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Pages
- Title
- Norm Inequalities for the Fourier Coefficients of Some Almost Periodic Functions.
- Creator
- Boryshchak, Yarema, Sagher, Yoram, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Using C. Fefferman's embedding of a charge space in a measure space allows us to apply standard interpolation theorems to the establishment of norm inequalities for Besicovitch almost periodic functions. This yields a significant improvement to the results of A. Avantaggiati, G. Bruno and R. Iannacci.
- Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013191
- Subject Headings
- Fourier series, Almost periodic functions, Norm
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- NOT SO STRAIGHT FORWARD: SWIMMING, MANEUVERING, AND FEEDING KINEMATICS OF THE SCALLOPED HAMMERHEAD (SPHYRNA LEWINI).
- Creator
- Heerdegen, Ivan, Porter, Marianne E., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Many studies on shark swimming have examined kinematic variables along straight tracks or under controlled flow speeds in flumes, but there is less known about unsteady swimming during maneuvering or feeding. Sharks may adjust their speed, undulatory kinematics, or body curvature to accommodate different actions. This study quantified variations in kinematics during straight swimming, maneuvering, and feeding in scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). I obtained video of three juvenile...
Show moreMany studies on shark swimming have examined kinematic variables along straight tracks or under controlled flow speeds in flumes, but there is less known about unsteady swimming during maneuvering or feeding. Sharks may adjust their speed, undulatory kinematics, or body curvature to accommodate different actions. This study quantified variations in kinematics during straight swimming, maneuvering, and feeding in scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). I obtained video of three juvenile scalloped hammerheads, developed an ethogram assessing three behavioral categories, and tracked points along the body’s midline. I found that velocity was lower during feeding compared to maneuvering and straight swimming, while body curvature increased during feeding turns but decreased with increasing velocity. These data will provide insight into kinematic variations in hammerhead sharks across ontogeny and among behaviors, ultimately expanding on the relationship between form and function. This also provides context for varying behaviors and trends within the movement ecology paradigm.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014079
- Subject Headings
- Kinematics, Hammerhead sharks
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Not what you think: judgement transformation through nonconscious thought.
- Creator
- Parkin, Steven S., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Perceiver's use of thought suppression to maintain a consistent attitude toward another person ironically leads to nonlinear changes in their evaluations over time. In this study of interpersonal evaluation, 157 participants across three conditions (high-level mindset, low-level mindset, and control) observe the same person in seven counter-balanced videotaped social interactions depicting helpful, rude, and ambiguous behaviors. The high-level prime instructed participants to focus on the...
Show morePerceiver's use of thought suppression to maintain a consistent attitude toward another person ironically leads to nonlinear changes in their evaluations over time. In this study of interpersonal evaluation, 157 participants across three conditions (high-level mindset, low-level mindset, and control) observe the same person in seven counter-balanced videotaped social interactions depicting helpful, rude, and ambiguous behaviors. The high-level prime instructed participants to focus on the target's goals and intentions ; low-level participants focused on the target's specific concrete behaviors. High-level participants better resisted the influence of conflicting information by surpressing thoughts inconsistent with their initial evaluation of the target. From the dynamical systems perspective, such suppressed information over time becomes organized as an alternative attractor, nonconsciously influencing the perceiver's cognitive system, leading to change away from an initial attitude, as measured by the Mouse Paradigm procedure.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3355871
- Subject Headings
- Emotions and cognition, Subconsciousness, Unconscious (Psychology), Cognitive psychology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Novel Detection Techniques for Viable but Nonculturable Vibrio Vulnificus Cells in Response to Elevated Salinity.
- Creator
- McHenry, Brandon, McCarthy, Peter J., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Vibrio vulnificus is a marine pathogen of human health concern, capable of causing potentially fatal wound infections in a select group of the population. Previous studies have indicated this species’ strong negative correlation with salinity, not typically found above 30 ppt. This study assessed the ability of V. vulnificus to become Viable But Nonculturable in response to elevated salinity (35 ppt) as well as investigated novel methods for confirming their entrance into this state. Results...
