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The Effect Of Water Temperature On Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Abundance In Port Everglades, Brittany Lape Apr 2011

The Effect Of Water Temperature On Florida Manatee (Trichechus Manatus Latirostris) Abundance In Port Everglades, Brittany Lape

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Port Everglades, located near Nova Southeastern University’s Oceanographic Center, is a wintering area for the Florida manatee (Trichechus manatus latirostris), because it is a warm-water habitat. This study used data that were collected on trips through the Port, which was then examined with the following criteria for comparison: past water temperature versus current water temperature, past surveyed manatee numbers versus current manatees surveyed, and water temperature versus manatees surveyed. These comparisons were examined to illustrate any climate change trends that have occurred, as well as how those have affected the manatees in Port Everglades. These data were then …

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The Effectiveness Of Various Pesticides On Aphid Infestations, Saamia Shaikh, Darshan Solanki Apr 2011

The Effectiveness Of Various Pesticides On Aphid Infestations, Saamia Shaikh, Darshan Solanki

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The main goal of this research was to examine the effectiveness of various pesticides on aphid infestations found on landscape and garden plants. Aphids, also known as plant lice, are small (~5 mm) sap-sucking insects in family Aphidoidea commonly observed in home landscapes and gardens, as well as in many agricultural areas. They are some of the most destructive insects on cultivated plants and control of these pests usually requires pesticide treatments. The three most common types are organic, synthetic, and soap pesticides. We chose three commonly sold varieties at a local home improvement warehouse to use for during this …

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The Effects Of An Ad Libitum High Protein-High Fat Diet On Body Composition And Health, Catalina Rodriguez Apr 2011

The Effects Of An Ad Libitum High Protein-High Fat Diet On Body Composition And Health, Catalina Rodriguez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was to demonstrate the effects of a high-protein high-fat diet on an inactive 21-year-old female student during two 30-day experimental periods; there was no exercise intervention.. For the first 30 days of the study, a 47% carbohydrate, 23% protein, and 29% fat diet was followed and approximately 1573 calories were consumed. During the second experimental period of 30 days, the subject consumed a higher-protein/higher-fat diet that consisted of 24% carbohydrate, 29% protein, and 48% fat diet. Approximately 1719 calories were consumed daily. A Comprehensive Metabolic Panel and Lipid Panel blood test was obtained at the …

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Standardization Of A Technique For Quantification Of Glutathione Concentration In Human White Blood Cells: A Biomarker For Autism?, Luis Puchi, Reina Miranda Apr 2011

Standardization Of A Technique For Quantification Of Glutathione Concentration In Human White Blood Cells: A Biomarker For Autism?, Luis Puchi, Reina Miranda

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glutathione is an unusual tripeptide ubiquitous in scientific literature for its antioxidant capacity and its relevance as an indicator of oxidative stress. Glutathione’s role within cellular homeostasis is well documented, but the entirety of glutathione’s biochemical role within the human body remains fervently researched. Deficiencies in glutathione have been linked to patients suffering from a wide spectrum of disorders including, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, and autism (Pastore, Federici, Bertini, & Piemonte, 2003). Much of the research on glutathione centers on the relationship between the reduced (GSH) and oxidized (GSSG) versions of the tripeptide. Fluctuations which lower the ratio of GSH to …

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Survey Of Fish Landings In Broward County: Preliminary Results, Jennifer Anders, Kaitlin De'aeth Apr 2011

Survey Of Fish Landings In Broward County: Preliminary Results, Jennifer Anders, Kaitlin De'aeth

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Each year thousands of recreational saltwater fishers are drawn to South Florida. Statewide regulations exist to monitor the sport and its associated landings. However, these laws may not be enough to protect local populations. Many of the commonly overfished species in Florida, specifically the snapper and grouper species, are targeted and caught by recreational fishers. To examine the current state of fishing activities in Broward County a questionnaire was created and recreational fishers were asked to participate anonymously. The purpose of the questionnaire is to provide baseline information on targeted species and landings off the coast of Broward County, as …

