Digital Commons Network^™

Ketogenic Diet Improves Cognitive Function And Hippocampal Neurogenesis While Reducing Amyloid Pathology In The Tg-Swdi Mouse Model Of Dementia, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Ariana Hernandez, Eleanor J. Wind, Yingying Zhu, Chana Vogel, Shaina Binu, Mikayla Jeneske, Dylan Kurni, Vedika Chidiruppa, Bianca Echeverria

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), characterized by amyloid buildup in cerebral blood vessels, is highly comorbid with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, on its own, increases the risk of stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Despite its high incidence, no FDA-approved treatments currently exist to treat or prevent this condition. The ketogenic diet (KD), which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, has shown promise for its therapeutic potential in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Studies in AD rodent models have found that KD and/or ketogenic supplements attenuate cognitive-behavioral impairments, neuroinflammation, and amyloid pathology. However, its effects on CAA remain unclear. …

Lower Extremity Kinematics And Injury Risk In Collegiate Cross-Country Runners, Arizel Sosa, Hope Laughlin

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Faulty stance-phase running kinematics such as decreased knee flexion (KFLEX) and excessive hip adduction (HADD), contralateral pelvis drop (CPD), and trunk lean (TL) have been linked to running related injuries (RRI) in recreational distance runners. Less is known about collegiate runners who typically have higher and more uniform training volumes. Thus, the study purpose was to prospectively determine if select kinematics could identify RRI risk in collegiate NCAA Division II runners. We conducted laboratory-based 3D biomechanical analyses of 22 runners (sex, 17♀, 5♂; age, 18-25 yrs; height, 1.7±0.1 m; mass, 60.4±8.9 kg) at their competitive season start and tracked RRI …

Medicaid Expansion And State-Level Insulin Copay Caps, Renee L. Rowley

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: The rising cost of insulin poses a significant public health issue of accessibility among populations with diabetes. Several states have implemented state insulin copay caps (SICC) to mitigate out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals. This study examines the relationship between Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of SICC.

Methods: To determine whether Medicaid expansion is associated with states’ decisions to initiate SICC, we conducted a cross-sectional study among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. We used SICC status data from the American Diabetes Association and state-level demographics data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2021 County …

Metformin's Beneficial Usage As A Therapeutic And Cost-Effective Drug For Ovarian Cancer, Kaitlin Chao, Leelakrishna Angadala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

According to the American Cancer Society, ovarian cancer is a leading cause of gynecologic cancer related mortality in the United States, with over 20,000 new cases and 14,000 deaths annually. Despite advancements in treatment, the need for effective, accessible, and affordable therapies remains critical. Metformin, a widely prescribed drug for type 2 diabetes, has shown significant promise as a cost-effective adjunct in ovarian cancer therapy.

This literature review examines emerging evidence on metformin's anticancer properties, including its ability to inhibit ovarian cancer cell proliferation through AMPK activation, mTOR inhibition, and modulation of the tumor microenvironment. Epidemiological studies report improved survival …

Modeling Nicotine, At-1001, & Varenicline At The α3β4 Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptor, Japji G. Madan, Mourya Khandai, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The escalating prevalence of nicotine addiction among adolescents has been linked to the increasing use of e-cigarettes, known as vapes. Approximately, 1.63 million students in the United States (ages 11-18) use vapes, reflecting a concerning trend of nicotine dependence among adolescents. Activation of the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can modulate the dopamine pathways in the mesolimbic system, increasing nicotine addictive behavior. A 3-D printed molecular model was prepared using the PDB file 6PV7, to explore the molecular dynamics of one of the binding sites between subunits A and B of the pentameric receptor. This model highlights the binding of two …

Methyl Group Substituent Effect On The Basicity Of Meso-Substituted Porphyrins, Krisha Patel, Rochelle Avezki, Tej Chaudhari, Alex Arshavsky

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Titration studies of three freebase porphyrins (meso-tetra-2-methylphenyl, meso-tetra-3-methylphenyl, meso-tetra-4-methylphenyl) were carried out to determine the corresponding basicity in solution with a nonpolar solvent (toluene). The differences in the porphyrin structure lie within the position of the substituents, specifically the position of the methyl group. In each trial, protonation of the porphyrins was reached through the repeated addition of trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). In examining the protonation of these different isomers, the pKa values were determined through a spectrophotometric analysis. The apparent pKa values were found using the modified Henderson-Hasselbalch equation.

