Broward County Research Articles

Pet- and special needs-friendly shelter planning in south florida: A spatial capacitated p-median-based approach

Evacuating individuals and allocating space in shelters are complex tasks that depend on disaster characteristics, roadway network characteristics, the demographics and socioeconomic status of people in the affected region, as well as the effectiveness of the emergency plans. This problem becomes even more challenging when special needs (access and functional needs) populations and those with pets are considered since they may require more time in the event of an evacuation along with more space in shelters. As such, this paper focuses on the evacuation and sheltering needs of such a population group, those 85 and older with special needs (access and functional needs) or pets, in Southeast Florida. Data from Miami-Dade and Broward counties are analyzed using a GIS-based spatial capacitated p-median optimization model. First, an extensive analysis is conducted to assess the accessibility of the American Red Cross-approved shelters with respect to different population groups through which static congested travel times are obtained between each shelter location and U.S. census units. Additionally, a variety of scenarios are constructed to simulate evacuating 85+ populations living in the evacuation zone, providing dynamic congested travel times. Finally, a capacitated p-median optimization model is implemented to maximize the accessibility and capacity of the existing shelters for 85+ populations with special needs (access and functional needs) or pets. Results indicate that the location and allocations of people to shelters are sensitive to demographics and roadway conditions, and the accessibility to shelters can be improved for this group of people based on optimization model results.

Training early childcare providers in evidence-based nutrition strategies can help improve nutrition policies and practices of early childcare centres serving racially and ethnically diverse children from low-income families.

We evaluated the extent to which providing training and technical assistance to early childcare centre (ECC) directors, faculty and staff in the implementation of evidence-based nutrition strategies improved the nutrition contexts, policies and practices of ECC serving racially and ethnically diverse, low-income children in Broward County, Florida, USA. The nutrition strategies targeted snack and beverage policies and practices, consistent with Caring for Our Children National Standards. We used the nutrition observation and document review portions of the Environment and Policy Assessment and Observation (EPAO) instrument to observe ECC as part of a one-group pre-test/post-test evaluation design. ECC located within areas of high rates of poverty, diabetes, minority representation and unhealthy food index in Broward County, Florida, USA. Eighteen ECC enrolled, mean 112·9 (sd 53·4) children aged 2-5 years; 12·3 (sd 7·2) staff members; and 10·2 (sd 4·6) children per staff member at each centre. We found significant improvements in centres' overall nutrition contexts, as measured by total EPAO nutrition scores (P=0·01). ECC made specific significant gains within written nutrition policies (P=0·03) and nutrition training and education (P=0·01). Our findings support training ECC directors, faculty and staff in evidence-based nutrition strategies to improve the nutrition policies and practices of ECC serving racially and ethnically diverse children from low-income families. The intervention resulted in improvements in some nutrition policies and practices, but not others. There remains a need to further develop the evaluation base involving the effectiveness of policy and practice interventions within ECC serving children in high-need areas.

Effects of EMF emissions from undersea electric cables on coral reef fish.

The objective of this study was to determine if electromagnetic field (EMF) emissions from undersea power cables impacted local marine life, with an emphasis on coral reef fish. The work was done at the South Florida Ocean Measurement Facility of Naval Surface Warfare Center in Broward County, Florida, which has a range of active undersea detection and data transmission cables. EMF emissions from a selected cable were created during non-destructive visual fish surveys on SCUBA. During surveys, the transmission of either alternating current (AC), direct current (DC), or none (OFF) was randomly initiated by the facility at a specified time. Visual surveys were conducted using standardized transect and point-count methods to acquire reef fish abundances and species richness prior to and immediately after a change in transmission frequency. The divers were also tasked to note the reaction of the reef fish to the immediate change in EMF during a power transition. In general, analysis of the data did not find statistical differences among power states and any variables. However, this may be a Type II error as there are strong indications of a potential difference of a higher abundance of reef fish at the sites when the power was off, and further study is warranted. Bioelectromagnetics. 39:35-52, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

FlipTube™ technology promotes clean manipulation of forensic samples on automated robotic workstations

