifying alumni—each of whom express feelings of “dehumanization” and cognitive dissonance. Finally, it considers how those subjected to messages of incompatible identities reconcile claiming both Christian and queer identities simultaneously.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013472
- Subject Headings
- Evangelicalism, Christian universities and colleges, Gender identity, Sexuality
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE EFFECTS OF MINDFULNESS TRAINING ON BDNF LEVELS, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, AND STRESS LEVELS OF COLLEGE STUDENTS.
- Creator
- Bosso, Kathryn B., Brigman, Greg, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Counselor Education, College of Education
- Abstract/Description
-
The purpose of this randomized control study was to examine the effects of the use of a mindfulness smartphone app on student self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The sample included college students enrolled in courses at a university in South Florida. Forty-four students were randomly allocated to either the mindfulness app group (n = 22) or the control group (n = 22). Participants in the mindfulness app group...
Show moreThe purpose of this randomized control study was to examine the effects of the use of a mindfulness smartphone app on student self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, and serum levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). The sample included college students enrolled in courses at a university in South Florida. Forty-four students were randomly allocated to either the mindfulness app group (n = 22) or the control group (n = 22). Participants in the mindfulness app group were instructed to complete a guided meditation on the app for 10 minutes per day for 5 weeks. Participants in the control group were offered the intervention after the 5-week protocol ended. A pretest-posttest design was used to investigate the effects of the mindfulness app intervention on self-reported levels of depression, anxiety, and stress, in addition to serum level BDNF.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013452
- Subject Headings
- College students, Mindfulness (Psychology), Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor, Depression, Anxiety, Stress
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE CHANGE POINT PROBLEM FOR TWO CLASSES OF STOCHASTIC PROCESSES.
- Creator
- Ball, Cory, Long, Hongwei, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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The change point problem is a problem where a process changes regimes because a parameter changes at a point in time called the change point. The objective of this problem is to estimate the change point and each of the parameters of the stochastic process. In this thesis, we examine the change point problem for two classes of stochastic processes. First, we consider the volatility change point problem for stochastic diffusion processes driven by Brownian motions. Then, we consider the drift...
Show moreThe change point problem is a problem where a process changes regimes because a parameter changes at a point in time called the change point. The objective of this problem is to estimate the change point and each of the parameters of the stochastic process. In this thesis, we examine the change point problem for two classes of stochastic processes. First, we consider the volatility change point problem for stochastic diffusion processes driven by Brownian motions. Then, we consider the drift change point problem for Ornstein-Uhlenbeck processes driven by _-stable Levy motions. In each problem, we establish the consistency of the estimators, determine asymptotic behavior for the changing parameters, and finally, we perform simulation studies to computationally assess the convergence of parameters.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013462
- Subject Headings
- Stochastic processes, Change-point problems, Brownian motion processes, Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process, Computer simulation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SUSTAINING CHAOS USING DEEP REINFORCEMENT LEARNING.
- Creator
- Vashishtha, Sumit, Verma, Siddhartha, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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Numerous examples arise in fields ranging from mechanics to biology where disappearance of Chaos can be detrimental. Preventing such transient nature of chaos has been proven to be quite challenging. The utility of Reinforcement Learning (RL), which is a specific class of machine learning techniques, in discovering effective control mechanisms in this regard is shown. The autonomous control algorithm is able to prevent the disappearance of chaos in the Lorenz system exhibiting meta-stable...
