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Pages
- Title
- Bioarchaeological Implications of Porotic Hyperostosis in the Pre-Columbian Societies of Coastal Ecuador.
- Creator
- Rivas, Daniel Gonzalo Alava, Ellis, Meredith B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis focuses on identifying the presence of porotic hyperostosis in a sample made up of 119 individuals to a) assess the possible causes of porotic hyperostosis in the ancient Ecuadorian coastal societies, b) reconsider porotic hyperostosis as a nutritional stress marker, and c) propose bartonellosis as an alternative cause for the appearance of porotic lesions in the skull over 4,000 years in the Northern Andes. By applying the BoPLE (Bone Porous Lesions Evaluation) method, results...
Show moreThis thesis focuses on identifying the presence of porotic hyperostosis in a sample made up of 119 individuals to a) assess the possible causes of porotic hyperostosis in the ancient Ecuadorian coastal societies, b) reconsider porotic hyperostosis as a nutritional stress marker, and c) propose bartonellosis as an alternative cause for the appearance of porotic lesions in the skull over 4,000 years in the Northern Andes. By applying the BoPLE (Bone Porous Lesions Evaluation) method, results obtained and clinical evidence propose that parasite infections and iron deficiencies are two of the probable causes of porotic hyperostosis in the prehistory of the Ecuadorian coast. Furthermore, the results suggested that a female skull associated with Valdivia culture phase II (3,300 – 2,800 BCE) is Ecuador's oldest record of this symptom. Likewise, the clinical characteristics of bartonellosis suggests it to be a plausible cause of porotic hyperostosis in ancient Ecuador.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014374
- Subject Headings
- Hyperostosis, Human remains (Archaeology), Human remains (Archaeology)--Ecuador, Bartonellosis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Blood Drive And Other Stories.
- Creator
- Johnson, Hunter D., Furman, Andrew, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
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Blood Drive and Other Stories is a collection of fictional works. It includes stories that take place in South Florida or are inspired by the landscape of it. The themes within each vary from the limits one is willing to go to enact small-town justice, the need to conserve consciousness, adapting to age, living with medication, and the desire to burn everything down.
- Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014409
- Subject Headings
- Creative writing, Fiction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Care in Medieval Transylvania: A Bioarchaeological Study.
- Creator
- Heron, Megan A., Ellis, Meredith A. B., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis examines the skeletal remains of two disabled adults collected from the Bogoz archaeological site (1100-1700) in Mugeni, Romania. Mugeni (in Hungarian, Bogoz) is home to an ethnic culture known as the Szekely, whose history has been lost (Bethard 2019, p. 254). This thesis conducts a microhistorical bioarchaeology of caregiving behaviors for Burial 13 and Burial 150 to concurrently reinsert disabled individuals into the historical narrative and to contribute to Szekely history....
Show moreThis thesis examines the skeletal remains of two disabled adults collected from the Bogoz archaeological site (1100-1700) in Mugeni, Romania. Mugeni (in Hungarian, Bogoz) is home to an ethnic culture known as the Szekely, whose history has been lost (Bethard 2019, p. 254). This thesis conducts a microhistorical bioarchaeology of caregiving behaviors for Burial 13 and Burial 150 to concurrently reinsert disabled individuals into the historical narrative and to contribute to Szekely history. Four theoretical backgrounds- microhistory, social bioarchaeology, osteobiography, and the Bioarchaeology of Care- are synthesized to organize analysis. First, this thesis documents biological identifiers, pathologies, mortuary treatment, and the physical, socio-cultural, and economic lifeways (Tilley & Schrenk 2017, p. 2). Then, models of care are developed to analyze multiscalar intersectionalities to understand the broader implications of medieval and early modern Transylvania (Peltonen 2001, p. 348; Walton 2008, p. 6). This approach will serve as an example for the continued investigations of care provisions for disabled and/or impaired persons, contributing to the historical narrative (Bethard et al. 2019, p. 267; Hosek 2019, p. 47).
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014371
- Subject Headings
- Human remains (Archaeology), Archaeology, Medieval, Székely, Szeklers--History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEAD MEN TELL NO TALES, SO WE TELL THEM INSTEAD: THE COMPLEXITIES AND ETHICS OF POSTHUMOUS PUBLICATION.
