Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring How Cell Phones Influence Behavior Across Cultures, Aldana Foigel, Toussaint Campbell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This film will explore how cell phone use has affected human interactions across select cultures by interviewing international students from different backgrounds. Smartphones, although relatively new, feel as if they have been around forever. While they allow people to be more productive and connected, they have also created a bubble that can separate people from their communities and environments. The impact of this phenomenon varies by culture.

Do Bilinguals Have An Advantage Over Monolinguals When It Comes To Executive Functions?, Stephanie Hernandez, Trixie Berthin, Morgan Musgrove

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The prefrontal cortex regulates processes necessary to support goal directed behaviors. These processes, known as executive functions (EF), include shifting ability, inhibitory control, and updating. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex is believed to be essential for language control in people who speak more than one language. That is, leading theorists propose non-target language is inhibited when a bilingual speaks. In support, prior research from our laboratory has shown differences favoring bilinguals over monolinguals in neural inhibitory control. In this study, we speculated that bilinguals would not only outperform monolinguals on tests of inhibition, but that a bilingual advantage would also extend …

The Clinical And Economic Costs And Benefits Of Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Mira Salama

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic and clinical costs and benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients based on current literature. Continuous glucose monitoring is a new technology that allows patients to measure glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night. A tiny electrode, called a glucose sensor, is inserted under the skin to measure glucose levels in tissue fluid; this sensor is connected to a transmitter that wirelessly sends blood glucose information to a monitoring device. Unlike a typical blood glucose monitor (BGM) which provides just a …

Feasibility Of Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon Sensors To Detect Magnifier Usage By Low Vision Patients, Rakin Khan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Purpose: Bluetooth low energy beacons are an emerging technology involving sensors that record temperature and humidity, which we hypothesize could be used to collect data from low vision patients regarding their usage of optical magnification devices. This could help ascertain device abandonment in a timely manner to prompt a telerehabilitation session to resolve issues. We evaluated whether Bluetooth beacon data could indicate when low vision patients used hand-held optical magnifiers for reading.

Methods: We recorded temperature and/or humidity data from Estimote sticker and BlueMaestro Tempo DiscTM beacons attached to optical magnifiers used for reading by low vision patients in clinic …

Walkabout Cognition, Andrew Bowen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous research has shown the benefits of exercise. The neurophysiological effects of exercise include angiogenesis, neurogenesis, and synaptogenesis in the brain. Exercise can also reduce anxiety and improve cognitive functioning. The aim of the current study was to determine the effects of exercisingindoors or outdoors on one’s anxiety and cognitive processing. We hypothesized that exercising leads to greater inhibitory control, especially when done outside. We also hypothesized that personality dimensions would impact measures of impulsivity. Participants either walked or sat (exercise condition) for twenty minutes. A stop-signal task used to measure inhibitory control allowed for the measurement of both stopping …

Power Profiles Of Vertical And Drop Jumps In Elite American Football Players By Position, Daniel Klahr, Christopher Horn

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Athletes seeking to be drafted by the NFL must demonstrate peak performance on a test battery that includes jumping. Jumping is modulated by rate of force development, air-time, and time from initiating the jump to take-off, and indicates an athlete’s ability to produce power. Despite providing insightallowing for diagnosing jumping inefficiencies and/or to monitor training progressions, published data from NFL combine hopefuls is rare. Therefore, this descriptive study aims to present power components of selected jumping tasks in elite American football players training for the NFL combine. Thirty-one males (age, 22.5+0.8 yrs; ht, 1.86+0.08m; mass, 100.81+14.04kg) performed the following tests …

College Vitality As Measured By The Sehs-He And A Behavior Checklist Predicts Success In Diverse First-Year College Students, Sravya Emmadi, Tianna Harris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Academic competence is tightly linked to social and emotional competence in first-year college students (Wyatt & Bloemker, 2013). The Social Emotional Health Survey, or SEHS-HE, assesses emotional intelligence as a measure of co-vitality, which is made up of four aspects: belief-in-self, belief-in-others, emotional competence, and engaged living (Furlong, You, Shishim & Dowdy, 2016). Emotional intelligence factors such as these have been shown to be essential for understanding the successful transition from high school to college, especially for ethnically diverse students (Brackett, Rivers, & Salovey, 2011). Persistence, retention, and academic achievement are all reliant on emotional intelligence skills and the SEHS-HE …

Computational Flow Study Of A Simon Nitinol® Inferior Vena Cava Filter, Cheyenne Doyle, Kaija Ranglin, Felipe Souza, Nicole Staley