Show moreNumerous examples arise in fields ranging from mechanics to biology where disappearance of Chaos can be detrimental. Preventing such transient nature of chaos has been proven to be quite challenging. The utility of Reinforcement Learning (RL), which is a specific class of machine learning techniques, in discovering effective control mechanisms in this regard is shown. The autonomous control algorithm is able to prevent the disappearance of chaos in the Lorenz system exhibiting meta-stable chaos, without requiring any a-priori knowledge about the underlying dynamics. The autonomous decisions taken by the RL algorithm are analyzed to understand how the system’s dynamics are impacted. Learning from this analysis, a simple control-law capable of restoring chaotic behavior is formulated. The reverse-engineering approach adopted in this work underlines the immense potential of the techniques used here to discover effective control strategies in complex dynamical systems. The autonomous nature of the learning algorithm makes it applicable to a diverse variety of non-linear systems, and highlights the potential of RLenabled control for regulating other transient-chaos like catastrophic events.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013498
- Subject Headings
- Machine learning--Technique, Reinforcement learning, Algorithms, Chaotic behavior in systems, Nonlinear systems
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE EFFECT OF WAR ON U.S. ECONOMIC GROWTH: COMPARING THE KOREAN WAR, VIETNAM WAR AND WARS IN MIDDLE EAST.
- Creator
- Lee, Chaewoong, Yuhn, Ky-Hyang, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Economics, College of Business
- Abstract/Description
-
Analyzing the effect of military expenditure on economic growth has been an essential task for U.S economists. This thesis analyzed macroeconomic components for the last 70 years by estimating the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model and vector autoregressive model. To interpret the empirical analysis, historical analysis of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Wars in the Middle East, was made. One found the negative effect of military spending during wartime on the economic...
Show moreAnalyzing the effect of military expenditure on economic growth has been an essential task for U.S economists. This thesis analyzed macroeconomic components for the last 70 years by estimating the ordinary least squares (OLS) regression model and vector autoregressive model. To interpret the empirical analysis, historical analysis of the Korean War, the Vietnam War, and the Wars in the Middle East, was made. One found the negative effect of military spending during wartime on the economic growth of the United States. This thesis suggests that the policymakers and military commanders should focus on shortening the state of war to minimize economic damage to the United States.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013506
- Subject Headings
- Economic development--United States, Korean War, 1950-1953, Vietnam War, 1961-1975, War--Middle East, Military spending, Macroeconomics
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- UNDERSTANDING CLIMATE RESILIENCE TO ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARDS: HOW A BROWARD COUNTY COMMUNITY ASSESSMENT HELPS TO COMPLETE THE PICTURE.
- Creator
- Huston, Bridget, Polsky, Colin, Florida Atlantic University, Environmental Studies Program, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Climate patterns over the past century served to amplify the frequency and intensity of environmental hazards, including flooding, wind and heat. While indicators like SoVi and BRIC begin to characterize how people and places fair against hazards, they can be limited in scope. Through the administration of household surveys, I investigate the usefulness of such indicators by examining the roles communication, infrastructure, institutional efforts, financial independence, knowledge, mobility...
Show moreClimate patterns over the past century served to amplify the frequency and intensity of environmental hazards, including flooding, wind and heat. While indicators like SoVi and BRIC begin to characterize how people and places fair against hazards, they can be limited in scope. Through the administration of household surveys, I investigate the usefulness of such indicators by examining the roles communication, infrastructure, institutional efforts, financial independence, knowledge, mobility and social capital play in producing resilience within the Estates of Fort Lauderdale Community in Dania Beach, FL. While results confirm BRIC’s Medium-High Resilience community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate community classification, they push beyond Census data to pinpoint underlying resilience processes. Responses indicate that place attachment and community connectedness encourage weather-related information sharing, limited experiences and skills impede weather preparedness and response actions, and weather preparedness and response experiences are associated with less evacuation than expected. Findings prove to be richer and more policy and program actionable.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013474
- Subject Headings
- Environmental hazards, Climate, Household surveys, Resilience, Hazard mitigation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- UTILITY-SCALE SOLAR ENERGY FACILITIES, FLORIDA PANTHER HABITAT CONNECTIVITY, AND DISPERSAL CORRIDORS.
- Creator
- Leskova, Olena V., Markwith, Scott, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Geosciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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The objective of this research was to study the impacts of large USSE facilities on wildlife movement corridors and habitat connectivity in Florida to identify important habitat patches and movement corridors significant for potential Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) dispersal, conservation, and recovery. Large carnivores (such as Florida panther) have often been examined as conservation umbrellas for large-scale connectivity planning due to their extensive spatial requirements (Beier et...
