View All Items

Title: "A spirit of benevolence": Manchester and the origins of modern public health, 1790-1834.
Creator: Boxen, Jennifer L., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of History
Abstract/Description: This thesis argues that the British Public Health movement did not begin in 1842 with Edwin Chadwick's publication, Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain (1842), or in 1848, with the subsequent passage of the Public Health Act. The beginning of the public health movement was instead the product of local initiatives such as the Manchester Board of Health, administered not by central government, but by members of the local community supported by...
Show moreThis thesis argues that the British Public Health movement did not begin in 1842 with Edwin Chadwick's publication, Report on the Sanitary Conditions of the Labouring Population of Great Britain (1842), or in 1848, with the subsequent passage of the Public Health Act. The beginning of the public health movement was instead the product of local initiatives such as the Manchester Board of Health, administered not by central government, but by members of the local community supported by predominantly philanthropic funding. The Manchester movement predated Chadwick's efforts by at least half a century and bore a greater resemblance to the modern idea of an organized public health system than that advanced by Chadwick and his contemporaries. This is because the Manchester movement emphasized not only those sanitary ideas ascribed to Chadwick but also included a broader spectrum of public health measures, including but not limited to ; preventative medicine, occupational health, and the reduction of contagious diseases.
Show less
Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3360766
Subject Headings: Public health, History, History, Social conditions
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: "How does one remember thirst?": phallic and matrixial memory in Chris Marker's La Jetâee and Sans Soleil.
Creator: Barr, Jeremy., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, School of Communication and Multimedia Studies
Abstract/Description: This thesis problematizes the notion of memory as a non-gendered mechanism by examining the construction of memory and subjectivity in Chris Marker's La jetâee and Sans soleil. Using the theoretical frameworks of Jacques Lacan, Bracha Ettinger, and Andrâe Bazin, the paper argues that La jetâee presents a model of phallic memory corresponding to a Lacan's understanding of desire and subjectivity, while Sans soleil offers a model of matrixial memory based on Ettinger's theorization of the gaze....
Show moreThis thesis problematizes the notion of memory as a non-gendered mechanism by examining the construction of memory and subjectivity in Chris Marker's La jetâee and Sans soleil. Using the theoretical frameworks of Jacques Lacan, Bracha Ettinger, and Andrâe Bazin, the paper argues that La jetâee presents a model of phallic memory corresponding to a Lacan's understanding of desire and subjectivity, while Sans soleil offers a model of matrixial memory based on Ettinger's theorization of the gaze. Bazin's work is used to address aesthetic issues, as well as providing a method for exploring how the phallic and matrixial frameworks impact the formal construction of the films. Ultimately, La jetâees model of phallic memory is shown to sever past from present in a manner corresponding to Lacanian notions of desire, castration, and loss, whereas Sans soleil demonstrates the potential of matrixial memory to establish a liminal relationship between past and present.
Show less
Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3166838
Subject Headings: Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Psychoanalysis and art, Psychoanalysis and motion pictures
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: "I distinctly remember you!": an investigation of memory for faces with unusual features.
Creator: Keif, Autumn., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
Abstract/Description: Many errors in recognition are made because various features of a stimulus are attended inefficiently. Those features are not bound together and can then be confused with other information. One of the most common types of these errors is conjunction errors. These happen when mismatched features of memories are combined to form a composite memory. This study tests how likely conjunction errors, along with other recognition errors, occur when participants watch videos of people both with and...
Show moreMany errors in recognition are made because various features of a stimulus are attended inefficiently. Those features are not bound together and can then be confused with other information. One of the most common types of these errors is conjunction errors. These happen when mismatched features of memories are combined to form a composite memory. This study tests how likely conjunction errors, along with other recognition errors, occur when participants watch videos of people both with and without unusual facial features performing actions after a week time lag. It was hypothesized that participants would falsely recognize actresses in the conjunction item condition over the other conditions. The likelihood of falsely recognizing a new person increased when presented with a feature, but the conjunction items overall were most often falsely recognized.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342207
Subject Headings: Face perception, Human face recognition, Facial expression, Physiological aspects, Recollection (Psychology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: “Odd Apocalyptic Panics”: Chthonic Storytelling in Margaret Atwood’s MaddAddam.
Creator: Nugent, Ashley Frances, Mason, Julia, Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
Abstract/Description: I argue that Margaret Atwood’s work in MaddAddam is about survival; it is about moving beyond preconceived, thoughtless ideology of any form with creative kinship. Cooperation and engagement cannot be planned in advance, and must take the form of something more than pre-established ideology. I will discuss MaddAddam in light of Donna Haraway’s recent work in which she argues that multispecies acknowledgement and collaboration are essential if humans are to survive and thrive in the coming...
