Current Search: FAU Graduate Student Research (x) » Document (PDF) (x)
View All Items
Pages
- Title
- 3MT® 2017 Championship Program.
- Creator
- Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The 3MT® competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The first 3MT® competition was held at the University of Queensland in 2008 with 160 students competing. In 2009 and...
Show moreThe 3MT® competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The first 3MT® competition was held at the University of Queensland in 2008 with 160 students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT® competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT® competitions are now held in over 170 universities across more than 18 countries worldwide.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005424
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 3MT® 2016 Championship Program.
- Creator
- Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The 3MT® competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The first 3MT® competition was held at the University of Queensland in 2008 with 160 students competing. In 2009 and...
Show moreThe 3MT® competition celebrates the exciting research conducted by graduate students. Developed by The University of Queensland (UQ), the exercise cultivates students’ academic, presentation, and research communication skills. The competition supports their capacity to effectively explain their research in three minutes, in language appropriate to a non-specialist audience. The first 3MT® competition was held at the University of Queensland in 2008 with 160 students competing. In 2009 and 2010 the 3MT® competition was promoted to other Australian and New Zealand universities and enthusiasm for the concept grew. Since 2011, the popularity of the competition has increased and 3MT® competitions are now held in over 170 universities across more than 18 countries worldwide.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005423
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) in vivo substrates in left ventricle remodeling process.
- Creator
- Tokmina-Roszyk, Dorota, Iyer, R.P., Lindsey, M.L., Graduate College, Fields, Gregg B.
- Abstract/Description
-
Matrix metalloproteinase-9 MMP-9 is involved in the early stages of wound healing, including the inflammatory reaction that follows myocardial infarction and neovascularization. However, its overexpression in the infarct zone leads to deleterious effects. Understanding MMP-9 function and modulation of its activity provides an opportunity to prevent excessive remodeling of the left ventricle. To assess the role of MMP-9 in remodeling process we employed a broad search of in vivo substrates....
Show moreMatrix metalloproteinase-9 MMP-9 is involved in the early stages of wound healing, including the inflammatory reaction that follows myocardial infarction and neovascularization. However, its overexpression in the infarct zone leads to deleterious effects. Understanding MMP-9 function and modulation of its activity provides an opportunity to prevent excessive remodeling of the left ventricle. To assess the role of MMP-9 in remodeling process we employed a broad search of in vivo substrates. Based on comparative analysis of MMP-9 null and wild type mice, several peptides mimicking putative substrates were synthesized. The cleavage sites in the substrates were identified using high performance liquid chromatography and mass spectrometry. Peptide mapping studies revealed MMP-9 cleavage sites in several proteins, potential biomarkers of excessive remodeling. Specifically, osteopontin, thrombospondin and C-terminal telopeptide regions of type I collagen were susceptible to proteolysis by MMP-9. The best target for MMP-9 was fibronectin, which has multiple cleavage sites in its sequence. In addition to in vivo substrate screening, a selective triple-helical peptide inhibitor MMP- 9i has been designed, synthesized, and utilized as an MMP-9 probe. The sequence of inhibitor was derived from the known MMP-9 substrate type V collagen. In the MMP-9i construct, the G~V scissile bond has been replaced with phosphinate moiety that mimics the transition state of hydrolysis but cannot be cleaved. MMP-9i's effect on MMP-9 activity in serum was tested in a mouse model. The administration of MMP-9i resulted in 30 loss of MMP-9 activity suggesting that MMP-9i can be utilized to regulate activity of MMP-9 in vivo.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005917
- 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
- Summary of Findings from a Case Study of Policy Entrepreneurship in Higher Education: A Descriptive Portrait.
- Creator
- Felsher, Rivka A., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
The call for higher education reform in the U.S. intensifies as the gap between the haves and have-nots widens. Policy actors from across the political spectrum advocate for various policy solutions creating a policy environment that is complex and often contentious. In such environments, policy entrepreneurs— those individuals who advocate for policy innovation from within and without government—try to break through the barriers of incremental politics to create reform. As important as this...