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Synthesis Of Porous Organic Materials For Gas Storage Media, Reena Parikh Apr 2011

Synthesis Of Porous Organic Materials For Gas Storage Media, Reena Parikh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research is to help synthesize porous organic materials as possible gas storage media. Moreover, experimentation and chemical reactions will assist in finding and producing products that will be porous. Their porous nature will enable them to hold a certain volume of gas or act as agents for drug delivery. Earlier research involved a reaction to place an extra ring on the compound NBAIICuOAc. This molecule has two benzene rings, of which have shown to hold a trace amount of methane gas after DMF and H2O have been removed from it. It has been hypothesized …

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Singles View Other Singles As Sexy: The Influence Of Relationship Status On Judgments Of Attractiveness, Jenna Wells Apr 2011

Singles View Other Singles As Sexy: The Influence Of Relationship Status On Judgments Of Attractiveness, Jenna Wells

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous studies on whether people find single or non-single opposite-sex targets more attractive are inconsistent (e.g., O’Hagen et al., 2003; Bressan & Stranieri, 2008; Uller & Johansson, 2003); these effects may vary according to social and hormonal factors (e.g., Gangestad et al., 2004). We propose that participants’ own relationship status may influence their judgments of the attractiveness of single and non-single people. In the present study, 43 participants each rated the attractiveness of ten “profiles,” using a between-participants design. Each profile consisted of a photograph and short personal description of a young opposite-sex adult. Half the profiles were depicted as …

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Crystalline Metal-Organic Frameworks Drug Transfer, James M. Brandes Apr 2011

Crystalline Metal-Organic Frameworks Drug Transfer, James M. Brandes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A relatively new type of chemical compound is finding application in such areas as gas storage, and drug delivery. Metal-organic frameworks, or MOF’s, are rigid structures with large cavities which other molecules can occupy for later release and use. We are studying the properties of new MOF’s based on copper and organic molecules known as BAII’s. In at least one case it has been demonstrated that these frameworks are capable of adsorbing, and later desorbing, host molecules. This makes them candidates for drug delivery and gas storage. The synthesis, characterization and adsorption properties of one framework will be discussed. A …

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Peace Through Hostility: The Beats' Call For Equality Through Aggressive Poetic Imagery, Dan Abella Apr 2011

Peace Through Hostility: The Beats' Call For Equality Through Aggressive Poetic Imagery, Dan Abella

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This paper focuses on the poetic techniques of two Beat poets, Lenore Kandel and Allen Ginsberg, whose impressionistic, caustic poetry is in some ways representative of the entire Beat movement. Kandel's poems ring with overt sexual overtones, seemingly unconcerned with respect to morality or grace, invoking instead shocking and disturbing images. In her poetry is an intrepid protest of violence and conformity through the paradoxical use of violent description. Like the other Beat poets, she often refused to compromise in either structure or content, adopting a flowing, free-verse form. Allen Ginsberg's poetry employs the same modes: free verse, shocking context, …

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Myh16 Masticatory Gene Mutation Correlates With The Evolution Of Human Morphological Cranial Capacity, Renee Michelle Potens Apr 2011

Myh16 Masticatory Gene Mutation Correlates With The Evolution Of Human Morphological Cranial Capacity, Renee Michelle Potens

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In the late Miocene, Homo sapiens encephalization accelerated simultaneously with an anatomic craniofacial transformation, associated with a shift towards a gracilization pattern of diet. Hansell H. Stedman has discovered a deleterious masticatory gene mutation responsible for jaw muscle development that is found in all modern human populations. This gene is functionally conserved in all non-human primates such as chimpanzees and extinct Hominidae species such as Australopithecus and Paranthropus, and is only found in its mutated, non-functional state in humans. The myosin heavy chain (MYH16) inactivation occurred after the divergence of the phylogenic lineages leading to humans and …

