Digital Commons Network^™

Diabetes Progression: From Statistical Analysis To Mathematical Modeling, Sandeep Dronavalli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diabetes constitutes one of the leading neuroendocrine conditions with nearly 9.4 % of the US population showing symptoms of it. Noteworthy, type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90 to 95 % of all cases. It is a chronic disease, and the clinical manifestations include hyperglycemia (prolonged blood glucose levels above normal), hyperinsulinemia (excess levels of insulin circulating in the blood) along with insulin resistance. This presentation includes a statistical analysis based on a cohort of 440 individuals where both, demographic and laboratory measurements are included. Based on these results, a mathematical model accounting for the obtained associations is solved. It …

Exploring Alternative Binding Locations Of 5-Ht Antagonist Ketanserin In Microtubules; Implications For Future Research, Caleb Siguenza, Tatum Hedrick

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Recently, it’s been demonstrated that classic psychedelic action is mediated via intracellular mechanisms rather than action at membrane receptors. This intracellular action elicits neuroplastic effect. The conclusion is that these effects are due to activation of intracellular 5-HT2AR based on using ketanserin as a selective antagonist based on its selectivity to bind to the membrane 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, neuroplasticity is dependent upon multiple mechanisms and signaling cascades including the dynamics of neuronal microtubules. As the targets of ketanserin’s biological intracellular activity are not fully elucidated, here we investigate the binding potential of ketanserin to domains of the microtubule constituent …

How The Molecular Vibrations Of Water May Prevent Skin Cancer, Jarlynn Ramirez, Angelina Georg, Colette Costello, Mahi Desai, Sandeep Dronavalli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies have shown that when DNA absorbs ultraviolet light it can become structurally damaged leading to a mutation and possibly skin cancer. However, exposing skin to sunlight rarely leads to a mutation. This indicates that after the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the DNA the energy from the light can either cause a structural change to the DNA (a mutation) or be dissipated in a way that does not damage the DNA. Absorption of ultraviolet light causes molecular vibrations in DNA and these vibrations are what likely leads to structural changes in the DNA. One way the structural changes could …

In Their Own Words: Collaborative Assessment Of Undergraduate Intellectual Curiosity, Amenia Farraj, Jaylynn Sylvain

Undergraduate Student Symposium

For the last decade, college enrollment across the U.S. has trended downward, which has been attributed to factors including increased college tuition and impacts of the pandemic (Welding, 2022). Others predict that digital technologies like AI will end academia as younger generations lean less into their intellectual curiosity (Marche, 2022). Yet, some universities like Nova Southeastern University have seen an increase in enrollment even while college enrollment generally declined by 7% between 2019 and 2022 (Welding, 2022). Much of these educational forecasts do not come from students but from older generations who sense a shift in how students learn. By …

Influence Of Variables On Vaping Behaviors Among College Students, Michelle Tiji

Undergraduate Student Symposium

E-cigarette use among youth in the United States has increased in the past decade, with the majority of vaping advertisements targeting adolescents and young adults. There are a multitude of individual, interpersonal, and community-level risk factors that influence the uptake of vaping behaviors. This study investigated the influence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and parental/guardian vaping and smoking history on vaping behaviors among undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Additionally, this study evaluated the extent to which vaping history influences the perceived effectiveness of anti-vaping advertisements. A survey was administered to current students to measure their vaping behaviors and …

Modeling The Binding Of Tetrodotoxin And Saxitoxin To The Nav1.7 Voltage-Gated Sodium Channel, Smrithi Mukund, Isabella Fiore, Laasya Buddharaju

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Approximately 1.5 billion people suffer from chronic pain, with 68 million people suffering in the U.S alone. Chronic pain is pain that persists longer than 12 weeks despite medication or treatment. Within the U.S. about 5.5 million cancer patients experience chronic pain. Around 20% of these pains have neuropathic origins and develop from radiation therapy. Halneuron, a new drug in development, seeks to provide pain relief to those suffering from chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain. This drug includes Tetrodotoxin (TTX), a potent neurotoxin found in species of pufferfish. Our 3D-printed model displays the structural details of TTX as a pore blocker within …

Survivorship And Bleaching Prevalence Of Nursery-Grown Massive Stony Corals In Southeast Florida, Emma Horton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coral cover on Florida’s reefs has severely declined due to anthropogenic stressors. A major impact on corals is thermal bleaching, where corals expel their endosymbiotic microalgae, leaving them vulnerable to mortality. Some coral species are more resilient to thermal bleaching and thus may be prime candidates to support coral reef restoration. This study examines post-bleaching survivorship of massive stony coral species in Nova Southeastern University's offshore nursery to identify which species to include in future restoration efforts. In September 2022, 172 fragments (<3cm dia) from six massive species were secured on cement pucks and deployed to mid-water PVC trees in the nursery. Over a 14- month period, the survival and bleaching prevalence of each species were recorded during four monitoring time points. After 14 months in the nursery, total fragment survivorship was 80%, with Pseudodiploria strigosa experiencing the highest survival (100%) and Orbicella favelota experiencing the lowest (61%). Water temperature was …

Nsu Resource Guide For Gender Diverse Students, Helene R. Fisher, Meghana Jagarlamudi

Diversity Summit

No abstract provided.

