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A Cohort-Based Program To Help Students Prepare A Conference Research Presentation, Alanna Lecher

Florida Statewide Symposium: Best Practices in Undergraduate Research

Students move through many first time experiences when navigating their undergraduate and graduate education. Such experiences include the first time students submit an article to a peer-reviewed scientific journal, attend a conference, and conduct fieldwork. The cohort model has been shown to be effective in increasing success in undergraduate education, and it can be adapted to helping students succeed in these novel experiences as well. This presentation will explore one program where the cohort model was implemented to aid undergraduate students preparing their first conference presentation on a scientific research project. Program structure and implementation will be described.

Social Behavior In A Herd Of Captive Male Giraffes, Patrick Ziarnowski, Kaidi Fenrich

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Giraffes (Giraffa spp.) are a common feature of zoological institutions, where conditions differ from those of the wild, a reality that may cause behavioral changes. A recent management technique has been to house all-male herds in zoos that have not been selected for giraffe breeding, with breeding confined to certain zoos. To date, no studies have looked at social behavior in captive herds comprised exclusively of males. In a herd of one adult (named Emba) and two subadult male giraffes (named Rafiki and Gage), the dominant adult giraffe, Emba, demonstrated sociosexual behavior—apparent courtship, investigation, and flehmen responses—almost exclusively …

Preventing Introductions To Sustain Healthy Ecosystems: Establish Eradication Protocols For A Popular Aquarium Seaweed, Julie Deslauriers

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Aquarium release, a vector that introduces non-native species, recently caused the costly invasion of the green macroalga (seaweed) Caulerpa taxifolia along the Californian, Mediterranean, and Australian coasts. C. taxifolia was classified by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature as one of the world's 100 worst invasive species and cost California over $7 million to control with black tarps and chlorine bleach. Since the incident, educational efforts at conferences and conventions have influenced more than 50% of surveyed hobbyists to switch to another green macroalga, Chaetomorpha, as their primary alga in their saltwater tanks. C. taxifolia and Chaetomorpha …

The Impact Of Crown Conch On Intertidal Oyster Populations In Mosquito Lagoon, Casey Craig, Courtney Buck, Chelsea Landau, Jordan Filipponi

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Commercial oyster harvesters in Florida have long complained that the Florida crown conch Melongena coronais in competition with them for harvestable-sized eastern oysters (Crassostrea virginica). Harvesters also suggest that crown conch, rather than overharvesting, has led to a large decline in oyster populations. To determine the role of M. corona on oysters in Mosquito Lagoon, we must first better understand the biology and ecology of M. corona., and to comprehend crown conch biology in Mosquito Lagoon along the east coast of central Florida, we conducted a three-part experiment in Canaveral National Seashore (northern Mosquito Lagoon). Specifically, …

Small Mammal Response To The Gunnison's Prairie Dog Reintroduction, Melissa Ariella Paduani

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The Gunnison's Prairie Dog (GPD, Cynomys gunnisoni) is an herbivorous, burrowing rodent that was extirpated from the Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge in the 1930's by ranchers to make land available for grazing livestock. Currently, the GPD is the subject of a long-term reintroduction experiment overseen by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The burrowing and feeding habits of the GPD influences an ecosystem's biotic and abiotic factors significantly, making this species a keystone ecosystem engineer that plays a vital role creating heterogeneous mosaics of habitat. Their presence is correlated with diverse biological communities and maintenance of grassland ecosystems. To better …

Determining Tidal Elevations In Dry Elements Within A Coastal Salt Marsh Model, Martin Coleman

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

An integrated hydrodynamic/marsh biomass model is a useful tool for analyzing multiple hydrologic activities on a shoreline. A key component of this type of model is the location of local tidal elevations. During astronomic tide simulations, nodes in the finite element mesh are either wet or dry. At nodes that are continuously wet during the simulation, tidal elevations are computed from ADCIRC-2DDI (ADvanced CIRCulation) output. In areas that are intermittently wetted, tidal constituents cannot be determined using ADCIRC because the drying of nodes leaves a gap in the water-level time series. The Inverse Distance Weighting (IDW) interpolation method can be …

