Digital Commons Network^™

Associations Between Religion, Perceived Family Openness To Mental Health, And Mental Health Help-Seeking Among South Asians, Zahra Aziz, Shannon Parma, Samhita Doranala, Ariana Ali

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Comfortability in discussing mental health within families is a key determinant of help-seeking behaviors. This comfortability can be attributed to or dissociated from mental health stigma stemming from deep-rooted cultural and religious barriers. Research suggests that youth of South Asian descent, in particular, have one of the lowest rates of utilization of mental health resources. This study aims to investigate the relationship between both religious affiliation and family openness to conversations about mental health and help-seeking knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behavior among South Asians.

A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a mental health literacy pilot project at a …

Geographically Based Risk Evaluation Of Disease States And Sleep Disorders Impacting Readiness Across Active-Duty Army Installations From Military Medical Databases In Fiscal Year 2021, Nandan Shastry

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The impact of sleep disorders and disease states on active-duty soldiers’ readiness is a clinically relevant and significant topic. This is due to the high comorbidity of sleep disorders and a wide variety of other condition, ranging from substance abuse to obesity. Patient data collected from military health databases can be used to establish possible relationships. The current study performed a risk assessment of sleep disorders, obesity, tobacco use, and general substance abuse based on geographical distribution of active-duty Army installations through a comprehensive analysis of the Office of the Army Surgeon General Health of the Force (HoF) report, specifically …

A Scoping Review Of The Role Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Pediatric Populations, Sheril Mathew

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals that can have a profound and negative impact on children's growth and development, leading to a higher risk of endocrine-related diseases and disorders. PFAs can be absorbed through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact and accumulate in the body due to resistance to degradation. Furthermore, children have been found to absorb 50% more of these chemicals compared to adults, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, widespread exposure to PFAS has been documented in the US population. …

An Applied Ergonomic Analysis And Comparison Of Laparoscopic Surgical Tool Handles, Sebasthian Del-Valle, Komi Touglo-Midodji, Emmanuel Espindola, Mackensey Mcclendon

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which surgeons operate with a camera to view the operating area and instruments inserted through minor incisions. This surgery has many benefits, including faster patient recovery, but it can also be physically demanding for surgeons. Significant muscle fatigue and cognitive effort have been observed in surgeons as they engage in prolonged use of these instruments. The handles of these instruments are not ergonomic. The purpose behind this research project is to design and test an alternative to the standard laparoscopic instrument handles. Applying human factors and ergonomics principles, we sought to …

Effect Of Methylphenidate On Alzheimer's And Dementia, Smrithi Mukund, Priyanka Prasanna, Aishwarya Muppoor, Maheen Khan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is a neurogenerative disorder that causes impairments in cognitive abilities, behavior, and personality. AD is distinguished by extracellular plaques containing beta-amyloid proteins and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles containing hyperphosphorylated tau proteins. Current FDA-approved drugs for AD have questionable efficacy and carry potential risks. Methylphenidate (Ritalin), a stimulant drug currently used to treat ADHD and narcolepsy, has been used off-label to treat AD patients, primarily for relieving the symptom of apathy. While our literature review suggests that relatively short-term (< 6 weeks) use in patients with AD and related diseases is safe and effective in clinical trials, little is known about the longer-term effects of the drug in this population. More work is needed, as there is also a paucity of animal research investigating chronic effects of methylphenidate in rodent models of AD and related disorders. Findings from animal studies in wild-type rodents on chronic use of methylphenidate, as well as cell culture studies, have reported adverse effects of methylphenidate, including increases in neuroinflammation and oxidative stress, neurodegeneration, vascular impairments (e.g. blood brain barrier dysfunction), and altered cognitive-behavioral performance. While the clinical significance of methylphenidate treatment in AD patients may be unclear, studies over longer periods of time including testing on animal models will help us understand how methylphenidate treatment can affect our brain activity in the long term and how it can be administered more safely and effectively.