Show moreThe objective of this research was to study the impacts of large USSE facilities on wildlife movement corridors and habitat connectivity in Florida to identify important habitat patches and movement corridors significant for potential Florida panther (Puma concolor coryi) dispersal, conservation, and recovery. Large carnivores (such as Florida panther) have often been examined as conservation umbrellas for large-scale connectivity planning due to their extensive spatial requirements (Beier et al., 2006, Thorne et al., 2006). In addition, Florida panther is relatively well-studied species that have been listed as endangered under the US Endangered Species Act for over 40 years, due to habitat fragmentation and reduction. Habitat suitability was compared before and after the installation of the USSE facilities using RandomForest model developed by Frakes and Knight (in prep). The connectivity study focused on comparing current density and effective resistance (resistance distance) before and after the installations of USSE facilities and was conducted using Circuitscape 4.0. The impacts on habitat connectivity were the most substantial in the areas where the USSE facilities were installed on or around wildlife corridors, near focal areas, and in large clusters. The study has identified important linkages and new pathways that animals may try to take in order to bypass the facilities. The study has also shown that installation of USSE facilities in areas not suitable as habitat for Florida panthers, but still permeable or semi-permeable (e.g., agricultural lands), can substantially impact connectivity between focal areas.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013500
- Subject Headings
- Florida panther, Puma concolor coryi, Habitat conservation, Solar energy--Environmental aspects, Solar energy--Florida
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- USE OF STABLE ISOTOPES TO INFER FORAGING NICHE IN TWO MARINE TURTLE SPECIES: CHELONIA MYDAS AND ERETMOCHELYS IMBRICATA.
- Creator
- Moorehouse, Melissa, Baldwin, John, Florida Atlantic University, Environmental Studies Program, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Stable isotope analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to describe a population’s foraging niche by identifying basal resource use, trophic feeding levels, environmental stability, seasonal ecological variation, important shifts in life history, ontogenetic shifts, intraspecific habitat use, and population dynamics. Describing these relationships in endangered marine turtle populations and their critical foraging grounds is essential for determining informed management decisions. This...
Show moreStable isotope analysis is a powerful tool that can be used to describe a population’s foraging niche by identifying basal resource use, trophic feeding levels, environmental stability, seasonal ecological variation, important shifts in life history, ontogenetic shifts, intraspecific habitat use, and population dynamics. Describing these relationships in endangered marine turtle populations and their critical foraging grounds is essential for determining informed management decisions. This study systematically describes the foraging niche of hawksbills Eretmochelys imbricata, and green turtles, Chelonia mydas in Buck Island Reef National Monument, U.S. Virgin Islands, a critical habitat for nesting and foraging. It assesses the relationships within and between the species in terms of overlap, annual and seasonal variation, and life history and feeding strategies within the community. Most importantly it describes these relationships with metrics that can be used in global comparisons or to measure change in local conditions.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013456
- Subject Headings
- Stable isotopes, Stable isotopes--Analysis, Sea turtles--Ecology, Chelonia mydas, Eretmochelys imbricata
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Temporal Displacement.
- Creator
- Cohen, Karen-Janine, DiCosola, Michaela, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Visual Arts and Art History, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
Temporal Displacement is an investigation of loss and the recollection of memories translated through tangible objects and their placement in relationship to one another. The objects are primarily slip-cast terracotta ceramic dog-like heads with fabric bodies crafted as puppet-like forms, which are both stationary and suspended. Additional elements include a Mechanical Dog that the viewer activates with a hand-held crank; muslin fabric printed with hand-made ceramic stamps, and a curtain. The...
