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

Title: 3D-Printed Flexible Polylactic Acid/ Thermoplatic Polyurethane (PLA/TPU) Stents for Esophageal Malignancies.
Creator: Lin, Maohua, Kang, Yunqing, Tsai, Chi-Tay, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering
Abstract/Description: Palliation therapy for dysphagia using esophageal stents is the current treatment of choice for those patients with inoperable esophageal malignancies. However, the stents currently used in the clinical setting, regardless of the type of metal mesh or plastic mesh stents (covered/uncovered), may cause complications, such as tumor ingrowth and stent migration into the stomach. Furthermore, metal mesh stents have limited capacities for loading anti-cancer drugs. To effectively reduce/overcome...
Show morePalliation therapy for dysphagia using esophageal stents is the current treatment of choice for those patients with inoperable esophageal malignancies. However, the stents currently used in the clinical setting, regardless of the type of metal mesh or plastic mesh stents (covered/uncovered), may cause complications, such as tumor ingrowth and stent migration into the stomach. Furthermore, metal mesh stents have limited capacities for loading anti-cancer drugs. To effectively reduce/overcome those complications and enhance the efficacy of drug release, we designed and 3D-printed a tubular, flexible polymer stent with spirals, and then load anti-cancer drug, paclitaxel, on the stent for drug release. Non- spiral 3D-printed tubular and mesh polymer stents served as controls. The self-expansion and anti migration properties, cytotoxicity, drug release profile, and cancer cell inhibition of the 3D-printed stent were fully characterized. Results showed the self-expansion force of the 3D-printed polymer stent with spirals was slightly higher than the stent without spirals. The anti-migration force of the 3D-printed stent with spirals was significantly higher than the anti-migration force of a non-spiral stent. Furthermore, the stent with spirals significantly decreased the migration distance compared to the migration distance of the non-spiral 3D-printed polymer stent. The in vitro cytotoxicity of the new stent was examined through the viability test of human esophagus epithelial cells, and results indicated that the polymer stent does not have any cytotoxicity. The results of in vitro cell viability of esophageal cancer cells further indicated that the paclitaxel in the spiral stent treated esophageal cancer cells much more efficiently than that in the mesh stent. Furthermore, the results of the in vitro drug release profile and drug permeation showed that the dense tubular drug-loaded stent could efficiently be delivered more paclitaxel through the esophageal mucosa/submucosa layers in a unidirectional way than mesh stent that delivered less paclitaxel to the esophageal mucosa/submucosa but more to the lumen. In summary, these results showed that the 3D-printed dense polymer stent with spirals has promising potential to treat esophageal malignancies.
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Date Issued: 2019
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013230
Subject Headings: Paclitaxel, Stents, Esophageal Neoplasms, 3-D printing, Polymers in medicine
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 5th Wave: The Fault of Women.
Creator: Koppisch, Patricia, Cunningham, Stephanie, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Visual Arts and Art History, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: As a reaction to the demand for women’s suffrage and equal rights in the late-1800s, American antifeminism emerged. In the article by Janet Saltzman Chafetz and Anthony Gary Dworkin, “In the Face of Threat: Organized Antifeminism in Comparative Perspective,” the authors concluded that the growth of a countermovement is contingent upon the success and size of the movement it opposes.1 This conclusion is applied to the actions, counter-actions and subsequent growth of both antifeminism and...
Show moreAs a reaction to the demand for women’s suffrage and equal rights in the late-1800s, American antifeminism emerged. In the article by Janet Saltzman Chafetz and Anthony Gary Dworkin, “In the Face of Threat: Organized Antifeminism in Comparative Perspective,” the authors concluded that the growth of a countermovement is contingent upon the success and size of the movement it opposes.1 This conclusion is applied to the actions, counter-actions and subsequent growth of both antifeminism and feminism. However, as feminism succeeds with small advancements in equality, antifeminism escalates its oppositional strength by creating accusations against women, using labels based on gender stereotypes and initiatives that incite divisive discourse in the pursuit of equal rights for all human beings. Graphic design is a catalyst for both antifeminism and feminism visual language. To