One method to reduce forensic DNA crime laboratory casework backlogs is to rethink DNA sample preparation and analysis processing; often using automated liquid handling platforms that are both robust and performance-verified. This enables forensic scientists to develop improved DNA processing solutions and shorten the time leading up to data analysis and reporting. However, some may argue that automated processing of forensic samples increases risk of sample contamination as the samples are de-capped and racked onto the robotic platform in a batched manner, and remain uncapped during the entire process. Sample-to-sample and analyst-to-sample manipulations differ between manual and automated processes, as forensic examiners open and serially manipulate sample tubes one at a time in microtubes, while typical automated processes lack the capability to open and close these tubes.In response to both real and perceived court concerns regarding evidence sample integrity, the Broward County Sheriff’s Office Crime Laboratory is adopting an automated workflow that mimics manual actions as closely as possible, using an automated liquid handler and FlipTube microtubes to promote the clean manipulation of forensic samples. FlipTubes are automated microcentrifuge tubes specifically developed to facilitate opening and closing of the microtube lid on an automated liquid handling platform in order to increase walk-away time while decreasing the risk of sample contamination. FlipTubes were incorporated into the quantification through amplification steps of the pre-PCR DNA typing workflow. This workflow, with the incorporation of FlipTubes, is currently being validated for use in forensic casework.

Predictive and prescriptive analytics, machine learning and child welfare risk assessment: The Broward County experience

This paper presents the findings from a study designed to explore whether predictive analytics and machine learning could improve the accuracy and utility of the child welfare risk assessment instrument used in Broward County (Ft. Lauderdale, Florida). The findings from this study indicate that, indeed, predictive analytics and machine learning would significantly improve the accuracy and utility of the child welfare risk assessment instrument being used. If the predictive analytic and machine learning algorithms developed in this study would be deployed, there would be improved accuracy in identifying low, moderate and high risk cases, better matching between the needs of children and families and available services and improved child and family outcomes. This paper also identifies further areas of research and study.

The Interprofessional Diabetes and Education Awareness (IDEA) community program

This report describes the Interprofessional Diabetes and Education Awareness (IDEA) program that was developed in partnership with the Broward County American Diabetes Association and Nova Southeastern University Health Profession's Division. The intent of the program is to increase engagement and collaboration of students and faculty from multiple professions in providing free community education related to diabetes prevention and management. The education is provided to individuals who are interested in knowing about diabetes, or who actually have a diagnosis. The presentations are done through lecture, active learning, table top displays and discussions, in a variety of community venues throughout an academic year, with the goal of increasing community awareness and appropriate management of diabetes. The variety of presentation methods are available to address different health literacy and age levels. Interprofessional health care groups of faculty and students meet the goals of increasing team functioning awareness and collaboration, as well as increased knowledge of diabetes in the community, as indicated by student focus group results at the end of the academic year. Participant surveys also overwhelmingly reveal satisfaction with the community presentations. Information regarding program replication is available through our Train the Trainer Coordinator – Alison Herman [email protected].

What It Means to Become “More Resilient”: An Analysis of Local Resilience-Building Approaches in Three Florida Communities

Abstract From international to local scales of governance, resilience building is being presented as the way to prepare for impacts of both slow- and quick-onset disasters. Having transitioned from ecological to social applications, the concept of resilience has multiple interpretations, and definitions tend to emphasize both resistance to and acceptance of transformational change. The purpose of this research is to investigate how the concept of resilience is being conceptualized in three south Florida communities in order to understand and compare what ideal types and dimensions of resilience are prioritized at those local scales. To do this, content analyses of city and county documents were conducted to extract explicit definitions of resilience as well as implicit definitions based on context clues using carefully selected keywords. The term resilience appeared 684 times in documents from Broward County, Lee County, and the city of Punta Gorda, yet only one document provided any explicit definition. Based on a keyword analysis, the engineering resilience concept was most prevalent across all three study areas. Furthermore, keywords related to the dimension of the built environment were most common by far in Broward and Lee Counties. While this could indicate a need for communities to shift toward more progressive, social–ecological conceptualizations of resilience, a more central conclusion of this research is that local applications of resilience frameworks need to be more explicit about how they define resilience and what resilience building looks like in that particular context.