Effects Of Altered Tpp-1 Expression In Human Neural Progenitor Cells, Nitisha Gajavalli, Julia Langman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Batten’s Disease or neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is a pediatric autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder due to a deficit of the lysosomal protease tripeptidyl peptidase (TPP-1). The lack of TPP-1 leads to an accumulation of lysosomal waste and cell death. The disease is characterized by language delays, seizures, cognitive and motor decline, blindness, as well as early death. Currently, a clinical trial of the experimental treatment Brineura® (Cerilponase Alfa) is the only approved treatment for CLN2. The clinical trial involves infusion of human recombinant TPP-1 (rhTPP-1) into the ventricles of the brain. Diffusion models suggest the protein …

Effects On High Fat And Ketogenic Diet On Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Pathology In Male And Female Mice, Nitish Dundigalla, Shalet James, Iliana Uribe, Zachary Lawrence, Ariana Hernandez, Blanche Tamiya, Eleanor Wind

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a condition where excess fat builds up in the liver, affecting 25% of Americans. Interestingly, NAFLD is associated with neurological symptoms, including anxiety, depression, cognitive dysfunction/dementia. Given the high rates of these diseases, understanding risk and protective factors for NAFLD is crucial. Individuals with obesity, Type 2 Diabetes and related conditions are prone to NAFLD. While consumption of high fat/Western diet increases risk, there is evidence to suggest that ketogenic diet, which is high in fat but low in carbohydrates, may protect against NAFLD. Biological sex may influence NAFLD, but the evidence is conflicting …

Impacts Of Social Enrichment On Shelter Operations And Canine Welfare, Julia Capirano, Apoorva Bommanaveni, Robyn Hugh Sam, Emily Jiron, Raquel Walton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

~2,000,000 dogs are adopted from shelters each year; many have long and stressful residencies and ~10% are returned after adoptions for behavioral or other complications. Social enrichment programs aim to reduce shelter residencies and improve adoption placement success by providing stress-reducing social enrichment to resident animals. In this study, we test whether these programs measurably impact stress biomarkers in dogs, and whether they result in more rapid or successful adoption outcomes. We will use public data from Broward County Shelter (including the focal dogs’ in-shelter enrichment regimes), to test our hypothesis that enrichment expedites adoption and/or increases the likelihood of …

Implications Of Covid-19 In Global Anatomy And Physiology Education: A Comprehensive Analysis, Sneh Patel, Sean Mahajan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Owing to the Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19), the higher education sector worldwide saw a significant disruption in several disciplines – especially the ones in STEM and healthcare sciences that require active, experiential learning via practical application of concepts centering around Anatomy and Physiology. Dynamic instructional and technological interventions took place rapidly in an effort to minimize the adverse repercussions of moving away from traditional means of education in these critical scientific fields. COVID-19 necessitated administrators, faculty, students, and interns at colleges, universities, medical/healthcare science programs and residencies to pursue teaching, learning, and assessment of Anatomy and Physiology courses/curricula through …

Investigating Structural Alterations In Antagonistic Peptides For The Development Of Orally Bioavailable Pcsk9 Inhibitors, Pritika Vemulapalli, Bhavya Soni

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal genetic disease that causes elevated blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). One of the leading causes of FH is gain-of-function mutations in the gene coding for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). The PCSK9 protein binds to LDL receptors (LDLR) on the surface of hepatocytes and promotes their degradation, preventing the recycling of LDLRs and thus increasing LDL blood levels. Monoclonal antibody therapies that bind to PCSK9 inhibiting LDLR binding are currently only available as an injection. However, several orally bioavailable PCSK9 inhibitors have been formulated and are undergoing clinical trials. One such therapy …

Sex-Specific Effects Of High-Fat And Ketogenic Diets On Cognition And Hippocampal Neurogenesis In C57b16/J Mice, Shalet James, Zachary Lawrence, Iliana Uribe, Ariana Hernandez, Eleanor Wind, Blanche Tamiya, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Natalia Noto, Yazmin Restropo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Poor diet and metabolic diseases (obesity, Type 2 diabetes), are associated with increased risk of neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric disorders, including Alzheimer’s disease, anxiety, and depression. Previous studies suggest that high-fat diet results in sex-specific effects in mice, including adult hippocampal neurogenesis, neuroinflammation, and performance on cognitive-behavioral tasks. The ketogenic diet, a popular weight loss regimen, is characterized by a low-carbohydrate, high-fat, and moderate-protein diet. Under carbohydrate restriction, the body enters ketosis, producing ketones bodies as a source of energy. While the ketogenic diet is very high in fat content, it may also possess neuroprotective properties against brain aging and neurodegenerative …