find inspiration for my exhibition, I examined one-hundred years of design used by both movements. Based by my research, the exhibition, “5th Wave: The Fault of Women,” navigates through the growth and history of antifeminism and visually examines antifeminist labels and initiatives and the culmination of these techniques used during the fifth wave of antifeminism. The exhibition, “5th Wave: The Fault of Women,” exposes and challenges the efforts of the fifth wave of antifeminism in an effort to evoke an understanding of the importance of feminism’s fight for equality and the betterment of all human beings. Using research and design to expose antifeminism’s growing labels and initiative, feminism can combat the techniques used to punish those who challenge patriarchy and heteronormativity.
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Date Issued: 2020
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013596
Subject Headings: Graphic design, Anti-feminism
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: 9,11-secogorgosterol biosynthesis in gorgonians.
Creator: Kellman, Jaelle, Florida Atlantic University, Kerr, Russell G., Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
Abstract/Description: 9,11-secogorgosterol is a secondary metabolite from the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana which acts as a chemical defense. The soft coral lives in a symbiotic association with unicellular algae known as zooxanthellae. A biosynthetic investigation, using in vivo and in vitro methods, has resulted in the identification of the metabolic precursor of 9,11-secogorgosterol as gorgosterol. This finding is significant as it indicates that the conversion of gorgosterol to 9,11-secogorgosterol is...
Show more9,11-secogorgosterol is a secondary metabolite from the gorgonian Pseudopterogorgia americana which acts as a chemical defense. The soft coral lives in a symbiotic association with unicellular algae known as zooxanthellae. A biosynthetic investigation, using in vivo and in vitro methods, has resulted in the identification of the metabolic precursor of 9,11-secogorgosterol as gorgosterol. This finding is significant as it indicates that the conversion of gorgosterol to 9,11-secogorgosterol is due to gorgonian metabolism. Since gorgosterol is known to be a product of zooxanthellae metabolism, this would be the first example of a defensive secondary metabolite being produced by two organisms living in symbiosis. A viable acetone powder has been generated from the crude cell-free extract and has demonstrated the efficient transformation of gorgosterol to 9, 11-secogorgosterol. This indicates possible future value as a synthetic tool for secosterol production.
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Date Issued: 1995
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/15180
Subject Headings: Sterols--Synthesis, Alcyonacea
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: ?Una nacion afro-ecuatoriana? Un estudio de "Juyungo" y "El ultimo rio" de Adalberto Ortiz y Nelson Estupinan Bass.
Creator: Ramirez, Cyntia A., Florida Atlantic University, Horswell, Michael J.
Abstract/Description: Ecuador is characterized by its variety of ethnic groups, including mestizos, Indians and African descendents that have formed a rich heritage of multiple cultures. Whereas much attention has been given to indigenous and indigenista literature, there is a large gap in Ecuador's literary criticism on its afro-Ecuadorian literature. This thesis examines two afro-Ecuadorian novels, Juyungo (1942) and El ultimo rio (1966). I explore the social and economic environment in which afro-Ecuadorians...
Show moreEcuador is characterized by its variety of ethnic groups, including mestizos, Indians and African descendents that have formed a rich heritage of multiple cultures. Whereas much attention has been given to indigenous and indigenista literature, there is a large gap in Ecuador's literary criticism on its afro-Ecuadorian literature. This thesis examines two afro-Ecuadorian novels, Juyungo (1942) and El ultimo rio (1966). I explore the social and economic environment in which afro-Ecuadorians had to live during the beginning of the 20 th century. Whereas Ecuador's contemporary racial ideology and the social construction of the individual dates from the colonial times, the authors of these afro-Ecuadorian novels contest that discrimination and racism and propose a radically different conception of the nation, one more inclusive of its diverse cultures.
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Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/13149
Subject Headings: Ecuadorian literature--Criticism and interpretation, Ecuador--20th century--Social aspects, Ecuador--20th century--Economic aspects, Spanish American literature--Black authors, Ortiz, Adalberto--Juynungo, Estupiñán Bass, Nelson--El ultimo río, Multiculturalism--Ecuador
Format: Document (PDF)