Show moreThe call for higher education reform in the U.S. intensifies as the gap between the haves and have-nots widens. Policy actors from across the political spectrum advocate for various policy solutions creating a policy environment that is complex and often contentious. In such environments, policy entrepreneurs— those individuals who advocate for policy innovation from within and without government—try to break through the barriers of incremental politics to create reform. As important as this role is in structuring higher education policy, it has not yet been explored. This study fills a gap in the extant literature by cataloging the traits, values, motivation, skills, and strategies that enable higher education policy entrepreneurs at state and national levels to accomplish sustainable and innovative higher education reform. This study employed a descriptive, revelatory, singlecase study research design interpreted from the postpositivist paradigm. Data drawn from interviews with 23 policy entrepreneurs from across the U.S. were triangulated with document reviews and a multi-level coding strategy. Data were then juxtaposed against nine propositions extracted from the extant literature to derive the findings. Policy entrepreneurs in this study are creative political leaders with a passion for improving educational opportunity. They are pragmatic, resourceful, perseverant, strategic, and influential actors who don’t work in isolation; rather, they are network dependent and value collaboration, compromise, and listening. They reach across the aisle, work hard to build credibility and trust, recognize windows of opportunity, create opportunities to advocate for policy innovation, take calculated risks, and make sacrifices for their cause.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005877
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Covering Small Alternating Groups with Proper Subgroups.
- Creator
- Epstein, Michael, Kappe, Luise-Charlotte, Magliveras, Spyros S., Graduate College, Popova, Daniela
- Abstract/Description
-
Any group with a finite noncyclic homomorphic image is a finite union of proper subgroups. Given such a group G, we define the covering number of G to be the least positive integer m such that G is the union of m proper subgroups. We present recent results on the determination of the covering numbers of the alternating groups on nine and eleven letters.
- Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005874
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- New LS[3][2,3,2^8] Geometric Large Sets.
- Creator
- Hurley, Michael Robert, Khadka, Bal K., Magliveras, Spyros S., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Let V be an n-dimensional vector space over the field of q elements. By a geometric t-[qn,k,λ] design we mean a collection D of k-dimensional subspaces if V, called blocks, such that every tdimensional subspace T of V appears in exactly λ blocks in D. In a recent paper Braun, Kohnert, Ӧstergård, and Wassermann constructed the first ever known large set LS[N][2,k,qn], namely an LS[3][2,3,28] under a cyclic group G of order 255. In this work we construct an additional 8 large sets with the same...
Show moreLet V be an n-dimensional vector space over the field of q elements. By a geometric t-[qn,k,λ] design we mean a collection D of k-dimensional subspaces if V, called blocks, such that every tdimensional subspace T of V appears in exactly λ blocks in D. In a recent paper Braun, Kohnert, Ӧstergård, and Wassermann constructed the first ever known large set LS[N][2,k,qn], namely an LS[3][2,3,28] under a cyclic group G of order 255. In this work we construct an additional 8 large sets with the same parameters, using the L3 algorithm for lattice basis-reduction.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005885
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effect of a Spiritually-Guided Intervention on Breast Health Attitudes.
- Creator
- Marshall, Jacqueline S., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Spiritually guided health risk interceptions provide impetus-in-action to achieve healthy balance through the integration of spiritual, physical and emotional dimensions of self. These interventions are devised with the intention of intercepting risky health behaviors. What is the affiliation between one's spirituality and health care practices? Are there salient features centered on core spiritual principles which determine decisions, explain actions and depict health outcomes? Central...
Show moreSpiritually guided health risk interceptions provide impetus-in-action to achieve healthy balance through the integration of spiritual, physical and emotional dimensions of self. These interventions are devised with the intention of intercepting risky health behaviors. What is the affiliation between one's spirituality and health care practices? Are there salient features centered on core spiritual principles which determine decisions, explain actions and depict health outcomes? Central ideologies of spirituality provide a viable platform upon which health promotional activities can be acquired and maintained. The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of a spiritually-guided intervention on breast health attitudes in Afro-Caribbean women ACW residing in the South Florida.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005898
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Should we use RapidArc (VMAT) for breast radiotherapy? A Dosimetric comparison of IMRT versus VMAT optimization.
- Creator
- Moshiri Sedeh, Nader, Pella, Silvia, Leventouri, Theodora, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the dose-volumetric results of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with RapidArc (RA Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) for whole breast irradiation. Methods: 25 patients previously treated for whole left breast (either RapidArc plan or IMRT) were the subjects of this planning study. Eclipse v 11.0.47 was used to make all retrospective plans using the same contours, energy, machine and normalization. Prescription dose to the...
