Digital Commons Network^™

Nesting And In-Water Habitat-Use Of Loggerhead Sea Turtles (Caretta Caretta) At A Globally Important Rookery In Southeast Florida, Usa, Sarah Hirsch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Despite decades of conservation efforts, population recovery remains elusive for the loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta) nesting in Florida, the largest aggregation globally. Limited studies exist regarding reproductive strategies and in-water habitat use of loggerheads in southeastern Florida. I used satellite telemetry to track the movements of 17 nesting loggerheads on Juno and Jupiter Beaches during the 2020 and 2021 nesting seasons. The majority of females displayed high nest-site fidelity. Inter-nesting intervals ranged from 10–19 days and were negatively correlated with water temperatures. Core inter-nesting areas ranged from 3.7–805.8 km2 and were located a mean 1.6 km from land. Mean …

Not So Straight Forward: Swimming, Maneuvering, And Feeding Kinematics Of The Scalloped Hammerhead (Sphyrna Lewini), Ivan Heerdegen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Many studies on shark swimming have examined kinematic variables along straight tracks or under controlled flow speeds in flumes, but there is less known about unsteady swimming during maneuvering or feeding. Sharks may adjust their speed, undulatory kinematics, or body curvature to accommodate different actions. This study quantified variations in kinematics during straight swimming, maneuvering, and feeding in scalloped hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini). I obtained video of three juvenile scalloped hammerheads, developed an ethogram assessing three behavioral categories, and tracked points along the body’s midline. I found that velocity was lower during feeding compared to maneuvering and straight swimming, while …

Novel Rheotaxis-Based Microfluidic Devices For Sorting Human Sperm, Afrouz Ataei

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The ultimate challenge for assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) is to select the most competent sperm population from a semen sample in an efficient way. In this thesis, we report on an effective sperm sorting microfluidic device that exploits the rheotaxis of sperm and investigates the sperm quality sorted under various flow conditions. Rheotaxis is the ability of a sperm cell to orient itself in the direction of the flow and swim against it. We developed a novel passively driven pumping system that provides a steady flow rate while it requires no external power source. We have also developed another rheotaxis-based …

Orientation Of Blacktip Sharks (Carcharhinus Limbatus) To Underwater Sound, Caroline Sullivan

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Sharks respond to low frequency pulsed sounds but are documented to lack the capacity to detect these sounds beyond the acoustic near field. The purpose of my study was to quantify the distance blacktip sharks (Carcharhinus limbatus) oriented to sound stimuli, and determine if responses occurred in the far field. Using an aerial drone and underwater speaker, C. limbatus were filmed responding to sound stimuli (100 – 200 Hz; 200 – 400 Hz; and 400 – 800 Hz). Upon detection, C. limbatus elicited a 20 – 160° turn from the speaker, and rapidly swam away. Sharks responded to all frequencies …

Path Planning For The Hybrid Aerial Underwater Robotic System, Anthony C. Davis

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Marine food chains are highly stressed by aggressive fishing practices and environmental damage. Aquaculture has increasingly become a source of seafood which spares the deleterious impact to wild fisheries, but it requires continuous water quality data to successfully grow and harvest fish. Aerial drones have great potential to monitor large areas quickly and efficiently. The Hybrid Aerial Underwater Robotic System (HAUCS) is a swarm of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and underwater measurement devices designed to collect water quality data of aquaculture ponds. The routing of drones to cover each fish pond on an aquaculture farm can be reduced to the …

Population Ecology And Vital Rates Of Apple Snails (Pomacea Spp.) In Wetlands, Nathan T. Barrus

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In this thesis, I explored the abiotic and biotic factors that explain the variation in reproduction, survival, and individual growth of the Florida Apple Snail (Pomacea paludosa), and I combined reproduction, survival, and individual growth to determine the factors limiting Florida Apple Snail populations. First, I examined how the variation in reproduction of the Florida Apple Snail and another non-native congener (P. maculata) can be explained by depth, temperature, photoperiod, and adult densities. I also examined how metaphyton total phosphorus (TP) influenced individual growth rates of both species. I found that P. paludosa optimally reproduce in shallower water than P. …