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

Title: A Biometrics Based Secure Communication Scheme for Bluetooth Environment.
Creator: Soni, Puneet, Pandya, Abhijit S., Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: A novel personnel authentication and verification system for devices communicating through Bluetooth protocol has been proposed in this thesis. Unlike existing verification systems which provide password or a PIN as a key, the system uses biometrics features as a key. In the implementation of the scheme, ridges and bifurcation based parameters are derived to generate a 128 bit Bluetooth pairing PIN. In this thesis a unique translational and rotational invariant feature set has been developed....
Show moreA novel personnel authentication and verification system for devices communicating through Bluetooth protocol has been proposed in this thesis. Unlike existing verification systems which provide password or a PIN as a key, the system uses biometrics features as a key. In the implementation of the scheme, ridges and bifurcation based parameters are derived to generate a 128 bit Bluetooth pairing PIN. In this thesis a unique translational and rotational invariant feature set has been developed. These extracted feature data, unlike traditional systems which include the extracted data into payload, is used for device connection by generating the 128 bit PIN. The system performance is analyzed using the pairing PIN for inter-sample and intra-sample recognition. To validate the stability of the system the performance is analyzed with external samples which are not a part of the internal database.
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Date Issued: 2007
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00012556
Subject Headings: Bluetooth technology--Security measures, Network performance (Telecommunication), Computer network protocols
Format: Document (PDF)

