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This article describes the outcomes of a faculty partnership between a math professor and a composition professor to improve the final paper in a research-focused senior capstone math course. Much attention has been paid in recent years to the importance of undergraduate research experiences and how to best create and support such endeavors. However, little space has been dedicated to helping math faculty design and scaffold writing assignments to support their students' development as scholars. We describe how our partnership took place, the changes we made to existing assignments and the creation of new ones, and an assessment of our efforts completed by an interdisciplinary group of faculty and students, which showed marked improvement in the areas of information literacy, critical thinking, and quality of writing.

Network screening is a key aspect of the safety management process. The current standard methods in the Highway Safety Manual assume that intersections and roadway segments are independent, even though interactions between sites likely exist. One way to account for these interactions is by studying roadway corridors made of consecutive intersections and segments. This paper developed a roadway corridor definition to identify urban and suburban arterial corridors in Florida with context classification and lane count as defining features. Applying this definition to 10 Florida counties resulted in 1105 corridors with 14,097 fatal or serious injury crashes from 2017 to 2021. Historic crashes and a developed regression model were used to estimate the expected crash frequency for fatal and serious injury crashes with the empirical Bayes method. After performing k-means clustering on expected crash frequency per mile, 25 high-risk corridors were identified. The difference between the expected and predicted crash frequencies (potential for safety improvement) for each high-risk corridor provided a list of priority corridors for safety improvements. Countermeasures focused on speed reduction in suburban corridors would likely lead to the greatest reductions in fatal and serious injury crashes. This corridor approach allows agencies to quickly identify high-risk areas for priority treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water-resource challenges, encompassing both quality and quantity, pose significant threats to Florida's ecosystems, especially in the face of climate change, rising sea levels, and rapid urbanization. This paper explores the innovative stormwater-management system implemented at Naples Botanical Garden as a model for addressing these challenges. The Garden's approach, treating stormwater as a valuable resource, involves dry and wet retention areas, created lakes, and a unique River of Grass, mimicking natural ecosystems. This system not only mitigates flooding, but also effectively removes pollutants, recharges the aquifer, and provides a habitat for diverse wildlife. The paper emphasizes the economic, environmental, and social impacts of traditional stormwater-management practices in Florida. Naples Botanical Garden's case serves as a guide for botanical gardens and zoos globally, showcasing the pivotal role these institutions can play in sustainable water-resource management. The collaborative design process involving landscape architects, engineers, and horticulturists ensures a holistic and aesthetically pleasing approach to stormwater management. The paper underscores the role of botanical gardens in promoting nature-based solutions, educating the public, and offering tangible steps for implementing similar systems worldwide. It can help guide regional adaptation strategies to manage stormwater as a resource. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper is divided into three parts. First, we analyze data from the 2016-2020 American Community Survey conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau to assess the demographic structure of Florida families. We find differences between Florida and other parts of the United States. These differences are the result of trends and patterns in migration to, from and within the state. Second, we examine the role that disasters in general and hurricanes in particular play in the family life of Floridians. Third, we review the literature to assess how responses to the COVID-19 pandemic influenced family life and the migration of families into, out of, and within Florida. This paper highlights the dramatic changes that have occurred in family life in Florida. The implications of these trends are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

When the load rating of a bridge is less than 1.0 for AASHTO HL-93 live load and state-specific legal trucks, the bridge is posted. Posting a bridge causes an inconvenience to the public and may result in trucks taking longer routes. Thus, this paper investigated the effects of field-derived distribution factor (DF) and impact factor (IM) from static and dynamic load tests using computer vision and deflection measurements, instead of AASHTO factors, on the bridge load rating and component as well as system reliability for posting avoidance. The reliability approach used Monte Carlo simulations to account for uncertainties in calculating the flexural strength limit state (Strength I). Both Flexural strength I and serviceability (Service III) limit states were investigated. The bridge's superstructure was studied in as-built, repaired, and damaged condition scenarios. For that, AASHTO HL-93, Florida legal trucks, and emergency vehicles were considered. In this regard, load rating distributions and component and system reliability indices were computed using both AASHTO and field-derived DF and IM. The increase in load rating and reliability was investigated. By using field-derived factors, a load rating increase of up to 17% was achieved. The component reliability also increased significantly. For example, the damaged case's component reliability increased by 1.0 when replacing DF and IM, which indicates a major reduction in the probability of failure. The increase in system reliability was most significant because using the field-derived DF increased the capacity contribution from other girders. A 2.12 increase in system reliability was achieved in the damaged condition when only substituting DF, providing even higher system reliability as a result of a reduction in the system probability of failure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over the last 15 years, microbially induced calcite precipitation (MICP) has emerged as a possible solution to mitigate coastal erosion. To date, most MICP soil treatments that have been studied involve column injection using a pump. In recent years, MICP application through surface percolation has gained traction as an alternative technique, but data using this technique are limited. More recently, a new treatment recipe/technique was developed, and this technique was termed bioslurry. Like most MICP studies, research with bioslurry has concentrated on the column injection method, and surface percolation has received very limited attention. This paper discusses the treatment of Florida beach sand by surface percolating bioslurry. Researchers experimented with variations of the bioslurry recipe to optimize erosion resistance, which was assessed using a pocket erodometer combined with physical measurements. In addition, treated specimen morphology was preliminarily examined using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Results showed that erosion resistance was maximized when 15% to 25% of the specimens' pore volumes were filled with bioslurry and that this erosion resistance may be sufficient to withstand worst-case storm events after only one treatment. In addition, previous researchers always used a relatively long (i.e., ∼12 h) stir time when preparing bioslurry. Results presented here show that it may be possible to produce comparable data with much shorter stir times (i.e., 1 to 2 h). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a consequence of global climate change, sea level rise (SLR) presents notable risks to both urban and natural areas located near coastlines. For developing effective strategies to mitigate and adapt to these risks, it is essential to evaluate the potential impacts of SLR in coastal areas. While substantial research has been conducted on mapping the broad-scale impacts of SLR based on scenarios of Global Mean Sea Level (GMSL), consideration of regional scenarios, systematic classification, and distinct stages of SLR have been largely overlooked. This gap is significant because SLR impacts vary by region and by the level of SLR, so adaptations, planning, and decision-making must be adapted to local conditions. This paper aims to precisely identify the landscape and urban morphology changes caused by the impact of SLR for each foot of elevation increase based on remote sensing technologies, focusing on St. Johns County, Florida, and Chatham County, Georgia. These two counties are both situated along the southeastern coastline of the United States but with completely different urban forms due to distinct historical and cultural developments. Regional forecasting SLR scenarios covering the period from 2020 to 2100 were utilized to assess the landscape transformation and urban changes, incorporating selected landscape and urban metrics to calculate quantitative data for facilitating comparative analyses. This study investigated gradual alterations in urban morphology and green infrastructure both individually and in combination with the effect on wetlands due to SLR. The mapping outcomes of this research were generated by employing comprehensive remote sensing data. The findings of this research indicated that, when the sea level rose to 3 feet, the wetlands would experience notable alterations, and the level of fragmentation in urban built areas would progressively increase, causing most of the metric data to exhibit a pronounced decline or increase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

After Dobbs, religion, commonly seen as an argument against abortion, has been used to argue for the right to choose. In July 2022, a synagogue sued Florida, asserting that its ban on abortion after fifteen weeks violated Article 1, Section 3 of the Florida Constitution, which prohibits the penalization of free expression of religion. In September 2022, the ACLU argued that the state's abortion ban violated Indiana's Religious Freedom Restoration Act. And in October 2022, three Jewish women sued the state of Kentucky, alleging that its abortion ban violated the Kentucky Religious Freedom Restoration Act. This Note provides a guide to the merits and challenges of the argument that an abortion ban violates a state Religious Freedom Restoration Act (RFRA). Although this Note focuses on how Jewish plaintiffs can raise such claims, the arguments outlined could be raised by individuals of multiple faiths. This Note contributes to a growing debate about religious arguments for the right to an abortion. And it is the first paper to outline how religious freedom claims to obtaining an abortion might fare under state RFRAs. The approach to RFRA outlined in this paper lays the groundwork for a rights-advancing framework of religious exercise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The global COVID-19 pandemic had an unprecedented impact on transportation worldwide. Significant decreases in transportation across all modes were evident and sustained as governments worldwide implemented various countrywide closures and quarantine restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. This paper quantifies and assesses daily vehicle counts by Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) vehicle classifications during the COVID-19 pandemic in New York and Florida throughout 2020. The study found that duringMarch and April of 2020, traffic among all investigated FHWA categories was significantly reduced in both Florida and New York. However, commodity carriers in both states were able to recover faster and remained more consistent than passenger vehicles. This pattern was also observed in both urban and rural communities in Florida. The findings of this work demonstrate how commodity carrier movements, assessed through FHWA vehicle category counts, were less impacted by the governmental restrictions during the pandemic than passenger transportation. While overall traffic volume dropped by more than half in most places at the height of the pandemic, larger commodity-carrying vehicles remained nearly unchanged from the prior year by June of 2020. This was likely because of the critical need to maintain trucking movements to sustain populations. Understanding how truck traffic and freight movements more broadly were impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic is critical in preserving the continuity of service and preventing supply shortages in the event of future outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose This paper compares and contrasts the implementation of pharmacist-led services for 3 different sexual and gender minority populations across California, Mississippi, and Florida. Summary Implementation of pharmacist-led services tailored to sexual and gender minorities may be a potential mechanism to address health disparities in these populations. Clinical pharmacists have the potential to provide care with cultural humility and improve health outcomes by optimizing medication regimens, reducing adverse drug events, enhancing medication acquisition, and improving medication adherence. Conclusion The services provided by clinical pharmacists varied across sites and included management of gender-affirming hormone therapy, HIV antiretroviral medication adherence programming, primary care and chronic disease state management, and involvement in care related to mental health, psychiatry, and substance use as well as sexual health. Various legislative and regulatory barriers and differences in scope of practice for pharmacists were also identified. This paper advocates for the expansion of pharmacy-led services and the adoption of a culturally humble approach to patient care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oral history, when combined with other disciplines like Sociology, Architecture, Anthropology, and Photography, can uncover often-neglected elements of our past leading to breakthroughs in preservation projects. Oral history works with other disciplines (i.e. photography and studies of domestic space) to help us understand the layers of memory and history. This article aims to demonstrate how a methodological approach can coalesce three different disciplines--photography, oral history, and domestic space--to provide a unique, more intimate narrative of the use of the domestic spaces of historically unknown individuals in the 1950s. Usually, architectural historians present information visually through drawings, photographs, books, and other forms of written sources. Rarely do architectural historians use oral narratives in their works. For this reason, readers who have not really considered architectural and oral history within the same context will be interested to learn about this cross-disciplinary approach. Using a case study of one family's personal photo albums, their elicite memories, and their house, this article employs what I have termed a tripod methodology to examine the century-old home of the Eaton Family, long-time residents of the historic Duck Pond community in Gainesville, Florida. Although this paper features only one model, the tripod approach can go in many directions as needed for future research areas like preservation, historical, and anthropological studies, etc. This study serves as an example of how this methodology helps us better understand the 1950s and 60s domestic life in Florida by closely examining one historic home--the Eaton House. