Digital Commons Network^™

Teaching With Feminist Judgments: A Global Conversation, Bridget J. Crawford, Kathryn M. Stanchi, Linda L. Berger, Gabrielle Appleby, Susan Frelich Appleton, Ross Astoria, Sharon Cowan, Rosalind Dixon, J. Troy Lavers, Andrea L. Mcardle, Elisabeth Mcdonald, Teri A. Mcmurtry-Chubb, Vanessa E. Munro, Pamela A. Wilkins

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

This conversational-style essay is an exchange among fourteen professors—representing thirteen universities across five countries—with experience teaching with feminist judgments. Feminist judgments are ‘shadow’ court decisions rewritten from a feminist perspective, using only the precedent in effect and the facts known at the time of the original decision. Scholars in Canada, England, the U.S., Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, Ireland, India, and Mexico have published (or are currently producing) written collections of feminist judgments that demonstrate how feminist perspectives could have changed the legal reasoning or outcome (or both) in important legal cases. This essay begins to explore the vast pedagogical potential …

The Public Trust Doctrine In The 21st Century, Nicholas A. Robinson

Elisabeth Haub School of Law Faculty Publications

In this Symposium's initial lecture, I will (a) provide a glimpse into life in Medieval England to explain the context from which Magna Carta arose, (b) describe the evolution of environmental rights from Magna Carta to the Forest Carter, (c) explore in a case study how “liberties of the forest” functioned for 800 years in England's Royal Forest of Dean, ultimately sustaining the ecological systems of Dean, (d) discuss the “liberties of the forest” in light of Elinor Ostom's common pool analyses, and (e) offer some views on the question just posed. I shall start by describing the English environment …

Non-Uniformity Of Projection Distributions Attenuates Resolution In Cryo-Em, Philip R Baldwin, Dmitry Lyumkis

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Virtually all single-particle cryo-EM experiments currently suffer from specimen adherence to the air-water interface, leading to a non-uniform distribution in the set of projection views. Whereas it is well accepted that uniform projection distributions can lead to high-resolution reconstructions, non-uniform (anisotropic) distributions can negatively affect map quality, elongate structural features, and in some cases, prohibit interpretation altogether. Although some consequences of non-uniform sampling have been described qualitatively, we know little about how sampling quantitatively affects resolution in cryo-EM. Here, we show how inhomogeneity in any projection distribution scheme attenuates the global Fourier Shell Correlation (FSC) in relation to the number …

Le Rôle Du Choix De Langue Dans La Littérature Et Le Cinéma Multilingues, Amatullah Brown , '20

Senior Theses, Projects, and Awards

No abstract provided.

Development Of A Hybrid, Interprofessional, Interactive Quality Improvement Curriculum As A Model For Continuing Professional Development, Isabelle S Kusters, Megan E Gregory, Jennifer L Bryan, Sylvia J Hysong, Lechauncy D Woodard, Aanand D Naik, Kyler M Godwin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Over the past 20 years, there has been an increased focus on quality improvement (QI) in health care, which is critical in achieving care that is patient-centered, safer, timelier, and more effective, efficient, and equitable. At the center of this movement is QI education, which is known to lead to learning, behavior change, and improved outcomes. However, there is a need for the development and provision of long-duration, interactive, interprofessional training in QI, to allow for in-depth learning and application of learned skills. To this end, we designed a curriculum for an established interprofessional, interactive, web-based QI fellowship for doctorally …

Pregnancy And Lactation In A 67-Year-Old Elderly Gravida Following Donor Oocyte, Leila Magistrado, Mary C Tolcher, Anju Suhag, Sonal Zambare, Kjersti M Aagaard

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

There is limited data on the anticipated perinatal course among gravidae in their sixth and seventh decades. Our objective was to describe the relatively uncomplicated prenatal, intrapartum, and postpartum course of a 67-year-old essential primigravida. Briefly, our patient conceived a singleton pregnancy via IVF with donor oocytes, then presented at 13 6/7 weeks of gestation to initiate prenatal care. Her medical history was significant for chronic hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and obesity. Her cardiac function was monitored throughout pregnancy, and she delivered at 36 1/7 weeks by cesarean for a decline in left ventricular function with mitral regurgitation. Her intrapartum and postpartum …