Improving Community-Based Shoreline Erosion Stabilization Projects: Impacts Of Potential Nurse Plants On Red Mangrove Biomass Production And Survival, Paula Yespelkis, Melinda Donnelly

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Mangrove communities provide habitat for many terrestrial and aquatic species and act as nurseries and breeding grounds for fish, crustaceans, and birds. They also protect coastal areas from erosion and storm events. However, globally 35% of mangrove habitat has been degraded or destroyed, making mangroves one of the most endangered ecosystems on earth. Thus, there is a demand for methods to restore mangrove habitats successfully. The red mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) is often associated with other marsh plants. We investigated whether two marsh plants (Batis maritima, Sarcocornia perennis ) act as nurse plants and increase R. mangle success by altering seedling …

Analysis Of The Repair Of Topoisomerase Ii Dna Damage, Eric Goldstein

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

A large number of anti-cancer chemotherapeutics target DNA topoisomerases. Etoposide is a specific topoisomerase II poison that causes reversible double strand DNA breaks. This project analyses the repair of DNA damage induced by etoposide, a common anti-cancer chemotherapeutic. Through the comparison of two known DNA repair pathways, anti-cancer chemotherapy may become more cytotoxic. Double strand DNA break repair is mediated by either non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) or homologous recombination (HR). NHEJ repairs through direct ligation of a double stranded break, whereas HR utilizes a homologous template to recover the wild type sequence. Reporter cassettes involving the expression of green fluorescent …

Cold Temperature Effects On Byssal Thread Production By The Native Mussel Geukensia Demissa Versus The Non-Native Mussel Mytella Charruana, Sasha Brodsky

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Mytella charruana is a Central/South American mussel that has been found as an introduced species along the southeastern Atlantic coast of the United States since 2004. Previous experiments have determined the lethal thermal minimum of M. charruana to be between 6-9° C. Continuous byssal thread production is essential for mussel survival as it is used for attachment to substrates in natural environments, but may decrease when environmental conditions deviate from their optimum. We sought to determine whether M. charruana exhibits a non-lethal, thermal response involving a reduction in byssal thread production. Mytella charruana and, for comparison, a native mussel species, …

Characterization Of Cytokeratin 8 In Cancer, Daniel S. Leventhal

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

A Cytokeratin 8 (K8)/Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) fusion construct was created to better understand the behavior of K8 within cancer cells. This intermediate filament (IF) protein is a member of the cytoskeletal gene family, along with actin and tubulin. IFs are normally expressed in a tissue-specific and differentiation-dependent manner, in which their role is more supportive than essential to the cell. Such roles include rigidity of cellular shape, protein trafficking, cellular locomotion, and cell-signaling platforms. K8 mutation, over-expression, and aberrant post translational modifications have been observed in various carcinoma cell lines to be the cause of several phenotypes, including apoptosis …

Subsidies And The Significance Of Ethanol In Corn Markets, Nathan Goldschlag

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

The empirical relationship among corn prices, ethanol production, and government subsidies is investigated. An econometric model of the demand for corn is proposed and then estimated with two stage least squares. The estimated demand function is used to evaluate the effects of changes in ethanol markets on domestic corn markets. The results show that an increase in the price of ethanol increases both the equilibrium quantity demanded and price of corn. Agricultural subsidies are then brought under question in light of econometric evidence and coupled with current trends in the ethanol and corn industries.

Allelopathy Of Invasive Brazilian Pepper (Schinus Terebinthifolius) On Mobile Invertebrates From The Indian River Lagoon, Lori Konar, Tiffany Sheldon, Stephanie Garvis, Melinda Donnelly

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Brazilian pepper Schinus terebinthifolius is a highly invasive plant species that can be found in many different ecosystems, including the edges of estuaries in south and central Florida. Brazilian pepper fruits contain chemicals that are toxic to native salt marsh plants. Previous researchers found that high densities of crushed Brazilian pepper fruits negatively impacted growth and final biomass of the black mangrove Avicennia germinans and the red mangrove Rhizophora mangle. Here, we investigated the impact of S. terebinthifoliuson the viability of mobile estuarine invertebrates commonly found in the Indian River Lagoon, as well as the brine shrimp, a …