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Nonlinear Analysis Of Phosphorus Levels In Lake Okeechobee And Proposals Of Solutions, Lacrima Nemulescu Apr 2011

Nonlinear Analysis Of Phosphorus Levels In Lake Okeechobee And Proposals Of Solutions, Lacrima Nemulescu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The research was designed to analyze the phosphorus levels in Lake Okeechobee and the consequences related to the introduction of supplemental nutrients in an oligotrophic ecosystem. The eutrophication of a fresh water habitat has the potential of negatively impacting the underwater species, as well as the predators that depend on these organisms to obtain their nutrition. An increase in the amount of phosphorus has portrayed a positive correlation with the stimulation of plant growth. The most detrimental consequences are associated to algal overgrowth, which causes the oxygen levels inside the water to decrease and therefore deplete the sub aquatic environment …

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Mobile Operating Systems, Adenji Baker, Enrique Lifshitz Apr 2011

Mobile Operating Systems, Adenji Baker, Enrique Lifshitz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Over the last decade, there has been a proliferation on mobile computers. Last year, more than 67 million smart phones were sold in the United States. Not all mobile computers are the same; these devices, have different hardware and operating systems. Each different mobile device and operating system has unique features and is targeted to a distinct demographic. For example, Blackberry devices are marketed as the business smartphone, on the other hand, the numerous amount of applications available for the iPhone make this device a favorite among the average youth.

Mobile operating systems are often compared by its features and …

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The Occurrence Of Helicosporidium In Freshwater Bodies In South Florida, Jhanelle Dawes Apr 2011

The Occurrence Of Helicosporidium In Freshwater Bodies In South Florida, Jhanelle Dawes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Helicosporidium is a mosquito pathogen found in most South Florida water ecosystems. It is composed of four cells and related to green algae but is non- photosynthetic. It has been proven to be a vector control agent and has therefore shown the potential to eradicate mosquito-borne diseases. However, barely any biogeographical and ecological data regarding Helicosporidium exists. In order to determine the occurrence of Helicosporidium in environmental freshwater samples, water samples were collected from a local south Florida natural freshwater body. The metagenomic DNA extraction and specific amplification of Helicosporidium 18S rDNA genes using Polymerase Chain Reaction were then performed …

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The Influence Of Emotional Stimuli On Attention Sharing In A Dual Modality Erp Paradigm: Effects Of Varying Interstimulus Intervals, Amanda Lynch Apr 2011

The Influence Of Emotional Stimuli On Attention Sharing In A Dual Modality Erp Paradigm: Effects Of Varying Interstimulus Intervals, Amanda Lynch

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A large and growing body of evidence demonstrates that attention is preferentially allocated to stimuli with emotional content. Emotionally negative stimuli serve as a mechanism of biological preparedness to enhance attention. In agreement with this idea, previous studies looking at the influence of emotional pictures on tone processing showed that the ERP measures of cognition was reduced when participants were exposed to an emotional picture with intermittent auditory startle probes We hypothesized that if an auditory oddball (attention capturing) stimulus was placed in the same perceptual time frame as a preceding emotional picture, the auditory stimulus would then share attention …

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Validation Of An Alternative Microbiological Method For Nutritional Supplements And Over-The- Counter Drugs, William Oliver Apr 2011

Validation Of An Alternative Microbiological Method For Nutritional Supplements And Over-The- Counter Drugs, William Oliver

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project is focused on determining the efficacy of the alternative microbiological plate counting method, the 3M Petri-Film plate reading device. The 3M plate reader device is used for high volume microbial enumeration of food products in large food manufacturing facilities. This device claims to increase operator speed by 3 times providing considerable cost savings to companies performing 100+ microbiological tests daily. This study was conducted to validate this device for use in tablet, capsule, liquid, semi-solid dosage forms, cleaning validations, and water sample testing. With this project we were compared plate counts on the Petri film device to plate …

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Total Synthesis Of Functionalized Acenes, Sose Tokatlian Apr 2011

