Digital Commons Network^™

In The Wings, Dekel Nahum, Lucia Minniti, Maha Barkat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Based on a true story, “In the Wings” is a short film about a young theatre student who discovers that a fellow peer with nowhere to stay is residing in their school’s theatre. After this discovery, an unexpectedcompanionship begins to form. The film is directed by Maha Barakat, Lucia Minniti, and Dekel Nahum. Crew members are Maha Barakat, Lucia Minniti, and Dekel Nahum. Actors are Lucia Minniti and Dekel Nahum.

Identifying Snps Frequencies In Genetic Data Of De-Identified Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Patients For Potential Diagnostic Biomarker Establishment, Pallavi Samudrala, Melanie Perez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) is a debilitating disease with unknown causes. It is known that Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNPs) play an important role in gene expression. Changes to that can manifest as phenotypic changes. Prior to this ongoing study, there existed no known databases of SNPs in patients diagnosed with ME/CFS.Our objectives are to create and continually update a novel database of SNPs that are specific for ME/CFS patients, and to analyze the relative frequency significance in our cohort of specific SNPs. A genetic database was created on- site through the use of a secure user-friendly online platform, REDCap©, …

Masterpiece, Sarah Goltsman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This film is about a spoken word poem by Sarah Goltsman titled "Masterpiece." The poem itself deals with the themes of women's rights and suffrage as well as the too-common occurrence of sexual harassment and abuse. The central concept is that a woman's body often stops being her own, especially on college campuses. Throughout the reading of this piece, artwork and voices of other women of Nova Southeastern University are shown to promote the idea that women are more than just their bodies. They are their minds, and that is not shaken by the hands of other people. With the …

Histology Of Gonad Tissue In A Sequential Hermaphrodite Fish, Qaas Shoukat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The hogfish (Lachnolaimus maximus) is a sequential hermaphrodite. It is protogynous: on reaching sexual maturity hogfishes are all female, and transition to male on reaching a size of 30cm (at about 3 years of age). This transition is marked by a change in coloration (from drab and tan to orange with dark bands) and a major restructuring of gonadal tissue as it transforms from ovaries to testes. However, the histological changes associated with this transition have not been sufficiently documented. Therefore, hogfish gonad histology was examined in relation to fish length, age, condition, and coloration. Hogfishes were collected by spear …

Heavy Metal Concentration In Loggerhead (Caretta Caretta) And Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia Mydas) In Broward County, Jenna Klingsick

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Seven extant species of sea turtles are either threatened or endangered and one of the leading causes for their population decline is believed to be pollution. Heavy metals are a potential contaminant and their concentrations can be influenced by anthropogenic effects. An accumulation of non-essential heavy metals and an excessive amount of essential heavy metals can have life-threatening effects on these organisms. Concentrations of 9 heavy metal concentrations from loggerhead and green sea turtle eggshells turtles are used as a proxy for adult female turtles which nest along Broward County beaches. An Atomic Absorption spectrophotometer is used to test for …

Feasibility Of Using Bluetooth Low Energy Beacon Sensors To Detect Magnifier Usage By Low Vision Patients, Rakin Khan, Rakin Khan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Purpose: Bluetooth low energy beacons are an emerging technology involving sensors that record temperature and humidity, which we hypothesize could be used to collect data from low vision patients regarding their usage of optical magnification devices. This could help ascertain device abandonment in a timely manner to prompt a telerehabilitation session to resolve issues. We evaluated whether Bluetooth beacon data could indicate when low vision patients used hand-held optical magnifiers for reading.

Methods: We recorded temperature and/or humidity data from Estimote sticker and BlueMaestro Tempo DiscTM beacons attached to optical magnifiers used for reading by low vision patients in clinic …

Do Bilinguals Have An Advantage Over Monolinguals When It Comes To Executive Functions?, Stephanie Hernandez, Trixie Berthin, Morgan Musgrove

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The prefrontal cortex regulates processes necessary to support goal directed behaviors. These processes, known as executive functions (EF), include shifting ability, inhibitory control, and updating. Moreover, the prefrontal cortex is believed to be essential for language control in people who speak more than one language. That is, leading theorists propose non-target language is inhibited when a bilingual speaks. In support, prior research from our laboratory has shown differences favoring bilinguals over monolinguals in neural inhibitory control. In this study, we speculated that bilinguals would not only outperform monolinguals on tests of inhibition, but that a bilingual advantage would also extend …

