Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Loneliness On Seniors Mental And Physical Health, Joy Siegel

GWEP Conference

No abstract provided.

Interprofessional Care: The Ideal Pathway For Geriatric Care In The Medical Home, Cecilia Rokusek

GWEP Conference

No abstract provided.

Shaping Perceptions Of Biopsychosocial Dementia Care With Interprofessional Collaboration, Benjamin Bensadon

GWEP Conference

No abstract provided.

The Power Of Positive Interprofessional Collaboration In Aging, Anne Hughes, Linda Keilman

GWEP Conference

No abstract provided.

A New Sustainable Environmental Education Toolbox For Botanic Gardens, Parks & Arboreta, John J. Pipoly Iii

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

No abstract provided.

Hyperdominance In Amazonian Forest Carbon Cycling, Sophie Fauset, Michelle O. Johnson, Manuel Gloor, Timothy R. Baker, Abel Monteagudo M., Roel J. W. Brienen, Ted R. Feldpausch, Gabriela Lopez-Gonzalez, Yadvinder Malhi, Hans Ter Steege, Nigel C. A. Pitman, Christopher Baraloto, Julien Engel, Pascal Petronelli, Ana Andrade, Jose Luis C. Camargo, Susan G. W. Laurance, William F. Laurance, Jerome Chave, Elodie Allie, Percy Nunez Vargas, John W. Terborgh, Kalle Ruokolainen, Marcos Silveira, Gerardo A. Aymard C., Luzmila Arroyo, Damien Bonal, Hirma Ramirez-Angulo, Alejandro Araujo-Murakami, David Neill, Bruno Herault, Aurelie Dourdain, Armando Torres-Lezama, Beatriz S. Marimon, Rafael P. Salomao, James A. Comiskey, Maxime Rejou-Mechain, Marisol Toledo, Juan Carlos Licona, Alfred Alarcon, Adriana Prieto, Agustin Rudas, Peter J. Van Der Meer, Timothy J. Killeen, Ben-Hur Marimon Jr., Lourens Poorter, Rene G. A. Boot, Basil Stergios, Emilio Vilanova Torre, Flavia R. C. Costa, Carolina Levis, Juliana Schietti, Priscila Souza, Nikee Groot, Eric Arets, Victor Chama Moscoso, Wendeson Castro, Euridice N. Honorio Coronado, Marielos Pena-Claros, Clement Stahl, Jorcely Barroso, Joey Talbot, Ima Celia Guimaraes Vieira, Geertje Van Der Heijden, Raquel Thomas, Vincent A. Vos, Everton C. Almeida, Esteban Alvarez Davila, Luiz E. O. C. Aragao, Terry L. Erwin, Paulo S. Morandi, Edmar Almeida De Oliveira, Marco B. X. Valadao, Roderick J. Zagt, Peter Van Der Hout, Patricia Alvarez Loayza, John J. Pipoly Iii, Ophelia Wang, Miguel Alexiades, Carlos E. Ceron, Isau Huamantupa-Chuquimaco, Anthony Di Fiore, Julie Peacock, Nadir C. Pallqui Camacho, Ricardo K. Umetsu, Plinio Barbosa De Camargo, Robyn J. Burnham, Rafael Herrera, Carlos A. Quesada, Juliana Stropp, Simone A. Vieira, Marc Steininger, Carlos Reynel Rodriguez, Zorayda Restrepo, Adriane Esquivel Muelbert, Simon L. Lewis, Georgia C. Pickavance, Oliver L. Phillips

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

While Amazonian forests are extraordinarily diverse, the abundance of trees is skewed strongly towards relatively few ‘hyperdominant’ species. In addition to their diversity, Amazonian trees are a key component of the global carbon cycle, assimilating and storing more carbon than any other ecosystem on Earth. Here we ask, using a unique data set of 530 forest plots, if the functions of storing and producing woody carbon are concentrated in a small number of tree species, whether the most abundant species also dominate carbon cycling, and whether dominant species are characterized by specific functional traits. We find that dominance of forest …

