Digital Commons Network^™

Importance Of Patient-Provider Concordance And Sickle Cell Disease, Hamza Atiq Shaikh, Shivank Lattupally, Stavya Gupta

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a hereditary blood disorder that affects millions of people worldwide and approximately 100,000 individuals in the United States, with a disproportionate impact on African American communities. The disease is characterized by abnormally shaped red blood cells that restrict blood flow, leading to chronic pain, organ damage, and reduced life expectancy. While medical advances such as hydroxyurea therapy, bone marrow transplantation, and emerging gene therapies have improved disease management, many patients continue to experience barriers in receiving effective and equitable care. One factor that may influence patient outcomes is patient-provider concordance, defined as shared characteristics such …

The Stability Study Of Dna-Polymer Hybrids For Nanotechnology Applications, Ethan Kuehn, Milan Jebaraj

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

DNA nanostructures have garnered increasing interest in their application as drug delivery vehicles. However, DNA is susceptible to degradation under physiological conditions. To remedy this, we have devised a novel method to coat DNA nanostructures with the polysaccharide chitosan (a natural derivative of chitin). Chitosan binds to DNA electrostatically and inhibits nuclease activity that would normally degrade DNA in a physiological environment. We used both agarose gel electrophoresis (AGE) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to determine the stability of DNA before and after immersion in a simulated biological environment. Physiological conditions were mimicked by incubating the DNA in cell culture …

A Wearable Mxene-Based Sweat Sensor For Real-Time Monitoring Of Inflammatory Biomarkers, Ariel Pilger

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Many conventional biosensing approaches rely on invasive sampling or bulky benchtop instrumentation, limiting their use in continuous and portable applications. This project focuses on the development of wearable sweat-based biosensors that enable non-invasive, continuous, and portable monitoring of physical, chemical, and biological markers. The system will be designed to target markers present in sweat and transduce the biochemical interactions into measurable electrical signals. These signals will be processed through integrated electronics to produce clear, interpretable outputs for users and medical professionals. Supporting circuitry including filters, amplifiers, and an independent power supply will be implemented as necessary to ensure signal accuracy, …

The Effects Of Preventing Dephosphorylation Of Lqg1 On Cytokinesis, Jenna Mueller

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

Iqg1 plays crucial roles in cytokinesis, including the assembly, contraction, and disassembly of the actomyosin ring, as well as the coordination of contraction and septation. Given that cytokinesis must occur post-mitosis, Iqg1 is regulated by the cell cycle. This study explores hypotheses regarding Iqg1 regulation: it’s binding to action is negatively influenced by the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) Cdc28 and positively influenced by dephosphorylation via Cdc14. Newly developed yeast degron tagged strains allow for rapid depletion of specific proteins. Iqg1 mutations that alter serine to threonine, which allows phosphorylation but not dephosphorylation, in the degron strain allow testing of mutant phenotypes. …

Long Covid Analyzed: A Systematic Review Comparing Adults Affected By Long Covid To Adults Without Persistent Symptoms, Dev Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Over one-hundred million Americans were diagnosed with COVID-19, resulting in over one million deaths so far. Long COVID is defined as a chronic condition that presents a wide range of conditions occurring after SARS-CoV-2 infection and is present for at least three months. Since there is no definite test for Long Covid, many individuals may not know that they have this illness. Therefore, it is imperative within the Public Health field to synthesize current research to generate meaningful interventions and preventive practices. The research question is "What is the symptom spectrum like clusters, burden, for adults eighteen or older diagnosed …

Effects Of Reproductive Experience On Cognitive-Behavioral Outcomes In Mouse Models Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Chana Vogel, Esperanza Barrios, Ariana Hernandez, Natalia Noto

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer's disease and vascular dementia are devastating conditions lacking safe and effective treatments. Despite the striking sex difference in dementia's prevalence, few studies have investigated sex-specific factors that likely influence the greater risk and faster progression of disease in females: prior pregnancy and motherhood. Women with children experience slower rates of cognitive decline and lower risk of developing cognitive impairment than women with no children. However, other studies report mixed results, suggesting that the influence of reproductive experience could depend on an individual's number of children and/or their geographical location. Therefore, controlled studies in animal models are needed to determine …