Show morePurpose: The purpose of this study is to compare the dose-volumetric results of intensity modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) with RapidArc (RA Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA) for whole breast irradiation. Methods: 25 patients previously treated for whole left breast (either RapidArc plan or IMRT) were the subjects of this planning study. Eclipse v 11.0.47 was used to make all retrospective plans using the same contours, energy, machine and normalization. Prescription dose to the planning target volume was 5000 Gy in 25 fractions. All plans were normalized such that 100% covered 95% of planning target volume (PTV). Results: V10, V20 and Dmean Gy of left lung significantly differed between the two plans (p-value <0.0001, =0.0473 and <0.0001 respectively), but V30 Gy did not (p-value 0.463). V25, D33 and Dmean Gy of heart significantly differed between the two plans (p-value =0.034, <0.0001 and 0.01 respectively), but V10 Gy did not (p-value 0.058). V5 of both right breast and right lung significantly differed between the two plans (p-value <0.0007 and =0.0112, respectively). Also Dmean of both right breast and right lung significantly differed between the two plans (p-value <0.0001 for both). The mean conformity index did not significantly differ, p-value 0.142. There was a significant difference between the mean MUs of the two plans as well, p-value <0.0001.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005901
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-9 reduces clinical severity in a murine model of Multiple Sclerosis.
- Creator
- Onwuha-Ekpete, Lillian C., Tokmina-Roszyk, Dorota, Fields, Gregg B., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Matrix metalloproteinases MMPs are a family of proteolytic enzymes that mediate the degradation of various components of the extracellular matrix. Their functions are essential for normal physiological processes such as wound healing, but their dysregulation is associated with various pathologies including autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis MS. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis EAE is a well-established murine model of MS that is mediated by CD4 T-cells. These cells...
Show moreMatrix metalloproteinases MMPs are a family of proteolytic enzymes that mediate the degradation of various components of the extracellular matrix. Their functions are essential for normal physiological processes such as wound healing, but their dysregulation is associated with various pathologies including autoimmune diseases such as Multiple Sclerosis MS. Experimental Autoimmune Encephalomyelitis EAE is a well-established murine model of MS that is mediated by CD4 T-cells. These cells penetrate the blood-brain-barrier BBB, recruit other immune cells, initiate destruction of the myelin sheath, and cause axonal loss. MMP-9 is a hallmark enzyme in progression of MS that is required for penetration of the BBB and generation of autoantigens in EAE. In addition, recent studies have demonstrated that MMP-9 contributes to normal intracellular function of various cell types including antigen activated T-cells; however, the intracellular role of MMP-9 in immune cell activation during EAE pathogenesis is not known. In this study, we used a highly selective MMP-9 triple-helical peptide inhibitor THPI that is a phosphinate transition state analog to examine antigen specific T-cell responses. We found that selective inhibition of MMP-9 can mitigate pathogenic T-cell activity and cellular trafficking as well as the clinical severity of EAE, suggesting that selective MMP-9 inhibition in MS can be a potent therapeutic option.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005904
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Swimming Upstream: Summary of Findings from The Writing Hour Micro-autoethnography.
- Creator
- Kamin, Fran, Felsher, Rivka A., Brittain, Kristin, Graduate College, Swann, Elizabeth G., Bryan, Valerie
- Abstract/Description
-
This qualitative, micro-autoethnographic study explored the perceptions of four female doctoral students at FAU that made up the founding and consistent membership of a self-created, self-directed, and self-sustaining blendedlearning cohort focused on doctoral dissertation completion. The participants also served as co-researchers of this study that investigated their motivation to persist through their doctoral programs in educational leadership with a focus on the dissertation phase. This...
Show moreThis qualitative, micro-autoethnographic study explored the perceptions of four female doctoral students at FAU that made up the founding and consistent membership of a self-created, self-directed, and self-sustaining blendedlearning cohort focused on doctoral dissertation completion. The participants also served as co-researchers of this study that investigated their motivation to persist through their doctoral programs in educational leadership with a focus on the dissertation phase. This study utilized group and individual interviews, spontaneous drawing, document review, and the SDLRS instrument to collect and analyze data on the group’s formation, development, challenges, culture, sustaining factors, and outcomes. Findings show that while this group of doctoral students faced substantial challenges and distractions, their self-created cohort evolved through the stages of group development into a viable and supportive community of practice based on their learner motivation orientations achievement and affiliation, personal strengths, and strategies that included dependence on technology; meeting structure, time management techniques, rules, sharing, critiquing, accountability, artificial deadlines, and emotional support. This study fills a major void in the literature. While research exists that examine doctoral cohorts, graduate student retention factors, and graduate student peer mentoring, literature is sparse regarding the outcomes of self-created and self-sustaining graduate student cohorts. Given the high rate of attrition among doctoral students across disciplines in the U.S., the implications of this study include improvement of graduate student advising, suggestions for supportive restructuring of graduate study programs toward increased retention, and the creation of an empowering model for student cohort formation to be validated through further research.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005886
- 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 Local Regression Approach to Computing the Cauchy Green Strain Tensor.
