Digital Commons Network^™

Students' Perceptions Of Campus Safety At Nova Southeastern University, Kamalika Reddy Pothapu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sexual assaults continue to be a significant problem on college campuses. Research suggests that students who do not feel safe on campus tend to suffer levels of anxiety and depression that can interfere with their academic success and positive social experiences. Though Nova Southeastern University’s Fort Lauderdale/Davie campus appears to be a safe campus, students’ perceptions of safety are not clear. The purpose of this presentation is to present an analysis of student perceptions of safety and the risks of being a victim of violence. Data will be collected using a survey that asks students a series of questions analyzing …

Synthesis Of Amino-Functionalized Methacrylamide And Methacrylate Monomers, David Kurian, Rehan Contractor, Naga Ganti, Saipranavi Reddy Kethireddy

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Amino-functionalized monomers have versatile applications in the field of medicine. Their current applications include enhanced nucleic-acid based drug delivery as well as the formation of polyplexes for non-viral gene delivery. The cationic amino group in these monomers conjugates with negatively charged amino acids and DNA. One of the most common amino-functionalized monomers is 2- aminoethyl methacrylamide (AEMA). To synthesize the methacrylamide, ethylene diamine is reacted with methacrylic anhydride (or methacryloyl chloride) via nucleophilic acyl substitution. The most prevalent synthesis involves the use of a tert-butyloxycarbonyl (Boc) protection group to ensure that only one of the amino groups is functionalized. This …

Synthesis Of Metal Binding Polymers For Water Purification, Meha Pandya, Francisco Castro Wetzstein

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Water is one of the most precious resources on our planet, making up roughly two thirds of the earth’s surface. Despite the abundance of water, access to clean water has become increasingly difficult. Decades of industrial activities and neglect for the environment have contributed to water pollution. Heavy metals, a common water pollutant in drinking water, are known to cause damage to multiple organs and are one of the major causes of cancer as well as other life-threatening conditions. Removal of heavy metal contaminants is a critical part of water purification. While several methods exist, the use of polymers to …

Synthesis Of Metal Binding Polymers Via Raft Polymerization Of Activated Ester Monomers And Post-Polymerization Functionalization, Francisco Castro Wetzstein, Meha Pandya

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Poly pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PPFPA) is an activated ester polymer used for the binding and removal of toxic metals out of solution through filtration. PPFPA was synthesized via reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) as the monomer to create linear and hyperbranched polymers. RAFT polymerization allows control over molecular weight and the molecular architecture of PPFPA. H-NMR and F-NMR spectroscopy was utilized to assess monomer purity, polymer conversion, and confirm the structure of the final polymer. The purpose of this study is to synthesize PPFPA, a chelating polymer, as well as to functionalize said polymer with different …

Synthesis Of Polymer-Drug Conjugates For Controlled Transdermal Drug Delivery, Ashley Guillen-Tapia, Esha Sultana

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Polymer drug conjugates represent a novel approach for drug delivery belonging to polymer therapeutics. These nano-drug delivery systems consist of biocompatible monomers covalently linked to drug molecules. One of the most recently developed methods of drug delivery is transdermal drug delivery systems (TDDS). A non-invasive alternative to needle injections, TDDS offers many advantages as it exhibits high drug loading and controlled drug release. While transdermal drug delivery systems based on polymeric micelles have been previously studied, there is limited knowledge of how polymer block length and micelle size affect the drug loading and drug release profile. This project aims to …

Synthesis Of Polymer-Drug Conjugates For Transdermal Delivery Of All-Trans Retinoic Acid (Atra), Esha Sultana, Ashley Guillen-Tapia

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Vitamin A and its derivatives are heavily used in the cosmetics industry to improve the appearance of skin discoloration, texture, as well as to treat skin disorders. Better known as retinoids, these substances are marketed for their anti-aging and anti-wrinkle effects. A common retinoid, all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), generically known as tretinoin, has diverse biological activities including promoting keratinocyte proliferation, preventing trans epidermal water loss, inhibiting metalloproteinases, and stimulating angiogenesis within the dermis. Despite its various benefits, ATRA is often toxic and highly unstable in its natural form and as a result, is complexed with proteins or chemically conjugated to …