The Vimentin Rod Domain Blocks P-Selectin-P-Selectin Glycoprotein Ligand 1 Interactions To Attenuate Leukocyte Adhesion To Inflamed Endothelium, Fong Wilson Lam, Cameron August Brown, Christian Valladolid, Dabel Cynthia Emebo, Timothy Gerald Palzkill, Miguel Angel Cruz

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Acute inflammation begins with leukocyte P-selectin glycoprotein ligand-1 (PSGL-1) binding to P-selectin on inflamed endothelium and platelets. In pathologic conditions, this process may contribute to secondary organ damage, like sepsis-induced liver injury. Therefore, developing novel therapies to attenuate inflammation may be beneficial. We previously reported that recombinant human vimentin (rhVim) binds P-selectin to block leukocyte adhesion to endothelium and platelets. In this study, we used SPOT-peptide arrays to identify the rod domain as the active region within rhVim that interacts with P-selectin. Indeed, recombinant human rod domain of vimentin (rhRod) binds to P-selectin with high affinity, with in silico modeling …

Reduced Bacterial Burden Of The Skin Surrounding The Shoulder Joint Following Topical Protocatechuic Acid Application: Results Of A Pilot Study, Omid Jalali, Molly Best, Alison Wong, Brett Schaeffer, Brendon Bauer, Lanny Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: Reducing the rising health-care burden associated with shoulder surgical site infection (SSI) is of paramount importance. The purpose of this study was to investigate the antimicrobial efficacy of protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a topical reagent for surgical skin antisepsis surrounding the shoulder joint.

METHODS: This was a 2-phase skin-disinfection trial involving the human shoulder. The shoulders of healthy volunteers were randomized to topical treatment with PCA (a 10% concentration of PCA in Phase I [11 subjects] and a 17% concentration in Phase II [12 subjects]), with a control of isopropyl alcohol (IPA) applied to the contralateral shoulder. Mechanical scraping …

Protocatechuic Acid As A Topical Antimicrobial For Surgical Skin Antisepsis: Preclinical Investigations, Omid Jalali, Molly Best, Alison Wong, Brett Schaeffer, Brendon Bauer, Lanny Johnson

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

BACKGROUND: There is a need for novel skin antiseptic agents to combat the health-care burdens associated with surgical site infection (SSI) and bacterial resistance. The purpose of this proof-of-principle pilot study was to investigate the potential of the phenolic compound protocatechuic acid (PCA) as a topical antimicrobial for surgical skin antisepsis.

METHODS: The Kirby-Bauer method of disc diffusion was used to investigate the in vitro antimicrobial activity and comparative effectiveness of PCA and 7 related compounds against SSI pathogens. To explore the in vivo efficacy of topical PCA for providing deep, penetrating skin antisepsis, living

RESULTS: Compared with other polyphenols, …

Meta-Analysis Comparing Watchmantm And Amplatzer Devices For Stroke Prevention In Atrial Fibrillation, Indranill Basu Ray, Dibbendhu Khanra, Sumit Shah, Sudhanva Char, Xiaoming Jia, Wilson Lam, Nilesh Mathuria, Mehdi Razavi, Bhavna Jain, Dhanunjaya Lakkireddy, Saibal Kar, Andrea Natale, Adedayo Adeboye, John Lynn Jefferies, Sripal Bangalore, Samuel Asirvatham, Mohammad Saeed

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Background: For patients with atrial fibrillation who are at high risk for bleeding or who cannot tolerate oral anticoagulation, left atrial appendage (LAA) closure represents an alternative therapy for reducing risk for thromboembolic events.

Objectives: To compare the efficacy and safety of the Amplatzer and Watchman^TM LAA closure devices.

Methods: A meta-analysis was performed of studies comparing the safety and efficacy outcomes of the two devices. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to appraise study quality.

Results: Six studies encompassing 614 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Overall event rates were low for both devices. No significant differences between the …

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Presenting Initially As Spinal Cord Compression: When Chemotherapy Alone Is Enough, Albert Jang, Kallie N Kram, Scott N Berger, Mahmoud R Gaballa, Lee B Lu, David R Dunaway, Courtney N Miller-Chism

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spinal cord compression (SCC) is a rare initial presentation and complication of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) with nearly all reported cases occurring in the pediatric population. We report a 38-year-old previously healthy man who presented with acute on chronic lower back pain, gait instability, urinary retention, and severe thrombocytopenia. Radiologic examination revealed two soft tissue masses of the thoracic spine associated with compression fractures causing spinal canal narrowing and cord compression. Bone marrow biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of ALL. Immediate initiation of high-dose corticosteroids and systemic chemotherapy resolved the patient's symptoms without radiation therapy or surgical intervention. After two courses …

