Digital Commons Network^™

Returning Veterans’ Experiences Of A Holistic Therapeutic Program, Elda C. Veloso Ph.D, Angela Yehl, James Pann, Jacob Connolly, Stephen Grabner, Lyndsey Zoller, Nicole Staley, Renata F. S. Goldhagen

The Qualitative Report

Since 2001, over 2.7 million U.S. military service members have been deployed (Wenger et al., 2018). Many of these soldiers have encountered serious challenges readjusting upon their return home and many may not access the services needed to achieve successful reintegration. Current literature calls for holistic approaches to service provision, involving collaboration of support services to address the underutilization of services. To better understand the gap in treatment utilization, a qualitative approach was used to examine returning veterans’ experiences of an intensive and holistic service delivery program implemented in coordination with local veterans’ organizations. Within the study, a generic qualitative …

Morphology Transformation Of Foldamer Assemblies Triggered By Single Oxygen Atom On Critical Residue Switch, Byung-Chang Oh, Eunyoung Yoon, Jintaek Gong, Jaewook Kim, Russell W. Driver, Yongjun Kim, Woo Youn Kim, Hee-Seung Lee

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

The synthesis of morphologically well-defined peptidic materials via self-assembly is challenging but demanding for biocompatible functional materials. Moreover, switching morphology from a given shape to other predictable forms by molecular modification of the identical building block is an even more complicated subject because the self-assembly of flexible peptides is prone to diverge upon subtle structural change. To accomplish controllable morphology transformation, systematic self-assembly studies are performed using congener short β-peptide foldamers to find a minimal structural change that alters the self-assembled morphology. Introduction of oxygen-containing β-amino acid (ATFC) for subtle electronic perturbation on hydrophobic foldamer induces a previously inaccessible solid-state …

Motif Wfyy Of Human Primpol Is Crucial To Stabilize The Incoming 3′-Nucleotide During Replication Fork Restart, Patricia R. Calvo, María I. Martínez-Jiménez, Marcos Díaz, Gorazd Stojkovic, Kazutoshi Kasho, Susana Guerra, Sjoerd Wanrooij, Juan Méndez, Luis Blanco

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

PrimPol is the second primase in human cells, the first with the ability to start DNA chains with dNTPs. PrimPol contributes to DNA damage tolerance by restarting DNA synthesis beyond stalling lesions, acting as a TLS primase. Multiple alignment of eukaryotic PrimPols allowed us to identify a highly conserved motif, WxxY near the invariant motif A, which contains two active site metal ligands in all members of the archeo-eukaryotic primase (AEP) superfamily. In vivo and in vitro analysis of single variants of the WFYY motif of human PrimPol demonstrated that the invariant Trp⁸⁷ and Tyr⁹⁰ residues are essential …

Saving The Last Unicorns: The Genetic Rescue Of Florida’S Pillar Corals, Karen L. Neely, Cynthia L. Lewis, Keri O’Neil, Cheryl M. Woodley, Jennifer Moore, Zach Ransom, Amelia Moura, Ken Nedimyer, David Vaughan

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

As stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) swept through the Florida Reef Tract, one of the most severely impacted species was the iconic pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus. As the species’ population experienced a precipitous decline, a collaborative rescue project collected colony fragments for safekeeping at onshore and offshore nursery facilities. Between 2015 and 2019, a total of 574 fragments representing 128 genotypes were collected. These are currently dispersed among five facilities where they continue to provide opportunities to (1) refine best husbandry practices for D. cylindrus, (2) develop treatment options for SCTLD that have been adapted for use …

Visualizing Amino Acid Substitutions In A Physicochemical Vector Space, Louis R. Nemzer

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

A three-dimensional representation of the twenty proteinogenic amino acids in a physicochemical space is presented. Vectors corresponding to amino acid substitutions are classified based on whether they are accessible via a single-nucleotide mutation. It is shown that the standard genetic code establishes a “choice architecture” that permits nearly independent tuning of the properties related with size and those related with hydrophobicity. This work sheds light on the metarules of evolvability that may have shaped the standard genetic code to increase the probability that adaptive point mutations will be generated. An illustration of the usefulness of visualizing amino acid substitutions in …