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

Title: A Call for Latin American Public Archaeology: Decolonizing Study in Valdivia, Ecuador.
Creator: Falcón, Wilmer Isaac Revelo, Martínez, Valentina, Harris, Michael, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Anthropology, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This study examines post-processual, critical theory, and decolonial perspectives applied to archaeology to establish an alternative practice that here is termed “arqueología comprometida” (committed archaeology). Considering the history of archeology in Latin America, its current context and the logic of archaeological practice, the objective of this contribution is not only to offer an assessment of the processes of making history, but to also provide a collaborative study relevant to both...
Show moreThis study examines post-processual, critical theory, and decolonial perspectives applied to archaeology to establish an alternative practice that here is termed “arqueología comprometida” (committed archaeology). Considering the history of archeology in Latin America, its current context and the logic of archaeological practice, the objective of this contribution is not only to offer an assessment of the processes of making history, but to also provide a collaborative study relevant to both decolonial and public archaeology. The study is carried out in the Comuna Ancestral Valdivia (Ancestral Commune of Valdivia) (ACV), located in the province of Santa Elena, on the Ecuadorian coast. Historical analyses are structured to be critically evaluated from a decolonial perspective in order to characterize archaeology and to understand its wider and less obvious influence on societies. The alternative way of doing archeology proposed in this study incorporates the achievements and memories of local comuna members into the official history of the site and to establish a project focused on the material development of the local museum. In summary, this is an ethical and epistemological reflection of archaeological practice using anthropological methods to think through and propose a public archeology project that can be relevant and useful for people historically affected by colonial legacies in Latin America.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014284
Subject Headings: Archaeology, Santa Elena (Ecuador : Canton), Public archaeology
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A camera trap study of the cyptic, terrestrial guenon cercopithecus lomamiensis in Central Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Creator: McPhee, Steven G., Detwiler, Kate M., Florida Atlantic University, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters, Department of Anthropology
Abstract/Description: From October-December 2013, we conducted a study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the DR Congo. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4 km2 grid outside the proposed Lomami National Park (LNP). We compared an analysis of 140 lesula events over 1,683 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Okulu area to a pilot study (38 events over 462 camera trap days) at the Losekola study site within the LNP. Our data show an unexpected result: capture probability...
Show moreFrom October-December 2013, we conducted a study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the DR Congo. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4 km2 grid outside the proposed Lomami National Park (LNP). We compared an analysis of 140 lesula events over 1,683 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Okulu area to a pilot study (38 events over 462 camera trap days) at the Losekola study site within the LNP. Our data show an unexpected result: capture probability of lesula (0.08) is the same at both the hunted and non-hunted sites. This is in contrast to the sharp decline in capture probability of all other medium-to-large terrestrial mammals at the Okulu site. These findings suggest lesula’s cryptic behavior is an important adaptation buffering the species from the impacts of hunting. This study also expands knowledge on minimum group size, terrestriality, diet, and times of activity.
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Date Issued: 2015
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004391, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004391
Subject Headings: Cercopithecidae -- Behavior, Congo (Democratic Republic), Lomami National Park -- Congo (Democratic Republic), Mammals -- Congo (Democratic Republic) -- Identification, Primates behavior, Wildlife watching -- Congo (Democratic Republic)
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A case study of planning and implementing whole-school reform at a middle school.
Creator: Abramowitz, Rochelle., Florida Atlantic University, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia
Abstract/Description: The purpose of this study was to investigate the dilemmas of planning and implementing whole-school reform in a middle school from the perception of administrators, teachers and parents. A qualitative case study approach was used. Data collection included interviews, observations, and document analysis. Interviews with 28 participants were divided into three consecutive sessions conducted from the bottom up in terms of the hierarchy of power in the organization. Data were transcribed, coded,...
Show moreThe purpose of this study was to investigate the dilemmas of planning and implementing whole-school reform in a middle school from the perception of administrators, teachers and parents. A qualitative case study approach was used. Data collection included interviews, observations, and document analysis. Interviews with 28 participants were divided into three consecutive sessions conducted from the bottom up in terms of the hierarchy of power in the organization. Data were transcribed, coded, triangulated, and analyzed to understand the views of participants. The study resulted in three major findings: (a) The principal enhanced the learning organization's capacity for whole-school reform by balancing tensions and conflicts; (b) Implementing a high-stakes testing regime and reform design simultaneously contributed to teacher overload, and reduced the capacity of teachers to implement whole-school reform; and, (c) Learning communities had a pivotal role in fostering collaboration for whole-school reform. The study concluded that: (a) Principal leadership is vital to successful whole-school reform implementation; (b) The crucial challenge of principals in whole-school reform is forging a network of strong relationships within and across staff work teams and the community through the development of learning communities and professional development; and, (c) Whole-school reform must be balanced with and adapted to accountability system if it is to have a chance of succeeding.
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Date Issued: 2004
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/12080
Subject Headings: Middle school education, Educational change, Educational leadership, School management and organization
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.
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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 CASE STUDY OF THE POST DEGREE EXPERIENCES OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE BACCALAUREATE GRADUATES TRANSITIONING TO UNIVERSITY MASTER’S PROGRAMS.
Creator: Lopez-Acevedo, Jessica, Floyd, Deborah L., Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: Community College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs have proliferated during the past two decades but research on post graduate educational pathways CCB graduates follow is limited. The purpose of this multiple case embedded design comparative study (Yin, 2012) was to describe and further understand the experiences of CCB graduates as they explored educational pathways after they graduated from the community/state college, specifically post degree education. The study also examined if faculty in...
Show moreCommunity College Baccalaureate (CCB) programs have proliferated during the past two decades but research on post graduate educational pathways CCB graduates follow is limited. The purpose of this multiple case embedded design comparative study (Yin, 2012) was to describe and further understand the experiences of CCB graduates as they explored educational pathways after they graduated from the community/state college, specifically post degree education. The study also examined if faculty in master’s programs at universities are aware of the CCB graduates’ intentions to enroll in their master’s programs. A multi-case study was conducted in South Florida utilizing qualitative research methods. Building on literature from scholars about 2+2 Transfer, articulation of programs between community/state colleges and universities, and the CCB (Cohen et al., 2014; Floyd et al., 2012; Floyd & Walker, 2009; Ignash, 2012; Skolnik, 2016), as a conceptual framework, this study explored educational pathways for CCB graduates and the students’ perceptions about their experiences.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013712
Subject Headings: Community college graduates, Case studies, Graduate education
Format: Document (PDF)

