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- Title
- “I MADE MY OWN LANE AT THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, DROVE IT, BUT FIGURED OUT I WANTED TO CONTINUE ON FROM THERE:” A NARRATIVE STUDY ON THE HERO’S JOURNEY OF LATINO MALE TRANSFER STUDENTS.
- Creator
- Johnson, Ronald Romances, Salinas Jr., Cristóbal, Floyd, Deborah L., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Excelencia in Education (2016) reported that 21% of traditional age college male students were Latino males, second only to White males. The report further noted that Latino males are ranked the lowest in degree attainment – of whom only 20% have earned an associate’s degree or higher (Excelencia in Education, 2016). As an insufficient number of Latino males are graduating with post-secondary degrees, more research must be conducted to explore their educational journey from the community...
Show moreExcelencia in Education (2016) reported that 21% of traditional age college male students were Latino males, second only to White males. The report further noted that Latino males are ranked the lowest in degree attainment – of whom only 20% have earned an associate’s degree or higher (Excelencia in Education, 2016). As an insufficient number of Latino males are graduating with post-secondary degrees, more research must be conducted to explore their educational journey from the community college to the university and how to best support them through their transition. Therefore, the purpose of this qualitative narrative research study was to explore the stories of Latino male students as they transfer from a community college to a university. To capture the essence of Latino male students’ stories through the community college transfer experience to university, the research questions focused on what motivated and influenced their journey through the community college to a university. The research questions that guided this study were: What motivated and influenced Latino males’ decisions to enroll in a community college? What motivated and influenced Latino males’ decisions to transfer from a community college to a university? How do Latino male transfer students describe their transition from community college to a university? In this qualitative narrative research study, 10 participants participated in in-depth, semi-structured virtual interviews and completed two journal prompts. To assist in triangulation and validity, participants reviewed the data for accuracy, and thick rich descriptions were used to provide breadth and depth to their narratives. Once the data were collected, it was organized through the qualitative research data management software MAXQDA and analyzed using in vivo, descriptive, and pattern coding. The conceptual frameworks that informed this narrative study were the hero’s journey by Joseph Campbell (2008) and transition theory by Nancy K. Schlossberg (2011).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013922
- Subject Headings
- Transfer students, Latin American students, Education, Higher
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- WOMEN UNIVERSITY PRESIDENTS WHO BREAK THROUGH THE GLASS CEILING: AT WHAT PRICE?.
- Creator
- Volnick, Stacy Ann, Floyd, Deborah, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
On average, the American university president is a white man in his early 60s. Progress has been slow for women in this role. This study examined the university presidency with a focus on the woman president experience. The hypothesis was that based on factors such as the glass ceiling and glass cliff, gender affects the experiences of women university presidents. The purpose of this study was to understand the personal and professional meaning-making of breaking through the glass ceiling for...
Show moreOn average, the American university president is a white man in his early 60s. Progress has been slow for women in this role. This study examined the university presidency with a focus on the woman president experience. The hypothesis was that based on factors such as the glass ceiling and glass cliff, gender affects the experiences of women university presidents. The purpose of this study was to understand the personal and professional meaning-making of breaking through the glass ceiling for women who have held or currently hold the position of president in higher education. The research methodology selected for this study was qualitative with a phenomenological design. There were two guiding research questions, which serve to understand the essence of the experiences of women who serve or have served in the role of president in higher education. The research questions are (a) how do women perceive the impact of the glass ceiling and/or the glass cliff on negotiating the role of university president from ascension to attainment? and (b) how do women university presidents perceive the price they have paid, personally and professionally, for breaking through the glass ceiling? The study sample size consisted of seven current or former women university presidents. The data collection method was semi-structured interviews. This study served to provide insight that may help identify support systems for women in the workplace, changes in perceptions of women in leadership, and how gender roles unfold in both the personal and professional lives of women university presidents
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014085
- Subject Headings
- University presidents, Women college presidents, Glass ceiling (Employment discrimination), Glass cliff (Employment discrimination), Women, Educational leadership
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A CASE STUDY OF THE COLLEGE CHOICE PROCESS FOR CONTINUING-GENERATION COLLEGE STUDENTS AT MIAMI DADE COLLEGE DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC.