“The Lunchroom Is Dirty And The Food Is Nasty”: Ethical Dilemmas In Conducting Qualitative Food Studies Research In Detroit And New York City Public Schools, Sophia Rodriguez, John Lupinacci, Kristen Goessling

The Qualitative Report

In this article, reflecting critically on past school food studies and considering the landscape of qualitative methods, notably youth participatory action research methodologies, the authors share methodological suggestions for centering social justice and sustainability with the lived experience of youth by drawing on their critical qualitative research in Detroit and New York City public schools. We advance an analytic framework that aims to center youth voices and solutions to social problems such as food justice and equity. To this end we call for attention to human rights, youth participatory research, and relational ethics as part of our intention to center …

Experimental Evidence That Metapopulation Structure Can Accelerate Adaptive Evolution, Partha Pratim Chakraborty, Louis R. Nemzer, Rees Kassen

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Whether the spatial arrangement of a population influences adaptive evolution has been a long-standing question in population genetics. In contrast to standard population genetic models, evolutionary graph theory (EGT) predicts certain topologies amplify (increase) the probability that a beneficial mutation will spread in the population relative to a well-mixed population. Here, we test these predictions empirically by tracking the fixation dynamics of an antibiotic resistant mutant under positive selection as it spreads through networks of different topologies both in vitro and in silico. We show that star-like topologies involving bi-directional dispersal between a central hub and peripheral leaves can …

Temperature Stress And Disease Drives The Extirpation Of The Threatened Pillar Coral, Dendrogyra Cylindrus, In Southeast Florida, Nicholas P. Jones, Lystina Kabay, Kathleen Semon Lunz, David S. Gilliam

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Rare species population dynamics can elucidate the resilience of an ecosystem. On coral reefs, climate change and local anthropogenic stressors are threatening stony coral persistence, increasing the need to assess vulnerable species locally. Here, we monitored the threatened pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus, population in southeast Florida, USA, in relation to consecutive heat stress events in 2014 and 2015. In the fall of each year, D. cylindrus colonies bleached following intense thermal stress and by June 2020 all monitored colonies died from a white-syndrome type disease. This resulted in the ecological extinction of D. cylindrus in the Southeast Florida Coral …

Addressing The Challenges Of Online Video Analysis In Qualitative Studies: A Worked Example From Computational Thinking Research, Chareen Snelson, Dazhi Yang, Torrence Temple

The Qualitative Report

In this paper, we share our approach and the process for qualitative analysis of online video data recorded during an after-school robotics program that emphasized computational thinking (CT). Online research strategies may be necessary for various reasons such as when working with a geographically distributed research team, when conducting research with students in an online program, or when resources are inaccessible due to campus closures like those experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic. We followed a three-stage process during qualitative analysis of the videos that included planning and setup, online analysis of videos, and structural coding of memos to explore patterns …

Applied Qualitative Data Analysis After The Ontological Turn, Travis Marn, Jennifer R. Wolgemuth

The Qualitative Report

In this article we demonstrate the use and usefulness of new materialism as an analytic lens in applied qualitative inquiry. Intended as a possible entry point to applied inquiry after the ontological turn, we draw on Barad’s agential realism to analyze three existing transcripts of focus groups conducted with healthcare workers, traditional birth attendants, and mothers to explore the postnatal care referral behavior of traditional birth attendants in Nigeria. We describe elements of our data analysis process including deep reading, summoning of the inquiry, delaying the inquiry, attuning to glowing data, and writing. We explore how the research phenomenon enacted …

Giving A Listening Ear: Male Student Teachers’ Experiences And Perspectives Of Practicum Supervision, Keriffe R. Clark

The Qualitative Report

Exploring the minute number of male teachers within the classroom is certainly not a new discourse as teaching has increasingly become a feminised profession. Therefore, as male student teachers take on the challenge of becoming teachers, it is imperative that we listen to them as they recount their supervision experiences. These experiences are significantly influenced and impacted by teacher educators and cooperating teachers who are tasked with the responsibility to provide high quality and effective supervision, especially during teaching practicum. Additionally, acknowledging that to attain positive outcomes attached to student teaching experiences, Hunt et al. (2015) have reasoned that teaching …