Synthesis Of Antimicrobial Polymers Via Raft Polymerization, Naga Ganti, Saipranavi Reddy Kethireddy, Rehan Contractor, David Kurian

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antimicrobial polymers are important in the field of medicine as they are able to kill bacteria and reduce bioburden by mechanisms that differ from traditional antibiotics. Due to their different mechanism of action, antimicrobial resistance is less likely to occur, and many antimicrobial polymers show great biocompatibility with eukaryotic cells, reducing potential side effects. Most antimicrobial polymers are inspired by naturally occurring antimicrobial peptides which typically contain nitrogen cations that can break up the negatively charged cell wall of bacteria, ultimately leading to cell death. The main purpose of this study is to synthesize several different antimicrobial monomers that are …

The Impact Of Playing Music In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Amaya Allen, Angela Razo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at increased risk for developmental delays, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, parents and caregivers are susceptible to an increased risk for trauma due to the hospital admission. This occurs secondary to the medical environment, including negative medical touch and unnatural motoric and sensory stimulation to the developing brain. The purpose of this scoping review of the literature, is to determine if music therapy in the NICU decreases stress and trauma.

A scoping review will be completed of peer reviewed articles assessing the impact of music therapy on infants in the NICU and …

How The Molecular Vibrations Of Water May Prevent Skin Cancer, Colette Costello, Angelina Georg, Jarlynn Ramirez, Jenna Handal, Ramson Munoz Morales

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies have shown that when DNA absorbs ultraviolet light it can become structurally damaged leading to a mutation and possibly skin cancer. However, exposing skin to sunlight rarely leads to a mutation. This indicates that after the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the DNA the energy from the light can either cause a structural change to the DNA (a mutation) or be dissipated in a way that does not damage the DNA. Absorption of ultraviolet light causes molecular vibrations in DNA and these vibrations are what likely leads to structural changes in the DNA. One way the structural changes could …

Kinematic Analysis Of The Golf Swing In Collegiate Golfers Using Titleist Performance Institute (Tpi) Screen And Motion Capture K-Vest System, Anabella Duran

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Back pain has become a common injury in today's society. Not only does it affect the general population, but it has been found to largely affect golfers, greatly affecting their performance and ultimately their career. However, screenings such as the Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) screen and motion capture systems,K-Vest, have been developed to test golfers for certain postures to prevent injury from occurring. The purpose of this project was to assess the physical and kinematic sequence of the golf swing in male and female collegiate athletes as an injury prevention method. 10 male and 9 female collegiate golfers were tested …

Photodynamic Inactivation (Pdi) Of Microorganisms With Nitrogen Substituted Meso-Pyridyl Porphyrin Structures, Tiffany Pakela, Sanjana Sivaiah, Trisha Jaganathan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) is an antimicrobial approach targeting pathogens independent of antibiotic resistance. The growing international concern for the rise in drug resistant microorganisms has driven for research in approaches that will keep these microbes from developing any 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 structures. Three variations of the nitrogen placement were used to understand the interactions between such and the bacterial cell wall of Escherichia coli. These …

Postpartum Depression: The Effects Of Misdiagnosis On Maternal And Infant Health, Karen Jurando-Lopez, Shreya Madhudi, Niral Paveen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Postpartum depression is a psychiatric disorder that has been recognized since 460 B.C., thousands of years before it was officially classified in 1926. Although awareness of postpartum depression, its signs, and treatment of women affected by the disorder has been increasing throughout the century, around 66% of postpartum depression cases are often undiagnosed or misdiagnosed. Postpartum depression negatively impacts the development of mothers and optimal development of a child as it fosters an unhealthy environment. Detecting postpartum depression at an early stage, such as the postnatal period, allows for it to be treated as soon as possible to minimize the …

Synthesis Of Metal Binding Polymers Via Raft Polymerization Of Activated Ester Monomers And Post-Polymerization Functionalization, Francisco Castro Wetzstein, Meha Pandya

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Poly pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PPFPA) is an activated ester polymer used for the binding and removal of toxic metals out of solution through filtration. PPFPA was synthesized via reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) as the monomer to create linear and hyperbranched polymers. RAFT polymerization allows control over molecular weight and the molecular architecture of PPFPA. H-NMR and F-NMR spectroscopy was utilized to assess monomer purity, polymer conversion, and confirm the structure of the final polymer. The purpose of this study is to synthesize PPFPA, a chelating polymer, as well as to functionalize said polymer with different …