- Creator
- Perez, Georgette T., Floyd, Deborah L., Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
A review of the literature revealed the need to further explore continuing-generation college students attending community colleges. This case study sought to understand the choice process of continuing-generation, direct-entry college students who enrolled in Miami Dade College (MDC), a baccalaureate community college. This research was planned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet was conducted during the pandemic, creating a unique context for the study. A total of 25 participants were...
Show moreA review of the literature revealed the need to further explore continuing-generation college students attending community colleges. This case study sought to understand the choice process of continuing-generation, direct-entry college students who enrolled in Miami Dade College (MDC), a baccalaureate community college. This research was planned prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, yet was conducted during the pandemic, creating a unique context for the study. A total of 25 participants were interviewed, including continuing-generation students, parents/family members, and high school personnel. This study used Hossler and Gallagher’s (1987) choice model as the conceptual framework to address how and why continuing-generation college students decided to pursue higher education in a community college rather than a traditional four-year college or university. The study derived five findings: financial considerations, addressing affordability and cost in the choice process; family influence and support, describing the role family play in the college selection process; proximity and accessibility, addressing how MDC is a good choice for being “close to home” and being accessible to students who may not have otherwise accessed higher education; institutional reputation, and its importance in the selection process as related to students’ knowledge of MDC, transferability options, faculty and opportunities; and college preparedness, addressing the choice process in terms of student exposure, academic readiness, and college transfer preparedness.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013923
- Subject Headings
- College students, College choice, COVID-19 Pandemic, 2020-, Miami Dade College
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A CORRELATIONAL ANALYSIS OF TEACHER JOB SATISFACTION AND JOB STRESS IN BROWARD COUNTY SCHOOLS.
- Creator
- Rodney-Hillaire, Renee, Shockley, Robert, Bogotch, Ira, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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This study aimed to analyze factors that predict job satisfaction and stress among Broward County teachers. A modified version of the WeBS survey was used to collect data on teachers' demographics, attitudes, and experiences related to job satisfaction. The sample used in this study was delimited to include only full-time teachers in Broward County Schools. Six research questions provided the foundation of the study, which was operationalized by Astin's (1993) input environment outcome model ...
Show moreThis study aimed to analyze factors that predict job satisfaction and stress among Broward County teachers. A modified version of the WeBS survey was used to collect data on teachers' demographics, attitudes, and experiences related to job satisfaction. The sample used in this study was delimited to include only full-time teachers in Broward County Schools. Six research questions provided the foundation of the study, which was operationalized by Astin's (1993) input environment outcome model (IEO). A descriptive analysis described the sample's individual and institutional characteristics and demographics. Correlational analyses were conducted to determine the strength of the relationship between variables. Finally, the data were analyzed using hierarchical, multiple regression. The regression model explored factors predicting job satisfaction and job stress among teachers. This study reported statistically significant results for each regression model. Statistically significant at p < .001, the factors that explained 55% of the variance in the final job satisfaction model included: How do background characteristics (e.g., sex, ethnic origin, and age), behavioral factors (e.g., openness, intrinsic motivation), and institutional variables (autonomy, student behavior, leadership, and school climate and culture) predict teacher job stress in Broward County? Implications for policy, practice and future research regarding job satisfaction and stress are included.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013959
- Subject Headings
- Teachers--Job satisfaction, Broward County (Fla.), Teachers--Job stress
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- SPIRITUALITY EMPOWERS BLACK LEADERSHIP: A PHENOMENOLOGICAL STUDY OF BLACK MEN STUDENTS’ LEADERSHIP AND SPIRITUALITY.
- Creator
- Allen Jr., Keven, Salinas Jr., Cristobal, Floyd, Deborah L., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
In this qualitative study, spirituality, and leadership among 15 Black collegiate men enrolled at higher education institutions were examined. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and explore the essence of spirituality within the lived experiences of undergraduate Black men student leaders. The objective was to understand the intersection of spirituality and leadership within Black men, and how it informed their decision making and influenced their career aspirations...
