Palm Beach County Research Articles

Under the influence: Proof‐of‐concept chemical probe discovery in academia

The Scripps Research Institute Molecular Screening Center is a Molecular Libraries Screening Center Network (MLSCN) facility that spans the Scripps campuses in La Jolla, California and Jupiter in Palm Beach County, Florida. Scripps has brought together an integrated combination of infrastructure, people and technologies that support the identification of proof‐of‐concept small molecules in the academic setting. By this we mean chemical probes of adequate potency, selectivity, physical properties and stability to show robust activities in cell‐based assays and in vivo, allowing pre‐competitive advancement to fields of breaking biology. Chemical probes developed for POC studies the sphingolipid receptors in physiology and pathology will be presented.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)Seacoast Banking is a bank holding company. Through First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast (the Bank) and its broker‐dealer subsidiary, Co. provides a range of deposit accounts and retail banking services, engages in consumer and commercial lending and provides a variety of trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products. The Bank's service area includes Palm Beach, Broward, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties, which are located on Florida's southeast coast. The Bank operates 43 banking offices in 14 counties. As of Dec 31 2007, Co. had total assets of $2.42 billion and total deposits of $1.99 billion.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)Seacoast Banking is a bank holding company. Through First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast (the Bank) and its broker‐dealer subsidiary, Co. provides a range of deposit accounts and retail banking services, engages in consumer and commercial lending and provides a variety of trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products. The Bank's service area includes Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties, which are located on Florida's southeast coast. The Bank operates 42 banking offices in 13 counties. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $2.39 billion and total deposits of $1.89 billion.

Demonstration of “Dynamic Tangential Filtration” at Palm Beach County to Produce High Quality Reuse Water

Demonstration of “Dynamic Tangential Filtration” at Palm Beach County to Produce High Quality Reuse Water

DO JEWISH SCHOOLS MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE FORMER SOVIET UNION?*

Intensive Jewish education is seen as the most promising antidote for the assimilation of Jews in many countries—meaning the loss of Jewish identity and commitment—including in Israel. 1 Full‐day s...

Prevalence of Acanthamoeba and other naked amoebae in South Florida domestic water

The purpose was to identify the prevalence of naked amoebae in tap water in south Florida to ascertain the risk of amoebal infections of the cornea in contact lens wearers. Over the course of a 2-year period, water samples were collected from sites throughout Broward, Palm Beach, and Dade counties, Florida. The presence of amoebae in samples was based on an enrichment cultivation method appropriate for Acanthamoeba. Amoebae were identified using diagnostic features discernable by light microscopy. A total of 283 water samples were processed and amoebae were noted in 80 of these. Acanthamoeba were found on 8 occasions (2.8%). The genera Hartmannella and Vahlkampfia, rarely involved in keratitis cases, were found in 3.5% and 2.8% of samples, respectively. A total of 19 different naked amoebae were recorded and amoebae (regardless of genus) were present in 19.4% of all samples. Previous surveys in England and Korea have shown that acanthamoebae are found in 15 to 30% of tap water samples in the home and have been associated with corneal infection in contact lens wearers. The incidence of acanthamoebae infection in the USA (2.8%) has been found to be lower than that in the UK and it has been postulated that this is related to the lack of a storage water tank in the roof loft space. However, the level of treatment of municipal water is clearly not effective at killing amoebal cysts (or trophozoites) as evidenced by the high occurrence of amoebae (19.4%) in this study.

Evaluating the compressibility behavior of organic soils using laboratory characterization and rapid on-site piezocone penetration testing

A coordinated field and laboratory investigation was conducted to evaluate the compressibility behavior of organic soils and peat existing under SR 15 / US 98 in Palm Beach County, Florida. Historically, the existence of soft compressible layers under these highways had been the root cause for premature failure leading to costly and frequent repair/reconstruction projects. The objectives of this study were: (i) to conduct Piezocone Penetration Tests (CPTu) along with Porewater Dissipation Experiments (PDE) for in-situ determination of the Coefficient of Consolidation (<i>C_v</i>); (ii) to perform concurrent laboratory consolidation and secondary compression tests to validate the CPTu predicted properties; and (iii) to establish the (<i>C_α/C_c</i>) ratios for Florida organic soils following the well-known Time-Stress-Compressibility concepts. The horizontal Coefficient of Consolidation, <i>C_h</i> (and subsequently the <i>C_v</i>) was predicted from PDE data using several theoretical interpretation models. It was found that a unique relationship exists between <i>C_c</i> and <i>C_α</i> at any stress level, with <i>C_α/C_c</i> ratio ranging between 0.03 and 0.05. Considering the inherent difficulty in sampling and laboratory testing of undisturbed soft organic soils, CPTu holds promise as an effective tool for rapid in-situ characterization of the compressibility parameters, which may be useful for forensic interpretations of rutting-induced failures, and the validation of pavement performance models.