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sex trafficking is one type of human trafficking, which involves scenarios where individuals are not paid and are forced to engage in forced sex, forced prostitution, and sexual slavery. Online advertising is increasingly used by traffickers as an anonymous and efficient method to exploit victims. Large sporting events have been linked to increases in sex trafficking, although there is limited empirical evidence to support this claim. The goal of this study is to answer the following question: What is the relationship between Super Bowls and potential online sex trafficking? Using time series Poisson analysis of secondary data on online sexual service advertisements in Florida during the 2020 and 2021 Super Bowls, which took place in Miami and Tampa, Florida, respectively, the result indicates an increase in online advertisements that exhibit indicators of sex trafficking during the two Super Bowls. The paper concludes by providing recommendations for federal, state, and local law enforcement for improving sex trafficking responses during large sporting events and outlines a future research agenda on the relationship between large sporting events and sex trafficking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tactile maps designed for individuals with blindness can greatly improve their mobility, safety and access to new locations. While 3D-printed maps have already been demonstrated to be a powerful tool for delivering spatial information, they might not always be available. Alternatively, a combination of audio and haptic information can be used to efficiently encode 2D maps. In this paper, we discuss the development and user-testing of a novel audio-haptic map creator application. Maps created using this application can provide people with blindness with a tool for understanding the navigational routes and layouts of spaces before physically visiting the site. Thirteen people with blindness tested various components of the virtual map application, such as audio, haptic feedback and navigation controls. Participants' data and feedback were collected and analyzed to determine the effectiveness of the virtual maps as it relates to this user group's readability and usability. The study showed that it was easy to use and that it efficiently delivered information about travel routes and landmarks that the participants could successfully understand. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anne Reynolds, an educator, artist, avocational archaeologist, and award-winning author, passed away in 2017. She and her husband Charles were active members of the Florida Anthropological Society (FAS) and were dedicated to preserving and studying the Blueberry Site, a significant Native American site in Highlands County, Florida. Anne made significant contributions to education and Florida archaeology and received prestigious awards for her work. She was also involved in various organizations and served as a trustee of South Florida Community College. Anne's efforts in archaeology and preservation were highly regarded, and she was known for her hospitality and generosity. Dr. Butler's book, "Archaeology of South-Central Florida: Unearthing the 13th – 17th Centuries," includes a section on Belle Glade Plain pottery. The book compares pottery sherds from the Blueberry Site with those from Fort Center and Belle Glade, contributing to the understanding of Belle Glade Plain ceramics. The book is dedicated to the memory of Anne Reynolds, who was a dedicated advocate for public archaeology and played a significant role in the Florida archaeological community. The references cited in the article provide additional information on related topics and research. [Extracted from the article]

"Red tide" is the popular name for a harmful algal bloom that occurs frequently in Florida waters and has significant impacts on the environment, the economy, and human and animal health. This paper addresses the limited understanding of public attitudes surrounding red tide and the potential for message framing to increase support for mitigation action. A sample of Florida residents (n = 498) was randomly shown a digital article framed around different red tide impacts (economic loss, human health risks, ecosystem damage, or harm to charismatic species) or a control article not framed around a specific red tide impact. Participants were then queried about their emotional responses, support for red tide mitigation policies, and intentions to change their behavior to mitigate impacts. Participants reported higher levels of negative emotions after viewing the harm to charismatic megafauna framing, indicating that messaging may play a significant role in eliciting environmental emotions. Message frames did not significantly impact other policy attitudes. Results demonstrate barriers to shifting support for mitigation where public support for action is already high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper measures the extent to which effects of foreclosures vary across neighborhoods. It offers a simple empirical framework for decomposing the spillover effects on neighboring property prices. Data from Orange County, Florida, reveal that the effects systematically vary across neighborhoods by morphology. The results indicate that older, homogeneous age structure, and non-gated neighborhoods with high vacancy rates are most in jeopardy when foreclosures are present, as these neighborhoods show the greatest neighborhood house price effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Since the Ronan Point collapse in the UK in 1968, the progressive collapse analysis of residential buildings has gradually drawn the attention of civil engineers and the scientific community. Recent advances in computer science and the development of new numerical methodologies allow us to perform high-fidelity collapse simulations. This paper assesses different scenarios that could have hypothetically caused the collapse of the Champlain Tower South Condo in Surfside, Florida, in 2021, one of the most catastrophic progressive collapse events that has ever occurred. The collapse analysis was performed using the latest developments in the Applied Element Method (AEM). A high-fidelity numerical model of the building was developed according to the actual structural drawings. Several different collapse hypotheses were examined, considering both column failures and degradation scenarios. The analyses showed that the failure of deep beams at the pool deck level, directly connected to the perimeter columns of the building, could have led to the columns' failure and subsequent collapse of the eastern wing of the building. The simulated scenario highlights the different stages of the collapse sequence and appears to be consistent with what can be observed in the footage of the actual collapse. To improve the performance of the structure against progressive collapse, two modifications to the original design of the building were introduced. From the analyses, it was found that disconnecting the pool deck beam from the perimeter columns could have been effective in preventing the local collapse of the pool deck slab from propagating to the rest of the building. Moreover, these analyses indicate that enhancing the torsional strength and stiffness of the core could have prevented the collapse of the eastern part of the building, given the assumptions and initiation scenarios considered. Building catastrophic collapses can cause significant lives and economic losses. Poor design and maintenance, in combination with aging, will more likely increase, in the next years, the number of buildings potentially vulnerable to the risk of collapse, due to either seismic, accidental, or degradation actions. This research focuses on the analysis of the Champlain Tower South condo collapse, which occurred in Surfside, Florida, in 2021. Different hypothetical collapse scenarios were simulated, comparing the analysis results with the actual evidence of the collapse. The analyses have shown that the degradation of the pool deck slab, due to corrosion, may have contributed to the collapse of the building. Finally, two different minor revisions of the original design of the building were analyzed to reduce the risk of failure and understand how the collapse of similar residential buildings could be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reform efforts to center issues of equity and social justice in mathematics classrooms have been under fire from the loudest sectors of right-wing media. The hysteria around incorporating social justice issues in mathematics classrooms is captured in the artificial binary: STEM or CRT. In our paper, we examine resistance to reform efforts in mathematics education in artifacts geared towards audiences beyond mathematics education researchers through the lens of whiteness. We analyzed artifacts from the Math Wars of the late 1990's and the current backlash towards mathematics education reform (Math Culture Wars) in California and Florida. We identified fear as a significant mechanism to upholding whiteness in the backlash to mathematics education reforms, particularly centering white fear. By describing how fear is constructed in the artifacts, scholars may find more targeted responses to the backlash by addressing the ideas perpetuated in these artifacts. Still, the field of mathematics education has done little to become more inclusive and just because our agenda is too closely aligned to the status quo, with responses to the backlash being largely absent or tepid. We close with recommendations for action and allyship within