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Running Kinetic Asymmetry Indices Are Associated With Concentric But Not Eccentric Jump Asymmetry Indices, Alexis Arena, Riley Schemel, Isabella Vargas-Blanchard

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Decreases in right versus left limb asymmetry of kinetic characteristics of a countermovement jump (CMJ) positively influence running velocity and injury prevention. The relationship between CMJ kinetic asymmetry to kinetic asymmetry during a distance run is less known. The purpose of this study was to determine the association between kinetic asymmetries for both the eccentric (loading) and concentric (propulsion) phases of a CMJ and kinetic asymmetries during a treadmill run. Twenty-two university cross-country runners (age, 20.0±1.8 yrs; height, 1.73±0.09 m; mass, 61.7±8.8 kg) completed a 6-minute run on an instrumented treadmill that collected mean vertical ground reaction forces (vGRF) for …

Demonstrating Physical Control Over Others Changes One’S Sense Of Power: Testing A Novel Manipulation Of Physical Formidability, Tamara Bogdanova, Morgan Fala, Ned Vaitkevicius, Nissipriya Pill, Ariana Gonzalez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between physical formidability and social power in modern humans. Previous research has shown that factors related to physical power, such as height, can affect a person’s perception of their own social power. We hypothesized that exercising physical power by engaging in the physical control of the behavior of another individual would affect people’s sense of their own social power and influence. To test this hypothesis, we employed a novel manipulation that used a human-to-human Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) device and a confederate to allow participants to feel as though …

Distributional Patterns Of Mesopelagic Scyphozoa Within The Monterey Submarine Canyon, California, Diana Phillips, Manuel Ploner

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Scyphozoans are a historically understudied taxonomic class, and it is unknown how genera that potentially compete coexist in resource-limited environments within the Mesopelagic Zone (200-1000m depth). Monitoring the affinities of various genera to fine-scale water mass differences demonstrates how apparent competitors in resource-limited environments occupy different habitats. Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROVs) pinpoint location information and oceanographic conditions of individual specimens, while providing better identification than other survey method options. During a 21-year period (2000 - 2020), images obtained by ROV operators annotated visual captures of scyphozoans, while integrating in situ sensor measurements of conductivity, temperature, depth, and dissolved oxygen (CTDO) …

Evolution Of Sequencing Technologies And Implications For Transposon Research, Renita Varghese, Janseen Meghadri, Jennifer Pulido-Luis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study explores the complex field of transposable elements (TEs) and how Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) technologies are used to identify them, including their limitations. Transposons, also known as transposable elements, are dynamic DNA segments that have the ability to shift locations within a genome, impacting gene regulation, evolutionary processes, and genomic stability. TEs play vital roles in genetic research. They provide pathways for precise genetic alterations and mutagenesis, which facilitate the investigation of gene function and disease mechanisms in many organisms. Rapid DNA and RNA sequencing capabilities provided by NGS technologies have transformed genetic research. Improvements in DNA sequencing …

Impacts Of Pre- And Pro-Biotic Supplements On Microbial Composition Related To Colorectal Cancers, Shanay Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Early in the field of oncology, colorectal cancer was a rarely diagnosed form of cancer and often went undetected. Today, colorectal cancer is the second most deadly form of cancer and is responsible for over one million deaths annually worldwide. The human gut microbiome is a keystone of daily health and living, serving to help absorb nutrients, boost immune function, and is considered to be another organ within the human body. However, the gut microbiome is also thought to have a role in the prevention and treatment of gastrointestinal disease like colorectal cancer. There has been extensive discussion within the …

Investigating The Impact Of Lipogenesis Inhibition On The Phospholipid Composition Of Melanoma Cells Using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography Mass Spectrometry, Zahra Aziz, Alekya Mallampalli, Ana Sales, Emmanuela Pierre, Trisha Seal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Melanoma, the most lethal variant of skin cancer, has a rate of incidence that continues to increase globally. The upregulation of lipogenesis is a primary feature of melanoma. However, the role of phospholipids (PLs) in the onset and progression of melanoma is not well-characterized. In this study we employed high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (HPLC-MS) to elucidate alterations in the phospholipidomic profile of human melanoma cells after inhibition of fatty acid synthase (FASN), a key enzyme in lipogenesis. Our results show that inhibition of FASN decreased cell viability by ~30%, underscoring the importance of lipogenesis for the survival of melanoma …