Show moreVibrio vulnificus is a marine pathogen of human health concern, capable of causing potentially fatal wound infections in a select group of the population. Previous studies have indicated this species’ strong negative correlation with salinity, not typically found above 30 ppt. This study assessed the ability of V. vulnificus to become Viable But Nonculturable in response to elevated salinity (35 ppt) as well as investigated novel methods for confirming their entrance into this state. Results showed a complete loss of culturability in both Environmental and Clinical strains of this bacterium by 9 days after inoculation. Using a High Content Imager, it was determined that these pathogens were not dying (< 10%) in response to the treatment and were partially becoming cocci (≈35%). This study indicates the importance of understanding the impact environmental parameters have on this human pathogen, and what it means for reliably detecting them.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013240
- Subject Headings
- Vibrio vulnificus, Pathogenic microorganisms--Detection, Salinity
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Novel molecular targets for genistein in prostate cancer cells.
- Creator
- Merchant, Kendra T., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Prostate cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths within the United States. The five year survival rate has increased from 69% to 99% over the last 25 years for the local and regional disease, but has remained fairly low (approximately 34%) for the advanced disease. Therefore, current research is aimed at finding complementary or alternative treatments that will specifically target components of the signal transduction, cell-cycle and...
Show moreProstate cancer is the most common form of non-skin cancer and the second leading cause of cancer deaths within the United States. The five year survival rate has increased from 69% to 99% over the last 25 years for the local and regional disease, but has remained fairly low (approximately 34%) for the advanced disease. Therefore, current research is aimed at finding complementary or alternative treatments that will specifically target components of the signal transduction, cell-cycle and apoptosis pathways to induce cell death, with little or no toxic side effects to the patient. In this study we investigated the effect of genistein on expression levels of genes involved in these pathways. Genistein is a (4 , 5 , 7-trihydroxyisoflavone) is a major isoflavone constituent of soy that has been shown to inhibit growth proliferation and induce apoptosis in cancer cells. The mechanism of genistein-induced cell death and potential molecular targets for genistein in LNCaP prostate cancer c ells was investigated using several techniques. The chemosensitivity of genistein towards the prostate cancer cells was investigated using the ATP and MTS assays and apoptosis induction was determined using apoptosis and caspase assays. Several molecular targets were also identified using cDNA microarray and RT-PCR analysis. Our results revealed that genistein induces cell death in a time and dose-dependent manner and regulates expression levels of several genes involved in carcinogenesis and immunogenicity. Several cell cycle genes were down-regulated, including the mitotic kinesins, cyclins and cyclin dependent kinases, indicating that genistein is able to halt cell cycle progression through the regulation of genes involved in this process., Several members of the Bcl-2 family which are involved in apoptosis were also affected and a number of genes involved in immunogenicity were up-regulated including the DefB1 and HLA membrane receptors. The results of this study provide evidence of genistein's ability to inhibit growth proliferation and induce apoptosis and indicates its potential as an adjuvant in chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2009
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/192986
- Subject Headings
- Prostate, Cancer, Adjuvant treatment, Prostate, Cancer, Molecular aspects, Apoptosis, Molecular aspects, Phytochemicals, Physiological effect, Cellular signal transduction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A novel optimization algorithm and other techniques in medicinal chemistry.
- Creator
- Santos, Radleigh G., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
In this dissertation we will present a stochastic optimization algorithm and use it and other mathematical techniques to tackle problems arising in medicinal chemistry. In Chapter 1, we present some background about stochastic optimization and the Accelerated Random Search (ARS) algorithm. We then present a novel improvement of the ARS algorithm, DIrected Accelerated Random Search (DARS), motivated by some theoretical results, and demonstrate through numerical results that it improves upon...