Artificial Intelligence Liability: Implications And Best Practices For Legal Professionals And Ai Developers, Alyssa Heinze

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into the legal profession has transformed legal research, drafting, and decision-making, while simultaneously introducing novel ethical, regulatory, and liability risks. As attorneys increasingly rely on generative AI systems, concerns surrounding hallucinations, bias, confidentiality breaches, and deceptive outputs have exposed both legal professionals and AI developers to heightened scrutiny. This presentation examines the current and emerging landscape of artificial intelligence liability in the United States, with particular attention to the absence of a comprehensive federal regulatory framework and the constitutional controversy surrounding Executive Order 14179 and its preemption of state AI legislation. By analyzing federal …

Addressing Co-Occurring Mental Illness In Adults With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Ella Riddle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Co-occurring mental health conditions are highly prevalent among adults with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and represent a significant area of concern in adult mental health care. A 2014 study published in the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders reports that between 73%-81% of adults with ASD meet the criteria for at least one co-occurring mental illness (Buck et al., 2014). The national average of adults living with mental illness, as determined in 2022, is 23.1% (National Institute of Health, 2022). As these statistics illustrate, adults with ASD experience high rates of co-occurring mental illness, yet these conditions are often treated …

Marine Mammal Bone As Recorder Of Trace Element Dynamics During The Past 5500 Years In The North Pacific Ocean, Aidan Pflieger

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The North Pacific Ocean has been geologically dynamic and biologically diverse since the Last Glacial Maximum (20,000 ybp). Natural fluctuations in island arc volcanism and climate likely influence the input of essential and nonessential trace elements to the Aleutian Island Archipelago, even to present day. Accumulation of these elements in the region's marine food webs provides a measure of natural fluctuations in the environment. Ninety-eight samples of tephra-preserved marine mammal bone (primarily pinnipeds) sourced from temporally identified archeological Aleut midden sites on Unalaska Island (5500-200 ypb), were analyzed for 20 trace elements using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Concentrations …

The Impact Of Mouthwashes On Oral Microbiome Communities In University Students, Jinil Milind Shah, Simar Mathoun, Richa Rajesh, Hyungkyu Kim, Varsha Adabala, Chelsea Borja, Rhianna Jacob, Trisha Jois, Jordan Monteiro, Noura Naami

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The oral cavity hosts a complex microbial ecosystem, which can be altered due to physical or chemical exposures, such as dental mouthwashes. This study examined the short-term impact of two commonly used Listerine mouthwashes, alcohol-containing and alcohol-free, compared to water (as control) on the oral microbiome and salivary pH in a college student population. Oral swab samples were collected after the oral rinse and salivary pH measurements were obtained to assess immediate biochemical changes. Microbial DNA was extracted and the V4 region of the 16S rRNA gene was amplified using PCR. Sequencing was performed on an Illumina MiSeq platform, producing …

Identifying Biomarkers Indicative Of Active And Passive Exposure To Electronic Cigarette Aerosols, Armaan Makwana, Om Patel, Suhani Makwana, Chelsea Nguyen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) have grown in popularity as they are portrayed as a healthier alternative to conventional cigarettes. However, recent studies have identified the presence of toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes liquids and their aerosols. While active users of e-cigarettes (AE) are directly exposed to these chemicals, little is known about the extent of exposure in non-users who are passively exposed (PE) to e-cigarette aerosols. In this study, we analyzed saliva samples from active users and non-users who are either passively exposed (those who live or work with an active user) or not exposed to e-cigarette aerosols to determine whether their …

Exploring The Presence Of Persistent Organic Pollutants (Pops) In The Muscle Tissue Of Various Alaskan Salmon Species, Sara Simonetti, Victoria Angelini, Vanessa Miro

