Digital Commons Network^™

Modeling The Binding Of Five Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors (Ssris) To The Human Serotonin Transporter (Hsert) To Allosteric And Central Binding Sites, Alessandra Alvarez Coke, Ivanna Mathew, Srika Saai Talanki

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Rates of depression are rising globally. A proposed physiological basis of depression is low levels of neurotransmitters, in particular serotonin. SSRIs are a form of medication that is used to treat depression disorders by inhibiting the reuptake of serotonin by Human Serotonin transporter (hSERT). Modeling the structure of hSERT allows for rational drug design, potentially improving the medications that are available to the public. The Protein Data Bank file of hSERT was retrieved (PDB ID: 5I6Z). Additional PDB files were utilized to analyze various SSRIs and their respective central and allosteric binding sites to determine the most critical portions required …

Quantifying Coral Live Tissue Cover At Cano Island, Costa Rica, Tehya Fulcher, Abigayle Groth

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coral reefs are essential marine ecosystems, serving as a reservoir of biodiversity while providing habitat and nourishment for associated benthic and demersal species. This research quantifies scleractinian coral live tissue cover at Caño Island, Costa Rica. Two study sites encompassing 225m², one shallow (4m depth) and one deep (11m depth), were each surveyed in January 2024 using GoPro Hero 11 cameras. Two photomosaics were created from several thousand smaller images (3,644 shallow and 3,888 deep) using AgisoftMetashape. Live coral tissue area was calculated using TagLab, documenting 53.09 m² and 58.16 m² in the shallow and deep …

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 …

Photodynamic Inactivation (Pdi) Of Microorganisms With Copper Meso-Pyridyl Porphyrin Isomers, Dylan Mavlyanov, Sanjana Sivaiah, Andrew Siedlecki, Rohan Reddy, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) is an antimicrobial approach, independent of antibiotic resistance, that targets pathogens utilizing light and photosensitizers in the presence of oxygen. The growing international concern for the rise in drug-resistant microorganisms has driven research to determine approaches that will keep microbes from developing further immunological adaptations. Photosensitizers are molecules activated by light that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) lysing and causing cell death in structures of microbes and in diseased mammalian cells. The photosensitizers applied in this experiment are meso–Tetra(N–methyl–pyridyl)porphine tetrachloride isomers. Three variations of the nitrogen placement were used to understand the interactions with the bacterial cell …

Resources And Racial Identity: Differences In Women's Accumulation Of And Preference For Six Forms Of Capital, Alyssa J. Grant

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Across the world, resources are a necessity so individuals can lead a healthy and wealthy life. Research has found there are six forms of resources that can be measured (Starratt and Zambrano, 2022). However, we do not yet know the extent to which resources are related to cultures, traditions and customs and so, may differ among people with different racial and ethnic identities. This study investigated differences among accumulation of and preference for six forms of resources among women of different racial and ethnic identities. The participants included 248 women who self-reported racial and ethnic identity and completed an inventory …

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. …

Size At Sexual Maturity Of The Bluntnose Stingray (Hypanus Say) And The Atlantic Stingray (Hypanus Sabinus) From The Indian River Lagoon, Florida, Katelyn Mckimmy, Jordan Zulli, Jessica Schieber

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Bluntnose (Hypanus say) and Atlantic (Hypanus sabinus) stingrays in Family Dasyatidae are benthic species found in abundant numbers in the Indian River Lagoon, a major estuarine ecosystem along the Atlantic coast of Florida. Although the Indian River Lagoon ecosystem is experiencing increasing anthropogenic pressures and effects on local habitats from climate change, data specifically regarding H. say and H. sabinus life histories are currently lacking. Using specimens collected monthly from a collaboration with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, average size at sexual maturity was assessed for both sexes of H. say (n = 126) …

The Effects Of Turkesterone On Mood And Sexual Functioning, Alexandra Jimenez Gonzalez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Introduction: Turkesterone, an ecdysteroid found in the ajuga turkestanica plant, is a naturally occurring compound used historically in Central Asia and India to treat a multitude of health conditions. Turkesterone may hold properties that could improve physical and mental performance. This study aimed to determine the impact of four-week Turkesterone supplementation on mood and sexual function.

