Digital Commons Network^™

Rationalizing The Irrational Consumer: How Behavioral Economics Impacts Marketing, Hannah Farley

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Behavioral economics is studying the reasons why people make the economic decisions that they do, based on psychology. Before behavioral economics, most economists assumed consumers were rational in their decisions, which is a false assumption. Consumers are impacted by a variety of different sources to make the decisions that they do, which is why their choices can fluctuate and seem irrational. Marketing strategies can be influenced for the better by behavioral economics, by seeing the reasons why consumers may or may not choose a product and marketing the product based on these responses. This essay strives to explore different principles …

Continuous Dependence And Differentiating Solutions Of A Second Order Boundary Value Problem With An Average Value Condition, Samantha Major, Kaitlyn Seabrook

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Using a few conditions, continuous dependence, and a result regarding smoothness of initial conditions, we show that derivatives of solutions to the second order boundary value problem y’’

=f(x,y,y’),a

each of the boundary data ��1, ��1, ��2, c, d solve the associated variational equation with interesting boundary conditions. Of note is the second boundary condition with an average value condition.

Case Studies: Developing A Cost-Effective Approach To Treating Hiv In Africa, Afrin Naz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research is to investigate the cost-effectiveness of government-subsidized HIV intervention programs and its effects upon the labor force in Africa. This study will discuss how Africa became one of the densest regions in the world to fall victim to HIV/AIDS along with a discussion on the present framework of intervention programs and treatments and their shortcomings. One of the largest government-subsidized programs is the antiretroviral therapy (ART) offered to those who have already contracted HIV/AIDS. The ART treatment will be assessed as to how cost-effective it is and whether the incidence rate has truly fallen enough …

Academic And Emotional Intelligence In First Year College Students: A Research Proposal, Izabella Bass Klicsu, Victoria Biddle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The relationship between academic intelligence and emotional intelligence (EI) is essential for the success of first year college students. This research proposal reviews the literature on the teaching and learning of students in first year seminar type courses. Goleman’s (2001) 2x2 emotional competencies model of EI predicts recognition and regulation of self and other. The ability to recognize and regulate one’s emotions enhances student’s academic performance. The main purpose of the research study is to generate hypotheses about the measurement of emotional intelligence as it complements GPA.

Mineralogical Analysis Of Aeolian Dune Deposits, White River Badlands, South Dakota, Megan O'Connor

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The body of this abstract sample template contains important instructions that MUST be followed. Note the formatting above, including bold, spacing, and underlining. Your abstract (which is a summary of your project) goes here and should be no longer than 250 words. This document is single spaced and formatted in 12-point Times New Roman font. Your faculty sponsor must review and approve this abstract before submission. It should be uploaded along with your application using the appropriate naming convention (ProjectTitle.doc). Additionally, the body of the abstract must be aligned with the left margin, like this paragraph is.

Mathematical Approach To Understanding Consumer Behavior, Teodora Suciu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study examines the theory of consumer behavior, particularly the use of optimization within utility maximization. The science of economics deals with the behavior of economic agents: consumers, producers, and the government. Every consumer is assumed to allocate his or her income to different goods and services that he or she buys, so that the objective is optimized. Similarly, every business firm is assumed to allocate its resources so that its profits are optimized. Government agents are also assumed to allocate resources so that society’s benefits or welfare will be optimized. The resources necessary to satisfy unlimited human wants are …

Longevity Of Visual Improvements Following Electro-Stimulation Therapies And Efficacy Of Retreatment In Retinitis Pigmentosa Subjects, Marsha Zaman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: Roughly half of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) subjects who received Transcorneal Electrical Stimulation (TES) and 29% who receive electro-acupuncture developed significant improvements in vision during a small-scale randomized controlled trial by our group.

Methods: We longitudinally monitored four RP subjects for declining vision due to natural RP progression, at which time a retreatment course of six weekly TES sessions or 10 electro-acupuncture sessions was administered.

Results: A 44 y/o female improved from 20/665 to 20/66 in the worse eye following the initial course of TES, but diminished to 20/333 ten months later, at which time retreatment improved vision to 20/83. …

Interview, Shennel Warner

Undergraduate Student Symposium

As college students, we all have that dream job that we have been preparing for our whole lives. We spend time joining groups and organizations in hopes to prepare for that one special job. However, what happens if everything goes wrong and you don’t get the job?

