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Sold For Parts: Moral Connections Between Paid Surrogacy And Paid Organ Donation, Alessandra Coke Apr 2026

Sold For Parts: Moral Connections Between Paid Surrogacy And Paid Organ Donation, Alessandra Coke

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Throughout this presentation, I make ethical arguments about paid surrogacy, based on established arguments regarding paid living organ donation possible due to similarities between the procedures. I establish the differences between conceptualizations of surrogacy: unpaid/altruistic and paid/compensated, and clarify what is meant by paid surrogacy. The primary similarity between paid living organ donation and paid surrogacy is that both practices are a 'voluntary' violation of bodily integrity for financial benefit. I argue that both practices due to financial incentives cannot truly be seen as voluntary. I argue that the reasons that are used to understand paid living organ donation as …

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Advances In Aortic Valve Replacement For The Recovery Of Elderly Patients In Southern Florida, Khushi Faldu Apr 2026

Advances In Aortic Valve Replacement For The Recovery Of Elderly Patients In Southern Florida, Khushi Faldu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, is a significant health burden in aging populations, as in Broward County, Florida, where the elderly demographic is rapidly expanding. The classical approach to valve replacement is performed via Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR). Recently, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive alternative, has emerged as a life-changing option for patients with a high surgical risk. Using inductive methods, this study compiled and analyzed data from existing research records and publications comparing endothelial recovery following TAVR and SAVR. We aim to design a teaching case study to highlight how procedural choice …

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When Peers Matter: Peer Communication And The Association Between Parental Dependence And Superiority Cognitions, Preya Pandya, Bala Sivani Paddala, Anisha Nandra Apr 2026

When Peers Matter: Peer Communication And The Association Between Parental Dependence And Superiority Cognitions, Preya Pandya, Bala Sivani Paddala, Anisha Nandra

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Although parent-child relationships have been widely studied during childhood and adolescence, less attention has been given to how these relationships continue to influence adjustment during emerging adulthood. This developmental period is marked by instability and exploration, as young adults begin transitioning into adult roles such as higher education, employment, and long-term relationships. Research suggests that parenting continues to matter during this time, with successful separation-individuation representing a normative developmental task. Excessive parental dependence, however, may be associated with maladjustment. At the same time, peers play an increasingly important role in emerging adulthood, and positive peer relationships are often linked to …

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Reengineering Bone Health: Preventing Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Without Jaw Damage, John Voudouris Apr 2026

Reengineering Bone Health: Preventing Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Without Jaw Damage, John Voudouris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glucocorticoid ("steroid") drugs are essential for treating autoimmune diseases, but long-term use often weakens bones, leading to a condition called glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). In the United States, steroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone are prescribed to over 10 million patients annually, and roughly 30% of long-term users develop GIO, contributing $20-30 billion in annual health-care costs. To this end, bisphosphonates are commonly used to treat GIO by preventing bone-loss; however, they can also cause a serious adverse effect called medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Thus, safer jaw-protective treatments are urgently needed. In this study, we tested a different strategy …

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Analyzing The Variation In Microplastic Intake Of Waterhyacinth And Pennywort In Lake Okeechobee, Aashvi Gowrisankar Apr 2026

Analyzing The Variation In Microplastic Intake Of Waterhyacinth And Pennywort In Lake Okeechobee, Aashvi Gowrisankar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Florida Everglades ecosystem faces many threats, including municipal pollution and agricultural runoff. This study compares the microplastic intake of two types of floating vegetation in Lake Okeechobee. Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) has a greater root mass and surface area than its native equivalent pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellate). We hypothesize that water hyacinth would have greater microplastic intake due to its increased capillary action. Our project was conducted using three guiding questions: which plant type had the greatest microplastic intake, did accumulation vary with location, and did concentration vary among roots, stems, and leaves in each plant …

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From Prediction To Prevention: How The Va Uses Analytics To Reduce Chronic Disease And Mental Health Risk, Leelakrishna Angadala Apr 2026

From Prediction To Prevention: How The Va Uses Analytics To Reduce Chronic Disease And Mental Health Risk, Leelakrishna Angadala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Predictive analytics has become an essential component of preventive care strategies within the Veterans Health Administration (VHA), which serves a medically and psychosocially complex population at elevated risk for chronic disease and mental health conditions. This research examines how the VHA has leveraged predictive analytics to improve early identification, prevention, and targeted intervention for chronic illnesses and mental health disorders. Specifically, it explores established initiatives such as the Care Assessment Needs (CAN) score for identifying veterans at high risk of hospitalization or mortality, the Reach Out, Stay Strong, Essentials for Veterans (REACH VET) program for suicide risk prediction and prevention, …