Total Synthesis Of Functionalized Acenes, Sose Tokatlian

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research project is focused on the total synthesis of three different acene dinitriles. With the understanding that syntheses of such acenes are affected by chemoselectivity, it is imperative that proper protocol be followed in order to produce the desired acenes in a favorable and useful yield. By means of Wittig reactions, condensation and reduction reactions the final product will be formed. Acene-2,3- dicarbaldehyde is utilized as a starting compound undergoing a Witting reaction and a consecutive Aldol reaction to produce a second ring with diester functionalities. Following reduction to a dialdehyde a modified Wittig reaction and consecutive Aldol reaction …

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The Relationship Between Number Of Facebook Friends And Self-Esteem, Kelsey Cortez, Jerilyn De Los Rios, Keren Moros, Veronica Quintanilla Apr 2011

The Relationship Between Number Of Facebook Friends And Self-Esteem, Kelsey Cortez, Jerilyn De Los Rios, Keren Moros, Veronica Quintanilla

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous studies have identified relationships between social networking sites (SNSs) and the variables of its users such as age, gender and personality type. The growing popularity of SNSs has prompted the initiation of the current study which seeks to identify if a relationship exists between a Facebook user’s number of online friends and his/her level of self-esteem. A Facebook Questionnaire, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised (EPQ-R) will be administered to a sample of students and adults ages 13 to 55.

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Isolating And Characterizing Natural Products From Fruits And Vegetables By Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy, Andrew Lister Apr 2011

Isolating And Characterizing Natural Products From Fruits And Vegetables By Using Gas Chromatography Mass Spectroscopy, Andrew Lister

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Natural products of fruits and vegetables play important roles in human health. Due to their benefits, researchers have tried to identify specific natural compounds within a single fruit or vegetable. These are technically demanding experiments because of the complex sample matrix and the need for a sensitive chemical analysis technique. This research project presents optimized protocols for the organic extraction and separation of multiple natural products of fruits and vegetables. The compounds were analyzed, and characterized by using Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry and cross referenced with journal articles that have previously reported these products.

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Investigation Of A Crime Scene: Applying Biological And Chemical Forensic Techniques, Jennifer Marcelin, Jorge Leal, Sagir Patel, Lindsey Nowland Apr 2011

Investigation Of A Crime Scene: Applying Biological And Chemical Forensic Techniques, Jennifer Marcelin, Jorge Leal, Sagir Patel, Lindsey Nowland

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this experiment was to explore the principles of investigating a crime scene; utilizing both biological and chemical laboratory techniques. Collecting proper evidence is crucial to crime scene investigation. The insight that an investigator may gain about a perpetrator can be determined by analyzing the physical evidence obtained at the scene, and therefore an investigator must carefully examine numerous pieces of evidence found at a crime scene. However, the knowledge and education of the investigator are able to elucidate both the obvious and the obscure. Each piece of evidence may provide a clue to who committed the crime …

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Influence Of Hardbottom Availability On A Nearshore Fish Community, Jesse Secord, Angelica Garcia, Rocio Masgoret, Kaitlyn Brucker Apr 2011

Influence Of Hardbottom Availability On A Nearshore Fish Community, Jesse Secord, Angelica Garcia, Rocio Masgoret, Kaitlyn Brucker

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this project is to determine if hard bottom availability affects the fish abundance and species richness of a nearshore community. The research was conducted on the northeast side of Hillsboro Inlet in Broward County, Florida. The Rover Diving Technique was used to conduct visual fish counts while snorkeling within four 30 m2 areas. Quantification of hard bottom and sand substrates were also performed within these areas using transect lines. The majority of data collection occurred on a weekly basis from February 21, 2010 to October 10, 2010. We hypothesized there would be a direct correlation between …

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Improvement Of Trauma Symptoms In A Male Dual-Diagnosis Outpatient Treatment, Brittney Tamayo Apr 2011