Show moreIn this qualitative study, spirituality, and leadership among 15 Black collegiate men enrolled at higher education institutions were examined. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and explore the essence of spirituality within the lived experiences of undergraduate Black men student leaders. The objective was to understand the intersection of spirituality and leadership within Black men, and how it informed their decision making and influenced their career aspirations post their undergraduate collegiate experience. In this study, spirituality is defined as an “internal process of seeking personal authenticity, genuineness, and wholeness as an aspect of identity development” (Love & Talbot, 1999, p. 364). Guided by descriptive phenomenological methodology, four research questions were asked: (1) What is the meaning of spirituality for Black men student leaders? (2) How do Black men student leaders apply spirituality within their daily leadership practices and behaviors? (3) How do Black men student leaders define the connection between spirituality and leadership development? (4) How does spirituality inform the pathways and career aspirations of Black men student leaders? Four findings emerged as a result of the data analysis: (1) The Spirit and the Struggle: Spirituality Empowers Black Leadership, (2) The Spirit of Black Leadership is Service to Others, (3) Leading from Within: Spirituality is the “Backbone” of Black Men Leadership Identity, and (4) Spirituality Influences Black Men Career Aspirations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013937
- Subject Headings
- Leadership, Men, Black, Spirituality, Higher education
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Improving the Resilience of a Municipal Water Utility Against the Likely Impacts of Climate Change - A Case Study: City of Pompano Beach Water Utility.
- Creator
- Bloetscher, Frederick, Meeroff, Daniel E., Heimlich, Barry N., Center for Environmental Studies, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003456
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Dynamics of low and high pathogenic avian influenza in wild and domestic bird populations.
- Creator
- Tuncer, Necibe, Torres, Juan, Martcheva, Maia, Barfield, Michael, Holt, Robert D.
- Date Issued
- 2016-01-14
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000194
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- FAU Climate Change Initiative Priority Theme: Research, Engineering, and Adaption to a Change Climate.
- Creator
- Berry, Leonard, Koch, Marguerite, Center for Environmental Studies, Benscoter, Brian, Comas, Xavier, Devlin, Donna, Fadiman, Maria, Gerstein, E., Herzing, Denise L., Hindle, Tobin, Milton, Sarah L., Oleinik, Anton E., Proffitt, C. Edward, Restrepo, Jorge I., Root, Tara L., Wyneken, Jeanette, Xie, Zhixiao, Zhang, Xing-Hai, Esnard, Ann-Margaret, Mitsova, Diana, Murley, J., Vos, J., Escaleras, Monica, Mehallis, M., Shaw, Eric H., Hardman, Guillermo [John], Lambert, Julie, Thomas, G., Arockiasamy, Madasamy, Bloetscher, Frederick, Carvalho, G., Dhanak, Manhar R., Frisk, George V., Kaisar, Evangelos I., Kalva, Hari, Meeroff, Daniel E., Rodriguez, Jarice, Scarlatos, Panagiotis (Pete) D., Shankar, Ravi, Teegavarapu, Ramesh, Brown, Clifford T., McAfee, Francis, Widener, Patricia, Dalgleish, Fraser R., Hanisak, M. Dennis, McMulloch, S., O'Corry-Crowe, Gregory, Pomponi, Shirley A., Reed, John K., Scarpa, John, Voss, Joshua, Heimlich, Barry N., Alvarez, R., Jolley, J., Edwards, A., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute, College of Business, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, College of Education, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Date Issued
- 2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00003457
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Health-Related Quality of Life and Pain Intensity Among Ethnically Diverse Community- Dwelling Older Adults.
- Creator
- Park, Juyoung, Engstrom, Gabriella, Tappen, Ruth, Ouslander, Joseph
- Abstract/Description
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Chronic pain is highly prevalent in older adults and often negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared HRQoL, including physical health and mental health, in persons of differing ethnicities, and identified factors associated with pain intensity and HRQoL in ethnically diverse older adults. Older adults with chronic pain from four ethnic groups (African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans) were recruited from the Florida...
