Digital Commons Network^™

Internal Validation Of Strmix™ – A Multi Laboratory Response To Pcast, Jo-Anne Bright, Rebecca Richards, Maarten Kruijver, Hannah Kelly, Catherine Mcgovern, Alan Magee, Andrew Mcwhorter, Anne Cieko, Brian Peck, Chase Baumgartner, Christina Buettner, Scott Mcwilliams, Claire Mckenna, Colin Gallacher, Ben Mallinder, Darren Wright, Deven Johnson, Dorothy Catella, Eugene Lien, Craig O'Connor, George Duncan, Jason Bundy, Jillian Echard, John Lowe, Joshua Stewart, Kathleen Corrado, Sheila Gentile, Marla Kaplan, Michelle Hassler, Naomi Mcdonald, Paul Hulme, Rachel H. Oefelein, Shawn Montpetit, Melissa Strong, Sarah Noel, Simon Malsom, Steven Myers, Susan Welti, Tamyra Moretti, Teresa Mcmahon, Thomas Grill, Tim Kalafut, Mary Margaret Greer-Ritzheimer, Vickie Beamer, Duncan A. Taylor, John S. Buckleton

Biology Faculty Articles

We report a large compilation of the internal validations of the probabilistic genotyping software STRmix™. Thirty one laboratories contributed data resulting in 2825 mixtures comprising three to six donors and a wide range of multiplex, equipment, mixture proportions and templates. Previously reported trends in the LR were confirmed including less discriminatory LRs occurring both for donors and non-donors at low template (for the donor in question) and at high contributor number. We were unable to isolate an effect of allelic sharing. Any apparent effect appears to be largely confounded with increased contributor number.

Periodontitis In Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Simran Agarwal, Deepthi Gangaram, Mir Saleem

Biology Faculty Articles

Periodontitis is a chronic, inflammatory disease that is characterized by swollen gums, degradation of jaw structure, and potentially tooth loss. Like Periodontitis, Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus is also highly prevalent and largely multifactorial. Type 2 Diabetes is a condition in which higher than normal blood glucose levels cannot be properly maintained as the body’s normal mechanism of maintaining proper blood glucose levels, the release of insulin from pancreatic islet β-cells, becomes ineffective. The purpose of this literature review is to explore the relationship between the incidences of Periodontitis and Type 2 Diabetes. The risk that Type 2 Diabetes poses for …

The British Colonization Of Australia: An Exposé Of The Models, Impacts And Pertinent Questions, Peter Genger

Peace and Conflict Studies

By adopting the purview of Peace and Conflict Studies and the expository approach of historical archaeology of colonialism, this paper succeeds in enumerating the models the British used to establish and perpetuate colonial violence on the Indigenous Australians, and the traumatizing impacts the violence is exerting on them. The sole essence of the paper is not only to re-establish that the British colonization of Australia was deliberate, just as the heinous models they used. Most essentially, the paper identifies the following institutions: Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), the UN and challenges them to move from their current inert condemnation of …

On The Cultivation Of Their Community Of Practice: A Case Study Of Efl Malaysian Pre-Service Teachers, Taghreed El Masry, Mohd Rashid Mohd Saad

The Qualitative Report

This study examined the experiences of five EFL student teachers/pre-service teachers (PSTs) who participated in a Community of Practice (CoP) during their simulated teaching course and the practicum stage or teaching practice (TP), at The University of Malaya, a public Malaysian university. The experiences and tensions they encountered through this stage were discussed in the light of cultivating their CoP over five stages. Joining the CoP, increasing participation and negotiation of one's tacit knowledge and assumptions were found to be productive at their learning to teach stage. However, some tensions, such as English proficiency level, self-confidence and agency, power relationships …

Exploring Literature For Conceptualisations Of Male Infertility: A Phenomenological Analysis, Sunu C. Thomas

The Qualitative Report

Fathering a child is an important aspect of the identity of a man as motherhood is for a woman. Male factor infertility is one reason for the inability to father a child and this can contribute to many issues for a man at a personal or societal level. Although male infertility is a major contributing factor for the overall infertility for couples, our understanding of it is minimal. The objective of this exercise is to describe the meanings that men attach to their inability to reproduce and the conceptualisations of male infertility. A phenomenological approach has been used to analyse …

The Role Of Ontogenetic Habitat Shifts On The Parasite Communities Of Five South Florida Fishes, Brittany Nicole White

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Many reef fishes initially recruit into mangroves, and then migrate out to reef habitats as they grow and mature. Each ontogenetic habitat shift exposes migrants to previously unencountered parasite taxa, potentially increasing parasite species richness and driving changes in parasite community structure. However, studies on this topic rarely attempt to distinguish between the location effects of habitat shifts versus a simple increase in physical size. Therefore we contrasted parasite community richness and structure in Great Barracuda Sphyraena barracuda (N=84), Atlantic Needlefish Strongylura marina (N=49), Crevalle Jack Caranx hippos (N=59), White Mullet Mugil curema (N=90), and Yellow-fin Mojarra Gerres cinnerus (N=60) …

