Digital Commons Network^™

Gametogenesis And Spawning Of Solenastrea Bournoni And Stephanocoenia Intersepta In Southeast Florida, Usa, Jenna R. Lueg, Alison L. Moulding, Vladimir N. Kosmynin, David S. Gilliam

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

This study constitutes the first report of the gametogenic cycle of the scleractinian corals Solenastrea bournoni and Stephanocoenia intersepta. Tissue samples were collected near Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, USA between July 2008 and November 2009 and processed for histological examination in an effort to determine reproductive mode and potential spawning times. Both S. bournoni and S. intersepta are gonochoric, broadcast spawning species. Gametogenesis of S. bournoni began in April or May while S. intersepta had a much longer oogenic cycle that began in December with spermatogenesis beginning in July. Though spawning was not observed in situ, spawning was inferred …

Co-Cultures Of Pseudomonas Aeruginosa And Roseobacter Denitrificans Reveal Shifts In Gene Expression Levels Compared To Solo Cultures, Crystal A. Conway, Nwadiuto Esiobu, Jose V. Lopez

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Consistent biosynthesis of desired secondary metabolites (SMs) from pure microbial cultures is often unreliable. In a proof-ofprinciple study to induce SM gene expression and production, we describe mixed “co-culturing” conditions and monitoring of messages via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Gene expression of model bacterial strains (Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1 and Roseobacter denitrificans Och114) was analyzed in pure solo and mixed cocultures to infer the effects of interspecies interactions on gene expression in vitro, Two P. aeruginosa genes (PhzH coding for portions of the phenazine antibiotic pathway leading to pyocyanin (PCN) and the RhdA gene for thiosulfate: cyanide sulfurtransferase …

Characterizing And Determining The Extent Of Coral Reefs And Associated Resources In Southeast Florida Through The Acquisition Of High-Resolution Bathymetry And Benthic Habitat Mapping, Brian K. Walker, Amanda Costaregni, Ian Rodericks, Greg Lewis, Nick Gadbois

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

Effective marine resource management begins with knowing the distribution of resources within the region. Minimal data, and thus limited knowledge, exists about the reef resources of Martin County. The marine benthic habitats in Martin County need to be mapped to characterize and quantify the distribution of its coral and other benthic communities, therefore, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Coral Reef Conservation Program, FL Fish and Wildlife Research Institute and the National Coral Reef Institute at Nova Southeastern University have partnered to expand upon previous mapping efforts to identify and classify the benthic habitats in the southeast Florida region …

Overview Of Majors At A Glance, Nova Southeastern University

Undergraduate Programs Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

A Comparison Of Users' Personal Information Sharing Awareness, Habits, And Practices In Social Networking Sites And E-Learning Systems, Albert Ball

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Although reports of identity theft continue to be widely published, users continue to post an increasing amount of personal information online, especially within social networking sites (SNS) and e-learning systems (ELS). Research has suggested that many users lack awareness of the threats that risky online personal information sharing poses to their personal information. However, even among users who claim to be aware of security threats to their personal information, actual awareness of these security threats is often found to be lacking. Although attempts to raise users' awareness about the risks of sharing their personal information have become more common, it …

Incorporating Personal Health Records Into The Disease Management Of Rural Heart Failure Patients, Karen Baron

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Personal Health Records (PHRs) allow patients to access and in some cases manage their own health records. Their potential benefits include access to health information, enhanced asynchronous communication between patients and clinicians, and convenience of online appointment scheduling and prescription refills. Potential barriers to PHR use include lack of computer and internet access, poor computer or health literacy, security concerns, and provider disengagement. PHRs may help those living in rural areas and those with chronic conditions such as heart failure, monitor and manage their disease, communicate with their health care team and adhere to clinical recommendations. To provide some much …

College Of Allied Health And Nursing R.N. To B.S.N., R.N. To M.S.N 2012 Entering Class, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Bachelor Of Science In Nursing Entry Level 2012, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Fall 2012, Nsu Oceanographic Center

Currents

No abstract provided.