Undetected Exoplanet Populations In The Galaxy, Alisha Rickman, Alex Wild

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The observation of stars and their planets in our galaxy have been made significantly easier with the advent of more efficient telescopes in ideal locations lacking light pollution. Exoplanets, however, are still difficult to identify because of the limitations of technology. Thus, a large fraction of exoplanets has not been detected. In this poster, we explore the populations of exoplanets that slip though current observations. We discuss what exoplanets will be discovered by more sensitive telescopes and advances in observation technologies. We describe the properties of these populations and ultimately show how common these exoplanets are.

On Stigmatizing The Sick: Susan Sontag, Sierra Sandler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This oral presentation applies Susan Sontag’s ideas to sick population stigmatization. Building on Sontag’s Illness as a Metaphor and AIDS and Its Metaphors, the presenter evaluates Sontag’s claimsthat language and metaphors individuals use to describe ill populations often lend an otherwise hidden hand to our damaging views of them. In her essays, Sontag has drawn on a personal battle with cancer, the views on the AIDS epidemic of the 1980s, and the cultural and societal ramifications growing out of that panic that still perpetuate in modern day. While such medieval concepts still have their grasp on global public health, Sontag …

The Hottest Fashion To Conquer College, David Naranjo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“The Hottest Fashion to Conquer College” is a short film in which the protagonist gets ready for his firstday of class and doesn’t know what to wear. He wishes he had a fashion “guru” to help find the perfect outfit. Out of nowhere, two fashion “gurus” come out and help him pick outfits. However, instead ofserious outfits for the occasion, they tell the protagonist crazy/dumb outfit tips for the situation (e.g., wearing a sports jacket with a shirt cut in half and calling it business casual). However, they realize that they did not make any fashion choices for women, after …

“Delacroix 1830-Chaos And Purpose” And Its Inherent Surrealism, Kathleen Crapson

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The varied collection of the Boca Raton Museum of Art houses many elaborate pieces. “Delacroix 1830-Chaos and Purpose” (stylized as “Chaos and Purpose”) is no exception. Created by Larry Rivers in1993, “Chaos and Purpose” is an “oil painting on canvas that is mounted to sculpted foam board” that sits 80 1/4 x 98 1/4 inches. Although based upon “Le 28 juilet: La Liberté guidant le people [July 28:Liberty Leading the People]” (stylized as “Liberty Leading the People”) by Eugene Delacroix, Larry Rivers made crucial edits to the original to craft a unique piece. Distinct features of “Chaos and Purpose” correlate …

Evaluating The Efficiency Of The Clorox® Total 360®System To Eliminate Bacteria On Hard-To- Reach Surfaces, Mithun Mathew, Alina Philip, Taha Siddiqui

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Electrostatic Sprayers have gained popularity in a wide range of industrial settings, ranging from pest to bacterial control for both agricultural and commercial use. The Clorox® Total 360®System uses an industrial electrostatic sprayer that adds a charge to the liquid particles of the Clorox® Total 360® Disinfectant and thus enhances the disinfectant’s ability to adhere to surfaces. The goal of this investigation was to test the efficacy of the Clorox® Total 360®System in delivering Clorox® Total 360® Disinfectant Cleaner to hard-to-reach surfaces and to determine if the ionized disinfectant particles can wrap around objects to kill bacteria on the front …

Stability Studies Of F16 And Jfd In Lipophilic And Pbs Formulations In Different Storage Conditions, Mrunal Shah, Neal Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The term "Angiogenesis" implies the formation of new blood vessels. In cancer cells, angiogenesis plays a critical role in the cell growth and in the spread of cancer. F16 and JFD, two drugs patented by Dr. Appu Rathinavelu, specifically inhibit vascular endothelial growth factor receptors (VEGFRs). These drugs are going to be tested in clinical trials but first must undergo drug stability testing of the existing formulations. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the stability of F16 and JFD in order to determine the storage conditions in which the therapeutic activity of the drugs will be maintained. …