Improvement Of Trauma Symptoms In A Male Dual-Diagnosis Outpatient Treatment, Brittney Tamayo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Traditionally, treatment aimed at helping those with both trauma related symptoms and substance abuse issues has first addressed the substance-related issues and then, after the client obtains abstinence, provided treatment to address the trauma-related issues. A more recent trend, the ‘traumaddiction’ model, suggests that psychological trauma and substance abuse can and should be treated concurrently. Support for this simultaneous treatment model has largely been limited to research in residential treatment settings. The current study set out to determine whether the integration of therapy for both trauma and substance abuse can be effective in an outpatient treatment setting as well. Specifically, …

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Expression Of At1, At2 Receptors And A Non-At1, Non-At2 Angiotensin Ii Binding Site In Rat Brain After Endothelin-1 Induced Ischemic Stroke, Luz Gonzalez Reiley, Aisha Haniff Apr 2011

Expression Of At1, At2 Receptors And A Non-At1, Non-At2 Angiotensin Ii Binding Site In Rat Brain After Endothelin-1 Induced Ischemic Stroke, Luz Gonzalez Reiley, Aisha Haniff

Undergraduate Student Symposium

New findings suggest that the activation AT1 receptor decreases cerebral perfusion after an ischemic stroke in the brain while the activation of AT2 receptor opposes those actions providing neuroprotective effects. Recent discoveries reveal the existence of a novel non-AT1, non-AT2 binding site for angiotensin II (Ang II) in the brain which may indicate additional effects of the brain angiotensin system after ischemic damage. To assess this, 5 rats were microinjected with 3 μM of 80 μM endothelin-1 (ET-1) to stimulate middle cerebral artery occlusion in the right hemisphere of the forebrain. 24 hours later, the rats were sacrificed and the …

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Exploring The Phylogeny Of Helicosporidium Using The Cyst Gene, Vanessa Anaya Apr 2011

Exploring The Phylogeny Of Helicosporidium Using The Cyst Gene, Vanessa Anaya

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Helicosporidium is a unique pathogen that can infect the larvae of mosquitoes. Phylogenetic analyses show promise of establishing a relationship between Helicosporidium and other species. Observation of species from the Aunexochlorella and Prototheca genera will provide an exact taxonomic classification and assist with identifying the closest relative to the genus Helicosporidium. Since it has been shown that the Helicosporidium shows effects on the larvae of mosquitos, this can be a potential organism of interest in the use as an alternative to common chemical insecticides. The confirmation of the relationship was found by performing sequencing of the ribosomal DNA of …

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Experimental And Numerical Determination Of Phase Synchronization Between A Chua System And An External Periodic Signal, Yaneve Shemesh Apr 2011

Experimental And Numerical Determination Of Phase Synchronization Between A Chua System And An External Periodic Signal, Yaneve Shemesh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

We present our first experimental results in relation to the phase synchronization of a single sinusoidal function to a Chua oscillator. We approached the synchronization process with real time observation. We were able to observe that a Chua oscillator will stay phase synchronized if the periodic signal has the appropriate amplitude and frequency, i.e., falls inside a synchronization tongue (Arnold Tongue). These early results will be compared in the future with numerical simulations.

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Event Related Potentials As A Measure Of Neural Inhibition Resulting From Bilingualism, Alicia Harnisch, Daniela Padron Apr 2011

Event Related Potentials As A Measure Of Neural Inhibition Resulting From Bilingualism, Alicia Harnisch, Daniela Padron

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research suggests that there is a link between bilingualism and neural inhibition. Findings reveal that bilinguals more efficiently and effectively switch between cognitive tasks and ignore irrelevant aspects of a stimulus than monolinguals. According to the Inhibitory Control model of bilingualism, a mechanism is in place which allows bilinguals to suppress one language while using the other. This mechanism also mediates non-linguistic inhibition, which allows bilinguals to outperform monolinguals on these tasks. Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging studies comparing monolinguals and bilinguals on non-language tasks suggest that these two groups utilize different frontal lobe areas when performing non-language cognitive tasks. The …