An Examination Of Teachers' Integration Of Web 2.0 Technologies In Secondary Classrooms: A Phenomenological Research Study, Barbara Ann Boksz

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

An Examination of Teachers' Integration of Web 2.0 Technologies in Secondary Classrooms: A Phenomenological Research Study

By

Barbara A. Boksz

© November 8, 2012

This study examined the process teachers used to change their pedagogy to deliver effective instruction using Web 2.0 tools. A phenomenological approach examined the "lived experiences" of seven secondary teachers through in-depth interviews giving this study an in-depth qualitative analysis of teachers and technology.

The widening digital divide between teachers and students causes a barrier for educators trying to reach their students. Students are raised with pervasive technology, while teachers are using Web 2.0 tools on …

A Comparative Analysis Of Machine Learning Techniques For Foreclosure Prediction, Dexter Randell Brown

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The current decline in the U.S. economy was accompanied by an increase in foreclosure rates starting in 2007. Though the earliest figures for 2009 - 2010 indicate a significant decrease, foreclosure of homes in the U.S. is still at an alarming level (Gutierrez, 2009a). Recent research at the University of Michigan suggested that many foreclosures could have been averted had there been a predictive system that did not only rely on credit scores and loan-to-value ratios (DeGroat, 2009). Furthermore, Grover, Smith & Todd (2008) contend that foreclosure prediction can enhance the efficiency of foreclosure mitigation by facilitating the allocation of …

A Study Of Targeted Information System Accessibility And Usage By Foreign Domestic Workers In Singapore, Sandra Boesch

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) have had a remarkable influence on society. Many argue that the impact of ICTs, either positive or negative, affects all of humanity. Acceptance, usability, and accessibility are key for ICTs to make a positive impact on society. Previous research states that Information Technology (IT) can lead to higher salaries, better communication, and more rapid advancements from emerging to developed nations. Additionally, information technology has demonstrated the potential to improve society's effectiveness and productivity by establishing a means to circulate knowledge, increase knowledge sharing, and provide knowledge accumulation and internalization. Therefore, if information technology can improve …

Understanding The Value Of Enterprise Architecture For Organizations: A Grounded Theory Approach, Edwin Frank Nassiff

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

There is a high rate of information system implementation failures attributed to the lack of alignment between business and information technology strategy. Although enterprise architecture (EA) is a means to correct alignment problems and executives highly rate the importance of EA, it is still not used in most organizations today. Current literature only gave anecdotal reasons why EA was not more widely adopted. This study explored the problem of EA underutilization by understanding how organizational executives value EA.

This research used the grounded theory methodology to obtain the EA perspectives of organizational executives responsible for EA. Seventeen executives were selected …

Minimizing Recommended Error Costs Under Noisy Inputs In Rule-Based Expert Systems, Forest D. Thola

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation develops methods to minimize recommendation error costs when inputs to a rule-based expert system are prone to errors. The problem often arises in web-based applications where data are inherently noisy or provided by users who perceive some benefit from falsifying inputs. Prior studies proposed methods that attempted to minimize the probability of recommendation error, but did not take into account the relative costs of different types of errors. In situations where these differences are significant, an approach that minimizes the expected misclassification error costs has advantages over extant methods that ignore these costs.

Building on the existing literature, …

An Empirical Assessment Of Factors Contributing To Individuals' Propensity To Commit Software Piracy In The Bahamas, Raymond Cleophas Wells

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Researchers have found that software piracy worldwide over the years has significantly contributed to billions of dollars in lost revenue for many software firms. Software developers have found it difficult to create software that is not easily copied, thus, creating a software protection problem. Software piracy remains a global problem despite the significant effort to combat its prevalence.

Over the years, significant research has attempted to determine the factors that contribute to individuals' propensity to commit software piracy. Most of the research on software piracy has been limited to larger societies, with recommendations by researchers to extend similar studies to …

Instructional Strategies And Activities That Inform The Community Of Inquiry (Coi) Framework, Stephan D. Junion

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The Community of Inquiry (CoI) framework is one of the more widely used frameworks supporting online learning effectiveness. While there has been extensive research on the development and validation of the CoI framework and survey, less attention has been devoted toward implementation of a CoI and how practitioners design instructional strategies and activities that support this type of constructivist online learning environment.