- Creator
- Hersey, Justin, Miller, Timothy, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
This project examines some of the ethical consequences of posthumous publication of authors' unfinished works, private correspondence, and other materials, with the central example being the extensive catalogue of J.R.R. Tolkien published in the decades after this death by his son Christopher Tolkien. It builds a moral and philosophical framework for understanding the "posthumous harm" that can impact the deceased, for example when the desires they expressed in life are frustrated, or their...
Show moreThis project examines some of the ethical consequences of posthumous publication of authors' unfinished works, private correspondence, and other materials, with the central example being the extensive catalogue of J.R.R. Tolkien published in the decades after this death by his son Christopher Tolkien. It builds a moral and philosophical framework for understanding the "posthumous harm" that can impact the deceased, for example when the desires they expressed in life are frustrated, or their reputations suffer damage when draft or private materials become public, especially for a wide audience. In the case of J.R.R. Tolkien, his Beowulf translation shows how an author's intentions for a work may actually be to not publish, as doing so contradicts their beliefs and values. Both literary executors and the consumer public that creates a market for such "new works" should more carefully evaluate the posthumous harm that posthumous publication can bring.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014405
- Subject Headings
- Tolkien, J. R. R. (John Ronald Reuel), 1892-1973, Posthumous publications, Beowulf--Translations
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effectiveness of KBU2046, Calcitriol, Dienogest and N-Butyrate or Their Combinations on Immortalized Endometriotic Epithelial Cells.
- Creator
- Adejola, Afeez, Hartmann, James X., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Endometriosis is a chronic disease that causes endometrial tissues to migrate and grow outside the uterus and is often associated with pain and infertility. The growths are estrogen-dependent but progesterone-resistant due to the lack of progesterone receptors. In the U.S., estrogen deprivation is the primary approach to treating the disease, which often leads to severe consequences such as osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. KBU2046 is a chemical analog of genistein that has been shown to...
Show moreEndometriosis is a chronic disease that causes endometrial tissues to migrate and grow outside the uterus and is often associated with pain and infertility. The growths are estrogen-dependent but progesterone-resistant due to the lack of progesterone receptors. In the U.S., estrogen deprivation is the primary approach to treating the disease, which often leads to severe consequences such as osteoporosis and menopausal symptoms. KBU2046 is a chemical analog of genistein that has been shown to effectively inhibit the motility of prostate cancer cells with no toxicity to normal cells or estrogenic activity (Li Xu et al., 2010). This in vitro study showed that KBU2046 at 10μM significantly decreased the viability of 12Z cells to 27% and 34% at 24 hours and 48 hours posttreatment, respectively. At 48 hours post-treatment, micromolar concentrations of the combinations of KBU2046 with dienogest or calcitriol effectively decreased the viability of 12Z cells to 16% and 58.9%, respectively. KBU2046 with sodium butyrate decreased viability to 7.7%, but millimolar concentrations of the latter were required. KBU2046, in combination with calcitriol, synergistically decreased the migration and colony formation of the 12Z cells to 19.3% and 45.7%, respectively. KBU2046 and Calcitriol-treated 12Z cells are slower to the recovery of growth following treatment. KBU2046 and calcitriol decreased the secretion of PGE2 to 6.5% and 16.7%, respectively, while ethanol and the combinations of ethanol and DMSO increased the secretion of PGE2 to 83.8%, and 63.2%, respectively. In conclusion, a combination of KBU2046 and calcitriol at micromolar concentrations markedly inhibited the migration and growth of endometrial cells while decreasing the secretion of a key inflammatory molecule. In vivo studies with mouse models are needed to evaluate using a combination of KBU2046 and calcitriol for endometriosis therapy and whether millimolar plasma concentrations can be safely achieved by dietary means.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014426
- Subject Headings
- KBU2046, Calcitriol, Dienogest, Sodium butyrate, Endometriosis
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Analysis of Tobacco Resistance to Saline Conditions via Endogenous Expression of SeNN24 gene from the halophyte plant Salicornia europaea.