Factors Affecting Employee Engagement In India: A Study On Offshoring Of Financial Services, Manish Gupta, Shirshendu Ganguli, Abhilash Ponnam

The Qualitative Report

The objective of this study is to explore factors that affect employee engagement in financial offshore organizations in India. Sixty employees involved in offshoring financial services were interviewed. Thematic analysis was used to analyze data collected in the study. Three main themes were identified: (1) implicit benefits, (2) organizational culture and (3) organizational policies. The findings of this study are important due to their practical implications. First, the factors will encourage employers to make more employee friendly policies, and second, by resolving the employee issues raised in this paper, it is anticipated that the employers will be able to enhance …

Through The Looking Glass Space To New Ways Of Knowing: A Personal Research Narrative, Gabrielle Brand

The Qualitative Report

This article describes how writing personal research narratives during my doctoral research journey challenged my role as a health professional and my personal beliefs and values in fundamental ways. In qualitative narrative inquiry, the reflexive account of the research experience is a key element in conducting ethical, rigorous, and meaningful forms of qualitative research. However, as a novice researcher, I was unprepared for the unlearning journey I experienced during the research process. This uncomfortable experience cut to the core of my identity by dismantling unexamined belief and value systems that lay dormant and hidden from my everyday consciousness as a …

A Constructivist Study Of Graduate Assistants' Healthcare Experiences In A Research University, Uttam Gaulee, Brenda Lee, Douglas Whitaker, Natalie Khoury Ridgewell, Mirka Koro-Ljungberg, Dayna M. Watson, Colleen Butcher

The Qualitative Report

This constructivist study explores 16 graduate assistants’ (GAs) healthcare experiences and uses grounded theory to create a model of graduate assistants’ experiences with university-provided healthcare in a large research university. The model is composed of four broad components: (a) systems; (b) access, care and coverage; (c) knowledge, quality and cost; and (d) self. Graduate assistants’ needs and expectations constantly negotiate various systems in the model. Expanding upon the limited research regarding graduate student healthcare, this study provides implications for higher education administrators and policy makers. Based on our study findings we argue that it is not sufficient for university administrations …

The Current Volume 25 : Issue 29, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

A Pattern-Generating Tool For Use In Semi-Structured Interviews, Greg Paine

The Qualitative Report

This paper, the first in a pair, describes the development and use of a research tool designed to not only derive the “usual” research patterns from analysis and synthesis of data, but also to extend that research outcome into useful lessons and instructions for others to act on in the non-research world. Research is essentially about finding and explaining patterns to help us understand phenomena and to measure similarities and differences. Pattern also has other useful attributes – as tools, templates, and instructive advices – that tend not to be given as much attention in research. The tool discussed in …

Video: Deposition Despots: Managing Difficult Attorneys And Witnesses, Michael Flynn, Natalie Giachos, Jeremy Singer

NSU Law Seminar Series

Welcome & Introduction:

7:55 to 8:00 am

Elena Rose Minicucci, JD Director, Alumni Relations, NSU Shepard Broad Law Center

• Welcome 
• Introduce Law Professor Michael Flynn, and attorneys Natalie Giachos, Esq. and Jeremy Singer, Esq.

Seminar Presentation

8:00 am to 8:30 am

Professor Michael Flynn, JD

Natalie Giachos, Esq. (NSU JD 2006)

Jeremy Singer, Esq. (NSU JD 2011)

Role Play: A brief role-play demonstration (10 minutes) will involve Professor Flynn as Pete, the lawyer for deponent who seeks to prevent his opposing counsel, played by Jeremy Singer, from getting answers during the deposition of Pete’s VIP client, played by Natalie …

Contextual Factors Surrounding Extradyadic High-Risk Sexual Decision-Making In Men: A Case-Oriented Perspective, Katherine M. Hertlein, Claudia Villasante

