Digital Commons Network^™

Late Afternoon Seasonal Transition To Dissolution In A Coral Reef: An Early Warning Of A Net Dissolving Ecosystem?, Laura Stoltenberg, Kai G. Schulz, Coulson A. Lantz, Tyler Cyronak, Bradley D. Eyre

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

There are concerns that reefs will transition from net calcifying to net dissolving in the near future due to decreasing calcification and increasing dissolution rates. Here we present in situ rates of net ecosystem calcification (NEC) and net ecosystem production (NEP) on a coral reef flat using a slack-water approach. Up until dusk, the reef was net calcifying in most months but shifted to net dissolution in austral summer, coinciding with high respiration rates and a lower aragonite saturation state (Ω_arag). The estimated sediment contribution to NEC ranged from 8 – 21 % during the day and 45 …

Analysis Of Global Human Gut Metagenomes Shows That Metabolic Resilience Potential For Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production Is Strongly Influenced By Lifestyle, David K. Jacobson, Tanvi P. Honap, Andrew T. Ozga, Nicolas Meda, Thérèse S. Kagoné, Hélène Carabin, Paul Spicer, Raul Y. Tito, Alexandra J. Obregon-Tito, Luis Marin Reyes, Luzmila Troncoso-Corzo, Emilio Guija-Poma, Krithivasan Sankaranarayanan

Biology Faculty Articles

High taxonomic diversity in non-industrial human gut microbiomes is often interpreted as beneficial; however, it is unclear if taxonomic diversity engenders ecological resilience (i.e. community stability and metabolic continuity). We estimate resilience through genus and species-level richness, phylogenetic diversity, and evenness in short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) production among a global gut metagenome panel of 12 populations (n = 451) representing industrial and non-industrial lifestyles, including novel metagenomic data from Burkina Faso (n = 90). We observe significantly higher genus-level resilience in non-industrial populations, while SCFA production in industrial populations is driven by a few phylogenetically closely related species (belonging to …

Navigating The Drinking Self: A Qualitative Study Of Beer Consumption Among The Working-Poor In Botswana, Tebogo B. Sebeelo, Linda L. Belgrave

The Qualitative Report

Alcohol consumption studies in sub-Saharan Africa have largely focused on social control and regulatory mechanisms in specific settings without particular reference to how drinkers negotiate and navigate their drinking selves. Existing studies do not give enough attention to how consumers enact, make sense and experience drinking in light of state regulatory efforts. Using a constructivist grounded theory approach among twenty (20) beer drinkers, this study identifies how beer drinkers in Botswana experienced alcohol. Our findings demonstrate a theoretical category of Negotiating the Drinking Self where beer drinkers constructed and enacted a drinking self throughout the life-course, from the point of …

Genome-Wide Association Study Identifies New Loci Associated With Risk Of Hbv Infection And Disease Progression, Zheng Zeng, Liu Hankui, Xu Huifang, Lu Haiying, Yu Yanyan, Xu Xiaoyuan, Yu Min, Zhang Tao, Tian Xiulan, Xi Hongli, Guan Liping, Zhang Jianguo, Stephen James O'Brien

Biology Faculty Articles

Background: Recent studies have identified susceptibility genes of HBV clearance, chronic hepatitis B, liver cirrhosis, hepatocellular carcinoma, and showed the host genetic factors play an important role in these HBV-related outcomes.

Results: In order to discover new susceptibility genes for HBV-related outcomes, we conducted a genome-wide association study in 1031 Chinese participants, including 275 HBV clearance subjects, 92 asymptomatic persistence infection carriers (ASPI), 93 chronic hepatitis B patients (CHB), 188 HBV-related decompensated cirrhosis patients (DC), 214 HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma patients (HCC) and 169 healthy controls (HC). In the case-control study, we observed novel locus significantly associated with CHB …

Species Sensitivity Assessment Of Five Atlantic Scleractinian Coral Species To 1-Methylnaphthalene, Dorothy-Ellen A. Renegar, Nicholas Turner

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Coral reefs are keystone coastal ecosystems that are at risk of exposure to petroleum from a range of sources, and are one of the highest valued natural resources for protection in Net Environmental Benefit Analysis (NEBA) in oil spill response. Previous research evaluating dissolved hydrocarbon impacts to corals reflected no clear characterization of sensitivity, representing an important knowledge gap in oil spill preparedness related to the potential impact of oil spills to the coral animal and its photosymbiont zooxanthellae. This research addresses this gap, using a standardized toxicity protocol to evaluate effects of a dissolved reference hydrocarbon on scleractinian corals. …

Autonomous In Situ Calibration Of Ion‐Sensitive Field Effect Transistor Ph Sensors, Philip J. Bresnahan, Yuichiro Takeshita, Taylor Wirth, Todd R. Martz, Tyler Cyronak, Rebecca Albright, Kennedy Wolfe, Joseph K. Warren, Keaton Mertz