Synthetic Psychedelic Phenethylamine Drugs After Microtubule Formation And Neurogenesis In Human Neural Progenitor Cells, Amelia Zannoni, Chase A. Gonzalez, Peter Stringer, Roberto G. Fileni, Nitisha S. Gajavalli, Julia Langman, Grace K. Wong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Understanding how psychedelic phenethylamines affect neural plasticity is essential in understanding effects associated with recreational drug use. Intracellular scaffolding proteins and downstream effectors, i.e., the microtubule cytoskeleton, have been proposed to modulate the effects of psychedelics. Microtubules are polymers of the protein tubulin that contribute to the cytoarchitecture, protein transport, and synaptic stability in cells. Our group has shown that psychedelic substituted phenethylamines interact with microtubules in a dose dependent manner to affect its ability to form. These interactions would prevent microtubule dependent protein transport within cells leading to altered cytoarchitecture of the cell and may be associated with adverse …

Toxoplasma Gondii Seropositivity And Risky Behaviors In College-Age Adults, Roohika Rastogi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasite that has infected more than 40 million people in the USA. House cats and other felids serve as definitive hosts and acquire Toxoplasma by consuming infected prey and intermediate hosts (e.g. rodents). Toxoplasma is known to manipulate prey neurophysiology to enhance its transmission. For example, infected rodents exhibit changes in testosterone, vasopressin, and dopamine. These neurophysiological changes elicit remarkable changes in host behavior: Toxoplasma-infected rodents are more likely to frequent open spaces and are less responsive to normally aversive stimuli (e.g. cat urine). The manipulation of intermediate host neurophysiology and behavior observed in …

Understanding Molecular Packing Using X-Ray Crystallography, Olivia Livingstone

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Foldamers are molecules that fold into predictable three-dimensional shapes. This project seeks to understand the relationship between foldamer shape, hydrogen bonds and the molecular packing mode. This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between KAIST, a research university in South Korea, and NSU. We solved the single crystal x-ray structure of a foldamer and expanded the molecular contacts using Mercury to understand how intermolecular hydrogen bonds influence the solid-state packing mode. Each foldamer has a helical shape and makes two N-H^….O hydrogen bonds with molecules on the N-terminus, and also two N-H^….O hydrogen bonds with molecules on …

Selective Loss Of The Iron-Sulfur Subunit Of The Succinate Dehydrogenase Enzyme Complex In Alzheimer's Brains: Implications For Mitochondrial Function And Disease Pathogenesis, Vanya Gupta

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mitochondria are vital for energy production in neurons. Mitochondrial dysfunction contributes to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Neurons primarily rely on glucose as their energy source, which is metabolized through glycolysis and further processed in the mitochondria via Krebs cycle and oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Succinate dehydrogenase (SDH), an enzyme complex involved in both Krebs cycle and OXPHOS, plays a significant role. SDH comprises soluble and membrane-spanning subunits. The former consists of a flavoprotein (SDHA) and an iron-sulfur protein (SDHB) catalyzing the conversion of succinate to fumarate in the matrix. This reaction is coupled to the conversion of quinol to …

South Dakota Entisol And Paleosol: Bacterial And Secondary Metabolite Identification And Comparison, Mark Sourial, Manas Peddiboyina

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Bouquet Table and the Red Dog Table, areas found in the Badlands region of South Dakota, offer diverse environmental settings due to their distinct topographical features and soil properties. The Bouquet Table soil is about 3,000 years old and is considered a young entisol. The Red Dog Table located in Pine Ridge Indian Reservation of South Dakota is unique and has a calibrated 14C age of 12,700 years. It is located close to an undisturbed area of temperate grasslands and has most likely not been touched by machinery for plowing.