- Creator
- Kepley, Shane, Kalies, William D., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
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
- Task Decoding using Recurrent Quantification Analysis of Eye Movements.
- Creator
- LaCombe, Daniel C. Jr., Barenholtz, Elan, Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the possibility of using machine-learning techniques to decode generating properties of eye-movement data. Here we explore a relatively new approach to eye movement quantification, Recurrence Quantification Analysis RQA— which allows analysis of spatio-temporal fixation patterns — and assess its diagnostic power with respect to task decoding. Fifty participants completed both aesthetic-judgment and visual-search tasks over natural images...
Show moreIn recent years, there has been a surge of interest in the possibility of using machine-learning techniques to decode generating properties of eye-movement data. Here we explore a relatively new approach to eye movement quantification, Recurrence Quantification Analysis RQA— which allows analysis of spatio-temporal fixation patterns — and assess its diagnostic power with respect to task decoding. Fifty participants completed both aesthetic-judgment and visual-search tasks over natural images of indoor scenes. Six different sets of features were extracted from the eye movement data, including aggregate, fixation-map, and RQA measures. These feature vectors were then used to train six separate support vector machines using an n-fold cross validation procedure in order to classify a scanpath as being generated under either an aesthetic-judgment or visual- search task. Analyses indicated that all classifiers decoded task significantly better than chance. Pairwise comparisons revealed that all RQA feature sets afforded significantly greater decoding accuracy than the aggregate features. The superior performance of RQA features compared to the others may be that they are relatively invariant to changes in observer or stimulus; although RQA features significantly decoded observer- and stimulus-identity, analyses indicated that spatial distribution of fixations were most informative about stimulus-identity whereas aggregate measures were most informative about observer-identity. Therefore, changes in RQA values could be more confidently attributed to changes in task, rather than observer or stimulus, relative to the other feature sets. The findings of this research have significant implications for the application of RQA in studying eye-movement dynamics in topdown attention.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005892
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Exploring the Risk Factors for Schizophrenia in Afro-Caribbeans in the United States: A Meta-Synthesis.
- Creator
- Gall-Ojurongbe, Sandra, Williams, Christine L., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Aim: This meta-synthesis explores the potential for schizophrenia in at risk Afro-Caribbeans living in the United States U.S. Background: African Americans are diagnosed with schizophrenia 9 to 32 more than Caucasians. However, this percentage does not distinguish the percentage of schizophrenia in Afro- Caribbeans from the Afro-Caribbean population. Extensive studies conducted in the United Kingdom U.K. reported higher rates of schizophrenia in Caribbean Blacks in Britain when compared to...
Show moreAim: This meta-synthesis explores the potential for schizophrenia in at risk Afro-Caribbeans living in the United States U.S. Background: African Americans are diagnosed with schizophrenia 9 to 32 more than Caucasians. However, this percentage does not distinguish the percentage of schizophrenia in Afro- Caribbeans from the Afro-Caribbean population. Extensive studies conducted in the United Kingdom U.K. reported higher rates of schizophrenia in Caribbean Blacks in Britain when compared to White British citizens. However, there is a paucity of information about schizophrenia in Caribbean Blacks living in the U.S. Method: A review of literature conducted between 1990 and 2014, using a qualitative approach, identified four journal articles; the results of which were analyzed with the aid of NVivo software, using thematic synthesis. Results: The analysis identified six themes; racism and drug use were themes consistent with those identified in some of the primary studies. However, four new themes emerged: Effects of migration; disintegration of family; powerlessness and a rush to diagnose; all were acknowledged as significant factors that may have contributed to the onset of schizophrenia.Discussion: The themes unveiled by this review exposed a number of complex sociopolitical and economic factors that can possibly potentiate schizophrenia. However, these studies were the experiences of Afro-Caribbeans in the U.K. There is a great need for research in the U.S. to further explore the risk factors for schizophrenia in Afro- Caribbean communities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005911
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Documenting Trematode Larvae in Marine Sponges.
- Creator
- Plunkett, Rachel, Pomponi, Shirley A., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Parasitic trematode larvae (cercariae and metacercariae) were discovered in a nearshore sponge habitat on Summerland Key, FL. This is a life cycle study of these consecutive larval stages in the sponge microenvironment. The goal of this research is to elucidate information on the life cycle of these trematodes by (1) identifying the trematode taxa present in the sponge microenvironment, (2) identifying the invertebrate host organism(s) preferred by each taxon, and (3) documenting the...
