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- Title
- A Survey of Gopherus polyphemus Intestinal Parasites in South Florida.
- Creator
- Huffman, Jessica, Frazier, Evelyn, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Gopherus polyphemus populations are diminishing throughout their range due to urbanization, fragmentation, and poor management of habitats. Increased population densities, poor habitat quality, and lack of fire may influence disease transmission. Parasite roles within wild tortoise populations are largely unknown, despite evidence these pathogens may pose health risks. This study provides a baseline of gopher tortoise endoparasites across South Florida and reports on how varying environmental...
Show moreGopherus polyphemus populations are diminishing throughout their range due to urbanization, fragmentation, and poor management of habitats. Increased population densities, poor habitat quality, and lack of fire may influence disease transmission. Parasite roles within wild tortoise populations are largely unknown, despite evidence these pathogens may pose health risks. This study provides a baseline of gopher tortoise endoparasites across South Florida and reports on how varying environmental and tortoise characteristics may affect endoparasite species prevalence, approximate loads, and overall distributions. Tortoise fecal samples were taken from five differing SF habitats. Seven species of intestinal parasites were discovered from 123 tortoises. Identified parasites include endo-helminths such as cyathostomes, pinworms, ascarids, flukes, and protozoans including Eimeria, Cryptosporidium, and Amoeba species. Significant differences in parasite prevalence and loads were seen between sampling years, seasons, size classes, and sites, however, overall parasite distributions suggest parasitism remains relatively ubiquitous throughout most host and site characteristics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005933
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Gopherus polyphemus, Gopher tortoise., Parasites., Florida.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Assessment of Fecal Pollution in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon.
- Creator
- Perricone, Carlie S., McCarthy, Peter J., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Contamination of recreational waters with fecal waste, indicated by the presence of enterococci, can have consequences for human and ecosystem health. The difficulty in determining the extent and origin of fecal pollution in dynamic estuarine systems is compounded by contributions from sources including septic tanks and agricultural runoff. This study investigated fecal pollution at five sites with variable hydrological conditions in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The...
Show moreContamination of recreational waters with fecal waste, indicated by the presence of enterococci, can have consequences for human and ecosystem health. The difficulty in determining the extent and origin of fecal pollution in dynamic estuarine systems is compounded by contributions from sources including septic tanks and agricultural runoff. This study investigated fecal pollution at five sites with variable hydrological conditions in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The distribution and occurrence of enterococci was assessed using traditional cultivation. A human-associated microbial source tracking assay was validated and applied in these estuaries using qPCR. Results demonstrated a correlation between enterococci concentrations, rainfall, and salinity. The human-associated assay was sensitive and specific in the lab; however, human fecal pollution was not detected in the field even though samples contained high levels of enterococci. This study highlights the importance of expanding the range of water quality assessment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005023, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005932
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Indian River (Fla. : Lagoon), Saint Lucie River Estuary (Fla.), Enterococcus., Fecal matter., Estuarine pollution.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Exploration of Testosterone Mediated Effects on Auditory Learning in Northern Bobwhite Quail.
- Creator
- Bellinger, Seanceray A., Jones, Nancy Aaron, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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Elevated yolk progesterone has been shown to impair prenatal, but facilitate postnatal auditory learning in bobwhite quail chicks. Elevated yolk testosterone has facilitated prenatal learning, but its effects on postnatal auditory learning in quail are unknown. Either testosterone or an oil vehicle was injected into bobwhite quail eggs prior to incubation. Control eggs were unmanipulated. Following hatching, chicks were exposed to a conspecific maternal call (A or B) for 240 min. At 48 hr,...
Show moreElevated yolk progesterone has been shown to impair prenatal, but facilitate postnatal auditory learning in bobwhite quail chicks. Elevated yolk testosterone has facilitated prenatal learning, but its effects on postnatal auditory learning in quail are unknown. Either testosterone or an oil vehicle was injected into bobwhite quail eggs prior to incubation. Control eggs were unmanipulated. Following hatching, chicks were exposed to a conspecific maternal call (A or B) for 240 min. At 48 hr, chicks were tested for their preference for the familiarized vs. novel call. All groups demonstrated a preference for the familiar call (p < .05), but minimal between group difference were found. Contrary to previous research, elevated yolk testosterone neither facilitated nor impaired postnatal auditory learning in bobwhite quail chicks. Further research will examine underlying mechanisms responsible for differential effects and explore if similar systems are involved in other species-typical processes such as social motivation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005944
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Bobwhite quail, Northern bobwhite., Chicks., Testosterone., Egg yolk.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Beach dynamics, beachfront development, and climate change: Interactions that impact sea turtle nesting beaches.
