Digital Commons Network^™

Unraveling The Complexities Of Gulf War Illness: Insights From Symptom Clustering And Laboratory Analysis, Anushka Agrawal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic condition impacting a subset of veterans who served during the Gulf War of 1990–1991. Exposure to extreme stress, endocrine-disrupting chemical agents, and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) has been implicated in the development of persistent and overlapping symptoms. Understanding the associations between symptoms and laboratory findings is critical for developing more effective therapeutic strategies.

In this study, observational analysis was conducted on a cohort of GWI veterans to explore potential biomarkers and symptom patterns. The dataset included self-reported health surveys (SF36, MFI-100), laboratory panels (cortisol stress tests, cytokine profiles, CD cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, …

Write To Calm: How College Students Use Writing To Manage Stress And Anxiety, Tanvi Rudrangi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Writing has gained attention for its mental health benefits, particularly among high-stress populations, such as adolescents and young adults. College students, facing academic pressures, social challenges, and transitions to adulthood, are an ideal group for studying the potential therapeutic impact of this practice. This study explores how college students use writing as a tool to manage stress and anxiety. The different forms of writing therapy, a technique involving writing to process emotions and experiences, that are explored in this study include free-form journaling, expressive writing (e.g., letters, personal essays, etc.), creative writing (e.g., poetry, stories, etc.), and structured writing, which …

Yoga Nidra As A Non-Pharmacological Intervention For Improving Mood, Bharath Kumar, Reddy Burri, Shravya Konatam

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Yoga Nidra, a meditative practice blending relaxation and guided imagery, has shown potential as a non-invasive, accessible intervention for stress and mood disorders. This study investigated the effects of Yoga Nidra (iRest) on psychological mood and physiological markers, focusing on its neural engagement and sleep modulation in a sample of 21 college-age participants (6 males). Participants completed a Yoga Nidra condition involving EEG and EDA monitoring, followed by mood assessments using the Profile of Mood States (POMS). Neural activity patterns indicated that higher alpha and beta wave engagement during Yoga Nidra were associated with improved vigor and reduced fatigue and …

Percent Cover Of Porifera Species On Red Mangrove Roots In Key Largo, Lindsay Scherer, Jayleen Spaulding, Charlotte Gifford, Marissa Langnickel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sponges (Porifera) and mangroves (Rhizophoraceae) have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship: the mangrove provides a stable habitat for the sponge and carbon needed for sponge growth, while the sponge provides inorganic nitrogen necessary for mangrove development. Understanding the relationship between these species is important because this relationship allows both to grow faster and thrive in their environment. This study used photographs of quadrats framing the target species to investigate the percent coverage of Porifera on mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) roots in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida. It was expected that there …

The Therapeutic Potential Of Telmisartan On Male And Female Mice Subjected To A High Fat Diet, Julianna Bonetti, Ariana Hernandez, Iliana Uribe, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Natalia Noto

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A high-fat diet gives rise to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors for developing obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia resulting in cardiovascular disease. Overactivation of the brain renin-angiotensin system (b-RAS), mainly through the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁R), causes vasoconstriction and neuroinflammation, thereby increasing the likelihood of neurodegenerative disorders. Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) that is selective for the AT₁R type, typically used to treat hypertension, can also reduce weight gain, while improving dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, whether telmisartan can reverse behavioral changes …

Growth And Survival Of Sexually Propagated Land-Reared Brain Corals During An Intermediate Offshore Nursery Phase, Emma Horton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Florida’s Coral Reef has degraded from significant stony coral loss due to global and local stressors, including heat stress, disease, and coastal development, leading to reduced natural coral recruitment. Assisted sexual propagation in land-based nurseries can increase the number of genetically unique corals available for restoration efforts. A grow-out phase, in which land-reared corals are placed into an offshore nursery before outplanting on the reef, is often employed to allow corals time to grow and acclimate to the ocean environment. However, research on the performance of recruits within offshore nursery settings remains limited. Here we examine the growth and survival …