Methods for Investigating Sediment Flux under High-Energy Conditions on the Southeast Florida Continental Shelf using Laser Airborne Depth Sounding (LADS) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) Dataframe

ABSTRACT Finkl, C.W. and Vollmer, H.M., 2017. Methods for investigating sediment flux under high-energy conditions on the southeast Florida continental shelf using Laser Airborne Depth Sounding (LADS) in a Geographic Information System (GIS) dataframe. Laser Airborne Depth Sounding (LADS) bathymetric surveys conducted in 2001 and 2008 bracket two hurricane landfalls (Hurricane Ivan in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005) in Broward County, southeast Florida, thus providing an opportunity to investigate changes in bottom topography as a result of wave and current action. The seafloor in this region is characterized by a wide range of sedimentary features that are normally stabilized (held in place) by outcrops of carbonate bedrock and coral reefs. During high-energy events, however, the sedimentary deposits are partially mobilized by waves and currents. This methodological study used the two LADS bathymetric surveys to construct triangulated irregular networks (TINs, which are a digital means of representin...

Range Extension of the Introduced Bee SpeciesEuglossa dilemma(Hymenoptera: Apidae) in Monroe County, Florida, with Notes of Additional Range Extensions in Southern Florida

Summary The introduced bee species Euglossa dilemma Bembe & Eltz (Hymenoptera: Apidae) continues to spread south and west of its 2003 introduction in Broward County, Florida. This study confirms its presence in Monroe County, and additional new internet records from 2012 to 2016 have found it present in Collier and Lee counties on the west coast of Florida. Soapy water pan traps and blue vane traps were found to be effective in sampling this species, which had previously only been collected with baited traps.

An Integrated Framework to Analyze Local Decision Making and Adaptation to Sea Level Rise in Coastal Regions in Selsey (UK), Broward County (USA), and Santos (Brazil)

One of the clear signals of the ongoing climate change is sea level rise (SLR). Normal oceanic tides superimposed on a rising sea level and coastal flooding will affect many coastal communities. An international collaboration among Brazil, the United Kingdom, and the United States was designed to evaluate local decision making processes and to open space for local urban managers to reflect on possible actions toward adaption to sea level rise given the historical constraints imposed by administrative and institutional structures. This project focused on the processes that shape adaptation of three coastal communities in three countries. It worked jointly with these communities in defining the problem, examining risks, and understanding the benefits and obstacles that may hinder implementation of adaptation options. The framework was co-designed by an interdisciplinary team that incorporated social and natural scientists from the three countries, including local government officials. The study addressed 1) evaluation of adaptive capacity through participant surveys and 2) physical and cost impact simulations using geospatial models of the built infrastructure and implementation of adaptation options under different hazard scenarios, including 50 and 100-year sea level rise projections and severe storms. Based on the surveys’ results, there is a clear sense of the awareness of each community of the risk of floods due to intense storms, and of the usefulness of engaging early in a process that promotes the understanding of risks, impacts, and costs. A majority of workshop participants prioritized pursuing physical and green infrastructure actions now or within coming years or decades. A positive common aspect of the three sites was the commitment shown by the stakeholders in taking part in the process and evaluating which adaptation measures could be more effective in their cities. While in the US and UK structural solutions and voluntary buyouts were prioritized for the future, Brazil prioritized structural solutions and ecosystems restoration and not voluntary buyouts. All of these are choices to increase resiliency against sea level rise that have a high benefit-cost ratio. The Adaptive Capacity Index (ACI) results illustrate barriers to adaptation action, including technical, economic and political issues that reveal inequalities in adaptive capacity among case studies.

Panther Mpower: A Campus-Based HIV Intervention for Young Minority Men who Have Sex with Men

Miami-Dade and Broward counties remain an epicenter of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the U.S. This report from the field describes the implementation of a SAMHSA-funded, campus-based initiative to address HIV prevention and testing for young minority men who have sex with men. Outcome criteria are clearly delineated and benchmarks for measuring outcomes are reported.