The research literature about the CoI along with phenomenological interviews with expert designers guided the creation of three products: the Community of Inquiry (CoI) Instructional Strategies and Activities Guide, Community of Inquiry (CoI) Instructional Strategies and Activities Job …

A Study Of Technological Barriers To Instructor E-Readiness In The Online Learning Environment, Glenda H. E. Gay

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

A critical factor of e-learning success is the e-learning readiness of the online user. However, there is a scarcity of studies on online instructors' e-learning readiness (E-Readiness) in an online learning environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether there were correlations among online instructor E-Readiness dimensions and factors at the design and delivery stages that affect system outcomes. In this study, the DeLone and McLean model was used as a framework for research to test E-Readiness with the System Design stage (comprising System Quality, Information Quality, and Service Quality), System Delivery stage (comprising System Use, and User …

Graduate Catalog And Student Handbook 2012-2013, Nova Southeastern University

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice Graduate Course Catalogs

No abstract provided.

Constructing A Community Response Grid (Crg): The Dublin, Ohio Case Study, John Freund

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

During an emergency, information availability is critical to preserving life and minimizing damages. During the emergency response, however, information may not be available to those who need it. A community response grid (CRG) can help ameliorate this lack of availability by allowing people to document and distribute emergency information to professional emergency responders (PERs). A CRG combines mobile communications services, Internet technologies, e-government applications, and social network concepts with traditional emergency response systems.

The problem that this case study investigated was how to construct a CRG for the City of Dublin, Ohio, Division of Police that works in conjunction with …

Quantifying Performance Costs Of Database Fine-Grained Access Control, David Harold Kumka

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Fine-grained access control is a conceptual approach to addressing database security requirements. In relational database management systems, fine-grained access control refers to access restrictions enforced at the row, column, or cell level. While a number of commercial implementations of database fine-grained access control are available, there are presently no generalized approaches to implementing fine-grained access control for relational database management systems.

Fine-grained access control is potentially a good solution for database professionals and system architects charged with designing database applications that implement granular security or privacy protection features. However, in the oral tradition of the database community, fine-grained access control …

Securely Handling Inter-Application Connection Credentials, Gary Lieberman

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

The utilization of application-to-application (A2A) credentials within interpretive language scripts and application code has long been a security risk. The quandaries being how to protect and secure the credentials handled in the main body of code and avoid exploitation from rogue programmers, system administrators and other users with

authorized high levels of privilege.

Researchers report that A2A credentials cannot be protected and that there is no way to reduce the risk of the inevitable successful attack and subsequent exploit. Therefore, research efforts to date have primarily been focused on mitigating the impact of the attack rather than finding ways to …

The Interactions Among Information Technology Organizational Learning, Project Learning, And Project Success, Donald Stuart Mckay

CCAC Theses and Dissertations

Knowledge gained from completed information technology (IT) projects was not often shared with emerging project teams. Learning lessons from other project teams was not pursued because people lack time, do not see value in learning, fear a potentially painful process, and had concerns that sharing knowledge will hurt their career. Leaders could change the situation; however organizational leaders have not seen value in project learning and have not made it a priority. Yet, if a relationship existed among IT project success variables (PSVs) organizational learning factors (OLFs) and project learning practices (PLPs) then IT leaders may take greater interest in …

An Evaluation Of The Cvlt-Ii Substitution On The Wms-Iv Amongst A Mixed Clinical And Nonclinical Population, Jessica Holster, Christine Corsun-Ascher, Traci Olivier, Charles Golden

Archives of Assessment Psychology

The Wechsler Memory Scale (WMS) is one of the most commonly used psychological measures in clinical practice and research. The newly revised fourth edition (WMS-IV) has recently been published, and introduced a novel substitution rule in which scores from the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (CVLTII) may replace WMS-IV subtest scores for Verbal Paired Associates (VPA) I and II subtests for the ease of administration. Yet, the validity of this substitution remains unclear. The purpose of the paper was to determine if the replacement of CVLT-II scores for WMS-IV scores affects WMS-IV index scores, thus affecting subsequent analyses and …

Effects Of A Middle Grade Family-School Partnership Program At A Southeastern Charter School, Fayette Nick