Adaptive Evolution Of Sleep Loss And Albinism Through Mutations In Oca2 In Astyanax Mexicanus, Morgan O'Gorman

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Adaptation to any environment through the course of its evolution involves the alteration of multiple traits to ensure survival, Astyanax mexicanus is a notable example of this. Some of the most notable differences between the surface and cave populations are loss of pigmentation, decreased sleep, and reduced eyes. 208 surface – cave F2 hybrids were assessed for several morphological and behavioral phenotypes. There were significant differences found between pigmented and albino individuals, raising the question of a shared genetic basis for these traits. Oculocutaneous albinism 2 (oca2) is a notable contributor to albinism in many species, including A. mexicanus. Surface …

A Study On The Clinical Relevance Of Metalloproteinase Inhibition, Lillian Onwuha-Ekpete

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Metzincins are a superfamily of zinc-dependent endopeptidases associated with the regulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM). Their members include A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs (ADAMTSs), A Disintegrin and Metalloproteinases (ADAMs), and the matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs). Metzincins exhibit diverse functions associated with both physiological and pathological states that include the proteolytic degradation of the ECM, regulation of various growth factors, cell surface receptors, and chemokines, and mediation of biological functions such as extravasation, survival, and proliferation. In pathological conditions such as cancer associated with chronic inflammation and multiple sclerosis associated with neurodegeneration, dysregulation of Metzincin activities are a …

Characterization And Modeling Of Profiling Oceanographic Lidar For Remotely Sampling Ocean Optical Properties, Christopher Strait

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Lidar has the ability to supplant or compliment many current measurement technologies in ocean optics. Lidar measures Inherent Optical Properties over long distances without impacting the orientation and assemblages of particles it measures, unlike many systems today which require pumps and flow cells. As an active sensing technology, it has the benefit of being independent of time of day and weather. Techniques to interpret oceanographic lidar lags behind atmospheric lidar inversion techniques to measure optical properties due to the complexity and variability of the ocean. Unlike in the atmosphere, two unknowns in the lidar equation backscattering at 180o (����) and …

Large Sinus Of Valsalva Aneurysm Complicated By Thrombus Formation, Milan Ravishankar, Ali Ghergherehchi, Jing Liu, Ernesto Jimenez, Umair Khalid

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Sinus of Valsalva aneurysm (SOVA) is an unusual cardiac anomaly that is potentially fatal with rupture. It is often asymptomatic but has various presentations. We describe a case of a 67-year-old male who presented with atypical chest pain. Transthoracic echocardiogram and cardiac computed tomography scan confirmed a large SOVA complicated by thrombus formation and compression of the left atrium and left ventricular outflow tract. The patient successfully underwent a Bentall procedure-surgical aortic aneurysm repair with mechanical aortic valve conduit. We discuss several clinical decision-making branch points to highlight the complexity of managing this condition. Even in asymptomatic or minimally symptomatic …

Cyclical Variations In Object And Spatial-Based Attention, Subhosit Ray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Spatial-based attention is shown to vary in strength over short intervals of time. Whether object-based selection also has similar temporal variability is not known. Egly, Driver and Rafal (1994) demonstrated using 2-rectangle displays how both spatial and object-based selection engages in processing of a visual scene. In Experiment-1 using the 2-rectangle paradigm we measured temporal variability of target detection by presenting targets at a variable SOA. In Experiment-2, we used 4-squares to preclude any object-based selection and measured temporal variability in target detection at similar locations as in Experiment-1. We found target detection to be periodic in delta and theta …

Dhayam Vr: Adapting A Traditional Board Game Into A Virtual Reality Experience, Selvaraj Monisha Ramachendran

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Ancestral forms of entertainment were not only meant as a pastime but also to carry forward the cultural values and stories over generations. With the ease of access to the technologically advanced and immersive games, we do not necessarily opt for traditional board games that are a representation of our culture. Dhayam VR is an amalgamation of a traditional Indian board game and virtual reality technology. Inspired by the story of Mahabharata – a Hindu epic, it creates an expressive, educative, and entertaining experience. It provides an opportunity to contribute toward keeping traditional and cultural values alive, in a more …