Show moreIn this dissertation we will present a stochastic optimization algorithm and use it and other mathematical techniques to tackle problems arising in medicinal chemistry. In Chapter 1, we present some background about stochastic optimization and the Accelerated Random Search (ARS) algorithm. We then present a novel improvement of the ARS algorithm, DIrected Accelerated Random Search (DARS), motivated by some theoretical results, and demonstrate through numerical results that it improves upon ARS. In Chapter 2, we use DARS and other methods to address issues arising from the use of mixture-based combinatorial libraries in drug discovery. In particular, we look at models associated with the biological activity of these mixtures and use them to answer questions about sensitivity and robustness, and also present a novel method for determining the integrity of the synthesis. Finally, in Chapter 3 we present an in-depth analysis of some statistical and mathematical techniques in combinatorial chemistry, including a novel probabilistic approach to using structural similarity to predict the activity landscape.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3352830
- Subject Headings
- Drugs, Design, Mathematical models, Combinatorial optimization, Combinatorial chemistry, Genetic algorithms, Mathematical optimization, Stochastic processes
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- NOVEL RHEOTAXIS-BASED MICROFLUIDIC DEVICES FOR SORTING HUMAN SPERM.
- Creator
- Ataei, Afrouz, Lau, Andy W.C., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Physics, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
The ultimate challenge for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is to select the most competent sperm population from a semen sample in an efficient way. In this thesis, we report on an effective sperm sorting microfluidic device that exploits the rheotaxis of sperm and investigates the sperm quality sorted under various flow conditions. Rheotaxis is the ability of a sperm cell to orient itself in the direction of the flow and swim against it. We developed a novel passively driven...
Show moreThe ultimate challenge for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is to select the most competent sperm population from a semen sample in an efficient way. In this thesis, we report on an effective sperm sorting microfluidic device that exploits the rheotaxis of sperm and investigates the sperm quality sorted under various flow conditions. Rheotaxis is the ability of a sperm cell to orient itself in the direction of the flow and swim against it. We developed a novel passively driven pumping system that provides a steady flow rate while it requires no external power source. We have also developed another rheotaxis-based microfluidic device that washes out the raw semen sample from any dead or less motile sperm. The device consists of a collection and waste chamber. To evaluate the effect of the shape and height of the collection chamber, we measured the sperm motility and velocity parameters after sorting using varying the shape and height of the collection chamber. We demonstrated that sperm selected with all devices have higher motility, normal morphology, and a fewer degree of DNA fragmentation compared to a control group.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013971
- Subject Headings
- Microfluidic devices, Rheotaxis, Spermatozoa, Reproductive Techniques, Assisted
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Now you hear it, now you don't: The effect of markedness on the perception of unattested clusters.
- Creator
- Lennertz, Tracy J., Florida Atlantic University, Berent, Iris, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Linguistic theory predicts that speakers are equipped with universal sonority principles that restrict the structure of the syllable: onset clusters with sonority rises are preferred to onsets with plateaus, which are preferred to onsets with falling sonority (bn > bd > lb). We investigate the source of this preference in English, a language in which these sonority profiles are unattested. We gauged speakers' preferences for unattested onsets by examining their susceptibility to epenthetic...
Show moreLinguistic theory predicts that speakers are equipped with universal sonority principles that restrict the structure of the syllable: onset clusters with sonority rises are preferred to onsets with plateaus, which are preferred to onsets with falling sonority (bn > bd > lb). We investigate the source of this preference in English, a language in which these sonority profiles are unattested. We gauged speakers' preferences for unattested onsets by examining their susceptibility to epenthetic repair. If English speakers are sensitive to onset structure, then onsets that are universally dispreferred should be more likely to elicit repair (e.g., lbif→lebif). Results from a syllable judgment task and an identity task support our predictions: onsets of rising sonority are perceived more accurately compared to onsets with sonority plateaus, which, in turn, are perceived more accurately compared to onsets with sonority falls. Our findings suggest that speakers are equipped with phonological preferences for sonority profiles that are unattested in their language.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2006
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13392
- Subject Headings
- Markedness (Linguistics), Grammar, Comparative and general--Phonology, Tone (Phonetics), Lexical phonology, Optimality theory (Linguistics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nuclear Halo Effect and Field Size Factor for Pencil-Beam Scanning Proton Therapy.