Prediction Of Radiobiological Indices And Equivalent Uniform Dose In Lung Cancer Radiation Therapy Using An Artificial Neural Network, Mukunda Prasad Pudasaini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In radiotherapy, radiobiological indices tumor control probability (TCP), normal tissue complication probability (NTCP), and equivalent uniform dose (EUD) are computed by analytical models. These models are rarely employed to rank and optimize treatment plans even though radiobiological indices weights more compared to dosimetric indices to reflect treatment goal. The objective of this study is to predict TCP, NTCP and EUDs for lung cancer radiotherapy treatment plans using an artificial neural network (ANN). A total of 100 lung cancer patients’ treatment plans were selected for this study. Normal tissue complication probability (NTCP) of organs at risk (OARs) i.e., esophagus, spinal cord, …

Preexisting Immune Memory To Childhood Immunizations, Czdari Lee

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Studies suggest that smokers have less than optimal immune responses to natural infections and booster vaccines, which may adversely influence the herd effects of vaccines. We hypothesize that smoking attenuates preexisting memory cells and antibodies specific to childhood immunizations. To test this, we first evaluated several in vitro culture conditions that mimic in vivo immune cell responses within human blood samples. This study concluded that among tested conditions, R848/IL-2 and GMCSF/CD40L/IL-2 optimally supported the differentiation of existing antigen-specific memory B cells into immunoglobulin-secreting plasma cells. Additionally, GM-CSF optimally supported the differentiation of antigen-specific memory T cells into IFN-γ- producing effector …

Preserving Knowledge In Simulated Behavioral Action Loops, Rachel St.Clair

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

One basic goal of artificial learning systems is the ability to continually learn throughout that system’s lifetime. Transitioning between tasks and re-deploying prior knowledge is thus a desired feature of artificial learning. However, in the deep-learning approaches, the problem of catastrophic forgetting of prior knowledge persists. As a field, we want to solve the catastrophic forgetting problem without requiring exponential computations or time, while demonstrating real-world relevance. This work proposes a novel model which uses an evolutionary algorithm similar to a meta-learning objective, that is fitted with a resource constraint metrics. Four reinforcement learning environments are considered with the shared …

Riddles Of The Gods: A Virtual Reality Escape Room, Shwetha Sn Bharathi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Mythological stories are more than stories. They are important because they give context to our world, our literature, and our own beliefs and carry forward cultural values and tales over generations. So many efforts have been made to pass mythological stories from generation to generation through various forms including traditional storytelling, songs, and films. This thesis explores if learning mythology can be more immediate and fun by instructing it through an immersive, interactive game known as an Escape Room. Riddles of the Gods is an Egyptian theme-based Escape Room that uses the medium of Virtual Reality. It creates an interactive, …

Revisiting The Comparative Assessment Of Municipal Wastewater Disposal Methods In Southeast Florida, Kelley Conboy

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

A comparative risk assessment of wastewater disposal methods in southeast Florida has only been performed once and it was over 20 years ago. Since then, methods has changed and research have been developed. This study follows the methods used in the 2000 study, and assesses the following disposal methods: ocean outfalls, deep injection wells, surface water discharge, reuse for non-potable applications, indirect potable reuse, and direct potable reuse. This assessment assembled a team of qualified experts to complete a modified delphi survey to assess the human risks of wastewater disposal methods. Using the delphi results in a Bayesian Assessment Model, …

Resveratrol-Inspired Bridged Bicyclic Compounds: Characterizing A Novel Antiepileptic Drug Class, Samantha E. Stilley

