Digital Commons Network^™

Dehumanization Results In Atrocities, Raquel Sanchez, Marina Dunn

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study attempts to explain how dehumanization is the main factor in the acceptance of atrocities towards stigmatized groups in American society today, by implementing Daniel Goldhagen’s Theory in our research design. The premise of Daniel Goldhagen’s theory is about the dehumanization of Jewish people during the Holocaust in which ordinary Germans became Hitler’s aids. This study will measure the acceptance of atrocities towards African Americans and Arabs from the undergraduate student body at Nova Southeastern University. Based on Stanley Milgram’s famous obedience study, this study will use a video reenactment in combination with a follow-up questionnaire to measure the …

Construction And Configuration Of Mpi Cluster, Dimitri Tyryshkin, Brett C. Stephen, Carolina Usbeck, Mubashir Hassan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A computer cluster consists of a number of computers that are coupled to solve complex problems in parallel. They provide a single front-end so that they can be managed and used from a single user interface. The cluster not only provides a excellent cost-performance trade-off compared to a super computer but it also provides the flexibility of using less power when the computational load is lower. Its performance is about the same as a super computer having computational power equal to combined computational capacity of all the computers in the cluster, but at a much lower cost.

This project provides …

Characterization Of Polynucleotide Phosphorylase (Pnpase) And The Virulence Of Streptococcus Pyogenes, Jessica Blanco, Nick Rocco

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Polynucleotide phosphorylase (PNPase) is a 3’-5’ exoribonuclease that phosphorylyticly degrades mRNA molecules in bacteria and in eukaryotic organelles. Streptococcus pyogenes (a group A streptococcus [GAS]) is a Gram-positive human pathogen responsible for a plethora of syndromes ranging from the less-invasive pharyngitis (a.k.a strep throat) to severely invasive cases such as necrotizing fascitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Recently, PNPase was shown to be required for the decay of 2 S. pyogenes transcripts during late exponential growth: sagA and sda. The aforementioned transcripts were found to be stabilized (more abundant) in a pnpA mutant strain. Furthermore, the pnpA transcript was …

Association Of Synesthesia And Creativity Amongst A General Population, Samantha Domingo, Laxmi Lalwani

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Synesthesia occurs when a single stimulus triggers two or more sensations simultaneously in different modalities. Ramachandran and Hubbard (2001) have identified two types of grapheme(alphanumeric)-color synesthetes. The first, known as ‘lower synesthetes’ or ‘projectors’ report actually seeing the colors when visually encountering letters or numbers. The second type, known as ‘higher synesthetes’, report only experiencing the colors “in the mind’s eye”, which indicates the color is evoked simply by numerical concept, as opposed to visual appearance alone. Creativity’s relationship to synesthesia has been the subject of interest of many experts in the field. Here, we evaluated the frequency of …

Antimicrobial Properties Of A Recently Patented Formulation, Nick Rocco, Richard Wheeler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The threat posed by bacteria to human health is more unique today than ever. Multiple drug resistant strains of bacterial pathogens are quite common and lurk in a plethora of environments. To prevent transmission of these microbes, numerous hand gels, primarily alcohol based, have been designed to kill transient flora acquired through fomites. Because of the need for a more rapid and sustained microbial killing of certain exposed surfaces, an antimicrobial formulation has been developed that relies on short chain surfactants. We sought to evaluate the antimicrobial activity of this formulation on known surrogates of clinical significance. Bacteria or B. …

A Political Analysis Of The Jungle, Michael Bergbauer

Undergraduate Student Symposium

One may surmise that Upton Sinclair’s The Jungle is a political text disguised as a novel. Its anti-capitalist agenda is not hidden and appears at every opportunity in the text. However, it does an effective job of accomplishing its goals through its stark realism in its portrayal of the downfall of one immigrant family. Sinclair’s book The Jungle confirms Marxist political critical theory: capitalism is a morally and economically flawed system, which is better replaced with socialism. However, although The Jungle enacted a lot of change for its time, a re-read in the present would not spark any new change. …

The Real World: Differential Equations, Tania Lopez, Brandy Shafer, Bryan Candela, Gerardo Davila, Andrew Dweck

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mathematics can be used, and is used, to describe the physical phenomena of the world we live in. Differential equations are an application of the ideas of calculus to our everyday lives. In differential equations we seek to model real-life situations in Mathematical terms. Thus, differential equations are used for scientific modeling to describe the dynamics of diverse state variables, such as daily temperature, proportion of a population infected by influenza, chemical concentration in a tank, or stock prices by observing real-time data. Once the model is created it is used as a representation of the real-world system and predictions …

The Real Antagonist In Jane Austen’S Northanger Abbey, Trevor Borg

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Northanger Abbey is so loaded with irony that its main antagonist is someone we would never suspect. This hidden adversary maneuvers Catherine Morland into a conflict. The conflict seems a creation of the protagonist’s overactive imagination. However, the novel drops enough clues to indicate Henry Tilney willfully manipulates Catherine to produce the conflict. Finally, several hints in the novel suggest this same person also narrates it, thus sealing the novel’s irony.

