Dissertations, Academic -- Florida Atlantic University

The present thesis will be largely focused on identifying and understanding the scope and mechanistic details associated with the tetrabutylammonium fluoride (TBAF) mediated cyclization of alkynyl hydrazines and (O)-hydroxylamines. Also, the synthesis of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-methyl-5-propylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (CMPF) and its analogs will be discussed along with an analysis of their effects on insulin secretion.
Chapter 1 will present the importance of developing isoxazoline and pyrazoline type heterocycles given that they are continually demonstrated to possess a variety of biological activities. Further, the scope of the reaction in terms of functional group tolerability, scalability and mild conditions will be shown. To expand the importance of this work, a route to access non-racemic heterocycles is also noted. With the heterocycles in hand, new methods were developed to generate more complex frameworks in the form of a novel one pot deprotection/functionalization reaction. Chapter 2 will focus on mechanistic investigations of the cyclization. From the initial discovery of the reaction, its actual mechanism was unknown and a main point of interest. What appeared unusual is that a nucleophilic attack occurs on an unactivated triple bond. Given the identity of the products, a reasonable proposal was a 5-endo-dig type cyclization. However, such a pathway would result in the generation of a vinyl anion intermediate which is well known to be of very high energy and it would seem unlikely to occur under mild conditions. Various trapping experiments were used to demonstrate that the vinyl anion forms and a 5-endo-dig-cyclization is the operative mechanism.
Chapter 3 analyzes the importance of the tetrabutylammonium fluoride reagent. During optimization studies, it became clear that this base is the ideal reagent to facilitate the cyclization although other bases can also enable the transformation at much slower rates. Addition of non-basic ammonium salt additives to bases such as KF and CsF had a dramatic effect on the rate of the reaction. To determine whether the observed rate differences were merely a phase transfer effect or something more, both empirical and Raman spectroscopy data were collected. Based on this, the first evidence for an ammonium-alkyne cation-pi type interaction was shown.
Chapter 4 will summarize the work on the synthesis of 2-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-methyl-5-propylfuran-3-carboxylic acid (CMPF) and its analogs in order to be used in various biological assays. The main goals were to determine a possible structure activity relationship between the substrates and insulin secretion in beta cells and also determine the fate of CMPF in vivo. Several 13C labeled analogs of CMPF were synthesized and successfully used to show for the first time that CMPF in metabolized in vivo in mice.

Real-time eye tracking systems with human-computer interaction mechanism are being adopted to advance user experience in smart devices and consumer electronic systems. Eye tracking systems measure eye gaze and pupil response non-intrusively. This research presents an analysis of eye pupil and gaze response to video structure and content. The set of experiments for this study involved presenting different video content to subjects and measuring eye response with an eye tracker. Results show significant changes in video and scene cuts led to sharp constrictions. User response to videos can provide insights that can improve subjective quality assessment metrics. This research also presents an analysis of the pupil and gaze response to quality changes in videos. The results show pupil constrictions for noticeable changes in perceived quality and higher fixations/saccades ratios with lower quality. Using real-time eye tracking systems for video analysis and quality evaluation can open a new class of applications for consumer electronic systems.

E-Learning is transforming the delivery of education. Today, millions of students take selfpaced
online courses. However, the content and language complexity often hinders
comprehension, and that with lack of immediate help from the instructor leads to weaker
learning outcomes. Ability to predict difficult content in real time enables eLearning
systems to adapt content as per students' level of learning. The recent introduction of lowcost
eye trackers has opened a new class of applications based on eye response. Eye
tracking devices can record eye response on the visual element or concept in real time. The
response and the variations in eye response to the same concept over time may be indicative
of the levels of learning.
In this study, we have analyzed reading patterns using eye tracker and derived 12 eye
response features based on psycholinguistics, contextual information processing, anticipatory behavior analysis, recurrence fixation analysis, and pupils' response. We use
eye responses to predict the level of learning for a term/concept. One of the main
contribution is the spatio-temporal analysis of the eye response on a term/concept to derive
relevant first pass (spatial) and reanalysis (temporal) eye response features. A spatiotemporal
model, built using these derived features, analyses slide images, extracts words
(terms), maps the subject's eye response to words, and prepares a term-response map. A
parametric baseline classifier, trained with labeled data (term-response maps) classifies a
term/concept as a novel (positive class) or familiar (negative class), using majority voting
method. On using, only first pass features for prediction, the baseline classifier shows 61%
prediction accuracy, but on adding reanalysis features, baseline achieves 66.92% accuracy
for predicting difficult terms. However, all proposed features do not have the same
response to learning difficulties for all subjects, as we consider reading as an individual
characteristic.
Hence, we developed a non-parametric, feature weighted linguistics classifier (FWLC),
which assigns weight to features based on their relevance. The FWLC classifier achieves
a prediction accuracy of 90.54% an increase of 23.62% over baseline and 29.54% over the
first-pass variant of baseline. Predicting novel terms as familiar is more expensive because
content adapts by using this information. Hence, our primary goal is to increase the
prediction rate of novel terms by minimizing the cost of false predictions. On comparing
the performance of FWLC with other frequently used machine learning classifiers, FWLC
achieves highest true positive rate (TPR) and lowest ratio of false negative rate (FNR) to
false positive rate (FPR). The higher prediction performance of proposed spatio-temporal eye response model to predict levels of learning builds a strong foundation for eye response
driven adaptive e-Learning.