- Creator
- Bladow, Rachel A., Milton, Sarah L., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Climate change will expose sea turtle nests to higher temperatures and more storms; both may negatively impact sea turtle nest success. In this study, unhatched eggs were collected from the Boca Raton, Florida beach and developmental stage at embryonic death determined. Elevated nest temperatures increased embryonic mortality, and the most significant relationship was between mortality and the percent of time embryos were exposed to temperatures above 34°C. Loggerhead turtles exhibited higher...
Show moreClimate change will expose sea turtle nests to higher temperatures and more storms; both may negatively impact sea turtle nest success. In this study, unhatched eggs were collected from the Boca Raton, Florida beach and developmental stage at embryonic death determined. Elevated nest temperatures increased embryonic mortality, and the most significant relationship was between mortality and the percent of time embryos were exposed to temperatures above 34°C. Loggerhead turtles exhibited higher rates of mortality compared to green turtles at temperatures above 34°C. Only loggerhead nests were exposed to inundation, but embryonic mortality did not differ from noninundated nests. Beach profiles across the nesting season were also determined. A major storm altered the beach more in areas of coastal development; however, this was impacted by a nourishment project and the presence of a structured inlet. Future management strategies may need to protect sea turtle nests from extended periods at elevated temperatures.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005926
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Sea turtles--Ecology., Loggerhead turtle--Florida., Sea turtles--Nests., Climate change
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Behavioral and Electrophysiological Evidence for Hippocampal Involvement in Object Motion Processing in C57BL/6J Mice.
- Creator
- Asgeirsdottir, Herborg Nanna, Stackman, Robert W., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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Considerable research has been carried out to establish a rodent model for the study of human memory, yet functional similarities between the species remain up for debate. The hippocampus, a region deep within the medial temporal lobe of the mammalian CNS, is critical for long-term episodic memory. Projections from the medial entorhinal cortex convey spatial/contextual information, while projections from the lateral entorhinal cortex convey item/object information to the hippocampus. The...
Show moreConsiderable research has been carried out to establish a rodent model for the study of human memory, yet functional similarities between the species remain up for debate. The hippocampus, a region deep within the medial temporal lobe of the mammalian CNS, is critical for long-term episodic memory. Projections from the medial entorhinal cortex convey spatial/contextual information, while projections from the lateral entorhinal cortex convey item/object information to the hippocampus. The functional significance of these parallel projections to the rodent hippocampus has been suggested to support spatial processing, while the same projections to the human hippocampus support spatial and non-spatial memory. Discharging in a location-specific manner, hippocampal place cells contribute to spatial memory; however, evidence for neuronal correlates of non-spatial object memory has not been fully defined. The current experiments were designed to address the following questions, while utilizing electrophysiology, functional inactivation during a novel behavioral task, and immunohistochemistry. Is the memory for objects hippocampal-dependent, solely due to the location of the object, or are objects represented within hippocampal activity independent of location? To tease apart spatial and non-spatial processing by the hippocampus, the spatial aspects of 3D objects were enhanced by utilizing movement. A novel discriminatory avoidance task, Knowing Your Enemy, was adapted from an Enemy Avoidance task to test true object memory in mice. Current findings support the notion that object-associations acquisition depends upon a specific context. Retrieval of such object-associations is not context-dependent, yet remains sensitive to temporary inactivation of the CA1 region of the dorsal hippocampus. The avoidance impairments observed following hippocampal inactivation were shown to not be a result of reduced anxiety. Immunohistochemical marker expression suggests that the CA1 region was highly active during object exposures, yet the hippocampal system responded differentially to moving and to stationary objects. Recordings of CA1 neurons yielded non-bursting object-related activity during object exploration, and place cell activity remained unaffected in the presence of moving objects; supporting independent, yet simultaneous processing of spatial and non-spatial information within the hippocampus. Together, the current findings support the notion that the CA1 region of the rodent hippocampus processes object-related information, independent of spatial information.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004981
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Hippocampus (Brain), Declarative memory, Explicit memory.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Cellular Computation in Primary Visual Cortex.
- Creator
- Wilson, Daniel E., Fitzpatrick, David, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Individual neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to different features of visual stimuli, such as spatial orientation or direction of motion. A longstanding goal in systems neuroscience has been to understand the transformations single cells perform as they integrate synaptic inputs to generate spiking output. Recent technological developments have facilitated these lines of investigation by enabling direct measurement of the functional properties of single synaptic inputs...