Patient perspectives on peripheral neuropathic pain experience within the community

Purpose of this cross-sectional study was to explore the relationship between neuropathic physical complaints (NPC) and quality-of-life (QoL) in community-dwelling patients with diabetes in Broward County, Florida. Adult patients were invited to complete a 10-minute paper questionnaire at a community hospital between October 2014-April 2016. Analysis of data from 124 participants (60 with distal symmetric polyneuropathy (DSPN) diagnosis versus 64 without DSPN diagnosis) with NPC, showed those with DSPN had a longer duration of diabetes, suffered a higher number of NPC, and had a lower QoL (all p≤0.001) with more impediments to performing daily activities. While differences in pain severity and QoL were present in patients with DSPN versus those without DSPN diagnosis, NPC were still reported by those without DSPN diagnosis. Healthcare providers are encouraged to identify possible NPC during earlier stages of glycemic dysregulation and address foot care issues promptly to mitigate the disease’s effect on QoL.

Q & A


 
 
 The ever-changing demands placed on school principals have necessitated the development of formal programs for improving the capacity of both existing school principals and those in the pipeline (i.e., assistant principals, vice-principals, and other aspiring school leaders). While there are several well-known development programs such as LEAD at Denver Public Schools and Broward County Public Schools in Florida, other school districts and educational institutions in other locales throughout the country have programs that have begun to emerge. In Dallas, Texas, Troy Mooney, Chief Academic Officer of Life Schools and Herbert O’Neil, Chief Talent Officer of Life Schools have developed a preparation guide and development program to meet the demanding needs of 21st-century school leaders.
 
 

The Impact of Random Metal Detector Searches on Contraband Possession and Feelings of Safety at School

Weapons at school pose a danger to students as well as faculty. Educational administrators have attempted to reduce their prevalence by implementing random weapons searches in schools. This article examines the effectiveness of this approach using data from two geographically adjacent school districts in Florida (Miami-Dade and Broward). In the 1998-1999 school year, Miami-Dade County Schools implemented mandatory random weapons searches in schools, whereas Broward County did not. Using a difference-in-differences estimation strategy, the results indicate that the searches reduced the likelihood that students brought weapons to school and reduced incidences of being offered illegal drugs at school in Miami. Moreover, students in Miami were less likely to report skipping school due to safety concerns following the introduction of the searches.

Reflecting on resilience in Broward County, Florida: A newspaper content analysis about Hurricane Wilma recovery

Resilience is a burgeoning concept in the field of disaster research. While definitions for resilience vary, some scholars distinguish between two scales of resilience: Specified resilience, addressing resistance to known disturbances, and general resilience, addressing a system's capacity to deal with less predictable shocks. This paper qualitatively analyzes the content of 172 Sun-Sentinel newspaper articles to explore the interplay between specified and general resilience in Broward County following Hurricane Wilma in 2005. In these articles about Wilma, a specified disturbance event, some prominent themes that tied into theories of general resilience included the distribution of benefits and risks, accountability, social learning and memory, cross-scale governance, vulnerability and social networks. After identifying these surrogates for resilience and further analyzing the content of the news articles, this paper concludes with four recommendations for Broward County to potentially enhance resilience to future storms and less predictable disturbances, like climate change and sea level rise: (1) Update county vulnerability profiles with attention to socially marginalized vulnerable groups; (2) Reframe and clarify the purpose of the Vulnerable Populations Registry, using social science research; (3) Foster opportunities for community members to share local knowledge, highlighting innovative problem-solving; and (4) Review existing disaster recovery programs to assess the distribution of benefits and risks across populations, space and time.

A GIS Approach to Identifying Socially and Medically Vulnerable Older Adult Populations in South Florida.

We define, map, and analyze geodemographic patterns of socially and medically vulnerable older adults within the tri-county region of South Florida. We apply principal components analysis (PCA) to a set of previously identified indicators of social and medical vulnerability at the census tract level. We create and map age-stratified vulnerability scores using a geographic information system (GIS), and use spatial analysis techniques to identify patterns and interactions between social and medical vulnerability. Key factors contributing to social vulnerability in areas with higher numbers of older adults include age, large household size, and Hispanic ethnicity. Medical vulnerability in these same areas is driven by disease burden, access to emergency cardiac services, availability of nursing home and hospice beds, access to home health care, and available mental health services. Age-dependent areas of social vulnerability emerge in Broward County, whereas age-dependent areas of medical vulnerability emerge in Palm Beach County. Older-adult social and medical vulnerability interact differently throughout the study area. Spatial analysis of older adult social and medical vulnerability using PCA and GIS can help identify age-dependent pockets of vulnerability that are not easily identifiable in a populationwide analysis; improve our understanding of the dynamic spatial organization of health care, health care needs, access to care, and outcomes; and ultimately serve as a tool for health care planning.