Show moreChronic pain is highly prevalent in older adults and often negatively associated with health-related quality of life (HRQoL). This study compared HRQoL, including physical health and mental health, in persons of differing ethnicities, and identified factors associated with pain intensity and HRQoL in ethnically diverse older adults. Older adults with chronic pain from four ethnic groups (African Americans, Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans) were recruited from the Florida Atlantic University Healthy Aging Research Initiative (HARI) registry. The Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-36 (SF-36) was used to evaluate HRQoL, including functional status, emotional well-being, and social functioning. Of 593 persons in the four ethnic groups in the registry, 174 met the inclusion criteria (pain level of four or higher on an 11-point scale, lasting 3 months or longer). Among these 174, African Americans reported the highest level of pain intensity, followed by Afro-Caribbeans, Hispanics, and European Americans. Hispanics reported the highest physical health scores and the lowest mental health scores. In contrast, African Americans reported the highest mental health scores and the lowest physical health scores. Multivariate linear regression analysis revealed that ethnicity, lower physical health scores, and lower mental health scores were significantly (p # .01) associated with pain intensity. Understanding ethnic variations in response to pain intensity may address gaps in knowledge about HRQoL to reduce disparities in optimal care. Health care providers should consider ethnic norms and cultural diversity to provide optimal interventions for this population.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000502
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Fish community structure and organization in neotropical clear and blackwater streams in Guyana.
- Creator
- Bergquist, Teresa Cecilia., Florida Atlantic University, Bourne, Godfrey R., Courtenay, Walter R. Jr.
- Abstract/Description
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Small clear and blackwater streams of the neotropics are economically important because they may be nursery grounds for important food and aquarium fishes. At present, these ecosystems are being negatively impacted by current logging, and gold and diamond mining practices. Thus, the role of biotic and abiotic factors in fish community structure was examined in three unimpacted streams in Guyana, South America. These streams had relatively low fish species diversity, but complex feeding guild...
Show moreSmall clear and blackwater streams of the neotropics are economically important because they may be nursery grounds for important food and aquarium fishes. At present, these ecosystems are being negatively impacted by current logging, and gold and diamond mining practices. Thus, the role of biotic and abiotic factors in fish community structure was examined in three unimpacted streams in Guyana, South America. These streams had relatively low fish species diversity, but complex feeding guild structure. No significant correlations between abiotic factors and fish species diversity and feeding guild diversity were determined due to small sample size. However, principal component analysis suggested an association between pH and species diversity, and conductivity and guild diversity. Biotic factors, such as competition and predation may be the primary determinant of fish community structure and organization in neotropical blackwater streams.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1994
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15023
- Subject Headings
- Fishes--Guyana, Fishes--Tropics, Freshwater fishes--Guyana, Species diversity--Guyana
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An investigation of a proper pairwise balanced design on 30 points.
- Creator
- Berg, Melissa Mary-Jane., Florida Atlantic University, Mullin, Ronald C., Hoffman, Frederick
- Abstract/Description
-
In this paper, we assume a proper pairwise balanced design on 30 points exists. We then get some results that reveal what the largest line size may be and the maximum number of lines of this size. Using these results, we look at one of two cases. We investigate the structure of the linear spaces in this case having no lines of sizes 2, 3, 6 and 30 and rule out many possibilities in order to get a minimum number of possible solutions.
- Date Issued
- 2000
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12710
- Subject Headings
- Vector spaces, Block designs
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The copper local density of states in equi-atomic copper-gold.
- Creator
- Dorsey, Anthony Travis., Florida Atlantic University, Jordan, Robin G., Qiu, Shen-Li
- Abstract/Description
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We attempted to isolate the individual Cu and Au contributions to the local density of states in equi-atomic CuAu using photoemission measurements with synchrotron radiation over the range 21 to 160eV. We compared our experimentally measured Au-5d/Cu-3d photoemission cross sections ratio with those of Yeh and Lindau (Atomic Data Nucl. Data Tables 32, 1, (1985)) and of Shirley et al (Physica Scripta 16, 398, (1977)) and found agreement with the former, suggesting difficulty in extracting the...
Show moreWe attempted to isolate the individual Cu and Au contributions to the local density of states in equi-atomic CuAu using photoemission measurements with synchrotron radiation over the range 21 to 160eV. We compared our experimentally measured Au-5d/Cu-3d photoemission cross sections ratio with those of Yeh and Lindau (Atomic Data Nucl. Data Tables 32, 1, (1985)) and of Shirley et al (Physica Scripta 16, 398, (1977)) and found agreement with the former, suggesting difficulty in extracting the Au local density of states. Hence, while others have suggested it is possible to isolate the Au local density of states at 50eV using similar methods, we found we could not. The density of states calculation and the photocurrent calculations at 50eV confirmed this by showing significant overlap of the Au and Cu states. Since the Au-5d states experience a Cooper minimum around 160eV, the experimental spectrum of CuAu at this photon energy contains very little Au contribution, thus allowing us to "experimentally determine" the Cu local density of states. The photocurrent calculations at 160eV confirmed the lack of Au contribution and comparison of experimental spectra with the photocurrent calculations at 160eV showed good agreement.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1993
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14960
- Subject Headings
- Photoemission, Order-disorder in alloys
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Mitochondrial DNA damage in C. elegans sperm as a function sperm activity.
