Digital Commons Network^™

Investigating The Presence And Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pop) In Alaskan Oncorhynchus Keta And Oncorhynchus Kisutch, Christopher Joseph, Srujan Miryala, Alisa Shapsis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are chemical substances that resist degradation and have a range of adverse effects that have been linked to detrimental health issues in both humans and wildlife. Their introduction into the environment stems from the extensive usage of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) for industrial and agricultural purposes. While their use was banned during the Stockholm Convention in 2004, their presence persists. Since 209 different congeners exist for both PCBs and PBDEs, the primary aim of this project is to identify the types and concentrations of POPs present in Chum salmon (Oncorhynchus keta …

Medicaid Expansion And State-Level Insulin Copay Caps, Renee L. Rowley

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Background: The rising cost of insulin poses a significant public health issue of accessibility among populations with diabetes. Several states have implemented state insulin copay caps (SICC) to mitigate out-of-pocket costs for insured individuals. This study examines the relationship between Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act and the implementation of SICC.

Methods: To determine whether Medicaid expansion is associated with states’ decisions to initiate SICC, we conducted a cross-sectional study among the 50 states and Washington, D.C. We used SICC status data from the American Diabetes Association and state-level demographics data from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 2021 County …

Assessment Of Brain Function And Personality Types On A Soccer Penalty Kick Performance In Women Collegiate Soccer Players, Emily Cabral

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The research study assesses women’s soccer players personality types and brain function while taking a soccer penalty kick using a wearable electroencephalograph (EEG) band. The EEG recorded major brain wave function during activity and the personality test identified different fields of emotions of how an individual perceives, processes and expresses emotions to distinct stimulus. Included in this study were participants from a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II women’s soccer players that completed a baseline personality test and baseline EEG device. Each participant then completed a series of penalty kicks wearing the EEG aiming for multiple targets in a …

Assessment Of Dna Methylation Pattern Differences Between Healthy And Obese Dogs Using A Cohort Of Golden Retrievers, Jordan Marriott

Undergraduate Student Symposium

It is essential to understand the mechanisms of aging and disease in dogs, especially in the role played by DNA methylation (DNAm). DNAm, an epigenetic modification, offers insights into biological age and disease progression, which are often linked to obesity and its comorbidities. This study addresses the growing prevalence of canine obesity, a major contributor to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases through the exploration of DNAm patterns to identify early biomarkers for disease detection. To find out how DNAm patterns differ between healthy and diseased dogs and whether these patterns can reveal biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment, researchers analyzed …

Census Of Non-U.S. Billfish And Swordfish Recreation Tournaments In The Iccat Convention Area, Kevin Rafferty

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Swordfish and istiophorid billfishes are large pelagic predators with circumglobal distributions. In the Atlantic Ocean, these economically valuable fishes are considered highly migratory species (HMS) and managed domestically by National Oceanographic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries and internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Internationally, swordfish has long supported primarily commercial fisheries but is increasingly targeted by recreational fisheries; although occasionally landed as incidental catch, istiophorid billfish fisheries are primarily fished recreationally. In the U.S. Atlantic, NOAA Fisheries regulates HMS fisheries, including mandatory recreational tournament registration and monitoring. Commercial landings are often reported to ICCAT, but …

Climactic Transition And Loess Transport In The White River Badlands, South Dakota, John Nichols, Victor Pomales Pinto, Iyanla Reid, Lillie Suthers

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Great Plains is one of the most important agricultural regions in the world. However, the semiarid climate makes the region vulnerable to drought and climate change. Safeguarding this critical resource will depend on forecasting the timing and magnitude of climatic transitions and drought events. This study investigates dust deposition during the climate transition from the last glacial period into the modern interglacial period (Late Pleistocene to Holocene) in the White River Badlands (WRB), South Dakota. Preliminary radiocarbon evidence indicates significant dust deposition began around 25,000 years ago (25 ka), coinciding with the coldest time during the last glacial period …