Show moreI argue that Margaret Atwood’s work in MaddAddam is about survival; it is about moving beyond preconceived, thoughtless ideology of any form with creative kinship. Cooperation and engagement cannot be planned in advance, and must take the form of something more than pre-established ideology. I will discuss MaddAddam in light of Donna Haraway’s recent work in which she argues that multispecies acknowledgement and collaboration are essential if humans are to survive and thrive in the coming centuries. By bringing the two texts into dialogue, one sees that Atwood’s novel constitutes the kind of story deemed necessary by Haraway for making kin in the Chthulucene. Various scenes depicting cooperation and interdependence among humans and other animals offer chthonic models of kinship; these relationships, as opposed to ideological and anthropocentric isolation, will serve as the means of surviving and thriving within an ongoing apocalypse.
Show less
Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013090
Subject Headings: Atwood, Margaret, 1939- MaddAddam trilogy., Haraway, Donna Jeanne., Atwood, Margaret, 1939---Criticism and interpretation.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: "Room for you and me": an ethical critique of noncanonical labor literature.
Creator: McDermott, Rachel., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
Abstract/Description: Labor literature is in popular and academic neglect. I argue that labor literature's neglect is unjust, and I provide a way of examining labor literature that can rescue it from neglect. I shall be concerned with labor literature's academic decline due to its apparent lack of value according to traditional standards of literary criticism. I will argue that ethical criticism - criticism of literature that considers the ethics of a work as a part of its literary value - can reveal new...
Show moreLabor literature is in popular and academic neglect. I argue that labor literature's neglect is unjust, and I provide a way of examining labor literature that can rescue it from neglect. I shall be concerned with labor literature's academic decline due to its apparent lack of value according to traditional standards of literary criticism. I will argue that ethical criticism - criticism of literature that considers the ethics of a work as a part of its literary value - can reveal new complexities in labor literature. An ethical critical analysis of the representation of American labor movements and workers in noncanonical texts will show the distinctive ethical value such texts hold. I will argue that labor texts possess ethical value insofar as they help readers develop awareness of complex ethical issues posed by labor and community, and that the ethical value of labor literature provides a new reason to value such works.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342209
Subject Headings: Narration (Rhetoric), Authenticity (Philosophy) in literature, Criticism and interpretation, Labor in literature, Criticism and interpretation
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: The "Stop-It anti-fidgeting device.
Creator: Barnard, Scott A., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Fidgeting and otherwise constant movements in individuals can be beneficial in those who suffer from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder as well as others. However this constant movement can also be a distraction to others as well as protrude an air of no self confidence. It is the drawbacks from these actions that we wish to address. By developing an intelligent system that can detect these motions and alert the user, it will allow the wearer of the...
Show moreFidgeting and otherwise constant movements in individuals can be beneficial in those who suffer from Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder or Generalized Anxiety Disorder as well as others. However this constant movement can also be a distraction to others as well as protrude an air of no self confidence. It is the drawbacks from these actions that we wish to address. By developing an intelligent system that can detect these motions and alert the user, it will allow the wearer of the device to self correct. It is in this self control that one may exhibit more confidence or simply reduce the level of irritation experienced by those in the immediate vicinity. We have designed and built a low cost, mobile, lightweight, untethered, wearable prototype device. It will detect these actions and deliver user selectable biofeedback through a light emitting diode, buzzer, vibromotor or an electric shock to allow for self control.
Show less
Date Issued: 2009
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/368612
Subject Headings: Restless legs syndrome, Treatment, Technological innovations, Agitation (Psychology), Biomedical engineering, Neural networks (Neurobiology)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: "Viens a la maison": Moroccan hospitality, a contemporary view.
Creator: Schwartz, Anita., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Visual Arts and Art History
Abstract/Description: As a woman of Moroccan descent, I have been brought up surrounded by a rich culture that places great emphasis on the importance of hospitality and family traditions. This exhibit represents an exploration of porcelain ceramics vessels that have been produced over the past year. The work incorporates tagine forms, plates, tea cups and tea pots that are commonly used while entertaining guests in a Moroccan home. Moroccans welcome the opportunity to show their generosity and hospitality by...