Computational Analysis Of Broad Complex Zinc-Finger Transcription Factors, Barbara Mascareno-Shaw

The Pegasus Review: UCF Undergraduate Research Journal

Studies of transcription factors have provided important contributions toward understanding the cell morphology and developmental regulation of fruit flies based on sequence analysis of amino acid substitutions. In this report we describe the construction of four protein-DNA models based on two experimentally determined X-ray crystal structures (2DRP and 1A1H) using computational simulations of Z1, Z2, Z3, and Z4 zinc-finger DNA binding proteins. Once these models were constructed, 3 mutants were generated for the Z1/Z3 proteins. We evaluated the construction of the models and mutants against the templates using molecular mechanics (MM3) calculations in an attempt to determine the effect of …

Changes In Running And Multiple Object Tracking Performance During A 90-Minute Intermittent Soccer Performance Test (Ispt): A Pilot Study, Ryan Girts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Multiple object tracking (MOT) is a cognitive process that involves the active processing of dynamic visual information. In athletes, MOT speed is critical for maintaining spatial awareness of teammates, opponents, and the ball while moving at high velocities during a match. Understanding how MOT speed changes throughout the course of a competitive game may enhance strategies for maintaining optimal player performance. The objective of this study was to examine changes in MOT speed and running performance during a 90-minute intermittent soccer performance test (iSPT). A secondary purpose was to examine the relationship between aerobic capacity and changes in MOT speed. …

An Examination Of Beta Diversity Indices And Their Predictors In Two Large-Scale Systems, Philip Schroeder

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Biodiversity is what conservation biology was developed to conserve. It is the physical manifestation of life as a concept and, be it for practical or idealistic reasons, all conservationists seek to protect or, in some cases, enhance it. Because of its monolithic importance to the field, much effort has been expended trying to better measure and understand it. Recently, greater attention has been paid to the partition of diversity; the observation that the total diversity of a system (γ) can be broken down into within-site diversity (α) and between-site diversity (β). In particular, it has been noticed that the β …

Role Of Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (Snps) In Ptpn2/22 And Mycobacterium Avium Subspecies Paratuberculosis (Map) In Rheumatoid Arthritis And Crohn's Disease, Robert Sharp

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Both genetic pre-disposition and potential environmental triggers are shared between Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and Crohn's disease (CD). We hypothesized that single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the negative T-cell regulators Protein Tyrosine Phosphatase Nonreceptor type 2 and 22 (PTPN2/22) lead to a dysregulated immune response as seen in RA and CD. To test the hypothesis, peripheral leukocytes samples from 204 consented subjects were TaqMan genotyped for 9 SNPs in PTPN2/22. The SNPs effect on PTPN2/22 and IFN-y expression was determined using RT-PCR. Blood samples were analyzed for the Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (MAP) IS900 gene by nPCR. T-cell proliferation and response …

Role Of Lipid Peroxide Derived Dicarboxylic Acids In Atherosclerotic Calcification, Aladdin Riad

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Cardiovascular diseases, including atherosclerosis, are the leading cause of death in the United States. Atherosclerotic lesions are formed by deposition of lipids in the intima of arteries. Upon exposure to oxidative stresses, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is converted to highly atherogenic oxidized LDL (ox-LDL) particles, contributing to disease development and progression. Advanced disease stages may result in calcification of lesions. This calcification process is important, as it has been shown to be associated with stable plaques that are less prone to rupture. Calcification is present in lipid rich domains of lesions, however neither the composition of the mineralized calcium deposits nor …

Deciphering The Role Of Adrenergic Hormones In Embryonic Cardiac Calcium Signaling And Metabolism, Jessica Peoples

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The adrenergic hormones norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (EPI) are critical regulators of mammalian cardiovascular physiology. NE and EPI mediate stress responses to enhance cardiovascular function, however dysregulation of adrenergic signaling leads to heart failure, congenital heart malformations, and sudden cardiac death. Adrenergic hormone-expressing cells were found in the early embryonic heart, and NE has been determined essential for embryonic cardiac development. Despite extensive work in adults, the regulatory roles and adrenergic targets of these hormones during embryonic cardiac development have not yet been fully determined. Prior transcriptomic studies from our lab showed that expression of signal transduction and metabolic genes …