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Ion‐sensitive field effect transistor‐based pH sensors have been shown to perform well in high frequency and long‐term ocean sampling regimes. The Honeywell Durafet is widely used due to its stability, fast response, and characterization over a large range of oceanic conditions. However, potentiometric pH monitoring is inherently complicated by the fact that the sensors require careful calibration. Offsets in calibration coefficients have been observed when comparing laboratory to field‐based calibrations and prior work has led to the recommendation that an in situ calibration be performed based on comparison to discrete samples. Here, we describe our work toward a self‐calibration apparatus …

Critical And Ictal Phases In Simulated Eeg Signals On A Small-World Network, Louis R. Nemzer, Gary D. Cravens, Robert M. Worth, Francis Motta, Andon Placzek, Victor Castro, Jennie Q. Lou

Chemistry and Physics Faculty Articles

Healthy brain function is marked by neuronal network dynamics at or near the critical phase, which separates regimes of instability and stasis. A failure to remain at this critical point can lead to neurological disorders such as epilepsy, which is associated with pathological synchronization of neuronal oscillations. Using full Hodgkin-Huxley (HH) simulations on a Small-World Network, we are able to generate synthetic electroencephalogram (EEG) signals with intervals corresponding to seizure (ictal) or non-seizure (interictal) states that can occur based on the hyperexcitability of the artificial neurons and the strength and topology of the synaptic connections between them. These interictal simulations …

Assessment Of Monochloramine Toxicity On Three Small Coastal Organisms, Ashley K. Le

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Monochloramine ( is a secondary disinfectant used by water treatment facilities to eliminate lingering bacteria in basins, filters, and pipelines. While an effective disinfectant, monochloramine can have negative effects on aquatic organisms. Organis ms affected by the chemical can include species whose environment is near to effluent sites and aquaculture facilities that use tap water lines or has water intake pipes near to effluent sites. Three species commonly found in south Florida that are lik ely exposed to MCA by effluent sites or aquaculture facilities are mosquitofish Gambusia affinis pink shrimp Farfantepenaeus duorarum and the hard clam Mercenaria mercenaria These …

Ontogenetic Variation In Sciaenid Otolith Morphometry With Fish Size From The Northern Gulf Of Mexico, Thomas C. Ingalls

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Sciaenids are a diverse family of coastal fishes and their fisheries are an important industry in the United States. In the northern Gulf of Mexico this industry is dominated by six species, specifically, red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus), black drum (Pogonias cromis), spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus), sand seatrout (C. arenarius), Atlantic croaker (Micropogonias undulatus), and spot (Leiostomus xathurus). Sagittal otoliths of all species were evaluated for changes in size and shape in relation to changes in fish total length and age across a variety of seasons and habitats. Evaluation …

A Predator-Based Methodology For Studying Predator-Prey Relationships In Fishes, Ashley Vettese

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Changes in the ocean including acidification, increasing temperatures, loss of habitat, and increased hypoxic events has the potential to change predator-prey relationships. These changes in single interactions can then have effects on population sizes, community structures, and changes in trophic cascades. Understanding how changing abiotic factors impact predator-prey relationships will be crucial for understanding what populations and communities will look like under future ocean conditions. In this review, the goals are to (1) summarize the current knowledge on how changing ocean conditions affect predator-prey relationships; (2) describe an example predator-based approach to examine how changing these changing factors impact predator-prey …

The Role Of Neuropilin-1 In Covid-19, Bindu Mayi, Jillian A. Leibowitz, Arden T. Woods, Katherine A. Ammon, Alphonse E. Liu, Aarti Raja

Biology Faculty Articles

Neuropilin-1 (NRP-1), a member of a family of signaling proteins, was shown to serve as an entry factor and potentiate SARS Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infectivity in vitro. This cell surface receptor with its disseminated expression is important in angiogenesis, tumor progression, viral entry, axonal guidance, and immune function. NRP-1 is implicated in several aspects of a SARS-CoV-2 infection including possible spread through the olfactory bulb and into the central nervous system and increased NRP-1 RNA expression in lungs of severe Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Up-regulation of NRP-1 protein in diabetic kidney cells hint at its importance in a population at …

Contest Powwow: Sport And Native American Culture, Steven J. Aicinena Dr, Sebahattin Ziyanak

The Qualitative Report

The Native American powwow has served to maintain the culture of North America’s Indigenous peoples since before the arrival of European colonialists. In traditional forms of the powwow, competition is not common whereas contest powwows are characterized by the primacy of competition. We assess similarities and differences between the contest powwow and competitive sport found within the broader American society through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 14 competitive contest powwow dancers. We address a number of questions through the qualitative research process, such as what does the powwow mean to you? What are your primary goals for competing? We analyzed the …

Emotional Dimensions Of Teaching In Elementary Education Preparation, Kathleen M. Crawford, Juliann Sergi Mcbrayer, Katherine Fallon

The Qualitative Report

Student teaching is a pivotal event in teacher education preparation programs, and there is a need to investigate emotions in teaching. This study examined how one elementary program navigated the emotional dimensions of teaching. Findings revealed that the emotional dimensions of student teachers were influenced by individualized factors unique to the teacher; certain emotions were perceived as more acceptable to express; and supervisors needed to support student teachers to manage and respond to the emotional dimensions of teaching. The recommendation is to go beyond the technical and academic aspects of teaching and address the emotional dimensions to best prepare the …