Potential for successful population establishment of the nonindigenous sacred ibis in the Florida Everglades

The nonindigenous sacred ibis (Threskiornis aethiopicus) was first discovered breeding in the Florida Everglades in 2005 in the Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge. Prior to this, sacred ibises were seen periodically throughout South Florida since the mid 1990s, with occasional confirmed breeding occurrences in Miami-Dade and Palm Beach counties. We used a logistic regression model developed by Allen (Biol Invasions 8:491–500, 2006) to predict the probability of successful establishment of sacred ibis in the Florida Everglades ecosystem. Empirical data collected from several sacred ibis nests and chicks were used to validate those findings. The probability of successful establishment was estimated to be 73%. The physiological condition of nestlings suggested that this species was able to fledge chicks in good condition, thus adding to the potential to increase their breeding population. Exponential population growth rates and expanding distribution of the nonindigenous sacred ibis in France demonstrate this species’ potential for becoming invasive in Florida. We suggest that the most prudent and effective management strategy is eradication of the few pioneering individuals that are nesting in the Everglades as well as the urban source population.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)Seacoast Banking is a bank holding company. Through First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast (the Bank) and its broker‐dealer subsidiary, Co. provides a range of deposit accounts and retail banking services, engages in consumer and commercial lending and provides a variety of trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products. The Bank's service area includes Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties, which are located on Florida's southeast coast. The Bank operates 42 banking offices in 13 counties. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $2.39 billion and total deposits of $1.89 billion.

Care System Assessment Demonstration Project, Palm Beach County, Florida: Methodology, Findings, and Recommendations

Palm Beach County, Florida was one of three sites selected nationally for the Care System Assessment Demonstration Project. The special focus of the Palm Beach project was Black women (both U.S.-born and foreign-born). The CSAD consists of two complementary components: (1) Rapid Assessment, Response, and Evaluation (RARE), which examines the research topic from the perspectives of the affected population (i.e., HIV-positive Black women who are not in care); and (2) Care System Assessment, which examines the research topic from the perspectives of people within the HIV/AIDS care system (e.g., health care providers, planners, HIV-positive Black women in care). This article presents the methods, findings, and recommendations from the Palm Beach County site.

Bridging Cultural Chasms between Providers and HIV-Positive Haitians in Palm Beach County, Florida

This article discusses special challenges faced by HIV-positive Haitian immigrants, one of the groups targeted by the Care System Assessment Demonstration Project in Palm Beach County, Florida. The article examines the following issues: structural health care access barriers; language and literacy; health beliefs and practices and their intersection with Western medicine; health care-seeking attitudes, emotions, and behaviors; bridging cultural chasms; and lessons learned.

The identity, distribution, and impacts of non-native apple snails in the continental United States

BackgroundSince the mid 1990s populations of non-native apple snails (Ampullariidae) have been discovered with increasing frequency in the continental United States. Given the dramatic effects that introduced apple snails have had on both natural habitats and agricultural areas in Southeast Asia, their introduction to the mainland U.S. is cause for concern. We combine phylogenetic analyses of mtDNA sequences with examination of introduced populations and museum collections to clarify the identities, introduced distributions, geographical origins, and introduction histories of apple snails.ResultsBased on sampling to date, we conclude there are five species of non-native apple snails in the continental U.S. Most significantly, we recognize three species within what has been called the channeled apple snail: Pomacea canaliculata (California and Arizona), Pomacea insularum, (Florida, Texas, and Georgia) and Pomacea haustrum (Florida). The first established populations of P. haustrum were discovered in the late 1970s in Palm Beach County Florida, and have not spread appreciably in 30 years. In contrast, populations of P. insularum were established in Texas by 1989, in Florida by the mid to late 1990s, and in Georgia by 2005, and this species continues to spread rapidly. Most introduced P. insularum haplotypes are a close match to haplotypes from the Río Uruguay near Buenos Aires, indicating cold tolerance, with the potential to spread from Florida, Georgia, and Texas through Louisiana, Alabama, Mississippi, and South Carolina. Pomacea canaliculata populations were first discovered in California in 1997. Haplotypes of introduced P. canaliculata match native-range haplotypes from near Buenos Aires, Argentina, also indicating cold tolerance and the potential to establish farther north.ConclusionThe term "channeled apple snail" is descriptive of a morphology found in many apple snail species. It does not identify a single species or a monophyletic group. Clarifying species identifications permits a more accurate assessment of introduction histories and distributions, and provides a very different picture of the tempo and pattern of invasions than was inferred when the three species with channeled sutures were considered one. Matching introduced and native-range haplotypes suggests the potential for range expansion, with implications for native aquatic ecosystems and species, agriculture, and human health.