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The Role Of Hip Internal Rotation And Ground Reaction Forces On Lower Back Pain In Amateur Golfers, Katrina Arndt Apr 2026

The Role Of Hip Internal Rotation And Ground Reaction Forces On Lower Back Pain In Amateur Golfers, Katrina Arndt

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Lower back pain (LBP) is the most common musculoskeletal injury amongst golfers; the high velocity and repetitive motion of the golf swing on the lumbar spine leads to substantial compressive and torsional forces, making LBP primarily and overuse injury. An additional risk factor for LBP is limited lead hip internal rotation (LHIR), which forces the lumbar spine to compensate through excessive rotation. The golf swing also relies heavily on the efficient transfer of energy generated from the ground through the lower body, a process quantified by ground reaction forces (GRFs). While existing research has separately examined LBP and GRFs, there …

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Functional Annotation Of Gordonia Phage Minor Tail Proteins Using Alphafold And Structural Homology Searches, Harani Athwale, Mitchell Thenor Apr 2026

Functional Annotation Of Gordonia Phage Minor Tail Proteins Using Alphafold And Structural Homology Searches, Harani Athwale, Mitchell Thenor

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect bacteria. The basic phage structure consists of a DNA or RNA genome encased in a capsid protein shell. Some may also have a tail, important for attachment and genome delivery into the bacterial host. Recently, the structure of mycobacteriophage Bxb1 was characterized and determined to have 10 minor tail proteins, each assigned a unique function. The genomes of Gordonia rubripertincta phages Fribs8, Genamy16, Alyssamiracle, and NovaSharks were annotated, depicting several minor tai proteins. However, the specific functions were not determined. Therefore, the goal of this research was to assign a specific function to the minor …

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Reproductive Experience Mitigates Cognitive Aging In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Esperanza Barrios, Chana Vogel, Tej Chaudhari, Anna Roy, Shruthi Senthil, Greeshma Thomas Apr 2026

Reproductive Experience Mitigates Cognitive Aging In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Esperanza Barrios, Chana Vogel, Tej Chaudhari, Anna Roy, Shruthi Senthil, Greeshma Thomas

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that lacks effective treatment. Despite women having approximately twice the risk for developing AD, few studies have investigated sex-specific factors contributing to disease vulnerability. Among women, motherhood appears to be protective, although results are mixed, and this relationship could be explained by a third variable (e.g., genes) influencing both disease risk and fertility or fecundity. During an experiment directly tested the effects of motherhood by manipulating access to male breeders and examining neurodegeneration and cognitive aging in control (B6129) and transgenic mice used to model AD (3xTg-AD mice), we also compared reproductive …

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Modeling The Extracellular Matrix-Like Retinal Protein Pikachurin And Its Binding To Α-Dystroglycan And Gpcr (Gpr179), Mohit Belur, Khushi Raval, Riya Chelagiri, Rani Mehta Apr 2026

Modeling The Extracellular Matrix-Like Retinal Protein Pikachurin And Its Binding To Α-Dystroglycan And Gpcr (Gpr179), Mohit Belur, Khushi Raval, Riya Chelagiri, Rani Mehta

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Pikachurin is an extracellular matrix scaffold protein that links photoreceptor and ON-bipolar cell synapses by bridging the presynaptic dystroglycan complex and the postsynaptic receptor GPR179, ensuring precise synaptic alignment required for vision. Although its role in dystroglycanopathy associated visual phenotypes is well recognized, there is no published structural model showing how pikachurin engages α-dystroglycan or how this may influence GPCR linked synaptic signaling. This study computationally modeled full length Pikachurin using the complete nucleic acid sequence and available Protein Data Bank structures, integrating Jmol, AlphaFold, and literature-based analysis to predict domain organization, Ca2+-binding motifs, and glycan interaction sites …

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Effects Of Invasive Water Hyacinth On Boldness And Habitat Preference In Mosquitofish, Nicolas Borca, Chancellor Rockwell Marks Apr 2026

Effects Of Invasive Water Hyacinth On Boldness And Habitat Preference In Mosquitofish, Nicolas Borca, Chancellor Rockwell Marks