Show moreIndividual neurons in the primary visual cortex respond selectively to different features of visual stimuli, such as spatial orientation or direction of motion. A longstanding goal in systems neuroscience has been to understand the transformations single cells perform as they integrate synaptic inputs to generate spiking output. Recent technological developments have facilitated these lines of investigation by enabling direct measurement of the functional properties of single synaptic inputs to neurons in the neocortex. It remains an outstanding question as to whether the tuning of single neocortical neurons can be predicted by their excitatory synaptic inputs. Here, I show that excitatory synaptic inputs exhibit significant functional diversity with respect to orientation and direction selectivity. I show that cells can use at least two strategies to overcome this functional diversity to achieve selective responses in the face of broadly tuned excitatory input: enhancing responses to the preferred stimuli and suppressing responses to the non-preferred stimuli. In the case of orientation selectivity, synaptic inputs cluster according to orientation preference and evoke local dendritic nonlinearities, thereby enhancing somatic responses to the preferred direction. For direction selectivity, cells receive excitatory synaptic inputs tuned to the preferred and null directions, but selectively suppress inputs tuned for the null direction to enhance direction selectivity. This suppression comes from direction-tuned GABAergic interneurons that make longrange, intercolumnar projections to enhance direction selectivity.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004994
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Dose Validation for Partial Accelerated Breast Irradiation treated with the SAVI Applicator.
- Creator
- Pinder, Janeil K., Pella, Silvia, Leventouri, Theodora, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
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The purpose of this study is to verify and validate the dose at various points of interest in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) treated with the Strut Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) applicator using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs). A set of CT images were selected from a patient’s data who had received APBI using the SAVI applicator. The images were used to make 3D models. TLDs were calibrated for Brachytherapy. Various points of interest were marked out and slots were carved...
Show moreThe purpose of this study is to verify and validate the dose at various points of interest in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) treated with the Strut Adjusted Volume Implant (SAVI) applicator using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs). A set of CT images were selected from a patient’s data who had received APBI using the SAVI applicator. The images were used to make 3D models. TLDs were calibrated for Brachytherapy. Various points of interest were marked out and slots were carved in the 3D models to fit the TLDs. CT scans were taken of the 3D models with expanded SAVI applicator inserted. A plan was made following B-39 protocol. The TLDs were read and the absorbed doses were calculated and compared to the delivered doses. The results of this study show that the overall average reading of the TLDs is within expected value. The TPS shows overestimated dose calculations for brachytherapy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005942
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Thermoluminescence dosimetry., Brachytherapy., Radiotherapy Dosage., Breast--Cancer--Radiotherapy.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Dual Language Proficiencies of Second Generation Immigrants during Development and in Adulthood.
- Creator
- Giguere, David, Hoff, Erika, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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The current studies tested the hypothesis, that early exposure is sufficient for nativelike proficiency. Study 1 compared the English skill of 116 5 year olds who had been exposed to English and Spanish from birth with English monolingual and found that the bilingual children had significantly lower levels of vocabulary skill. Study 2 assessed 65 adult bilinguals, comparing them to 25 English and 25 Spanish monolinguals on a battery of language measures. The bilinguals had lower scores in...
Show moreThe current studies tested the hypothesis, that early exposure is sufficient for nativelike proficiency. Study 1 compared the English skill of 116 5 year olds who had been exposed to English and Spanish from birth with English monolingual and found that the bilingual children had significantly lower levels of vocabulary skill. Study 2 assessed 65 adult bilinguals, comparing them to 25 English and 25 Spanish monolinguals on a battery of language measures. The bilinguals had lower scores in Spanish in 7 of the 8 domains of language skill measured. The bilinguals were not different from the English monolingual speakers in most, but not all, aspects of language proficiency. These findings provide evidence that the monolingual-bilingual gap observed in childhood is no longer evident among adult bilinguals, but that despite early exposure and continued use into adulthood, second generation immigrants are not native-like in their heritage language skills.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004981, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004971
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Immigrants Language., Bilingualism., Language attrition.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Dynamic Grouping Motion and Amodal Completion.
- Creator
- Datta, Debarshi, Hock, Howard S., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Objects in a scene are likely to occlude other objects partially and are itself likely to be partially occluded. A central question, therefore, is how the visual system resolves the resulting surface correspondence problem by successfully determining which surfaces belong to which objects. To this end, a recently developed dynamic grouping methodology has determined whether pairs of adjacent surfaces are grouped (Hock & Nichols, 2012). The grouping of adjacent surfaces, which depends on their...