2021 Commencement Ceremonies For Nova Southeastern University, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

Association Of Hypothermia With Increased Mortality Rate In Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Naaz Fatteh, Glen E. Sutherland, Radleigh Santos, Rita Zeidan, Alexandra P. Gastesi, Christopher D. Naranjo

Mathematics Faculty Articles

Objective

We observed patients to have variable temperatures. The objective of the study was to identify if hypothermia in a patient infected with SARS-CoV-2 is associated with a higher than expected mortality.

Methods

We reviewed 331 charts from patients hospitalized with SARS-CoV-2 between March 9 to April 20, 2020.

Results

The probability of death was 2.06 times higher for those with hypothermia than those without [95% C.I. (1.25, 3.38)]. In ventilated patients, there were 32 deaths. Of those, 75% had been hypothermic. In a prior review of 10,000 non-SARS-CoV-2 patients with sepsis, the mortality rate in patients with hypothermia was …

Rethinking The Policies For Nurturing Teacher Identity Development In Indonesia, Jarjani Usman, Teuku Zulfikar, Dorine Lugendo

The Qualitative Report

This study explored supports given by in-service teachers to student-teachers for professional identity development in Indonesia. In this qualitative study, sixteen student teachers taking the course of Curriculum Development at an Islamic higher education institution in Aceh were grouped into six and assigned to six schools (primary to senior high) in two districts in Aceh, Indonesia, to communicate with classroom teachers regarding lesson plan and teaching materials. We also expected them to observe classroom practices if possible. In this way, student teachers gain real experiences on how the teachers develop their lesson plans and implement them in actual lessons, as …

Environmental Topics In Physics By Inquiry Course: Integration Models Used By Physics Teachers, David A. Kimori, Gillian Roehrig

The Qualitative Report

As we approach the second quarter of the twenty-first century, one may predict the environment will be among the dominant themes in political and educational discourse. This study investigates how three physics teachers integrated environmental topics and issues in their classroom. Data collection methods including field notes taken from observations, teachers’ interviews, and a collection of artifacts and documents were used. The data were coded, analyzed, and organized into categories utilizing Fogarty’s models of curriculum integration. Findings of this study indicate teachers acknowledge the importance of teaching environmental issues in their classrooms; however, implementing and utilizing effective integration strategies and …

Second-Order Semi-Discretized Schemes For Solving Stochastic Quenching Models On Arbitrary Spatial Grids, Nina Garcia-Montoya, Julienne Kabre, Jorge E. Macías-Díaz, Qin Sheng

Mathematics Faculty Articles

Reaction-diffusion-advection equations provide precise interpretations for many important phenomena in complex interactions between natural and artificial systems. This paper studies second-order semi-discretizations for the numerical solution of reaction-diffusion-advection equations modeling quenching types of singularities occurring in numerous applications. Our investigations particularly focus at cases where nonuniform spatial grids are utilized. Detailed derivations and analysis are accomplished. Easy-to-use and highly effective second-order schemes are acquired. Computational experiments are presented to illustrate our results as well as to demonstrate the viability and capability of the new methods for solving singular quenching problems on arbitrary grid platforms.

Effects Of Tropical Cyclones On Incubation And Hatch Frequency Of Marine Turtles In Broward County, Fl: An Exploratory Look For Potential Cues Of Environmentally Cued Hatching (Ech), Alexis Peterson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Due to climate change and warming sea surface temperatures (SST), the intensity and frequency of tropical cyclones in the North Atlantic are continuing to increase. Tropical cyclones have many direct and indirect effects on coastal and marine species, such as sea turtles. Sea turtles are extremely vulnerable to climate change, due to having life history, physiology, and behavioral traits that are heavily influenced by environmental factors (Fuentes and Porter 2013). This study examined whether tropical cyclones serve as a triggering event for environmentally cued hatching (ECH) in loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and green (Chelonia mydas) turtle nests …