Show moreTemporal Displacement is an investigation of loss and the recollection of memories translated through tangible objects and their placement in relationship to one another. The objects are primarily slip-cast terracotta ceramic dog-like heads with fabric bodies crafted as puppet-like forms, which are both stationary and suspended. Additional elements include a Mechanical Dog that the viewer activates with a hand-held crank; muslin fabric printed with hand-made ceramic stamps, and a curtain. The ceramic stamps are incised with a version of the puppets playing the game of jacks. The installation is within a three-walled room that invites viewers into a liminal time-space and experience, then leads them out again.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013465
- Subject Headings
- Installations (Art)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CRITICAL EVALUATION OF LEACHATE CLOGGING POTENTIAL IN GRAVITY COLLECTION SYSTEMS AND MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS.
- Creator
- Shaha, Bishow Nath, Meeroff, Daniel E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Leachate clogging in the Leachate Collection System (LCS) due to chemical precipitations and biofilms produced by microbial activities is a common phenomenon in any Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill. This study focuses on quantifying the factors that impact the micro-environment of leachate; and microbial activities that help the precipitates to form and attach to the LCS. It also evaluates the performance of operational changes that have been implemented or the potential alternatives and...
Show moreLeachate clogging in the Leachate Collection System (LCS) due to chemical precipitations and biofilms produced by microbial activities is a common phenomenon in any Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) landfill. This study focuses on quantifying the factors that impact the micro-environment of leachate; and microbial activities that help the precipitates to form and attach to the LCS. It also evaluates the performance of operational changes that have been implemented or the potential alternatives and recommends the possible measures to reduce the severity of clogging. A field scale side-by-side pipe network, and several laboratory setups were used in this study. Calcite is identified to be the predominant phase present in the precipitates using XRD/XRF analysis which, concur with the previous studies. Microbial growth and activities enhance the precipitation of CaCO3 in LCS. Clogging in LCS pipes can be controlled if not eliminated by continuous monitoring along with frequent cleaning with physiochemical processes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013493
- Subject Headings
- Leachate, Solid waste management, Sanitary landfills, Calcite, Leachate--Purification
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- COMBATING HUMAN TRAFFICKING WITH THE LAW: A CONTENT ANALYSIS OF STATE LAWS AND RECOMMENDATIONS FOR LEGAL REFORM.
- Creator
- Branscum, Caralin, Fallik, Seth Wyatt, Florida Atlantic University, School of Criminology and Criminal Justice, College of Social Work and Criminal Justice
- Abstract/Description
-
Human trafficking is a heinous human rights violation, impacting as many as 40.3 million people around the globe (Global Slavery Index, 2018). In the United States of America (USA), the Trafficking Victims Protections Act of 2000 (TVPA), and its subsequent reauthorizations, comprise the bulk of the federal response to human trafficking. As a result, federal policies have received a lot of praise and scrutiny in the literature. However, less is known about statewide legislative efforts to...
Show moreHuman trafficking is a heinous human rights violation, impacting as many as 40.3 million people around the globe (Global Slavery Index, 2018). In the United States of America (USA), the Trafficking Victims Protections Act of 2000 (TVPA), and its subsequent reauthorizations, comprise the bulk of the federal response to human trafficking. As a result, federal policies have received a lot of praise and scrutiny in the literature. However, less is known about statewide legislative efforts to combat human trafficking. To fill this gap, the current study analyzes state human trafficking statutes through content analysis. Overall, state legislation could best be described as a hodge-podge of laws related to three themes: 1) conceptualizing human trafficking, 2) victim centeredness, and 3) perpetrator centeredness. Accordingly, several recommendations are made that would reduce inconsistency and increase implementation of evidence-based policy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013453
- Subject Headings
- Human trafficking, Content analysis, Human trafficking—Law and legislation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT OF A BIOSENSOR FOR OBJECTIVELY QUANTIFYING ODORANTS.