The Abundance Of Streptococcus Mutans Within The Oral Cavity Of University Students And Implications For Disease Etiology, Esha Manku

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Microorganisms within the human oral cavity are part of a healthy ecosystem but can also contribute to disease states by increasing the severity of dental caries, the incidence of gingivitis, and the onset of periodontitis. In particular, patients with poor oral health exhibit a significant increase the pathogenic microbe Streptococcus mutans. However, research shows that S. mutans abundance may be related to a SNP within the human genome (an A/G substitution at rs7294985 in the microsomal glutathione-Stransferase 1 (MGST1) gene). Here we address the role of S. mutans abundance and SNP genotype ratios within a healthy student population (n …

The Democratization Of South Korea: A Study Of The United States Involvement Pre- And Post-Korean War, Amenia Farraj

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The United States has an extensive history of foreign intervention, especially during the latter half of the 20th century. While most Americans know this involvement includes Vietnam, the Middle East, and Latin America, the impact of the United States on South Korea is studied less, earning the Korean War its moniker as the forgotten war. The initial involvement of the US in the development of South Korea began following World War II and continued through the end of the 20th century into the 21st century. The similarities between South Korea and the United States demonstrate the build-up of South Korea …

The Effect Of Anti-Angiogenic Agents Jfd And F16 On The Cell Cycle Arrest And Apoptosis Mechanisms In U87 And T98 Glioblastoma Cells, Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla, Ritu Upadhyay

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, with a 5-year survival rate of only 5%. Two novel anti-angiogenic agents, JFD and F16, have been developed and seem to be favorable for treating GBM. They work by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that plays a pivotal role in tumor growth. JFD is a small molecule that was developed for blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). F16 is the second small molecule that can cross the blood brain barrier and block angiogenesis in tumors …

The Effect Of Sexual Behavior, Gender Identity, And Sexual Orientation On Mental Health Among Adolescents: A Scoping Review, Anthony Arango

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Recent CDC data from 2021 indicates an excess of one-third of high school students are struggling with poor mental health, which is a major public health concern. There is a growing body of literature about the relationship between sexual orientation and gender identity on mental health among adolescents, highlighting the need for further research on the intersection between mental health and sexuality in this vulnerable population. The objective of this scoping review is to provide a comprehensive understanding of existing literature on the relationship between sexual behaviors, gender identity, and sexual orientation on mental health among adolescents. A scoping review …

The Effects Of Forced Exercise On Traumatic Brain Injury, Courtney Mai, Drew Smith, Juanita Castillo, Karla Munoz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health problem that can alter daily function and quality of life. TBIs affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States annually and 300,000 of these TBIs are sports-related. Sports-related TBIs are generally known as concussions and have garnered attention due to the neurobehavioral outcomes that could arise from athletic training or exercise. This study aims to examine how forced exercise can affect TBI. This study was conducted by inducing stress via forced exercise and mild TBIs. Behavioral tests included elevated zero maze, novel object recognition, open field, and sucrose preference. Currently, …

The Impact Of Nsu's Social Media On Recruitment, Tamia Gray

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Currently, universities are relying on social media to recruit future students, and scholarship points to brand awareness leading to higher enrollment (Mindzak et al, 2022; Roya-Velo & Hünermund, 2016). Currently, NSU uses multiple forms of social media to communicate with and recruit students for general enrollment and for more specific departments or programs; however, it is not well known how impactful that presence is on new student enrollment. This project will examine NSU’s social media presence and its influence on current student enrollment by analyzing a corpus of texts compiled from comments on the @NSUFlorida Instagram account and collecting responses …