Show moreAs a woman of Moroccan descent, I have been brought up surrounded by a rich culture that places great emphasis on the importance of hospitality and family traditions. This exhibit represents an exploration of porcelain ceramics vessels that have been produced over the past year. The work incorporates tagine forms, plates, tea cups and tea pots that are commonly used while entertaining guests in a Moroccan home. Moroccans welcome the opportunity to show their generosity and hospitality by welcoming guests into their homes to visit and share meals. The vessels are ornately painted and decorated so that meals served will feast the eyes as well as the palate. The porcelain is decorated with ornate finials, underglazes and china painting. The subject of the imagery is a combination of visual anthropology in which random images of people from today's society are contrasted with my own interpretation of ancient geometric design details that are found in North African Zillij cut mosaic tiles. This infuses the work with an imagined sense of time and place. The attempt to harmonize seemingly incongruent elements results in vessels that feel both familiar and eccentric. The layers of color areused to symbolize nature, purity, depth of life and spiritual abundance. The colors are placed randomly in contrast to the symmetry of the geometric designs. The work is displayed in a dining room setting where guests are always welcome to enter. My work as an artist enhances the experience I bring to my students in the classroom.
Show less
Date Issued: 2011
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3172699
Subject Headings: Symbolism in art, Ceramic sculpture, Jews, History, Ethnicity in art, Identity (Psychology) in art, Social life and customs
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 'Indie' empowerment: new media strategies and the rise of the independent artist.
Creator: Harris, Simone K., College of Business, Department of Management
Abstract/Description: The use of new media technology which refers to digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies such as the Internet, mobile devices, gaming, and social networks, has come to define the music industry today, and it is this technology that has empowered independent artists in such a way that they are now free to pursue heights of success previously only available to major label artists. New media technology has affected the traditional business models of major...
Show moreThe use of new media technology which refers to digital, computerized, or networked information and communication technologies such as the Internet, mobile devices, gaming, and social networks, has come to define the music industry today, and it is this technology that has empowered independent artists in such a way that they are now free to pursue heights of success previously only available to major label artists. New media technology has affected the traditional business models of major labels, it has resulted in gross decline in recording costs, given birth to new channels of music marketing, and business models, and has created a new music clientele that requires instant gratification, personalization, and connectivity. In the face of such change, independent artists have been empowered and can access opportunities to distribute music independently, market and promote music effectively to niche markets, secure publishing deals, while building their own community of dedicated fans.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2705072
Subject Headings: Music, Economic aspects, Music and the Internet, Music trade, Music and globalization, Sound recordings, Marketing
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: La (in)visibilidad de la traductora: la traducciâon del inglâes al espaänol del cuento "Spanish Winter" de Jennifer Egan.
Creator: Almeida, Gabriela., Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Languages, Linguistics and Comparative Literature
Abstract/Description: This thesis emphasizes the visibility of the translator as an agent who promotes cultural exchange. This project includes a translation of Jennifer Egan's short story "Spanish Winter" from her collection Emerald City and Other Stories (1996). It also presents the theoretical frame, the critical analysis, and the pitfalls of the translation. "Spanish Winter" is narrated in the first person by the protagonist, a troubled US American, divorced woman who travels by herself to Spain in the winter....
Show moreThis thesis emphasizes the visibility of the translator as an agent who promotes cultural exchange. This project includes a translation of Jennifer Egan's short story "Spanish Winter" from her collection Emerald City and Other Stories (1996). It also presents the theoretical frame, the critical analysis, and the pitfalls of the translation. "Spanish Winter" is narrated in the first person by the protagonist, a troubled US American, divorced woman who travels by herself to Spain in the winter. The importance of this text lies in the quest for identity of a female character whose journey symbolizes a search for herself. This postmodern tale, which depicts cultural exchanges between Spaniards and a US American woman and presents a contemporary theme told by a female narrator traveling abroad, is extremely relevant in today's globalized world. It is a valuable text whose translation promotes a fruitful literary exchange between the United States and the Spanish-speaking countries.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342033
Subject Headings: Criticism and interpretation, Criticism and interpretation, Identity (Psychology) in literature, Americans, Translating and interpreting
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: (Re)making men, representing the Caribbean Nation: authorialIndividuation in works by Fred D’Aguiar, Robert Antoni, andMarlon James.
Creator: Gifford, Sheryl C., Machado, Elena, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of English
Abstract/Description: This dissertation proposes that West Indian contemporary male writers develop literary authority, or a voice that represents the nation, via a process of individuation. This process enables the contemporary male writer to unite the disparities of the matriarchal and patriarchal authorial traditions that inform his development of a distinctive creative identity. I outline three stages of authorial individuation that are inspired by Jung’s theory of individuation. The first is the contemporary...