Synthesizing Ferrocene Bipyridine Adducts For The Creation Of New Metal Based Photosensitizing Complexes, Gabrielle Spankus, Jarlynn Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Metal-based photosensitizers commonly use bipyridine molecules and their ligands. Their absorption and chemical properties can be tuned through substitutions. This study synthesized a ferrocene appended 2,2 -bipyridine dimer (Fc-bipy2-Fc) using palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction to create new photosensitizing molecule that could further complex with metals such as ruthenium to enhance photophysical and electronic properties. The product was purified by flash chromatography and characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Structure-Activity Relationship Of Potent Diaryl Acrylonitrile Resveratrol Analogs, Brianna Calderon, Alma Partenza, Neha Jasti, Saya Seraj, Nhi Van, Daniela Otero-Wincher, Elaine Chen, Xavier Pantig, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Eduardo Véliz Ph.D., Steven Vanni Ph.D., Venkatesh Shanbhag Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that presents significant treatment challenges due to its infiltrative nature and therapy resistance. Elimination of GBM stem cells (GSCs), which drive tumor progression and treatment resistance, is essential for a successful outcome. Resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound with anticancer properties, shows limited therapeutic potential due to poor bioavailability, prompting the development of more potent analogs. In this study, 80 diaryl acrylonitrile RSV analogs were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation and evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward GSCs using MTS assay. Among these compounds, E03 exhibited notable activity, with an average GSC IC50 value of 106 …

Trends And Disparities In Preventative Oral Health Across Demographics: Unveiling And Analyzing 24 Years Of Data In The Us (1999-2023), Tania Anousheh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Oral health is a fundamental component of our overall well-being. Not only can it greatly influence our physical health but also the emotional, psychological, and socioeconomic aspects of our lives. Despite advancements in dental care, we have noted that there is limited research on how demographic factors impact our oral health behaviors, with underrepresented populations often excluded from large-scale studies. Recognizing this critical gap, we will examine trends in oral health preventive behaviors in the United States from 1999 through 2023, using data from over 106,289 surveys in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). We will use RStudio …

Unraveling The Complexities Of Gulf War Illness: Insights From Symptom Clustering And Laboratory Analysis, Anushka Agrawal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Gulf War Illness (GWI) is a chronic condition impacting a subset of veterans who served during the Gulf War of 1990–1991. Exposure to extreme stress, endocrine-disrupting chemical agents, and mild traumatic brain injuries (mTBI) has been implicated in the development of persistent and overlapping symptoms. Understanding the associations between symptoms and laboratory findings is critical for developing more effective therapeutic strategies.

In this study, observational analysis was conducted on a cohort of GWI veterans to explore potential biomarkers and symptom patterns. The dataset included self-reported health surveys (SF36, MFI-100), laboratory panels (cortisol stress tests, cytokine profiles, CD cells, lymphocytes, monocytes, …

Percent Cover Of Porifera Species On Red Mangrove Roots In Key Largo, Lindsay Scherer, Jayleen Spaulding, Charlotte Gifford, Marissa Langnickel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sponges (Porifera) and mangroves (Rhizophoraceae) have a mutualistic symbiotic relationship: the mangrove provides a stable habitat for the sponge and carbon needed for sponge growth, while the sponge provides inorganic nitrogen necessary for mangrove development. Understanding the relationship between these species is important because this relationship allows both to grow faster and thrive in their environment. This study used photographs of quadrats framing the target species to investigate the percent coverage of Porifera on mangrove (Rhizophora mangle) roots in John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in Key Largo, Florida. It was expected that there …

The Therapeutic Potential Of Telmisartan On Male And Female Mice Subjected To A High Fat Diet, Julianna Bonetti, Ariana Hernandez, Iliana Uribe, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Natalia Noto

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A high-fat diet gives rise to metabolic syndrome, a cluster of risk factors for developing obesity, type II diabetes, hypertension, and dyslipidemia resulting in cardiovascular disease. Overactivation of the brain renin-angiotensin system (b-RAS), mainly through the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT₁R), causes vasoconstriction and neuroinflammation, thereby increasing the likelihood of neurodegenerative disorders. Telmisartan, an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) that is selective for the AT₁R type, typically used to treat hypertension, can also reduce weight gain, while improving dyslipidemia and glucose metabolism in male mice fed a high-fat diet. However, whether telmisartan can reverse behavioral changes …