- Creator
- Rahman, Sharmily, Meeroff, Daniel E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Nuisance odor levels produced by solid waste management operations are subject to regulatory standards due to their impacts on the quality of life of the residents living nearby the facility. Failure to meet regulatory standards may result in fines, litigation, inability to acquire permits, mitigation, and re-siting operations. Since measurement of environmental nuisance odors is currently limited to subjective techniques, monitoring odor levels to meet such standards is often problematic....
Show moreNuisance odor levels produced by solid waste management operations are subject to regulatory standards due to their impacts on the quality of life of the residents living nearby the facility. Failure to meet regulatory standards may result in fines, litigation, inability to acquire permits, mitigation, and re-siting operations. Since measurement of environmental nuisance odors is currently limited to subjective techniques, monitoring odor levels to meet such standards is often problematic. This is becoming more acute as increasing residential populations begin to encroach on properties adjacent to landfills. In order to ensure that nuisance odor issues are minimized, it is necessary to provide an objective measurement. The objective of the current research is to develop a biosensor for providing an objective, standard measurement of odors. The approach is to modify the human odorant binding protein (hOBPIIa), isolated using published biomolecular techniques, by fluorescently tagging it with a chromophore functional group. When this protein is tagged with a fluorophore marker and excited in a spectrofluorometer, it emits light of a certain wavelength that can be detected and quantified. Once odorant molecules are exposed to this complex, they start replacing the fluorophore, and as a result, the emitted light intensity decreases in proportion to the number of odorant molecules. Since the protein response depends on odorant concentration, following an inverse Beer’s Law relationship, the odorants can be quantified accurately and rapidly using fluorometric measurements. The results establish quantitation ranges for different pure and mixture of odorant gases as well as the amount of gas that can be quantified across various flow rates.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013491
- Subject Headings
- Biosensors, Odors--Measurement, Landfills, Odorant-binding protein, Fluorescence--Measurement
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT OF POINT-OF-CARE ASSAYS FOR DISEASE DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT MONITORING FOR RESOURCE CONSTRAINED SETTINGS.
- Creator
- Sher, Mazhar, Asghar, Waseem, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis aims to address the challenges of the development of cost-effective and rapid assays for the accurate counting of CD4+ T cells and quantification of HIV-1 viral load for resource-constrained settings. The lack of such assays has severely affected people living in disease prevalent areas. CD4+ T cells count information plays a vital role in the effective management of HIV-1 disease. Here, we present a flow-free magnetic actuation platform that uses antibody-coated magnetic beads to...
Show moreThis thesis aims to address the challenges of the development of cost-effective and rapid assays for the accurate counting of CD4+ T cells and quantification of HIV-1 viral load for resource-constrained settings. The lack of such assays has severely affected people living in disease prevalent areas. CD4+ T cells count information plays a vital role in the effective management of HIV-1 disease. Here, we present a flow-free magnetic actuation platform that uses antibody-coated magnetic beads to efficiently capture CD4+ T cells from a 30 μL drop of whole blood. On-chip cell lysate electrical impedance spectroscopy has been utilized to quantify the isolated CD4 cells. The developed assay has a limit of detection of 25 cells per μL and provides accurate CD4 counts in the range of 25–800 cells per μL. The whole immunoassay along with the enumeration process is very rapid and provides CD4 quantification results within 5 min time frame. The assay does not require off-chip sample preparation steps and minimizes human involvement to a greater extent. The developed impedance-based immunoassay has the potential to significantly improve the CD4 enumeration process especially for POC settings.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013495
- Subject Headings
- Point-of-care testing, Diagnostic tests, Immunoassay, HIV-1, Microfluidic devices
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEGENERATIVE DECADENCE AND REGENERATIVE MILITARISM IN THE INVASION NARRATIVES OF ROBERT W. CHAMBERS AND ERSKINE CHILDERS.
- Creator
- Townsend, Lucas C., Buckton, Oliver, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis explores fin de siècle theories of decadence, degeneration, criminology, and evolutionary biology, and their contemporary application to invasion literature written between 1871 and 1915. While there is significant criticism on early invasion narratives, there is little extant on Robert W. Chambers’s The King in Yellow (1895) and Erskine Childers’s The Riddle of the Sands (1903), especially in discussing the importance of their militaristic “calls to action” to convert weak,...