Show moreThis dissertation proposes that West Indian contemporary male writers develop literary authority, or a voice that represents the nation, via a process of individuation. This process enables the contemporary male writer to unite the disparities of the matriarchal and patriarchal authorial traditions that inform his development of a distinctive creative identity. I outline three stages of authorial individuation that are inspired by Jung’s theory of individuation. The first is the contemporary male writer’s return to his nationalist forebears’ tradition to dissolve his persona, or identification with patriarchal authority; Fred D’Aguiar’s “The Last Essay About Slavery” and Feeding the Ghosts illustrate this stage. The second is his reconciliation of matriarchal (present) and patriarchal (past) traditions of literary authority via his encounter with his forebears’ feminized, raced shadow; Robert Antoni’s Blessed Is the Fruit evidences this process. The third is the contemporary male writer’s renunciation of authority defined by masculinity, which emerges as his incorporation of the anima, or unconscious feminine; Marlon James’s The Book of Night Women exemplifies this final phase of his individuation.
Show less
Date Issued: 2013
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0004021
Subject Headings: Antoni, Robert -- 1958- -- Blessed is the fruit -- Criticism and interpretation, D'Aguiar, Fred -- 1960- -- Feeding the ghosts -- Criticism and interpretation, D'Aguiar, Fred -- 1960- -- Last essay about slavery -- Criticism and interpretation, James, Marlon -- 1970- -- Book of night women -- Criticism and interpretation, Jungian psychology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 1/f structure of temporal fluctuation in rhythm performance and rhythmic coordination.
Creator: Rankin, Summer K., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
Abstract/Description: This dissertation investigated the nature of pulse in the tempo fluctuation of music performance and how people entrain with these performed musical rhythms. In Experiment 1, one skilled pianist performed four compositions with natural tempo fluctuation. The changes in tempo showed long-range correlation and fractal (1/f) scaling for all four performances. To determine whether the finding of 1/f structure would generalize to other pianists, musical styles, and performance practices, fractal...
Show moreThis dissertation investigated the nature of pulse in the tempo fluctuation of music performance and how people entrain with these performed musical rhythms. In Experiment 1, one skilled pianist performed four compositions with natural tempo fluctuation. The changes in tempo showed long-range correlation and fractal (1/f) scaling for all four performances. To determine whether the finding of 1/f structure would generalize to other pianists, musical styles, and performance practices, fractal analyses were conducted on a large database of piano performances in Experiment 3. Analyses revealed signicant long-range serial correlations in 96% of the performances. Analysis showed that the degree of fractal structure depended on piece, suggesting that there is something in the composition's musical structure which causes pianists' tempo fluctuations to have a similar degree of fractal structure. Thus, musical tempo fluctuations exhibit long-range correlations and fractal scaling. To examine how people entrain to these temporal fluctuations, a series of behavioral experiments were conducted where subjects were asked to tap the pulse (beat) to temporally fluctuating stimuli. The stimuli for Experiment 2 were musical performances from Experiment 1, with mechanical versions serving as controls. Subjects entrained to all stimuli at two metrical levels, and predicted the tempo fluctuations observed in Experiment 1. Fractal analyses showed that the fractal structure of the stimuli was reected in the inter-tap intervals, suggesting a possible relationship between fractal tempo scaling, pulse perception, and entrainment. Experiments 4-7 investigated the extent to which people use long-range correlation and fractal scaling to predict tempo fluctuations in fluctuating rhythmic sequences., Both natural and synthetic long-range correlations enabled prediction, as well as shuffled versions which contained no long-term fluctuations. Fractal structure of the stimuli was again in the inter-tap intervals, with persistence for the fractal stimuli, and antipersistence for the shuffled stimuli. 1/f temporal structure is suficient though not necessary for prediction of fluctuations in a stimulus with large temporal fluctuations.
Show less
Date Issued: 2010
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/2705083
Subject Headings: Music, Psychological aspects, Emotions in music, Perceptual-motor learning, Computational neuroscience, Synchronization, Musical perception
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 2D/3D face recognition.
Creator: Guan, Xin., College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: This dissertation introduces our work on face recognition using a novel approach based on creating 3D face model from 2D face images. Together with the pose angle estimation and illumination compensation, this method can be used successfully to recognize 2D faces with 3D recognition algorithms. The results reported here were obtained partially with our own face image database, which had 2D and 3D face images of 50 subjects, with 9 different pose angles. It is shown that by applying even the...
Show moreThis dissertation introduces our work on face recognition using a novel approach based on creating 3D face model from 2D face images. Together with the pose angle estimation and illumination compensation, this method can be used successfully to recognize 2D faces with 3D recognition algorithms. The results reported here were obtained partially with our own face image database, which had 2D and 3D face images of 50 subjects, with 9 different pose angles. It is shown that by applying even the simple PCA algorithm, this new approach can yield successful recognition rates using 2D probing images and 3D gallery images. The insight gained from the 2D/3D face recognition study was also extended to the case of involving 2D probing and 2D gallery images, which offers a more flexible approach since it is much easier and practical to acquire 2D photos for recognition. To test the effectiveness of the proposed approach, the public AT&T face database, which had 2D only face photos of 40 subjects, with 10 different images each, was utilized in the experimental study. The results from this investigation show that with our approach, the 3D recognition algorithm can be successfully applied to 2D only images. The performance of the proposed approach was further compared with some of the existing face recognition techniques. Studies on imperfect conditions such as domain and pose/illumination variations were also carried out. Additionally, the performance of the algorithms on noisy photos was evaluated. Pros and cons of the proposed face recognition technique along with suggestions for future studies are also given in the dissertation.