The Qualitative Report

Many models have been developed to explain the decision-making process of high-risk sexual behavior (HRSB). Juhasz and Sonnenshein-Schneider (1980) proposed a model for sexual decision-making with three distinct factors (socialization influences, factors germane to the situation, and cognitive factors). While this model makes sense from a theoretical standpoint, it has not been empirically validated and they have focused exclusively on adolescent sexual decision-making processes. The purpose of this study was to identify the key points in decision-making toward engagement in extradyadic high-risk sexual behavior. Using qualitative interviews in a case-oriented study, key components surrounding the context, decision-making, and management processes …

The Lived Experiences Of Mexican-Heritage Mothers Caring For Overweight Preschool Children, Susan Mcdonald

The Qualitative Report

Mexican-heritage children are at greater risk to become overweight or obese than children of other ethnic or racial groups. Despite this, there is limited information in the literature about how the mothers care for their preschoolers after they are classified as overweight or obese. The objective of this study was to gain insight into the lived experiences of Mexican-heritage mothers caring for overweight or obese preschool children to enhance nurses’ ability to effectively care for these children. A qualitative, hermeneutic design was selected for this study guided by the phenomenological approach of Max van Manen. Saturation was achieved after interviewing …

Dynamic Regulation Of Toxic Engineered Bacteria Prevents Learning In The Model Nematode Caenorhabditis Elegans, Olena Bracho, Cyril Manchery

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Infections due to parasitic nematodes result in nearly 125,000 deaths annually. Strikingly, this rate remains nearly unchanged in the past 50 years likely owing to the fact that treatment options are either inefficient or inaccessible. Prior to infecting humans, most parasitic nematodes begin as larvae where they feed nearly exclusively on bacteria. This unique property may offer an opportunity to develop new biological control agents with the use of synthetic biology. Recently, we have engineered a bacterium, consisting of an attraction module and toxin module that lures in and kills nematodes, respectively, using the principles of synthetic biology to act …

Nova Southeastern University's Participation In Many Labs 3: Evaluating Participant Pool Characteristics Across The Semester Via Replication, Guy Merus, Andrea Moran, Boglarka Varga, Stephanie Ponce, Idania Elizabeth Cater, Alexis Murphy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A crowdsourced project from 23 university participant pools, including NSU (total N = 2,696; NSU N = 131), examined variation in 10 well known psychological findings and 8 individual difference measures over the course of the academic semester. Undergraduate psychology participant pools serve as a major resource for behavioral research studies. Many researchers have hypothesized that the traits and attentiveness of student research participants vary across an academic term (e.g., students who participate later in the semester may be lower in conscientiousness and higher in openness to experience). However, there is very little systematic evidence regarding the magnitude of such …

Osteogenic Differentiation Of Human Umbilical Cord Derived Stem Cells In A 3-Dimensional (3-D) Hydrogel, Anastasia Talalenko, Kevin Petersen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Introduction: Bone Regeneration in craniofacial region due to traumatic injuries and congenital defects is a major clinical problem. Cleft palate is the second most common congenital defect. Our long-term goal is to regenerate bone in the palatal region using tissue-engineering approaches. Bone tissue engineering utilizes osteogenic cells, osteoconductive scaffolds and osteoinductive signals. Mesenchymal stem cells derived from human umbilical cord (HUMSCs) are highly proliferative with the ability to differentiate into osteogenic precursor cells. Objective: The primary objective of the study was to encapsulate HUMSCs in PuraMatrix™ (PM), a peptide hydrogel, and investigate their survival and osteogenic differentiation. PM is an …

A Day In The Life Of Elvis, Angie Ballesteros

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“A Day in the Life of Elvis” is a short film about a Dachshund dog named Elvis, and his everyday life as a canine. The film follows Elvis from the time he wakes up until he goes to bed. Elvis is a very active dog and loves to play around with his owner. Elvis maintains a healthy life by venturing into the backyard with his owner Dyane, which is where the majority of the film takes place. The film is directed by Angie Ballesteros. Other crew members and actors include Dyane Ballesteros, Stephen Rafferty, Tyler Lindauer, and Elvis the dog.