Methods: This randomized study included 30 active participants (14 males, 16 females). The placebo group received rice flour; the treatment group received Turkesterone (500mg/day). The participants were instructed to take their respective supplements for 28 days without altering their daily activities, diet, or exercise …

Synergistic Anticancer Effects Of Jq-1 And Doxorubicin Via Myc Downregulation And Apoptosis Induction, Abby Morrill, Srika Saai Talanki, Sneha Subhash, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Kyuree Chang, María Guillén-Méndez, Swara Chindahade

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Aggressive cancers are particularly challenging due to their rapid growth, ability to adapt, and resistance to single therapies. Combination therapies or a multipronged approach can increase tumor cell killing and limit the development of drug resistance. The potential of combining conventional chemotherapy with targeted therapies was investigated. To determine the best drug combinations, viability assays using an 8 x 8 dose response matrix format (checkerboard) with small-step serial dilutions of cytotoxic and targeted drugs was performed. The resulting viability data, as determined by MTS assay, was analyzed using the web application SynergyFinder. The results indicated that the combined drug treatment …

The Impact Of A Healthy Intervention And Psychotherapy On Cardiovascular Disease In Ptsd Individuals, Radiah Patwary

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Significant research indicates a relationship between post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Those affected with PTSD have been found to show higher patterns of CVD risk earlier in life compared to the general population. Interventions need to be developed to reduce the risk of CVD in PTSD individuals. Although there has been research regarding the elevated CVD risk in PTSD, little research has been done addressing CVD risk reduction in the same population. To tackle this issue, adjunctive treatments, such as health behavior interventions, may be required in addition to traditional psychotherapy for PTSD to reduce overall …

The Role Of Attachment And Self-Esteem In Identity Development Among Emerging Adults, Akhila Nalluri, Preetham Gopu, Charvi Thumati

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Emerging adulthood, a transitive period between 18 and 25 years, is widely considered a period marked by change, experimentation, exploration, and development. Attachment theory postulates that relationships between children and their caregivers are crucial for the organization/representation of the self. Extant research indicates that secure parent-child-relationships and identity-development co-exist during emerging-adulthood. Self-esteem has also been associated with secure identity-formation. While there is considerable research on the associations between parent-child relationships and identity formation, as well as self-esteem and identity-formation, relatively little is known about the combined effects of parent-child relationships and self-esteem on identity-development during emerging-adulthood.

The present study explores …

Targeting The Renin-Angiotensin System For The Treatment Of Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy, Ariana Hernandez, Chana Vogel, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Natalia Noto, Yazmin Restrepo, Shay Moen, Julianna Bonetti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), the accumulation of amyloid proteins in the cerebral vasculature, can increase the risk of stroke, vascular cognitive impairment, and dementia. CAA is highly comorbid with Alzheimer’s disease and contributes to Alzheimer’s pathology by affecting the clearance of amyloid from the brain. Epidemiological studies suggest that certain renin-angiotensin system-targeting drugs, commonly used for the treatment of hypertension, decrease the risk of dementia. This study assesses whether two FDA-approved RAS-targeting drugs: telmisartan [a brain-penetrant angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB)], and lisinopril [a brain-penetrant angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor]; can be repurposed to mitigate CAA, associated neuropathologies, and cognitive decline in …

Exploring Dual-Language Testing And Verbal Ability Performance In Non-Native English Speakers, Jaylyn Marte, Andrea Fajardo Aguilar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Research suggests that Spanish/English bilinguals do not perform as well as English-speaking monolinguals on tests of verbal ability. Even when born, raised, and educated in the US, Spanish/English bilinguals do not perform as well as monolinguals. The current study was designed to investigate whether: (1) Spanish/English bilingual college students improve their performance on verbal ability tests when given the opportunity to respond in either of their two languages relative to responding only in English; and (2) do they perform similar to monolinguals under dual language testing. A previous study from our laboratory used the Bilingual Verbal Ability Test (BVAT) which …

Identifying Biomarkers Indicative Of Active And Passive Exposure To Electronic Cigarette Aerosols, Armaan Makwana, Om Patel, 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 revealed the presence of toxic chemicals in e-cigarettes liquids and their aerosols. It is expected that active e-cigarette users are being exposed to these chemicals, however, little is known about secondhand exposure to non-users. In this work, we analyzed biological specimens from active users and non-users, especially those who live or work with an active user, to determine whether their samples contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) indicative of exposure to e-cigarette aerosols. Headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) with gas chromatography-mass …