Undergraduate Student Symposium

More than 60,000 people die from pulmonary embolism every year in the US. Conventional treatments for embolisms include anti-coagulant drugs (Warfarin® or Heparin®), clot anti-thrombotic therapy (streptokinase®), bypass surgery, and thrombo-aspiration. In cases where the patient shows contraindication, failure or complication to anticoagulation drugs, the patient usually receives an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF). 8. Despite its increase in popularity, complete and exhaustive blood flow analysis need to be performed for scenarios that can lead to IVCFs failure. Such scenarios include basket over-filling and filter tilting, among others. In this study, we wanted to compare the behavior of blood flow …

“Delacroix 1830-Chaos And Purpose” And Its Inherent Surrealism, Kathleen Crapson

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The varied collection of the Boca Raton Museum of Art houses many elaborate pieces. “Delacroix 1830-Chaos and Purpose” (stylized as “Chaos and Purpose”) is no exception. Created by Larry Rivers in1993, “Chaos and Purpose” is an “oil painting on canvas that is mounted to sculpted foam board” that sits 80 1/4 x 98 1/4 inches. Although based upon “Le 28 juilet: La Liberté guidant le people [July 28:Liberty Leading the People]” (stylized as “Liberty Leading the People”) by Eugene Delacroix, Larry Rivers made crucial edits to the original to craft a unique piece. Distinct features of “Chaos and Purpose” correlate …

Predicting Individual Differences In Thought Suppression, Wildline Nordelus, Mariana Brinkerhoff

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Thought suppression is the cognitive act of earnestly attempting to block out involuntary thoughts. Previous research has indicated that thought suppression is counterproductive and has negative mental and physical associations. The present research sought to examine the variables that may predict individual differences in trait levels of thought suppression. Specifically, we investigated whether trait level thought suppression could be predicted by mind wandering, religious faith (versus atheism/agnosticism), self-esteem, sex (male/female), socioeconomic status, and affect (positive/negative emotions). Participants included 203 NSU undergraduates (139 female), from 18 to 52 years of age (M = 19.9, SD = 4.42), who completed an online …

Pulmonary Embolism: Flow Analysis Of One-Degree Inferior Vena Cava Filters, Onesiphore Augustin, Ian Trotta, Keenan Kramer

Undergraduate Student Symposium

An estimated 200,000 deaths stem from pulmonary embolism (PE) annually, with most cases being caused by a condition known as deep vein thrombosis. Inferior Vena Cava Filters (IVCFs) were designed to reduce the risk of PE by hooking onto the IVC walls via surgical insertion and capturing the clot. In this project, we simulated and analyzed the average blood flow velocity of the IVCF containing a filter at different occlusion levels to determine any possible dangers and solutions associated with these levels. All simulations were performed using ANSYS CFX. The inlet’s normal velocity was set to5 cm/s. For the outlet, …

Histology Of Gonad Tissue In A Sequential Hermaphrodite Fish, Qaas Shoukat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) is a sequential hermaphrodite. It is protogynous: on reaching sexual maturity hogfishes are all female, and transition to male on reaching a size of 30cm (at about 3 years of age). This transition is marked by a change in coloration (from drab and tan to orange with dark bands) and a major restructuring of gonadal tissue as it transforms from ovaries to testes. However, the histological changes associated with this transition have not been sufficiently documented. Therefore, hogfish gonad histology was examined in relation to fish length, age, condition, and coloration. Hogfishes were collected by spear …

Florida’S Migrant Worker Industry: How Necessary Is This Evil?, Nafisa Nazir

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The United States’ of America’s development is rooted in a history of forced, intensive labor —annually, approximately 3 million migrant travel to the United States of America to cultivate much ofthe produce found in one’s local grocery store. One quarter of these aforementioned migrant workers are located in South Florida, with Broward County being home to a notable community of Haitian and Mexican migrant workers alike. The migrant worker industry provides low income laborers across the seas with a means of work — however via the deeply integrated system of debt peonage, immigrant families are often forced into stagnant cycles …

The Effects Of A Pre-Workout Supplement On Strength, Endurance And Mood, Cassandra Evans

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was to assess the acute effects of consuming a pre-workout supplement on indices of muscular strength, endurance and mood states. Background. Earlier research has shown that various pre-workout supplements may aid exercise performance; however, when the placebo is matched for caffeine content with a supplement, it is not known if an ergogenic effect may occur. Methods. Fourteen exercise-trained subjects (7 female, 7 male) participated in this investigation. Subjects came to the lab twice with at least 7 days between testing sessions. The consumption of product or placebo was randomized. They arrived at the lab 3 …

Mdm2 Inhibitors As Potential Anti-Cancer Agents For Treating Osteosarcoma, Veerkaran Banga, Roshan George

