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- Title
- A Caenorhabditis elegans Model of Age-dependent Neurodegeneration.
- Creator
- Jia, Kailiang, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The probability of humans developing neurodegenerative diseases increases as one ages. So the purpose of this study is to use the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a genetic model for determining if they develop age-dependent neuronal changes.
- Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005151
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A camera trap study of the cryptic, terrestrial guenon Cercopithecus lomamiensis in central Democratic Republic of Congo.
- Creator
- McPhee, Steven G., Ayali, Pablo, Graduate College, Hart, John A., Detwiler, Kate M.
- Abstract/Description
-
From October-December 2013, we conducted a camera trap study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the Lomami River Basin, DR Congo. The primary aim of the study was to examine how lesula fares in the presence of uncontrolled bushmeat hunting. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4-km2 grid located in the Yawende community conservation area outside the proposed Lomami National Park LNP. We compared an analysis of 72 lesula events over 842 camera trap days...
Show moreFrom October-December 2013, we conducted a camera trap study of the newly discovered primate species lesula, Cercopithecus lomamiensis, in the Lomami River Basin, DR Congo. The primary aim of the study was to examine how lesula fares in the presence of uncontrolled bushmeat hunting. We placed 41 camera traps inside a 4-km2 grid located in the Yawende community conservation area outside the proposed Lomami National Park LNP. We compared an analysis of 72 lesula events over 842 camera trap days from the heavily hunted Yawende site to a pilot camera trap study 38 lesula 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 Yawende site. These findings suggest lesula’s cryptic behavior is an important adaptation buffering the species from the impact of hunting. However, hunting pressure on lesula may increase in the near future as hunters adjust effort in response to the decline of less cryptic prey species. Our study also expands knowledge on lesula’s diet, group composition, minimum group size, phenotypic traits, and home range. These findings represent the first new data on lesula since its discovery.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005157
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Comparative Stable Isotope Analysis of Two Archaeological Sites in Broward County.
- Creator
- Thomas, Alexandra N., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Understanding people through the foods eaten has proven a formidable method to uncover subsistence patterns and infer lifestyle of the earliest inhabitants of an area. With previously examined paleodiet from East Okeechobee Area, Tatham Mound, and Fort Center, particular areas of Florida’s prehistory have begun to resurrect thorough the eye of the scientist. When we understand the foods consumed, we also corroborate that with the environment where the individual resided. Reconstructing foods...
Show moreUnderstanding people through the foods eaten has proven a formidable method to uncover subsistence patterns and infer lifestyle of the earliest inhabitants of an area. With previously examined paleodiet from East Okeechobee Area, Tatham Mound, and Fort Center, particular areas of Florida’s prehistory have begun to resurrect thorough the eye of the scientist. When we understand the foods consumed, we also corroborate that with the environment where the individual resided. Reconstructing foods eaten not only helps researchers understand the ecology of the habitat, but also the social structure of the group the person belonged to. The conglomeration of these factors enables investigators to understand the people, culture, and environment of a region when photographs and written records are unavailable and unaccountable. Using the stable isotopes of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen, a molecular analysis of the collagen and apatite of bones and tooth enamel signifies the quantities and qualities of proteins and carbohydrates eaten by an individual. This method will be utilized and highlighted in the paleodietary analysis of two sites from the inland zone of southeastern Florida. Two South Florida archaeological sites were discovered housing human remains in the early 1970s. Markham Park and Lauderhill Mound are the two sites used for this analysis. Because of the pottery sherds associated in chronological stratigraphic layers, the date range for each site has been shown to differ by about 500 years. This is significant to assess if the diet compares or contrasts throughout the different time periods.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005916
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A computational approach analyzing global dynamics.
- Creator
- Kasti, Dinesh, Van der Vorst, R.C.A.M., Kalies, William D., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
We describe the lattice structure of attractors in a dynamical system and the lifting of sublattices of attractors, which are computationally less accessible, to lattices of forward invariant sets and attracting neighborhoods, which are computationally accessible. We also show how the use of these algebraic structures of lattices to help us to capture the information about underlying dynamical system in a more elegant way and with lesser computational cost. For example, they can be used to...