New verified nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida, 1976 through 2015, with a summary of over 152 years of introductions


 
 
 
 More nonindigenous species occur in Florida, USA, than any other region worldwide and may threaten many of Florida’s natural resources. The frequency of new reports mandates the need for regular updates. Herein, we use photographic and specimen vouchers in addition to literature records to provide updated information on verified nonindigenous amphibians and reptiles in Florida. Between our most recent summary in 2012 and the end of 2015, 38 additional species are known to have been intercepted (n = 2) or introduced (n = 36). We also update the invasion stage of seven species previously reported from Florida and report that five additional taxa are now established. In total, 191 independent known introductions of 180 herpetofaunal taxa led to the establishment of 63 taxa. This suggests that one in three introduced herpetofaunal species becomes established in Florida. The pet trade represents the most common introduction pathway among these species animal importer in Hollywood, Broward County, is the probable source for introduction of a quarter of all herpetofauna introduced to Florida.
 
 
 

Sustainable Justice: Social Sustainability as a Key Principle for Law and Justice, in Order to Improve Social Harmony, Quality of Life and Transparency

The author shares his professional experiences as civil defense lawyer that brought him to the development of the concept of Sustainable Justice and the initiation and co-writing of the Sustainable Justice Charter 1.0 (10 December 2015) and http://ssrn.com/abstract=2714858. Soon after its completion the Charter was co-signed by influential leaders in court innovation from the USA, Australia and France [e.g. Tom Tyler (Yale), David Wexler (Porto Rico), Jeremy Travis (John Jay College of Criminal Law) and Kim Wright (ABA Legal Rebel), and Judge Ginger Lerner - Wren (Broward County Fl), Andrew Cannon (Flinders), Tania Sourdin (Monash - Newcastle) and Martine Herzog-Evans (Reims)]. The author used this text to present the Charter on the conferences of the Asian Law Institute in Beijing P.R.C. on 19 May, 2016 and the Law & Society Association in New Orleans U.S.A. on June 3, 2016.

Organizational Diversity Audit of Teachers and Staff in South Florida’s Broward County School Board

Today’s teachers and students are growing to become more diverse than ever before. As such, organizations and managers must be prepared to make changes to accompany diversity within the workplace and understand the needs, wants, and changing values of teachers and students throughout. This paper discusses the diversity within Broward County education board and administers a climate survey as an audit of the cultural, ethnic, and other demographic background differences of teachers in the area. Methodology and findings are recorded and the diversity auditing literature is discussed. Finally, relevant implementation and recommendations are provided for the creation and maintenance of a diverse education board.

Smoke-Free Multi-unit Housing Policies Show Promise in Reducing Secondhand Smoke Exposure Among Racially and Ethnically Diverse, Low-Income Seniors.

Secondhand smoke (SHS) exposure is a public health issue for residents of multi-unit housing (MUH) properties. We evaluated the impact of smoke-free policy implementation on reported SHS exposure among racially, ethnically diverse seniors living in low-income MUH properties. In Spring 2013 and Summer 2014, we surveyed residents (n=960) at 15 MUH properties in Broward and Miami-Dade Counties, Florida. The percentage of residents reporting SHS exposure within their apartments from elsewhere in or around their building decreased from 31.1%, before policy implementation, to 23.6% at follow-up (p=0.02). In multivariate analysis of non-smoking residents after policy implementation, residents who reported having one or more comorbidities were two times more likely to report SHS exposure (aOR 2.23, 95% CI 1.12-4.40). Considering the vulnerability of low-income seniors to SHS exposure, our findings are relevant to residents, property owners/managers, and public health professionals making decisions about smoke-free policies for MUH properties in which seniors reside.