- Creator
- Wynter, Lij, Zhang, Xing-Hai, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Biological Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Freshwater salinization and expanding desertification threaten global agriculture. Promise lies in salt resistance genes found in Salicornia europaea, a halophyte that thrives in high-salt conditions partly due to protein action. We focused one of its genes, SeNN24. It enhanced salt resistance in yeast and shows promise in improving crop resilience. Our research introduced SeNN24 into tobacco via agrobacterial transformation, testing the plants under salt and drought conditions. The...
Show moreFreshwater salinization and expanding desertification threaten global agriculture. Promise lies in salt resistance genes found in Salicornia europaea, a halophyte that thrives in high-salt conditions partly due to protein action. We focused one of its genes, SeNN24. It enhanced salt resistance in yeast and shows promise in improving crop resilience. Our research introduced SeNN24 into tobacco via agrobacterial transformation, testing the plants under salt and drought conditions. The transformed tobacco showed superior tolerance of up to 400mM NaCl and drought, maintaining health and even flowering under stress. This suggests that SeNN24 could potentially confer significant salt and drought resistance to vital crops, protecting them from environmental challenges and enhancing agricultural sustainability.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014441
- Subject Headings
- Halophytes, Tobacco, Salinity, Botany
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Animalization.
- Creator
- Borowsky, Alex, Bucak, Ayse Papatya, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
Animalization is a creative nonfiction manuscript comprised of essays which are able to stand on their own, yet gain complexity as they inform one another. Each essay epitomizes the narrator’s attempt to reconcile with emotional instability, self-destructive behaviors, dangerous relationships, the ethics of who has to suffer, and a masochistic brain disorder. This manuscript follows its narrator’s young life as she attempts to understand herself through lived experience, as well as the lives...
Show moreAnimalization is a creative nonfiction manuscript comprised of essays which are able to stand on their own, yet gain complexity as they inform one another. Each essay epitomizes the narrator’s attempt to reconcile with emotional instability, self-destructive behaviors, dangerous relationships, the ethics of who has to suffer, and a masochistic brain disorder. This manuscript follows its narrator’s young life as she attempts to understand herself through lived experience, as well as the lives of some extroadinary family members. The narrator’s lifelong fascination with animals supports her desire to understand pain as an applied ethical consideration and an enactment.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014391
- Subject Headings
- Creative writing, Creative nonfiction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EXPANDING ME OR CONSERVING US? A MULTI-MODAL STUDY OF POST-DISSOLUTION SELF-CONCEPT RECOVERY.
- Creator
- Cope, Morgan A., Maniaci, Michael R., Florida Atlantic University, Department of Psychology, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Previous research has demonstrated the deleterious effects of romantic relationship breakup on the self-concept and post-dissolution outcomes (Cope & Mattingly, 2021). However, individual differences in newly validated identity orientations (i.e., the preference to expand or conserve one’s sense of self; Hughes et al., 2020) may influence identity recovery. The current studies examined the influence of self-expansion preference on self-concept clarity and identity restoration mechanisms (i.e....
Show morePrevious research has demonstrated the deleterious effects of romantic relationship breakup on the self-concept and post-dissolution outcomes (Cope & Mattingly, 2021). However, individual differences in newly validated identity orientations (i.e., the preference to expand or conserve one’s sense of self; Hughes et al., 2020) may influence identity recovery. The current studies examined the influence of self-expansion preference on self-concept clarity and identity restoration mechanisms (i.e., relationship rekindling) following relationship dissolution using cross sectional (Study 1), intensive longitudinal (Study 2), and dynamical (Study 3) methods. Across studies, self-expansion preference emerged as a trait-level predictor of post-breakup experiences including self-concept clarity, distress, and relationship rekindling desire. Implications for individual experiences of romantic relationship dissolution are discussed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014382
- Subject Headings
- Interpersonal relations, Romantic, Separation (Psychology), Self-perception
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EXPLORING UNDULATORY SWIMMING BEHAVIORS WITH DEEP REINFORCEMENT LEARNING.