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

Title: A CELL BIOLOGICAL AND ELECTROPHYSIOLOGICAL STUDY OF MOUSE RETINA.
Creator: Sullivan, James P., Shen, Wen, Prentice, Howard, Florida Atlantic University, Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science
Abstract/Description: Both proliferative diabetic retinopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration are major causes of blindness which are caused by growth of defective, leaky and tortuous blood vessels in the retina. Hypoxia is implicated in triggering both of these diseases and results in induction of HIF-1alpha transcription factor in addition to the angiogenic factor VEGF. Müller cells are the major glial cell in the retina and they contribute to neovascularization in hypoxic regions of the retina...
Show moreBoth proliferative diabetic retinopathy and exudative age-related macular degeneration are major causes of blindness which are caused by growth of defective, leaky and tortuous blood vessels in the retina. Hypoxia is implicated in triggering both of these diseases and results in induction of HIF-1alpha transcription factor in addition to the angiogenic factor VEGF. Müller cells are the major glial cell in the retina and they contribute to neovascularization in hypoxic regions of the retina through eliciting secretion of growth factors, cytokines and angiogenic factors. As Müller cells span the breadth of the retina they can secrete angiostatic factors as well as neuroprotective trophic factors, the Müller cell is a valuable cell type for targeting by potential new gene therapies. The current investigation tests the hypoxia responsiveness of an AAV vector containing a hybrid hypoxia response element together with a GFAP promoter, and this vector encodes the angiostatic protein decorin, a well characterized multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor. Decorin may have advantages over other key angiostatic factors such as endostatin or angiostatin by virtue of its multiple anti-angiogenic signaling modalities. We employed Q-RT-PCR to evaluate the cell specificity and hypoxia responsiveness of an AAV-Vector termed AAV-REG-Decorin containing a hybrid HRE and GFAP promoter driving expression of the decorin transgene. The vector also contains a silencer element between the HRE and the GFAP domains to enable low basal expression in normoxia as well as high level inducibility in hypoxia. AAV-REGDecorin was found to elicit high level expression of decorin mRNA in hypoxia with greater than 9 – fold induction of the transgene in hypoxic conditions in astrocytes by comparison to normoxic astrocytes. AAV-REG-Decorin showed low levels of transgene expression by comparison to the positive control vector AAV-CMV -decorin containing the ubiquitously active CMV-promoter. The expression levels of decorin mRNA from AAV-REG-Decorin and from AAV-GFAP-Decorin were low in the PC12 neuronal cell model and in the ARPE19 line of retinal pigment epithelial cells with respect to those of AAV-CMV-decorin and no induction of Decorin mRNA was found with AAV-REGDecorin in these two control cell lines. Our novel gene therapy vector will serve as a platform for testing efficacy in rodent disease models (OIR and laser induced choroidal neovascularization) for assessment of the benefits of tightly regulated antiangiogenic gene therapy eliciting decorin transgene expression, both in terms of timing and the cellular source of production, during the progression of the retinal pathophysiology.
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Date Issued: 2021
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00013725
Subject Headings: Macular Degeneration, Retina, Gene therapy, Decorin
Format: Document (PDF)