Impact Of Hnrnp1/2 Modulation (Or Downregulation) On Alternative Exon Splicing In Wm266-4 Melanoma Cells, Chloe Brooks-Noriega

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study aims to conduct an unbiased analysis of the modulation of heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins H1 and H2 (hnRNPH1/H2) on overall melanoma RNA expression in vitro. At present it is estimated that approximately 57,000 melanoma deaths occur worldwide each year. This prevalence, in conjunction with melanoma molecular heterogeneity and resulting difficulty in treatment, means that there is always a need for new treatment methods. A compound discovered in the lab, named 2155-14, has demonstrated selectivity in targeting melanoma cells by binding to hnRNPH1 and hnRNPH2, two closely related proteins that participate in RNA splicing. We performed Illumina RNA sequencing …

Improving Enzyme Activity And Stability Using Polymer Grafting, Chris Cherian, Victor Lu, Chanakya Prasad Valmiki, Stebin Chanasseril

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Enzymes are ideal chemical catalysts because of their selectivity and specificity. However, the use of enzymes in synthesizing new products is limited by their activity loss due to protein denaturation in a reaction mixture. The purpose of this study is to stabilize model enzymes by attaching them to polymers. Asparaginase, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and b-galactosidase are chosen for this study. These enzymes are selected because of their important functions in cancer treatment, measuring glucose levels in clinical samples, or making lactose-free dairy products. The free amine groups of N-terminus and lysine residues were chemically modified to attach these enzymes to the …

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 …

Investigating The Role Of Dnmt Inhibitor Cm-272 Through P21-Mediated Apoptosis In Sk-N-Sh Neuroblastoma Cells, Sruthika Talanki, Sneha Subhash

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroblastoma is a pediatric malignancy originating from neural crest cells, which can manifest the disease anywhere along the sympathetic nervous system. Evidence suggests that epigenetic modifications may trigger cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis, providing a potential therapeutic avenue for such cancers.

This study investigates whether CM-272, a DNMT-1 inhibitor, promotes histone acetylation and upregulates p21 through a p53-independent pathway, ultimately triggering cell cycle arrest and apoptosis cell death via caspase-mediated mechanisms in SK-N-SH cells. To assess the effects of CM272, we conducted qRT-PCR to evaluate the DNMT-1 gene expression levels and performed western blot analyses to examine key proteins, …

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 …

The Effects Of Turkesterone On Sleep, Antonio Crisanti, Ava Lukowiak, Tobin Silver Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Introduction

Turkesterone is a naturally occurring compound found in the ajuga turkestanica plant, traditionally used in Central Asia and India for treating various ailments. It has been suggested that supplementation with turkesterone, a type of ecdysteroid, may also have properties that promote improvements in physical and mental performance. Thus, the purpose of this investigation was to determine if four weeks of Turkesterone (500 mg daily dose) supplementation affect sleep quality.

Methods

This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial aimed to investigate the effects of turkesterone supplementation on mood, sexual functioning, and sleep quality in 30 active individuals (14 males, 16 females). Participants …

Training Alters Joint Power Distributions During Running In National Football League Draft Preparation Players, Jacob Haberer

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The aim of this study was to compare joint-specific contributions to total lower limb joint power during a speed run in American style football players before and after a 6-week National Football League (NFL) draft preparation camp. Fifty-two players performed one 5-second treadmill run at 5.5 – 6.5 m/s before and after camp. Speed was consistent between tests. Bilateral hip, knee, and ankle power generation (positive) and absorption (negative) were calculated from kinematics and kinetics using inverse dynamics. Negative total limb power decreased for both limbs, significantly for the left (Z = - 2.113, p = .035, r = …

Write To Calm: How College Students Use Writing To Manage Stress And Anxiety, Tanvi Rudrangi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Writing has gained attention for its mental health benefits, particularly among high-stress populations, such as adolescents and young adults. College students, facing academic pressures, social challenges, and transitions to adulthood, are an ideal group for studying the potential therapeutic impact of this practice. This study explores how college students use writing as a tool to manage stress and anxiety. The different forms of writing therapy, a technique involving writing to process emotions and experiences, that are explored in this study include free-form journaling, expressive writing (e.g., letters, personal essays, etc.), creative writing (e.g., poetry, stories, etc.), and structured writing, which …