Increasing The Frequency Of Periodic Spatial Disturbance Decreases Surface Attachment Protein Expression In Staphylococcus Aureus, Ivana M. Barraza

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Staphylococcus aureus is an opportunistic pathogen that can cause a variety of acute and chronic illnesses. The severity of these illnesses such as sepsis, necrotizing pneumonia, and toxic shock syndrome is measured through the virulence that S. aureus inflicts on its host. Methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) is commonly associated with secondary infections and is challenging to treat given the limited selection of antibiotics that are effective against it. Accordingly, novel approaches to reduce S. aureus pathogenicity are required. S. aureus regulates pathogenesis through a cell-to-cell communication system referred to as quorum sensing. Effective communication determines the production of two broad …

Optimization Of Grow-Out Of Bouldering Coral Microfragments: Land Vs. Offshore Nursery, Ashlee A. Steinberg

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Corals along the Florida Reef Tract and the wider Caribbean have been declining for decades. Low densities of adult colonies hinder the ability of corals to replenish themselves through sexual reproduction, thus reef managers are focusing on restoration actions that increase coral biomass. Microfragmentation is a way to quickly increase the biomass of bouldering corals by cutting the coral into small pieces which forces the coral to allocate its resources away from reproduction and back into growth, increasing its growth rate. This study assessed the optimal location for grow-out (land vs. offshore nursery) and its synergy with size of fragment …

Rapid Population Decline Of The Pillar Coral Dendrogyra Cylindrus Along The Florida Reef Tract, Karen L. Neely, Cynthia L. Lewis, Kathleen S. Lunz, Lystina Kabay

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reefs worldwide are in a state of decline, but the population status and impacts of stressors for rare species are generally not well documented using broad-scale monitoring protocols. We fate-tracked all known colonies of the pillar coral, Dendrogyra cylindrus, on the Florida Reef Tract (FRT) from 2013 to 2020 to assess population condition and trend, and to document the relative impacts of chronic and acute stressors. Large average colony size, an absence of juveniles, and large geographic distances between genotypes suggest that the Florida D. cylindrus population has been reproductively extinct for decades. During the study period, low-intensity …

Drowning Through The Beat Of The Drum, Breanna R. Brady

Digressions: Literary & Art Journal

No abstract provided.

A Phenomenological Study Of The Language Ideology, Language Management, And Language Practice In English-Medium Universities In Bangladesh: Lecturers’ And Students’ Voices, John Paul Shimanto Sarkar, Abdul Karim, Muhammad Kamarul Kabilan, Shahin Sultana

The Qualitative Report

English Medium Instruction (EMI) is a commonly observed phenomenon in higher education (HE) in the countries where English is mandated as a second or foreign language. The globally conducted studies reported the prospect, practice, problems, and eventualities of EMI in HE. Numbering around 105, private universities in Bangladesh also adopted EMI. Being guided by Cooper (1989) and Spolsky (2009), this phenomenological study explored the language ideology of lecturers and students regarding the benefits of EMI, their remarks about the language management to achieve compatibility for adopting EMI, and their opinion concerning the implementation (language practice) of EMI in the classrooms …

A New Observation Of Microatolls In The Galapagos Isalnds, Ecuador, Amber Orr

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Microatolls are shallow water coral colonies that develop their signature ring-like atoll shape from water depth limitations that prevent living tissue from growing any higher, encouraging outward growth instead. A secondary contributor to formation is the accumulation of sediment on the top of growing colonies, smothering upper surface polyps. Microatolls are described from numerous locations and form from several species in the Indo-West Pacific. However, microatolls occur at only three known regions in the tropical eastern Pacific and form from one species, Porites lobata. In the Galápagos Islands early researchers (1970s-1980s) observed microatolls at 2 sites, however they are …

Advocating For Period Dignity: A Survey Of Menstruation's Impact On Class Attendance Among Women At Nova Southeastern University, Lauren Guedj, Tanha Rahman, Sofia Garcia Austt, Jessie Mandy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Feminine hygiene products are essential in the life of every woman during their menstruation years. However, 86% of women in the US have experienced starting menstruation in public without having access to supplies. Lack of proper hygiene products on campus subjects an enormous burden on women, creating significant stress. In this study, a survey of NSU students and faculty indicated 90% of the respondents had been caught on campus with no access to feminine hygiene products. 24% of those individuals choose to leave campus during this menstrual period emergency causing them to miss class time and 58% of them choose …