Show moreWe describe the lattice structure of attractors in a dynamical system and the lifting of sublattices of attractors, which are computationally less accessible, to lattices of forward invariant sets and attracting neighborhoods, which are computationally accessible. We also show how the use of these algebraic structures of lattices to help us to capture the information about underlying dynamical system in a more elegant way and with lesser computational cost. For example, they can be used to develop a much efficient algorithm to compute a global lyapunov function that describes the overall gradient dynamics.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005888
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Computational Study on different penalty approaches for constrained optimization in radiation therapy treatment planning with a simulated annealing algorithm.
- Creator
- Mohammadi Khoroushadi, Mohammad Sadegh, Shang, Charles, Ouhib, Zoubir, Graduate College, Leventouri, Theodora, Kalantzis, Georgios
- Abstract/Description
-
Simulated Annealing algorithm is utilized for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy IMRT optimization. The goal in IMRT is to give the prescribed radiation dose to the tumor while minimizing the dose given to normal organs.
- Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005891
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A conserved cysteine framework of toxins from Viola tricolor and Conus brunneus characterized in the Drosophila melanogaster Giant Fiber System.
- Creator
- Hoggard, Mickelene F., Mari, Frank, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Conotoxins are disulfide rich peptides present in the venom of cone snails, a genus of marine mollusks that prey upon fish, worms, and other mollusks. Conotoxins are promising drugs leads with great prospects in the treatment of diseases and disorders such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Similar compounds can be found in plants; for example, cyclotides, which are cyclic peptides isolated from the Violaceae violet, Rubiaceae coffee, and...
Show moreConotoxins are disulfide rich peptides present in the venom of cone snails, a genus of marine mollusks that prey upon fish, worms, and other mollusks. Conotoxins are promising drugs leads with great prospects in the treatment of diseases and disorders such as chronic pain, multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s diseases. Similar compounds can be found in plants; for example, cyclotides, which are cyclic peptides isolated from the Violaceae violet, Rubiaceae coffee, and Cucurbitaceae cucurbit families and they have a wide range of biological activities, such as anti-HIV, uterotonic, and antimicrobial. Cyclotides have a cyclic cysteine knot motif characterized by a cyclic backbone and six conserved cysteine residues that form the three disulfide bridges of the “knot”. This motif provides cyclotides with superior stability against thermal, chemical, and enzymatic degradation; marking them as potential frameworks for peptide drug delivery. Cysteine framework IX conotoxins C-C-C-CXC-C, isolated from the venom of Conus brunneus, contain the same cysteine framework, homologous sequences, and similar 3D structures to cyclotides. Presented are details on the isolation of these conotoxins and cyclotides, from Viola tricolor, and the characterization of their activity in the Drosophila melanogaster Giant Fiber System GFS, which contains GAP, acetylcholine, and glutamate synapses.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005149
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Lime Softening System for Individual-Household Use Powered through Solar Energy.
- Creator
- Slater-Williams, Alexandria, Abtahi, Homayoon, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
In a study conducted by the World Health Organization WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, approximately 768 million people worldwide are not receiving sanitary drinking water suitable for consumption. The greatest levels of water contamination are within the less developed countries where individuals are unable to afford modern water treatment facilities. While there are many water treatment methods, lime softening proves to be one of the more effective approaches as it removes...
Show moreIn a study conducted by the World Health Organization WHO and United Nations Children’s Fund UNICEF, approximately 768 million people worldwide are not receiving sanitary drinking water suitable for consumption. The greatest levels of water contamination are within the less developed countries where individuals are unable to afford modern water treatment facilities. While there are many water treatment methods, lime softening proves to be one of the more effective approaches as it removes calcium, magnesium, arsenic, barium, beryllium, chromium, cooper, fluoride, lead, mercury, cadmium, nickel, uranium, radium, and radionuclides under the correct conditions. The US Environmental Protection Agency EPA has even defined lime softening as the best available technology BAT for removing uranium and radium. The issue with lime softening is that it is typically used for larger systems that serve whole communities. This project utilizes previous knowledge of lime softening to design a cost-efficient water clarification system with the ability to function on an individual-household basis while being powered by a solar unit. By condensing the system, we hope to make lime softening technology available for a wider spectrum of societies and expend the applications of lime softening.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005167
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Local Regression Approach to Computing the Cauchy Green Strain Tensor.