Show less
Date Issued: 2012
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/FAU/3342104
Subject Headings: Pattern recognition systems, Optical pattern recognition, Biometric identification, Face perception, Artificial intellingence
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 3D Reconstruction of Simulated Bridge Pier Local Scour Using Green Laser and HydroLite Sonar.
Creator: Banyhany, Musab, Arockiasamy, Madasamy, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering
Abstract/Description: Scour is the process of sediment erosion around bridge piers and abutments due to natural and man-made hydraulic activities. Excessive scour is a critical problem that is typically handled by enforcing design requirements that make the submerged structures more resilient. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the feasibilities of the Optical- Based Green Laser Scanner and HydroLite Sonar in a laboratory setting to capture the 3D profile of simulated local scour holes. The Green Laser...
Show moreScour is the process of sediment erosion around bridge piers and abutments due to natural and man-made hydraulic activities. Excessive scour is a critical problem that is typically handled by enforcing design requirements that make the submerged structures more resilient. The purpose of this research is to demonstrate the feasibilities of the Optical- Based Green Laser Scanner and HydroLite Sonar in a laboratory setting to capture the 3D profile of simulated local scour holes. The Green Laser had successfully reconstructed a 3D point-cloud imaging of scour profiles under both dry and clear water conditions. The derived scour topography after applying water refraction correction was compared with the simulated scour hole, and was within 1% of the design dimensions. The elevations at the top and bottom surfaces of the 6.5-inch scour hole were -46.6 and -53.11 inches from the reference line at the origin (0,0,0) of the laser scanner. The HydroLite Sonar recorded hydrographical survey points of the scour’s interior surface. The survey points were then processed using MATLAB to obtain a 3D mesh triangulation.
Show less
Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005995
Subject Headings: Scour at bridges, Sonar, Lasers, Scour at bridges--Evaluation--Technique
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A biological mechanism for enhanced wading bird foraging patches in seasonally-pulsed wetlands.
Creator: Faughnan, Thomas J., Gawlik, Dale E., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
Abstract/Description: In tropical wetlands, breeding wading birds rely on concentrations of aquatic fauna during the dry season to meet increased energetic demands. Wetland microtopography increases aquatic fauna concentration levels. Crocodilians modify the landscape creating deep-water refugia but their role as a mechanism for aquatic fauna concentration is unknown. I sampled alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) abundance and slough microtopography to examine correlation between the two measures. Despite...
Show moreIn tropical wetlands, breeding wading birds rely on concentrations of aquatic fauna during the dry season to meet increased energetic demands. Wetland microtopography increases aquatic fauna concentration levels. Crocodilians modify the landscape creating deep-water refugia but their role as a mechanism for aquatic fauna concentration is unknown. I sampled alligator (Alligator mississippiensis) abundance and slough microtopography to examine correlation between the two measures. Despite increased microtopography in high alligator use sloughs, the differences were not significant. Using an in situ experimental approach, I quantified the magnitude, timing, and spatial extent of aquatic fauna concentrations within simulated alligator depressions and the surrounding marsh. Aquatic fauna density and biomass were greater within simulated depressions, thus enhancing wading bird foraging habitat. Further understanding the mechanisms creating microtopography, thus enhancing wading bird habitat, is critical to facilitate restoration and prevent declines of wading bird populations in seasonally pulsed wetlands worldwide.
Show less
Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013060
Subject Headings: Wading birds., Wetland ecology., American alligator.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A body area network as a pre-screening surrogate to the polysomnography.
Creator: LaFleur, Sheryl, Mahgoub, Imad, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Out of 60 million Americans suffering from sleep disorder, an estimated 18 million have sleep apnea. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, sleep apnea is a chronic condition that disrupts a patient’s sleep. While the annual cost of treating sleep apnea patients in the United States is approximately $3.18 billion (including screening costs) it is estimated that untreated sleep apnea may cause $3.4 billion in additional medical costs. A polysomnography (PSG) is an all...
Show moreOut of 60 million Americans suffering from sleep disorder, an estimated 18 million have sleep apnea. According to the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, sleep apnea is a chronic condition that disrupts a patient’s sleep. While the annual cost of treating sleep apnea patients in the United States is approximately $3.18 billion (including screening costs) it is estimated that untreated sleep apnea may cause $3.4 billion in additional medical costs. A polysomnography (PSG) is an all-night sleep study which monitors various physical functions during sleep including electrical activity of the heart, brain wave patterns, eye movement, muscle tone, body movements, and breathing. It is currently, the most accurate and sophisticated test for the diagnosis of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), but also, the most expensive. The cost of an overnight sleep study is estimated between $900 and $3,000. In addition, the PSG is not mobile and has to be administered outside a patient’s home. The Long QT Syndrome (LQTS) is a rhythm disorder that causes erratic (unpredictable) heartbeats. The LQTS has been linked to patients with the most severe form of sleep apnea. If LQTS is left untreated, sudden cardiac death may occur.