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the difference in pro-social
behavior, self-regulation, overall reading performance, Lexile levels, and teachers’
perception of classroom climate of kindergarten students who received the Ready to
Learn (RTL; Brigman, Lane, & Lane, 2008) classroom guidance program (treatment
group: n = 173) and kindergarten students who did not receive the intervention
(comparison group: n = 124). The study followed a quasi-experimental, comparison
group design in which teachers completed the Child Behavior Rating Scale (CBRS) and
Teacher My Class Inventory-Short Form (TMCI-SF) measures as well as collected
reading data from individual students. Descriptive statistics for each of the measures, the
findings from the analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) on the CBRS and TMCI-SF data,
along with the multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) using the i-Ready data,
and partial eta squared (ηp2) effect sizes were calculated. The ANCOVA was conducted to determine if differences existed on the
participants’ pro-social behavior and self-regulation by condition. The findings revealed
a statistically significant difference on the pro-social skills but did not show a statistically
significant difference in self-regulation. The MANCOVA revealed statistically
significant differences in overall reading performance between the treatment and
comparison group; however, did not reveal statistically significant differences on the
Lexile levels for the students who participated in the intervention. Finally, the ANCOVA
reported a statistically significant difference in the perceived impact of the school
counselor by the treatment group kindergarten as compared to the teachers in the
comparison group; however, no other differences were found on the TMCI-SF scales.
With these results, there is a need for further empirical research to determine the impact
of the RTL program on students’ academic and SEL development.

Contamination of recreational waters with fecal waste, indicated by the presence of
enterococci, can have consequences for human and ecosystem health. The difficulty in
determining the extent and origin of fecal pollution in dynamic estuarine systems is
compounded by contributions from sources including septic tanks and agricultural runoff.
This study investigated fecal pollution at five sites with variable hydrological conditions
in the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. The distribution and occurrence of
enterococci was assessed using traditional cultivation. A human-associated microbial
source tracking assay was validated and applied in these estuaries using qPCR. Results
demonstrated a correlation between enterococci concentrations, rainfall, and salinity. The
human-associated assay was sensitive and specific in the lab; however, human fecal
pollution was not detected in the field even though samples contained high levels of
enterococci. This study highlights the importance of expanding the range of water quality
assessment.

The primary objective of this research is to investigate the viability of magnetic
anomaly localization with an autonomous underwater vehicle, using a genetic algorithm
(GA). The localization method, first proposed by Sheinker. et al. 2008, is optimized here
for the case of a moving platform. Extensive magnetic field modeling and algorithm
simulation has been conducted and yields promising results. Field testing of the method is
conducted with the use of the Ocean Floor Geophysics Self-Compensating Magnetometer
(SCM). Extensive out-of-water field testing is conducted to validate the ability to
measure a target signal in a uniform NED frame as well as to validate the effectiveness of
the GA. The outcome of the simulation closely matches the results of the conducted field
tests. Additionally, the SCM is fully integrated with FAU’s Remus 100 AUV and
preliminary in-water testing of the system has been conducted.

The purpose of this study is to verify and validate the dose at various points of
interest in accelerated partial breast irradiation (APBI) treated with the Strut Adjusted
Volume Implant (SAVI) applicator using Thermoluminescent Dosimeters (TLDs). A set
of CT images were selected from a patient’s data who had received APBI using the SAVI
applicator. The images were used to make 3D models. TLDs were calibrated for
Brachytherapy. Various points of interest were marked out and slots were carved in the 3D
models to fit the TLDs. CT scans were taken of the 3D models with expanded SAVI
applicator inserted. A plan was made following B-39 protocol. The TLDs were read and
the absorbed doses were calculated and compared to the delivered doses. The results of this
study show that the overall average reading of the TLDs is within expected value. The TPS
shows overestimated dose calculations for brachytherapy.