Women Reclaiming Identity In A Dehumanizing Healthcare System, Neelima Tyagi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This examination of two-twentieth century pathographies explores the transformative role of narrative in reclaiming identity within a dehumanizing healthcare system, with a focus on women’s experiences. By analyzing Cortney Davis’s essay, “Becoming Flora: When the Written Narrative Is Our Own,” and Amy Haddad’s poem, “What If They Said?” the comparative review underscores how women’s narratives of illness illuminate the challenges of navigating the roles of caregiver and patient. Davis recounts her personal journey as a caregiver crossing the fragile boundary into patienthood, emphasizing shared vulnerability and empathy as a means of redefining identity. Conversely, Haddad uses vivid metaphors to portray …

9 To 5 And Glucose High: The Connections Between Work And Pre-Diabetes, Nemo Thomas, Rosselyn Perez, Joshua K. Dumond

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The topic of this systematic review is to determine if there is an association between parental occupation and the prevalence of pre-diabetes in children (defined as a person under eighteen years of age). Globally, it is estimated that 537 million people between the ages of 20-79 live with diabetes. Diabetes is a disease that occurs when the blood glucose levels are higher than normal. There are two types of diabetes. Type one diabetes is an autoimmune disease caused by genetic predispositions and cannot be successfully mitigated through primary interventions. In contrast, type 2 diabetes can be prevented through primary interventions. …

Characterizing Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) And Other Freshwater Macroinvertebrates Of Negros, Philippines, Aidan Pflieger, Lhear Elloren, Robert Guino-O Ii, Ph.D., Chris Bird Ph.D., David Gauthier Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mayflies (Order: Ephemeroptera) and other aquatic macroinvertebrates are heavily understudied in the Philippines, and especially the province of Negros Oriental, despite making up a significant portion of biomass in freshwater ecosystems. The processes of morphological assessment and genetic barcoding of Ephemeroptera and other insect taxa sourced from three locations along the Malaunay River are described. The CO1 maternal mitochondrial gene was amplified via PCR and sequenced to DNA barcode specimens and construct a maximum likelihood phylogeny of taxa in the region. This study has generated foundational DNA barcoding data for Ephemeroptera biodiversity research in the Philippines, and there is …

Comparative Genomics Across Ganoderma Species To Identify Secondary Metabolite Clusters With Cytoxic Properties, Omobolanle Ayangade, Abril Chao, Emily Abraham, Maya Pasapuleti, Fatima Muhammad, Rajendra Pangeni Ph.D., Braham Dhillon Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Fungi in the genus Ganoderma have been widely studied in Chinese culture for their medicinal properties and promoting overall health and longevity. Our prior work on eight Ganoderma species showed that they contain Secondary Metabolite Clusters (SMCs) that code for multiple terpenes, betalactones, and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). These compounds are well known for their cytotoxic and anticancer potential. A specialized bioinformatics analysis tool, antiSMASH1, was used to identify and annotate SMCs that produce anticancer compounds in the eight Ganoderma genomes. To test the results obtained from the bioinformatics analysis, fungal extracts were prepared from G. lucidum …

Deciphering The Role Of 4hvt From Structure To Function, Stephanie Avelar, Kayle Mederos

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Proteins are molecules crucial to living organisms, as they drive catalytic reactions, cell communication, and cellular structures. Proteins play an important part in all biological processes, and understanding their structure and function is essential for advancing knowledge of life at the molecular level. The protein data bank (PBD) contains thousands of protein structures but many are not functionally characterized. In collaboration with the Seattle Structural Genomics Center for Infectious Disease, this research focuses on elucidating the function of , 4HVT, a hydrolase derived from Rickettsia typhi. The protein was isolated and analyzed using a combination of biochemical and computational …

Determining The Differences In Aquatic Community Structure Between Invasive Waterhyacinth And Native Pennywort In The Everglades And Lake Okeechobee, Indaya Byer, Roman Devlin, Mariía José Garcharná Ferro, Aashvi Gowrisankar, Reginald Kemspon Iii, Layla Lacelle, Ainsley Andoscia, Amanda Bogle, Jasmyn Todaro

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Waterhyacinth is an invasive floating plant that rapidly grows across aquatic environments, creating dense mats that disrupt ecosystems like the Everglades and Lake Okeechobee. Our prior observations showcased that waterhyacinth supports different fish and invertebrate species assemblages than the native plant species. More invertebrates, especially amphipods, are found in the roots of waterhyacinth than its native equivalent, pennywort. To determine what causes these patterns, we asked four different questions: whether waterhyacinth has a greater root surface area than pennywort, whether fish preferred native plant environments, whether dissolved oxygen (DO) levels were comparable, and whether predation rates were similar. Surface area …