Modeling The Binding Of Five Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Ssris) To The Human Serotonin Transporter (Hsert) To Allosteric And Central Binding Sites, Alessandra Alvarez Coke, Ivanna Mathew, Srika Saai Talanki

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Rates of depression are rising globally. A proposed physiological basis of depression is low levels of neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin. SSRIs are a form of medication that is used to treat depression disorders by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by Human Serotonin transporter (hSERT). Modeling the structure of hSERT allows for rational drug design, potentially improving the medications that are available to the public. The Protein Data Bank file of hSERT was retrieved (PDB ID: 5I6Z). Additional PDB files were utilized to analyze various SSRIs and their respective central and allosteric binding sites to determine the most critical portions required …

Olive Oil To Carbon Dots: A Renewable Pathway In Green Chemistry, Srika Saai Talanki, Amaan Khan, Aryan Rathi, María Guillén-Méndez, Tasfia Tazri Howlader, Pierce Canavan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Olive oil, rich in triglycerides like oleic acid, is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its potential in nanoparticle synthesis is underexplored. This study focuses on synthesizing fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) from extra virgin olive oil using a bottom-up approach. Cdots are valued for their unique optical, physical, and chemical properties, making them suitable for applications in semiconductors, biomedical research, food packaging, and LED technology. The synthesis involved heating a mixture of olive oil, citric acid, and ethylenediamine at 180°C for 72 hours. The resulting C-dots underwent purification through liquid-liquid extraction and freeze-drying, yielding water-free, oily fluorescent carbon …

Parasites In Flight: Toxoplasma Gondii Genotypes In South Florida Birds, Ava Barrasso, Katherine Hirt, Kaitlin Whalen, Shree Diora, Adhiraj Katoch, Aansi Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that significantly impacts human and wildlife health. Often associated with domestic cats, avian hosts also contribute to the parasite's persistence in global ecosystems. This research investigates the strain diversity of T. gondii found within South Florida birds. Florida is an avian biodiversity hotspot along two migratory flyways and therefore presents unique opportunities to detect novel and/or virulent genotypes that may present health risks to humans. These risks are increasing with environmental factors (e.g. urbanization and climate change) that facilitate pathogen transmission between feral and domesticated animals, and susceptible human populations. Our approach consists of …

Pecking At Protozoan Parasites: Pcr Diagnostics Of Toxoplasma Gondii In South Floridian Birds, Senia Bu, Donna Huynh, Sridevi Gundimeda, Samhita Doranala, Madeline Hsu, Valentina Cevallos

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Toxoplasma gondii is a protozoan parasite whose prevalence and transmission remain underexplored in wildlife, especially in birds. This is a crucial gap since birds can serve as pathogen reservoirs (facilitating transmission to humans and other animals) and because T. gondii’s prevalence in wildlife (e.g. birds) helps illuminate its environmental distribution. Thus, characterizing T. gondii in local avian communities can help us assess and mitigate risks to the health of humans, pets, agricultural animals, and endangered wildlife. This study investigates T. gondii prevalence in South Florida’s diverse avian species. We obtained tissue samples from >100 birds by dissecting carcasses provided …

Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pops) Profiling Of Alaskan Pink Salmon, Tulsi Modi, Aleena Thomas, Tejaswi Achanta

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxins that bioaccumulate in the environment and are resistant to degradation. Of the POPs, there are 209 congeners each of either polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), contributing to human detriment and dysfunction to vital organs in the human body. Individual POPs have been completely banned by the 2004 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, however, levels have remained consistent over the years. The pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) samples used in this study are acquired from three different river locations: Hilda Creek, Salmon River, and Sheep Creek. Hilda Creek is in …

Photodynamic Inactivation (Pdi) Of Microorganisms With Copper Meso-Pyridyl Porphyrin Isomers, Dylan Mavlyanov, Sanjana Sivaiah, Andrew Siedlecki, Rohan Reddy, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) is an antimicrobial approach, independent of antibiotic resistance, that targets pathogens utilizing light and photosensitizers in the presence of oxygen. The growing international concern for the rise in drug-resistant microorganisms has driven research to determine approaches that will keep microbes from developing further immunological adaptations. Photosensitizers are molecules activated by light that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) lysing and causing cell death in structures of microbes and in diseased mammalian cells. The photosensitizers applied in this experiment are meso–Tetra(N–methyl–pyridyl)porphine tetrachloride isomers. Three variations of the nitrogen placement were used to understand the interactions with the bacterial cell …

Playing Stereoscopic Video Games Enhances The Precision But Not The Accuracy Of Depth Perception, Charlene Li, Nada Bleibel, Lara Cereminati, Yingzi Luo, Betty Z. Li Ph.D., Dennis M. Levi Ph.D., Sandy W. Chat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Purpose. We recently reported that playing immersive video games in a three-dimensions (3D) environment boosts stereo vision in young adults with normal vision. Here we asked whether the improvement in stereoscopic acuity (precision) was the result of a reduced disparity pedestal, as indicated by a decreased subjective depth bias (accuracy).