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

Bioinformatics

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

Weight Bias In Workforce, Nadia Mazinani, Nakiya Cortijo

Diversity Summit

No abstract provided.

The Diversity Round Table Discussions Joins The 2024 Diversity Summit: Legislative Update And Bedi, Elizabeth Swann

Diversity Summit

No abstract provided.

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter Volume 5 | Issue 1, National Oceanic And Atmospheric Administration (Noaa) Coral Reef Conservation Program

National Coral Reef Management Fellowship Newsletter

No abstract provided.

The Blurry Line Between Corporation And Cult: A Retrospective Autoethnographic Study, Ernst Graamans

The Qualitative Report

In popular management literature corporations are sometimes loosely compared to cults. The comparison is a severe allegation as it implies the transgression of subordinate employees’ integrity. This paper explores to what extent such comparisons with cults are warranted as well as the implications this has for the practice of corporate culture management. On grounds of the author’s unique, first-hand experience in both corporate and cultic environments a retrospective autoethnographic (RAE) approach was chosen to further explore the supposed resemblance. The comparison is structured along Lifton’s eight criteria of thought reform and reveals that although akin to cults in all aspects …

The Current - Volume 34 Issue 11, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Benefits Of Peer Visitation On The Rehabilitation Of New Amputees: A Qualitative Study, Bruce N. Elliott, Caitlyn Ofiesh, Dpt, Shannon Morrisey Dpt, Julie Mulcahy Dpt, Kristina Economou Dpt, Dennis Beaudry Dpt

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: For the purpose of this study a peer visitor is being defined as someone who has experienced some type of limb loss and is now mentoring other amputees. Their focus is on health and recovery as opposed to illness as they listen, provide emotional support, and most importantly inspire hope in an individual who has experienced a new amputation. The primary purpose of this study is to examine the reports of amputees regarding their personal experiences related to whether they spoke with a peer visitor following surgery. The study focuses on the benefits of peer visitation and how it …

Pilot Study For Use Of An Arthrometer To Assess Joint Laxity In People With Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, Dawn T. Gulick, Valerie Iovine, Kerstin Palombaro

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: Joint hypermobility is a condition in which synovial joints move beyond normal limits. Approximately 10-25% of children and 5-25% of adults experience hypermobility syndrome. One such hypermobility syndrome is an inherited connective tissue disorder known as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS). Typically, a score of 4-5 out of 9 on the Beighton scale is indicative of hypermobility in adults. Whereas 6 out of 9 is the criteria for children. No significant correlations were found between the systemic features of EDS and the Beighton score. The purpose of this pilot study was to see if an arthrometer could be used …

Experiences Of Minoritized Learners In Preparation For Graduate Medical And Health Care Education, Ashley M. White, Lindsey E. Eberman, Matthew J. Drescher, Justin Young, Kenneth E. Games

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Context: Disparities in the healthcare system persist in society today, affecting both minoritized patients and providers. A diverse healthcare workforce is ideal to treat a patient population that is also becoming increasingly diverse. We examined the experiences of minoritized students pursuing healthcare-related degrees, including athletic training, in pre-medicine and healthcare professions. Methods: We used a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of 10 minoritized pre-medicine and healthcare profession students (age=20±2 years). Participants engaged in an online semi-structured interview (Zoom, San Jose, CA). All interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. We used a consensual qualitative research (CQR) approach with a 3-person …

Educational Lessons From A Pandemic: Lecture Recording And Learning Outcomes, Melissa Lesser, Lora Packel

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The use of lecture capture (LC) in higher education classrooms has increased, especially since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, its effectiveness as a learning strategy is largely untested in graduate students. In undergraduate students, the use of LC has mixed findings related to academic performance. Some studies show no improvement in assessment or course grades while others show small gains. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of LC on academic performance in graduate doctor of physical therapy students (DPT). Methods: In module 1, students received two virtual synchronous lectures which were recorded …

Student Perspectives On Transition From Bachelor’S To Master’S Degree For Professional Athletic Trainers: Advantages And Disadvantages, Bobbi A. Severt, Michael B. Phillips, Janet Kesterson Isbell

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to understand the perspectives of students interested in a career in athletic training on the degree change and what they perceive as advantages and disadvantages to pursuing a master's level professional degree in athletic training. Method: A case study was conducted using an interpretivism framework informed by a constructionism theoretical stance. A focus group of six current undergraduate pre-athletic training students and individual interviews of three pre-athletic training graduates along with current and historical documents were used to collect data. An inductive approach was used to analyze data along with reflexive thematic analysis …

The Current - Volume 34 Issue 10, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Special Education Teacher Preparation In Saudi Arabia: Qualitative Interview Design, Salman Almughyiri

The Qualitative Report

This study explored preservice special education teachers’ perceptions regarding special education teacher preparation courses, practicum, and evidence-based practices they recently completed. The participants of the study included five preservice special education teachers from two universities, Shaqra University and King Saud University, in Riyadh. A variety of qualitative interview designs, such as semi-structured interviews and in-depth interviews were employed to gather the data. This involved conducting a total of 15 interviews. Thematic analysis was used to analyze the data. Additionally, peer debriefing and member checks were used to increase the credibility of the study and help prevent personal bias. The study …