- Creator
- Alvaro, Alejandro, Verma, Siddhartha, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
The capability to navigate in the proximity of solid surfaces while avoiding collision and maintaining high efficiency is essential for the effective design and operation of underwater vehicles. The underlying capability involves a variety of challenges, and a potential approach to overcome such obstacles is to rely on biomimetic or bio-inspired design. Through evolution, organisms have developed methods of locomotion optimized for their specific environment. One of the common forms of...
Show moreThe capability to navigate in the proximity of solid surfaces while avoiding collision and maintaining high efficiency is essential for the effective design and operation of underwater vehicles. The underlying capability involves a variety of challenges, and a potential approach to overcome such obstacles is to rely on biomimetic or bio-inspired design. Through evolution, organisms have developed methods of locomotion optimized for their specific environment. One of the common forms of locomotion found in underwater organisms is undulatory swimming. These undulatory swimmers display different swimming behaviors based on the flow conditions in their environment. These behaviors take advantage of changes in the flow field caused by the presence of obstructions and obstacles upstream or adjacent to the swimmer. For example, a free swimmer in near-proximity to a flat plane can experience changes in lift and drag during locomotion. The reduced drag can benefit the swimmer, however, changes in lift may lead to a collision with obstacles. Despite the abundance of qualitative data from observing these undulatory swimmers, there is a lack of quantitative data, creating a disconnect in understanding how these organisms have evolved to exploit the presence of walls and obstacles. By employing a combination of traditional computational fluid dynamics and novel neural network-based techniques it is possible to emulate the evolution of learned behavior in biological organisms. The current work uses deep reinforcement learning coupled with two-dimensional numerical simulations of self-propelled swimmers to better understand behavior observed in nature.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014402
- Subject Headings
- Reinforcement learning, Computational fluid dynamics, Autonomous underwater vehicles
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- DEVELOPMENT OF GIS-BASED ONLINE WATERSHED DASHBOARD FOR CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Zare, Saeid Naghadehi, Nagarajan, Sudhagar, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Civil, Environmental and Geomatics Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis presents the development of an innovative Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Interactive Online Watershed Dashboard aimed at flood risk assessment and mitigation in Charlotte County, Florida. The research leverages advanced GIS techniques, including flood inundation simulations using CASCADE 2001, integrating LiDAR DEM data and GIS layers such as impervious surfaces, waterbodies, and soil characteristics to model flood behavior in 61 inundation probability scenarios. Key...
Show moreThis thesis presents the development of an innovative Geographic Information System (GIS)-based Interactive Online Watershed Dashboard aimed at flood risk assessment and mitigation in Charlotte County, Florida. The research leverages advanced GIS techniques, including flood inundation simulations using CASCADE 2001, integrating LiDAR DEM data and GIS layers such as impervious surfaces, waterbodies, and soil characteristics to model flood behavior in 61 inundation probability scenarios. Key results include detailed flood inundation probability maps categorizing risk levels based on Z-scores, providing actionable insights for flood risk management and emergency planning. Spatial analysis reveals demographic vulnerabilities, with population density and ethnic compositions intersecting flood vulnerability. The study assesses flood impacts on transportation infrastructure and prioritizes critical facilities for resilience strategies. The dashboard's design integrates diverse datasets and analytical results, allowing users to interactively explore flood risk scenarios, critical infrastructure vulnerabilities, and demographic impacts. This research contributes essential tools for informed decision-making, enhancing flood resilience and disaster preparedness in Charlotte County, Florida.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014437
- Subject Headings
- Watersheds, Dashboards (Management information systems), Geographic information systems, Floods--Risk assessment
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- EQUITABLE DECISION-MAKING: INTEGRATING ENVIRONMENTAL RISK AND SOCIAL VULNERABILITY IN FLOOD MITIGATION PROJECT SELECTION.
- Creator
- Daniel, Aneisha, Behara, Ravi, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Information Technology and Operations Management, College of Business
- Abstract/Description
-
This empirical study examines decision-making in project selection in the face of overwhelming flood infrastructure needs and inadequate resources, particularly in vulnerable communities. The motivation for this study is to explore the interconnectedness between socioeconomic dimensions and environmental risks in the decision-making process for selecting projects. The study evaluates the Palm Beach County project selection framework and the impact of multi-criteria decision-making on project...