Characterizing Biogeochemical Shifts In Two Salix Caroliniana Michx. Encroached Freshwater Subtropical Marshes, Janet Ho

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Shrub encroachment is a common disturbance in wetlands, but little is known about how shrub encroachment impacts functions such as carbon (C) storage and nitrogen (N) cycling. The objective of this thesis was to identify differences in physiochemical properties (within soil, water and leaf tissue) and biogeochemical processes (soil respiration, enzyme activity, litter decomposition, and N cycling) in two subtropical freshwater marshes encroached by coastal plain willow (Salix caroliniana Michx.). Two study regions (Moccasin Island and Lake Apopka) were selected because of their location in the St. John's River watershed and their unique histories and hydroperiod, allowing for an investigation …

Pg-Vtv Biogenesis Requires Atp To Facilitate Phosphorylation Of Syntaxin 17, Anika Saxena

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The uptake of cytotoxic free fatty acids (FFA) and their conversion to physiologically expedient triglycerides (TAG) which are later on assimilated to very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) is of utmost value among the multifarious tasks performed by the liver. Inflated concentration of VLDL in the blood stream directly correlates with the reinforcement of atherosclerosis. VLDL is synthesized in the hepatic endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and transported to the Golgi where it encounters several alterations. It is then enclosed in distinct post-Golgi VLDL transport vesicles (PG-VTVs) and released into the blood. The data generated in our lab has proved the requirement of …

Role Of Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (Bdnf) In Stimulating Strength Improvements Induced By Short-Term Resistance Training, David Church

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Strength adaptations from short-term resistance training are thought to be related primarily to neurological adaptations. Considering brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) role in the nervous system, it is possible that BDNF has a role in these adaptations. Fourteen untrained males were randomized into either a resistance training (RT; n =8) or control (CON; n=6) group. Motor unit (MU) recruitment at 50% and 80% of each participant's maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC), muscle cross sectional area (CSA) and thickness (MT), as well as one-repetition maximum (1RM) of the squat (SQT), leg press (LP), and leg extension (LE) were performed before (PRE) and …

Unearthing The Past And Present Of A Semi-Fossorial Lizard: Conservation Genetics, Phylogeography, And Taxonomy Of Plestiodon Egregius., Kathryn Mercier

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Characterizing an organism's evolutionary history and population structure as well as understanding the forces shaping that divergence is crucial to conservation biology. A clear understanding of the patterns of diversity and divergence are imperative for the best management of the organism, while an awareness of what drives these patterns can lead to better predictions of how organisms will respond to future climate change. Historical climate changes and associated sea level change are among the main forces driving divergence in many species. To examine how effects of climate changes may have driven patterns of intraspecific divergence, I examined Mole Skinks, Plestiodon …

Simultaneous Use Of Physiological Sensors For A Neuromarketing Task, Charles Descheneaux

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Physiological measurements have become more popular in Psychological research over the past ten years. These advancements allowed different objective sensors to become another measurement tool in a scientific arsenal of collecting data. Traditionally, performance and after task subjective measures have been used for most studies in Psychological research. With the opportunity to use these subjective measures along with objective measures, more data can be collected during research and therefore potentially produce better quality conclusions. Eye Tracking (ET), functional near infrared (fNIR), transcranial Doppler ultrasound (TCD), electrocardiogram (EKG) and the electroencephalogram (EEG) have shown great promise in their ability to produce …

Psychophysiology Meets Computer Science: Predicting The Magnitude Of Participant Physiological Response With Machine Learning, Avonie Parchment

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The present inquiry uses methods from psychophysiology and machine learning to reduce overall error in classification models. The field of psychophysiology, though rooted in decades of experimentation, has never reached the same level of precision as some aspects of medical inquiry. In fact, while some medical regression models, when determining some way to classify a patient's illness based on certain symptoms, can result in highly significant results with large effect sizes, equal levels are virtually unheard of in psychophysiology. The present investigation attempts to unravel some part of this mystery and determines some possible reasons for the difficulty in finding …

Examining Work-To-Rest Ratios To Optimize Upper Body Sprint Interval Training, Michael La Monica

