Search

A networked microgrid is composed of multiple nearby microgrids linked together to gain additional flexibility for resilient operations. Networked microgrids collaborate to prevent power shortages in microgrid clusters by sharing critical renewable and energy storage resources. However, controlling the local resources of each microgrid, including the energy storage systems' charging and discharging, maintaining the DC bus voltage, and even overseeing the power shared by multiple microgrids, is challenging. Therefore, a microgrid control technique and distributed energy management are used cooperatively in this study to handle the shared power between a system of networked microgrids incorporating photovoltaics and battery energy storage systems. Numerical simulation results from a networked microgrid system verify the accuracy and soundness of the suggested distributed energy management under several operating conditions, including renewable uncertainties and sequential load variations in different zones. The applicability of the suggested technique is confirmed by hardware implementation, and several operational scenarios further evaluate the proposed system on a practical two-microgrid system located in the Florida International University (FIU) testbed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cyanobacteria, an important addition to biofertilizers, are gaining popularity for their multifaceted benefits in sustainable agriculture and ecosystem restoration. However, harmful algal blooms (HABs) in freshwater, predominantly caused by cyanobacteria, prevent sunlight penetration into the water and develop hypoxic and anoxic conditions. We collected cyanobacteria slurry from Lake Jesup (Central Florida, USA), repurposed it as a biofertilizer, and incorporated it in a typical South Florida calcite soil for high-value okra (Abelmoschus esculentus; var: Clemson spineless) production. Experiments were conducted at the Organic Garden Shade House and Greenhouse located inside the main campus of the Florida International University (FIU), FL, USA. A two-year experiment with four different treatments was conducted, namely, (a) control (C; no fertilizer applied), (b) total synthetic (TS), (c) total biofertilizer (TB; only cyanobacteria biofertilizer was applied), and (d) half and half (HH; 50% biofertilizer + 50% synthetic fertilizer), which were arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with six replications for each treatment. Our results indicate that TB and TS produced about 29 to 33% higher SPAD (soil plant analytical development) readings than the control. The absence of interveinal chlorosis (yellowing of leaves) in the TB and HH treatments suggests that the cyanobacteria-based biofertilizer had a role in supplying one of the critical micronutrients, iron (Fe). Analysis of the biofertilizer indicated 2000 ppm Fe content, which directly supports our observation. Similarly, average plant height (61 cm), yield (130 gm per pot), and crop biomass (67 gm) productions were significantly higher in TB than in the control. Overall, this study documents the potential of cyanobacteria biofertilizers as a viable option compared to synthetic fertilizers for sustainable crop production and soil health improvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the impact of rebranding office hours to happy hours on student engagement at Florida International University, where class sizes often exceed 100 students and can be as large as 400. The initiative aimed to address the challenge of low student attendance during traditional office hours, a critical time for student-professor interaction. Implemented in summer 2021 during COVID-19, happy hours were held in lab spaces to allow for social distancing and create a more inviting atmosphere. A focus group of 36 students across four semesters provided feedback, revealing increased attendance and positive perceptions. Students appreciated the informal and welcoming environment, which reduced intimidation and fostered a sense of community. The study highlights that happy hours promoted not only academic support but also peer connections, enhancing the overall learning experience. This flexible approach improved student participation and academic performance, emphasizing the importance of an inclusive and supportive educational environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reflects on the creation of bilingual spaces, focusing on writing centers as facilitators of academic dialogue regarding academic writing and culture. The writing centers of Pontifical Javeriana University and Florida International University jointly explore how these centers can serve as bridges to promote effective communication and cultural exchange in educational environments where different languages coexist. The analysis addresses the significance of these spaces in fostering linguistic diversity and the impact on academic development. Este artículo reflexiona sobre la creación de espacios bilingües, centrándose en los Centros de Escritura como facilitadores del diálogo académico en torno a la escritura académica y la cultura. Los Centros de Escritura de la Pontificia Universidad Javeriana y de la Universidad Internacional de Florida exploran conjuntamente cómo estos centros pueden servir de puentes para promover la comunicación efectiva y el intercambio cultural en entornos educativos donde coexisten diferentes lenguas. El análisis aborda la importancia de estos espacios en el fomento de la diversidad lingüística y su impacto en el desarrollo académico. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study presents an extensive bibliometric review of research publications on tax evasion using the Scopus database. Data analysis was conducted using Microsoft Excel, Open Refine, Harzing's Publish or Perish, and VOSviewer. Since 1998, there has been a continuous growth in the number of research papers published on tax evasion. The United States emerged as the most productive country in terms of published tax evasion studies. Specifically, Florida International University ranked first as the most active institution in publishing important articles related to tax evasion research. The Journal of Public Economics stands out as the most renowned journal in this field. However, it should be noted that this research relies on the Scopus database, which may have certain limitations that can influence the results. Moreover, this study acknowledges the crucial role of education in comprehending and combating tax evasion. It highlights the significance of educational institutions, such as Florida International University, in generating valuable research on tax evasion. By promoting education and raising awareness about the intricate nature of tax evasion, scholars and practitioners can make well‐informed decisions and formulate effective strategies to mitigate its adverse effects. To the best of the researcher's knowledge, this study represents the first extensive bibliometric analysis that offers a comprehensive overview of tax evasion research while recognising education's vital role in tackling this issue. Context and implicationsRationale for this studyA bibliometric study on tax evasion provides valuable insights into the existing literature, research trends and knowledge gaps, which can inform educational interventions and the development of effective strategies to promote tax compliance. It helps identify best practices and evidence‐based approaches to enhance tax education and assess the impact of education on tax compliance.Why do the new findings matter?The findings of a tax evasion bibliometric study are crucial for education as they inform and enhance educational initiatives. They provide insights into the existing research landscape, allowing educators to tailor their approaches and incorporate best practices. Ultimately, integrating the findings of a tax evasion bibliometric study into education enhances the effectiveness of educational efforts in reducing tax evasion.Implications for researchers and practitionersTax evasion bibliometric study has significant implications for researchers and practitioners in education. Researchers can benefit from identifying research gaps, exploring collaborative opportunities, and gaining methodological insights to advance knowledge in the field. For practitioners, the findings support evidence‐based decision‐making, enable the tailoring of educational interventions, and foster collaboration with researchers. The study promotes a stronger connection between research and practice, enhancing the effectiveness of educational efforts in addressing tax evasion. Ultimately, the implications of a tax evasion bibliometric study contribute to the development of evidence‐based strategies and interventions in the education sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The midline thalamus is critical for flexible cognition, memory, and stress regulation in humans and its dysfunction is associated with several neurological and psychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer's disease, schizophrenia, and depression. Despite the pervasive role of the midline thalamus in cognition and disease, there is a limited understanding of its function in humans, likely due to the absence of a rigorous noninvasive neuroimaging methodology to identify its location. Here, we introduce a new method for identifying the midline thalamus in vivo using probabilistic tractography and k-means clustering with diffusion weighted imaging data. This approach clusters thalamic voxels based on data-driven cortical and subcortical connectivity profiles and then segments the midline thalamus according to anatomical connectivity tracer studies in rodents and macaques. Results from two different diffusion weighted imaging sets, including adult data (22–35 years) from the Human Connectome Project (n = 127) and adolescent data (9–14 years) collected at Florida International University (n = 34) showed that this approach reliably classifies midline thalamic clusters. As expected, these clusters were most evident along the dorsal/ventral extent of the third ventricle and were primarily connected to the agranular medial prefrontal cortex (e.g., anterior cingulate cortex), nucleus accumbens, and medial temporal lobe regions. The midline thalamus was then bisected based on a human brain atlas into a dorsal midline thalamic cluster (paraventricular and paratenial nuclei) and a ventral midline thalamic cluster (rhomboid and reuniens nuclei). This anatomical connectivity-based identification of the midline thalamus offers the opportunity for necessary investigation of this region in vivo in the human brain and how it relates to cognitive functions in humans, and to psychiatric and neurological disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Synthetic opioids such as fentanyl account for over 71,000 of the approximately 107,000 overdose deaths reported in the United States in 2021. Fentanyl remains the fourth most identified drug by state and local forensic laboratories, and the second most identified drug by federal laboratories. The unambiguous identification of fentanyl‐related substances (FRS) is challenging due to the absence or low abundance of a molecular ion in a typical gas chromatography‐mass spectrometry (GC‐MS) analysis and due to a low number of fragment ions that are similar among the many potential isomers of FRS. This study describes the utility of a previously reported gas chromatography‐infrared (GC‐IR) library for the identification of FRS within a blind, interlaboratory study (ILS) involving seven forensic laboratories. Twenty FRS reference materials, including those with isomer pairs in the library, were selected based on either their presence in the NIST library and/or some similarity of the mass spectra information produced. The ILS participants were requested to use the Florida International University (FIU) GC‐MS and GC‐IR libraries supplied by FIU to search for matches to their unknown spectra generated from in‐house GC‐MS and GC‐IR analysis. The laboratories reported improvement in the positive identification of unknown FRS from ~75% using GC‐MS alone to 100% correct identification using GC‐IR analysis. One laboratory participant used solid phase IR analysis, which produced spectra incompatible with the vapor phase GC‐IR library to generate a good comparison spectrum. However, this improved when searched against a solid phase IR library. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of a newly designed vaginal speculum, the Bouquet Speculum, in-vitro. The setting of this study was at Florida International University and involved four senior students in the Department of Biomedical Engineering.Methods: A phantom vaginal model was used to test three variables of the Bouquet Speculum (Visibility, Pressure and Gynecologic Tools tests). As this was bench-lab testing with simulated models, no human participants were involved in this study.Results: The results of this in-vitro study are as follows: The visibility test demonstrated statistically better visualization of the cervix and the cervical os (sampling area for pap tests) with the Bouquet Speculum over the existing 2-bladed speculum at all intrapelvic pressures; The pressure test demonstrated an equal radial distribution of force, without breakage, across the Bouquet Speculum; The gynecologic tools test demonstrated that the Bouquet Speculum is compatible with the existing speculum and standard gynecologic tools in terms of retrieving samples and accessing the cervical os and entire cervix during gynecologic procedures and screening.Conclusion: The gynecologic screening and procedural value of this innovative change in the design of the vaginal speculum could save hundreds of thousands of lives every year, provide a more comfortable exam for the patient, and result in a more efficient and user-friendly provider experience. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports on a reconceptualization of the Precalculus course experience at Florida International University. We discuss the details of the redesign process – unified within a faculty learning community (FLC) model – along with a broader change in the course sequence leading up to Calculus. We provide data, including the comparison between the treatment and control groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the coming decades, pandemics are likely to increase in frequency and severity. Therefore, the academic medicine community must learn from the COVID-19 pandemic to craft proactive, systematic strategies to ensure that medical students are trained in emerging diseases. This article outlines the process by which the authors' institution developed guidelines for student participation in the care of patients with COVID-19 and reports on students' experiences with these policies. Objectives: Recent disease modeling suggests that pandemics are likely to increase in frequency and severity. As such, medical educators must learn from their experiences with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) to develop systematic strategies for ensuring that medical students receive hands-on training in the management of emerging diseases. Here, we outline the process by which the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine developed and updated guidelines for student participation in the care of patients with COVID-19 and report on students' experiences. Methods: During the 2020–2021 academic year, Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine students were not permitted to care for patients with COVID-19; however, academic year 2021–2022 guidelines did permit fourth-year students on subinternships or Emergency Medicine rotations to voluntarily care for patients with COVID-19. At the end of the 2021–2022 academic year, students completed an anonymous survey about their experience caring for patients with COVID-19. Likert-type and multiple-choice questions were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the short-answer responses were analyzed qualitatively. Results: One hundred two students (84%) responded to the survey. Sixty-four percent of respondents opted to provide care for patients with COVID-19. Most students (63%) cared for patients with COVID-19 during their required Emergency Medicine Selective. Twenty-eight percent of students wished they had more COVID-19 patient care opportunities, and 29% did not feel prepared to care for patients with COVID-19 on their first day of residency. Conclusions: Many graduating students felt unprepared to care for patients with COVID-19 during residency and many wished they had had more opportunities to care for patients with COVID-19 during medical school. Curricular policies must evolve to allow students to gain competency in the care of patients with COVID-19 so that they are prepared for day one of residency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]