- Creator
- Kepley, Shane, Kalies, William D., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
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The Cauchy Green strain tensor provides an effective tool for understanding unsteady flows. In particular, the dominant eigenvalue of this tensor has been seen to be a reliable estimator of the finite time Lyapunov exponent. We propose a new method for computing the CG strain tensor using a local quadratic regression LOESS technique. We compare this LOESS method with several classical methods using closed form flows, noisy flows, and simulated time series. In each case, the CG strain tensor...
Show moreThe Cauchy Green strain tensor provides an effective tool for understanding unsteady flows. In particular, the dominant eigenvalue of this tensor has been seen to be a reliable estimator of the finite time Lyapunov exponent. We propose a new method for computing the CG strain tensor using a local quadratic regression LOESS technique. We compare this LOESS method with several classical methods using closed form flows, noisy flows, and simulated time series. In each case, the CG strain tensor produced by the LOESS method is remarkably accurate and robust compared to classical methods.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005890
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Robust Converse Lyapunov Theorem for Systems with Disturbances Taking Values in a Banach Space.
- Creator
- Gallolu Kankanamalage, Hasala Senpathy, Wang, Yuan, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
This paper presents a converse Lyapunov theorem for robust global asymptotic stability. The main result extends previous converse Lyapunov theorems to systems with disturbances taking bounded values in an arbitrary Banach space.
- Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005878
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Survival Analysis of Adolescent Friendships: The Downside of Dissimilarity.
- Creator
- Hartl, Amy C., Laursen, Brett, Cillessen, Antonius H. N., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
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Friendships are important for adolescent adjustment and development; however, adolescent friendships are fleeting. Friend dissimilarity and undesirable individual attributes have been hypothesized to predict friendship dissolution. The present study tests each as predictors of adolescent friendship dissolution. A sample of 410 U.S. adolescents participated in a total of 573 reciprocated friendships originating in the 7th grade. These friendships were followed annually from 8th-12th grade to...
Show moreFriendships are important for adolescent adjustment and development; however, adolescent friendships are fleeting. Friend dissimilarity and undesirable individual attributes have been hypothesized to predict friendship dissolution. The present study tests each as predictors of adolescent friendship dissolution. A sample of 410 U.S. adolescents participated in a total of 573 reciprocated friendships originating in the 7th grade. These friendships were followed annually from 8th-12th grade to determine when each friendship dissolved. In the 7th grade, participants completed a peernomination inventory, and teachers completed a survey of each participant’s school competence. Discrete-time survival analyses used 7th grade friend dissimilarity and individual characteristics of sex, age, ethnicity, number of friends, peer acceptance, peer rejection, leadership, physical aggression, relational aggression, peer victimization, and school competence as predictors of the occurrence and timing of friendship dissolution. Friendships originating in the 7th grade were at greatest risk for dissolution during the first year. Only 1 percent of friendships that started in the 7th grade lasted 5 years. Friend dissimilarity on sex, peer acceptance, physical aggression, and school competence predicted friendship dissolution. At each grade, the odds of friendship dissolution were higher for friends dissimilar on these characteristics. Individual characteristics failed to predict friendship dissolution. The findings suggest compatibility is a function of similarity between friends rather than the presence or absence of a specific individual trait. Adolescents seeking friendships with individuals dissimilar from them on school-related characteristics risk suffering the downside of dissimilarity, namely rapid friendship dissolution.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005882
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An identification and comparison of intestinal parasites found within Gopherus polyphemus at two differing Southeastern Florida habitats.
- Creator
- Huffman, Jessica, Frazier, Evelyn, Graduate College, Caruso, Joseph P.