Interview, follows a young woman who must relive her interview every day after it goes wrong. She must now find out the true intentions of this day. Does she continue to pursue the interview, even though it is destined to go wrong, or is there a bigger picture that she is missing? Interview, …

Isolation And Characterization Of Antibiotic Producing Bacteria From Storm Water Treatment Areas, Kayla Castellanos-Bristol, Taura Khorramshahi, Anupsinh Chauhan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

With the diminishing supply for new antibiotic drugs to fight the rising number of infections caused by drug-resistant pathogens, a novel program called the Small World Initiative (SWI) was developed. SWI is a collaborative research effort that combines scientific education with research. The research is performed by undergraduate students from select Universities throughout the world. The majority of antibiotics in current use originate from soil dwelling bacteria; thus, discovery of new antibiotics produced by soil microbes is used as a scientific driver to combat the antibiotic crisis. Microorganisms present in soils should change with the concentrations of nutrients found in …

Improving Functional Movement Patterns Reduces Pathomechanics In Competitive Distance Runners, Shivani Wood, Victoria Rushia, Natalie Bedell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Running related injuries are linked to faulty running biomechanics such as excessive hip adduction (HADD), hip internal rotation (HIR), knee valgus (KVAL), and contralateral pelvis drop (CPD). Functional movement pattern (FMP) training is a novel intervention used by clinicians to correct underlying FMPs (stepping, squatting) with the aim of affecting more sport specific mechanics. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of an 8-week FMP corrective program to reduce pathomechanics in six runners with dysfunctional FMPs. We used paired t-tests to evaluate changes in peak motion in degrees for HADD, HIR, KVAL, and CPD; and total Functional …

Examining The Stress-Gut Microbiome Interface In A Human Population, Eileen Davidson, Reaghan May, Sarah Lyle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diverse symbiotic microbial communities are harbored on and within most eukaryotic host organisms, including humans as “microbiomes”. The human gut microbiome represents one of the best-studied microbial communities in nature. Recent research on the gut has indicated that the microbiome can influence human behavior, metabolism, and disease states. However, it currently remains unclear as to how the diversity in the gut microbiome may affect stress. To address this open question, we sought to sample gut microbiome from two populations of participants: stressed and non-stressed males. Neurobehavioral measures of emotion processing and cognition were assessed through the NIH Toolbox platform and …

Evaluation Of Fak And Mdr1 Crosstalk In Platinum Resistant Ovarian Cancer Cells, Keerthi Thallapureddy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Platinum resistance continues to be a major challenge in the chemotherapeutic management of ovarian cancer. Increased phosphorylation of a tyrosine kinase, Focal Adhesion Kinase (FAK) has been implicated in the development of this platinum resistance. A multidrug resistant gene (MDR1) codes for the P-glycoprotein, a protein that plays an important role in the chemotherapeutic resistance of the platinum resistant ovarian cancer cells. Therefore, it was suspected that there may be an intracellular link between FAK and MDR1 that can determine the drug resistance and consequent escape from the cytotoxicity of the drugs in ovarian cancer cells. Hence, it is hypothesized …

Dollar, Brianne Bailey, Grace Ducanis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Although many of us live seemingly unconnected lives, separated by social and economic stratospheres, we are often linked through commonplace objects and locations. A dollar bill, for example. A dollar bill survives an average of 5.9 years, according to the Federal Reserve. By some estimations, it can change hands 110 times a year. And while a dollar’s economic value doesn’t change much from wallet to wallet, a dollar can change the people who carry it.

Does Stress Hurt Everyone? Individual Differences In Susceptibility To Psychosocial Stressors, Lauren Gispert, Alyssa Boltson, Samantha Rodriguez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Despite the critical role working memory plays in controlling attention, when people experience negative or stressful life events working memory task performance is impaired (Klein & Boals, 2001). Further, daily variation in stress corresponds to variation in working memory performance (Sliwinksi, Smyth, Hofer, & Stawski, 2006). In contrast to robust findings that stress impairs working memory, recent evidence suggests there are individual differences in susceptibility to stress manipulations (Plieger, et al., 2016). To examine this, the current study randomly assigned one hundred NSU undergraduates to either a speech or control condition. Participants in the speech condition gave a three- minute …

Differences In Jump Height And Reactive Strength Index-Modified In Dancers And Non-Dancers Performing The Vertical Jump From Two Positions, Sarah Hutcher

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The vertical jump (VJ), the gold standard for assessing leg power, is most commonly performed from a squat stance (SS). However, dancers often initiate jumps/leaps from a plié, externally rotated from the hip or “turned out” (TO). Testing dancers from a SS may not indicate activity specific power. This study’s purpose was to determine differences in jump height and leg explosiveness, as measured by reactive strength index-modified (RSI-mod) when performed from TO and SS positions in dancers and non-dancers. Thus far, five healthy participants who are physically active at least ten hours/week have been studied; three dancers, having at least …