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Epilepsy is a widely prevalent disease within the United States. It is estimated that about 1.2% of the total American population has active epilepsy, a condition of the brain that causes seizures. These seizures are marked by chemical alterations in neuronal firing that can cause abnormal behavior, sensations, muscle spasms, and loss of consciousness. Although the prevalence of seizures and epilepsy is high, effective treatments are limited and fail to provide effective treatment for nearly one-third of adult epileptic patients. Here, I conclude results of successful screening of novel compounds that can ameliorate seizures using an electroshock assay to examine …

Settler Colonialism On The Discursive Frontier: An Analysis Of Indigenous Climate Justice Leaders And The Carceral Settler-State, Talia E. Kibsey

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis examines Indigenous environmental justice discourse within the context of the U.S. carceral settler-state to advance a conceptual framework I name discursive frontierism. I use rhetorical analysis informed by critical and cultural theory to help make visual—and visible—the ways in which colonial frontierism operates in discursive spaces. I analyze the language of the carceral settler-state, including embodiment and affect as communicative language, as well as the language of Indigenous and Indigenous-led resistance. In the first half of the thesis, I argue that the language of the settler-state discursively constitutes Indigenous peoples as criminals and colonial subjects in order to …

Social Ghosts Of The Domestic Sphere: The Haunting Presence Of The Monstrous Mother In Contemporary Fiction, Alicia Dvorak

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis argues that the numerous widespread fears about deviant domestic behavior that rose to prominence in Western nations during the post-World War II era can still be observed in contemporary fictional representations of what I term the “monstrous domestic”: when mothers and the domestic spaces that they occupy are depicted as “bad,” “evil,” or otherwise threatening. Using psychoanalytic, feminist, and monster theory, as well as sociocultural context, I examine four works that prominently display and condemn the monstrous domestic: Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House (1959), Neil Gaiman’s Coraline (2002), Jennifer Kent’s The Babadook (2014), and Gillian Flynn’s …

Size-Frequency Distributions Of Experimentally Reproduced Levallois Debitage, Diana Hutchison

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

In archaeology, size distributions of lithic debitage can convey information about reduction stage and possibly other aspects of reduction trajectories and activities. Previous investigations have used inadequately robust methods to identify and characterize fractal power law size distributions in experimental and archaeological debitage assemblages. In this study, weights and maximum dimensions of individual, experimentally reproduced “preferential” Levallois debitage specimens were recorded by core and preparation-exploitation stage. Rigorous statistical methods were used to assess distribution conformities to power law (fractal), lognormal and exponential models. Results show that Levallois debitage size distributions are complex and do not fit any simple model closely; …

Srsf1 Is An Rna-Binding Protein That Functions As A Transcriptional Activator, Sean Paz

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Serine/Arginine splicing factor 1 (SRSF1) is an RNA-binding protein (RBP) with multiple functions in RNA biogenesis. SRSF1 plays a prominent role in oncogenesis, immune function, and response to several physiological stimuli. To date, the role of SRSF1 as a regulator of mRNA splicing has been largely considered the main mechanism driving its biological functions and its role in disease. We have now characterized SRSF1’s role in Human Immunodeficiency Virus Type I (HIV-1) transcription. SRSF1 interacts with the 7SK small nuclear ribonucleoprotein (snRNP) to mobilize and activate the positive transcription-elongation factor (P-TEFb), which is then positioned on the HIV-1 promoter to …

Spatiotemporal Dynamics Of The Florida Bay Ecosystem In Relation To Climate Change And Everglades Restoration, Mason J. Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

One of the largest restoration programs in the world, the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) aims to restore freshwater flows to the Everglades and Florida Bay estuary. Coupled with climate change, future changes from restoration highlight the need to implement an ecosystem-based fisheries management (EBFM) approach in Florida Bay. The Ecopath framework was used to develop and apply a mass-balanced food web model to the spatiotemporal dynamics of hydrological restoration and climate change through time. Results suggest Florida Bay is stabilized through large detrital energy pathways and low nutrient inputs, but subject to species distribution shifts due primarily to sea-level …

Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease Susceptibility And Resistance: Genomic Factors Among Orbicella Faveolata Corals In South Florida, Allison M. Klein