- Abstract/Description
-
Gopherus polyphemus is a keystone terrestrial reptile, currently threatened in Florida due to habitat destruction. Overcrowded populations are associated with higher infectious disease transmission. Parasite roles within wild tortoise populations are largely unknown, despite growing evidence they may pose significant health risks. There is a large gopher tortoise population in the fragmented, poorly maintained Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP). A separate Martin County population is...
Show moreGopherus polyphemus is a keystone terrestrial reptile, currently threatened in Florida due to habitat destruction. Overcrowded populations are associated with higher infectious disease transmission. Parasite roles within wild tortoise populations are largely unknown, despite growing evidence they may pose significant health risks. There is a large gopher tortoise population in the fragmented, poorly maintained Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP). A separate Martin County population is at Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP) in a higher quality habitat. We hypothesized there would be higher intestinal parasite loads in FAUP tortoises than JDSP tortoises, due to overcrowding. Several methods were used to determine parasite species and infection intensities. Fecal flotations revealed moderate to high Strongyle and Hookworm intensities in FAUP tortoises; in contrast, low Hookworm and moderate Strongyle intensities were seen in JDSP tortoises. Comparing infection intensities to degree of crowding is important to optimize management strategies of these threatened species.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005150
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Are Attachment Strategy and the Quality of infant care Moderated by Cortisol? A study on the attachment strategies from the Dynamic Maturation Model to attachment development.
- Creator
- Boklaga, Susan, Frain, Michael, Sperry, Len, Graduate College, Jones, Nancy Aaron
- Abstract/Description
-
Attachment strategies are patterns of attachment that develop over the lifespan, and provide a description of interpersonal behavior along with a functional system for diagnosing psychopathology. Genetic factors, in the context of development and the environment regulate the maturation process. As the brain matures, it synthesizes past memories with present experiences in order to judge the behavior of others in future relationships. This is significant because the purpose of the attachment...
Show moreAttachment strategies are patterns of attachment that develop over the lifespan, and provide a description of interpersonal behavior along with a functional system for diagnosing psychopathology. Genetic factors, in the context of development and the environment regulate the maturation process. As the brain matures, it synthesizes past memories with present experiences in order to judge the behavior of others in future relationships. This is significant because the purpose of the attachment figure is to provide protection and aid the child in “making sense” of information made available to them. Research in adult psychopathology continues to show a correlation between adult psychopathology, cortisol, and disruptions in the childhood attachment system. This study will examine how the Dynamic Maturation Model theory of attachment strategies influence care that mothers give to their infants, and if cortisol serves as a moderator. The Adult Attachment Interview and Infant Care Index will be administered to mother/infant dyads. Attachment strategies and quality of infant care indicated by both measurements will be coded , correlated, and cortisol measured. If findings indicate a correlation, treatment interventions can be designed for post- postpartum mothers to prevent long term child and adult mental health psychopathology and associated social problems that may have their etiology in childhood.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005870
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Audience as Stakeholders: Design Thinking vs Conventional Research.
- Creator
- Koppisch, Patricia, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
This proposal discusses how design thinking allows the designer to arrive at solutions that more strongly connect with the audience because the audience is made an integral part of the process.
Design thinking encompasses personal design problem solving, decision making and critical thinking. Design thinking utilizes methodologies to discover and fulfill the final requirements and goals of a project; whether designing logo or a furniture program for a highly utilized space, it is necessary to...
Show moreThis proposal discusses how design thinking allows the designer to arrive at solutions that more strongly connect with the audience because the audience is made an integral part of the process.
Design thinking encompasses personal design problem solving, decision making and critical thinking. Design thinking utilizes methodologies to discover and fulfill the final requirements and goals of a project; whether designing logo or a furniture program for a highly utilized space, it is necessary to start with design thinking. Design thinking permits the designer to become empathic with the audience for whom they are designing in order to pinpoint the problem; this includes observation and, most importantly, conversations in order to evaluate and understand the design needs. Further methodology includes researching the possible solutions to the problem as well as testing solutions with the audience in order to make successful decisions. In addition to the pragmatic results of design thinking, the continuous use of its research methodology improves important critical thinking skills central to the individual designer and the collaborations in which he or she participates.