The Role Of Attachment And Self-Esteem In Identity Development Among Emerging Adults, Akhila Nalluri, Preetham Gopu, Charvi Thumati

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Emerging adulthood, a transitive period between 18 and 25 years, is widely considered a period marked by change, experimentation, exploration, and development. Attachment theory postulates that relationships between children and their caregivers are crucial for the organization/representation of the self. Extant research indicates that secure parent-child-relationships and identity-development co-exist during emerging-adulthood. Self-esteem has also been associated with secure identity-formation. While there is considerable research on the associations between parent-child relationships and identity formation, as well as self-esteem and identity-formation, relatively little is known about the combined effects of parent-child relationships and self-esteem on identity-development during emerging-adulthood.

The present study explores …

Volleyball Serve Analysis Using A Wearable Electroencephalograph (Eeg) Device In Collegiate Athletes, Taylor Stockman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The volleyball serve is a crucial skill within the sport. Service errors drastically change the momentum of the game, and understanding how to reduce these errors could create positive outcomes for players. The study will utilize the electroencephalograph (EEG) device to analyze brain activity and record the four types of brain waves: alpha, beta, theta, and delta. The added component of the self-report survey will aid in exploring individual differences of athlete’s connection between brain function and volleyball serves. The purpose of this study is to assess collegiate volleyball players brain function during volleyball serves using a wearable EEG. Participants …

Spend/Thrift, Jocelyn Saccucci, Mia Alvarado, Matthew Mccall

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In this short documentary, Mako TV talks to college-age South Florida locals to find out why thrifting is becoming popular among them. People cite many different reasons for wanting to purchase items secondhand, with the most prevalent being the lower cost. Many individuals struggle with financial hardships and find thrifting an easier solution than buying items from firsthand stores. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, there are unique difficulties that owners of local thrift stores face with keeping their stores open. The documentary shows that any stigma that previous generations may have had about thrift stores is not as common with …

The Brain's Plasticity Past The Cortex: Investigating The Portrayal Of Glial Cells In Neuroplasticity And Disease Rehabilitation, Sofia Valladares

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroplasticity, the brain’s capability to reorganize and create new neural connections, has consistently been assigned to neurons. Still, up-and-coming research highlights the important role of glial cells: astrocytes, microglia, and oligodendrocytes, in adjusting synaptic plasticity, carrying out neuronal survival, and clearing the way for network reconstruction. This research aims to investigate how glial cells influence and contribute to the brain’s flexible response and evaluate their possible future as therapeutic targets for conditions like traumatic brain injury and Alzheimer’s disease. Glial cells have proved to regulate neuronal survival, synaptic plasticity, and neuronal network reconstruction, proposing their potential as treatment objectives. By …

Uncovering Alzheimer's One Sense At A Time, Maya Totev, Marcus Marek Tortorella, Dylan Kurni

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder affecting 55 million people worldwide and is the seventh leading cause of death in the U.S. Without effective interventions, diagnoses are expected to quadruple by 2050. One major barrier to treatment is the difficulty of detecting AD early, limiting the opportunity for timely intervention prior to the accumulation of significant, irreversible brain pathology. Therefore, developing specific, sensitive biomarkers is crucial for early diagnosis as it enables timely intervention and can potentially slow disease progression. Electronic-senses (E-senses) technology, which mimic human senses like olfaction and gustation, show promise in detecting changes in health …

Media Representation And Public Perception Of Supreme Court Decisions, Estrella G. Romero Barriola

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research project explores how inadequate, or oversimplified media portrayals can distort public understanding of the United States Supreme Court’s (the Court) intricate decisions. Through a close examination of notable cases like Bush v. Gore and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in addition to other important rulings from the current 6-3 Court majority, the study investigates how partisan narratives and selective information shape public perception. It examines how media framing can obscure essential legal principles and foster misunderstandings about the judiciary’s function and neutrality. Furthermore, the project considers how the current Court, frequently viewed as favoring a particular ideological …