- Creator
- Willis, Joel P., Florida Atlantic University, Volin, John C., LaMunyon, Craig W.
- Abstract/Description
-
Several models for the evolution of maternal inheritance of mitochondria predict that the sperm mitochondria undergo oxidative damage and pose a threat to the developing embryo. Here, I test the hypothesis that the sperm are damaged by reactive oxygen species generated by aerobic sperm activity. In my first experiment, I found no significant difference in fecundity between worms fertilized by old versus young sperm, suggesting that the sperm nuclear genome is not affected by the extent of...
Show moreSeveral models for the evolution of maternal inheritance of mitochondria predict that the sperm mitochondria undergo oxidative damage and pose a threat to the developing embryo. Here, I test the hypothesis that the sperm are damaged by reactive oxygen species generated by aerobic sperm activity. In my first experiment, I found no significant difference in fecundity between worms fertilized by old versus young sperm, suggesting that the sperm nuclear genome is not affected by the extent of sperm activity. In my second experiment, I found that sperm mitochondrial DNA has deletions, indicating damage, but this damage does not accumulate with sperm activity. However, problems with PCR amplification resulted in little experimental data, preventing a conclusive test of the hypothesis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2003
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13083
- Subject Headings
- Caenorhabditis elegans, Worms--Spermatozoa, Worms--Genetics
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Growth of Tilapia mariae (Boulenger) fry in different salinities.
- Creator
- Garcia, Eileen Leonor, Florida Atlantic University, Adams, Ralph M., Courtenay, Walter R. Jr.
- Abstract/Description
-
Gradual salinity acclimatization and growth studies were performed on fry of the spotted tilapia, Tilapia mariae. First, fry were successfully brought to a salinity of 40%. in 8 weeks by gradual weekly increments of 5 %.. Second, fry were exposed separately for nine weeks to salinities of 0, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30 %.. Fish grew best at 5 and 10 %. (p
Show moreGradual salinity acclimatization and growth studies were performed on fry of the spotted tilapia, Tilapia mariae. First, fry were successfully brought to a salinity of 40%. in 8 weeks by gradual weekly increments of 5 %.. Second, fry were exposed separately for nine weeks to salinities of 0, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30 %.. Fish grew best at 5 and 10 %. (p < 0.05) and least at 30 %.. At nine weeks, fish at 0, 5, 10, 20, 25, and 30%. appeared to be osmoregulating, as indicated by osmolarities of their inner body fluids. These results suggest that Tilapia mariae may become a competitive threat to fishes in native estuarine environments in southern Florida.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1990
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/14640
- Subject Headings
- Tilapia--Effect of salt on
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The use of nesting initiation dates of roseate spoonbills ( Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecosystem indicator for water management practices, 1935--1999.
- Creator
- Alvear Rodriguez, Elsa Marcella., Florida Atlantic University, Ogden, John C., Mahoney, Sheila A.
- Abstract/Description
-
Quantity and timing of freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay varied under different water management practices in the twentieth century, with negative ecological repercussions. Ecological indicators that respond to differences in hydrology, such as wading bird colony dynamics, can be used for hydrological restoration projects. I examined the possibility of using timing of nesting of Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecological indicator. Nest...