Antibacterial Of Natural Plant Extracts And Synthetic Compounds, Joanna Theodorou, Poorandai Sanicharran

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Due to the growing problem of antibiotic resistant pathogens, development of new antimicrobials is a necessity. Biologically active plant extracts have the potential to combat the detrimental effects of pathogens without the risks sometimes associated with synthetic drugs. However, synthetic drugs have the benefit of having antibacterial activity and being well characterized. Mixing a natural plant extract with a synthetic compound could be an extremely beneficial and potent antibiotic. The purpose of the present study is to evaluate the antimicrobial efficacy of various classes of plants and synthetic compounds (2-Oxindole derivatives) against gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria. The antibacterial activity of …

Attractiveness Perception And The Influence Of Mate Availability, Ashley Stelmaszek, Mariah Chadukiewicz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Psychological studies on the perception of facial attractiveness have shown that attractiveness perception can be influenced by nonphysical factors, such as relationship status and limited or plentiful availability in the mating pool (Kniffin, K; Wilson, D, 2004), (Madey, 1996). The focus of the present study is to examine perception of physical attractiveness when presented with a manipulated verbal cue that gives an illusion of either a limited or plentiful population of mates. We want to determine if the participants will adjust their perceptions of physical attractiveness when it is implied that there is a limited selection of mates. We hypothesize …

Changes In Coral Cover (Diaseris Distorta) At Isla Catalana, Gulf Of California, Mexico, Kyle Nixon

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diaseris distorta is a free-living fungiid coral that typically inhabits dense rhodolith beds in the SW Gulf of California where they are often overlooked in this atypical coral habitat. Diaseris distorta ranges throughout the Indo-West Pacific, however the study site at Isla Catalana is its northern-most limit within the Eastern Pacific. On four dates, June 2008, November 2009, July 2010, and August 2014, population density and mean size were documented. Each survey obtained 30 randomly placed ½ x ½ meter photo quadrats. Live coral presence in each quadrat was quantified using CPCe software, then analyzed for differences using a Kruskal …

Changes In Population Densities Of Porties Sverdrupi, An Endemic Coral Of The Sw Gulf Of California, Stephan J. Robson

Undergraduate Student Symposium

At Isla Catalana in the SW Gulf of California, Mexico an endemic coral species Porites sverdrupi lives unattached within rhodolith beds. Very little biological and ecological information is known about this species. Where previously described, Porites sverdrupi was found as widely scattered colonies in very low densities (0.0038%). Random walk quadrat sampling was done with a primarily monospecific aggregation of P. sverdrupi. Twenty five (½m x ½m) photo quadrats obtained in August 2014 were analyzed using CPCe software and compared to values in 40 quadrats from 2011. The number of colonies per square meter significantly increased from 54.7 in …

Correlation Of Nutrient Contamination With Rainfall In The Everglades, Belen Perez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In this study, we investigated the correlation between concentrations of nutrient contaminants and rainfall in the inflow and outflow from engineered wetlands in the Everglades. These engineered wetlands, referred to as Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs), are designed to remove phosphate (PO4) from water in the Miami Canal and North New River Canal.

Methods: Quality and quantity of water entering (inflow) and leaving (outflow) STAs are monitored by South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) and stored in the publicly accessible DBHYDRO database. DBHYDRO water quality data from one inflow monitor (G370) and two outflow monitors (G376B and G376E) at STA3/4 were …

D.A.R.K., Lauren Mcgarrett

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“D.A.R.K.” is a silent, avant-garde short film that highlights the very possible, and commonly unseen, repercussions of our day-to-day positive interactions with others, or lack thereof. The smallest act of kindness often makes the largest difference. The film is directed by Lauren McGarrett.