Methods. Twenty-one university students with normal visual acuity and stereoacuity were recruited. All of them had limited previous video game experience, and none had ever played 3D video games. Participants were required to play stereoscopic 3D video games for a total of 40 hours, 2 hours per session, over 4-5 …

Predictive Toxicological Analysis Of Novel Prostate Cancer Drug, Dani Sheil

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer-related death in men in the United States, claiming approximately 1 in 44 lives. While novel cancer therapies aim to selectively target cancer cells, minimizing damage to healthy tissues, these treatments can still cause significant side effects. The drug discovery process remains costly and time-intensive, with only 10-20% of compounds making it from clinical trials to market, often due to toxicity issues that arise during later-stage testing. To address this, computational methods in predictive toxicology can expedite drug development by assessing potential toxic effects early, reducing costs and risks. In this study, we …

Psychedelic Substituted Phenethylamine Alters Human Neural Progenitor Cell Morphology, Proliferation, And Survival, Omar E. Saleh, Grace K. Wong, Chase A. Gonzales, Mark Apterman, Laury Pierre, Stacey Doret, Isaac Hai, Travis J.A. Craddock

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Examining how psychedelic substituted phenethylamines affect neural plasticity is key to understanding harms and potential medical implications of recreational drugs. The microtubule cytoskeleton has been proposed to modulate the effects of phenethylamines as a downstream effector and through scaffolding mechanisms. Microtubules play a crucial role in neurite outgrowth, protein transport, and synaptic stability in cells. Our group has shown that specific psychedelic substituted phenethylamines (25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP) alter microtubule formation in a dose-dependent manner. As these phenethylamines limit microtubule capacities, they may impact cytoskeletal-mediated neural plasticity. This study’s purpose is to determine if substituted phenethylamines, 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP …

Reproductive Outcomes In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Melanie Mendonca, Esperanza Barrios, Chana Vogel, Victoria Pulido-Correa

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease lacking effective treatment. Despite women having 2x greater risk for developing AD, few studies have investigated the sex-specific factors that influence AD risk. Reports show a difference in the risk and progression of AD in parents and nonparents, suggesting motherhood may mitigate the risk and impacts of AD, but alternative explanations could play a role. For example, healthier and wealthier people may have more reproductive opportunities and less disease risk. Moreover, genes that alter disease risk could also modify fertility/fecundity, such as APOE4, a gene that increases both AD risk and fertility. …

Resilience And Its Effects On Psychological Well Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Taylor Reinsel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Stressors and trauma in life are unavoidable. However, the way we respond and adapt to them can be within our control. This response differs from person to person, but there are factors that can influence the likelihood of an individual rebounding from a crisis, as well as factors that can put them at a higher risk of developing mental illness. One of the main factors that influences Psychological Well Being is the presence of Resilience. The main goal of this study was to examine how factors of Resilience relate to Psychological Well Being and COVID-19 Well Being during the COVID-19 …

Resources And Racial Identity: Differences In Women's Accumulation Of And Preference For Six Forms Of Capital, Alyssa J. Grant

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Across the world, resources are a necessity so individuals can lead a healthy and wealthy life. Research has found there are six forms of resources that can be measured (Starratt and Zambrano, 2022). However, we do not yet know the extent to which resources are related to cultures, traditions and customs and so, may differ among people with different racial and ethnic identities. This study investigated differences among accumulation of and preference for six forms of resources among women of different racial and ethnic identities. The participants included 248 women who self-reported racial and ethnic identity and completed an inventory …

Role Of Exosomes In Gulf War Illness, Chetana Movva, Lily Tehrani, Joshua Frank

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a multi-symptom chronic disorder affecting over 200,000 veterans deployed during the Gulf War from 1990-1991. GWI veterans deployed during the Persian Gulf War were exposed to multiple chemical warfare agents. Veterans with GWI experience chronic pain, fatigue, neurocognitive symptoms, gastrointestinal (GI) disturbances, etc. GWI-associated biomarkers have revealed a proinflammatory biomarker signature, a discovery that has recently led to research further exploring the inflammatory response within GWI patients.