Diet Coaching To Improve Protein Intake In Middle!Aged Women, Kelley Jackson

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The loss of muscle (mass, strength, and function) occurs in many individuals in their 40’s and begins to accelerate after 50 years of age resulting from multiple understood mechanisms. While many factors are thought to contribute to the changes that are observed in muscle with aging, one significant, yet modifiable factor is dietary protein intake. This study proposed to improve dietary protein intake in a group of middle-aged women living in South Florida over a 12-week period using individualized per-meal protein prescriptions (1.2 g protein/kg body weight evenly distributed for all three meals) provided by a Registered Dietitian, followed by …

Evaluation Of The Contribution Metagenomic Shotgun Sequencing Has In Assessing Pollution Source And Defining Public Health And Environmental Risks, Brian Mercer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

State-approved membrane filtration (MF) techniques for water quality assessments were contrasted with metagenomic shotgun sequencing (MSS) protocols to evaluate their efficacy in providing precise health-risk indices for surface waters. Using MSS, the relative numerical abundance of pathogenic bacteria, virulence and antibiotic resistance genes revealed the status and potential pollution sources in samples studied. Traditional culture methods (TCM) showed possible fecal contamination, while MSS clearly distinguished between fecal and environmental bacteria contamination sources, and pinpointed actual risks from pathogens. RNA MSS to detect all viable microorganisms and qPCR of fecal biomarkers were used to assess the possible environmental risk between runoff …

Effects Of Optogenetically Stimulating The Reuniens Nucleus During Sleep In A Novel Attentional Set-Shifting Task, Ori Simon Yarden

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Sparse thalamocortical cell population synchronicity during sleep spindle oscillations has been hypothesized to promote the integration of hippocampal memory information into associated neocortical representations 1. We asked the question of whether sparse or rhythmic activity in thalamocortical cells of the reuniens nucleus influence memory consolidation and cognitive flexibility during learning after sleep. For this study, I designed a novel attentional set-shifting task and incorporated optogenetics with closed-loop stimulation in sleeping rats to investigate the effects of sparse (nonrhythmic) or rhythmic spindle-like (~10Hz) activity in thalamic cells of the reuniens nucleus on learning and cognitive flexibility. We show that, as predicted, …

Exploring The Factors Of Natural Space On Well-Being Of Urban-Dwelling Children, Misako Nagata

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Research has suggested positive effects of nature immersion––a state of being or an act of doing in natural space––for urban children who were otherwise at risk of emotional or behavioral problems. However, few studies have systematically investigated natural space qualities that predict child well-being at the clinical level. The purpose of this study was to increase understanding of natural space qualities as factors of urban child well-being. Explanatory mixed-methods were used. Quantitative data (N = 174) included a survey and two parental-reports of child wellbeing. Interviews provided qualitative data (N = 15). Data were analyzed using: Generalized Linear Model and …

Homebound: Spatializing The Immigrant Experience By Breaking Down Barriers In Virtual Reality, Arias Alberto Alvarez

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis explores the production process of developing a virtual reality experience with an emphasis on digital humanities and the methods of adapting real-world events, narratives, and media coverage into an interactive, location based VR experience. The thesis contextualizes the production of an accompanying media project, which is informed by the history of U.S migration and the media’s impact on the opinion of Americans. Through the observation of production methods, this paper summarizes the process of creating a VR experience that expands the established production pipeline to more fluidly produce immersive interactive content. Using Homebound: The Interactive Immigrant Experience, a …

How Does Attending The Appreciative Advising Institute Influence Academic Advisor Wellbeing?, Roy Kaplan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of attending the 2018 Appreciative Advising Institute (AAI) on the overall and workplace wellbeing levels of attendees. The 2018 AAI was held July 29 to August 1, 2018 in Boca Raton, Florida at Florida Atlantic University. Seligman’s (2011) PERMA model of wellbeing was used as the theoretical framework for this study and Butler and Kern’s (2013) PERMA Profiler and Kern’s (2014) Workplace PERMA Profiler were the instruments used to study the influence of attending AAI on advisor wellbeing. Three research questions provided the basis of the study. A repeated measure …

Identifying Health Priorities For A Vulnerable Underserved Community In Uganda, Africa Using Community Based Participatory Research And A Photovoice Approach, Cheryl Finch Wallin