Show moreParasitic trematode larvae (cercariae and metacercariae) were discovered in a nearshore sponge habitat on Summerland Key, FL. This is a life cycle study of these consecutive larval stages in the sponge microenvironment. The goal of this research is to elucidate information on the life cycle of these trematodes by (1) identifying the trematode taxa present in the sponge microenvironment, (2) identifying the invertebrate host organism(s) preferred by each taxon, and (3) documenting the hostparasite histology. This presentation shows a combination of light and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs documenting the histology of trematodes in sponges. In future analyses, 18s rDNA sequencing will be used as a preliminary screening of the taxa present in sponge tissues, and oligonucleotide probes will be developed to detect these parasites in the invertebrate symbionts of the sponges. This combination of microscopy and molecular approaches will elucidate linkages between developmental stages and provide information on the pathway(s) these parasites use to reach their final host(s). These larval stages are important to study in trematode life cycles because they develop into endoparasites of vertebrates; which in this case are likely fish which eat the sponge. Reef fishes such as Acanthostracion quadricornis (scrawled cowfish), Holocanthus ciliaris (queen angelfish), and Holocanthus tricolor (rock beauty) opportunistically consume sponges of this particular genus (Spongia). Much is known about the health impacts of adult trematodes in fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals; however, there is little data directly linking diet choices with infection. Trematodes have not been reported in sponges in previous literature.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005908
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Effect of Flexibility and Aspect Ratios on Ribbon-Fin-Propulsion.
- Creator
- Liu, Hanlin, Taylor, Bevan, Lashaw, Evan, Graduate College, Curet, Oscar M.
- Abstract/Description
-
Ribbon-fin-based propulsion has the potential to improve the maneuverability of underwater vehicles in complex environments. In this type of propulsion a series of rays are used to send traveling waves along an elongated fin, which is referred to as ribbon fin. In this work, in order to know the effect of flexural rigidities and aspect ratios on undulating ribbon fin propulsion; we built a robotic ribbon fin, and tested the physical model in a water flume. In a series of experiments we...
Show moreRibbon-fin-based propulsion has the potential to improve the maneuverability of underwater vehicles in complex environments. In this type of propulsion a series of rays are used to send traveling waves along an elongated fin, which is referred to as ribbon fin. In this work, in order to know the effect of flexural rigidities and aspect ratios on undulating ribbon fin propulsion; we built a robotic ribbon fin, and tested the physical model in a water flume. In a series of experiments we measured the propulsive force, power consumption and the free-swimming speed of the robotic fin as a function of wave frequency for fins with different ray stiffness and aspect ratios. The propulsive performance of the robotic ribbon fin was based on the propulsive force generated and power consumption. A series of kinematic experiments were performed using a high-speed camera. Based on the fin kinematics, the natural frequencies of the ribbon fin with different stiffness were determined. We found that the flexible rays would improve or worsen the propulsive performance compared to a rigid counterpart depending on the actuation parameters. For the aspect ratios considered, the propulsive efficiency improves with increase in the fin height. Our data suggest that, the ribbon fin can yield best propulsive behavior close to its natural frequency.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005881
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Heat Transfer Characterization of Shell and Tube Heat Exchangers.
- Creator
- Betancourt, Arturo, Curet, Oscar M., Graduate College
- Abstract/Description
-
Shell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHXs) are a popular choice in the petroleum refining industry, chemical industry, food processing industry and in power generation plants. This kind of heat exchanger is made up of an array of baffles that redirects the working fluid to increase heat transfer. The objective of this work is to understand the underlying physics of the heat transfer in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger and its interconnection to the fluid structure associated with their design....
Show moreShell-and-tube heat exchangers (STHXs) are a popular choice in the petroleum refining industry, chemical industry, food processing industry and in power generation plants. This kind of heat exchanger is made up of an array of baffles that redirects the working fluid to increase heat transfer. The objective of this work is to understand the underlying physics of the heat transfer in a shell-and-tube heat exchanger and its interconnection to the fluid structure associated with their design. This research focuses on the steady state three dimensional analysis of the time averaged turbulent flow and heat transfer characterization of the shell side of a small scale single segmented baffle heat exchanger. The study is carried out using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package ANSYS: FLUENT 15.0 on a hybrid unstructured mesh. The CFD results are then compared against experimental results. The Reynolds averaged-Navier-stokes (RANS) based turbulent model realizable is used to model the turbulence inside the heat exchanger. The results obtained from CFD and experiment from the shell side wall outlet temperature differ by 5 %. Based on the computational results it is found that the regions of highest velocity at the inlet and in the core flow lead to a higher local heat transfer enhancement. A better understanding of the complex flow and heat transfer regimes inside a shell and tube heat exchanger given by this work would aid to further the development of more cost efficient and effective heat exchanger designs.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005869
- Format
- Document (PDF)