Pathogen Transmission Techniques And Genotypic Resistance To Disease In The Threatened Coral, Acropora Cervicornis, Megan Bock

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Unprecedented population losses of the staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, since the 1970s have been attributed primarily to disease. Although a positive linear relationship between disease prevalence and increased water temperature has been described, the pathogen(s) causing disease and whether they are spread through the water or vectors is still poorly understood. Additionally, an increase in disease outbreaks and severity has provided an urgent need to identify natural genotypic resistance to disease in Caribbean acroporids. Studies to date have explored a variety of pathogen transmission methods, but prior to this study, there has been no examination of differences among common techniques. …

Identifying Disease-Resistant And Thermal-Tolerant Genotypes In The Threatened Staghorn Coral, Acropora Cervicornis, Morgan V. Hightshoe

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Since the 1970s, loss of herbivores, coral bleaching, pollution, and disease epidemics have reshaped the ecological framework of coral reefs. Staghorn coral, Acropora cervicornis, was a major reef-building scleractinian coral found throughout Florida and the Caribbean that experienced unprecedented population declines primarily due to disease and coral bleaching. These two stressors are coupled; the highest coral disease prevalence occurs after periods of thermal stress caused by increased sea surface temperature. Previous research documented three disease-resistant A. cervicornis genotypes in Panama, but it is unknown if disease-resistant genotypes exist in the Florida Keys. Thermal tolerance has been found to be …

Toxicological Effects Of Commercial Sunscreens On Coral Reef Ecosystems: New Protocols For Coral Restoration, Emilie C. Johnsen

HCNSO Student Capstones

The primary purpose of consumer-grade sunscreen is to protect skin from harmful UVA and UVB rays. This market has grown during the past 80 years, and environmental contamination from increasing amounts of sunscreen compounds have created concern. In particular, impacts on ocean ecosystems have inspired investigations and toxicological research on their effects on marine life. Unfortunately, such studies using marine flora and fauna are scarce, and the impact of chemical exposure to consumer sunscreens is neither adequately measured nor completely understood. In a pilot study by the Coral Restoration Foundation, in situ toxicity exposure to 10 different brands of sunscreens …

Human Β-Defensin 1 And Β-Defensin 3 (Mouse Ortholog Mbd14) Function As Full Endogenous Agonists At Select Melanocortin Receptors, Mark D. Ericson, Anamika Singh, Srinivasa R. Tala, Erica M. Haslach, Marvin L. Dirain, Jay W. Schaub, Viktor Flores, Natalie Eick, Cody J. Lensing, Katie T. Freeman, Branden A. Smeester, Danielle N. Adank, Stacey L. Wilber, Robert Speth, Carrie Haskell-Luevano

HPD Articles

β-Defensin 3 (BD3) was identified as a ligand for the melanocortin receptors (MCRs) in 2007, although the pharmacology activity of BD3 has not been clearly elucidated. Herein, it is demonstrated that human BD3 and mouse BD3 are full micromolar agonists at the MCRs. Furthermore, mouse β-defensin 1 (BD1) and human BD1 are also MCR micromolar agonists. This work identifies BD1 as an endogenous MCR ligand and clarifies the controversial role of BD3 as a micromolar agonist.

Southeast Florida Reef-Wide Post-Irma Coral Disease Surveys, Brian K. Walker

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Reports

Florida’s coral reefs are currently experiencing a multi-year outbreak of coral disease that have resulted in the mortality of millions of corals across southeast Florida, Biscayne National Park, and the Upper and Middle Florida Keys. In early September 2017, Hurricane Irma impacted the entire FRT. The purpose of this project was to conduct field surveys to identify the current state of the coral reefs in southeast Florida and coordinate with other concomitant reef tract efforts to improve the regional understanding of the extent of the disease outbreak and identify recent hurricane injury to direct future restoration. Through a broader partner …

Disclosing An Eating Disorder: A Situational Analysis Of Online Accounts, Emily P. Williams, Shelly Russell-Mayhew, Alana Ireland

The Qualitative Report

Disclosing a mental illness can be difficult, especially for those affected by eating disorders. Individuals impacted by eating disorders often worry that disclosing their situation may lead to fear, judgment, and stigmatization. Online eating disorder communities have become increasingly popular, hosting thousands of users worldwide, and may be safe places for individuals with eating disorders to communicate and connect. In this postmodern study, we utilized situational analysis to examine online accounts on publically accessible websites where individuals discussed disclosing eating disorders. Situational Analysis utilizes illustrative mapping techniques to demonstrate the complexity of the situation of inquiry, allowing researchers to highlight …