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) has spread throughout the entirety of Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) and across the Caribbean, impacting over 50 coral species. The threatened hermatypic coral, Orbicella faveolata, demonstrates intraspecific variation in SCTLD resistance and has been categorized into three resistance levels: “High”, “Medium”, and “Low”. This study evaluated potential genomic underpinnings of variable disease susceptibility by monitoring and sampling 90 O. faveolata colonies from Southeast Florida and the Lower Keys. High resolution analyses of >11,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms identified no significant genetic lineages among O. faveolata colonies associated with SCTLD resistance or susceptibility. Algal symbiont community …

Survival And Growth Of Sponge Recruits In A Land-Based Nursery, Barbara C. Crouch

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Sponges (phylum Porifera) are ancient animals that provide numerous ecosystem functions (e.g., water filtration, habitat, food source) and commercial applications (e.g., bath sponges and pharmaceuticals). However, mass mortality events in Florida Bay have drastically impacted sponge communities and the ecosystem services they provide. To restore habitats, sponge restoration initiatives are ongoing in Florida. The aim of this thesis was to determine survival and growth of sponges in a land-based nursery. Larvae from four species were collected from the Indian River Lagoon and the Florida Keys from July to September 2021. Larval settlement and metamorphosis, survival of recruits, morphological development and …

Teaching Hearing Clients Sign Language In Therapy: The Sign Your Feelings Intervention's Effects On The Therapeutic Alliance And Client Outcomes, Grisel Mf Lopez-Escobar

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The aim of the study was to validate the researcher's new therapeutic intervention, Sign your Feelings, through a four-week randomized control trial (RCT). This intervention involves hearing therapists working with hearing clients. It incorporates (a) discussions about the therapeutic alliance, (b) therapists teaching their clients 36 signs in American Sign Language (ASL) and (c) frequent emotional disclosure as clients learn and practice the signs. This RCT measured the therapeutic alliance and client outcomes, using the Sessions Rating Scale (SRS) and CORE-10 instrument. Eighty adults from 10 U.S. States participated in the study. Sixteen therapists underwent training before administering the intervention, …

The Effects Of Autism-Associated Tbr1 Haploinsufficiency On Amygdala Morphological And Functional Connectivity, Ingo Asbeck

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that effects about 1 in 44 children and has steadily increased in prevalence over the last decades. ASD is characterized by the diagnostic criteria of a persistent deficit in social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviors. The amygdala plays an essential role in regulating these behaviors and has continuously been shown to be affected in patients with ASD. As the amygdala is connected throughout the brain with cortical and subcortical areas, it is crucial to understand potential circuit impairments that contribute to the development and progression of behavioral characteristics. In …

The Effects Of Implicit Bias In Simulated Police-Community Interactions: A Pilot Study, Scott Evan Gardner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

High-profile police use-of-force events, like the deaths of Trevon Martin, Freddie Gray, Alton Sterling, and George Floyd, have increased scrutiny towards law enforcement, and many believe that racial disparities in the justice system are caused by biased decision-making. The subsequent protests and civil unrest have furthered the divide between the police and members of the public, which has damaged police legitimacy and led to depolicing and militarization. This study pilot tests the impact of implicit bias on decision-making for a student sample with a decision-making simulator and an experimental design with random assignment. Simulated police-public contacts, substantively, were found to …

The Harm In Knowing: The Importance Of Perspective And The Dangers Of Knowledge In H.P. Lovecraft, Cherokee Dane

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

H. P. Lovecraft has been a significant influence in horror fiction, but most of the attention paid to Lovecraft’s work focuses on his Cthulhu Mythos. This thesis examines a group of fantasy stories from Lovecraft’s Dream Cycle, overlooked in favor of his horror tales. I argue these stories merit attention for their presentation of an ideological conflict central to much of Lovecraft’s work: reality, knowledge, and science vs. fantasy, imagination, and dreams. Lovecraft demonstrates the limitations and importance of one’s perspective, illustrating the need to be flexible in one’s beliefs and viewpoints. I also argue that this understanding of perspective …