Show moreThis empirical study examines decision-making in project selection in the face of overwhelming flood infrastructure needs and inadequate resources, particularly in vulnerable communities. The motivation for this study is to explore the interconnectedness between socioeconomic dimensions and environmental risks in the decision-making process for selecting projects. The study evaluates the Palm Beach County project selection framework and the impact of multi-criteria decision-making on project selection by proposing a new framework. The new project selection framework emphasizes the integration of flood risk and social vulnerability index criteria to evaluate the relationship between the new criteria in the decision-making framework and project selection. The analysis is comprised of 24 models grouped into three distinct groups and compared using paired t-tests. The analysis reveals that of the three groups, the group which incorporates both flood risks and social vulnerability criteria consistently outperforms the others, demonstrating its effectiveness in providing a more equitable investment for vulnerable communities that are more susceptible to floods. The findings provide valuable insights and recommendations for practitioners and scholars, emphasizing the need for a theoretical framework with objectivity to guide optimal infrastructure investments for decision makers.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014399
- Subject Headings
- Floods, Decision making, Environmental management, Infrastructure (Economics)
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- HOW THE CHANGES IN TITLE IX GUIDANCE SHAPE HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS’ LIABILITY IN FEDERAL COURT CASES, 2000–2022: A CONTENT ANALYSIS.
- Creator
- Miller, Allyson, Salinas Jr., Cristobal, Warshaw, Jarrett, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
- Abstract/Description
-
In this qualitative study, 21 Title IX federal court cases between 2000–2022 were examined. The purpose of this analysis was to explore how the changes in Title IX guidance across President George W. Bush (R), President Barack Obama (D), and President Donald Trump (R) administrations have impacted higher education institutional liability lawsuits. Guided by content analysis and the power-conscious framework, three research questions were asked: (1) How have the Title IX policy changes under...
Show moreIn this qualitative study, 21 Title IX federal court cases between 2000–2022 were examined. The purpose of this analysis was to explore how the changes in Title IX guidance across President George W. Bush (R), President Barack Obama (D), and President Donald Trump (R) administrations have impacted higher education institutional liability lawsuits. Guided by content analysis and the power-conscious framework, three research questions were asked: (1) How have the Title IX policy changes under the Bush, Obama, and Trump U.S. presidential administrations impacted higher education institutional liability lawsuits? (2) What specific Title IX requirements within the Bush, Obama, and Trump U.S. presidential administrations are higher education institutions being held liable for violating? (3) How effective is the Title IX guidance under the Bush, Obama, and Trump U.S. presidential administrations at reducing institutional liability? Four themes emerged from this study: (1) Increase in Title IX lawsuits, (2) Violation of Presidential Guidance Does Not Mean Violation of Title IX, (3) Previous Court Cases, (4) Guidance with More Legal Protocol Can Reduce Title IX Liability. This content analysis concluded that higher education institutions should incorporate legal standards into their Title IX process and work to be compliant with federal law and the guidance provided by the Department of Education. Furthermore, this study demonstrates the different types and forms of power that change over a period of time. Based upon these conclusions, recommendations were made for higher education institutions and the U.S. Department of Education to create policies that would be fair and equitable to the involved parties while also reducing institutional liability.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014401
- Subject Headings
- Education, Higher--Law and legislation, Educational leadership, Liability (Law), Sexual harassment
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Historians of 19th Century Baseball: Exploring Their Experiences Regarding Their Avocation.
- Creator
- Berstler, Wade, Bryan, Valerie, Florida Atlantic University, College of Education, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology
- Abstract/Description
-
The following document offers a qualitative case study in the field of adult and community education from an educational leadership perspective using baseball as an adult learning tool. Relevant existing theories (adult education, lifelong learning, adult learners, and certain leadership practices) for successful facilitation of historical baseball research were examined. The study focused on a purposeful sample population upon which a pilot study was conducted, revealing the experiences of...