Mutualism At Work: Redefining The Library's Role In The Everyday University Process, Keri Baker, Jaime Goldman

Staff Presentations, Proceedings, Lectures, and Symposia

The Halmos College of Natural Science and Oceanography at Nova Southeastern University has been at the forefront of open accessibility and transparency of scholarly output for the institution. As one of the pioneers for the institutional repository, NSUWorks, Halmos College has been able to make great headway in creating new opportunities for the students, staff, and faculty to create and showcase their research. This presentation aims to show how the Oceanographic Campus Library has created a mutualistic relationship with administrative staff and faculty to create a cultural change in how we, as a college, operate. From subtle changes in library-managed …

Age And Growth Of Hogfish (Lachnolaimus Maximus) In Southeast Florida, Ian A. Towne

HCNSO Student Theses and Dissertations

Hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus; Walbaum 1792) from Southeast Florida were aged using sectioned otoliths and growth rates were calculated using the von Bertalanffy growth equation. The samples were collected from Broward County (n=209); other regions of Southeast Florida (n=18), the Florida Keys (n=35) and Bahamas (n=43). Growth rates were determined for each of these areas and were then compared to previously reported growth rates from other regions including the eastern Gulf of Mexico and Florida Keys. There was significant separation at the 95% confidence level between growth rates from each reagion. The average maximum fork length increased, from the Florida …

Life During The Biggest Loser: Experiences And Perspectives Of Non-Contestant Romantic Partners, Darren D. Moore, Clinton Cooper, Kai Zwierstra, Toiya Williams

The Qualitative Report

For this study, authors engaged in 9 semi-structured interviews with romantic partners of contestants who were involved with a weight loss intervention (The Biggest Loser), to gain insight into the phenomenon of weight loss within the context of couple relationships and reality television. Utilizing Basic Qualitative Description influenced by aspects of phenomenology, the authors explored the role of weight loss and the role that the specific intervention utilized, has played within the couple relationship. Building upon previous research (Moore, Cooper, Williams, & Zwierstra, 2017a) authors added the voice of the non-contestant partners to the discussion and explored experiences …

The Successful Exploitation Of Urban Environments By The Golden Silk Spider, Nephila Clavipes (Araneae, Nephilidae), Jake Ripp, Omar T. Eldakar, Andrew C. Gallup, Paul T. Arena

Biology Faculty Articles

Urbanization typically leads to habitat destruction producing negative effects for native species, but some species may exploit these settings. This concept was investigated in the golden silk spider (Nephila clavipes), a large, formidable spider that commonly inhabits forest edges as well as open spaces in urban environments throughout its vast geographic range. Here, we compared variation of N. clavipes success as measured by body size, web size and web positioning along an urban–rural gradient in southern Florida. From morphological measurements collected in the field, urban spiders had 60% longer legs and 35% longer bodies than both park and …

The Current Volume 28: Issue 27, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Marker Of Proliferation Ki-67 Expression Is Associated With Transforming Growth Factor Beta 1 And Can Predict The Prognosis Of Patients With Hepatic B Virus-Related Hepatocellular Carcinoma, Chengkun Yang, Hao Su, Xiwen Liao, Chuangye Han, Tingdong Yu, Guangzhi Zhu, Xiangkun Wang, Cheryl Ann Winkler, Stephen J. O’Brien, Tao Peng

Biology Faculty Articles

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most frequent malignancy of the liver. Transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFB1) and marker of proliferation Ki-67 (MKI67) regulate cell proliferation, differentiation, and growth. The association between MKI67 and TGFB1 expression and its clinical implications in HCC remain unknown. Methods: Public databases were used to analyze TGFB1 and MKI67 expression in different pathologic grades/stages and tissue types of HCC. The association between MKI67 and TGFB1 expression was explored using pathway analysis and in a HepG2 cell line treated with TGFB1. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate the prognostic value of TGFB1 and MKI67 expression in …

The Very Perplexed Stepmother: Step Motherhood And Developing A Healthy Self-Identity, Sonia Cann-Milland, Jane Southcott

The Qualitative Report

This autoethnographic study unpacks Sonia’s experiences as a stepmother. Historically stepmothers are the evil, unkind villains in fairy tales. Most research about stepfamilies has deemed stepmotherhood to be ambiguous and stress-laden. This research explores how becoming a stepmother has impacted her evolving sense of self-identity. To do this we undertook an autoethnographic study of Sonia’s experiences. The use of authoethnographic method supports and challenges personal narrative. We reflected upon the specific situations that caused her to question, alter and sustain a healthy sense of self, so in turn she may create a safe and secure environment that supports healthy and …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

Women – Filmed, Rarely Filming, Devon Frazier

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Behind the camera, the Hollywood of today is predominantly male, despite a growing number of women filmmakers in all aspects of the industry. Many capable women filmmakers are marginalized and often confined to making independent films and working in television and streaming media. This sexist bias limits creativity, and the variety of stories that could come out of Hollywood, which in turns robs viewers of varied and fresh storytelling on film.