- Creator
- Beqiri, Atdhe, Shang, Charles, Muhammad, Wazir, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Physics, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
In proton therapy systems with pencil-beam scanning, output of Halo effect is not necessarily included in Treatment Planning System (TPS). Halo effect (low-intensity tail) can significantly affect a patient’s dose distribution. The output of this dose depends on the field size being irradiated. Although much research has been made to investigate such relation to the field size, the number of reports on dose calculations including the halo effect is small. In this work we have investigated the...
Show moreIn proton therapy systems with pencil-beam scanning, output of Halo effect is not necessarily included in Treatment Planning System (TPS). Halo effect (low-intensity tail) can significantly affect a patient’s dose distribution. The output of this dose depends on the field size being irradiated. Although much research has been made to investigate such relation to the field size, the number of reports on dose calculations including the halo effect is small. In this work we have investigated the Halo effect, including field size factor, target depth factor, and air gaps with a range shifter for a Varian ProBeam. Dose calculations created on the Eclipse Treatment Planning System (vs15.6 TPS) are compared with plane-parallel ionization chambers (PTW Octavius 1500) measurements using PCS and AcurosPT MC model in different isocenters: 5cm, 10cm, and 20cm. We find that in AcurosPT algorithm deviations range between -7.53% (for 2cm field in 25cm air gap with range shifter) up to +7.40% (for 20cm field in 15cm air gap with range shifter). Whereas, in PCS algorithm the deviations are -2.07% (for 20x20cm field in open conditions) to -6.29% (for 20x20cm field in 25cm air gap with range shifter).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2021
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013788
- Subject Headings
- Proton Therapy, Proton beams, Radiotherapy
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopic studies of metallocene (IVB) squarate polymers and other metallocene (IVB)-containing polymers.
- Creator
- Li, Alicia Qing, Florida Atlantic University, Carraher, Charles E., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Abstract/Description
-
Group IVB metallocene polymers and oligomers undergo a pi-sigma rearrangement of the cyclopentadienyl moieties in DMSO based on NMR data. The sigma-Cp rings are stereochemically rigid at room temperature.
- Date Issued
- 1991
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14681
- Subject Headings
- Organometallic polymers, Metallocenes, Nuclear magnetic resonance
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Numerical Investigation of Finite Kuramoto model with time dependent coupling strength.
- Creator
- Khatiwada, Dharma Raj, Wille, Luc T., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
-
Synchronization of an ensemble of oscillators is a phenomenon present in systems of different fields, ranging from social and physical to biological and technological systems. The most successful approach to describe how synchrony emerges in these systems is given by the Kuramoto model. This model as it stands, however, assumes oscillators of fixed natural frequencies and a homogeneous all-to-all coupling strength. The Kuramoto model has been analytically discussed to address the...