the broader field of education to thwart the hysteria against CRT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tick Island Incised (TII) is a relatively rare variety of Late Archaic fiber-tempered pottery found across sections of central and northern peninsular Florida. The striking stylistic divergences of TII from other Orange pottery types have led multiple researchers to invoke foreign influences or migrations to account for its appearance. This paper presents newly collected data on TII vessels from the Silver Glen complex (8LA1/8MR123) and related sites along the St. Johns River and northern Gulf Coast. These data, which represent the most detailed information yet collected on the technology, style, composition, and spatiotemporal distribution of TII pottery, are used to address numerous published speculations regarding the type's timing, origin, and cultural meaning. This research supports the idea that TII's aberrant style, which features symbolically powerful sinistral or left-opening spirals, can be explained as an example of skeuomorphism linked to preexisting lightning whelk shell cups. It further indicates that TII appeared during a particularly volatile time during the Late Archaic period and that its use and deposition in ritualized contexts may have been part of a deliberate effort to intervene in ongoing historical processes and mediate their impacts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Core lexicon (CL) analysis is a time efficient and possibly reliable measure that captures discourse production abilities. For people with aphasia, CL scores have demonstrated correlations with aphasia severity, as well as other discourse and linguistic measures. It was also found to be clinician‐friendly and clinically sensitive enough to capture longitudinal changes in aphasia. To our knowledge, CL has never been investigated in individuals with neurologically progressive disease. Aims: As a preliminary investigation, we sought to investigate (1) whether CL scores correlate with dementia severity, (2) whether CL scores correlate with measures of discourse quality, and (3) whether CL scores correlate with other measures of lexical/semantic access. Methods & Procedures: Twelve participants with a cognitive impairment associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type (DAT) completed several measures of language and cognitive ability, as well as provide a language sample from the wordless picture book, Picnic. Results & Conclusion: Results are informative, as they provide insight into characteristics of CL and provide support for potential use of CL in individuals with neurologically progressive disease. The results indicated that CL scores do correlate with dementia severity and several measures of language ability, indicating they may provide a useful measure of language abilities in DAT, but more research is needed. WHAT THIS PAPER ADDS: What is already known on the subject: Core lexicon (CL) analysis is an assessment measure of discourse ability, most closely related to informativeness or productivity, used in aphasiology that is easier to use and less time consuming than previous measures of informativeness, such as correct information units or type‐token ratio (TTR). For people with aphasia, CL analysis correlates with aphasia severity, measures of informativeness, as well as other measures of discourse quality. It has also been shown to be faster and more reliable between scorers than other informativeness measures. What this study adds: Core lexicon analysis is a new simple and online method for assessing the informativeness of a discourse sample without the need to record or transcribe the language sample. CL is receiving a lot of attention in aphasia, correlating with everything from aphasia severity to measures of productivity and lexical access, as well as measures of informativeness. Unfortunately, no one has investigated CL analysis in dementia. The study demonstrates the first evidence that CL analysis may be a useful measure for determining dementia severity and language quality in people with dementia. What are the clinical implications of this work?: Core lexicon analysis may provide clinicians and researchers with an easy method for assessing the discourse of people with a cognitive impairment associated with dementia of the Alzheimer's type. This will improve initial assessment, as well as improve ongoing language assessment that may provide clues into their functional ability to communicate effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ultramarathon openwater swimming (OWS) events are one of the toughest endurance challenges in the world. The sport has gained notoriety with athletes swimming across the English Channel, Diana Nyad swimming from Cuba to Florida, and the 5- and 10-km OWS in the Olympic schedule. The athletes who participate are exposed to dangerous conditions that expose risks inherent to the sport. The optimal time to prepare for an emergency is before it happens. The aim of this paper is to present an emergency action plan (EAP) designed for the "Swim Tuff" event, a record-breaking ultramarathon swim that took place in Rhode Island, United States. This article identifies an overview of Swim Tuff, the challenges experienced, and how the team designed and implemented risk mitigation strategies. The professionals looking over athletes completing an OWS should be educated and aware of the unique circumstances inherent to the sport. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we ask whether female top law enforcement officials can steer justice provision on the ground. While prior research has documented that female street‐level bureaucrats advance the interests of their female clients, we know little about how female leaders influence the distribution of street‐level outcomes. This study draws on juvenile justice and inquires whether youth arrests and prosecutions vary as a function of the sheriff's and state attorney's sex. We expect counties and circuits led by female sheriffs and state attorneys to experience fewer youth arrests and prosecutions than those led by men, especially among female and minority offenders. Data from Florida's 67 counties between 2015 and 2020 reveal that women's leadership is associated with less severe outcomes for all young offenders, not just females. We also find that gender and feminine leadership theories hold more explanatory power in this context than representative bureaucracy and gendered organizational socialization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Observations of a regular pulse burst (RPB) at the end of a K‐event are analyzed utilizing a simple geometric model and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to estimate the currents and propagation speeds of successive pulses of the RPB. The results show that the current of successive pulses is strongly overlapped and, for typical speeds of continuously propagating K‐events, are unphysically large (88 kA), exceeding the currents of most strokes to ground. By default, the unphysical nature of the result, coupled with very high frequency interferometer observations of an RPB in Florida, shows that the propagation speed of the pulses is significantly faster than expected, namely ∼0.6–1.8 × 108 m/s. This reduces the inferred current from 88 kA down to 6–18 kA, typical of intracloud events. The fast propagation speed of the stepping is explained by successive pulses retracing much of the path of the preceding pulses due to the successive pulses being strongly overlapped. Plain Language Summary: Regular pulse bursts (RBP) are a spectacular phenomenon in lightning studies, in which rapidly propagating, conductive channels called K‐events transition from a smoothly and continually lengthening channel to an intermittent but regularly‐spaced stepping process, with each step producing a highly‐impulsive current and electric field change, or "sferic." Here we introduce a new approach for analyzing sferic observations that models the K‐event as a series of successive segments, with the parameters of the current and extent of each pulse being determined by searching the multi‐dimensional parameter space that best fits the corresponding pulse waveforms. This was done using a process called PSO, and indicated that the RBP pulses were caused by a succession of overlapping fast breakdown events, but having unphysically strong currents. For the distant measurements of the study, the sferic amplitudes can determine only the product of current and propagation speed of the