Show less
Date Issued: 2014
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004300, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004300
Subject Headings: Neurophysiology, Nevous system -- Diseases -- Diagnosis, Polysomnography, Sleep -- Physiological aspects, Sleep apnea syndromes -- Diagnosis, Sleep disorders -- Diagnosis
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A camera trap study of the cyptic, terrestrial guenon cercopithecus lomamiensis in Central Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Creator: McPhee, Steven G., Detwiler, Kate M., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description: From October-December 2013, we conducted a study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the DR Congo. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4 km2 grid outside the proposed Lomami National Park (LNP). We compared an analysis of 140 lesula events over 1,683 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Okulu area to a pilot study (38 events over 462 camera trap days) at the Losekola study site within the LNP. Our data show an unexpected result: capture probability...
Show moreFrom October-December 2013, we conducted a study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the DR Congo. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4 km2 grid outside the proposed Lomami National Park (LNP). We compared an analysis of 140 lesula events over 1,683 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Okulu area to a pilot study (38 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 Okulu site. These findings suggest lesula’s cryptic behavior is an important adaptation buffering the species from the impacts of hunting. This study also expands knowledge on minimum group size, terrestriality, diet, and times of activity.
Show less
Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004391, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004391
Subject Headings: Cercopithecidae -- Behavior, Congo (Democratic Republic), Lomami National Park -- Congo (Democratic Republic), Mammals -- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Identification, Primates behavior, Wildlife watching -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Case Study of the Reported Use of Metacognitive Reading Strategies by Postsecondary Instructors of Developmental Reading Courses With Struggling Adult Readers to Increase Comprehension.
Creator: Drayton, Audrita, Baxley, Traci P., Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry
Abstract/Description: This qualitative research study examined developmental reading instructors' reported use of metacognitive reading strategies as well as what other approaches they used to improve and increase the reading comprehension of their struggling adult readers. The researcher collected data using two interviews per participant and document analyses. Although studies have deemed metacognitive reading strategies effective in increasing the reading comprehension of struggling readers, the results...
Show moreThis qualitative research study examined developmental reading instructors' reported use of metacognitive reading strategies as well as what other approaches they used to improve and increase the reading comprehension of their struggling adult readers. The researcher collected data using two interviews per participant and document analyses. Although studies have deemed metacognitive reading strategies effective in increasing the reading comprehension of struggling readers, the results indicated that the participants did not typically instruct their struggling adult readers in the use of metacognitive reading strategies. The implications for the study were related to instructional practice in developmental reading courses, policy changes, and struggling readers.
Show less
Date Issued: 2016
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004586, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004586
Subject Headings: Metacognition--Case studies., Reading comprehension--Case studies., Learning strategies--Case studies., Motivation in education--Case studies., Action research in education--Case studies., Cognitive learning--Case studies.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Clinical Decision Support System for the Identification of Potential Hospital Readmission Patients.
Creator: Baechle, Christopher, Agarwal, Ankur, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Recent federal legislation has incentivized hospitals to focus on quality of patient care. A primary metric of care quality is patient readmissions. Many methods exist to statistically identify patients most likely to require hospital readmission. Correct identification of high-risk patients allows hospitals to intelligently utilize limited resources in mitigating hospital readmissions. However, these methods have seen little practical adoption in the clinical setting. This research attempts...