Show moreObjects in a scene are likely to occlude other objects partially and are itself likely to be partially occluded. A central question, therefore, is how the visual system resolves the resulting surface correspondence problem by successfully determining which surfaces belong to which objects. To this end, a recently developed dynamic grouping methodology has determined whether pairs of adjacent surfaces are grouped (Hock & Nichols, 2012). The grouping of adjacent surfaces, which depends on their affinity state, is indicated by the direction of perceived motion across one surface when its luminance is perturbed. In the current stimuli, which consists of a horizontal surface partially occluded by a vertical bar, dynamic grouping also can occur for nonadjacent surfaces, providing they are linked in two-dimensions by a connecting surface. Results indicate that the dynamic grouping motion is stronger for amodal completion entailing the perceptual grouping of nonadjacent surfaces behind an occluder.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004998, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004988
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Visual perception., Visual system., Dynamic grouping
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Manufacturing of 3D Printed Boluses for Use In Electron Radiation Therapy.
- Creator
- Gibbard, Grant, Kalantzis, Georgios, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Physics
- Abstract/Description
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This research demonstrates that a 3D printed bolus can be customized for electron radiation therapy. Both extruder and powder based printers were used, along with, paraffin wax, super stuff, and H20. The plan dose coverage and conformity for the planning target volume (PTV), was such that the distal side of the PTV was covered by the 90% isodose line. The structure is read, and converted into an STL file. The file is sent to a slicer to print. The object was filled with parafin wax,...
Show moreThis research demonstrates that a 3D printed bolus can be customized for electron radiation therapy. Both extruder and powder based printers were used, along with, paraffin wax, super stuff, and H20. The plan dose coverage and conformity for the planning target volume (PTV), was such that the distal side of the PTV was covered by the 90% isodose line. The structure is read, and converted into an STL file. The file is sent to a slicer to print. The object was filled with parafin wax, superstuff or water and sealed. Materials Hounsfield units were analyzed, along with the structure stability. This method is evaluated by scanning the 3D printed bolus. The dose conformity is improved compared to that with no bolus. By generating a patient specific 3D printed bolus there is an in improvement in conformity of the prescription isodose surface while sparing immediately adjacent normal tissues.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005943
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Radiotherapy Dosage., Skin--Cancer., Radiotherapy--methods
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Marsh Ecosystem Services, Benefits, and Perceptions of Value: Case Studies in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Georgia.
- Creator
- Edwards, Vince, Polsky, Colin, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Environmental Studies
- Abstract/Description
-
Human reliance on the goods and services provided by ecosystems and the global decline in the health of many of these ecosystems, necessitates ecosystem valuation for the purposes of decision-making and conservation policy. The literature suggests that conventionally employed economic valuation methods have been unsuccessful in capturing the full scope of the benefits ecosystems provide, particularly those benefits that are considered cultural. This research explores public perceptions of...
Show moreHuman reliance on the goods and services provided by ecosystems and the global decline in the health of many of these ecosystems, necessitates ecosystem valuation for the purposes of decision-making and conservation policy. The literature suggests that conventionally employed economic valuation methods have been unsuccessful in capturing the full scope of the benefits ecosystems provide, particularly those benefits that are considered cultural. This research explores public perceptions of salt marsh value through the use of focus groups in marsh-adjacent communities in Massachusetts, Virginia, and Georgia. Results suggest that in case study communities, outdoor experiences in salt marshes inspire serenity in Massachusetts, shape shore and “marsh” identities in Virginia, and promote stewardship cultivation in Georgia. Perceived threats to these benefits, such as the threat of residential development, industrial pollution, and increasing flood risk, together constitute the context for various community responses related to marsh protection. Results contribute to existing economic valuations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004999
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Ecosystem services--Case studies., Salt marshes., Ecosystem services--Valuation.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Maternal influence on early infant emotional regulation: A study of 3-month infant behavior, cortisol and frontal EEG.
- Creator
- Sloan, Aliza T., Jones, Nancy Aaron, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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Prenatal maternal stress and mood, and early postnatal mother-infant interactions set the stage for the child’s psychobiological, neurological and social development. While a large body of research connecting maternal depression to infant EEG asymmetry exists, the current study sought to add to the sparse literature on maternal anxiety and infant EEG. Mother-infant dyads were assessed prenatally during the third trimester, soon after birth, at 6 weeks and 3 months postnatal. Association...