By exploring the role of women in the Hollywood film industry from its infancy to the present, and highlighting the work of three contemporary directors—Kathryn Bigelow, Sofia Coppola, and …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

Walkabout Cognition, Andrew Bowen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

The Shortage Of Affordable Workforce Housing, Natalie Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research involves an investigation into the shortage of affordable workforce housing in the United States. While the workforce continues to grow, housing development has not kept up for households inthe middle quintiles of their area’s median income, or AMI. Affordability and distance from work arethe main factors the workforce considers important in deciding where to live. The affordable workforce housing shortage is clearly an economic and political issue. Supply and demand dynamics drive up the price of land where it is most sought after, and yet creative solutions exist to offset the increased demand of the workforce. Various government …

The Effects Of Growth Rate On Antibiotic Resistance In Pseudomonas Aeruginosa, Laura Enzinna

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance is a global health crisis. The overuse of antibiotics to treat bacterial infections has led to rapid pathogen adaptation, which has resulted in reduced treatment efficacy. This, in turn, can lead to adverse consequences such as prolonging the duration and expense of a patient’s hospital stay,infecting immunocompromised individuals leading to further health complications, and increasing the occurrence and severity of side effects due to necessitated use of higher doses of medications. One opportunistic pathogen that has shown increased resistance to several antibiotics is the biofilm forming bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa. In order to grow, and resist antibiotics, P. aeruginosa …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

The Balance Of Public And Private Benefits Determines Sensitivity To Catastrophic Population Collapse In A Microbial Volunteer’S Dilemma, Aimee Doiron, Rodrigo Muzquiz, Tom Abraham

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cooperation plays important roles in bacteria, plant, animal, and human ecosystems. Cheaters, who garner public benefits without paying the associated costs, often outcompete cooperators. One mechanism of cooperation is the production of a public good. This seems evolutionarily unstable, because cooperation tends to decrease the fitness of the individual, while promoting the fitness of cheaters. However, cooperation can persist even in the presence of cheaters, as long as a private benefit is retained by the cooperator. While theoretical and experimental studies have examined the use of public goods in cooperation, research has yet to determine how the ratio of public …

Synthesis Of Mof-Templated Mixed-Metal Oxides For Catalytic Carbon Monoxide Oxidation, Jake Bence

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Metal Organic Frameworks (MOF) are highly crystalline, porous coordination polymers formed from metal nodes connected by organic bridging ligands. Recently, a cerium-based MOF, UiO-67, was utilized as a sacrificial template for synthesizing novel CuO/CeO2 catalysts through pyrolysis under air, as the support in a metal oxide catalyst is known to dramatically influence the performance. In this work, we attempted the solvothermal synthesis of a mixed-metal hafnium/cerium UiO-67 to create mixed hafnium-oxide/cerium-oxide materials as a metal oxide support for catalytic carbon monoxide oxidation. X-Ray powder diffraction (XRPD) patterns support that (Hf) UiO-67 was synthesized with phase purity. XRPD patterns of the …

Modeling The Conversion Of Normal Protein Prpc Into The Mutated Prpsc In A Prion Disease, Allan Barraza, Hoang (Gwen) Bui

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Gerstmann-Straussler-Scheinker (GSS) is a rare, genetically inherited prion disease caused by a mutation in the prion gene (PRNP). Carriers begin to experience GSS symptoms (similar to Parkinson's and Alzheimer's) during their 30s and 40s. While molecular details concerning the progression of GSS remain largely unknown, the altered conformation of the prion could be directly involved in the aggregation of plaques contributing to progression of the disease. In collaboration with the Milwaukee School of Engineering (MSOE) Center for Biomolecular Modeling - Students Modeling A Research Topic (CBM-SMART) program, we used 3-D modeling and printing technology to examine relationships between this normal …

Porphyrin Tautomerization For The 5,15-Dibromo-10,20-Diphenylporphine And 5 Bromo-10,15,20- Triphenylporphine Using Vt H1nmr, Anthony Sangermano

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Variable-temperature proton NMR spectroscopy, as well as theoretical studies, will be used to compare the reported free energy of activation value of the tetra phenyl porphyrin (12.2 kcal/mol), the 5, 15 phenyls substituted porphyrin with an in-plane distortion (11.6 kcal/mol) with the 5,15-dibromo-10,20- diphenylporphine and 5 bromo-10,15,20-triphenylporphine. The experimental determination of tautomerization using VT H1NMR of both porphyrins is to be compared to the molecular modeling analysis of the porphyrin structure using MM+.