Show moreRecent federal legislation has incentivized hospitals to focus on quality of patient care. A primary metric of care quality is patient readmissions. Many methods exist to statistically identify patients most likely to require hospital readmission. Correct identification of high-risk patients allows hospitals to intelligently utilize limited resources in mitigating hospital readmissions. However, these methods have seen little practical adoption in the clinical setting. This research attempts to identify the many open research questions that have impeded widespread adoption of predictive hospital readmission systems. Current systems often rely on structured data extracted from health records systems. This data can be expensive and time consuming to extract. Unstructured clinical notes are agnostic to the underlying records system and would decouple the predictive analytics system from the underlying records system. However, additional concerns in clinical natural language processing must be addressed before such a system can be implemented. Current systems often perform poorly using standard statistical measures. Misclassification cost of patient readmissions has yet to be addressed and there currently exists a gap between current readmission system evaluation metrics and those most appropriate in the clinical setting. Additionally, data availability for localized model creation has yet to be addressed by the research community. Large research hospitals may have sufficient data to build models, but many others do not. Simply combining data from many hospitals often results in a model which performs worse than using data from a single hospital. Current systems often produce a binary readmission classification. However, patients are often readmitted for differing reasons than index admission. There exists little research into predicting primary cause of readmission. Furthermore, co-occurring evidence discovery of clinical terms with primary diagnosis has seen only simplistic methods applied. This research addresses these concerns to increase adoption of predictive hospital readmission systems.
Show less
Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004880, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004880
Subject Headings: Health services administration--Management., Medical care--Quality control--Statistical methods., Medical care--Quality control--Data processing., Medical care--Decision making., Evidence-based medicine., Outcome assessment (Medical care)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Collaborative Approach for Real-Time Measurements of Human Trust, Satisfaction and Frustration in Human-Robot Teaming.
Creator: Gonzalez Moya, Iker Javier, Nojoumian, Mehrdad, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: This thesis aims at real-time measurements of human trust, satisfaction, and frustration in human-robot teaming. Recent studies suggest that humans are inclined to have a negative attitude towards using autonomous systems. These ndings elevate the necessity of conducting research to better understand the key factors that a ect the levels of trust, satisfaction and frustration in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). We utilized a new sequential and collaborative approach for HRI data collection that...
Show moreThis thesis aims at real-time measurements of human trust, satisfaction, and frustration in human-robot teaming. Recent studies suggest that humans are inclined to have a negative attitude towards using autonomous systems. These ndings elevate the necessity of conducting research to better understand the key factors that a ect the levels of trust, satisfaction and frustration in Human-Robot Interaction (HRI). We utilized a new sequential and collaborative approach for HRI data collection that employed trust, satisfaction and frustration as primarily evaluative metrics. We also used haptic feedback through a soft actuator armband to help our human subjects control a robotic hand for grabbing or not grabbing an object during our interaction scenarios. Three experimental studies were conducted during our research of which the rst was related to the evaluation of aforementioned metrics through a collabora- tive approach between the Baxter robot and human subjects. The second experiment embodied the evaluation of a newly fabricated 3D- nger for the I-Limb robotic hand through a nuclear-waste glove. The third experiment was based on the two previous studies that focused on real-time measurements of trust, satisfaction and frustration in human-robot teaming with the addition of pressure feedback to the system through soft actuators. In the last case, human subjects had more controls over our robotic systems compared to earlier experiments leading to a more collaborative interaction and teaming. The results of these experiments illustrated that human subjects can rebuild their trust and also increase their satisfaction levels while lowering their frus- tration levels after failures or any faulty behavior. Furthermore, our analyses showed that our methods are highly e ective for collecting honest and genuine data from hu- man subjects and lays the foundation for more-involved future research in the domain of human-robot teaming.
Show less
Date Issued: 2018
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013064
Subject Headings: Human-robot interaction., Haptic devices.
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Collision-Free Drone Scheduling System.
Creator: Steinberg, Andrew, Cardei, Mihaela, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Today, drones have been receiving a lot of notice from commercial businesses. Businesses (mainly companies that have delivery services) are trying to expand their productivity in order bring more satisfaction for their loyal customers. One-way companies can expand their delivery services are through the use of delivery drones. Drones are very powerful devices that are going through many evolutionary changes for their uses throughout the years. For many years, researchers in academia have been...
Show moreToday, drones have been receiving a lot of notice from commercial businesses. Businesses (mainly companies that have delivery services) are trying to expand their productivity in order bring more satisfaction for their loyal customers. One-way companies can expand their delivery services are through the use of delivery drones. Drones are very powerful devices that are going through many evolutionary changes for their uses throughout the years. For many years, researchers in academia have been examining how drones can plan their paths along with avoiding collisions of other drones and certain obstacles in the civil airspace. However, researchers have not considered how the motion path planning can a ect the overall scheduling aspect of civilian drones. In this thesis, we propose an algorithm for a collision-free scheduling motion path planning of a set drones such that they avoid certain obstacles as well as maintaining a safety distance from each other.
Show less
Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004994
Subject Headings: Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University
Format: Document (PDF)