Does Exercise Reduce Mind Wandering: The Role Of Mood And Exercise Frequency, Divya Mittal, Mahati Dharanikota, Carlos Riveria-Vasquez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Chronic exercise provides various physical health benefits (Penedo & Dahn, 2005) but also results in a variety of benefits to cognitive functioning including improving working memory (Padilla, Perez, & Andres, 2014) and attention (de Sousa et al., 2019). Exercise also releases various endorphin hormones that contribute to increased positive mood (Rokade, 2011). However, less is known about how chronic exercise influences frequency of mind wandering. Mind wandering, defined as experiencing an off-task thought, has been linked to mood such that negative mood predicts higher rates of mind wandering (Smallwood & O’Connor, 2011). The current study examined the relationship between exercise …

Body Composition Metrics In Offensive And Defensive Football Players Training For The Nfl Combine, Arzoo Hassanzada, Angie Dusak

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous research has examined body composition in football players. However, there is minimal research comparing body composition differences in offensive (O) and defensive (D) football players training for the NFL Combine. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to compare body composition in O and D football players. 28 football players (O n=13; D n = 15) were used for this study. Body composition testing was conducted using a non- invasive InBody (InBody770) scan as football players followed the manufacturer’s testing protocol. An independent samples T-Test was used to examine group differences. All statistics were analyzed using statistical analysis software …

Behavioral Responses Of Aplysia Californica To Three Amino Acids, Adrian Ditore

Undergraduate Student Symposium

For the sea slug Aplysia californica, chemical detection allows the location of food, avoidance of predators, and ability to encounter potential mates. This is an important sensory modality because other sensory structures (optical and acoustic) are limited. It is hypothesized that food is detected via concentration gradients of specific food-derived amino acids in the water column. This study examines the behavioral reactions of Aplysia to L-alanine, L-serine, and L-methionine at a concentration of 20 mM in contrast to a food stimulus. Test subjects were placed in an aquarium and 50 mL of the amino acid was added near the …

Characterizing The Types Of Representations Subject To Research Studies And Interventions Centered Around The Representational Competence Framework Within Chemistry Education, Nabiha Atiquzzaman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Since its introduction, the Representational Competence Framework by Kozma and Russell has captured the attention of many researchers and practitioners in science education. According to this framework, representational competence is a set of skills and practices that allow a person to reflectively use representations, singly or together, to think about, communicate and act on chemical phenomena. Furthermore, developing representations has been suggested to be essential for developing expertise in subjects like Chemistry. Thus, as part of a large collaborative project among three universities, we have been working on reviewing the literature on the use and incorporation of the Representational Competence …

Comparison Of Behavior Of Mangrove Mosquitofish Across Their Range And Identification Of Their Hybridization With Eastern Mosquitofish Using Genital Morphology, Rose Leeger

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Mangrove Mosquitofish is found in many brackish and freshwater ecosystems surrounding southeast Florida and Cuba. Historical range distribution in Florida has found these fish solely in the Florida Keys and parts of Miami. This research provides an update to the northernmost range that Mangrove Mosquitofish have been observed. As the name implies, Mangrove Mosquitofish reside in areas of critical habitat: Mangrove Forests. These forests are constantly battling habitat loss and reduction due to increased urbanization in native areas. Mangrove Mosquitofish are poecillid fish species with a modified anal fin called a “gonopodium” that allows for internal fertilization. This research …

Closing The Racial Academic Achievement Gap In The United States Through Culturally Responsive/Relevant And Social Justice Pedagogical Practices In Mathematics Education, Travis Roberson

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Due to the lingering effects of the United States' centuries-long state-sanctioned oppression and segregation of African Americans, African Americans and other minorities have consistently underperformed academically compared to white students, also known as the “racial academic achievement gap.” Research suggests that culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), a relatively new theory in education, has been known to increase participation, engagement, and academic achievement in classrooms, especially in mathematics classrooms. The purpose of this literature review is to synthesize connections between CRP and the racial academic achievement gap to discover whether utilizing CRP in the classroom on a nationwide basis is a viable …