Flexible or asphalt pavements constitute nearly 94% of the 2.7 million miles of existing roadways in the United States. In a typical rehabilitation project, the existing asphalt pavement is milled up to a prescribed depth for removing the near surface distresses such as excessive cracking and rutting, and a new overlay is placed. The average time between resurfacing projects varies depending on the level of pavement deterioration which is significantly accelerated when poor subgrade conditions are encountered. The use of geosynthetic reinforcement within the new asphalt overlay is often perceived as a mitigation strategy that can delay the onset and propagation of reflection cracking, and also control the rutting and differential settlement. However, some mixed reviews about the performance of the geosynthetic reinforced overlays have been reported in the literature.
In Phase I of this study, a laboratory investigation was conducted for evaluating the flexural fatigue behavior, permanent deformation response, and fracture characteristics of geogrid reinforced asphalt beam specimens made from a typical overlay material. The laboratory specimens included geogrid as a single-layer inclusion either at the bottom third depth or at the mid height, and as double-layer inclusion, with geogrid placed both at the bottom third and at the middle of the beam. In Phase II, a case study involving geogrid reinforced overlay constructed over a deteriorated pavement underlain by soft subgrade in southeastern Florida was numerically simulated. It was found that the geogrid reinforcement significantly improved the fatigue and fracture properties of the asphalt beams compared to unreinforced specimens. Results from numerical simulation demonstrated that the double reinforced overlay resulted in the minimum tensile stress at the bottom of the asphalt layer (reducing the cracking potential) and minimum vertical strain on the top of the subgrade (reducing the rutting potential), compared to unreinforced or bottom-third reinforced overlays. Accordingly, it is concluded that the double layer reinforcement of asphalt overlays with an appropriate geosynthetic product can be beneficial for the performance and long term preservation of the pavement system when soft soils are encountered.

Higher education is an idyllically positioned organization from which meaningful
dissemination of knowledge and interdisciplinary research is capable of actuating
practices that resource consumption. Paradoxically, the construction, maintenance, and
operations of the built environment, including the built campus environment, have
contributed to the decline of raw resources and degradation of environmental processes.
An opportunity exists to bridge the knowledge gap between the design and construction
phase and the operations and maintenance phase of the green certified building life cycle,
while examining the parts that contributed to the green-certification of the whole
building. The purpose of this research was to 1.) identify green-building features and
determine their frequency of implementation in new capital (NC) LEED-certified,
campus buildings to effectuate operations and maintenance cost savings, indoor
wellbeing, and environmental stewardship, and 2.) determine the relationships of greenbuilding
feature usage across building, institutional, and LEED characteristics. The study used archival data to document the green efforts of each building with the study’s sample
of 195 buildings on the campus of 107 universities and colleges, in the United States,
between 2007 and 2017.
The study’s findings indicated that the public institutions earned the LEED
certification more often than private institutions and the sample was void of two-year
community colleges. The sample was restricted for green-building features that (a)
reduce economic cost, (b) improve indoor wellbeing, and (c) increase environmental
stewardship. The results and implications are discussed.

Research indicates that there are numerous factors related to dual language
proficiency. Furthermore, research suggests that the language skills of bilingual children
are very heterogeneous. In this study, we will focus on four outcomes for those receiving
dual language input. Those four patterns of outcome are as follows: bilingual children can
have high levels of skills in English and Spanish, high skills in English and low skills in
the Spanish or vice versa, or low levels of skills in English and Spanish. The present
study focused on the prevalence of these four patterns and their concurrent correlates
amongst 30 month old (N = 87, 48 females) and 48 month old (N = 74, 40 females)
simultaneous English-Spanish bilinguals with special emphasis on the distinguishing
factors for those with high dual language skills. Overall, for those with high dual scores,
the findings reveal that gender, birth-order, and maternal level of education are predictive of high dual language scores so that members of this group are largely first-born females
of mothers with an average 15.8 years of education. English dominant scores were
predicted by percent English input in the home and birth-order so that children in this
group were mostly later-born children with 65% English input in the home. Spanish
dominant scores were predicted by percent English input in the home and Spanish bookreading
behaviors as children in this group received 23% of their in-home input in
English and were read to for more than one hour per week in Spanish. Low dual scores
were marginally predicted by gender and Spanish book-reading behaviors, children in
this group were mostly male and received less than an in hour of Spanish reading per
week.