Show moreThe following document offers a qualitative case study in the field of adult and community education from an educational leadership perspective using baseball as an adult learning tool. Relevant existing theories (adult education, lifelong learning, adult learners, and certain leadership practices) for successful facilitation of historical baseball research were examined. The study focused on a purposeful sample population upon which a pilot study was conducted, revealing the experiences of adult self-directed learners who produce the seminal work in their field as an avocation. The findings of this study included, but are not limited to, the passionate approach the study group members have for their subject matter, their love of learning, and the self-directedness of nonformally trained research historians using baseball as an adult learning tool. The findings also revealed the group members belief in the academic worthiness of baseball history, and their willingness to share their work with others to advance the field.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004648
- Subject Headings
- Adult learning, Baseball -- United States -- History -- 19th century, Educational leadership, Experiential learning, Learning, Psychology of, Motivation in adult education, Transformational leadership
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- FLOW-MEDIATED NAVIGATION AND COORDINATION OF ARTIFICIAL SWIMMERS USING DEEP REINFORCEMENT LEARNING.
- Creator
- Nair, Aishwarya, Verma, Siddhartha, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
-
Aquatic organisms are able to achieve swimming efficiencies that are much higher than any underwater vehicle that has been designed by humans. This is mainly due to the adaptive swimming patterns that they display in response to changes in their environment and their behaviors, i.e., hunting, fleeing, or foraging. In this work, we explore these adaptations from a hydrodynamics standpoint, using numerical simulations to emulate self-propelled artificial swimmers in various flow fields. Apart...
Show moreAquatic organisms are able to achieve swimming efficiencies that are much higher than any underwater vehicle that has been designed by humans. This is mainly due to the adaptive swimming patterns that they display in response to changes in their environment and their behaviors, i.e., hunting, fleeing, or foraging. In this work, we explore these adaptations from a hydrodynamics standpoint, using numerical simulations to emulate self-propelled artificial swimmers in various flow fields. Apart from still or uniform flow, the most likely flow field encountered by swimmers are those formed by the wakes of solid objects, such as roots of aquatic vegetation, or underwater structures. Therefore, a simplified bio-inspired design of porous structures consisting of nine cylinders was considered to identify arrangements that could produce wakes of varying velocities and enstrophy, which in turn might provide beneficial environments for underwater swimmers. These structures were analyzed using a combination of numerical simulations and experiments, and the underlying flow physics was examined using a variety of data-analysis techniques. Subsequently, in order to recreate the adaptations of natural swimmers in different flow regimes, artificial swimmers were positioned in each of these different types of flow fields and then trained to optimize their movements to maximize swimming efficiency using deep reinforcement learning. These artificial swimmers utilize a sensory input system that allows them to detect the velocity field and pressure on the surface of their body, which is similar to the lateral line sensing system in biological fish. The results demonstrate that the information gleaned from the simplified lateral line system was sufficient for the swimmer to replicate naturally found behaviors such as K´arm´an gaiting. The phenomenon of schooling in underwater organisms is similarly thought to provide opportunities for swimmers to increase their energy efficiency, along with the other associated benefits. Thus, multiple swimmers were trained using multi-agent reinforcement learning to discover optimal swimming patterns at the group level as well as the individual level.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014413
- Subject Headings
- Reinforcement learning, Hydrodynamics, Computational fluid dynamics, .
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- FORGING THE ALLIANCE FOR PROGRESS: VENEZUELA, THE UNITED STATES, AND THE BOUNTY OF OIL, 1957-1963.
- Creator
- Aristeguieta, Leandro Simón Pirela, Weinberg, Eyal, Florida Atlantic University, Department of History, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
This thesis analyses the foreign economic policies of the Eisenhower and Kennedy administration toward Venezuela from 1957 to 1963. By examining material from U.S. diplomatic document collections, my research intervenes in the historiography of the Alliance for Progress by demonstrating the failures of U.S. policy in Venezuela during the Latin American Cold War. Although the United States supported the democratic government of Rómulo Betancourt politically, it hamstrung his government...