The Effect Of Thimerosal On Gene Expression In Saccharomyces Cerevisiae: An Application Of Microarray Technology, Christie Rubio

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Thimerosal is a preservative and anti-fungal used in many vaccines which is metabolized to ethylmercury (about 50% by weight) and thiosalicylate (used as an analgesic agent). In 1999, thimerosal was removed from vaccines (or left only in trace amounts) as a public health precaution. In 2007, the average human will receive a concentration of 0.01% thimerosal per vaccine. This is equivalent to 50μg thimerosal per 0.5mL dose. According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the maximum amount of thimerosal that a two-year old, fully-vaccinated child could possibly receive is 106.4μg, which is equivalent to 53.2μg of mercury. This reflects …

Self Image: Juxtapose, Iva Christina Marc

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The name of my film is Self Image: Juxtapose. The theme of the film explores the emotions of negative and positive self image. This is an Avant Garde film. The purpose of this film is about moving toward self love. My principle cast member is Iva Marc. My crewmembers are Katrina Jackson and Nerissa Street.

Streptococcus Pyogenes: A Versatile Human Pathogen, Maria E. Cevallos

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Streptococcus pyogenes is one of the most medically relevant genera of Gram positive bacteria. S. pyogenes belongs to group A streptococcus (GAS), the most pathogenic streptococci. S. pyogenes is exclusively a notorious human pathogen that is known for its ability to cause a wide array of infections ranging from superficial pharyngitis and impetigo to evasive and life threatening conditions including septicemia, necrotizing fasciitis, and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. The dissemination of S. pyogenes within a human host is dependent upon virulence factors aimed at host immune system evasion leading to infection. More specifically, S. pyogenes’ virulence factors are required for …

Shipping Out: The Effects Of Outsourcing, Kristen Franchy, Morgan Mcwhorter, Caroling Lugg, Vanessa Palacios

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research was to define and explain the process of outsourcing by providing examples and focusing on the pros and cons as well as the short and long term effects. Possible solutions and the role of outsourcing in the future were also discussed. Outsourcing is when a company would rather hire workers from an external source to perform certain tasks in order to achieve full benefit of their capital. Businesses that outsource save money by hiring workers that will work for lower pay. These new workers may be less skilled and are able to perform the simpler …

A Cost-Benefit Analysis Of Possible Alternatives For The Chemical Triclosan, Besty Jacob

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The chemical Triclosan is currently being used in a variety of household products. Soap, shampoo, dishwashing solution, detergents, cosmetics and lotions all utilize this product. These and other similar products market Triclosan as a bactericide. However Triclosan may not be as effective at killing bacteria when combined with these commercial products as advertised. There may potentially be safer and more effective alternatives. A potential problem with the overuse of Triclosan, is current and potential bacterial resistance. For instance, some strains of MRSA (Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Auereus) have already developed resistance to this chemical. On the other hand, there are …

The Effects Of The Herbal Enzyme Bromelain Against Breast Cancer Cell Line Gi101a, Alexandra Paroulek

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bromelain is a proteinase derived from the stem of pineapple and has been studied for its anti-inflammatory, antithrombotic, and antimetastatic properties. Bromelain has also been known to significantly reduce local tumor growth and to raise the impaired cytotoxicity of monocytes in the immune system against tumor cells. The goal of this project is to advance the mechanistic knowledge of herbal remedies and to confirm the already known antimetastatic properties of Bromelain. Standardization of MTS assay to check the cell viability is in progress. To test the cytotoxic effects of Bromelain, GI101A breast cancer cells cultured to the required confluency of …

What You Can’T See Can Hurt You! Bacterial Invasion At Nsu, Samarah Al-Jamali

Undergraduate Student Symposium

College campuses are typically areas where large numbers of students from diverse geographical areas converge. Close contact in public places such as classrooms, restrooms, and computer labs is common. Illnesses quickly spread through a college campuses population. Many germs are spread via respiratory droplets which can survive on surfaces for hours and even days. I sampled 14 separate locations at NSU to see which surfaces harbored the most bacteria. Bacterial samples were collected using sterile Q-tips which were swabbed over a one square inch area for approximately 10 seconds. The Q- tips were then used to transfer any bacteria present …