Show moreSynchronization of an ensemble of oscillators is a phenomenon present in systems of different fields, ranging from social and physical to biological and technological systems. The most successful approach to describe how synchrony emerges in these systems is given by the Kuramoto model. This model as it stands, however, assumes oscillators of fixed natural frequencies and a homogeneous all-to-all coupling strength. The Kuramoto model has been analytically discussed to address the synchronization phenomena of coupled oscillators in the thermodynamic limit (N --> ∞). However, there needs to be a modi cation to address the inevitable in uence of external fields on the pattern of various real life synchronization phenomena which, in general; involves a finite number of oscillators. This research introduces a time dependent coupling strength K(t) which is from the modulation of external elds in the form of, for example, a periodic impulse, in the nite oscillators assembly. A sinusoidal function with some arbitrary values of amplitude and frequency is added to the fixed coupling strength as a perturbation of external elds. Temporal evolution of order parameter r(t) and phase θ(t), both of which measure the degree of synchronization of an assembly of oscillators simultaneously, are compared between uniform and time dependent cases. Graphical comparison are made using a 2 oscillator system, a building block of any finite oscillators case. Also, similar comparisons are performed for a system of 32 oscillators which are chosen randomly as a representative of a nite number of oscillators (2 < N < ∞). A temporal variation of the relative phase angle θ(t) = θ2(t) - θ1(t) in 2 and 32 oscillators systems using uniform and time dependent cases is also a part of this research. This work also introduces a time-dependent coupling strength in the form of a step function. The main objective of using such a function is to keep the synchronized behavior of the oscillators persistently. This behavior can be achieved with the perception that occasional boosting with higher coupling strength K(t) should be enough to sustain synchronous behavior of oscillators which, in general, are tuned with lower K(t).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013120
- Subject Headings
- Synchronization, Oscillations, Nonlinear oscillators--Mathematical models, Oscillator strengths, Frequency of oscillating systems
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Nutrition and habitat driven foraging of wild dolphins in the Bahamas: a recipe for prey.
- Creator
- Malinowski, Christopher R., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Two sympatric dolphin species, Stenella frontalis and Tursiops truncatus, resident to Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas were found to mostly forage independent of one another, but occasionally foraged in mixed groups. Analysis of over 20 years of data revealed the degree of overlap to be minimal with spatially distinct regions identified for both species, environmental segregation based on depth, bottom type, temperature, and time of day. Results based on observational data indicated significant...
Show moreTwo sympatric dolphin species, Stenella frontalis and Tursiops truncatus, resident to Little Bahama Bank, Bahamas were found to mostly forage independent of one another, but occasionally foraged in mixed groups. Analysis of over 20 years of data revealed the degree of overlap to be minimal with spatially distinct regions identified for both species, environmental segregation based on depth, bottom type, temperature, and time of day. Results based on observational data indicated significant differences in group size and selected prey. For S. frontalis, lactating females had the most distinct diet, which differed from that of non-reproductively active (NRA) females. Pregnant females had ambiguous prey use results, but diet differences were revealed through nutritional analysis. Lactating females had a higher intake of all nutrients (% moisture, % lipid, % protein, and calories) than pregnant females but lower than NRA females. Mother and calf pairs selected prey for caloric and moisture values. The influence of calves on foraging groups was reflected through discrete differences in all nutrients. Males and females appeared to select the same major prey, but female prey use was much more diverse.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3318668
- Subject Headings
- Dolphins, Habitat, Predatory marine animals, Ecology, Marine ecosystem management, Predation (Biology), Aquatic mammals, Behavior
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Object Oriented Classification of Australian Pine (Casuarina equisetifolia), an Invasive Exotic Species in South Florida.
- Creator
- Johnson, Brian A., Xie, Zhixiao, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Invasive exotic plant species cause a number of problems in native south Florida ecosystems, and a great deal of effort is being put into controlling the populations ofthese species. Control efforts require updated information on the locations of exotic species. This information can be obtained from high resolution remotely sensed data such as digital orthoimagery and LIDAR. Extraction of information from these data sources is often problematic using traditional pixel-based image processing...
Show moreInvasive exotic plant species cause a number of problems in native south Florida ecosystems, and a great deal of effort is being put into controlling the populations ofthese species. Control efforts require updated information on the locations of exotic species. This information can be obtained from high resolution remotely sensed data such as digital orthoimagery and LIDAR. Extraction of information from these data sources is often problematic using traditional pixel-based image processing techniques. An object oriented method of image analysis, however, has been shown to be better suited to this task. One invasive exotic species that has become widespread in south Florida is Casuarina equisetifolia, also known as Australian pine. This study develops a semiautomated procedure for detecting Australian pine over a large, diverse area with high resolution remotely sensed data using the object oriented method of analysis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2007
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00000775
- Subject Headings
- Ecology--Remote sensing, Aerial photogrammetry
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Ocean Acidification Effects on Photosynthesis in Tropical Marine Macroalgae.