Agential Cuts For Justice: Honoring Complexity In Research Through Intersectional Design Dimensions, Nadia Behizadeh

The Qualitative Report

This article explores the complexity and challenges of making decisions regarding which theories and social categories (e.g. race, class) should be emphasized in justice-centered research that includes participants’ identities as key variables in the design. Drawing on theories of intersectionality, agential realism, and complexity, the author proposes four intersectional design dimensions to help justice-centered researchers honor complexity: reflection on self and purpose; making agential cuts; complexifying social categories; and intersectional and collaborative re-view. Each dimension is illustrated with theory and empirical examples, mostly drawing from the field of educational research. By attending to and continually revisiting agential cuts related to …

“You Take My Place; Let’S Switch!” What It Means To Be A Woman Powerlifter In Parasport, Aaron Carl S. Seechung, Maria Luisa M. Guinto

The Qualitative Report

Gendered disability in elite sport has emerged as a pertinent area of inquiry in sport psychology. However, qualitative research aimed at amplifying the voices of marginalized subgroups is notably sparse. Employing a phenomenological approach, we examined the lived experience of a Filipina para powerlifter, probing the intersection of gender, disability, and socioeconomic status in shaping how the participant made sense of life and identity, both within and outside the realm of sport. Three personal experiential themes were generated from the interview data's interpretative phenomenological analysis: “survival of the fittest,” “the voices in my head did not allow me to give …

Breaking Silence: Women And Men’S Experiences Of Preventing Ipv, Fatmeh Ahmad Alzoubi, Reem Ali

The Qualitative Report

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a serious problem in all cultures. This study aimed to identify Jordanian men’s and women’s strategies of preventing IPV using focus groups and open-ended questionnaires. Participants identified many strategies to prevent IPV, which fell within three themes: (1) shields of prevention; (2) understanding the triggers of IPV; and (3) resources of prevention. Participants described their opinions on preventing IPV and discussed the role of extended family, financial dependence, triggers of IPV, and coping strategies used by women. Preventing IPV requires substantial changes in the personal characteristics of men and women, communication skills, and law enforcement.

The Current - Volume 34 Issue 9, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

Thematic Analysis Through Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Prokopis A. Christou Phd

The Qualitative Report

Thematic analysis, a well-enforced qualitative analytic method, is likely to continue evolving with the adoption of AI technologies. This how-to report does not delve into the details of thematic analysis itself, as there are ample existing studies on the topic. Instead, it acknowledges the potential impacts, dynamics, and pitfalls of AI in thematic analysis while offering valuable advice, particularly for novice analysts, on how to incorporate and document AI tools in each phase of a thematic analysis. The author underscores the importance of not allowing AI to overshadow the analyst's critical evaluative and interpretive skills but instead supporting the use …

The Current - Volume 34 Issue 8, Nova Southeastern University

Student Newspapers

No abstract provided.

The Transmission Of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Kunjal Patel, Aleesha Thomas

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

The existence of Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OPSCC) has recently been found to have correlations with the Human Papillomavirus. HPV-associated OPSCC exhibits a unique method of infection and transmission and has made this branch an emerging disease in the recent decade. This systematic review of the literature was conducted to further explore research into Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Cancer (OPSCC). Commonly referred to as “throat cancer”, this growth originates in the oropharynx. Symptoms of this condition include sore throat, lumps in the neck, and difficulty with swallowing. OPSCC has many variants but has shown a strong association with Human Papillomavirus (HPV), …

Walking Toward The Demonumentalization Of Qualitative Research: A Collaborative Autoethnography Account While Producing An Educational Podcast, Carmen H. Guerrero-Nieto, Alvaro H. Quintero-Polo

The Qualitative Report

This article examines how two teacher educators, as researchers and as research teachers, engaged in a collaborative interpretation of their autoethnographies about questioning an instrumentalist and positivist research culture in the field of English Language Teaching (ELT). The autoethnographies simultaneously emerged from the research activities related to the production of a bilingual podcast named “Conversing about "Investigación Cualitativa.” Specifically, the authors conducted a qualitative study of autoethnographic and collaborative nature while working on their podcast. The data were individual written retrospective accounts, which were shared, discussed, and interpreted in online live meetings. The outcomes of the study were …

Determining The More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention For Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors, Jennifer J. Lanham

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract

Determining the More Effective Behavior Analytic Intervention for Children With Autism Who Exhibit Pica Behaviors. Jennifer J. Lanham, 2024: Applied Dissertation, Nova Southeastern University, Abraham S. Fischler College of Education and School of Criminal Justice. Keywords: autism, pica, eating disorders, intervention, applied behavior analysis

This dissertation was designed to determine which behavior analytic intervention was more effective in the treatment and reduction of mouthing non-nutritive substances in children diagnosed with autism. This study included four participants in an A-B-A reversal design with a component analysis across four intervention phases. The study participants were enrolled in a center-based treatment environment …