Effects Of Beach Renourishment On Inshore Macroinfauna Off John U. Lloyd Beach State Park, Broward County, Fl, Jessica Boyd

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The marine benthic macrofauna at John U. Lloyd Beach State Park (Broward Co., FL) has been surveyed at intervals since 1987 to examine effects of periodic beach renourishments. The current study followed the most recent renourishment, which ran from May 2005 to February 2006. A total of 20 quantitative sediment core samples (926.667 cm³) were taken from four sites (5 replicates per site), ~100 m offshore at depths of 2-5 m in May 2007. Samples were fixed in 10% seawater formalin with Rose Bengal stain, and subsequently passed through a 0.5-mm-mesh sieve and transferred to 70% ethanol in …

Drowned, Amy Carol Harvey

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Written by Amy Harvey in 2007, this poem offers more than meets the eye. The poem is actually an allegory. Its allegorical meaning is based on the true experiences of the author. Here the experience is given a different location, which aids indirectly to the poem's explanation. This poem was created for personal reflection and healing. In sharing it with others, it is the author's hope that those suffering from sexual abuse will find their voice and demand to be heard.

Purification Of Photosystem Proteins From Spinach Leaves, Anisa Andoni, Hai Pham, Priya Somnaran

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photosystems are protein-pigment complexes responsible for the conversion of light energy into an electron flow in plants. There are two photosystems called photosystem I and photosystem II. Photosystem II is responsible for splitting water molecules into protons and oxygen. In this work, we have used a biochemical protocol to purify photosystems from spinach leaves by detergent solubilization and centrifugation. The photosystem II activity was measured using a Clarke-type oxygen electrode as an indicator for its intactness and purity. This protocol provides us a tool to compare the photosystem protein from spinach with other species.

Is There A Gender Difference Regarding Perceived Efficacy Of Openly Gay Tutors?, Randy Denis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research has shown that many college students have more negative attitudes toward homosexuals than toward other minority groups (Liang and Alimo, 2005), even when they do not openly endorse homophobic attitudes (Nosek, 2007). For example, lectures given by homosexuals were rated as having lower quality than identical lectures given by heterosexuals, possibly demonstrating subtle prejudice (Ewing, Stukas and Sheehan, 2003). In addition, recent findings indicate that heterosexual women tend to have a more favorable perception than heterosexual men of male homosexuality (Herek, 1998). In a between-participants design, forty heterosexual undergraduate students will be exposed to a male tutor with a …

Biodegradation And Partitioning Of Triclosan From A Model Municipal Waste Water Treatment Plant, Besty Jacob

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Triclosan is the commercial name of 5-chloro-2-(2,4-dichlorophenoxy)phenol), an antibacterial and antifungal compound used in a variety of household products. Even at low levels, 0.03 to 0.15% by weight, Triclosan is effective at killing bacteria. Products include soaps, toothpaste, shampoos, tissue paper, and cosmetics. There is a growing trend among manufacturers of diverse products to add the antimicrobial as a marketing edge regardless of its utility. Recent studies indicate triclosan is more persistent in the environment than initially reported. In order to study the effectiveness of wastewater treatment on the degradation of triclosan, a small scale water treatment process was duplicated. …

The Effects Of Laughter On Attention, Raquel Sanchez, Marcia Garcia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Laughter is a cardinal part of human behavior: it is rooted within personality, functions within social dynamics, and is mediated through a species physiological form. Numerous studies have depicted the benefits of laughter (Martin, 2002; Kimata, 2007), but none have thoroughly analyzed its role within cognition. Cognition is required to incite laughter in the instances where humor appreciation must be delineated. Accordingly, in instances where a cognitive task occurs concurrently with humorous stimuli, there is potentially a competition for attentional resources, thereby reducing cognitive abilities during humor processing. The primary goal of the current proposal is to utilize brain electroencephalographic …

Reducing Carbon Dioxide Levels Through Carbon Sequestration, Mari Holderby, Hira Hussain, Sebastian Jofre, Aurea Mendez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

There has been a growing interest as to what is identified as global warming over the past five years. Studies have demonstrated that the earth’s atmosphere has become warmer thanks to the increasing levels of carbon dioxide, which trap heat that would normally exit into outer space. Much focus has additionally been placed on the causes of this phenomenon, such as the burning of fossil fuels, using coal-fired power plants, and deforestation. The purpose of this research is to discuss how carbon dioxide emissions can be reduced by the use of carbon sequestration. The significant challenge being addressed by this …