Whey Versus Casein Protein Supplementation On Body Composition And Resting Metabolic Rate, Kristain Mejia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research shows the benefits of Whey Isolate Protein Powder (Whey) and Casein Protein Powder (Casein) supplementation in regards to body composition and resting metabolic rate; however, minimal research exists comparing Whey to Casein supplementation. Purpose: The purpose of the current study is to compare Whey versus Casein in regards to body composition and resting metabolic rate. Methods: 12 physically trained, healthy individuals (22±4.1 yrs.; 8 males; 4 females) completed a randomized two condition [Combat 100% Isolate (Whey) versus Combat 100% (Casein) intervention. The intervention consisted of subjects supplementing on either Whey or Casein in conjunction with resistance training over a …

Quantitative Measurement Of Learning In Caenorhabditis Elegans In Response To An Engineered Nematicidal Bacterium, Pallavi Velagapudi, Krunal Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Despite their global prevalence, there are very few strategies to prevent infections due to parasitic nematodes. Recent studies have shown that bacteria engineered using the principles of synthetic biology may serve as an alternative approach to intoxicating nematodes. While these engineered bacteria were initially shown to be relatively efficacious in intoxicating the model nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, the nematodes quickly learned to avoid the engineered bacteria through aversive associative learning. In this study, we sought to use nematode learning assays to quantify the ideal amounts of toxin and attractant required to reduce aversive learning of C. elegans towards the engineered nematicidal …

Me/Cfs Genes Study: Creating A De-Identified Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Genomic Database And Analyzing Snps Frequency Trends For Potential Diagnostic Biomarker Establishment, 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 identify the relative frequency in our cohort of specific SNPs warranting further

A genetic database was created on-site through the use of a secure user-friendly online …

Impact Of Mdm2 On The Expression Level Of Xiap On Various Cancer Cell Lines, Kyle Bolston, Christopher Garcia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Transcription of the mouse double minute 2 homolog (MDM2) gene is amplified during cancer development and continues through disease progression. X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP)- MDM2 heterodimerization occurs when XIAP binds to the RING domain of the MDM2. This interaction is a pro-cancerous mechanism, which counteracts the cellular stress caused by cancer therapy, and plays a significant role in the stabilization of MDM2 and related functions. Additionally, XIAP inhibits the pro-apoptotic proteins caspase 3, 7 and 9; which are key factors in intrinsic cellular apoptosis. The objective of the study is to test the effect of MDM2 inhibitor RG7388 …

Galaxy Morphology Classification System, Lennox Francis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Citizen scientists are becoming more and more important in helping professionals working through big data. An example in astronomy is crowd sourced galaxy classification. But how reliable are these classifications for studies of galaxy evolution? We have created a tool that allows us to use crowd sourced data from college students to investigate morphological classifications and compare the data against existing professional classifications. User generated data is prone to error and comparing said data against a professional classification allowed us to establish a margin of error, which we then corrected using machine learning. The program was coded using C++, the …

How Peripheral Substitutions Affect Porphyrin Basicity, Alfredo Lam, Fady Guigati

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Using H2TPP as a central reference, a set of proton competition studies of free base octa alkyl and meso substituted porphyrins were carried out. The H2TPP was selected since it has a large absorption for dication at 650 nm. The octa alkyl substituted porphyrins used in this study were H2OEP, H2OMP and H2etio1; selected because they are a good representation of natural occurring porphyrins. H2TPP, H2TBPP, H2DPP, and H2TTFMPP, using different arrangements on substitution, where also investigated to further study their meso substitution effect on basicity. The results against the H2OEP produces the free base H2OEP, the dication H4OEP+2 and …

We Are All Human, Lekha Mutyala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diversity is an ongoing topic of conversation in the United States of America today. What exactly entails diversity? What are some examples of racism, prejudice, and injustice in a society that promotes freedom of speech and encourages a melting pot? The presentation addresses features of diversity as they appear in a few historical and contemporary events. Through a rhythmic re-telling, the accounts establish the core identity of who everyone is despite differences. The presentation’s objective is to analyze components of diversity and to display results in an unexpected format.

Fluorinated Porphyrin Interactions In Cancer Cells, Brandon Golub, Rony Saleeb

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photodynamic therapy is a contemporary cutting-edge cancer treatment that is currently being studied intensely. A common agent used in photodynamic therapy is a manufactured porphyrin molecule. Porphyrin molecules are activated when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, and upon activation, either cellular apoptosis or tissue necrosis occurs. Through the alteration of the chemical structure of a porphyrin molecule, differing outcomes take place in the development of the cancer treatment. Careful examination of fluorinated porphyrin derivative compounds can be implemented in order to determine applicable compounds for treatment.