We aim to investigate how specific soil conditions and …

Spring-Mass Model Characteristics In Distance Runners Across A Competitive Season, Isabella Vargas-Blanchard, Riley Schemel, Alexis Arena

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The spring-mass model (SMM) explains the elastic bouncing nature of the lower limbs during running as the tendons store and release elastic energy. It is primarily used to explain sprinting and is less understood in distance runners. SMM is quantified by evaluating the asymmetries in landing-takeoff and rebound percents (%) determined from ground reaction forces (GRF). Faster runners have less asymmetrical landing-takeoff% and more asymmetrical rebound%. SMM asymmetries may be sensitive to longitudinal training. Therefore, we sought to document changes in elastic bouncing properties over a 7-week competitive season in distance runners. Thirteen university runners (age, 19.8±2.2 yrs; height, 1.74±0.10 …

Stereoscopic 3d Video Games Can Boost Depth Perception, Lara Cereminati

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous studies have shown that video game play improves a range of visual functions such as contrast sensitivity and visual crowding. Our experiment goal was aimed to test whether playing video games in a virtual 3-dimensional (3D) environment can modify depth perception or not. Altogether, 24 healthy young adults with no previous video game experience were recruited in two groups. In the treatment group (3DVG, n=12), participants were required to play stereoscopic 3D video games for a total of 40 hours over 4-5 weeks. In the control group (2DVG, n=12), participants played the same video games but in 2D mode …

Synthesis And Comparative Analysis Of FeχNiγSn Magnetic Nanoparticles , Sofia Celis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Nano synthesis of Heusler alloys holds promise for their potential applications in creating next generation computer hard drives. This research project aims to investigate the synthesis and comparative analysis of Heusler nanomagnets using Ni₂FeSn, Fe₂NiSn, and FeNiSn compositions. The nanoparticles are synthesized using microwave-assisted heating and are then subjected to X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis and SQUID magnetometry. We are particularly interested in conducting comparative analyses of the three nanomagnet compositions in order to determine which demonstrates superior magnetic properties for potential applications in the field.

Tell Your Friends You Love Them, Marina Glik

Undergraduate Student Symposium

My senior year of high school, the course of my life took an unexpected and tragic turn with the untimely passing of a dear friend, Isabella. Isabella lost her life in a devastating car accident. As the weight of her loss took hold of me, I found myself going through a challenging journey of grief, seeking comfort and understanding from the people I had come to rely on for support: my school counselors, teachers, and relatives. However, to my dismay, I found that their ability to provide assistance was limited, as they struggled with the complexities of my grief in …

The Craniocervical Nerve Plexus: A Microdissection Study, Teya Plastich, Roham Hadidchi, Nicole Starke, Brittany Puebla, Andrew Schleffer, Kaitlyn Morell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The parapharyngeal space (PPS) is a region adjacent to the pharynx housing crucial structures including the last four cranial nerves (CN), upper cervical spinal nerves, superior cervical sympathetic ganglion (SCSG), jugular vein, and internal carotid artery. This study aims to elucidate the microanatomy of the understudied series of neural anastomoses in this space, the craniocervical nerve plexus (CCP). To expose the CCP, we performed gross and stereomicroscopic dissection on nine bisected heads, accessing the PPS laterally by removing the mandibular ramus and mastication muscles. To delineate the CCP, nerves were traced, and a composite drawing of the neural anastomoses was …

The Economic Burden Of Celiac Disease: A Comprehensive Analysis Of Direct And Indirect Costs Associated With The Diagnosis And Management Of Celiac Disease, Mit Patel, Michelle Milman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition where gluten ingestion prompts an immune response, damaging the small intestine and leading to diverse health complications. Effective management of CD necessitates a strict gluten-free diet (GFD). This paper reviews the economic implications of living with CD, drawing on peer-reviewed research from PubMed and Google Scholar databases. The analysis reveals significant direct and indirect costs that contribute to the economic burden faced by individuals with CD. Direct costs stem from medical consultations, diagnostic testing, and treatment of CD and its comorbidities, such as thyroid dysfunction and osteoporosis. Indirect costs arise from the higher …