Exosomes are small extracellular particles that range in diameter between 50-200 nm and have specific markers. Exosomes contain DNA, proteins, and RNA and carry this information from one …

Seizure Vulnerability In A C. Elegans Obesity Model, Carina Pavlov, Jeremy Ignatius, Scarlet Jinhong Park Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Metabolic disorders such as diabetes mellitus, characterized by hyperglycemia due to defects in insulin secretion, affect millions of people and increasingly more. Epidemiological studies have shown that individuals with diabetes have a higher risk of developing epilepsy, a neurological disorder where recurrent seizures occur. Conversely, many antiepileptics affect glucose and lipid metabolism.

The nematode Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) is a model organism suited for studying metabolic and neurological disorders, due to its genetic tractability, short life cycle, and conserved signaling pathways. Although previous studies have developed and used genetic and diet-induced obesity models in C. elegans, none …

Sgi-1027 Small Molecule Inhibits Dnmt And Promotes P21-Mediated Apoptosis Via Epigenetic Alterations In Sk-N-Sh Neuroblastoma Cells, Sadhna Seth, Anika Singh, Shyam Sundar Jaganathan Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer originating from neural crest cells. Treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma includes chemotherapy. Emerging evidence indicates that DNMT inhibitor codenamed SGI-1027 may facilitate cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis by modulating cell cycle regulatory pathways. Therefore, we hypothesize that SGI-1027 treatment could lead to apoptosis mediated cell death in SK-N-SH cells through the upregulation of p21 transcription.

This study investigated whether SGI-1027, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, causes DNA methylation and upregulation of p21 through a p53-independent pathway, which could lead to cell cycle arrest and intrinsic-pathway mediated apoptosis in SK-N-SH cells. To assess the effects of …

Social Humanoids And Human Interactions: Investigating The Role Of Trust, Persuasion, And Empathy In Fostering Healthy Behaviors Among College Students, Nitya Alaparthy, Anvita Kalepalli, Walter Chang, Vinay Manlapudi, Savri Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The exposure of social humanoid robots introduces a wide variety of interactive opportunities by utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI)-powered automatons/automated machines to enhance both the quality and simplicity of human lives. Using AI systems, humanoid robots can be programmed to execute various tasks autonomously, ranging from assisting with administrative and clerical tasks, clinical and healthcare tasks, social interaction and emotional support tasks, as well as educational and training tasks, amongst others. With successful integration into healthcare settings, current research explores employing social humanoids to add social dimensions to patient care, fostering human-like interactions. Researchers are assessing the quality of interactions between …

Solvent Effect On The Stabilization Of The Monoprotonated Species Of Tetraphenylporphyrin, Pablo Perez, Dani Sheil

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The protonation of Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) demonstrates unusual behavior where protonation causes only the formation of a diprotonated species. This behavior is due to a change in conformation leading to an unstable saddle deformation in which the monoprotonated species is highly unfavorable. The stabilization of the unfavored conformation in the monoprotonated intermediate species may be achieved by understanding the effects of different solvents on the protonation of TPP. This study was done to explore the protonation of TPP using Toluene Chloroform, and Dichloromethane using trifluoroacetic acid and chloroacetic acid to analyze the effects of the different solvents. Using a UV spectrophotometer, …

Spliceosomal Modulation Induces Immunogenicity Of Melanoma Cells And In Vivo Immune Response, Sadeeshkumar Velayutham, Shweta Shah, Tulsi Desai, Keiran S.M. Smalley Ph.D., Aveta Singh Ph.D., Jun Yong Choi Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high mortality rates, often driven by BRAF and NRAS mutations. While targeted therapies like Vemurafenib have improved outcomes in BRAF-mutant melanoma, resistance and adverse effects limit their long-term efficacy. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches to overcome these challenges. This study investigates the efficacy of novel anti-melanoma compounds, 2155-14 and 2155-18, targeting spliceosomal proteins, in a xenograft model derived from the A375 BRAF/NRAS double mutant cell line. Seven-week-old mice were implanted with A375 BRAF/NRAS mutant cells and treated with 2155-14 or 2155-18. Treatments were administered subcutaneously thrice weekly. Tumor growth …