Analysis Of The Effects Of Saha On Cancer Stem Cell Markers In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Cells, David Babos, Jay-Quan Dill

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In the United States, lung cancer is the third most common form of cancer and shows the highest mortality rate. The most prevalent form is Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC), accounting for 84% of cases. Similar to other solid tumors, several putative surface markers for lung cancer stem cells have been identified, including CD44 and CD133. Cancer stem cells (CSC), with their self-renewal ability and multilineage differentiation potential, are a critical subpopulation of tumor cells that can drive cancer initiation, growth, and resistance to therapy. Reports showed that Hedgehog (HH), Notch, JAK/STAT, PI3K/Akt/mTOR, and Wnt/β-catenin pathways are regulating the transformation …

Assessment Of Gopher Tortoise (Gopherus Polyphemus) Activity And Faunal Diversity Associated With Tortoise Burrows Using Trail Cameras At Two South Florida Natural Areas, Katarina Lee, Adrianna Coican

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is an ecologically important organism distributed throughout the southeastern United States. Gopher tortoises are a keystone species due to the burrows they create. These excavated habitats provide shelter for hundreds of commensal species that escape from wildfires and extreme heat during summer months. Six trail cameras (three at each site) were deployed at the entrance of gopher tortoise burrows in two natural areas (Fern Forest and Military Trail) in Broward County. Motion-activated cameras took pictures of animals at the burrow entrance over a 21-month period. Cameras were left in the field between 5-14 …

Association Between Nutritional Status And Hypertension In A Rural Communty In Dang District, Gujarat, India, Sneh Shah

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The relationship between overweight-obesity status and hypertension is well-known throughout the world, especially in low socioeconomic communities and developing countries. Both high blood pressure and obesity are preventable risk factors for noncommunicable disease, death, and disability. The prevalence of obesity-overweight status in India is increasing faster than the global average and diabetes in Southeast Asia has surged over the past few decades. There have been few systematic studies focusing on the public health development in rural communities of India like the Dang District. The objectives of this cross-sectional study are to examine the prevalence of hypertension and nutritional status among …

Bacteria Unearthed, Vijay Patel, Aysha Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

With the era of antibiotics coming to a close, new sources of antibiotics need to be found to combat antibiotic resistance. The rise of infectious bacteria resistant to our drugs is creating an uphill battle in the fight against disease. In the search for new antibiotics, bacteria remain an effective and viable source. Programs, like Tiny Earth, aid researchers in looking for new strains of bacteria to determine if they can be harnessed for antibiotic discovery. A global community of researchers collaborate to collect and study bacteria from local soil samples. Our collegiate group obtained a soil sample from local …

Bilingualism Enhances Inhibitory Control, But Not Other Components Of Executive Functioning, Erika Cabrera Ranaldi, Maria Alejandra Chavez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Humans effortlessly modify their behaviors to meet the ongoing demands of the environment. For instance, you are in the library reading a textbook and you receive an alert on your phone. You stop reading your textbook and shift your attention to your phone to read the alert. You then shift your attention back to the textbook and pick up where you left off. You don’t forget what you were doing or confuse the content of the alert with the content of the textbook. Similarly, people who speak more than one language switch between languages effortlessly and flawlessly to meet environmental …

Demystifying Hospital Charges For Hospital Readmissions In 2017 In The United States For Psychoses (Drg = 885), Japjot Singh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Existing research on hospital charges is focused on hospital admissions, but not on hospital readmissions. Literature review on hospital charges identifies several patient-specific, disease-specific, and hospital-specific variables as determinants of hospital charges. Given that there is a relative dearth of similar research focused on hospital readmissions, a federal agency – The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) has recognized this gap and developed the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) in 2015 which contains information on hospital readmissions data. “This database addresses a large gap in healthcare data - the lack of nationally representative information on hospital readmissions.” We …