- Creator
- Zweng, Regina C., Koch, Marguerite, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Field data from CO2 vents, a current model of future ocean acidification conditions, show a positive correlation between elevated seawater pCO2 and fleshy macroalgal abundance, as well as a negative correlation between elevated seawater pCO2 and calcareous macroalgal abundance on coral reefs. One underlying physiological mechanism for increases of fleshy macroalgae species in response to greater pCO2 could be an increase in their photosynthesis. Furthermore, inorganic carbon use mechanisms,...
Show moreField data from CO2 vents, a current model of future ocean acidification conditions, show a positive correlation between elevated seawater pCO2 and fleshy macroalgal abundance, as well as a negative correlation between elevated seawater pCO2 and calcareous macroalgal abundance on coral reefs. One underlying physiological mechanism for increases of fleshy macroalgae species in response to greater pCO2 could be an increase in their photosynthesis. Furthermore, inorganic carbon use mechanisms, irradiance and depth may influence species-specific responses to ocean acidification. Therefore, this thesis aimed to discern carbon use strategies and photosynthetic responses to elevated pCO2 of dominant tropical fleshy and calcareous macroalgae. All species studied were able to utilize HCO3 - for photosynthesis. 33% of calcifying macroalgae and 80% of fleshy macroalgae had increased photosynthetic rates in response to lower pH. Thus, future conditions of OA may perpetuate or exacerbate the abundance of fleshy seaweeds at the expense of calcareous species.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004879, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004879
- Subject Headings
- Marine algae--Ecophysiology., Algal communities--Monitoriing., Coral reef ecology.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Of Mice, Men and Memories: The Role of the Rodent Hippocampus in Object Recognition.
- Creator
- Cohen, Sarah J., Stackman, Robert W., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Establishing appropriate animal models for the study of human memory is paramount to the development of memory disorder treatments. Damage to the hippocampus, a medial temporal lobe brain structure, has been implicated in the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In humans, the role of the hippocampus is largely defined; yet, its role in rodents is much less clear due to conflicting findings. To investigate these discrepancies, an extensive review of the rodent...
Show moreEstablishing appropriate animal models for the study of human memory is paramount to the development of memory disorder treatments. Damage to the hippocampus, a medial temporal lobe brain structure, has been implicated in the memory loss associated with Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias. In humans, the role of the hippocampus is largely defined; yet, its role in rodents is much less clear due to conflicting findings. To investigate these discrepancies, an extensive review of the rodent literature was conducted, with a focus on studies that used the Novel Object Recognition (NOR) paradigm for testing. The total amount of time the objects were explored during training and the delay imposed between training and testing seemed to determine hippocampal recruitment in rodents. Male C57BL/6J mice were implanted with bilateral dorsal CA1 guide cannulae to allow for the inactivation of the hippocampus at discrete time points in the task. The results suggest that the rodent hippocampus is crucial to the encoding, consolidation and retrieval of object memory. Next, it was determined that there is a delay-dependent involvement of the hippocampus in object memory, implying that other structures may be supporting the memory prior to the recruitment of hippocampus. In addition, when the context memory and object memory could be further dissociated, by altering the task design, the results imply a necessary role for the hippocampus in the object memory, irrespective of context. Also, making the task more perceptually demanding, by requiring the mice to perform a two-dimensional to three-dimensional association between stimuli, engaged the hippocampus. Then, in the traditional NOR task, long and short training exploration times were imposed to determine brain region activity for weak and strong object memory. The inactivation and immunohistochemistry findings imply weak object memory is perirhinal cortex dependent, while strong object memory is hippocampal-dependent. Taken together, the findings suggest that mice, like humans, process object memory on a continuum from weak to strong, recruiting the hippocampus conditionally for strong familiarity. Confirming this functional similarity between the rodent and human object memory systems could be beneficial for future studies investigating memory disorders.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004580
- Subject Headings
- Memory--Research., Mice as laboratory animals., Hippocampus (Brain)--Physiology., Episodic memory., Neurotransmitter receptors., Cellular control mechanisms., Cellular signal transduction., Human information processing.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- OLD FIELD SUCCESSION IN EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK.