We are aware that designers can come up with good, even great solutions without the audience; however, the inclusion of the audience as a stakeholder in the outcome is a key component of design thinking. Design thinking assists the designer in creating solutions that strongly connect with the audience because they are made an integral part of the process. This poster presentation will discuss design thinking methodologies that include the audience as stakeholders.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005154
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Autonomic Computing.
- Creator
- Mulcahy, James J., Huang, Shihong, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Modern software systems have grown in complexity and expense, even while costs for the supporting hardware have decreased. Humans still comprise a significant cost from the development to operation and evolution of software, and must be increasingly more skilled as systems grow more complex. Further, legacy software has become more prevalent, as sophisticated enterprise systems developed over many years approach complexity that is too expensive to replace or re-engineer. One of the major...
Show moreModern software systems have grown in complexity and expense, even while costs for the supporting hardware have decreased. Humans still comprise a significant cost from the development to operation and evolution of software, and must be increasingly more skilled as systems grow more complex. Further, legacy software has become more prevalent, as sophisticated enterprise systems developed over many years approach complexity that is too expensive to replace or re-engineer. One of the major software engineering challenges today is the maintenance and evolution of these existing legacy systems to extend the business value of the software, while mitigating the costs and increased complexity. Approaches practiced by researchers and engineers include software reuse, serviceoriented architecture, and autonomic computing principles to improve the reliability of systems, while removing the need for human monitoring and intervention where possible. In this paper, we describe a real-world project in which a multi-channel vendor of musical equipment sought to extend their legacy enterprise system to automatically process customer orders originating from a third party retailer specializing in ecommerce. To realize the solution, an addition to the existing enterprise system was developed using autonomic computing, software reuse, and service-oriented architectural approaches, producing a highly automated order processing stream that was self-monitoring, self-adaptive, and fault-tolerant, while minimizing the need for additional human resources to monitor the system and process the data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005902
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Breeding sex ratios of three imperiled marine turtles nesting in southern Florida.
- Creator
- Lasala, Jacob, Hughes, Colin, Wyneken, Jeanette, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Sound assessment of the status of a threatened or endangered organism depends on understanding key aspects of behavior throughout its life history. Sometimes organisms can be difficult to observe and key aspects of behavior may not be accessed directly. Alternative assessment techniques include using molecular markers to identify fundamental relationships among males and females. In the context of assessing the status of imperiled populations’ sex ratios, population size and the relatedness...
Show moreSound assessment of the status of a threatened or endangered organism depends on understanding key aspects of behavior throughout its life history. Sometimes organisms can be difficult to observe and key aspects of behavior may not be accessed directly. Alternative assessment techniques include using molecular markers to identify fundamental relationships among males and females. In the context of assessing the status of imperiled populations’ sex ratios, population size and the relatedness of the individuals are important metrics. Environmental sex determination directs developing marine turtle sex so that primary sex ratios depend upon weather and climate; those sex ratios are estimated by proxies. Adult population sizes are inferred from numbers of females nesting on the beach, but numbers of males are unknown. Male breeding population size can be estimated from subtracting maternal genotypes from genotypes of offspring exclusion analyses. The resulting adult sex ratios differ greatly from those estimated for hatchlings. To refine current adult sex ratios in ways that are relevant to production of future generations and add to our understanding of effective population size we compare the breeding sex ratios the number of males and females contributing to a population of three species of sea turtles nesting in southern Florida. We will use the same genetic data to measure relatedness of the female nesters and the male contributors and describe how that relates to genetic flow and population structure.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005893
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Changes in Ant Species Distribution on Sea Turtle Nesting Beaches in St Croix, US Virgin Islands.
- Creator
- Balkaran, Kavita, Wetterer, James K., Graduate College, Romais, Danielle K., Balkaran, Michael, Balkaran, Deavica
- Abstract/Description
-
Invasive predaceous ants can cause chaos in their new habitats by competing for resources, increasing or decreasing preys or predators, and even threatening the next generation of offsprings. The red imported fire ant RIFA, Solenopsis invicta is a generalist, omnivorous exotic ant from South America. It has been causing ecological, agricultural, and economical havoc in the USA and other parts of the world. Solenopsis invicta preys on pipped eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and...