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Eastern mosquitofish (Gambusia holbrooki) are small freshwater fish that play an important role in aquatic food webs. Their behavior, especially boldness and risk-taking, can change depending on the type of habitat they occupy. In this study, we investigated how mosquitofish respond behaviorally to the presence of the floating invasive plant water hyacinth by comparing their boldness, preference for cover, and predation rates between water hyacinth and its native competitor, pennywort. Fish boldness was measured using a two-factor latency experiment. Fish were collected from freshwater locations in South Florida that either had the invasive plant or were free of …

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Porites Coral Colony Recovery At Caño Island , Sophia Bost Apr 2026

Porites Coral Colony Recovery At Caño Island , Sophia Bost

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coral reefs are essential marine ecosystems and Porites lobata is an important Eastern Pacific reef-building coral that plays a major role in reef structure and ecosystem stability. This project documents Porites lobata responses to impacts associated witl1 the 2023-24 El NiÑo-Southern Oscillation, comparing coral tissue condition from 2024 and 2025. Overlapping digital images (~500 each year) utilizing two GoPro Hero 11 cameras were obtained from one, large (~13 m2) Porites lobata colony at Caño Island, Costa Rica. The program Agisoft Metashape was used to generate a 3D photogrammetry model constructed from these digital images. Living, bleached and dead …

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Analysis Of Accuracy In Ecgs Data Captured By Patients Using At-Home Ai-Assisted Device Compared To Qualified Clinician Recordings, Snehana Chinnola, Colin Pulickathadam Apr 2026

Analysis Of Accuracy In Ecgs Data Captured By Patients Using At-Home Ai-Assisted Device Compared To Qualified Clinician Recordings, Snehana Chinnola, Colin Pulickathadam

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) are a leading cause of death worldwide, accounting for 17.3 million deaths per year. Recent advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) introduce promising opportunities in the field of cardiology to support healthcare services outside traditional clinical settings. At-home care generally promotes patient independence and improved health outcomes, while staying cost-effective due to decreased hospital visits. This study will analyze deidentified patient pilot data to assess the feasibility and performance of AI-assisted at-home electrocardiogram (ECG) monitoring compared with standard clinician-obtained ECGs during routine clinical visits, focusing on signal quality and accuracy. Additionally, the data consistency will be examined to …

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Xct (Slc7a11) Regulationl Lessons From Cancer Research, Sravika Chirla, Rahul Pandit Apr 2026

Xct (Slc7a11) Regulationl Lessons From Cancer Research, Sravika Chirla, Rahul Pandit

Undergraduate Student Symposium

xCT is an amino acid antiporter that imports cystine in exchange for glutamate with a 1:1 ration in a concentration-dependent manner. Once inside the cell, cystine is quickly reduced to cysteine, the rate-limiting substrate for the main cellular antioxidant, glutathione. The function of xCT has been highlighted by the discovery of a new type of cell death, known as ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is a distinctive form of programmed cell death triggered by lipid peroxidation and the accumulation of reactive oxygen species, leading to cell damage and death. Numerous classes of cancers have shown overexpression of xCT, which correlates with worse outcomes …

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Distinct And Cooperative Effects Of Epigenetic Inhibitors On Cell Viability And Cell Cycle Regulation In Neuroblastoma Cells, Tamanna Dipen Shah, Anushka Ayanampudi, Shyam Jaganathan Apr 2026

Distinct And Cooperative Effects Of Epigenetic Inhibitors On Cell Viability And Cell Cycle Regulation In Neuroblastoma Cells, Tamanna Dipen Shah, Anushka Ayanampudi, Shyam Jaganathan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Epigenetic dysregulation plays a central role in uncontrolled cell proliferation and therapeutic resistance in cancer. Consequently, targeting epigenetic regulators with small-molecule inhibitors has emerged as a promising strategy to disrupt cell cycle progression and induce tumor cell death. In this study, we evaluated the cytotoxic and molecular effects of two epigenetic-targeting agents, CM-272 and JNJ-64619178, administered as individual, simultaneous, and sequential treatments in neuroblastoma cell models. Cell viability was assessed using XTT assays, and changes in cell cycle regulatory proteins were analyze by Western blotting. Our results demonstrate that simultaneous combination treatment produced the greatest reduction in cell viability compared …