Determining The Binding Of Phycocyanin To The Lncap Prostate Cancer Cells By Fluorescence Microscopy, Shona Joseph, Syed Hussain

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Phycocyanin (C-PC) is a natural pigment found in blue-green algae known as Spirulina. Since it has antiinflammatory properties, it was speculated that it might also be effective in treating cancers. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to see whether C-PC would bind to the receptors on the cell membrane of cancer cells or penetrate the cell. Furthermore, the study was conducted to see whether the C-PC was able to bind to the membrane receptors with high or low affinity. For our binding and uptake experiments, LNCaP cells were used. After incubating with C-PC, the cells underwent multiple …

Effects Of Functional Pattern Training On Hip And Knee Kinematics In Healthy Runners, Justin Romanes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Faulty running biomechanics such as excessive hip internal rotation and knee valgus have been linked to overuse injuries in runners. Therapy interventions such as hip strengthening and mirrored gait retraining produce inconsistent results. The role of movement pattern training, predicated on Functional Movement Screen™ (FMS) performance has yet to be investigated. The objective of this study was to examine the effects of 6 weeks of functional pattern training on hip and knee kinematics in healthy, competitive runners with low FMS scores. 9 healthy adults [(males, n=6; age, 24.3±8.1 yrs; height, 1.78±0.09m; mass, 68.4±9.3kg)(females, n=3; age, 31±15.6 yrs; height, 1.70±0.06m; mass, …

Flings And Things: The Effects Of Men's Tattoos And Companions On Women's Short- And Long-Term Romantic Interests, Tair Dar Perl, Fanny Shuster

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Women use available cues to determine men’s fitness as long and short term mates. Previous studies have shown that men with tattoos are perceived as more dominant and prone to risk taking. In study 1, women rated men who were electronically manipulated to either have or not have visible tattoos. We hypothesize that tattooed men will be preferred for short-term mating strategies, but less-preferred for long-term mating. Further, a woman’s impression of a taken man includes pre-conceived assumptions that he has compelling qualities as a potential mate. These impressions, however, may be attenuated by how attractive the man’s romantic partner …

Hawaiian Monk Seals: Record Of Environmental Influence In An Endangered Species, Courtney Cenkner, Krista Colburn, Samantha Mcnear

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Hawaiian monk seal (Monachus schaundslani) is one of the most endangered species on the planet, largely due to environmental and anthropogenic influences. Analysis of the animals' tooth and bone complexes allows us to ascertain critical information regarding changes to their habitats and the effects on the animals. Tooth and bone samples from 240 naturally deceased Hawaiian monk seals were collected from the Northwest Hawaiian Island chain (NWHI) and Main Hawaiian Islands (MHI). Stable carbon, nitrogen and oxygen isotope rations (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, δ¹⁸O, respectively) provide a record of dietary and environmental change, …

Post-Exercise Ice Bath (10 Degrees Celsius) And Athlete Recovery, Sierra Lelii

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coaching professionals implement post-workout ice baths with athletes; however, minimal research exists demonstrating the effectiveness of these practices on athletic performance and recovery. Purpose: To assess the effects of a post-workout ice bath on recovery. Methods: Ten athletic subjects (18-24 yrs; 171.5±11.2 cm.; 68.1±14.9 kg; 23.0±3.5 BMI) were tested for flexibility (sit-and-reach), power (vertical jump), strength (squat), agility (5-10-5), speed (10-m) and pain perception (scale). Following performance measures, each athlete completed a damaging eccentric plyometric protocol. Athletes were randomly assigned into a post-workout ice bath group (ICE), which took a 15 minute ice bath (10° C) following exercise protocol; or …

Posture And Cognition, Jana Mrkaja

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This experiment examined how priming and posture influence attention. Previous experiments have shown that different body postures can influence cognitive focus and task performance. For instance, participants adopting an unfocused posture were slower at performing a visual search task (Chisholm, Risko, Evan, & Kingstone, 2013). However, this could be due to the effects of priming on attention (Bargn, Chen, & Burrows, 1996). In the current experiment, participants adopted either a focused leaning, forward upright or an unfocused, back slouched posture. Furthermore, participants were either primed or not primed by indicting that the posture will either increase or decrease their attentional …