Show moreInvasive predaceous ants can cause chaos in their new habitats by competing for resources, increasing or decreasing preys or predators, and even threatening the next generation of offsprings. The red imported fire ant RIFA, Solenopsis invicta is a generalist, omnivorous exotic ant from South America. It has been causing ecological, agricultural, and economical havoc in the USA and other parts of the world. Solenopsis invicta preys on pipped eggs and hatchlings of ground nesting birds and reptiles and they are also found on sea turtle nesting beaches. We hypothesized that there will be a change in the fire ant species distribution at Sandy Point National Wildlife Refuge SPNWR after the first follow-up survey done in 2010, and at Jack Bay after the baseline study in 2011; both nesting beaches are in St Croix, US Virgin Islands. Baited index cards with tuna were set out for approximately two hours then ants were collected in separate marked bags. They were frozen then preserved in ethanol and finally identified. Solenopsis invicta was the most common exotic species at SPNWR. It was significantly more abundant p0.02 than the other fire ant species, Solenopsis geminata which was more abundant in both the 2010 survey and the baseline survey in 2006 at SPNWR. Neither of the fire ant species was found at Jack Bay. This increase in RIFA can become a serious threat to the next generation of sea turtles if its abundance continues to increase at SPNWR.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005135
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Characterizing Immune Cells of Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins.
- Creator
- Bible, Brittany, Zeng, Menghua, Graduate College, Tamjidi, Saba, Bossart, Gregory D., Nouri-Shirazi, Mahyar
- Abstract/Description
-
Background: Marine mammals are ideal sentinel species for human health due to exposure to the same oceans and consumption of the same foods. There have been many studies which demonstrate that wild Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are exposed to high levels of contaminants which lead to a suppressed immune system and are therefore more susceptible to opportunistic infections, many of which are zoonotic diseases. However, nearly no research has been done on determining defects in the immune cell...
Show moreBackground: Marine mammals are ideal sentinel species for human health due to exposure to the same oceans and consumption of the same foods. There have been many studies which demonstrate that wild Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphins are exposed to high levels of contaminants which lead to a suppressed immune system and are therefore more susceptible to opportunistic infections, many of which are zoonotic diseases. However, nearly no research has been done on determining defects in the immune cell population of dolphins, especially Dendritic Cells DCs that are essential for initiating an immune response. Hypothesis: We hypothesize phenotypic and functional differences in the Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells PBMC, including DC precursors, of wild dolphins as compared to managed dolphins. Methods: Specifically in this study, we have used terrestrial-specific antibodies and growth factors to characterize immune cells in PBMC and to generate monocyte-derived DCs. Results: We have identified cross-reactive terrestrial antibodies that could detect immune cell subsets within PBMC, including B cells, T cells, NK cells, monocytes and APCs. Interestingly, using these antibodies we found significant changes in immune cell subsets within PBMC of wild and managed dolphins. Finally among the terrestrial DC growth factors tested we found rat GM-CSF and IL-4 generated DCs expressing higher levels of CD11c, CD14, CD40, CD80, CD86, MHC I and MHC II. Conclusion: Our findings allow us to further study defects in the immune cells, especially DCs, in response to environmental contaminants.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005137
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Coastal Sediment Reflectance Analysis using Hyperspectral Remote Sensing.
- Creator
- Selch, Donna, Zhang, Caiyun, Graduate College, Oleinik, Anton E.
- Abstract/Description
-
Quantitative assessment of substrate classification for sand properties is needed for land management and conservation. Establishing a sand spectral library is the first step in this process. Hyperspectal analysis allows for rapid, nondestructive data acquisition. This process uses an ASD spectrometer in a laboratory setting with an artificial light source to collect the spectra. Sand collected worldwide was also analyzed for grain size and composition. Development of spectral libraries of...