Spend/Thrift, Jocelyn Saccucci, Mia Alvarado, Matthew Mccall

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In this short documentary, Mako TV talks to college-age South Florida locals to find out why thrifting is becoming popular among them. People cite many different reasons for wanting to purchase items secondhand, with the most prevalent being the lower cost. Many individuals struggle with financial hardships and find thrifting an easier solution than buying items from firsthand stores. However, following the COVID-19 pandemic, there are unique difficulties that owners of local thrift stores face with keeping their stores open. The documentary shows that any stigma that previous generations may have had about thrift stores is not as common with …

The Art That Makes The Ai Artist: Ai’S Potential As A Copyright Infringer And Its Future Under A Licensing Requirement, Bailee Jetton

Journal of Intellectual Property Law

The practices and advancements in the generative AI training process have sent many authors and artists in the creative industry into a panic. In addition to demonstrating output that can rival human-made works, many AI companies rely on copying hundreds of thousands of copyrighted works to teach their AI models. This raises the question of whether AI companies are infringing or if they are permitted to use the work for training purposes under the fair use doctrine. Through current precedent within copyright law and the fair use defense, this note analyzes whether generative AI’s use of copyrighted materials will be …

The Secret Service Industry: Reimagining Trade Secret Protections To Curb Exploitation In The Hospitality Industry, Caleb Graham

Journal of Intellectual Property Law

This paper observes and analyzes the current discussion around the exuberant use of non-compete clauses in the business world by placing a focus on the hospitality industry and why, in an time where we are witnessing the demonization of non-competes it might be prudent to revisit and enhance trade secret laws to make them better equipped to handle the caseload that would inevitably come should non-competes be banned by the FTC. While the near-ban or complete ban of non-competes would certainly affect other industry fields and bodies of law, the hospitality industry is one that has been particularly scrutinized as …

The Fringe Musician, The 360 Deal, And A New Look At Copyright And Competition In Music, Michael L. Menna

Journal of Intellectual Property Law

This article is guided by two questions: (1) How well does the law actually protect musicians from market exploitation? (2) What new perspectives and legal strategies can better secure their bargaining power and financial wellbeing? Copyright and antitrust are not mutually exclusive in music or in any other industry, yet there are important lessons to be learned from comparing how the musician’s prominence in each doctrine does and doesn’t correlate to what its laws can really do for different members of that creator class. Stakeholders frequently cast copyright as an essential necessity for “everyone in the music industry,” but this …

Art Wants To Be Free, Brian L. Frye

Journal of Intellectual Property Law

What is fair use? In Warhol v. Goldsmith, the Supreme Court held that licensing a painting based on a photograph wasn’t a transformative fair use, because the painting competed with the photograph in the market for images of the same person. This article tells the story of Warhol v. Goldsmith, analyzes the opinion, and explains how it changed copyright doctrine. It also presents a theory of how appropriation artists can use the public domain to insulate themselves from liability for copyright infringement.

Heroes At The Clinic, Dalila Ulloa Perez

FUSION

This project explores different themes of heroism as seen through comparing my volunteer experience at the Veterinary Clinic at the Avenues in Marietta with major works of World Literature. It is shown how dedicated and selfless the staff are, as well as how strong and content the animals are. It puts an emphasis on how little acts of service can truly make a meaningful impact as it helps to create a broader understanding of heroism in our society.

For this assignment, students were asked to examine modern and ancient literary definitions of heroism by completing community service hours in person …

Feminist Stories: Then And Now, Brooke Kelly

FUSION

This short essay explores the connections between themes in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 1892 short story "The Yellow Wallpaper" and the 2024 film, Immaculate, specifically focusing on each story's affect on feminism.

The essay was originally written in response to a discussion post where students were asked to pick one American literary text and one piece of contemporary media that addressed the same issues/character types/ plot/ideas, etc. of today.

We Have Always Lived In The Castle: A Cento, Julia Ferguson, Elizabeth Mam, Rachel Mugo, Kelsey Kagan

FUSION

This poem was created as part of a multimodal project for an American Literature class using the following prompt:

As a group, you will create a 100-line Cento poem based primarily on the book you chose. Individually, you should highlight and/or copy sentences and phrases that “speak” to you, that you find beautiful or intriguing, or that capture the elements of tone, style, message, mood and theme of your book. After you have each selected your 25-50 lines, you should add them to a group authored Google Doc. Then you can sort through the lines and decide which ones you …