Show moreQuantity and timing of freshwater flow from the Everglades to Florida Bay varied under different water management practices in the twentieth century, with negative ecological repercussions. Ecological indicators that respond to differences in hydrology, such as wading bird colony dynamics, can be used for hydrological restoration projects. I examined the possibility of using timing of nesting of Roseate Spoonbills (Ajaia ajaja) in northeastern Florida Bay as an ecological indicator. Nest initiation dates (N = 51) from 1936--1999 (x = November 25) were calculated from numerous published and unpublished sources. The dates were strikingly consistent and did not show significant trends over the entire study period, nor did the dates differ among periods of different water management practices. Early dates were not correlated with favorable hydrologic conditions (low water levels, fast drying rates) in spoonbill foraging habitat. Spoonbill timing of nesting appears to be a poor ecological indicator for Florida Bay.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2001
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12763
- Subject Headings
- Roseate spoonbill--Nests, Indicators (Biology)--Florida--Florida Bay, Water quality biological assessment--Florida--Florida Bay
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Theoretical and experimental studies of multisensory integration as a coupled dynamical system.
- Creator
- Assisi, Collins G., Florida Atlantic University, Kelso, J. A. Scott, Jirsa, Viktor K.
- Abstract/Description
-
Perception and behavior are mediated by a widely distributed network of brain areas. Our main concern is, how do the components of the network interact in order to give us a variety of complex coordinated behavior? We first define the nodes of the network, termed functional units, as a strongly coupled ensemble of non-identical neurons and demonstrate that the dynamics of such an ensemble may be approximated by a low dimensional set of equations. The dynamics is studied in two different...
Show morePerception and behavior are mediated by a widely distributed network of brain areas. Our main concern is, how do the components of the network interact in order to give us a variety of complex coordinated behavior? We first define the nodes of the network, termed functional units, as a strongly coupled ensemble of non-identical neurons and demonstrate that the dynamics of such an ensemble may be approximated by a low dimensional set of equations. The dynamics is studied in two different contexts, sensorimotor coordination and multisensory integration. First, we treat movement coupled to the environment as a driven functional unit. Our central hypothesis is that this coupling must be minimally parametric. We demonstrate the experimental validity of this hypothesis and propose a theoretical model that explains the results of our experiment. A second example of the dynamics of functional units is evident in the domain of multisensory integration. We employ a novel rhythmic multisensory paradigm designed to capture the temporal features of multisensory integration parametrically. The relevant parameters of our experiment are the inter-onset interval between pairs of rhythmically presented stimuli and the frequency of presentation. We partition the two dimensional parameter space using subjects perception of the stimulus sequence. The general features of the partitioning are modality independent suggesting that these features depend on the coupling between the unisensory subsystems. We develop a model with coupled functional units and suggest a candidate coupling scheme. In subsequent chapters we probe the neural correlates of multisensory integration using fMRI and EEG. The results of our fMRI experiment demonstrate that multisensory integration is mediated by a network consisting of primary sensory areas, inferior parietal lobule, prefrontal areas and the posterior midbrain. Different percepts lead to the recruitment of different areas and their disengagement for other percepts. In analyzing the EEG data, we first develop a mathematical framework that allows us to differentiate between sources activated for both unisensory and multisensory stimulation from those sources activated only for multisensory stimulation. Using this methodology we show that the influences of multisensory processing may be seen at an early (40--60 ms) stage of sensory processing.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2005
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12167
- Subject Headings
- Intersensory effects, Perceptual-motor processes, Sensorimotor integration, Psychology, Comparative, Developmental neurobiology
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The role of symbiotic dinoflagellates in the temperature-induced bleaching response of Aiptasia pallida.
- Creator
- Perez, Santiago F., Florida Atlantic University, Marsh, G. Alex, Cook, Clayton B., Brooks, W. Randy, Koch, Marguerite
- Abstract/Description
-
Bleaching of reef corals and other cnidarians symbiotic with zooxanthellae can be attributed to the stress response of the host, algae or both. To determine if zooxanthellae are involved in the bleaching process, I infected a single strain of sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida with zooxanthellae from different hosts. I measured expulsion of the algae from the host during 24-hour incubations at 25, 32 and 34C, as well as photosynthetic rates at these temperatures. Photosynthesis and expulsion of...