The Effects Of Pre- And Post-Exercise Cooling On Performance, Irfan Khan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of post-exercise Cold Water Immersion (CWI) on muscle performance. Methods: Participants (N = 20) underwent baseline measurement and intervention administration. In 24-hours participants repeated measurements, performed High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT), and receiving the intervention. In 48-hours participants retook measurements. The CWI group was immersed in an ice tub for 15 minutes, while the control group received nothing. The Likert scale measured muscle soreness, while the Sit-n-Reach, Vertical Jump, Squat 1-Repetition Maximum (1RM), 5-10-5 shuttle, and 10-yard dash measured muscle performance. Results: A significant difference was found in agility, strength, …

Performance Evaluation Of Inferior Vena Cava Filters, Felipe Souza

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a major cause of death and morbidity in the world. Conventional treatments for embolisms include anti-coagulant drugs (Warfarin® or Heparin®), clot anti-thrombotic therapy (streptokinase®), bypass surgery, and thrombo-aspiration. In cases where the patient shows contraindication, failure or complication to anticoagulation drugs, the patient usually receives an inferior vena cava filter (IVCF). Despite its increase in popularity, complete and exhaustive blood flow analysis need to be performed for scenarios that can lead to IVCFs failure. Such scenarios include basket over- filling and filter tilting, among others. This study was conducted to analyze the average blood flow velocity, …

A Search For Type Iii Secretion System Inhibitors Produced By Soil Bacteria, Miguel Portales Guemes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Due to the misuse of antibiotics, antibiotic resistant bacteria have become prevalent in modern day. To circumvent this, instead of directly affecting bacterial growth with antibiotics, the virulence factors can be targeted. Type III secretion system (T3SS) pathogens exude toxins through needle-like protrusions found on their cell membrane. If the secretion of these toxins is inhibited, then the severity of the illness will be reduced. The purpose of this research is to find a T3SS inhibitor for pathogens through the analysis of soil bacteria. While T3SS pathogens are known to target humans, many are soil-dwelling plant pathogens. By studying the …

The Clinical And Economic Costs And Benefits Of Continuous Glucose Monitoring, Mira Salama

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study is to investigate the economic and clinical costs and benefits of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) for type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients based on current literature. Continuous glucose monitoring is a new technology that allows patients to measure glucose levels in real-time throughout the day and night. A tiny electrode, called a glucose sensor, is inserted under the skin to measure glucose levels in tissue fluid; this sensor is connected to a transmitter that wirelessly sends blood glucose information to a monitoring device. Unlike a typical blood glucose monitor (BGM) which provides just a …

Florida’S Migrant Worker Industry: How Necessary Is This Evil?, Nafisa Nazir

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The United States’ of America’s development is rooted in a history of forced, intensive labor —annually, approximately 3 million migrant travel to the United States of America to cultivate much ofthe produce found in one’s local grocery store. One quarter of these aforementioned migrant workers are located in South Florida, with Broward County being home to a notable community of Haitian and Mexican migrant workers alike. The migrant worker industry provides low income laborers across the seas with a means of work — however via the deeply integrated system of debt peonage, immigrant families are often forced into stagnant cycles …

Exploring How Cell Phones Influence Behavior Across Cultures, Aldana Foigel, Toussaint Campbell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This film will explore how cell phone use has affected human interactions across select cultures by interviewing international students from different backgrounds. Smartphones, although relatively new, feel as if they have been around forever. While they allow people to be more productive and connected, they have also created a bubble that can separate people from their communities and environments. The impact of this phenomenon varies by culture.

The Relationship Between The Actn3 Genotype And Measures Of Stress, Exercise Performance And Body Composition, Sarah Knafo, Anya Ellerbroerk, Leonel Vargas

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was to assess the relationship between the expression of the ACTN3 gene (RR homozygous or RX heterozygous) and measures of stress, performance (i.e., bench press strength and endurance), and body composition. Strength was determined via a 1-RM (one- repetition maximum) for the bench press, and muscular endurance was determined by the number of repetitions to failure that were performed on the bench press at 60% of 1-RM. Body composition was assessed via a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). One hundred and five subjects completed the study ([mean ± SEM]: body weight: R/- group: 73.8 ± 1.7 …

The Current Volume 28: Issue 26, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

A New Species Of Cybianthus (Myrsinaceae) From The Cordillera Del Condor (Ecuador And Peru), John J. Pipoly Iii, Jon M. Ricketson

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Articles

Cybianthus condorensis Pipoly & Ricketson, a new species from the Cordillera del Condor of Ecuador and Peru, is described herewith. Because of its alternate, coriaceous, and revolute leaves; scattered to densely appressed lepidote branchlets, inflorescence rachises, and calyces; subsessile pistillate flowers; and sandy habitat, this species is easily recognized.