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to compare the metabolic influence of varying work-to-rest ratios during upper body sprint interval training (SIT). Forty-two recreationally trained men were randomized into one of three training groups [10s work bouts with two minutes of rest (10:2, n = 11) or four minutes of rest (10:4, n = 11), or 30s work bouts with four minutes of rest (30:4, n = 10)] or a control group (CON, n = 10). Participants underwent six training sessions over two weeks with four to six 'all-out' sprints. During pre- and post-intervention visits, participants underwent a graded …

The Evolution Of Peristenus (Hymenoptera: Braconidae): Taxonomy, Phylogenetics And Ecological Speciation, Yuanmeng Zhang

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Parasitoid wasps are ecologically and economically important as biological control agents. However, little is known about the diversity, distribution and biology of most hymenopteran parasitoids due to their small size, morphological conservatism, and complex life styles. The focus of my PhD research was to investigate the evolution and speciation of euphorine braconid wasps, using a combination of multilocus phylogenetics and population genomic techniques combined with traditional taxonomy. The three data chapters of my dissertation are divided into different taxonomic ranks of euphorine braconids, focusing on genera, species, and populations. For chapter 2, I built a multilocus phylogeny of the tribe …

Minimal Effects Of Moderate Normobaric Hypoxia On The Upper-Body Work-Time Relationship In Recreationally-Active Women, Tristan Starling-Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effects of moderate normobaric hypoxia on the parameters of the work-time relationship during upper body exercise in women. METHODS: Thirteen recreationally active women (age: 22.7 ± 2.6 y; height: 167 ± 8.6 cm; weight: 66.4 ± 9.7 kg; body fat: 27.6 ± 5% body fat) completed a graded exercise test in both normobaric hypoxia (H; FiO2=~14%) and normoxia (N; FiO2=~20%) to exhaustion on an arm ergometer to determine V̇ O2peak and peak power output (PPO). Each participant completed four constant work-rate arm-cranking tests at 90-120% PPO in both environmental conditions. Linear regression was used to estimate …

Characterization Of Neural Cells Derived From Reelin-Deficient Schizophrenic Patient Ips Cells, Nicole Roberts

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Reelin is a large, extracellular glycoprotein that binds to several membrane receptors on neural stem cells (HNSCs), neural progenitor cells (NPCs), and neuroblasts of mammals to direct their migration. Previously, our lab established the presence of Reelin increased migration of wild-type fetal-derived HNSC's, both in vitro and in vivo. In addition, we demonstrated that Reelin protein treatment also increases the formation of radial glia via Notch-1 signaling, in vitro. Radial glia are precursors to NPCs, as well as a scaffold for neuroblast migration during cortical lamination. Reelin has long been associated with Schizophrenia (SZ). Because post-mortem brains are limited to …

Mechanical And Physical Characteristics Of Knee Flexors And Extensors Following Different Warm Up Protocols In Collegiate Male Soccer Athletes, Michael Redd

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

PURPOSE: To compare potential differences in mechanical and physical characteristics of knee flexors and extensors in collegiate male soccer players following different warm up protocols. METHODS: Sixteen collegiate male soccer players (20.33 ± 1.33 years, 176.97 ± 6.72 cm, and 78.43 ± 7.42 kg) participated in this study. A small sided games warm up (SSG), a dynamic warm up (DYN), and a plyometric warm up (PLY) were completed using a randomized crossover design. Tensiomyography (TMG) was used to assess contraction time (Tc), delay time (Td) and maximal displacement (Dm) of the rectus femoris (RF) and biceps femoris (BF) of both …

Targeted Delivery Of A Therapeutic Protein For The Treatment Of Alzheimer's Disease, Heather Holman

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease are linked to mitochondrial dysfunction and the underexpression of TOM40, a protein with chaperone-like qualities that is responsible for transporting precursor proteins into the mitochondria. Overexpression of TOM40 is reported to partially restore mitochondrial dysfunction and decrease the accumulation of neurotoxic aggregates of α-synuclein. Our goal is to develop an effective method for delivery of TOM40 protein to the brain.

Previous studies have used lentiviruses to carry TOM40 into the hippocampus of α-synuclein transgenic mice. The disadvantage of lentiviral transfection is the random insertions of the target gene into the host …