Show moreBleaching of reef corals and other cnidarians symbiotic with zooxanthellae can be attributed to the stress response of the host, algae or both. To determine if zooxanthellae are involved in the bleaching process, I infected a single strain of sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida with zooxanthellae from different hosts. I measured expulsion of the algae from the host during 24-hour incubations at 25, 32 and 34C, as well as photosynthetic rates at these temperatures. Photosynthesis and expulsion of zooxanthellae were inversely and directly proportional to elevated temperatures, respectively. Photosynthesis and expulsion of zooxanthellae isolated from Condylactis gigantea showed the greatest sensitivity to elevated temperature when compared to other zooxanthellae tested. These results suggest that zooxanthellae have a function in the bleaching process and that this function may be related to their photosynthetic response. Thus, the differential tolerance of zooxanthellae to stress could partly explain the spatial variability characteristic of coral-bleaching episodes.
Show less - Date Issued
- 1999
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15698
- Subject Headings
- Dinoflagellates, Sea anemones, Coral reef ecology, Seawater--Thermal properties
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Stem cell harvesting protocol research in autologous transplantation setting: Large volume vs. conventional cytapheresis.
- Creator
- Balint, Bela, Ljubenov, Marika, Stamatovic, Dragana, Todorovic, Milena, Pavlovic, Mirjana, Ostojic, Gordana, Jocic, Miodrag, Trkuljic, Miroljub
- Abstract/Description
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Background/Aim. The use of peripheral blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cells (SCs) is progressively increasing and has nearly supplanted bone marrow transplantation. Interpatient variability in the degree and kinetics of SC mobilization into peripheral blood is an expected event after conventional chemotherapy–based treatment, followed by sequential administration of recombinant granulocyte–colony– stimulating factor (rHu–CSF). In this study, specific factors associated with the...
Show moreBackground/Aim. The use of peripheral blood as a source of hematopoietic stem cells (SCs) is progressively increasing and has nearly supplanted bone marrow transplantation. Interpatient variability in the degree and kinetics of SC mobilization into peripheral blood is an expected event after conventional chemotherapy–based treatment, followed by sequential administration of recombinant granulocyte–colony– stimulating factor (rHu–CSF). In this study, specific factors associated with the application of two different SC–harvesting approaches, including the use of large volume leukapheresis (LVL) vs. repetitive conventional apheresis (RCA), were analyzed. The basic goal of the study was to evaluate the influence of apheresis protocol (collection timing, processed blood volume and cell yield) upon the clinical outcome of transplantation. Methods. Results obtained by LVL (76 pts) and RCA (20 pts – control group) were compared. The SC mobilizing regimen used was cyclophosphamide (4–7 g/m^2) or polychemotherapy and rHuG–CSF 10–16 μg/kg of body mess (bm) per day. Cell harvesting was performed using COBE-Spectra (Caridian–BCT, USA). The volume of processed blood in LVL setting was ≥ 3.5 – fold of the patient's circulating blood quantity (ranged from 12.7 to 37.8 l). All patients tolerated well the use of intensive treatment, without any side or adverse effects. Our original controlled–rate cryopreservation was carried out with 10% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) using Planer R203/200R or Planer 560–16 equipments (Planer Products Ltd, UK). Total nucleated cell (NC) and mononuclear cell (MNC) counts were examined by flow cytometry (Advia–2120 Bayer, Germany; Technicon H–3 System, USA). The CD34+ cell surface antigen was investigated by the EPICS XL–MCL device (Coulter, Germany). Results. Performing LVL–apheresis, high–level MNC and CD34+ cell yields (7.6±4.6 × 10^8/kg bm and 11.8±6.5 × 10^6/kg bm, respectively) were obtained. As a result, rapid hematopoietic reconstitution ("graft–healing") – on the 9.4th and 12.4th day for granulocytes and platelets, respectively was achieved. Using repetitive conventional apheresis (2–3 procedures), the total MNC count was high (8.2±7.0 × 10^8/kg bm), but the total CD34+ yield was lower 10.8±9.9 due to inferior CD34+ vs. MNC ratio. Conclusion. The results obtained suggest that well–timed LVL–apheresis increased SC–yield in cell harvest, resulting in faster bone marrow repopulation and hematological reconstitution, as well as better overall clinical outcome of transplantation. These results necessitate additional examinations of CD34+ subsets ratio in cell harvest.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2008
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000042
- Format
- Citation
- Title
- Muscle Contractility and Cell Motility.
- Creator
- Jin, J.P., Bloch, Robert J., Huang, Xupei, Larsson, Lars
- Date Issued
- 2012
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUIR000102
- Format
- Citation