Decoding Phages: Complete Genome Sequence Analysis Of Two Novel Bacteriophages, Alyssamiracle And Fribs8, Mansi N. Gandhi, Bianca A. Gonzalez, Anjaly Kappen, Samantha Lopez, Elisabeth Loranger, Oren Gaston Nedjar, Alyssa Ortiza, Shivani K. Patel, Vir J. Patel, Narindra Ramnath-Manohar, Joel A. Sanchez, Bhavya Soni, Autumn Taylor, Sadhika Uppalapati, Sarah Ballarin, Naitik K. Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bacteriophages (phage) are viruses that infect bacteria and are considered the most abundant biological entity in the world. Recently, phage has been utilized in biotechnological applications including their use as biocontrol agents in food preservation, sanitizers, wastewater treatment, bioremediation of oil spills, and combating antibiotic resistance. Therefore, decoding and analyzing the genetic composition of novel bacteriophages is critical to their potential use in these emerging applications. Through the SEAPHAGES (Science Education Alliance-Phage Hunters Advancing Genomics and Evolutionary Science) program at NSU, our goal was to analyze the genomes of two recently discovered bacteriophages, Alyssamiracle and Fribs8. These phages infect Gordonia …

Differentiation Of Stress Response In Children With Autism, Devanshi Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) process stressors differently than children with neurotypical development and have a poor response to stress. Furthermore, it is not clear if children with ASD are able to regulate appropriately in order to bounce back from a stressful experience. As such this study appraised results from big data in order to examine the stress response of children with neurotypical development compared to children with ASD. Data from a previous study in which neurotypical children and children with ASD were recruited from public events and from educational programs were analyzed using machine learning methods as a …

Effect Of Oral Microbiome Components On Sars-Cov-2 Infection, Alexandra Lugo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Using an in vitro infection model of SARS-CoV-2 infection utilizing pseudotype lentivirus, we aim to study the effects of the oral microbiome in COVID-19 infection. The model is based on the production of pseudotype lentivirus targeting 293 cell lines expressing the viral receptor Ace 2. Looking at extrinsic factors, it has been observed that bacteria exert an effect on viral infection. Common bacteria species found composing the oral microbiome include S. mitis, C. Gingivalis, A.a. 29523, A.a. Y4, S. gordoni, S. gordoni, Pi, and A. Odontitis were screened. Preliminary data shows that the oral microbiota …

Exercise As A Natural Kappa Opioid Receptor Antagonist To Treat Binge Drinking Withdrawal, Eleanor Wind

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Binge drinking is a serious public health problem in the United States that is especially prevalent among college students. The results of a national survey reported 33% of full-time college students aged 18-22 engaged in binge drinking during the previous month. Positive results have been demonstrated in clinical trials that treated alcohol abuse with aerobic exercise. Research in animal models aims to answer remaining questions regarding implementation across sexes and age groups by studying underlying neurobiological mechanisms. One such mechanism is the kappa opioid receptor (KOR) of the endogenous brain opioid system. In animal models, administration of a KOR antagonist …

Mathematics Models For Aedes Albopictus Population Pattern In Miami-Dade, Triet Doranala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Miami-Dade’s humid tropical climate is conducive to an outbreak of vector transmission diseases. To protect their residents, cities in those areas enforce spraying schemes to keep the mosquito population under control. However, collecting data from mosquito traps alone cannot provide sufficient information for an effective and efficient spraying system. Hence, this research seeks to find mathematical models that reflect a dominant mosquito Aedes Albopictus population in South Florida’s areas. We determined the parameter of life span, oviposition, juvenile survival, and development rate models driven by the temperature using computer simulation. For further study, we compared Aedes Albopictus and Aedes Aegypti. …

Minimum Blockers Of 123-Avoiding Permutation Matrices, Megan Bennett

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A blocker of �� × �� permutation matrices is a set of positions in an �� × �� matrix that intersects each permutation matrix at least once. A blocker is minimum if removing any position makes it no longer a blocker. The Hankel cyclic decomposition implies that each minimum blocker of 123-avoiding permutation matrices must have a cardinality of at least ��, and minimum blockers containing exactly �� positions are called minimal blockers. The well-known Frobenius-König theorem characterizes the minimal blockers of permutation matrices: any �� × �� submatrix is a minimal blocker of all permutation matrices if and only …