Heavy Metal Contamination At Unregulated Target Shooting Sites In The Everglades, Megan Bruce, Stacey Spadafore

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Heavy metals such as lead and copper can negatively impact organisms and the environment exposed to the pollution. These metals can enter the environment in many ways; for example, hazardous waste, discarded sporting gear, leaded gasoline, pesticides, or roadways. A heavily used, unregulated target range was discovered in the Everglades. This location, Krome Avenue, is unregulated and bullets and shell casings litter the area. We hypothesize that the Krome Avenue range will have higher levels of lead and copper than control sites. Water, soil, plant, and invertebrate samples were collected from the site to identify if any metal pollution is …

Don't Hug Me I'M Scared: Sense Or Cents?, Adam Deross

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In 2011, British artists Becky Sloan and Joseph Pelling released the first episode of what would become a viral YouTube sensation. The short film series “Don’t Hug Me I’m Scared” has over 42 million views on its first episode alone. I completed an analysis paper on the series putting forth my explanations and theories on the small details and plotline of the ambiguous and open series. Through my oral presentation, I aim to help others think a little bit more critically about this art form and what implications it holds for the real world.

The Effects Of Video Gaming With A Brain-Computer Interface On Mood And Stress, Francisco Javier Carrera Arias

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous research has shown that video game playing can alter psychological processing. Noninvasive, but cognitively challenging, video games (e.g. Tetris) have been shown to reduce intrusive memories following a traumatic event. This application has been thought of as a “cognitive vaccine” wherein the limited processing resources following a traumatic event are redistributed to the video game task. Emerging video game apparatuses include brain-computer interfaces (BCI’s) where scalp-recorded electroencephalographic (EEG) data are used to control different aspects of the game. It is possible that BCI-driven video games can serve as a useful addition to video game “cognitive vaccine” treatment following emotional …

The Influence Of A Serotonin 2a Receptor Gene (Htr2a) On Stress Responsivity., Akshay Naraine

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A single nucleotide polymorphism on the serotonin 2A receptor gene HTR2A (rs6313) alters neurological functions. Previous research has shown that the “A” allele carriers are at greater risk for increased stress responsivity. It is currently uncertain the extent to which rs6313 affects physiological and psychological responses. To address this uncertainty, we carried out a study with the hypothesis that “A” allele carriers on the serotonin 2A receptor gene would have increased physiological and psychological stress responsivity. The groups did not differ on any self-report measures of anxiety or sensation seeking. There was no difference between the groups on cortisol before …

The Effect Of Sucralose On The Inhibition Of Three Bacteria Species That Inhabit The Human Gut, Kristi Njaravelil, Avidor Gerstenfeld

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this experiment is to examine the proposed bacteriostatic (growth-inhibition) effect of sucralose, a minimally metabolized, non-nutritive, and non-caloric sweetener on three species of bacteria commonly found in the human gut. Sucralose has been shown to inhibit the growth of environmental bacteria likely due to the inhibition of the invertase enzyme, which is involved in the breakdown of sucrose. This study attempts to replicate this finding with bacterial species associated with the human gut microbiome and to test if the bacteria are still susceptible to growth inhibition by sucralose while in a monosaccharide rich environment, such as with …

The Darker Side Of Education: The College Affordability Crisis, Paulette Fuerst, Kunal Karmilkar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

According to the National Center for Policy Analysis, college prices have increased by 175% (Gonzalez, O’Sullivan, 2010). As a result, the total student debt surpasses more than $1.2 trillion in 2015 (Schoen, John, 2015). The college affordability crisis is based off of the ubiquitous high price of college tuition that continues to rise over the years. Thus, it is imperative that college students are aware of today’s exponential growth of both debt and college cost, because it disrupts students from having a sustainable economic future.

Analyzing the socio-economical aspects of college affordability allows us to comprehend the impact of high …

Stress, Cognitive Functioning, Mind Wandering, And Mindfulness: A Latent Variable Examination, Edward Zacka, Lindsay Craig

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Stress is a common facet of daily life. Unfortunately, a clear pattern of a negative impact of stress on a variety of cognitive functions has emerged. For instance, psychological stress has been shown to impair working memory (Banks & Boals, 2016; Klein & Boals, 2001) and perceived stress and PTSD symptoms have been linked to poorer self-report everyday cognitive functioning (Boals & Banks, 2012). Mind wandering—or thoughts unrelated to the current task —increases as a result of daily stressors and increases in mind wandering lead to decreases in cognitive functioning (Banks & Boals, 2016). Mindfulness meditation training improves working memory …