Show moreThis thesis explores fin de siècle theories of decadence, degeneration, criminology, and evolutionary biology, and their contemporary application to invasion literature written between 1871 and 1915. While there is significant criticism on early invasion narratives, there is little extant on Robert W. Chambers’s The King in Yellow (1895) and Erskine Childers’s The Riddle of the Sands (1903), especially in discussing the importance of their militaristic “calls to action” to convert weak, aesthetically-inclined men into hard-working patriotic soldiers and public servants. Through this conversion, the characters of Chambers and Childers serve as important role models that exemplify Max Nordau’s ideal “all-American boy” and “right-living Englishman,” convincing decadent, unprepared governments to properly prepare for an imminent Great War. However, as much of Anglo-European society ignores these signs, the warnings outlined by Chambers and Childers predict the destructive consequences of World War I and the psychological disassociation of the Modernist period.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013457
- Subject Headings
- Fin de siècle, Chambers, Robert W (Robert William), 1865-1933 King in yellow, Childers, Erskine, 1870-1922 Riddle of the sands
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT OF GUIDELINES FOR IMPLEMENTATION OF FREIGHT AND TRANSIT SIGNAL PRIORITIES TO ENHANCE ROAD TRAFFIC SUSTAINABILITY.
- Creator
- Ardalan, Taraneh, Kaisar, Evangelos I., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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Lately, the attractiveness of cities has contributed to a rise in vehicle movements to and from cities. The growth of freight movements in cities predictably will be one of the critical issues of the near future. Congestion caused by the increased movements of freight impacts the flow of private and transit vehicles. Thus, it is crucial to reduce the congestion on multimodal corridors. Components of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) such as Freight Signal Priority (FSP) and Transit...
Show moreLately, the attractiveness of cities has contributed to a rise in vehicle movements to and from cities. The growth of freight movements in cities predictably will be one of the critical issues of the near future. Congestion caused by the increased movements of freight impacts the flow of private and transit vehicles. Thus, it is crucial to reduce the congestion on multimodal corridors. Components of the Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) such as Freight Signal Priority (FSP) and Transit Signal Priority (TSP) that promote the freight and transit vehicles may not only help solve these conditions but may assist with the sustainability of the system. The primary objective of this research is to develop guidelines for traffic agencies to implement signal priorities based on identified decision factors on certain corridors. Besides, this study evaluates the efficiency of FSP and TSP in improving the performance of freight and transit systems. Finally, inclusive guidelines are drawn up based on the literature and the conducted simulation. The developed guidelines apply to corridors where freight delay plays a vital role in the assessment of corridor benefits.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013484
- Subject Headings
- Freight and freightage, Traffic signs and signals—Control systems, Traffic congestion, Freight transportation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- CEREBROSPINAL FLUID SHUNT SYSTEM WITH AUTO-FLOW REGULATION.
- Creator
- Mutlu, Caner, Asghar, Waseem, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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A cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt system is used for treatment of hydrocephalus and abnormal intracranial pressure (ICP) conditions. Mostly a shunt system is placed under skin for creating a low resistance pathway between intracranial space and appropriate discharge sites within body by doing so excess CSF volume can exit the intracranial space. Displaced intracranial CSF volume normally results in lowered ICP. Thereby, a CSF shunt can manage ICP. In a healthy person, normal ICP is primarily...