The Relationship Between Minority Communities, Health Care, And Sexual Literacy, Samantha Grady

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Within the medical field, there is evidence of disparities related to the race/ethnicity of individuals, specifically in minority communities (Guzzo & Hayford, 2012). This issue is highly prevalent, and multiple studies have been conducted attempting to find the root cause (Richardson & Norris, 2010; Guzzo & Hayford, 2012). This study aimed to not only understand the background between minority communities, sexual literacy knowledge, and healthcare access but to also conduct a pilot project that spread information about reproductive health to a predominantly Latinx community in Sarasota, Florida. Additionally, the values and culture of those communities were investigated to identify the …

The Relationship Between Race And Factors Related To Poor Mental Health And Suicide Ideation Among High School Students: An Analysis Using 2019 Yrbss & Samhda Data, Brandi Rado, Pranav Iyer, Alex Worts

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The correlation between age and mental illness among adolescents is relatively high. There is a noteworthy amount of research into the prevalence of suicidal ideation, and attempted suicide within this age group, however, there is a need for research into the relationship between suicidal indicators, display of symptoms, and actual diagnoses of mental illness. Previous research show trends between minorities and females leading to higher rates of mental disorders and suicide, but there is little evidence to make a prediction about differences in regard to specific race and suicidal indicators. This study aims to analyze the correlation between race in …

The Role Of Inflammatory Cytokines In Alzheimer's Disease, Moha Jayram

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most frequent cause of dementia and disability in the elderly, results in non-reversible neurodegenerative alterations of the brain such as synaptic and neuronal loss, extracellular amyloid deposits, and intra-cellular deposition of degenerate filaments. It has been hypothesized that inflammatory cytokines have been linked to Alzheimer disease (AD) neurodegeneration and disease progression. To test this hypothesis a systematic review and data meta-analysis was conducted from thirty prevalent studies. Identified representative studies from various counties were found using national studies using the search query Alzheimer’s Disease:Inflammation:Cytokines:Dementia:Progression. All of the studies included data from the elderly adult population with …

The Tale Of Traditional Tobacco As Told Through The Hummingbird Brings Back Tobacco Cherokee Legend, Natalie Toops

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hummingbird Brings Back Tobacco is a Cherokee legend which emphasizes the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal properties of tobacco. The plot of this story will align with the research of, and presentation on, traditional tobacco. The story begins with a connected community praying for healing and wisdom through tobacco rituals. Suddenly, the community suffers as their tobacco was stolen by the Dagul’ku geese who wanted the benefits for themselves. In the end, the heroic hummingbird reclaims the community’s tobacco thus restoring their spirit. The paradox of tobacco for many Native American communities confounds anthropological study. Tobacco has been revered as a …

Tree Canopy Biodiversity In An Urban Forestry Setting On Nova Southeastern University's Main Campus, Corinne Renshaw, Mackenzie Soligon, Guenevere Coury, James Puentes

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Urban forests are important for the mitigation of flooding and dissipation of heat-island effects, resulting in the offset of energy costs for urban areas. An analysis of tree canopy biodiversity at Nova Southeastern University’s (NSU’s) main campus was done to create a baseline of tree biodiversity and study how landscape management can become more sustainable. In 2022, 10 of the 36 zones, from a 2017 hurricane damage assessment map of NSU, were surveyed. In 2023, an additional 10 zones were surveyed, totaling 1,458 trees. The precise location of each tree was plotted on TreePlotter and the diversity data was analyzed …

Understanding The Link Between Parity And Dementia, Chana Vogel, Aditi Gorthy, Isabelly Dos Santos

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Dementias, including Alzheimer’s and vascular dementia, are devastating diseases and as the aging population increases, their incidence does as well. Given the striking sex/gender difference in the prevalence of dementia, it is urgently important to understand the unique social and biological factors that predispose females. There is growing concern over potential impacts of ovarian hormones (e.g., oral contraceptive use and hormone replacement therapy during/after menopause), but reproductive experience is wildly understudied as a risk factor for dementia. Dementia is characterized by cognitive difficulties likely caused by impaired hippocampal plasticity and function. Intriguingly, postpartum females typically experience reduced hippocampal plasticity, volume, …