Show moreThis thesis analyses the foreign economic policies of the Eisenhower and Kennedy administration toward Venezuela from 1957 to 1963. By examining material from U.S. diplomatic document collections, my research intervenes in the historiography of the Alliance for Progress by demonstrating the failures of U.S. policy in Venezuela during the Latin American Cold War. Although the United States supported the democratic government of Rómulo Betancourt politically, it hamstrung his government economically. The Kennedy administration at first provided loans for economic development to Venezuela, though they quickly eliminated this aid and began prioritizing military assistance as the most efficient way of supporting Betancourt’s government. More importantly, by continually limiting imports of Venezuelan oil into the United States, both the Eisenhower and Kennedy administrations hurt Venezuela’s economy and caused Betancourt to face a crisis of legitimacy as his capacity to manage the nation’s natural wealth came into question.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014368
- Subject Headings
- International economic relations, Eisenhower, Dwight D. (Dwight David), 1890-1969, Kennedy, John F. (John Fitzgerald), 1917-1963, Venezuela, Historiography
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE FEED.
- Creator
- Tierney, Duncan, Bucak, Ayşe Papatya, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
- Abstract/Description
-
Feed is a novel set in a fictional post-revolutionary Nebraska, at a time when the developments and progress of the revolution begins to come into question. The former revolutionaries must dive into an internet-like database, referred to as the Feed, in order to unearth memories critical to their survival.
- Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014422
- Subject Headings
- Creative writing, Novels, Fiction
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE HANDCUFFS OF POVERTY: AN ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN GOVERNMENT INTERVENTION IN PUBLIC ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS AND STUDENT ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT IN A LARGE URBAN DISTRICT.
- Creator
- Grasinger, Justin, Meredith Mountford, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
- Abstract/Description
-
In this study, the researcher uses quantitative methods to examine the extent to which Title I funding helps public schools with large populations of economically-disadvantaged students increase student academic achievement in reading and math in grades 3–5, and whether the leaders of these schools utilize specific social justice actions identified through a review of literature. The researcher gathers grade level student proficiency data for students in grades 3–5 and performs a bivariate...
Show moreIn this study, the researcher uses quantitative methods to examine the extent to which Title I funding helps public schools with large populations of economically-disadvantaged students increase student academic achievement in reading and math in grades 3–5, and whether the leaders of these schools utilize specific social justice actions identified through a review of literature. The researcher gathers grade level student proficiency data for students in grades 3–5 and performs a bivariate correlation and a simple regression analysis to determine the extent to which identified schools receiving Title I funds are able to increase student proficiency rates over a three-year period. The researcher further analyzes the data through a social justice lens to determine possible social justice solutions to the persistent problem of the income-achievement gap.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014411
- Subject Headings
- Elementary schools, Social justice, Poverty, Educational leadership
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TIME-LAPSE FLUORESCENCE MICROSCOPY TO QUANTIFY THE EFFICACY OF DRUGS AND NON-IONIZING RADIATION AS CANCER THERAPIES.
- Creator
- Konjalwar, Shalaka, Ranji, Mahsa, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, College of Engineering and Computer Science
- Abstract/Description
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Significant efforts are being made to understand and treat cancer, though methods are costly, invasive, and detrimental to healthy surrounding tissues. Techniques in optical imaging assess cancer cells’ state in response to treatments. The purpose of this study is to employ non-ionizing radiation as a potential safer therapeutic option and use timelapse fluorescence microscopy to monitor and quantify treatments to lung cancer cells. This thesis (1) measures and visualizes effects of a...
Show moreSignificant efforts are being made to understand and treat cancer, though methods are costly, invasive, and detrimental to healthy surrounding tissues. Techniques in optical imaging assess cancer cells’ state in response to treatments. The purpose of this study is to employ non-ionizing radiation as a potential safer therapeutic option and use timelapse fluorescence microscopy to monitor and quantify treatments to lung cancer cells. This thesis (1) measures and visualizes effects of a combinatory repurposed drug treatment through monitoring cellular metabolic state with time-lapse fluorescence microscopy and (2) develops a non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation system as a possible therapy modality. Results obtained demonstrate the effectiveness of a combinatory drug treatment and promising capability of non-ionizing radiation treatment, determined by an increase in fluorescence intensity correlated with metabolic state. In the future, different irradiation doses and drug combinations will be used for additional cancer cell lines, such as prostate and breast cancer.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014406
- Subject Headings
- Cancer--Treatment, Drugs--Effectiveness, Fluorescence Microscopy, Nonionizing radiation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TOWARD MEDIA LITERACY PARENT EDUCATION: IDENTIFYING CHARACTERISTICS OF MEDIA USE AS PROXIMAL PROCESSES THROUGH THE PERSPECTIVES OF MOTHERS OF ADOLESCENTS IN CURRENT MEDIA DOMINANT BIOECOLOGICAL STRUCTURES.