- Creator
- KRAUSS, PAMELA, Florida Atlantic University, Austin, Daniel F., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
A characterization of successional vegetation patterns on abandoned farmland in the Hole-in-the-Donut area of Everglades National Park was performed. Vegetative community composition and structure were examined in detail in twenty-one study plots located throughout the study site. Successional assemblages are described qualitatively and quantitatively. Distinct community types are defined using methods that emphasize site-to-site comparisons. The relationship between vegetation and substrate,...
Show moreA characterization of successional vegetation patterns on abandoned farmland in the Hole-in-the-Donut area of Everglades National Park was performed. Vegetative community composition and structure were examined in detail in twenty-one study plots located throughout the study site. Successional assemblages are described qualitatively and quantitatively. Distinct community types are defined using methods that emphasize site-to-site comparisons. The relationship between vegetation and substrate, farming history, hydroperiod, and spatial arrangement was examined. Results were used to summarize and predict trends of old field succession on abandoned farmland in southern Florida. Post-farming vegetation patterns do not resemble prefarming conditions. Successional forest, frequently dominated by exotic species, is a relatively new community in southern Florida. It is likely a final stage in secondary succession on abandoned farmland.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1983
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14180
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- On Boolean algebras and their role in analysis.
- Creator
- Winkowska-Nowak, Katarzyna, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The relations between complete and $\sigma$-complete covers of a Boolean algebra are examined. The Dedekind completion of a Boolean algebra is shown to be a quotient of any complete cover. Atoms of a Boolean algebra correspond to atoms of the Dedekind completion hence the Dedekind completion of an atomic Boolean algebra is isomorphic to the power set of the set of all atoms. There exists a correspondence between complete (sigma-complete) homomorphisms and full (sigma-complete) ideals. The...
Show moreThe relations between complete and $\sigma$-complete covers of a Boolean algebra are examined. The Dedekind completion of a Boolean algebra is shown to be a quotient of any complete cover. Atoms of a Boolean algebra correspond to atoms of the Dedekind completion hence the Dedekind completion of an atomic Boolean algebra is isomorphic to the power set of the set of all atoms. There exists a correspondence between complete (sigma-complete) homomorphisms and full (sigma-complete) ideals. The explicit form of the Dedekind completion is given for the Boolean algebra generated by all semiopen subintervals of [0,1) as the atomless, complete Boolean algebra of all regularly closed subsets of [0,1). A compatible topology for a Boolean algebra is a topology for which addition and multiplication are continuous. The properties concerning products, quotients, subspaces and uniform completions of topological Boolean algebras are examined. Compact algebras are isomorphic and homeomorphic with power sets, endowed with the product topology. Measure algebras endowed with the weak* topology are compatible if and only if the underlying measure is purely atomic. A new proof of Stone Representation Theorem for a field of sets is given, providing a tool for establishing relations between Stone representation spaces of algebras, covers, subalgebras and quotients.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1996
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12454
- Subject Headings
- Mathematics
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- On projected planes.
- Creator
- Caliskan, Cafer., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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This work was motivated by the well-known question: "Does there exist a nondesarguesian projective plane of prime order?" For a prime p 1, determine all subplanes of order p up to collineations, and check whether one of these is non-desarguesian." In this manuscript we use a group-theoretic methodology to determine the subplane structures of some non-desarguesian planes. In particular, we determine orbit representatives of all proper Q-subplanes both of a Veblen-Wedderburn (VW) plane of...