Show morePrenatal maternal stress and mood, and early postnatal mother-infant interactions set the stage for the child’s psychobiological, neurological and social development. While a large body of research connecting maternal depression to infant EEG asymmetry exists, the current study sought to add to the sparse literature on maternal anxiety and infant EEG. Mother-infant dyads were assessed prenatally during the third trimester, soon after birth, at 6 weeks and 3 months postnatal. Association between maternal depression and later development of right mid-frontal alpha asymmetry was confirmed, while trends suggested maternal anxiety may be associated with lateral frontal alpha asymmetry. Greater maternal sensitivity and anxiety were each associated with lower post-stressor cortisol in infants with right frontal asymmetry. Greater time spent in mutual gaze was associated with positive infant affect. Finally, quality mother-infant dynamics encourage positive infant affect and healthy physiological stress regulation even when brain patterns associated with dysregulation have been established.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005929
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Mother and infant., Infant Behavior., Cortisol., Emotion., Frontal Lobe--physiology., Electroencephalography--Psychological aspects.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Mechanism of Carbamathione as a therapeutic agent for Stroke.
- Creator
- Modi, Jigar P., Wu, Jang-Yen, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Stroke is the third leading cause of mortality in the United States, and so far, no clinical interventions have been shown completely effective in stroke treatment. Stroke may result in hypoxia, glutamate release and oxidative stress. One approach for protecting neurons from excitotoxic damage in stroke is to attenuate receptor activity with specific antagonists. Disulfiram requires bio-activation to S-methyl N, N-diethylthiolcarbamate sulfoxide (DETC-MeSO). In vivo, DETC-MeSO is further...
Show moreStroke is the third leading cause of mortality in the United States, and so far, no clinical interventions have been shown completely effective in stroke treatment. Stroke may result in hypoxia, glutamate release and oxidative stress. One approach for protecting neurons from excitotoxic damage in stroke is to attenuate receptor activity with specific antagonists. Disulfiram requires bio-activation to S-methyl N, N-diethylthiolcarbamate sulfoxide (DETC-MeSO). In vivo, DETC-MeSO is further oxidized to the sulfone which is carbamoylated forming Carbamathione, a glutathione adducts. Carbamathione proved to be useful as a pharmacological agent in the treatment of cocaine dependence with the advantage that it lacks ALDH2 inhibitory activity. Carbamathione is a partial NMDA glutamate antagonist. The purpose of this dissertation study is to evaluate the neuroprotective effects of Carbamathione drug on PC-12 cell line and to understand the protective mechanisms underlying in three stroke-related models: excessive glutamate, hypoxia/reoxygenation and bilateral carotid artery occlusion (BCAO). Carbamathione was administered 14 mg/kg subcutaneously for 4 days with the first injection occurring 30 min after occlusion in the mouse BCAO stroke model. Mice were subjected to the locomotor test, and the brain was analyzed for infarct size. Heat shock proteins, key proteins involved in apoptosis and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, were analyzed by immunoblotting. Carbamathione reduced both cell death following hypoxia/reoxygenation and brain infarct size. It improved performance on the locomotor test. The level of pro-apoptotic proteins declined, and anti-apoptotic, P-AKT and HSP27 protein expressions were markedly increased. We found that Carbamathione suppresses the up- regulation of Caspase-12, Caspase-3 and significantly declined ER stress protein markers GRP 78, ATF4, XBP-1, and CHOP. Carbamathione can down- regulate ATF 4 and XBP1 expression, indicating that Carbamathione inhibits the ER stress induced by hypoxia/reoxygenation through suppressing PERK and IRE1 pathways. Carbamathione elicits neuroprotection through the preservation of ER resulting in reduction of apoptosis by increase of anti-apoptotic proteins and decrease of pro-apoptotic proteins. Carbamathione can suppress the activation of both PERK and IRE1 pathways in PC-12 cell cultures and has no inhibitory effect on ATF6 pathway. These findings provide promising and rational strategies for stroke therapy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004979, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004969
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Stroke., Stroke--drug therapy., Carbamathione
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Patterns of Early Dual Language Proficiency: Correlates, Changes, and Stability From 2.5 Years Through 4 Years.
- Creator
- Ramirez, Nicolette, Hoff, Erika, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
-
Research indicates that there are numerous factors related to dual language proficiency. Furthermore, research suggests that the language skills of bilingual children are very heterogeneous. In this study, we will focus on four outcomes for those receiving dual language input. Those four patterns of outcome are as follows: bilingual children can have high levels of skills in English and Spanish, high skills in English and low skills in the Spanish or vice versa, or low levels of skills in...