- Creator
- Haywood, Alicia, Powers, Jillian, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Curriculum, Culture, and Educational Inquiry, College of Education
- Abstract/Description
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Media literacy education has yet to adequately address the needs of parents as media literacy learners. Yet, a lack of understanding about media literacy’s meaning, for most people outside of the community of scholars and advocates engaged in its discourse, renders no clear pathway toward rectifying the omission. This study situates media, rather than media literacy, as the introductory topic, while seeking a conceptual gateway for parents as media literacy learners through insights gathered...
Show moreMedia literacy education has yet to adequately address the needs of parents as media literacy learners. Yet, a lack of understanding about media literacy’s meaning, for most people outside of the community of scholars and advocates engaged in its discourse, renders no clear pathway toward rectifying the omission. This study situates media, rather than media literacy, as the introductory topic, while seeking a conceptual gateway for parents as media literacy learners through insights gathered from mothers of adolescents on matters of quality, role, and impact within their home environments. Utilizing Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological theory of human development as a conceptual foundation, media use was framed here as a proximal process. Through exploratory mixed methods research design, data were collected from a quantitative questionnaire (n=363) and qualitative, semi-structured interviews (n=13) about three proximal process variations: (1) mother and adolescent engaged in joint media use, (2) the mother’s solitary media use, and (3) media use of their adolescent child(ren) when alone. Quantitative results show that mothers evaluate the quality of media use in their home environments as more favorable than not for each proximal process. However, there was significant disagreement among the mothers regarding media use of their adolescent(s), when alone. Disagreement on this item guided identification of participants for the qualitative interviews.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014386
- Subject Headings
- Media literacy, Mothers, Families
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE BIOGEOCHEMICAL IMPORTANCE OF REACTIVE IRON IN FLORIDA BAY SEDIMENTS: BENTHIC-PELAGIC COUPLING AND SEASONAL SULFIDE DYNAMICS.
- Creator
- Thackston, Mason A., Beckler, Jordon, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Marine Science and Oceanography, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
- Abstract/Description
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Iron and manganese redox chemistry are important drivers of sulfur cycling in marine sediments. Florida Bay sediments are extremely sulfidic, having been attributed to mass mortality of seagrass and oxygen depletion in the water column. This research used conventional sediment analyses and a diagenetic model to infer the overall capacity for Florida Bay sediments to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and prevent high rates of sediment dissolved oxygen consumption via hydrogen sulfide reoxidation....
Show moreIron and manganese redox chemistry are important drivers of sulfur cycling in marine sediments. Florida Bay sediments are extremely sulfidic, having been attributed to mass mortality of seagrass and oxygen depletion in the water column. This research used conventional sediment analyses and a diagenetic model to infer the overall capacity for Florida Bay sediments to eliminate hydrogen sulfide and prevent high rates of sediment dissolved oxygen consumption via hydrogen sulfide reoxidation. Previous studies have suggested that iron is important for buffering hydrogen sulfide in Florida Bay sediments, while the results of this project show for the first time that this phenomenon is relevant only in specific locations and times of the year. However, my research indicates that Fe has the potential to sequester sulfides and minimize hypoxia in the Everglades system. Thus, under a scenario that greater amounts of Fe are delivered to Florida Bay sediments from freshwater flows under Everglades restoration, Fe could be a component of ecosystem management.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2024
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014421
- Subject Headings
- Marine sediments, Florida Bay (Fla.), Sulfur cycle, Biogeochemical cycles
- Format
- Document (PDF)