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Using X-Ray Crystallography To Inform Foldamer Drug Design, Isabella Garcia Apr 2026

Using X-Ray Crystallography To Inform Foldamer Drug Design, Isabella Garcia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Foldamers are synthetic peptide oligomers that fold into well-defined three-dimensional structures, such as alpha-helices and beta-sheets. The goal of this project is to discover the solid-state confirmation of beta-amino acid foldamers that have potential as therapeutic molecules. This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between KAIST, a research university in South Korea, and NSU. We solved the single-crystal X-ray structures of two foldamers and then visualized their secondary structures and intermolecular contacts using Mercury. The first foldamer crystallized in the space group P21212 and demonstrated a continuous alpha-helical secondary structure, with the residue side chains evenly distributed …

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Temperature-Driven Changes In Lysis Kinetics Of Bacteriophages Infecting Gordonia Rubripertincta, Bianca Gonzalez, Jyothi Vivekananda Apr 2026

Temperature-Driven Changes In Lysis Kinetics Of Bacteriophages Infecting Gordonia Rubripertincta, Bianca Gonzalez, Jyothi Vivekananda

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance represents a significant global health crisis creating a necessity for alternative treatments to combat drug-resistant pathogens. One alternative treatment is bacteriophages, such as those targeting Gordonia rubripertincta, a gram-positive, aerobic actinomycete bacterium which has shown intrinsic resistance to some antibiotics. Furthermore, G. rubripertincta can cause endocarditis and CNS infections in immunocompromised individuals. Phages that successfully target G. rubripertincta (Alyssamiracle, Fribs8, Genamy16, and NovaSharks) have been discovered by NSU students. The phages work in a lytic manner, bursting the bacteria and releasing its viral progeny. The goal of this research was to evaluate the lysis kinetics of these …

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Perceived Family Influences On Sexual Decision-Making Among Emerging Adults, Hassan Gowani, Mariana Santiago-Lopez Apr 2026

Perceived Family Influences On Sexual Decision-Making Among Emerging Adults, Hassan Gowani, Mariana Santiago-Lopez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research on familial influences on sexual decision-making has focused primarily on adolescents, resulting in limited understanding of how family relationships may influence emerging adults' sexual decision-making. To fill this gap in the literature, we asked participants (ages 18-29) to indicate yes/no to "Do you think that your family has played a role in your current decision to be or not to be sexually active?" and then provide qualitative responses to "Please elaborate on why you think your family has or hasn't played a role in your current decision to be or not to be sexually active." Based on preliminary analysis, …

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The Impact Of Social Media On Oral Hygiene, Daniela Guzman, Kamelia Vega Apr 2026

The Impact Of Social Media On Oral Hygiene, Daniela Guzman, Kamelia Vega

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Social media has become a dominating channel for health communication, influencing how adults accept, interpret, and act on oral health information. This Prisma review examines whether exposure to social media impacts the overall oral hygiene behaviors in adults, specifically focusing on proper oral health practice, consumer behavior, and the type of information being consumed. Guided by a review framework, peer-reviewed studies published across multiple databases were screened for relevance, methodological quality, and alignment with the research question. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, cross-sectional analyses , qualitative investigation, and interventional studies designed to examine the relationship between social media use …

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Acute Effects Of D- And L-Beta-Hydroxybutyrate On Vigilance (Sustained Attention And Reaction Speed) In Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Catherine Holen Apr 2026

Acute Effects Of D- And L-Beta-Hydroxybutyrate On Vigilance (Sustained Attention And Reaction Speed) In Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial, Catherine Holen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Exogenous beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) supplements are increasingly promoted for cognitive and performance benefits but controlled human data--particularly comparing BHB isomers--remains sparse. This study evaluated whether a low dose, acute ingestion of D-BHB or L-BHB influences vigilance (sustained attention, reaction speed) and fine motor control in fasted, non-keto-adapted healthy adults. A total of 136 participants (20.5 ± 1.4 years; 70.2 ± 15.6 kg) were randomized into three groups: D-BHB (n = 47), L-BHB (n=46), or placebo (n = 43). Measures included the Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT reaction time) and the central nervous system tap test. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 60 …

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Mediterranean Diet Adherence And Bone Density: No Link In University Cross-County Athletes, Auston Hsieh, Sathvi Gandra, Kiana Medina Apr 2026