Show moreA cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) shunt system is used for treatment of hydrocephalus and abnormal intracranial pressure (ICP) conditions. Mostly a shunt system is placed under skin for creating a low resistance pathway between intracranial space and appropriate discharge sites within body by doing so excess CSF volume can exit the intracranial space. Displaced intracranial CSF volume normally results in lowered ICP. Thereby, a CSF shunt can manage ICP. In a healthy person, normal ICP is primarily maintained by CSF production and reabsorption rate as a natural tendency of body. If intracranial CSF volume starts increasing due to under reabsorption, this mostly results in raised ICP. Abnormal ICP can be treated by discharging excess CSF volume via use of a shunt system. Once a shunt system is placed subcutaneously, a patient is expected to live a normal life. However, shunt failure as well as flow regulatory problems are major issues with current passive shunt systems which leaves patients with serious consequences of under-/over CSF drainage condition. In this research, a shunt system is developed which is resistant to most shunt-related causes of under-/over CSF drainage. This has been made possible via use of an on-board medical monitoring (diagnostic) and active flow control mechanism. The developed shunt system, in this research, has full external ventricular drainage (EVD) capability. Further miniaturization will make it possible for an implantable shunt.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013489
- Subject Headings
- Cerebrospinal Fluid Shunts
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- COMPARISON OF PRE-TRAINED CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK PERFORMANCE ON GLIOMA CLASSIFICATION.
- Creator
- Andrews, Whitney Angelica Johanna, Furht, Borko, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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Gliomas are an aggressive class of brain tumors that are associated with a better prognosis at a lower grade level. Effective differentiation and classification are imperative for early treatment. MRI scans are a popular medical imaging modality to detect and diagnosis brain tumors due to its capability to non-invasively highlight the tumor region. With the rise of deep learning, researchers have used convolution neural networks for classification purposes in this domain, specifically pre...
Show moreGliomas are an aggressive class of brain tumors that are associated with a better prognosis at a lower grade level. Effective differentiation and classification are imperative for early treatment. MRI scans are a popular medical imaging modality to detect and diagnosis brain tumors due to its capability to non-invasively highlight the tumor region. With the rise of deep learning, researchers have used convolution neural networks for classification purposes in this domain, specifically pre-trained networks to reduce computational costs. However, with various MRI modalities, MRI machines, and poor image scan quality cause different network structures to have different performance metrics. Each pre-trained network is designed with a different structure that allows robust results given specific problem conditions. This thesis aims to cover the gap in the literature to compare the performance of popular pre-trained networks on a controlled dataset that is different than the network trained domain.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013450
- Subject Headings
- Gliomas, Neural networks (Computer science), Deep Learning, Convolutional neural networks
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- RESISTING THE SLAVOCRACY: THE BOSTON VIGILANCE COMMITTEE’S ROLE IN THE CREATION OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, 1846-1860.
- Creator
- McGee, Yasmin K., Engle, Stephen, Florida Atlantic University, Department of History, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
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Republicanism, a long-standing ideology, which embodied political liberty, virtue, and constitutional law, shaped America’s political culture from the country’s inception. The Republican Party’s formation in the 1850s was no exception to this rule. Paying close attention to the social and political climate in Massachusetts, this thesis will journey through the United States’ turbulent antebellum years and examine how the abolitionist organization known as the Boston Vigilance Committee (BVC)...
Show moreRepublicanism, a long-standing ideology, which embodied political liberty, virtue, and constitutional law, shaped America’s political culture from the country’s inception. The Republican Party’s formation in the 1850s was no exception to this rule. Paying close attention to the social and political climate in Massachusetts, this thesis will journey through the United States’ turbulent antebellum years and examine how the abolitionist organization known as the Boston Vigilance Committee (BVC) fashioned the contours of this anti-slavery party. Although scholars debate the committee’s origins, by 1846 members increased and expanded their activism in protecting escaped slaves from being returned to slavery and in assisting fugitives to freedom. By standing on moral, economic, and legal ground, Vigilance Committee members transformed Boston’s political culture and helped mobilize Northern support for an anti-slavery agenda that founded the Republican party and ultimately culminated in slavery’s eventual demise.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2020
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013459
- Subject Headings
- Vigilance Committee (Boston, Mass ), Republican Party (U S : 1854- ), Slavery & anti-slavery
- Format
- Document (PDF)