The Use Of Cardiac Stem Cells For Myocardial Regeneration, Jenet George

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cardiovascular disease is one of the leading killers in the western world. Because of its prevalence in society and the human heart’s questionable ability to repair itself, thousands of researchers have begun the lengthy process of myocardial research. They are analyzing different types of stem cells for their benefits and side effects, while trying to determine if the human heart is capable of regenerating itself. For the purposes of this literature review, several recent clinical and experimental trials will be analyzed to ascertain the feasibility of using cardiac stem cells in clinical practice. The harmful side effects of each main …

The Development Of United States Special Forces In Response To The Perceived Cold War Threat, Michael E. Rosenzweig

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In the early period of the Cold War, the United States felt compelled to develop a Special Warfare capability in response to a perceived Soviet aggression. This “Special Warfare” capability was combined with psychological, unconventional and guerrilla tactics to foment social, economic and political unrest in the Soviet Union and its satellite states. The battle for the third world influence and prevention of the domino principle was primary forum for these clandestine units to operate to spread American ideals across the world. My symposium is designed to address three specific topics. The first is to address the perception of the …

Synthesis Of A New Porphyrin Dendrimer And Its Potential Use As A Gadolinium Mri Agent, Karoline Korah

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A new porphyrin dendrimer was synthesized and characterized by reacting 4,4’,4’’,4’’’-(Porphine-5,10,15,20-tetrayl)tetrakis(benzoic acid) with a generation two (G2) dendrimer. Its coordination with lanthanides and gadolinium were investigated for its potential use as an MRI agent or as a new dendrimer-metalloporphyrin complex.

Easy To Love, Benita Williams

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Easy To Love is a short film about two graduate students who are engaged to be married. The couple comes to a crossroads when they decide to get blood tests, which may show that one of them has HIV. The film is directed by BeNita Williams. Other crew members include Cheryl White, Adam Walters, and Manuel Cedeno. James Frei is the starring actor.

Os Trigonum Syndrome In A High School Football Lineman, Tena Blackman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

During pre-season football practice a 15 year old, freshman, football lineman (mass 95.5kg, height 172.7cm) reported to the athletic training room complaining of right ankle/lower leg pain. Upon evaluation, the athlete reported generalized pain over the distal tibia and fibula, with isolated symptoms over the posterior calcaneous. The athlete reported insidious onset of pain, which was a 7/10 at rest and 9/10 during activity. No swelling/edema, deformity, tenderness, ecchymmosis or crepitus was evident and soft tissue and bony palpation was unremarkable. Fracture and ligamentous stress tests were normal; athlete presented with functional pes planus. Athlete was referred for X-rays and …

Positive Thinking: The Impact Of Positive Messages On Mood, Attitudes, Anxiety, Depression, And Self-Esteem, Denise Da Rosa

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between positive thinking and mood, attitudes, anxiety, depression, and self-esteem. The study will analyze the effect of positive messages sent via cell phone text messaging to participants. Twenty students will receive positive messages for three days such as “wonderful things will happen to me today.” The other twenty participants will not receive any type of messages. At the end of the study, the researcher hopes to find that participants receiving positive messages will show an improvement in their mood, attitudes, and self-esteem. They will also show a lower level of …

Fear Of Change: The Salem Witch-Hunt Of 1692, Melanie Cucurullo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This paper examines the fears that sparked the witchcraft accusations in late- seventeenth century Salem, Massachusetts. Historians writing about the witch-hunt in colonial New England have suggested these “witches” challenged social traditions and orthodox ways of thinking.

Eighty percent of accused “witches” were women, which suggest that gender played an important role in allegations of witchcraft. A close look at historical records shows that the behavior displayed by Bridget Bishop, Sarah Good, and Anne Hutchinson convinced New Englanders that these women were a threat to society. The problem was not just a new way of thinking but rather the way …

Expression Of Multidrug Efflux Pumps In Porphyromonas Gingivalis, Kristina Christoph

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Periodontal disease is a well known threat to the bones and ligaments that support teeth. Ongoing studies are linking periodontal disease to coronary artery disease, diabetes, and pneumonia. Treatment of the disease involves controlling the bacteria that cause the inflammatory response and tissue destruction. Porphyromonas gingivalis is a periodontal pathogen found in sites having greater progression of the disease. P. gingivalis grows together with many other bacterial species in a complex community called a biofilm. Growing in the context of a biofilm is known to protect bacteria and make them more resistant to antibiotics and other antimicrobial agents. However, the …