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common type of bone cancer that affects thousands of young adults every year and requires immediate attention. One major regulatory pathway that is activated in cancer cells is the inhibitory interaction between Murine Double Minute 2 (MDM2)-p53 tumor suppressor gene. Hence, blocking the MDM2-p53 interaction has long been considered to offer a broad range of cancer therapeutic strategy. In this study, we determined the differential mechanism of apoptosis induced by the two small-molecule inhibitors of MDM2, RG-7388, and Nutlin-3, in SJSA-1 Osteosarcoma cells. Interestingly, RG-7388 was able to enhance the phosphorylation of anti-apoptotic protein Mcl-1 …

Characterization Of Coastal Marina Fish Assemblages In South Florida Using An Observation- Class Rov, Louis-Pierre Rich

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Florida Intracoastal Waterway is a highly trafficked system of canals connecting major ports to the interior of the state. Urban development along these canals has created manmade fish habitats such as pilings, walls, as well as floating docks and boats. Previous to development, these areas would have been natural estuarine habitats, such as mangrove thickets and seagrass beds. Estuarine fish assemblages in urbanized habitats have not been extensively studied in South Florida. Previous studies have used underwater visual surveys using SCUBA or snorkeling. However, this can be a hazardous undertaking in marinas due to boat traffic and the frequent …

On Stigmatizing The Sick: Susan Sontag, Sierra Sandler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This oral presentation applies Susan Sontag’s ideas to sick population stigmatization. Building on Sontag’s Illness as a Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors, the presenter evaluates Sontag’s claimsthat language and metaphors individuals use to describe ill populations often lend an otherwise hidden hand to our damaging views of them. In her essays, Sontag has drawn on a personal battle with cancer, the views on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, and the cultural and societal ramifications growing out of that panic that still perpetuate in modern day. While such medieval concepts still have their grasp on global public health, Sontag …

Evaluating The Efficiency Of The Clorox® Total 360®System To Eliminate Bacteria On Hard-To- Reach Surfaces, Mithun Mathew, Alina Philip, Taha Siddiqui

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Electrostatic Sprayers have gained popularity in a wide range of industrial settings, ranging from pest to bacterial control for both agricultural and commercial use. The Clorox® Total 360®System uses an industrial electrostatic sprayer that adds a charge to the liquid particles of the Clorox® Total 360® Disinfectant and thus enhances the disinfectant’s ability to adhere to surfaces. The goal of this investigation was to test the efficacy of the Clorox® Total 360®System in delivering Clorox® Total 360® Disinfectant Cleaner to hard-to-reach surfaces and to determine if the ionized disinfectant particles can wrap around objects to kill bacteria on the front …

X-Ray Crystallography Of -Peptide Foldamers, Kian Memari

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research project explores theoretical and practical aspects of X-ray crystallography in the context of an ongoing international collaboration with the Pohang Accelerator Laboratory. By utilizing symmetry elements and computational techniques of X-ray crystallography, I am attempting to determine the solid- state structure of a -amino acid oligomer foldamer from an incomplete data set. The goal of this research project is to obtain an accurate and precise final structure for this amino acid foldamer. Through elaborate computational analysis, a preliminary single crystal X-ray diffraction structure has been solved as isopropylNH-(ACPC-Aib)3-OBn and is currently under crystallographic refinement. Once future refinement has …

The True Green Lantern: Algae And Its Ability To Remove Heavy Metals From Polluted Waters, Nikhil Nagabandi, Justin Gaffney

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A growing issue in our society is the contamination of our fresh water sources from pollutants such as heavy metals. Algae have recently been examined as a cost effective method to remove these metals from solution, when compared to the various methods that are used by waste removal facilities. This presentation will focus on the biosorption of lead (Pb), zinc (Zn), and nickel (Ni) by two species of algae, Neochloris minuta and Neochloris alveolaris. Each species was grown in two separate environments, one with nitrate as the nitrogen source (+N) and another without it (-N); the algae grown without nitrogen …

The Effects Of Pre- And Post-Exercise Cooling On Performance, Irfan Khan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of post-exercise Cold Water Immersion (CWI) on muscle performance. Methods: Participants (N = 20) underwent baseline measurement and intervention administration. In 24-hours participants repeated measurements, performed High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and receiving the intervention. In 48-hours participants retook measurements. The CWI group was immersed in an ice tub for 15 minutes, while the control group received nothing. The Likert scale measured muscle soreness, while the Sit-n-Reach, Vertical Jump, Squat 1-Repetition Maximum (1RM), 5-10-5 shuttle, and 10-yard dash measured muscle performance. Results: A significant difference was found in agility, strength, …

Relationship Of Reactive Strength To Body Composition Measures In Elite American Football Players, Christopher Horn, Daniel Klahr