Usahay, Samantha Carl Selorio

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“Usahay” is a documentary short film about the relationship between a grandma with Alzheimer’s and her granddaughter. It explores the bond between the two and the difficulties they face due to the progressive disease. The Filipino word usahay means sometimes and it is reflective of the day-to-day of caregiving: Sometimes things are good, sometimes things are bad. Sometimes she remembers and sometimes she does not. It is in such moments they learn to make the most of what they have. The documentary is directed by Samantha Carl Selorio.

Using X-Ray Crystallography To Inform Small Molecule Drug Design, Ilana Kolomiyets, Shreya Surti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project involves organic synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and the design of small molecule drugs. The ultimate goal of this project is to better understand the forces that affect the conformation of small molecules in order to develop more effective cancer therapeutics. The key molecule in this project is in reminiscent of an indole-2-carboxamide, and past research has shown that these molecules have antitumor and apoptotic effects against a variety of cancer cells. The crystals of this molecule were orthorhombic in P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions a = 14.0111(1), b = 17.7521(1), c = 45.0224(3) and …

When Having More Can Be Risky: Women's Resources Predict Experience As A Victim, Kortne Bajor, Tamara Bogdanova, Ariana Gonzalez, Nissipriya Pilli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

People accumulate different kinds of resources that they use to solve problems, including the problems of finding, attracting, and retaining a mate. Mate retention behaviors include all behaviors that function to maintain a long-term partner’s investment in the current relationship. Some of these behaviors are benefit-provisioning and function by enticing a person’s continued investment in the relationship by offering gifts, compliments, or other positive inducements. Previous research has demonstrated a relationship between men’s resource accumulation and men’s use of cost-inflicting versus benefitprovisioning mate retention behaviors. The objective of the current study is to further investigate the relationship between resources and …

X-Ray Crystallography Of Self-Assembling Materials, Shreya P. Surti, Ilana Kolomiyets, Zachary C. Pizzo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between NSU and KAIST, a leading research university in South Korea, and involves organic synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and materials selfassembly. This research informs the design of a new generation of self-assembling materials with improved physical properties for biomedical and technological applications.

Through analysis of the software packages CRYSTALS and Mercury, the structure of the molecule was found. The X-ray crystal’s parameters were found to be triclinic in P1 with a = 8.7008(5), b = 11.5507(7), c = 12.8580(8), a = 69.8418(18), b = 80.9295(18), g = 88.4199(18) and a unit cell volume of 1197.41(7) …

How The Molecular Vibrations Of Water May Prevent Skin Cancer, Colette Costello, Angelina Georg, Jarlynn Ramirez, Jenna Handal, Ramson Munoz Morales

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 …

The Effect On Porphyrin Basicity Of Fluorine Substituted Meso Phenyl Porphyrins, Harsh Chheda, Rushi Patel, Amanda Leon, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The protonation of meso-Tetra(2,6-difluoromethylphenyl) porphyrin (2,6-DF), meso-(3,5- difluoromethylphenyl) porphyrin (3,5-DF), and meso-Tetra(2,3,5,6-tetrafluorophenyl) porphyrin (TF) will be studied through UV vis spectroscopy. Protonation is achieved by titration of each porphyrin in toluene with trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The depiction of a wavelength shift from the free base Soret to the protonated Soret will indicate the formation of a dication. The data from the UV spectra will be used to calculate the pKa values associated with each porphyrin. Based on the results, the average pKa for 2,6-DF upon protonation was 1.67, the average pKa for 3,5-DF was 1.75, and the average pKa for …

Effects Of Sports Outcomes On Student-Athletes' Stress Biomarkers And Scholastic Performance, Juhi Dalal, Daniela Garcia Arregui, Sara Ali, Yebin Chung, Iftikharun Nissa, Shalet James, Amber Gulau