The Effect Of Kras Mutation In Lung Cancers And Neuroblastomas, Lohita Sunkara, Jessica Mangila

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Objective: This literature research examined the effects of KRAS mutation and expression in NonSmall Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Neuroblastomas for using it as a therapeutic target. Background: KRAS gene mutations are more common in long-term tobacco smokers with lung cancer than in non-smokers. The KRAS gene mutations in Lung Cancers typically indicate poor prognosis and resistance to several cancer treatments. Patients with KRAS Mutations were often shown to present resistance to certain drugs such as targeted chemotherapeutics, including EGFR inhibitors. Results: KRAS mutations in NSCLC are driver mutations, which are known to activate signaling pathways that promote aggressive tumor …

The Impact Of Mass Media Coverage And Mass Shooting Copycats, Zamil Abid

Undergraduate Student Symposium

As a business, journalism relies on attention for profit through ad revenue. In order to survive, they need to find ways to remain interesting and worthy for the viewer to watch, and the occurrence of a mass shooting is the perfect opportunity for the media to capture attention from viewers. This easy money grab by saturating the news with mass shooting coverage gives rise to an inadvertent side effect: copycats, or people who attempt to imitate a mass shooting incident, are incentivized to do so by attention and overnight fame given through extensive media coverage. This constant cycle leads to …

The Impact Of The Delivery Style Of A Down Syndrome Diagnosis On Familial Attitudes, Palak Bhargav, Rehan Contractor

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Down syndrome is a common genetic disorder that is caused by the nondisjunction of chromosome 21 and usually manifests in the form of a third 21st chromosome. Clinical outcomes of Down syndrome include but are not limited to distinct facial features, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays. According to numerous studies, parents have expressed that physicians often use a biased and directive tone when explaining their child’s diagnosis of Down syndrome. This often results in ambiguity for parents regarding future treatment plans, decreased self-efficacy when providing for their child, and negative stigmas associated with the condition. The purpose of this study …

The Impacts Of Feeding And Swallowing On Infants And Toddlers With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Elenie Ortiz, Katheline Hernandez, Julie Fumero, Rachel Seganti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is when the brain is deprived of oxygen leading to brain damage. There are two stages- the acute phase and the latent phase. The acute phase is when an initial lack of oxygen to the brain occurs. The latent phase occurs when oxygenated blood flow resumes in the brain, this is known as reperfusion injury. Symptoms can present directly after birth, or later in a child’s development, during the early childhood years. It is one of the most common causes of neonatal encephalopathy. It is a prevalent source of morbidity and mortality for infants throughout the …

The Life Of Carmen, Madison Hurtado

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Life of Carmen is a short documentary film about the life and experiences of a 94-year-old Ecuadorian raised woman, Carmen Panchana. Her vast encounters allow her to share advice to those who are willing to learn from an elder. We travel back through her life experiences and memories shown through photos and stories about her time in Ecuador, moving to America, and her relationships with her husband and son. The film is directed by Madison Hurtado, Carmen’s granddaughter. The film was coedited by Brooke Bowser.

The New Global Wave Of Authoritarianism: An Inevitable Economic Downfall?, Charlotte Opris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

After decades of democracy establishing itself as both the norm and most moral form of government, many countries are gradually shifting towards autocracy. Whether it be a natural progression of societal growth or associated with economic instability and government inefficiency, this is an overarching global trend. A debate about the consequences of this phenomenon naturally arises, especially regarding possible economic impacts. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether authoritarianism and democracy are equally capable of positive economic development. Some argue that democracy is essential for capitalist growth, while others promote autocracy's power in implementing policy. However, capitalism and …

The Portrayal Of The Femme Fatale: The Evolution Of Gender Roles In The Depiction Of A Femme Fatale, Esperanza Barrios, Amanda Perez Romero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