pulses, causing their current and speed values to be ambiguous. However, for the currents to have reasonable values, we are able to conclude that the speeds needed to be faster than assumed maximum value of 1.5 × 107 m/s value in the analysis. This contention is supported by observations of similar RPBs being studied by the authors. Key Points: A new, innovative method is developed for estimating the currents and extents of fast electric field change pulsesThe method is applied to the study of a regular pulse burst, showing that it consisted of a succession of fast overlapping eventsThe speed of the pulses is inferred to be significantly higher than that of continuously‐developing K‐leader [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Families Facing the Future (FFF) is an intervention designed specifically for families with a parent in methadone treatment. FFF is unique because it addresses prevention for children and recovery for parents in a single intervention. The primary goals of the program are to prevent parents' relapse, help them cope with relapse if it occurs, and teach parenting skills in order to reduce the likelihood of substance use among their children. FFF has been implemented as an adjunct to treatment in several Opioid Treatment Programs, but has not been widely adopted due to various implementation barriers. The aims of this study, therefore, were to (1) assess the perceived feasibility of implementing FFF and (2) identify/describe barriers to implementing FFF. An online survey was used to assess implementation feasibility, while individual qualitative interviews were conducted to explore specific barriers to implementation. Data collection from a total of 40 participants (20 patients and 20 providers) was conducted from August 2022 to October 2022 at two Opioid Treatment Programs in Florida. Analyses revealed high feasibility scores, indicating that FFF was viewed by both patients and providers as a practical intervention to implement. Despite strong perceived feasibility of the intervention, qualitative findings identified several implementation barriers with respect to difficulty attending parent training sessions, aversion to in-home visits, and lack of funding (inability to provide patient incentives/bill insurance). This study provides evidence that while patients and providers view FFF as having high feasibility, significant implementation barriers exist. This paper fills a void in the literature by informing if and which modifications might be necessary to facilitate wider adoption of FFF in real-world Opioid Treatment Program settings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatiotemporal data are common in practice. Such data often have complicated structures that are difficult to describe by parametric statistical models. Thus, it is often challenging to analyze spatiotemporal data effectively since most existing statistical methods and software packages in the literature are based on parametric modeling and cannot handle certain applications properly. This paper introduces the new R package SpTe2M, which was developed for implementing some recent nonparametric methods for modeling and monitoring spatiotemporal data. This package provides analytic tools for modeling spatiotemporal data nonparametrically and for monitoring dynamic spatial processes sequentially over time. It can be used for different applications, including disease surveillance and environmental monitoring. The use of the package is demonstrated using the Florida influenza-like illness data observed during 2012–2014 and the PM2.5 concentration data in China collected during 2014–2016. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Develop corridor-level network screening models to identify high-risk corridors where safety improvements could be implemented to reduce fatal and injury (FI) crashes. Methods: A novel corridor definition focused on context classification and lane count was developed and applied to urban and suburban four-lane divided arterial roadways in Florida. Negative binomial regression models were developed for multi- and single-vehicle crashes using 80% of the corridors (training set). Crash frequency predictions were obtained from the developed corridor models and similar site-level models from the Highway Safety Manual (HSM) models for the remaining 20% of the corridors (testing set). Results from all models were adjusted using the empirical Bayes (EB) method. Results: A total of 130 corridors were identified across seven counties. These corridors contained approximately 349 km (217 miles) of roadway and experienced 11,437 multi-vehicle and 746 single-vehicle crashes that resulted in fatalities or injuries from 2017 to 2021. After applying the HSM site-level models and the developed corridor-level models to the testing set (both with and without EB adjustments), the corridor-level models with EB adjustments were the most accurate for corridor crash prediction. Applying the corridor-level models with EB adjustments to the testing set gave a predicted value of 386.44 crashes/year, which was the closest to the observed crash frequency of 383.20 crashes/year. From the corridor-level models, a 3.48-km (2.16-mile) high-risk corridor in Miami-Dade County was identified and analyzed site-by-site using the HSM methodology to identify specific sites within the corridor where safety improvements could provide the most FI crash reductions. Conclusions: The corridor-level models were more accurate and statistically reliable than similar HSM models while being less data intensive. They also only required corridor-level data rather than data for each intersection and segment. By using readily available data, the methods in this paper can be easily replicated by agencies to develop their own network screening corridor-level models and expedite the identification of corridors in need of safety improvements to reduce FI crashes. Existing site-level network screening methods can be used to supplement the developed corridor-level methodology by identifying high-risk sites within identified high-risk corridors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent reform efforts to center issues of equity and social justice in mathematics classrooms have been under fire from the loudest sectors of right-wing media. The hysteria around incorporating social justice issues in mathematics classrooms is captured in the artificial binary: STEM or CRT. In our paper, we examine resistance to reform efforts in mathematics education in artifacts geared towards audiences beyond mathematics education researchers through the lens of whiteness. We analyzed artifacts from the Math Wars of the late 1990's and the current backlash towards mathematics education reform (Math Culture Wars) in California and Florida. We identified fear as a significant mechanism to upholding whiteness in the backlash to mathematics education reforms, particularly centering white fear. By describing how fear is constructed in the artifacts, scholars may find more targeted responses to the backlash by addressing the ideas perpetuated in these artifacts. Still, the field of mathematics education has done little to become more inclusive and just because our agenda is too closely aligned to the status quo, with responses to the backlash being largely absent or tepid. We close with recommendations for action and allyship within the broader field of education to thwart the hysteria against CRT.

This article traces the evolution of higher education accreditation and the impact of modern partisan critiques that challenge its traditional values. For example, the Trump-led Department of Education (ED) introduced new rules resulting in the end of regional boundaries related to accreditation. Moreover, questions have emerged related to oversight of accreditation agencies. Some states have attempted to break up the "higher-education cartels," by requiring institutions to change institutional accreditors, threatening university policies related to shared governance and academic freedom and exerting political control over hiring processes. In light of this, the ED and accreditors have pushed back by issuing guidance reasserting its oversight of such changes, outlining required procedures, and reinforcing the values of accreditation. Recently, Florida has filed suit against ED challenging the constitutionality of the accreditation regime. Against that backdrop, this paper considers how higher education leaders should respond in light of Douglass' (2021) political determinist hypothesis.