Show moreResearch indicates that there are numerous factors related to dual language proficiency. Furthermore, research suggests that the language skills of bilingual children are very heterogeneous. In this study, we will focus on four outcomes for those receiving dual language input. Those four patterns of outcome are as follows: bilingual children can have high levels of skills in English and Spanish, high skills in English and low skills in the Spanish or vice versa, or low levels of skills in English and Spanish. The present study focused on the prevalence of these four patterns and their concurrent correlates amongst 30 month old (N = 87, 48 females) and 48 month old (N = 74, 40 females) simultaneous English-Spanish bilinguals with special emphasis on the distinguishing factors for those with high dual language skills. Overall, for those with high dual scores, the findings reveal that gender, birth-order, and maternal level of education are predictive of high dual language scores so that members of this group are largely first-born females of mothers with an average 15.8 years of education. English dominant scores were predicted by percent English input in the home and birth-order so that children in this group were mostly later-born children with 65% English input in the home. Spanish dominant scores were predicted by percent English input in the home and Spanish bookreading behaviors as children in this group received 23% of their in-home input in English and were read to for more than one hour per week in Spanish. Low dual scores were marginally predicted by gender and Spanish book-reading behaviors, children in this group were mostly male and received less than an in hour of Spanish reading per week.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005935
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Bilingualism in children., Bilingualism in children--Research.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Population Structure and Gene Expression of the Coral Montastraea cavernosa in the Northern Florida Reef Tract.
- Creator
- Dodge, Danielle, Voss, Joshua, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Biological Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
Coral reefs on Florida’s Reef Tract (FRT) are susceptible to many anthropogenic influences including controlled freshwater discharges and agricultural runoff as well as high natural environmental variability from seasonal rainfall, runoff and upwelling. To better understand coral population structure and responses to sublethal stressors, populations of the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa in the northern FRT were examined using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic techniques....
Show moreCoral reefs on Florida’s Reef Tract (FRT) are susceptible to many anthropogenic influences including controlled freshwater discharges and agricultural runoff as well as high natural environmental variability from seasonal rainfall, runoff and upwelling. To better understand coral population structure and responses to sublethal stressors, populations of the scleractinian coral Montastraea cavernosa in the northern FRT were examined using a combination of genomic and transcriptomic techniques. Microsatellite genetic markers identified high local retention among sites and a slight southward gene flow. An in-situ temporal gene expression analysis utilizing a tag-based sequencing transcriptomic approach was used to analyze baseline coral health at St. Lucie Reef (SLR), off Stuart, FL. Temporal variation had the greatest influence of differential gene expression among M. cavernosa at SLR. Results will be shared with local resource managers and coupled with a complementary ex-situ experimental trial.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005920
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Montastraea, Coral reef ecology--Florida., Corals--Effect of stress on, Gene expression--Analysis.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Random Harmonic Polynomials.
- Creator
- Thomack, Andrew, Lundberg, Erik, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
-
The study of random polynomials and in particular the number and behavior of zeros of random polynomials have been well studied, where the rst signi cant progress was made by Kac, nding an integral formula for the expected number of zeros of real zeros of polynomials with real coe cients. This formula as well as adaptations of the formula to complex polynomials and random elds show an interesting dependency of the number and distribution of zeros on the particular method of randomization....
Show moreThe study of random polynomials and in particular the number and behavior of zeros of random polynomials have been well studied, where the rst signi cant progress was made by Kac, nding an integral formula for the expected number of zeros of real zeros of polynomials with real coe cients. This formula as well as adaptations of the formula to complex polynomials and random elds show an interesting dependency of the number and distribution of zeros on the particular method of randomization. Three prevalent models of signi cant study are the Kostlan model, the Weyl model, and the naive model in which the coe cients of the polynomial are standard Gaussian random variables. A harmonic polynomial is a complex function of the form h(z) = p(z) + q(z) where p and q are complex analytic polynomials. Li and Wei adapted the Kac integral formula for the expected number of zeros to study random harmonic polynomials and take particular interest in their interpretation of the Kostlan model. In this thesis we nd asymptotic results for the number of zeros of random harmonic polynomials under both the Weyl model and the naive model as the degree of the harmonic polynomial increases. We compare the ndings to the Kostlan model as well as to the analytic analogs of each model. We end by establishing results which lead to open questions and conjectures about random harmonic polynomials. We ask and partially answer the question, \When does the number and behavior of the zeros of a random harmonic polynomial asymptotically emulate the same model of random complex analytic polynomial as the degree increases?" We also inspect the variance of the number of zeros of random harmonic polynomials, motivating the work by the question of whether the distribution of the number of zeros concentrates near its as the degree of the harmonic polynomial increases.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004986
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Random polynomials., Functions., Polynomials.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Self-Organization of Object-Level Visual Representations via Enforcement of Structured Sparsity in Deep Neural Networks.