Collaboration, Creativity, Compromise, And Conclusion: U.S. Coast Guard Modifies The Port Of Miami Anchorage Area, Paul D. Lehmann

Marine & Environmental Sciences Faculty Proceedings, Presentations, Speeches, Lectures

No abstract provided.

Resveratrol And Pinostilbene Confer Neuroprotection Against Aging-Related Deficits Through An Erk1/2-Dependent Mechanism, Erika N. Allen, Sneha Potdar, Victor Tapias, Mayur Parmar, Cassia S. Mizuno, Agnes Rimando, Jane E. Cavanaugh

HPD Articles

Age-related declines in motor function may be due, in part, to an increase in oxidative stress in the aging brain leading to dopamine (DA) neuronal cell death. In this study, we examined the neuroprotective effects of natural antioxidants resveratrol and pinostilbene against age-related DAergic cell death and motor dysfunction using SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells and young, middle-aged, and old male C57BL/6 mice. Resveratrol and pinostilbene protected SH-SY5Y cells from a DA-induced decrease in cell viability. Dietary supplementation with resveratrol and pinostilbene inhibited the decline of motor function observed with age. While DA and its metabolites (DOPAC and HVA), dopamine transporter, and …

The Lli Chronicle Volume 9 Issue 2, Nova Southeastern University

Lifelong Learning Institute Newsletters

No abstract provided.

Nsu Sharks Rx-Spring, 2018, College Of Pharmacy

NSU Sharks Rx

Volume 3, Number 1

The Importance Of Preventative Medicine In Conjunction With Modern Day Genetic Studies, Sierra Sandler, Lauren Alfino, Mir Saleem

Biology Faculty Articles

Genetic screening in the primary care setting is the future of preventative medicine. Genetic testing is an important medical tool for assessing various inheritable diseases, conditions, and cancers. The ability to diagnose patients before symptoms surface can help lessen the severity of symptoms and promote quality of life. However, genetic screening can cause psychological distress from the knowledge of test results, in some cases only serving to increase the risk of developing a condition due to stress. Genetic testing can be conducted anytime in life, even before birth. In this review, a compilation of genetic testing's definitions and boundaries, factors …

Women’S Lived Experience Of Pregnancy And Child Birth: Narratives From Pakistan, Rabia Ali, Ume Habiba, Hazir Ullah

The Qualitative Report

In Pakistan there are unique socio-cultural factors that contribute to women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth. This study explores Pakistani women’s experiences of pregnancy and childbirth an area that remains under researched in the country. Qualitative research was employed for data collection by using an un-structured interview guide. The informants included twelve women who had recently been through the childbirth process for the first and second time. The collected data reveals that women were unaware of the use of multi vitamins during pregnancy. They delayed physical check-ups with a gynaecologist. Women encountered challenges at work during pregnancy and encountered work …

The Current Volume 28: Issue 23, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Walking Dead Genealogy: Unsubstantiated Criticisms Of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (Qdas) And The Failure To Put Them To Rest, Kristi Jackson, Trena Paulus, Nicholas H. Woolf

The Qualitative Report

The authors conduct an exposé on the deterministic denunciations of Qualitative Data Analysis Software (QDAS) and how citation errors keep these criticisms alive. They use a zombie metaphor to describe more than two decades of battling these seemingly mindless assessments of QDAS that keep coming –despite their decay – and simply will not die. Focusing exclusively on the criticism of separation/distancing, which alleges that the computer and the software interfere with the researcher’s familiarity with the data, the authors trace one current strand of this criticism through a literature genealogy. Three citation errors (half-truth, proxy, and hearsay) are identified to …