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

Title: A COACHING CONNECTION FOR SCHOOL PRINCIPALS TO PREPARE ASPIRING LEADERS IN BUILDING AND SUSTAINING EQUITABLE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS.
Creator: Policastro, Katherine Rena, Maslin-Ostrowski, Patricia, Florida Atlantic University, Department of Educational Leadership and Research Methodology, College of Education
Abstract/Description: Demographics of the United States’ school system continue to change and diversify. Meeting the needs of diverse learners is critical to the success of all children. Building and sustaining equitable learning environments has proven to be a challenging task for school leaders. Barriers that hinder equity continue to plague schools and are rooted in systems of organizational injustice. Research suggests that leaders who are able to utilize socially just and culturally responsive leadership...
Show moreDemographics of the United States’ school system continue to change and diversify. Meeting the needs of diverse learners is critical to the success of all children. Building and sustaining equitable learning environments has proven to be a challenging task for school leaders. Barriers that hinder equity continue to plague schools and are rooted in systems of organizational injustice. Research suggests that leaders who are able to utilize socially just and culturally responsive leadership practices build and sustain equitable learning environments. School leaders have a large impact on the equity driven practices that exist within the organization; however, research indicates that they may not be prepared to lead such practices. Therefore, supporting the path of aspiring leaders through coaching, since they will eventually lead the charge, has great potential to be critical in the success of equity in our schools, and was the focus of this study. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore and describe the coaching relationship between the principal and aspiring leader in order to understand how this relationship furthers the development of the aspiring leader into a school leader devoted to building and sustaining equitable learning environments.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014355
Subject Headings: School principals, Educational leadership, Educational policy
Format: Document (PDF)

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

Title: A Collection on Would-Be-Motherhood.
Creator: Saldana, Elizabeth, Bucak, Ayşe Papatya, Florida Atlantic University, Department of English, Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters
Abstract/Description: This thesis is composed of a collection of essays on the themes of motherhood, loss, and grief. Through the use of innovative form, these essays thread together personal narratives and research to find language for complicated manifestations of loss. These essays experiment with structure and form to grapple with the illusive nature of memory, loss, and healing. The essays in this collection attempt to find healing and meaning through language and meditation. This collection is also an...
Show moreThis thesis is composed of a collection of essays on the themes of motherhood, loss, and grief. Through the use of innovative form, these essays thread together personal narratives and research to find language for complicated manifestations of loss. These essays experiment with structure and form to grapple with the illusive nature of memory, loss, and healing. The essays in this collection attempt to find healing and meaning through language and meditation. This collection is also an attempt at categorizing grief when normative societal ideas are challenged by complicated loss. This work serves as a call to action that there should be better recognition of uncommonly recognized manifestations of grief.
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Date Issued: 2023
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00014158
Subject Headings: Creative writing, Essays
Format: Document (PDF)

Title: A Collision-Free Drone Scheduling System.
Creator: Steinberg, Andrew, Cardei, Mihaela, Florida Atlantic University, College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Computer and Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Abstract/Description: Today, drones have been receiving a lot of notice from commercial businesses. Businesses (mainly companies that have delivery services) are trying to expand their productivity in order bring more satisfaction for their loyal customers. One-way companies can expand their delivery services are through the use of delivery drones. Drones are very powerful devices that are going through many evolutionary changes for their uses throughout the years. For many years, researchers in academia have been...
Show moreToday, drones have been receiving a lot of notice from commercial businesses. Businesses (mainly companies that have delivery services) are trying to expand their productivity in order bring more satisfaction for their loyal customers. One-way companies can expand their delivery services are through the use of delivery drones. Drones are very powerful devices that are going through many evolutionary changes for their uses throughout the years. For many years, researchers in academia have been examining how drones can plan their paths along with avoiding collisions of other drones and certain obstacles in the civil airspace. However, researchers have not considered how the motion path planning can a ect the overall scheduling aspect of civilian drones. In this thesis, we propose an algorithm for a collision-free scheduling motion path planning of a set drones such that they avoid certain obstacles as well as maintaining a safety distance from each other.
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Date Issued: 2017
PURL: http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004994, http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00004984
Subject Headings: Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University, Drone aircraft., Algorithms., Scheduling., Drone aircraft--Safety measures.
Format: Document (PDF)

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