- Creator
- LaCombe, Daniel C. Jr., Barenholtz, Elan, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Psychology
- Abstract/Description
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A hypothesis for the self-organization of receptive fields throughout the hierarchy of biological vision is empirically tested using simulations of deep artificial neural networks. Results from many fields for topographic organization of receptive fields throughout the visual hierarchy remain disconnected. Although extensive simulation research has been done to model topographic organization in early visual areas, little to no research has investigated such organization in higher visual areas...
Show moreA hypothesis for the self-organization of receptive fields throughout the hierarchy of biological vision is empirically tested using simulations of deep artificial neural networks. Results from many fields for topographic organization of receptive fields throughout the visual hierarchy remain disconnected. Although extensive simulation research has been done to model topographic organization in early visual areas, little to no research has investigated such organization in higher visual areas. We propose that parsimonious structured sparsity principles, that permit the learning of topographic receptive fields in simulated visual areas, are sufficient for the emergence of a semantic topology in object-level representations of a deep neural network. These findings suggest wide-reaching implications for the functional organization of the biological visual system and we conjecture that such observed results in nature could serve as the foundation for unsupervised learning of taxonomic and semantic relations between entities in the world.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004965, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004955
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Studies of Alkyne Cycloaddition Reactions Leading to Isoxazolines and Pyrazolines and Synthesis of Urofuranoic Acids to Assess their Effect on Insulin Secretion.
- Creator
- Nagy, Edith, Lepore, Salvatore D., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
- Abstract/Description
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The present thesis will be largely focused on identifying and understanding the scope and mechanistic details associated with the tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) mediated cyclization of alkynyl hydrazines and (O)-hydroxylamines. Also, the synthesis of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-methyl-5-propylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (CMPF) and its analogs will be discussed along with an analysis of their effects on insulin secretion. Chapter 1 will present the importance of developing isoxazoline and pyrazoline...
Show moreThe present thesis will be largely focused on identifying and understanding the scope and mechanistic details associated with the tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) mediated cyclization of alkynyl hydrazines and (O)-hydroxylamines. Also, the synthesis of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-methyl-5-propylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (CMPF) and its analogs will be discussed along with an analysis of their effects on insulin secretion. Chapter 1 will present the importance of developing isoxazoline and pyrazoline type heterocycles given that they are continually demonstrated to possess a variety of biological activities. Further, the scope of the reaction in terms of functional group tolerability, scalability and mild conditions will be shown. To expand the importance of this work, a route to access non-racemic heterocycles is also noted. With the heterocycles in hand, new methods were developed to generate more complex frameworks in the form of a novel one pot deprotection/functionalization reaction. Chapter 2 will focus on mechanistic investigations of the cyclization. From the initial discovery of the reaction, its actual mechanism was unknown and a main point of interest. What appeared unusual is that a nucleophilic attack occurs on an unactivated triple bond. Given the identity of the products, a reasonable proposal was a 5-endo-dig type cyclization. However, such a pathway would result in the generation of a vinyl anion intermediate which is well known to be of very high energy and it would seem unlikely to occur under mild conditions. Various trapping experiments were used to demonstrate that the vinyl anion forms and a 5-endo-dig-cyclization is the operative mechanism. Chapter 3 analyzes the importance of the tetrabutylammonium fluoride reagent. During optimization studies, it became clear that this base is the ideal reagent to facilitate the cyclization although other bases can also enable the transformation at much slower rates. Addition of non-basic ammonium salt additives to bases such as KF and CsF had a dramatic effect on the rate of the reaction. To determine whether the observed rate differences were merely a phase transfer effect or something more, both empirical and Raman spectroscopy data were collected. Based on this, the first evidence for an ammonium-alkyne cation-pi type interaction was shown. Chapter 4 will summarize the work on the synthesis of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-methyl-5-propylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (CMPF) and its analogs in order to be used in various biological assays. The main goals were to determine a possible structure activity relationship between the substrates and insulin secretion in beta cells and also determine the fate of CMPF in vivo. Several 13C labeled analogs of CMPF were synthesized and successfully used to show for the first time that CMPF in metabolized in vivo in mice.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004988, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004978
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Insulin--Secretion., Alkynes., Cycloaddition Reaction., Pyrazolines.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Circular Restricted Four Body Problem is Non-Integrable: A Computer Assisted Proof.