The Relationship Between Adverse Childhood Experiences, Resilience, And Physical And Mental Health Among Adults In Saudi Arabia, Toqa Alanbry

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), involving abuse, neglect, and violence exposure, have been connected to undesirable physical and mental health consequences across the life span. With regards to the range of factors that moderates the impact of ACEs on life course health, resilience is suggested as a quality that can lead to better health and quality of life outcomes. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between adult-reported ACEs, resilience, and mental and physical health in Saudi Arabia. The study was a predictive/correlational design. A total of 328 participants completed the online questionnaire through (Qualtrics). The independent variables …

The Representation And Evolution Of Abusive Relationships: Harley Quinn And The Joker, Jenna Isaacs

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

This thesis The Representation and Evolution of Abusive Relationships: Harley Quinn and the Joker takes a psychoanalytic, gender, and media studies approach to comics such as Mad Love, The Batman Adventures, Suicide Squad and the film Suicide Squad and The Suicide Squad (2016) Drawing on the work of Lenore Walker, Scott McCloud and other various scholars, this thesis will explore the distinctions in how the comics and film confront, disguise, or conceal the abuse. An analysis of the increasingly romanticized representation of abuse in the comics and film, where audience support for the couple and merchandizing were core concerns, reflect …

The Voice Not From Rivia: Silence, Ecofeminism, And Their Limits In The Witcher Series, Bryce Lyne King

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The Witcher book series by Andrzej Sapkowski and the corresponding The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt video game by CD Projekt RED intersectionally relate the feminine to the natural in their joint secondary world of the Continent, and in doing so rely on the “key feminine,” a term to describe a female character who embodies the feminine ideals of the secondary world while also saving it from environmental disaster, yet not being representative of it, deconstructing the goddess and witch dichotomy. Geralt’s predispositions as a witcher places him in conflict with nature, but his moral code and decisive silence allow for …

Therapeutic Strategies Using Sulindac And G-Csf Gene Therapy For Neurological Disease, Belinda Chen

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that causes cognitive dysfunction and leads to progressive memory loss and behavioral impairment. About 60% to 80% of dementia cases are attributed to Alzheimer’s disease and currently afflict about 50 million people worldwide. Although it primarily affects people over the age of 65, a person’s risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease earlier can depend on factors such as a family history (genetic inheritance) or experiencing an ischemic stroke event. Current treatments for Alzheimer’s disease include behavioral therapy and drug treatment that can lessen the severity of symptoms but cannot stop progression indefinitely. Sulindac is a …

There Is Still Life After Death: Reflections On Overconsumption And Waste, Caroline Portella Ferreira Duarte

Electronic Theses and Dissertations 2020 - Present

The unbridled consumerism established during the industrial revolution in consumer society has become a mass phenomenon. The birth of industry caused significant transformations in the world economy, as well as in the human lifestyle, as it accelerated the production of goods and the exploitation of natural resources. People today consume in a way that their purchasing choices define them. Consumption is not driven by social responsibility: individuals often end up engaging in overconsumption habits due to the vast number of options and the perpetual launching of new trends. Consumption is the satisfaction of desires and wants, especially in current westernized …

Epidemiology And Characteristics Of Chronic Pancreatitis—Do The East And West Meet?, Nikita Desai, Tarun Kaura, Maharaj Singh, Field F. Willingham, Surinder Rana, Saurabh Chawla

College of Nursing Faculty Research and Publications

Background and Aims

Previous large studies on the epidemiology and clinical profile of chronic pancreatitis have suggested significant differences in presentation and management in the eastern and western hemispheres. The aim of this systematic review was to compare large multicenter studies across different geographic regions of the world to detect meaningful differences in the presentation and management of this poorly understood disease.

Methods

We identified 237 manuscripts through a comprehensive literature review aiming to identify multicenter studies enrolling more than 200 patients to limit reporting biases. After rigorous screening, 12 studies were included for the final analysis. The Asian studies …