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The purpose of this descriptive phenomenological study was to give voice to an underserved and vulnerable population in Uganda, Africa to advocate for health priorities. Nineteen members of the village of Namagera, identified as a leper colony, were selected by community members and volunteered to participate in every element of this study. Descriptive phenomenology was the guiding philosophy and community-based participatory research methods and photovoice provided the lens for social action. Leininger’s theory of culture care diversity and universality (Leininger & McFarland, 2006) anchored the study in cultural caring and the community nursing practice model (Parker et al., 2020) kept …

Investigating The Effects Of Sea-Level Rise And Increased Salinity On Peat Soils Of The Everglades (Florida): Implications For Changes In Biogenic Gas Dynamics And Peat Collapse, Matthew J. Sirianni

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

While repeated transgressive and regressive sea level cycles have shaped south Florida throughout geological history, modern rates of sea level rise pose a significant risk to the structure and function of the freshwater wetland ecosystems throughout the low-lying Everglades region. Current regionally corrected sea level projections for south Florida indicate a rise of 0.42m by 2050 and 1.15m by 2100, suggesting the salinization of previously freshwater areas of the Everglades is conceivable. As freshwater areas become increasingly exposed to saltwater they experience shifts in vegetation composition, soil microbial populations, plant productivity, and physical soil properties that ultimately result in a …

Meatball Memories In The Modern Kitchen: Italian Americans Navigating Cultural Ideals Within The South Florida Food Landscape, Daniele Leoce

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Many Italians characterize their food culture as respectful of tradition, favoring fresh, regional ingredients, prioritizing commensality and the group identity, and treating food as an aesthetic good. Many describe American food culture as one of speed and convenience, favoring quantity over quality, nurturing independence, and regarding food merely as a material good. Through in-depth interviews with a group of Italian Americans, this research explores the intersection between Italian and American food cultures, questioning how Italian Americans living in South Florida construct identity given the influence of the modern food system. Participants demonstrate that while a dichotomy exists between Italian cultural …

Machine Learning Demodulator Architectures For Power-Limited Communications, Paul E. Gorday

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The success of deep learning has renewed interest in applying neural networks and other machine learning techniques to most fields of data and signal processing, including communications. Advances in architecture and training lead us to consider new modem architectures that allow flexibility in design, continued learning in the field, and improved waveform coding. This dissertation examines neural network architectures and training methods suitable for demodulation in power-limited communication systems, such as those found in wireless sensor networks. Such networks will provide greater connection to the world around us and are expected to contain orders of magnitude more devices than cellular …

Predictors Of Code-Switching In Young Spanish-English Bilinguals, Michelle K. Tulloch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Code-switching is a common feature of bilingual language use and has multiple factors that influence the frequency and type of code-switching. 56 Spanish-English bilingual children recorded sessions of Spanish-designated and English-designated interactions with a caregiver at 2.5 and 3.5 years. These sessions were transcribed and coded for all code-switched utterances. At both ages, we found: (1) Children switched to English more frequently than they switched to Spanish. (2) Their degree of English dominance was a positive predictor of their frequency of switching to English, but a negative predictor of their frequency of switching to Spanish. Between 2.5 and 3.5 years, …

Hypogonadism, Type-2 Diabetes Mellitus, And Bone Health: A Narrative Review, Vittoria Russo, Rui Chen, Reina Armamento-Villareal

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

One of the complications from chronic hyperglycemia and insulin resistance due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal axis in men is the high prevalence of hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH). Both T2DM and hypogonadism are associated with impaired bone health and increased fracture risk but whether the combination results in even worse bone disease than either one alone is not well-studied. It is possible that having both conditions predisposes men to an even greater risk for fracture than either one alone. Given the common occurrence of HH or hypogonadism in general in T2DM, a significant number of men could …

Protandric Sex Change In Centropomus Undecimalis, The Common Snook, Brent Mckenna

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Otolith increment morphology of the protandric hermaphrodite Centropomus undecimalis (snook) was analyzed in relation to age and length for sex specific growth differences to retroactively determine the time of sex change. Growth spurts in the otoliths of female snook, the terminal sex, were identified between ages 4 and 8, corroborating the current understanding of when sex change occurs (between 3 and 8). No such growth increases were identified on the otoliths of male snook, the primary sex. Otolith growth, however, was found to decouple from length, so these growth spurts are not reflected in the length of the fish. This …