NOTES ON THE LONGAN SCALE, THYSANOFIORINIA NEPHELII (HEMIPTERA: COCCOIDEA: DIASPIDIDAE) IN FLORIDA1

In Florida, the most common armored scales found on tropical fruits are considered exotics or not native to Florida and 3 examples of introductions in the last 10 years include the white mango scale,Aulacaspis tubercularis Newstead, the litchi scale, Andaspis punicae (Laing), and the longan scale, Thysanofiorinia nephelii (Maskell) (Hodges et al. 2005). The longan scale was first collected in the continental U.S. in Homestead, Florida in 1996. Even though the longan scale is believed to be native to the Orient, it has spread and invaded several regions worldwide prior to this detection including Autralasian, Neotropical, and Palearctic regions. Neotropical introductions detected prior to the Florida report included Brazil, Rio de Janeiro, and Cuba (Ben-Dov et al. 2003). The longan scale is now considered established in southern Florida but has not been catalogued as a significant economic pest in the United States (Miller et al. 2005). Primary hosts of concern in Florida for the longan scale include plants in the Sapindaceae, in particular longan (Dimocarpus longan) and lychee (Litchi chinensis Sonnerat). Populations may occur on leaves, stems, or fruits. Other potential host plants for the longan scale include Arecaceae (Kentia spp.) and Euphorbiaceae (Euphorbia longena) (Ben Dov et al. 1993). Increased sample submissions of pest population reports to the Florida Department of Agriculture, Division of Plant Industry have occurred particularly in Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach Counties since 2005 (Table 1). Isolated occurrences of detection have also occurred at retail stores of tropical fruit trees, but the established pest distribution will probably be restricted to climate zones suitable for tropical fruit trees. It is unknown if this species will be a significant economic pest for tropical fruits in Florida, but increased report incidences suggest that it may be an emerging pest of concern. Basic life history and control information is unknown for this species. General and taxonomic information are summarized below. In the field, the covering or armor of this scale looks similar to that of a Parlatoria scale but TABLE 1. LONGAN SCALE COLLECTION RECORDS.

Seacoast Banking Corp. of Florida

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)Seacoast Banking is a bank holding company. Through First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast (the Bank) and its broker‐dealer subsidiary, Co. provides a range of deposit accounts and retail banking services, engages in consumer and commercial lending and provides a variety of trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products. The Bank's service area includes Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties, which are located on Florida's southeast coast. The Bank operates 42 banking offices in 13 counties. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $2.39 billion and total deposits of $1.89 billion.

Geomorphology of the Southeast Florida continental reef tract (Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties, USA)

This paper describes the geomorphology of the northern, relict, portion of the Florida reef tract that extends along the southeast Florida (USA) continental coast northward to latitude N26° 43.1′. The descriptions are based on high-resolution Laser Airborne Depth Sounding bathymetric data along Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties as well as chirp subbottom-profiles and reef cores. The SE Florida continental reef tract consists of relict Holocene reefs and lithified sand ridges that apparently formed during backstepping of the reefs in response to sea-level rise. The outer reef is a linear structure that is more or less continuous from Miami-Dade to Palm Beach County and as such is one of the longest continuous reef structures in the western Atlantic. Its relation with the modern Florida Keys reef tract cannot be clearly resolved without further study. The outer reef may be equivalent to the shelf-edge reefs of the Florida Keys. It is broken by reef gaps that likely represent paleo-river channels cross-cutting the underlying Pleistocene substrate. The upward growth of the outer reef ceased approximately 8,000 cal BP (calibrated 14C age before present). A middle reef may represent a remnant shoreface with continuous reef framework. Its growth ceased approximately 3,700 cal BP. An inner reef of Acropora palmata framework is perched on shoreline deposits. It ceased growth approximately 6,000 cal BP. Several nearshore ridges consist of coquina and carbonate/quartz sandstone.