Mediterranean Diet Adherence And Bone Density: No Link In University Cross-County Athletes, Auston Hsieh, Sathvi Gandra, Kiana Medina

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bone stress injuries are common among collegiate cross-country runners, occurring at rates of 28.6 and 16.1 per 100,000 athlete-exposures in women and men, respectively. Adequate, individualized dietary patterns have been shown to reduce bone stress injury risk by supporting bone mineral density (BMD); however, there is a lack of consensus on the most advantageous dietary pattern. The Mediterranean diet (MD) has been associated with improved BMD in general populations; however, its relationship to BMD in collegiate athletes remains unclear. Therefore, this study assessed the association between MD adherence and BMD in university competitive cross-country runners. Nineteen participants (sex, 7 male, …

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Investigating Epigenetic Dysregulation Of Long Non-Coding Rnas In Glioblastoma And Glioma Stem Cells, Pujita Kellampalli, Mansi Gandhi, Dhruv Patel, Nehal Pant, Mihika Mishra, Shehr Bano, Aaron Basnyet Apr 2026

Investigating Epigenetic Dysregulation Of Long Non-Coding Rnas In Glioblastoma And Glioma Stem Cells, Pujita Kellampalli, Mansi Gandhi, Dhruv Patel, Nehal Pant, Mihika Mishra, Shehr Bano, Aaron Basnyet

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) or Grade IV glioma is a very aggressive form of brain tumor with an overall survival rate of 15 months. The tumor contains glioma stem cells (GSCs) that are resistant to existing therapies. Long non-coding RNAs such as DNA methylation are implicated in epigenetic dysregulation of GBM and GSCs. In this study, we screened lncRNAs with altered DNA methylation in both tumor cells and GSCs compared to normal neural cells using 450K methylation array data. We identified 508 methylation sites (320 lncRNAs) that were either hypermethylated (or gained methylation) or hypomethylated (lost methylation) in GBM and GSCs. …

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Sleep Disturbance, Menopause, And Alzheimer's Risk In Women, Shreya Kempuraj Apr 2026

Sleep Disturbance, Menopause, And Alzheimer's Risk In Women, Shreya Kempuraj

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by neurodegeneration, behavioral changes, cognitive impairment, and loss of sleep quality. Women are at a greater risk of developing dementia and AD during the lifetimes because women live longer than men on average and other factors. The duration and quality of sleep are associated with a healthy brain, especially during aging. Impaired and poor sleep is both an early symptom of AD and a contributing factor to cognitive impairment. Maintaining proper sleep can help prevent cognitive impairment, AD, and dementia. Sleep deprivation may increase the risk for beta-amyloid (Aβ) build-up and …

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The Effect Of Verbal Encouragement With Swearing On High Intensity Exercise Performance, Ella Kern Apr 2026

The Effect Of Verbal Encouragement With Swearing On High Intensity Exercise Performance, Ella Kern

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Verbal encouragement has not been shown to reliably enhance performance on the Wingate Anaerobic Test (WAnT); however, research has found that when individuals swear during the WAnT, average power increases. This study examined whether incorporating swearing into verbal encouragement during a WAnT enhances performance, self-confidence, and psychological flow compared to standard verbal encouragement without swearing. Forty-one physically active participants (25 females, 16 males; age 20.8 ± 0.78 years) completed two counterbalanced laboratory visits involving verbal encouragement with swearing (VES) and without swearing (VE) while performing the WAnT on a Wattbike Air ergometer. Average power, fatigue index, self-confidence, and psychological flow …

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Uncovering Hidden Bioenergetic Effects Of Deet: Is Mitochondrial Complex I A Primary Target?, Jacob Kora, Dillen-Preetesh Patel Apr 2026

Uncovering Hidden Bioenergetic Effects Of Deet: Is Mitochondrial Complex I A Primary Target?, Jacob Kora, Dillen-Preetesh Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

DEET (N, N-diethyl-m-toluamide) is one of the most common insect repellents worldwide and is generally regarded as safe for humans. As such, DEET is available as a nonprescribed product to the public for topical application, with concentrations reaching up to 4.0M. However, new studies in other organisms suggest it may have a greater physiological effect than thought before. Research has shown that DEET can reduce Photosystem II activity in algae, alter red blood cell production and lipid metabolism in fish, and cause developmental and cardiovascular issues in zebrafish embryos. These findings point toward disruptions in mitochondrial and oxidative processes. Mammalian …