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alaska supplies 60% of the fish consumed in the United States; therefore, determining the presence of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in fish sourced from that area is critical. POPs are chemical compounds that are classified as one of 209 congeners of either polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs). They resist degradation and contribute to a range of harmful effects to both humans and wildlife, such as cancers and birth defects. Their introduction into the environment stemmed from their industrial and agricultural usage. However, despite being banned by the Stockholm Convention in 2004, they continue to be present in …

The Right To Rock The Cradle: Parental Leave And Flexible Work Arrangements As Social And National Capacity Priorities For 21st-Century U.S. Public Policy, Georgiana Constantin-Parke

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Assessing Sediment Composition, Organic Matter, Metal Contamination, And Ecological Risks In Port Everglades, Florida, Elisa Prodhomme, Gabrielle Spankus

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Port sediments often accumulate heavy metals and organic pollutants from anthropogenic inputs. The planned expansion of Port Everglades (Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA) raises concern that dredging may remobilize contaminated sediments, potentially affecting nearby benthic habitats, including coral reefs. To assess sediment quality, eighteen cores were collected from five port sites and one control site, along with additional surface sediments. Cores were sectioned at 10 cm intervals and analyzed for 14 metals (ICP-MS), percent organic matter, and grain size. Geo-accumulation index results indicated moderate to strong contamination by As and Mo, while ecological risk assessments suggested moderate to high overall metal …

Comparative Profiling Of Persistent Organic Pollutants In Alaskan Pink Salmon Roe And Muscle Tissue (Oncorhynchus Gorbuscha), Aleena Thomas, Megan Bailey, Luisa Torres

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are toxins that bioaccumulate through food chains--especially in marine ecosystems. They are primarily classified as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs), each with 209 congeners associated with adverse human health outcomes such as cancer. Despite bans placed during the 2004 Stockholm Convention on Persistent Organic Pollutants, POP concentrations have remained consistent. Alaskan pink salmon (Oncorhynchus gorbuscha) are integral to Southeast Alaskan River ecosystems as a major food source for humans and animals. Detecting POPs in roe provides evidence of maternal offloading, indicating that these pollutants persist across life stages and generations. Salmon …

Modeling The Disruption Of Binding Of Three Ige Antibodies With Six Mutated Interaction Sites On The Arah2 Allergen, Amaan Khan, Hansi Parmar, Jyothi Vivekananda

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Peanut allergy is a life-threatening food allergy that affects millions of children and adults across the world. This issue presents serious public health concerns and heavy interest from the scientific community to find viable treatments that minimize immunological side effects. To better understand and explain the peanut allergy response, the literature was examined, and a 3D model was printed based on two protein database files. Arachis hypogaea 2 (Arah2) is the dominant peanut allergen protein. When Arah2 binds IgE antibodies, a strong allergic response is triggered. This reaction makes treating allergy patients with Oral Immunotherapy (OIT) difficult due to adverse …

Endoparasites In Magnificent Frigatebirds (Fregata Magnificens Rothschildi) From Southeast Florida, Usa, Isabelle Petty, Alexia Hilber

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Magnificent Frigatebird (Fregata magnificens) is a pelagic seabird widely distributed across tropical and subtropical regions. Due to its wide-ranging foraging behavior and fish-based diet, these birds are susceptible to parasitic infections. However, little is known about the species' endoparasite communities. Despite its ecological importance, research on this species remained limited, particularly regarding the diversity and distribution of endoparasites. This study aims to investigate the endoparasite community in these birds. Specimens were collected from multiple rehabilitation centers from southeast Florida. A total of six individuals were examined (MAFR 2000, 3105, 3106, 3107, 3108, and 3109) for parasite presence …

Disrupting Stat3 Signaling In Glioblastoma Stem Cells Using Nitro-Modified Curcumin Analogs, Sneha Subhash, Swara Chindhade, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Kyuree Chang