How Framing Medical Treatments Affects Patient Risk-Taking Behavior, Deepthi Prince

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The framing effect, a psychological phenomenon in which decision-making is influenced by how information is presented, is crucial in understanding human behavior under risk. This study examined the influence of positive versus negative framing on risk-taking behavior in a medical context. This study hypothesized that participants exposed to positive framing (emphasizing success) would exhibit lower levels of risk-taking behavior, while participants exposed to negative framing (emphasizing failure) would display higher levels of risk-taking behavior. Participants chose between two hypothetical treatment options for a life-threatening illness, with framing manipulated accordingly. Decision-making was assessed through participant preference, confidence, and awareness of cognitive …

Impact Of Educational Attainment On Coronary Heart Disease Risk Among Black Individuals, Lyndzee Bensky

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coronary heart disease disproportionately affects Black individuals and is caused by the buildup of fatty acids in the heart. Research has shown a correlation between educational attainment and the diagnosis of coronary heart disease in Black individuals. Higher levels of education—ranging from high school diplomas to college degrees—may enhance individuals' understanding of health issues and preventive measures related to this disease. This study aims to explore the relationship between educational attainment and coronary heart disease among Black individuals. Using a cross-sectional study design, the researchers will analyze data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. The study will create an …

Investigation Children's Sensory Responses To Stressful Stimuli Using Eye Tracking Technology, Pearly Trivedi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have a challenging time navigating stressful situations. This can be connected to the differences in emotional regulation and sensory processing when compared to children who are neurotypical. Despite the research performed on ASD, there seems to be a gap in understanding how effectively children with ASD are able to reconnect with reality after experiencing an overstimulating environment. To bridge the gap, this study was performed to use advanced eye-tracking technology to gather objective data on key indicators such as facial expressions, pupil dilation, and eye movement patterns. By comparing the responses of …

Lower Extremity Kinematics And Injury Risk In Collegiate Cross-Country Runners, Arizel Sosa, Hope Laughlin

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Faulty stance-phase running kinematics such as decreased knee flexion (KFLEX) and excessive hip adduction (HADD), contralateral pelvis drop (CPD), and trunk lean (TL) have been linked to running related injuries (RRI) in recreational distance runners. Less is known about collegiate runners who typically have higher and more uniform training volumes. Thus, the study purpose was to prospectively determine if select kinematics could identify RRI risk in collegiate NCAA Division II runners. We conducted laboratory-based 3D biomechanical analyses of 22 runners (sex, 17♀, 5♂; age, 18-25 yrs; height, 1.7±0.1 m; mass, 60.4±8.9 kg) at their competitive season start and tracked RRI …

Media Representation And Public Perception Of Supreme Court Decisions, Estrella G. Romero Barriola

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research project explores how inadequate, or oversimplified media portrayals can distort public understanding of the United States Supreme Court’s (the Court) intricate decisions. Through a close examination of notable cases like Bush v. Gore and Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, in addition to other important rulings from the current 6-3 Court majority, the study investigates how partisan narratives and selective information shape public perception. It examines how media framing can obscure essential legal principles and foster misunderstandings about the judiciary’s function and neutrality. Furthermore, the project considers how the current Court, frequently viewed as favoring a particular ideological …

Modeling Nicotine, At-1001, & Varenicline At The α3β4 Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptor, Japji G. Madan, Mourya Khandai, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The escalating prevalence of nicotine addiction among adolescents has been linked to the increasing use of e-cigarettes, known as vapes. Approximately, 1.63 million students in the United States (ages 11-18) use vapes, reflecting a concerning trend of nicotine dependence among adolescents. Activation of the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can modulate the dopamine pathways in the mesolimbic system, increasing nicotine addictive behavior. A 3-D printed molecular model was prepared using the PDB file 6PV7, to explore the molecular dynamics of one of the binding sites between subunits A and B of the pentameric receptor. This model highlights the binding of two …

Modeling The Function Of Ryanodine Receptor 2 And Its Role In Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (Cpvt) Heart Disease, Harani Athwale, Dillen-Preetesh Patel, Sai Puneeth Kothuru