Criticism and interpretation (119)	+ -
Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University (83)	+ -
Mathematical models (72)	+ -
Psychological aspects (68)	+ -
Symbolism in literature (62)	+ -

Social aspects (56)	+ -
Cellular signal transduction (54)	+ -
History (46)	+ -
Design and construction (36)	+ -
Technological innovations (36)	+ -
Educational leadership (35)	+ -
Fluid dynamics (33)	+ -
Research (33)	+ -
Predation (Biology) (32)	+ -
Testing (31)	+ -
Education (30)	+ -
Management (29)	+ -
Wireless communication systems (29)	+ -
Methodology (26)	+ -
Environmental aspects (25)	+ -
Achievement in education (24)	+ -
Evaluation (24)	+ -
Study and teaching (24)	+ -
Philosophy (23)	+ -
Academic achievement (21)	+ -
Digital techniques (21)	+ -
Physiology (21)	+ -
Politics and government (21)	+ -
Prevention (21)	+ -
Data processing (20)	+ -

United States (162)	+ -
Florida (107)	+ -
Everglades (10)	+ -
Great Britain (8)	+ -
Palm Beach County (8)	+ -

Bahamas (6)	+ -
Caribbean Area (5)	+ -
Atlantic Ocean (4)	+ -
Ecuador (4)	+ -
Jamaica (4)	+ -
Mexico (4)	+ -
Middle East (4)	+ -
Southern States (4)	+ -
France (3)	+ -
Indian River (Fla. : Lagoon) (3)	+ -
Indian River (Lagoon) (3)	+ -
Israel (3)	+ -
Little Bahama Bank (3)	+ -
Argentina (2)	+ -
Atlantic Coast (U.S.) (2)	+ -
Balkan Peninsula (2)	+ -
Broward County (2)	+ -
Egypt (2)	+ -
England (2)	+ -
Europe (2)	+ -
Europe, Eastern (2)	+ -
Everglades National Park (2)	+ -
Germany (2)	+ -
Kissimmee River Valley (Fla.) (2)	+ -
Kissimmee River Watershed (2)	+ -

20th century (30)	+ -
21st century (26)	+ -
19th century (15)	+ -
17th century (3)	+ -
Classical period, 1500-1700 (3)	+ -

Search In

Pages

Pages

Sort Results By:

Narrow results by:

Topical Subject

Geographic Subject

Temporal Subject

Genre Subject

Title as Subject

Genre

Type of Resource

Language

Creator

Format

Owner

1989- (2)	+ -
2001- (2)	+ -
1066-1485 (1)	+ -
16th century (1)	+ -
1775-1783 (1)	+ -
1783-1809 (1)	+ -
1796-1918 (1)	+ -
1825-1855 (1)	+ -
1830-1837 (1)	+ -
1861-1865 (1)	+ -
1865-1950 (1)	+ -
1900-1945 (1)	+ -
1936-1945 (1)	+ -
1955-1983 (1)	+ -
1965- (1)	+ -
1969-1974 (1)	+ -
1974- (1)	+ -
1977-1981 (1)	+ -
1993- (1)	+ -
2002- (1)	+ -
2009- (1)	+ -
21st centrury (1)	+ -
640-1250 (1)	+ -
Civil War, 1861-1865 (1)	+ -
Colonial period, ca. 1600-1775 (1)	+ -

English (2217)	+ -
Spanish (8)	+ -
French (1)	+ -
Italian (1)	+ -