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Reactive strength (RS) represents function of a muscle’s stretch shortening cycle, or the ability torapidly change from an eccentric contraction to a concentric contraction. RS is important in sports requiring explosive movements such as cutting, jumping, sprinting, and is commonly a focus of strength and conditioning programs. RS may be influenced by body composition as lighter mass basketball players have shown superior RS over higher mass players. This relationship in elite American football players in unknown. Therefore, the purpose of the study was to determine if body mass (BM), lean body mass percent, (LBM), or fat mass percent (FM) were …

Coupling Methods For 2,2’-Bipyridines As Precursors For Novel Ru-Bipyridine Complexes, Ava Pasnon, Sabrina Vasquez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The project aims to streamline the synthesis of 2,2’-bipyridine adducts, so they can be quickly and conveniently synthesized as precursors for ligands in novel organometallic ruthenium complexes. Specifically, the compounds being synthesized are 4,4’-methylated and 5,5’-methylated, 2,2’- bipyridines. The synthesis requires the homocoupling of brominated pyridines in the presence of an air sensitive nickel catalyst. The methodology has been developed as to ensure an air-free environment by assembling the closed reaction chamber in a nitrogen glovebox. Additionally, the prior literature reported an equimolar, in situ generation of the nickel catalyst, but the efficacy of the catalyst has been increased by …

Stability Studies Of F16 And Jfd In Lipophilic And Pbs Formulations In Different Storage Conditions, Mrunal Shah, Neal Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The term "Angiogenesis" implies the formation of new blood vessels. In cancer cells, angiogenesis plays a critical role in the cell growth and in the spread of cancer. F16 and JFD, two drugs patented by Dr. Appu Rathinavelu, specifically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). These drugs are going to be tested in clinical trials but first must undergo drug stability testing of the existing formulations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of F16 and JFD in order to determine the storage conditions in which the therapeutic activity of the drugs will be maintained. …

Investigating The Microbiota Of Stormwater Treatment Areas, Romany Harkas

Undergraduate Student Symposium

One of the negative impacts of agriculture is the imbalance of nutrients in the environment. Such an imbalance of nutrients allows nonnative species of plants and organisms to thrive and native species become out-competed in their natural ecosystem. In an effort to maintain and protect the natural ecosystem the South Florida Water Management District has constructed Stormwater Treatment Areas (STAs). STAs are artificial wetlands that remove nutrients that are foreign to the natural ecosystem from water before the water is returned to the ecosystem by utilizing aquatic plants to cleanse contaminants from water. Microorganisms certainly play a role in the …

Conductivity, Temperature, And Depth (Ctd) Data For Deepend Stations, Cruise Dp05, May 2017, David English, Chuanmin Hu, April Cook, Tracey Sutton

DEEPEND Datasets

Conductivity, temperature, and depth data from the ship's CTD, which was deployed at each of the DEEPEND stations. Depth of cast was variable, but extended from near-surface waters to below the euphotic zone. This data also includes measurements from a red light transmissometer, a chlorophyll fluorometer, and a dissolved oxygen sensor. The data is used in the assessment of the water column's vertical structure, and for comparison with physical models. Data were collected in the northern Gulf of Mexico from May 2-12, 2017.

Spectral Remote Sensing Reflectance Of The Water Surface Collected At Multiple Stations, Cruise Dp05, May 2017, Chuanmin Hu, David English

DEEPEND Datasets

Remote sensing reflectance, Rrs(λ), is used for validation of airborne and satellite ocean color measurements. Inverse models also employ Rrs measurements to estimate the bio-optical properties of near-surface waters or shallow benthic environments. It has been used to detect algal blooms, floating vegetation. The presence of oil also alters the water’s specular reflectance properties, and thus the measured Rrs. Rrs(λ) is measured from the ship using a handheld spectroradiometer. Multiple measurements of the light reflected from the water’s surface, a portion of the sky, and a calibrated, diffuse reflectance reference plaque are made using a spectroradiometer with a limited field …

Conductivity, Temperature And Depth (Ctd) Data For Deepend Stations, Cruise Dp03, May 2016, David English, Chuanmin Hu, April Cook, Tracey Sutton

DEEPEND Datasets

Conductivity, temperature and depth data from the ship's CTD, which is deployed at each of the DEEPEND stations. Depth of cast is variable, but extends from near-surface waters to below the euphotic zone. This data is used in the assessment of the water column's vertical structure, and for comparison with physical models. Data were collected during cruise DP03 in the northern Gulf of Mexico, May 2016.

Collaboration, Creativity, Compromise, And Conclusion: U.S. Coast Guard Modifies The Port Of Miami Anchorage Area, Paul D. Lehmann

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

No abstract provided.

The Lli Chronicle Volume 9 Issue 2, Nova Southeastern University

Lifelong Learning Institute Newsletters

No abstract provided.