Show moreQuantitative assessment of substrate classification for sand properties is needed for land management and conservation. Establishing a sand spectral library is the first step in this process. Hyperspectal analysis allows for rapid, nondestructive data acquisition. This process uses an ASD spectrometer in a laboratory setting with an artificial light source to collect the spectra. Sand collected worldwide was also analyzed for grain size and composition. Development of spectral libraries of sand is an essential factor to facilitate analytical techniques to monitor coastal problems including erosion and beach nourishment. This in turn can affect various flora and fauna which requires specific substrate to grow, nest, or live. Preliminary results show that each sand sample has a unique signature that can be identified using hyperspectral data.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005166
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Comparative survey of hemoparasites in two south Florida gopher tortoise populations.
- Creator
- Elhassani, Dana, Caruso, Joseph P., Graduate College, Frazier, Evelyn
- Abstract/Description
-
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a threatened keystone species of the Southeastern United States. Increasing urban encroachment and tortoise translocation increases the risk of disease transmission. Prior work at Florida Atlantic University suggested resident gopher tortoises had high tick burdens. To investigate ticks as potential disease vectors, two sites were examined. The Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP); managed by mowing and herbicides and Jonathan Dickinson...
Show moreThe gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is a threatened keystone species of the Southeastern United States. Increasing urban encroachment and tortoise translocation increases the risk of disease transmission. Prior work at Florida Atlantic University suggested resident gopher tortoises had high tick burdens. To investigate ticks as potential disease vectors, two sites were examined. The Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP); managed by mowing and herbicides and Jonathan Dickinson State Park (JDSP); managed by fire. We hypothesized that gopher tortoises in the FAUP will be infected by heavier hemoparasite loads, potentially causing anemia, when compared to JDSP. To detect hemoparasites, blood was collected from tortoises at FAUP and JDSP. Blood smears revealed intracellular parasites and inclusions at both sites. Packed cell volumes were done to assess whether tortoises were anemic; results found tortoises were not anemic during that sampling period. This study will provide baseline data for blood-borne infections in two south Florida gopher tortoise populations.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005145
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Comparison of Treatment Plans Calculated using Ray Tracing (RT) and Monte Carlo (MC) Algorithms for Lung Cancer Patients Having Undergone Radiotherapy with Cyberknife.
- Creator
- Pennington, Andreea, Selvaraj, Raj, Graduate College, Leventouri, Theodora, Kirkpatrick, Steven, Oliveira, Silvana
- Abstract/Description
-
Purpose/ Objectives: The latest publications indicate that the Ray Tracing algorithm significantly overestimates the dose delivered as compared to the Monte Carlo MC algorithm. The purpose of this study is to quantify this overestimation and to identify significant correlations between the RT and MC calculated dose distributions.
Materials/Methods: Preliminary results are based on 50 preexisting RT algorithm dose optimization and calculation treatment plans prepared on the Multiplan treatment...
Show morePurpose/ Objectives: The latest publications indicate that the Ray Tracing algorithm significantly overestimates the dose delivered as compared to the Monte Carlo MC algorithm. The purpose of this study is to quantify this overestimation and to identify significant correlations between the RT and MC calculated dose distributions.
Materials/Methods: Preliminary results are based on 50 preexisting RT algorithm dose optimization and calculation treatment plans prepared on the Multiplan treatment planning system Accuray Inc., Sunnyvale, CA. The analysis will be expanded to include 100 plans. These plans are recalculated using the MC algorithm, with high resolution and 1 uncertainty. The geometry and number of beams for a given plan, as well as the number of monitor units, is constant for the calculations for both algorithms and normalized differences are compared.
Results: MC calculated doses were significantly smaller than RT doses. The D95 of the PTV was 27 lower for the MC calculation. The GTV and PTV mean coverage were 13 and 39 less for MC calculation. The first parameter of conformality, as defined as the ratio of the Prescription Isodose Volume to the PTV Volume was on average 1.18 for RT and 0.62 for MC. Maximum doses delivered to OARs was reduced in the MC plans. The correlation of the ratio of air in PTV to the PTV with the difference in PTV coverage had a coefficient of -0.54.
Conclusions: The preliminary results confirm that the RT algorithm significantly overestimates the dosages delivered confirming previous analyses.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005162
- Format
- Document (PDF)