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The Effects Of Vestibular Dysfunction On Cognition, Sai Puneeth Kothuru, Mia Fernandez, Sol Crisanto-Ojeda Apr 2026

The Effects Of Vestibular Dysfunction On Cognition, Sai Puneeth Kothuru, Mia Fernandez, Sol Crisanto-Ojeda

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Virtual Reality (VR) systems are being used more in education, entertainment, and research, but can produce motion sickness that could temporarily disrupt cognitive functioning. This study examined whether exposure to a VR roller coaster experience leads to short-term changes in cognitive flexibility, attention, spatial orientation awareness, and anxiety compared to a control condition. Participants were randomly assigned to a VR condition or a computer-based 2D viewing condition with identical roller coaster visual content. Participants completed three testing blocks: baseline, after exposure, and after a 10-minute recovery period. Cognitive flexibility and attention were assessed using the Trail Making Test (TMT) and …

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Creatine In Dementia And The Aging Brain, Dylan Kuni Apr 2026

Creatine In Dementia And The Aging Brain, Dylan Kuni

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Dementia is a syndrome that interferes with cognitive functions and an individual's ability to function independently. Dementia includes several subtypes caused by different neuropathologies, with Alzheimer's disease (AD) being the most common form. AD is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid beta plaques and neurofibrillary tau tangles in the brain, associated with neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and deficits in energy metabolism. While treatments for AD exist, the efficacy, safety, and cost are a concern, highlighting the need for additional prevention and treatment strategies. This literature review examines the role of creatine in brain health and disease, including AD and related dementias. …

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An Analysis Of Jump Performance Using Wearable Devices In Collegiate Volleyball Attacking Players, Caiden Largent Apr 2026

An Analysis Of Jump Performance Using Wearable Devices In Collegiate Volleyball Attacking Players, Caiden Largent

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Vertical jump height in volleyball, a key performance measure, may be assessed in a laboratory and measured on the court. Baseline lab measurements are conducted in a controlled environment using a Vertec, while on the court, measurements utilize VERT wearable devices as these measurements. VERT estimates jump height indirectly through inertial measurements when compared to Vertec testing. The purpose of this study is to analyze jump height performance in collegiate volleyball attacking players. Four National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II female volleyball attackers were assessed across five separate matches. Results showed differences shown between jump heights across sets and matches …

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Parent-Child Relations, Ego Identity Exploration, And Self-Esteem In Emerging Adulthood, Japji Madan, Amala Vadakumcherry, Vivan Majumdar Apr 2026

Parent-Child Relations, Ego Identity Exploration, And Self-Esteem In Emerging Adulthood, Japji Madan, Amala Vadakumcherry, Vivan Majumdar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Self-esteem has long been a central focus of psychological research, with positive development linked to factors such as academic achievement, peer relationships, and parent-child bonds. Sub-optimal parent-child relationships, however, can negatively impact self-esteem. While prior studies have largely emphasized extrinsic buffers (e.g., peer support) that mitigate these effects, less is known about intrinsic factors that may promote adjustment in the context of sub-optimal parenting. Emerging adulthood, a period characterized by identity exploration, may provide such intrinsic resources. This study examines whether ego identity exploration moderates the relationship between parent-child relationship quality and self-esteem in emerging adults. Participants were 132 emerging …

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Towards Safer Epirubicin Based Anti-Cancer Treatments, Alanis Malave Carmona, Julian Oliver Bozek, Elizia Jijon, Shivansh Patel, Alvin Binoj, Samuel Dinh Apr 2026

Towards Safer Epirubicin Based Anti-Cancer Treatments, Alanis Malave Carmona, Julian Oliver Bozek, Elizia Jijon, Shivansh Patel, Alvin Binoj, Samuel Dinh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Epirubicin is a widely used anticancer agent whose mechanism of action (DNA intercalation leading to disruption of the double-stranded helical structure) has been extensively studied. Despite its clinical effectiveness, epirubicin is associated with significant side effects that limit its therapeutic window. In this work, we investigated the interaction of epirubicin with a circular double-stranded plasmid DNA (2686 bp) in the presence and absence of 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AIC). Spectroscopic studies combined with a modified Stern-Volmer methodology were used to determine binding constants. The results indicate that stepwise addition of AIC enhances epirubicin intercalation, yielding a higher DNA-epirubicin binding constant compared to epirubicin …

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