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the study was to determine the effects of a middle grade family-school partnership program at a southeastern charter school that served students in kindergarten through Grade 12. In 2009, the state charter school advisory board surveyed parents of students in kindergarten through Grade 8 and found that parental involvement decreased drastically after Grade 5. The state board advised the school to develop a plan of action to increase parental involvement in Grades 6 through 8. It was decided to implement a family-school partnership program in the middle grades. The program was guided by Lueder’s (2011) self-renewing partnership …

A Qualitative Inquiry In The Evaluation Of A Pedagogical Course From The Prospective Teachers’ Points Of View, Banu Yucel Toy, Ahmet Ok

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative inquiry has gained importance in the evaluation of educational settings because it provides in-depth information, shedding light on context, situations, or processes. In this study, a qualitative inquiry was undertaken in order to evaluate a pedagogical course from the prospective teachers’ points of view. In this case study, data were collected through focus group interviews with three groups of prospective teachers. The lack of putting theories into practice, the lack of relating the topics to teaching life, the lack of attention and participation, and the lack of a variety of materials appeared to be the most essential problems. In …

An Evaluation Of A 21st Century After-School Tutoring Program At A Rural County Middle School, Jimmy H. Ramey

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this research was to evaluate a 21st century after-school tutoring program at a rural middle school. The program was designed to improve achievement, attendance, and behavior.

The evaluation sought to determine if the components were implemented as designed. It also sought to determine what components should be sustained and any unanticipated effects. The evaluation was guided by Stufflebeam’s (2003) CIPP evaluation model. Only the process and product evaluation types were used. Empirical, interview, and survey data were gathered to answer the research questions. In addition, there was a review of various archival documents. Results from the evaluation …

Evaluation Of A 21st-Century After-School Program At A Southeastern Elementary School, Timothy B. Hunter

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of the research was to evaluate a 21st-century after-school program at an elementary school in the southeastern United States. The program focused on the improvement of academic skills for students in Grades 3 through 5 in the academic areas of English and math. Implementation was in response to the high rate of students scoring below average on standardized tests. The Stufflebeam model was used to guide the program evaluation. Interview data were gathered from the after-school coordinator. Survey data were gathered from the after-school teachers and regular-school teachers. Data were also gathered from archival and empirical sources.

Test …

Effect Of Two-Way Communication On Parental Involvement And Third-Grade Achievement In Mathematics, Diana Elysee

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which implementing a collaborative effort using 2-way communication increased parent involvement, impacted parental roles, and helped students improve their performance in mathematics. This parental-involvement intervention was implemented in response to low parental involvement at the school site and low mathematics achievement of students.

Eighteen parents of 3rd-grade students were invited to participate in the study, and only 5 participated. Data were collected from individual interviews with parents to evaluate the effectiveness of the intervention. Focus groups were conducted with parents using a protocol to collect data about the parents’ …

Analysis Of Factors Related To Successful And Nonsuccessful Trio Talent Search Participants Pursuing A Postsecondary Education, Natalie M. Powell

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This applied dissertation sought to identify possible causes of why some TRIO Talent Search program participants were successful in enrolling in postsecondary education and receiving financial aid, whereas others were not. Data-collection instruments that were used in this applied dissertation study included focus groups, personal interviews, self administered surveys, and follow-up letters. Other data sources included a Student Tracker for Outreach Programs and the Application for Federal Student Aid website.

The primary circumstance that temporarily impeded the persistence of TRIO participants was finance. Findings indicated that most of the reasons students had withdrawn from their postsecondary studies were out of …

The Impact Of Social Work Services On Students With Disabilities, Bridgette D. Webster Wade

Abraham S. Fischler College of Education ETD Archive

This study assessed the impact of social work services on middle school students with disabilities at a selected district in Louisiana. Students with disabilities who received multiple office discipline referrals and suspensions were referred for social work services assessment. Many had a mental health diagnosis. The majority of infractions were disrespect to authority, willful disobedience, class or school disruption, fighting, dangerous substance, and profanity. The goal of the study was to determine whether social workers adhered to the district’s benchmarks of quality guidelines during the assessment and intervention processes and to ascertain whether there was a decrease in office discipline …