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Electrophysiological And Neuropsychological Correlates Of Emotion Regulation, Anita Singh Apr 2011

Electrophysiological And Neuropsychological Correlates Of Emotion Regulation, Anita Singh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Avoidance or escape from emotionally negative events is associated with poor psychological health outcomes. Importantly, humans can influence how emotions are experienced or expressed through emotion regulation (ER) strategies. ER strategies have been shown to alter the expression of emotions in individual with differing levels of experiential avoidance (as indexed by the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire, or AAQ). Here, we are comparing a control group of participants who do not show emotional avoidance with a group of participants who score high on emotional avoidance. To that end, we are assessing neurophysiological and behavioral responses to emotional vs. non emotional pictures …

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Effects Of Daxx And Il-8 Gene Expression On Tumor Growth, Sakthi Murugan, Ryan Smith Apr 2011

Effects Of Daxx And Il-8 Gene Expression On Tumor Growth, Sakthi Murugan, Ryan Smith

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) is an important factor that regulates tumor cell growth and angiogenesis. Tumor angiogenesis results in the supply of oxygen and nutrients to the tumor cells, enabling further growth. Various genes in the genetic sequence contribute differently, and affect this process by either promoting or inhibiting further angiogenesis. Among these genes are DAXX and IL-8. DAXX gene, which encodes Death Domain Associated protein, can enhance FAS mediated apoptosis, by activating the Jun N-Terminal Kinase (JNK). MDM2 is an oncogenic protein, that is believed to ubiquinate DAXX and reduce its level when it is overly expressed; HAUSP …

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Complete Protection And Glycosylation Of Hydroxylysine, Lindsey Nowland, Stephanie Cirillo Apr 2011

Complete Protection And Glycosylation Of Hydroxylysine, Lindsey Nowland, Stephanie Cirillo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

One of the most common types of cardiovascular disease is the coronary heart disease, atherosclerosis. Adiponectin, a protein hormone, has been shown to play a role in preventing the development of atherosclerosis. Modification of this compound could help to produce more beneficial effects. One of the amino acids in adiponectin, Hydroxylysine (HYL), can often undergo posttranslational modifications, such as glycosylation.

The aim of the intended research is to protect specific functional groups of the amino acid to make it suitable for peptide synthesis. Total synthetic route will entail a differential protection of the amino acid, and addition of specific sugar …

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Can Ya Hear Me Now?, Aishah Thompkins Apr 2011

Can Ya Hear Me Now?, Aishah Thompkins

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“Can Ya Hear Me Now?” is a short film about a married young couple who are madly in love with each other. Michael wants nothing more than to serve God and to love his wife, Daysha. Michael works hard, and when he comes home he gives Daysha his undivided attention. And Daysha wants to please her husband and to stand by him. But Daysha has a dark secret; she is sometimes drawn to her not-so-distant past lifestyle, which involved parties, drugs, sex and clubs. Clear communication is a challenge for Daysha. Can Michael’s relationship with Daysha survive? Can Daysha’s love …

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Bystanders To Evil: The Failure Of The United States’ Foreign Policy Towards Genocide, Anam Ismail Apr 2011

Bystanders To Evil: The Failure Of The United States’ Foreign Policy Towards Genocide, Anam Ismail

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Since the Armenian Genocide in the early twentieth century, the United States’ policy towards genocide has been, at best, delayed and, at worst, intentionally indifferent. This study will examine America’s historic reaction to genocide, as well as the radically different results that might have been achieved with even minimal efforts. To understand American action, research will focus on four examples of mass killing: the extermination of Jews and other undesirables by Nazi Germany, the widespread ethnic cleansing of Bosnian Muslims by Serbian nationalists, the conflict between rivaling Hutus and Tutsis in Rwanda, and the ongoing war plaguing Southern Sudan. The …

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