When male authors describe the word ‘femme fatale’, it is always a synonym for a seductive woman who brings disaster to an unfortunate male hero. But, when a female author writes the story, the definition changes to women who become victims of patriarchy. In turn, they transform into unfeeling women who use their charms to survive in a world where they are viewed as subdued, mink, and consenting objects for a male’s pride and satisfaction. There are two femme fatales who although they struggled to obtain their happiness, kept striving forward and did not let any difficulty fracture their minds …

The Social Benefits Of Merit-Based Education Versus Compulsary Education, Ajani Saldaña, Taaron Branch

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Are there social benefits to children being placed in specific educational tracks at an early age? The Austrian school system is comprised of four levels of schooling with divergent paths for vocational and academic interests. Students who are not academically inclined can be placed on a vocational pathway at an early age or even stop schooling as early as 14 if they feel their time is better spent in the workforce. This approach, known as ability tracking, groups students by similar interests, which can lead to increased participation and targeted instruction. The Austrian system ensures that every student doesn't surpass …

The Universal Mass Function And Its Applicability To Organic Molecules, Abby Schamber, Raquel Walton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The ability to predict the yield when synthesizing an organic molecule is a challenging issue in organic chemistry and a major obstacle when planning a multi-step organic synthesis. It would be beneficial to predict the yield of the product such that the most time, money, and waste-efficient method can be used. The Universal Mass Function (UMF) states that cosmic objects on all scales are in direct relation to each other. It shows that massive objects are much rarer than objects with lower masses. The following research aims to examine if the UMF theory is applicable to the field of organic …

True Wilds, Justin Abonce, Gabrielle Spankus

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“True Wilds” is a documentary filmed in Miami-Dade County covering the concern of the conservation of South Florida’s Pine Rockland ecosystem. Miami Wilds, a projected water park, was to be built adjacent to Zoo Miami and within their property, which contained most of the remaining Pine Rocklands acreage. The documentary informs viewers on South Florida’s ecological history, displays the opinions of local residents rallying against the construction of Miami Wilds, and brings awareness to the larger ongoing issue of South Florida’s loss of nature to urbanization. The film is directed by Justin Abonce and Gabrielle Spankus. Other crew members include …

Ubiquitinated Il-1Β & Defective Inflammasome Formation In Alzheimer's Disease: Implications For Chronic Brain Inflammation, Deepthi Prince, Vibha Sankavaram

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Chronic inflammation, a prolonged and more long-term process, has been implicated in various diseases, including Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is the most common form of progressive dementia, associated with memory deficits and neuron damage. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed for the development of the disease, and among them, chronic inflammation is increasingly considered as an important underlying factor for the disease's development.

This research explores the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a key inflammatory cytokine, in Alzheimer's pathogenesis. Elevated IL-1β levels are found in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The study focuses on the post-translational modification …

Unraveling The Elasmobranch: A Look At Shark Oral Microbiomes In South Florida, Varsha Chigurupati, Paul Paronich, Adhvika Saravanan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The intricate relationship between host organisms and their associated microbial communities, known as the microbiome, has garnered increasing attention across various fields of biology. Sharks, as apex predators in marine ecosystems, are important organisms to study and understand. Previous studies have shown shark gills and shark mouths are abundant in various types of commensal and pathogenic bacteria. This study examines results from a variety of swabs collected from shark species off the east coast of Florida. Through traditional microbial culturing and Next Generation 16S rRNA (Ribosomal RNA sequencing), we will understand the composition and functional significance of the shark microbiome …

Using 3d Modeling To Describe The Electromotility Of The Outer Hair Cell Protein Prestin, And Its Role In Sound Perception Among Mammals, Marqus Colon, Syed Hussain, Russel Robert Reside

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Prestin is a vital motor protein that enables auditory perception in mammals by modulating the shape of cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) in response to environmental voltage. Part of the SLC26A5 anion transporter family, prestin excels at binding anions, which facilitates its oscillation through unique conformations. While salicylate has been demonstrated to induce reversible inhibition in prestin, the broader mechanisms of how this protein senses and transduces voltage into cellular movement are not fully understood. Crucial to sound amplification in the cochlea and the ability for OHCs to selectively respond to different sound frequencies is non-linear capacitance (NLC), wherein conformational …