- Creator
- Kepley, Shane, Kalies, William D., Mireles-James, Jason D., Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Mathematical Sciences
- Abstract/Description
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Gravitational N-body problems are central in classical mathematical physics. Studying their long time behavior raises subtle questions about the interplay between regular and irregular motions and the boundary between integrable and chaotic dynamics. Over the last hundred years, concepts from the qualitative theory of dynamical systems such as stable/unstable manifolds, homoclinic and heteroclinic tangles, KAM theory, and whiskered invariant tori, have come to play an increasingly important...
Show moreGravitational N-body problems are central in classical mathematical physics. Studying their long time behavior raises subtle questions about the interplay between regular and irregular motions and the boundary between integrable and chaotic dynamics. Over the last hundred years, concepts from the qualitative theory of dynamical systems such as stable/unstable manifolds, homoclinic and heteroclinic tangles, KAM theory, and whiskered invariant tori, have come to play an increasingly important role in the discussion. In the last fty years the study of numerical methods for computing invariant objects has matured into a thriving sub-discipline. This growth is driven at least in part by the needs of the world's space programs. Recent work on validated numerical methods has begun to unify the computational and analytical perspectives, enriching both aspects of the subject. Many of these results use computer assisted proofs, a tool which has become increasingly popular in recent years. This thesis presents a proof that the circular restricted four body problem is non-integrable. The proof of this result is obtained as an application of more general rigorous numerical methods in nonlinear analysis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004997
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Mathematical physics., Invariants., Dynamical systems
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Use of Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) in a Study on Beach Morphodynamics at Red Reef Beach, Boca Raton, Florida.
- Creator
- Camara dos Santos Porto, Sabrina, Briggs, Tiffany Roberts, Comas, Xavier, Florida Atlantic University, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Geosciences
- Abstract/Description
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The internal architecture of a beach system can provide clues into the processes involved in its formation, including depositional processes, and/or driving mechanisms (Billy et al., 2014). Several unique events such as cold fronts or Hurricane Irma caused conditions that resulted in erosion and accretion changes in Red Reef Beach - Boca Raton, throughout the year of 2017. Since the lateral extent of these changes is difficult to evaluate using traditional methods such as coring, a Ground...
Show moreThe internal architecture of a beach system can provide clues into the processes involved in its formation, including depositional processes, and/or driving mechanisms (Billy et al., 2014). Several unique events such as cold fronts or Hurricane Irma caused conditions that resulted in erosion and accretion changes in Red Reef Beach - Boca Raton, throughout the year of 2017. Since the lateral extent of these changes is difficult to evaluate using traditional methods such as coring, a Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) was tested, which allows for a good lateral resolution (cm scale), to image the distribution and evolution of these sediments. The objectives of this study were to 1) explore the lateral variability in the internal architecture of sediments in Red Reef beach in Boca Raton (FL) using an array of ground penetrating radar (GPR) measurements constrained with coring and sediment analysis; 2) explore how dynamics of erosion and accretion induced by changes in wave activity and related to tide variation and storm events, may affect surface topography and the sedimentary internal architecture of beach deposits, using RTK GPS and GPR time-lapse measurements; 3) to explore changes in the lateral extent of the freshsaltwater interface along the beach profile in relation to tide variation and storm events. Reflectors identified in the GPR images showed some evidence of erosional and accretionary surfaces preserved in Red Reef beach. These measurements were repeated over time coinciding with certain events (such as Hurricane Irma) to explore their effects in terms of sediment erosion and accretion as reflected in changes in topography (using time-lapse GPS-RTK measurements), and changes in the internal sedimentary architecture (using time-lapse GPR measurements). The datasets collected also revealed the temporal evolution of the salt-freshwater interface, showing how the lateral extent of saltwater saturated sediment (inferred from areas of GPR signal attenuation along the profiles) evolved over time. This study shows the potential of GPR to provide information about beach sediment processes and dynamics at resolutions beyond traditional measurements (such as coring). It also shows the importance of combining methods that are complementary, such as the use of RTK GPS to explore changes in topography, and GPR that provides information on subsurface sedimentary architecture and the mechanism of change such as post-storm recovery. This study has implications for better understanding changes in coastal sedimentary deposits and processes, both at the subsurface, particularly after high-energy events, such as hurricanes, that result in rapid changes in erosion and/or accretion of sediments.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005947
- Subject Headings
- Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Beaches--Florida, Ground penetrating radar., Sediments (Geology)--Analysis.
- Format
- Document (PDF)