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) is frequently overactivated in cancers, including glioblastoma (GBM), where its dysregulation is associated with aggressive disease and poor patient survival. STAT3 supports tumor progression by promoting proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, maintenance of cancer stem cells, and immune suppression. Although numerous STAT3 inhibitors are under preclinical and clinical evaluation, none have yet achieved FDA approval. GBM remains a highly lethal brain cancer with limited therapeutic options, underscoring the need for new targeted treatments. Nitro-containing compounds, known for their strong electron-withdrawing characteristics, are emerging as potential anticancer agents. A library of 41 nitro-containing chalcones …

Ticked Off: A Systematic Review Of Alpha-Gal Syndrome Mechanisms

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alpha-gal syndrome is characterized by an IgE-mediated immune response against galactose-α-1,3-galactose. In the United States, the principal vector is the Lone Star tick, whose range has expanded nationwide. 110,000 cases have been reported since 2010, with the CDC estimating 450,000 as many cases go unrecognized. Vomiting, difficulty breathing, and hypotension can occur immediately or hours after exposure. Ongoing exposure to alpha galactose with AGS increases mast cell inflammatory response, raising coronary artery disease risk. Perioperative ingredients like gelatin, monoclonal antibodies, and stearic acid have triggered anaphylactic shock in AGS patients. These complications hinder diagnosis. The inclusion criteria required original research …

Snapping Shrimp Acoustic Activity As An Indicator Of Ecosystem Health Across Mangrove, Seagrass, And Coral Reef Habitats In The Florida Keys, Catherine Salazar, Alexander Wheeler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mangroves, coral reefs, and seagrass provide refugia, nursery areas, and feeding grounds for many marine species. These ecosystems have faced declines in habitat complexity through natural and anthropogenic causes. Passive acoustic monitoring (PAM) is used to track changes in habitat characteristics through the monitoring of acoustic species, like snapping shrimp. Snapping shrimp are among the most active species inhabiting shallow subtropical marine environments, and their abundance, often tracked through their acoustic activity, are strong indicators of a healthy ecosystem. This study compares the acoustic activity of snapping shrimp across mangrove, seagrass, and coral reef habitats in Key Largo, Florida, as …

Sold For Parts: Moral Connections Between Paid Surrogacy And Paid Organ Donation, Alessandra Coke

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Throughout this presentation, I make ethical arguments about paid surrogacy, based on established arguments regarding paid living organ donation possible due to similarities between the procedures. I establish the differences between conceptualizations of surrogacy: unpaid/altruistic and paid/compensated, and clarify what is meant by paid surrogacy. The primary similarity between paid living organ donation and paid surrogacy is that both practices are a 'voluntary' violation of bodily integrity for financial benefit. I argue that both practices due to financial incentives cannot truly be seen as voluntary. I argue that the reasons that are used to understand paid living organ donation as …

Advances In Aortic Valve Replacement For The Recovery Of Elderly Patients In Southern Florida, Khushi Faldu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aortic stenosis, a narrowing of the aortic valve, is a significant health burden in aging populations, as in Broward County, Florida, where the elderly demographic is rapidly expanding. The classical approach to valve replacement is performed via Surgical Aortic Valve Replacement (SAVR). Recently, Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement (TAVR), a minimally invasive alternative, has emerged as a life-changing option for patients with a high surgical risk. Using inductive methods, this study compiled and analyzed data from existing research records and publications comparing endothelial recovery following TAVR and SAVR. We aim to design a teaching case study to highlight how procedural choice …

When Peers Matter: Peer Communication And The Association Between Parental Dependence And Superiority Cognitions, Preya Pandya, Bala Sivani Paddala, Anisha Nandra

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Although parent-child relationships have been widely studied during childhood and adolescence, less attention has been given to how these relationships continue to influence adjustment during emerging adulthood. This developmental period is marked by instability and exploration, as young adults begin transitioning into adult roles such as higher education, employment, and long-term relationships. Research suggests that parenting continues to matter during this time, with successful separation-individuation representing a normative developmental task. Excessive parental dependence, however, may be associated with maladjustment. At the same time, peers play an increasingly important role in emerging adulthood, and positive peer relationships are often linked to …