Student Perception Of Ai And Its Effect On Creativity, Jade Sanchez, Juman Hai

Undergraduate Student Symposium

With the rise of Artificial Intelligence, it is important to investigate its impact on how this will affect students. Our study aimed to see how generative artificial intelligence (AI) affects student creativity levels. We hypothesized that as students use of AI increases, their creativity levels decrease. We collected data from participants’ demographics, their scores on the Short Scale of the Creative Self, an AI usage survey, and the Alternative Use Task (AUT). The creativity survey had subscales for Creative Self-efficacy, Personal Identity, and Self-concept. We also created subscales for ethical and unethical AI usage. Our data showed that there was …

Synergistic Anticancer Effects Of Jq-1 And Doxorubicin Via Myc Downregulation And Apoptosis Induction, Abby Morrill, Srika Saai Talanki, Sneha Subhash, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Kyuree Chang, María Guillén-Méndez, Swara Chindahade

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aggressive cancers are particularly challenging due to their rapid growth, ability to adapt, and resistance to single therapies. Combination therapies or a multipronged approach can increase tumor cell killing and limit the development of drug resistance. The potential of combining conventional chemotherapy with targeted therapies was investigated. To determine the best drug combinations, viability assays using an 8 x 8 dose response matrix format (checkerboard) with small-step serial dilutions of cytotoxic and targeted drugs was performed. The resulting viability data, as determined by MTS assay, was analyzed using the web application SynergyFinder. The results indicated that the combined drug treatment …

Synergistic Effects Of Quercetin And Lutein In Tagetes Erecta Against Antibiotic-Resistant Microorganisms, Ninoshka I. Garcia Torres

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The increasing global problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the need to look for innovative classes of antimicrobial agents. Phytochemicals isolated from Tagetes erecta, such as Quercetin, a flavonoid, and lutein, a carotenoid, have antimicrobial properties against bacteria through various mechanisms, such as disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, production of reactive oxygen species, and biofilm inhibition. Quercetin and lutein also improve the effectiveness of standard antibiotics, indicating their usability as adjuvants against resistant microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Despite their potential, several challenges need to be addressed, including the fluctuating yield production of phytochemicals, the …

Synthesizing Ferrocene Bipyridine Adducts For The Creation Of New Metal Based Photosensitizing Complexes, Gabrielle Spankus, Jarlynn Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Metal-based photosensitizers commonly use bipyridine molecules and their ligands. Their absorption and chemical properties can be tuned through substitutions. This study synthesized a ferrocene appended 2,2 -bipyridine dimer (Fc-bipy2-Fc) using palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction to create new photosensitizing molecule that could further complex with metals such as ruthenium to enhance photophysical and electronic properties. The product was purified by flash chromatography and characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Structure-Activity Relationship Of Potent Diaryl Acrylonitrile Resveratrol Analogs, Brianna Calderon, Alma Partenza, Neha Jasti, Saya Seraj, Nhi Van, Daniela Otero-Wincher, Elaine Chen, Xavier Pantig, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Eduardo Véliz Ph.D., Steven Vanni Ph.D., Venkatesh Shanbhag Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that presents significant treatment challenges due to its infiltrative nature and therapy resistance. Elimination of GBM stem cells (GSCs), which drive tumor progression and treatment resistance, is essential for a successful outcome. Resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound with anticancer properties, shows limited therapeutic potential due to poor bioavailability, prompting the development of more potent analogs. In this study, 80 diaryl acrylonitrile RSV analogs were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation and evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward GSCs using MTS assay. Among these compounds, E03 exhibited notable activity, with an average GSC IC50 value of 106 …

Targeting The Renin-Angiotensin System For The Treatment Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Ariana Hernandez, Chana Vogel, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Natalia Noto, Yazmin Restrepo, Shay Moen, Julianna Bonetti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the accumulation of amyloid proteins in the cerebral vasculature, can increase the risk of stroke, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia. CAA is highly comorbid with Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to Alzheimer’s pathology by affecting the clearance of amyloid from the brain. Epidemiological studies suggest that certain renin-angiotensin system-targeting drugs, commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, decrease the risk of dementia. This study assesses whether two FDA-approved RAS-targeting drugs: telmisartan [a brain-penetrant angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)], and lisinopril [a brain-penetrant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor]; can be repurposed to mitigate CAA, associated neuropathologies, and cognitive decline in …