Perspectives of Social Justice in the American South: The Gay and Lesbian Movement

As a gay couple, we make an interesting pair: Thirty-four and thirty-five, one the son of a Greek immigrant from rural Pennsylvania and the other a fourth generation, native Floridian from a small Panhandle town. So, when we communicate our perspectives on family, values and our ideas of progress, it is nearly impossible to keep from rooting our discussions in the context of ‘‘what’’ and ‘‘how’’ as often as ‘‘where’’ and ‘‘when.’’ Consequently, our ten years of successful activism have taught us that sensitivities to local governments, local communities, and local customs are critical to defining the evolving notions of fairness and equality. We have spent countless days traveling throughout the Sunshine State. Recently, we lobbied in Tallahassee, reveled at Gators games at the University of Florida in Gainesville, visited family in DeFuniak Springs and hosted a judicial event in Ponte Vedra—places large and small from the Panhandle in the northwest to the First Coast in the northeast and the Treasure Coast in the southeast. We have spent a considerable amount of time immersed in the social fabric of the old Florida, the authentic Florida, and the Florida of what most would classify as the traditional South. These areas embrace a classic southern conservatism found throughout the region, and consequently, pose traditional challenges for social justice movements. While our formal participation in activism and a rights movement has been restricted to our local advocacy in Palm Beach County and the southeast Florida area, parts of which are surprisingly agrarian and rural, we never visit locations without a firm analytical mind about how gays and lesbians thrive and survive in these different areas.

Potential Natural Environments Based on Pedological Properties in the Coastal Conurbation of Subtropical Southeast Florida

Much of the coastal southeast Florida Peninsula is heavily urbanized, and many native environments have been destroyed or severely affected by urbanization. In an attempt to reconstruct potential natural environments, soil properties were used as a basis for recognizing prior landscapes. Pedological associations were adopted because they provided landscape features that were least modified by urbanization and they could be used as a unifying basis for categorization of native coastal environments. A geographic information system analysis ring was used for querying coverages for soil distribution patterns, vegetation, hydrology (drainage), topography, and geology. By simultaneously generalizing and recombining soil survey data, land use cover types, topography, and hydrology, it was possible to identify recurring patterns of soils, landforms, and vegetation. Results of this analysis produced 13 land systems with 25 subunits that included various types of lakebeds, tree islands, marshes, prairies, sloughs, sandplains, glades, marshlands, lagoons, estuaries, and beaches. The resulting map for potential natural environments in Palm Beach and Broward Counties complements conceptual ecological models for the Greater Florida Everglades Ecosystem, developed for the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan. The Australian land systems approach, as applied in this study, provides insight into coastal environments that lie outside of ecological models for mostly protected areas inland.

Seacoast Banking Corp. Of Florida

AbstractCommercial Banking (MIC: 8.1 SIC: 6022 NAIC: 522110)Seacoast Banking is a bank holding company. Through First National Bank and Trust Company of the Treasure Coast (the Bank) and its broker‐dealer subsidiary, Co. offers an array of deposit accounts and retail banking services, engages in consumer and commercial lending and provides a variety of trust and asset management services, as well as securities and annuity products. The Bank's service area includes Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Brevard and Indian River counties, which are located on Florida's southeast coast. The Bank operates 42 banking offices in 13 counties. As of Dec 31 2006, Co. had total assets of $2.34 billion and total deposits of $1.90 billion.

BUILDING AN INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT CULTURE: Palm Beach County Water Utility Department's Experience

BUILDING AN INTEGRATED ASSET MANAGEMENT CULTURE: Palm Beach County Water Utility Department's Experience

Research Article: The effect of aposematic coloration on the food preference of Aphelocoma coerulescens, the Florida scrub jay

Aposematic coloration, commonly observed in noxious organisms, serves as a warning to predators to avoid attacking specific prey. This coloration is conspicuous in nature, with one of the most common examples being a red and black pattern. The plant Abrus precatorius exhibits this warning signal in its seeds, which resemble lady beetles and contain the concentrated toxin abrin. Aphelocoma coerulescens, an endemic and federally threatened bird in the state of Florida, shares a similar distribution with A. precatorius, making interaction between the two species possible. Using an edible model of the Abrus seed, this potential interaction was tested in Martin and Palm Beach County populations of A. coerulescens by presenting a red and white seed to individual scrub jays to determine whether they showed a preference for or avoidance of the red model seed. Results showed a significant tendency by the birds to prefer white over red, indicating that the color, independent of other warning signals, may function aposematically to discourage predation of A. precatorius seeds.