Modeling The Function Of Ryanodine Receptor 2 And Its Role In Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (Cpvt) Heart Disease, Harani Athwale, Dillen-Preetesh Patel, Sai Puneeth Kothuru

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT) is a potentially fatal condition linked to a mutation in the Ryanodine receptor (RyR2), the largest calcium ion channel known, which is crucial for heart function. The RyR2 protein is made of four similar subunits. Mutations in RyR2 can cause the channels to "leak," disrupting normal heart rhythms. In individuals with this mutation, the combination of caffeine intake and exercise can worsen these effects, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. With the RyR2 receptor located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac muscle, the mutation prevents the receptor from fully closing, which hyperpolarizes the membrane and disrupts …

Nsu Kpcom Link - Spring 2025 - Volume 4.1, Nova Southeastern University

NSU Florida Link Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Sacred Oath Of Healing - Volume 9

be Still

No abstract provided.

A Child’S Oath, Nozimakhon K. Omonullaeva

be Still

"A Child's Oath" reflects the transformative journey of a young girl shaped by her personal experiences with healthcare inequities, both in her home country of Uzbekistan and in the United States. This piece explores the emotional impact of these experiences and how they inspired a lifelong commitment to healing and serving underserved communities. It is a testament to the resilience born from hardship and the sacred promise to bring compassion and equity to medicine.

The Heart Of Healing, Madison Prieto

be Still

No abstract provided.

Frankenstein Colorized, Marianne Koleng

be Still

One of my favorite novel's growing up was Mary Shelley's Frankenstein. I see Frankenstein's desire to create a "Monster" as a way to grasp at the fundamental human drive for connection, and healing through connection. In this piece, I attempt to bring that inner yearning for fundamental connection to paper.

Beyond Myself - Healing Through Pain, Marianne Koleng

be Still

In this piece I reflect on the importance of setbacks, non-linear growth, injuries, and pain and their ability to provide self-reflection, a platform for growth, and an crucial reminder of the fragility of life. I have often been self-critical for not following a "traditional" path in life, and reflecting on my experiences allows me to show myself grace and hopefully may influence others to do so as well.

Death Is Not The End, Marianne Koleng

be Still

In this piece, Death is Not the End, the juxtaposition of maintaining a connection with those lost, while simultaneously adjusting to life without them is explored. The use of mixed media to convey a spectrum of emotions surrounding death along with the use of both a skeleton, to represent death, and "normal" hands and body contours to represent life, highlight the importance that proper healing play in both mourning and celebrating life.

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 10, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

A Full-Fat Remix Of Low-Fat Love Stories, Tabitha Chilton, Gioia Chilton

The Qualitative Report

Low-Fat Love Stories is a book coauthored by Patricia Leavy and Victoria Scotti. The book is a collection of short stories and visual arts based directly on women’s interview transcripts. In this article, the authors respond to Low-Fat Love Stories through text and visual art. The authors show how artistic analysis inspires personal reflection.

Covid19 Senior Resources, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Oral Health In Older Adults, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

Hypertension Management, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

Medication Management, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

Communication Strategies In Dementia Care, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

4 Ms Framework, Nova Southeastern University

GWEP Modules

No abstract provided.

The Current - Volume 35 Issue 7, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Rapid Weight Regain Is Not Linked To Success In Professional Ufc Fighters During Competition, Antonella V. Schwarz, Peter J. Byers, Lauren Stern, Gabriel J. Sanders, Tobin Silver, Jose Antonio, Corey Peacock

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Background: Although previous research has explored rapid weight loss (RWL) and rapid weight regain (RWRG) of Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) athletes, there is a lack of research analyzing this in fighters for the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC). There is also a lack of literature analyzing how RWRG in MMA athletes affects performance outcomes. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to compare official versus fight-night weigh-ins and whether the percentage change influenced winning or losing records in UFC athletes. Methods: Twenty-four official and fight-night weights were obtained utilizing the commission-calibrated scale. Paired Samples T-Tests were utilized to determine if official …