Date Presented 03/21/24 This paper focuses on findings from a qualitative research project examining multiple perspectives on experiences of clinicians, educators, and parents of autistic children during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly related to place and time. Primary Author and Speaker: Mary Lawlor Additional Authors and Speakers: Erna Blanche, Brigid Connelly [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/23/24 This paper will present the preliminary results of the qualitative research study and examine spatial and temporal experiences of autistic children, their caregivers, educators, and clinicians during the COVID-19 pandemic. Primary Author and Speaker: Svitlana Stremousova Additional Authors and Speakers: Mariamme Ibrahim, Mary Lawlor, Erna Blanche Contributing Authors: Brigid McInnes Connelly, Tuyet-Nhi Nguyen [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 This paper presents three cases from interviews with caregivers who assisted older rural clients in OT video sessions, describing a range of family caregiver perspectives. Primary Author and Speaker: Megan E. Gately Additional Authors and Speakers: Dylan E. Waller, Matthew Maynard, Lauren R. Moo [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Date Presented 03/22/24 The paper describes a quantitative retrospective study examining the effect of OT-led remedial vision on patient-reported occupational performance and satisfaction posttreatment. Significant results were found. OT's role is discussed. Primary Author and Speaker: Suzanne Briggs Contributing Authors: Mitchell Scheiman, Yuki Asakura [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This protocol paper describes the overall design for HPV MISTICS, a multilevel intervention to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination initiation and completion rates among adolescents aged 11–17. We will conduct a hybrid type 1 implementation-effectiveness trial using a stepped-wedge cluster randomized trial in eight federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) in Florida. Intervention components target three levels: system, providers, and parents. Outcomes will be assessed using quantitative (e.g., vaccination data, survey data) and qualitative methods (e.g., staff and parent interviews). We expect to quantify changes in HPV vaccine series initiation and completion rates for adolescents ages 11–17 in the eight FQHCs. We have hypothesized a 20-percentage point increase in HPV vaccine series initiation and a 10-percentage point increase in series completion. We also anticipate being able to explore factors at the system, provider, and patient levels as potential covariates. Implementation outcomes, barriers, and facilitators identified in the study will help characterize the implementation process and inform potential future intervention scale-up. The project is ongoing; effectiveness and implementation outcomes will be determined following project completion. Findings will provide evidence of an equity-informed research design and implementation procedures that could help improve HPV vaccination rates in similar health systems. Clinical trials identifier: NCT05677360 (date registered: 2022-12-22); https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05677360?lead=Moffitt%20Cancer%20Center%20&aggFilters=status:rec&page=2&rank=17 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Escalating demands on urban water sources present a formidable challenge to practitioners in environmental and social change to more effectively promote water conservation strategies. This study was based on pilot project learnings and aimed to determine whether a sign displaying weekly local rainfall data and turfgrass water needs could effectively influence a Florida (USA) community's water conservation. Three core data sources/methods were used: pre- and post-surveys, water utility data compared between treatment and control communities, and qualitative post-intervention feedback. The findings illustrate nuanced outcomes including the adoption of the rainfall sign as a central information source and some knowledge increases, contrasted with decreased engagement in the target conservation practice, no significant changes in water usage, and unfavorable perceptions of project approaches. Successes and failures of this pilot can guide professionals leading future residential conservation initiatives, which should better engage the target community and incorporate their ideas and needs into the project design. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Wang, P.; Royer, E.L.; Jackson, K., and Gutierrez, S., 2024. Impacts of Hurricane Ian along the low-lying southwest Florida coast (USA) in 2022: Lessons learned. Journal of Coastal Research, 40(5), 827–851. Charlotte (North Carolina), ISSN 0749-0208. Hurricane Ian made landfall in the low-lying, densely populated, and developed southwestern Florida coast on 28 September 2022 as a large and slow-moving category 4 hurricane. Various U.S. federal and state agencies collected a large and comprehensive data set, including pre- and poststorm airborne LIDAR topography, in situ water level and wave measurements at numerous locations before, during, and after the storm, and poststorm high-water marks over a large area. This study reports results from a series of poststorm field investigations including ground observations of beach-dune erosion and deposition, catastrophic damage to various infrastructure, and widespread distribution of non-biodegradable materials washed into the estuary and numerous mangrove islands. Hurricane Ian induced large-scale inundation in low-lying southwest Florida, submerging all the barrier islands bordering Charlotte Harbor estuary, all the islands within the estuary, and up to 5 km into the mainland. Dense tree-type vegetation limited the landward penetration of beach-dune erosion and overwash deposition along the barrier islands. Net sand-volume loss from the beach-dune system ranged 10–25 m3/m and was controlled by the deep submergence of the system during the peak of the storm. The extremely high storm surge of up to 5.2 m above mean sea level generated by Hurricane Ian caused severe damage to the built environments over a large area. High storm waves superimposed on the elevated water level, reaching 1.2 m at the seaward edge of vegetated dunes, contributed to the destruction along the barrier islands. Hurricane Ian distributed a tremendous amount of non-biodegradable artificial debris over a large area and into sensitive natural environments, including numerous mangrove islands, barrier-island interior wetlands, and the estuary waterbody. Measures to prevent materials such as single-use plastics, insulation fibers, and household appliances from being washed into sensitive environments should be a significant part of prestorm preparation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Curricular laws that ban schools from discussing sexual orientation and gender identity/expression, such as Florida's Parental Rights in Education ("Don't Say Gay") law, reinforce structural stigma for LGBTQ + people, resulting in compromised well-being. Structural stigma likely affects LGBTQ + individuals' identity disclosure/concealment processes, and desire to stay in or move out of states that enact these policies. Methods: This mixed-method study includes a sample of 107 LGBTQ + parents in Florida, who were recruited via Prolific in April–May 2023, immediately following the expansion of Florida's "Don't Say Gay" law from K-3 to include all grades. Participants (Mage = 41.49; 82.2% White; 66.4% cisgender women) completed an online survey with closed- and open-ended questions. Logistic regression models examined predictors of self-reported decreases in outness and desire and probability of moving out of Florida. Thematic analyses of open-ended responses provided nuance to participants' experiences. Results: Parents who reported higher levels of bias, identified as trans/nonbinary, and reported that signifiers of LGBTQ + inclusion were removed from school were more likely to report decreased outness, and those with higher socioeconomic status and those who reported