Social Familiarity Improves Fast-Start Escape Performance In Schooling Fish, Lauren E. Nadler, Mark I. Mccormick, Jacob L. Johansen, Paolo Domenici

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Datasets

Using social groups (i.e. schools) of the tropical damselfish Chromis viridis, we tested how familiarity through repeated social interactions influences fast-start responses, the primary defensive behaviour in a range of taxa, including fish, sharks, and larval amphibians. We focused on reactivity through response latency and kinematic performance (i.e. agility and propulsion) following a simulated predator attack, while distinguishing between first and subsequent responders (direct response to stimulation versus response triggered by integrated direct and social stimulation, respectively). In familiar schools, first and subsequent responders exhibited shorter latency than unfamiliar individuals, demonstrating that familiarity increases reactivity to direct and, potentially, …

Acetaminophen Potentiates Fear: Comparing Evaluations Of Ancestral And Modern Threats, Andrew C. Gallup, Brianda K. L. Gagnon, Gillian Perry, Omar T. Eldakar

Biology Faculty Datasets

No abstract provided.

Biosimilars Use In Medicine For Inflammatory Diseases, Inderbir S. Padda, Rajat Bhatt, Obaid Rehman, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

Population Level Impact Of Self-Immolation On Burn Unit Resources: A Retrospective Case-Matched Study, Kristina Rosa Cruz Bolling

Health Sciences Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Background: This investigator sought to enhance medical knowledge and clinical care by distinguishing the population level characteristics of patients who attempted self-immolation within the burn population and determine the impact these patients have on health-care related resource utilization. Methods: Patients who met the inclusion criteria and were admitted for a documented attempt of self-immolation were case-matched based on age, gender, total body surface area burn, inhalation injury, and burn mechanism to individuals who experienced accidental burn injuries and were admitted to the burn unit during the same time-period. To compare patients, this investigator matched patient groups using a propensity score …

Exploring Living Conditions And Asthma Among Migrant Farmworkers, Jenelle Williams

Health Sciences Program Student Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

Migrant farmworkers are exposed to many physical, chemical, and biological hazards that pose human health risks. Quality of housing is a major factor that contributes to asthma disparities around the world; however, no study to date has explored the factors associated with the high rates in this population. Poor housing conditions are associated with a wide range of health conditions, including respiratory infections and asthma. Addressing housing issues offers public health practitioners an opportunity to address an important social determinant of health. Using the Social Ecological Model, the objective of this quantitative, cross-sectional dissertation study is to examine the presence …

Spring 2021, Nova Southeastern University

KPCOM SGA Rounds

No abstract provided.

Physician Assistant_Fort Lauderdale_2021, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Upadacitinib, Inderbir S. Padda, Rajat Bhatt, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

Caribbean Fad Tracking Project Dataset, Erin E. Kimak, David W. Kerstetter, Thomas D. Pitchford

Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology Lab Datasets

This dataset encompasses crowd-sourced reports of abandoned, lost or otherwise discarded fishing gear (ALDFG), particularly drifting Fish Aggregating Devices (dFADs) from citizen scientists around the North Atlantic Ocean and greater Caribbean region. Data collection did not involve survey efforts, but rather keyword searches of affiliated terms such as "bamboo raft" and "satellite buoy", as well as collection of reports via email and Facebook. Although this dataset is incomplete and an under representation of the total number of ALDFG dFADs as a result of widespread nature of stranding locations, it provides a minimum estimate of the numbers of FADs stranding in …

Tofacitinib, Inderbir S. Padda, Rajat Bhatt, Mayur S. Parmar

HPD Articles

No abstract provided.

College Of Optometry 2021, Nova Southeastern University

Health Professions Divisions Course Catalogs and Course Descriptions

No abstract provided.

Nsu Division Of Research And Economic Development Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report, Nova Southeastern University

Annual Reports

No abstract provided.

Highlighting How The Structure Of Marine Bacterial Laminarinase Can Improve Biogeochemical Cycling During Global Climate Change, Heidi Hellenbrand, Rachel Harris, Chino Villanueva

Protein Modeling Reports

Marine bacterial laminarinase cuts polysaccharides in the process of remineralization, a key process in the ocean biogeochemical cycling of nutrients. We reviewed the protein model of 6JH5 in Jmol to highlight the important areas of the model that relate to thermostability and function and the effects of global climate change on the protein. The catalytic cleft of Glu135 and Glu140 was vital to the depolymerization mechanism. Substrate chain positions 130-143, specifically Trp130 being used for recognition, were important to the proficiency of the structure. The calcium ion on the opposite side of the β-sheet from catalytic cleft increased its degrading …

Game Changing Legislation: Ncaa Forced To Revise Name, Image, And Likeness Compensation Rules, Marie Kadlec

Nova Law Review

No abstract provided.

Summer - Fall 2021, Nova Southeastern University

KPCOM SGA Rounds

No abstract provided.

Shark Parent August 2021, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Parent Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Shark Parent September 2021, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Parent Newsletter

No abstract provided.