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Catecholaminergic Polymorphic Ventricular Tachycardia (CPVT) is a potentially fatal condition linked to a mutation in the Ryanodine receptor (RyR2), the largest calcium ion channel known, which is crucial for heart function. The RyR2 protein is made of four similar subunits. Mutations in RyR2 can cause the channels to "leak," disrupting normal heart rhythms. In individuals with this mutation, the combination of caffeine intake and exercise can worsen these effects, leading to sudden cardiac arrest. With the RyR2 receptor located on the sarcoplasmic reticulum of cardiac muscle, the mutation prevents the receptor from fully closing, which hyperpolarizes the membrane and disrupts …

Olive Oil To Carbon Dots: A Renewable Pathway In Green Chemistry, Srika Saai Talanki, Amaan Khan, Aryan Rathi, María Guillén-Méndez, Tasfia Tazri Howlader, Pierce Canavan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Olive oil, rich in triglycerides like oleic acid, is well-known for its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, yet its potential in nanoparticle synthesis is underexplored. This study focuses on synthesizing fluorescent carbon dots (C-dots) from extra virgin olive oil using a bottom-up approach. Cdots are valued for their unique optical, physical, and chemical properties, making them suitable for applications in semiconductors, biomedical research, food packaging, and LED technology. The synthesis involved heating a mixture of olive oil, citric acid, and ethylenediamine at 180°C for 72 hours. The resulting C-dots underwent purification through liquid-liquid extraction and freeze-drying, yielding water-free, oily fluorescent carbon …

Playing Stereoscopic Video Games Enhances The Precision But Not The Accuracy Of Depth Perception, Charlene Li, Nada Bleibel, Lara Cereminati, Yingzi Luo, Betty Z. Li Ph.D., Dennis M. Levi Ph.D., Sandy W. Chat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Purpose. We recently reported that playing immersive video games in a three-dimensions (3D) environment boosts stereo vision in young adults with normal vision. Here we asked whether the improvement in stereoscopic acuity (precision) was the result of a reduced disparity pedestal, as indicated by a decreased subjective depth bias (accuracy).

Methods. Twenty-one university students with normal visual acuity and stereoacuity were recruited. All of them had limited previous video game experience, and none had ever played 3D video games. Participants were required to play stereoscopic 3D video games for a total of 40 hours, 2 hours per session, over 4-5 …

Psychedelic Substituted Phenethylamine Alters Human Neural Progenitor Cell Morphology, Proliferation, And Survival, Omar E. Saleh, Grace K. Wong, Chase A. Gonzales, Mark Apterman, Laury Pierre, Stacey Doret, Isaac Hai, Travis J.A. Craddock

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Examining how psychedelic substituted phenethylamines affect neural plasticity is key to understanding harms and potential medical implications of recreational drugs. The microtubule cytoskeleton has been proposed to modulate the effects of phenethylamines as a downstream effector and through scaffolding mechanisms. Microtubules play a crucial role in neurite outgrowth, protein transport, and synaptic stability in cells. Our group has shown that specific psychedelic substituted phenethylamines (25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP) alter microtubule formation in a dose-dependent manner. As these phenethylamines limit microtubule capacities, they may impact cytoskeletal-mediated neural plasticity. This study’s purpose is to determine if substituted phenethylamines, 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP …

Reproductive Outcomes In A Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Melanie Mendonca, Esperanza Barrios, Chana Vogel, Victoria Pulido-Correa

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease lacking effective treatment. Despite women having 2x greater risk for developing AD, few studies have investigated the sex-specific factors that influence AD risk. Reports show a difference in the risk and progression of AD in parents and nonparents, suggesting motherhood may mitigate the risk and impacts of AD, but alternative explanations could play a role. For example, healthier and wealthier people may have more reproductive opportunities and less disease risk. Moreover, genes that alter disease risk could also modify fertility/fecundity, such as APOE4, a gene that increases both AD risk and fertility. …

Resilience And Its Effects On Psychological Well Being During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Taylor Reinsel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Stressors and trauma in life are unavoidable. However, the way we respond and adapt to them can be within our control. This response differs from person to person, but there are factors that can influence the likelihood of an individual rebounding from a crisis, as well as factors that can put them at a higher risk of developing mental illness. One of the main factors that influences Psychological Well Being is the presence of Resilience. The main goal of this study was to examine how factors of Resilience relate to Psychological Well Being and COVID-19 Well Being during the COVID-19 …