Reengineering Bone Health: Preventing Steroid-Induced Osteoporosis Without Jaw Damage, John Voudouris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glucocorticoid ("steroid") drugs are essential for treating autoimmune diseases, but long-term use often weakens bones, leading to a condition called glucocorticoid-induced osteoporosis (GIO). In the United States, steroids such as prednisone and dexamethasone are prescribed to over 10 million patients annually, and roughly 30% of long-term users develop GIO, contributing $20-30 billion in annual health-care costs. To this end, bisphosphonates are commonly used to treat GIO by preventing bone-loss; however, they can also cause a serious adverse effect called medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). Thus, safer jaw-protective treatments are urgently needed. In this study, we tested a different strategy …

Analyzing The Variation In Microplastic Intake Of Waterhyacinth And Pennywort In Lake Okeechobee, Aashvi Gowrisankar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Florida Everglades ecosystem faces many threats, including municipal pollution and agricultural runoff. This study compares the microplastic intake of two types of floating vegetation in Lake Okeechobee. Water hyacinth (Pontederia crassipes) has a greater root mass and surface area than its native equivalent pennywort (Hydrocotyle umbellate). We hypothesize that water hyacinth would have greater microplastic intake due to its increased capillary action. Our project was conducted using three guiding questions: which plant type had the greatest microplastic intake, did accumulation vary with location, and did concentration vary among roots, stems, and leaves in each plant …

Qcausalmed: Hybrid Quantum-Ai Approaches For Optimizing Causal Inference In Personalized Oncology, Nikunj Doshi, Kavach Shah, Shikhar Patel

Artificial Super Intelligence (ASI) Conference

Estimating individualized treatment effects from observational clinical data is a central challenge. Personalized oncology depends on this estimation for meaningful patient-level decisions. Standard variable selection methods tend to over-adjust for spurious covariates in practice. They also under-adjust for true confounders when the causal graph is high-dimensional. This failure arises because optimal adjustment set identification is NP-hard in the general case. This paper proposes QCausalMed, a hybrid quantum-classical pipeline addressing this problem. The system formulates confounder selection as a Quadratic Unconstrained Binary Optimization problem. This QUBO problem is solved using the Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm, or QAOA. The resulting quantum-selected minimal …

Zenbrain: A Neuroscience-Inspired 7-Layer Memory Architecture For Autonomous Ai Systems, Alexander Bering

Defensive Publications Series

We present ZenBrain, an open-source memory architecture for AI systems that implements seven distinct memory layers inspired by cognitive neuroscience. Unlike existing approaches that treat AI memory as simple key-value storage, dual-layer retrieval, or LLM-driven reorganization, ZenBrain models the full lifecycle of human memory: encoding, consolidation, retrieval, decay, and active forgetting. The system integrates 12 neuroscience-inspired algorithms including FSRS-based spaced repetition, Hebbian learning dynamics for knowledge graphs, neuroscience-modeled sleep consolidation simulating hippocampal replay, emotional memory modulation, and Bayesian confidence propagation. ZenBrain is deployed in production as part of ZenAI with 9,228 passing tests, and is published as composable npm packages …

Institutional Gateways For Ideological Contestation: A Schattschneiderian Analysis Of School Board Library Policy Disputes, Hanna Bechtel

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Epistemological Take On The Problem Of Evil: St. Augustine Vs. Rousseau, Emma Burns

Helms School of Government Spring Public Policy Conference

No abstract provided.

Innovator - Spring 2026

Innovator

06 - Message From the President

08 - Time Machine

12 - News

22 - Gabrielle Kemberling ’12

28 - The Oughton Family

34 - Beyond the Seams

44 - Question & Innovate

46 - Ram Roundup

48 - Which Ram Was the GOAT?

52 - Class Notes

56 - In Memory

58 - Trivia