removal of LGBTQ + books from school were less likely to report decreased outness. Worries about the law were associated with both desire and perceived likelihood of moving, and White parents were more likely to report a desire to move. Qualitative analysis further revealed the importance of understanding multiple marginalized positions in identity disclosure and desire to move. Conclusions and Policy Implications: Anti-LGBTQ + laws have implications for LGBTQ + parent-families, affecting their ability to live authentically and maintain residence in their communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Water distribution networks, like other large infrastructure systems, must consider reliability and resilience efforts to resist and recover from failure with limited resources. Management of these assets requires a plan to prioritize the maintenance of system components, which are key to its reliability. Many current asset management practices for water distribution networks include only reactive strategies, such as fixing components after breaking, or on predetermined maintenance schedules, which might not correlate with a component's condition or need. Asset management and graph theory principles are utilized in this study to evaluate a water distribution network and its vulnerabilities at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB). We begin by estimating pipe condition indices and establishing the importance of each pipe through a set of graph-theoretic measures (e.g., pipe betweenness centrality and network efficiency). We next simulate two pipe failure scenarios: (1) a single pipe failure scenario, and (2) a cascading failure scenario. The outcomes of the second scenario reveal that a larger betweenness centrality equates to being a critical pipe in relation to overall system performance. Further, we estimate the risk associated with each pipe by combining pipe condition and network properties. We find that ∼7 km (or ∼6%) of pipes are at high risk, while the majority of the network's pipes (∼79 km or ∼62%) are low risk. This study demonstrates how integrating condition indices with graph theory metrics could be employed to promote best practices in pipe maintenance and create a risk-informed framework for asset management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Stormwater control measures (SCMs) are designed to treat the runoff from a water-quality rainfall (WQR). The design of SCMs also requires specification of a drawdown time which is limited by the characteristic interevent time, and it commonly is overlooked that the WQR is not independent of the characteristic interevent time. A procedure is proposed for extracting the relation between the WQR and the characteristic interevent time so that consistent specifications can be developed for WQR and design drawdown time. The proposed procedure was demonstrated for South Florida, where it is shown that, for a given minimum interevent time of 6 h, the limiting design drawdown times of SCMs decrease with increasing percentile rainfall amounts, and that design drawdown times of less than 20 h might be needed to provide a reliability of 50% that water quality basins will fully drain the water-quality volume prior to the next event. It also is shown that both the WQR and the limiting design drawdown time are sensitive to the minimum interevent time that is used to separate rainfall measurements into discrete rainfall events. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article cites reasons for the failure of tort reform in Florida. It discusses the proposed goals of the tort reform system and the legislature's methods to accomplish those goals. Tort reform methods for limiting medical malpractice insurance premium lawsuits include statutory presuit process, the Florida Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Plan, limitation of recovery against state-run hospitals, limitation of how much an injured party may recover and cap on noneconomic damages.

Introduction: Identifying effective strategies to enroll African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino adults ≥65 years of age in health research is a public health priority. This study aimed to explore intergenerational influence (IGI) among these populations living throughout Florida. Methods: African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino adults ≥65 years of age and a trusted family member/friend between 25–64 years participated in virtual listening sessions (LS). Culturally matched facilitators used a semi-structured guide to lead LS that was recorded, transcribed, and uploaded into NVivo©. The constant comparative method was used for analysis. Results: 363 African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino participated in LS. Five (5) themes relate to IGI emerged: (1) parent-child relationships; (2) family caregiving/parental illness experiences; (3) historical research maltreatment; (4) transfer of cultural knowledge; and (5) future generations. Discussion: Our findings support that IGI can be leveraged to increase the participation of African American, Caribbean, and Hispanic/Latino older adults in health research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The COVID-19 pandemic, characterized by travel restrictions and reduced traffic volumes, heightened the risk of severe single-vehicle crashes on Florida's freeways. This study utilized random parameter multinomial logit models, accounting for heterogeneity in means and variances, to analyze driver injury severities in 2020 and compare variations in the magnitude of factors contributed to these injuries across different freeway systems. The estimated models identified 31 statistically significant variables across Florida's major freeways (I-4, I-10, I-75, and I-95). Among these variables, only two—normal driving and restraint usage—were statistically significant across all four freeway systems. Moreover, the model results indicated that factors contributing to severe driver injuries were most prominent on I-95 compared to the other freeways in 2020. These findings improve our understanding of freeway safety measures during a pandemic and provide valuable insights to enhance traffic management strategies for state highway agencies, prioritizing operational safety in potential future pandemics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the heterogeneity of literacy profiles for adolescents with and without a specific learning disability (SLD) in the U.S. state of Florida Student subgroups displaying common patterns of performance in word-level skills and reading comprehension were identified through latent profile analysis. Results indicate most of the total sample demonstrated below-average performance in one or both areas with word-level skill difficulties being more common than difficulties in reading comprehension alone. Changes in reading performance by profile over time (Grades 6–8) were examined through a latent transition analysis revealing consistent patterns in the SLD sample and variable patterns in the typically developing sample. Resulting profiles were utilized to predict performance on an end-of-year broad reading comprehension measure indicating very little change in performance over time. Findings suggest large numbers of adolescents with concurrent word-level and reading comprehension difficulties likely need sustained intervention in word-level skills to support their reading comprehension. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research has identified several risk factors for adolescent vaping. However, limited research has directly explored how low self-control and peer vaping activity are related to adolescent vaping. This study addresses these gaps in the literature by examining relationships between low self-control, peer risk factors for vaping, and adolescent nicotine vaping using a sample of Florida adolescents collected in 2019. In addition, this study examines whether peer risk factors moderate the relationship between low self-control and nicotine vaping. The findings suggest that low self-control and peer nicotine vaping are linked with adolescent nicotine vaping. The findings also provide evidence that peer risk factors may moderate the relationship between low self-control and adolescent nicotine vaping. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is a chronic metabolic disease that seriously jeopardizes human physical and mental health and reduces quality of life. Intestinal flora is one of the critical areas of exploration in T1DM research. Objective: This study aims to explore the research hotspot and development trend of T1DM and intestinal flora to provide research direction and ideas for researchers. Methods: We used the Web of Science (WOS) Core Collection and searched up to 18 November 2023, for articles on studies of the correlation between T1DM and intestinal flora. CiteSpace, VOSviewers and R package "bibliometrix" were used to conduct this bibliometric analysis. Results: Eventually, 534 documents met the requirements to be included, and as of 18 November 2023, there was an upward trend in the number of publications in the field, with a significant increase in the number of articles published after 2020. In summary, F SusanWong (UK) was the author with the most publications (21), the USA was the country with the most publications (198), and the State University System of Florida (the United States) was the institution with the most publications (32). The keywords that appeared more frequently were T cells, fecal transplants, and short-chain fatty acids. The results of keywords with the most robust citation bursts suggest that Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and butyrate may become a focus of future research. Conclusion: In the future, intestinal flora will remain a research focus in T1DM. Future research can start from Faecalibacterium prausnitzii and combine T cells, fecal bacteria transplantation, and short-chain fatty acids to explore the mechanism by which intestinal flora affects blood glucose in patients with T1DM, which may provide new ideas for the prevention and treatment of T1DM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Background: Depression is characterized by abnormalities in emotional processing, but the specific drivers of such emotional abnormalities are unknown. Computational work indicates that both surprising outcomes (prediction errors; PEs) and outcomes (values) themselves drive emotional responses, but neither has been consistently linked to affective disturbances in depression. As a result, the computational mechanisms driving emotional abnormalities in depression remain unknown. Methods: Here, in 687 individuals, one-third of whom qualify as depressed via a standard self-report measure (the PHQ-9), we use high-stakes, naturalistic events – the reveal of midterm exam grades – to test whether individuals with heightened depression display a specific reduction in emotional response to positive PEs. Results: Using Bayesian mixed effects models, we find that individuals with heightened depression do not affectively benefit from surprising, good outcomes – that is, they display reduced affective responses to positive PEs. These results were highly specific: effects were not observed to negative PEs, value signals (grades), and were not related to generalized anxiety. This suggests that the computational drivers of abnormalities in emotion in depression may be specifically due to positive PE-based emotional responding. Conclusions: Affective abnormalities are core depression symptoms, but the computational mechanisms underlying such differences are unknown. This work suggests that blunted affective reactions to positive PEs are likely mechanistic drivers of emotional dysregulation in depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: This article explored Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) beliefs, attitudes, and knowledge of Complementary and Alternative Interventions (CAI). Method: We utilized a cross-sectional online survey among a sample of 193 LCSWs. Results: Approximately 60% of LCSWs assessed for and utilized CAI professionally, and 90% personally utilized CAI. LCSWs had moderately positive beliefs, neutral attitudes, and high baseline knowledge of CAI. Age and years of practice were the only significant correlates, and the only significant predictor for assessment and utilization of CAI was positive attitudes. Discussion: As the largest group of mental health providers, we found that it is vital for LCSWs to have a solid understanding of CAI to provide effective and safe services to the clients they serve. It is hoped that the results of this study will serve as a starting point for future research on CAI among social workers, with the goal of enhancing client-centered practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research Question: A sizable portion of college students experience food and housing insecurity, which poses a roadblock to fully and successfully engaging in higher education. In light of these complex challenges, we ask: How do Florida College System (FCS) institutions meet the basic needs of their students? Methods: To answer the question at hand, we conducted an embedded single case study of the FCS. Between 2014 and 2019, researchers traveled to 21 Florida colleges on one or more occasions to speak with college presidents, administrators, faculty members, advisors, academic support staff, and students. In total, we gathered data from 1,379 people through 213 focus group sessions and 20 individual interviews. Results: From these data emerged evidence of the extensive services and support programs provided by FCS institutions, ranging from food and housing assistance to clothing, transportation, and childcare. Such initiatives aim to meet the chronic, daily needs of students and their families, as well as acute needs that arise out of local disasters and crises. Contributions: The findings of this study contribute to the literature on the mission of community colleges. While these support programs address needs traditionally considered non-academic, participants suggest that they are essential to fostering student success. By meeting students' physiological and safety needs, institutions can better accomplish their academic goals of remediation, transfer, vocational training, and contract education, particularly among students who have been traditionally excluded from higher education. The findings also highlight the importance of acknowledging the needs of students' families when providing support. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A work-zone introduces unexpected conditions for road users and may cause severe safety issues. This study aims to understand drivers' pre-crash improper actions, which are the major contributing factor to the crash occurrence and outcomes severity in single-vehicle (SV) work-zone crashes. A mixed logit model with heterogeneity in mean and variance was developed using Florida's seven-year work-zone crash data. The estimated models investigated five pre-crash improper actions (no contributing action, careless driving, speeding, swerving lanes, and other pre-crash actions) in SV work-zone crashes. Year-paired likelihood ratio tests identified temporal instability existing in the dataset over the study period and suggested yearly model estimation to capture the temporal instability. The model results identified a wide range of variables that impact drivers' pre-crash improper actions, such as driver and weather conditions, work-zone type, and temporal and lighting characteristics. The findings of this study imply that driving psychology plays a critical role in safety-related driving behaviors in work-zone areas. Engineering or education countermeasures that could increase driver alertness of potential hazards are suggested to reduce improper actions by drivers and improve work-zone safety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses updates in the statutes in Florida covering the construction industry in a bid to bolster building safety, ensure prompt payment of construction services, and reduce insurance claims. Also cited are some fatal accidents that inspired said statutes like the Fidenae ampitheater collapse in A.D. 27, and the exemptions in areas like licensing, coding, and permitting.