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The winner effect occurs when the probability of continuing to win increases after winning one game; it has also been shown to involve changes in the hormones and behaviors of winners and losers. Our poster outlines a new research program that we predict will test how winner effects influence stress and academic performance in student-athletes. We present lab validation of qPCR assays of a stressassociated biomarker (mitochondrial DNA copy number; mtDNA-CN), alongside a qualitative survey we developed to give athletes before and after each game. We predict that mtDNA-CN will covary with the recent game outcome(s), and that wins will …

Associations Between Religion, Perceived Family Openness To Mental Health, And Mental Health Help-Seeking Among South Asians, Zahra Aziz, Shannon Parma, Samhita Doranala, Ariana Ali

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Comfortability in discussing mental health within families is a key determinant of help-seeking behaviors. This comfortability can be attributed to or dissociated from mental health stigma stemming from deep-rooted cultural and religious barriers. Research suggests that youth of South Asian descent, in particular, have one of the lowest rates of utilization of mental health resources. This study aims to investigate the relationship between both religious affiliation and family openness to conversations about mental health and help-seeking knowledge, attitudes, skills, and behavior among South Asians.

A cross-sectional study was conducted as part of a mental health literacy pilot project at a …

Geographically Based Risk Evaluation Of Disease States And Sleep Disorders Impacting Readiness Across Active-Duty Army Installations From Military Medical Databases In Fiscal Year 2021, Nandan Shastry

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The impact of sleep disorders and disease states on active-duty soldiers’ readiness is a clinically relevant and significant topic. This is due to the high comorbidity of sleep disorders and a wide variety of other condition, ranging from substance abuse to obesity. Patient data collected from military health databases can be used to establish possible relationships. The current study performed a risk assessment of sleep disorders, obesity, tobacco use, and general substance abuse based on geographical distribution of active-duty Army installations through a comprehensive analysis of the Office of the Army Surgeon General Health of the Force (HoF) report, specifically …

Mathematics Models For Aedes Albopictus Population Pattern In Miami-Dade, Triet Doranala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Miami-Dade’s humid tropical climate is conducive to an outbreak of vector transmission diseases. To protect their residents, cities in those areas enforce spraying schemes to keep the mosquito population under control. However, collecting data from mosquito traps alone cannot provide sufficient information for an effective and efficient spraying system. Hence, this research seeks to find mathematical models that reflect a dominant mosquito Aedes Albopictus population in South Florida’s areas. We determined the parameter of life span, oviposition, juvenile survival, and development rate models driven by the temperature using computer simulation. For further study, we compared Aedes Albopictus and Aedes Aegypti. …

A Scoping Review Of The Role Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (Pfas) In Pediatric Populations, Sheril Mathew

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine disrupting chemicals that can have a profound and negative impact on children's growth and development, leading to a higher risk of endocrine-related diseases and disorders. PFAs can be absorbed through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact and accumulate in the body due to resistance to degradation. Furthermore, children have been found to absorb 50% more of these chemicals compared to adults, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). According to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data, widespread exposure to PFAS has been documented in the US population. …

An Applied Ergonomic Analysis And Comparison Of Laparoscopic Surgical Tool Handles, Sebasthian Del-Valle, Komi Touglo-Midodji, Emmanuel Espindola, Mackensey Mcclendon

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Laparoscopic surgery is a minimally invasive surgical procedure in which surgeons operate with a camera to view the operating area and instruments inserted through minor incisions. This surgery has many benefits, including faster patient recovery, but it can also be physically demanding for surgeons. Significant muscle fatigue and cognitive effort have been observed in surgeons as they engage in prolonged use of these instruments. The handles of these instruments are not ergonomic. The purpose behind this research project is to design and test an alternative to the standard laparoscopic instrument handles. Applying human factors and ergonomics principles, we sought to …