Show moreThis work was motivated by the well-known question: "Does there exist a nondesarguesian projective plane of prime order?" For a prime p < 11, there is only the pappian plane of order p. Hence, such planes are indeed desarguesian. Thus, it is of interest to examine whether there are non-desarguesian planes of order 11. A suggestion by Ascher Wagner in 1985 was made to Spyros S. Magliveras: "Begin with a non-desarguesian plane of order pk, k > 1, determine all subplanes of order p up to collineations, and check whether one of these is non-desarguesian." In this manuscript we use a group-theoretic methodology to determine the subplane structures of some non-desarguesian planes. In particular, we determine orbit representatives of all proper Q-subplanes both of a Veblen-Wedderburn (VW) plane of order 121 and of the Hughes plane of order 121, under their full collineation groups. In PI, there are 13 orbits of Baer subplanes, all of which are desarguesian, and approximately 3000 orbits of Fano subplanes. In Sigma , there are 8 orbits of Baer subplanes, all of which are desarguesian, 2 orbits of subplanes of order 3, and at most 408; 075 distinct Fano subplanes. In addition to the above results, we also study the subplane structures of some non-desarguesian planes, such as the Hall plane of order 25, the Hughes planes of order 25 and 49, and the Figueora planes of order 27 and 125. A surprising discovery by L. Puccio and M. J. de Resmini was the existence of a plane of order 3 in the Hughes plane of order 25. We generalize this result, showing that there are subplanes of order 3 in the Hughes planes of order q2, where q is a prime power and q 5 (mod 6). Furthermore, we analyze the structure of the full collineation groups of certain Veblen- Wedderburn (VW) planes of orders 25, 49 and 121, and discuss how to recover the planes from their collineation groups.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/1927609
- Subject Headings
- Projected planes, Combinatorial designs and configurations, Surfaces, Algebraic, Manifolds (Mathematics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- ON SOLUTIONS OF A PERTURBED SCHROEDINGER EQUATION.
- Creator
- ARTERO, AGUSTIN., Florida Atlantic University, Schonbek, Tomas P., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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We study L^2 (R^k) solutions of the equation [..] where [..] and V is a non-negative L^2 function. Our main results are Theorems 1 and 2 of Chapter IV, in which we prove that these solutions depend continuously on V.
- Date Issued
- 1975
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13716
- Subject Headings
- Schrödinger equation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- ON THE IMAGE COUNTING PROBLEM FROM GRAVITATIONAL LENSING.
- Creator
- Perry, Sean, Lundberg, Erik, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Mathematical Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Due to the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, light from distant sources may appear as several images. The “image counting problem from gravitational lensing" refers to the question of how many images might occur, given a particular distribution of lensing masses. A common model treats the lensing masses as a finite collection of points situated in a finite collection of planes. The position of the apparent images correspond to the critical points of a real-valued function and also as...
Show moreDue to the phenomenon of gravitational lensing, light from distant sources may appear as several images. The “image counting problem from gravitational lensing" refers to the question of how many images might occur, given a particular distribution of lensing masses. A common model treats the lensing masses as a finite collection of points situated in a finite collection of planes. The position of the apparent images correspond to the critical points of a real-valued function and also as solutions to a system of complex rational equations. Herein, we give upper bounds for the number of images in a point mass multiplane ensemble with an arbitrary number of masses in an arbitrary number of planes. We give lower bounds on the number of solutions in a closely related problem concerning gravitational equilibria. We use persistence homology to investigate two different stochastic ensembles. Finally we produce a multiplane ensemble, related to the maximal one plane ensemble, that produces a large number of images.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013889
- Subject Headings
- Gravitational lense, Gravitational lenses--Mathematics, Persistent homology
- Format
- Document (PDF)