Digital Commons Network^™

Buzz And Bloom: Attractiveness Of Odor And Petal Color In South Florida Native Flowers, Maria Castellon, Claudette Artiles, Fabie Gelin, Nia Lewis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

South Florida is home to many species of flowers, such as Tradescantia ohiensis (also known as Spiderwort) and Bidens alba (also known as Spanish needle). Spanish Needle is a common weed that has a small flower with white petals and a yellow center while Spiderwort is a wildflower with bluish-purple petals and yellow anthers. Flowers have adapted their physical traits to attract pollinators through their colorful petals and the aromas they emit. Bees are known to use visual cues to identify flowers over long distances and use odor cues for short distances. The objective of this study was to evaluate …

Socioeconomic Drivers Of Crime In France: Analyzing The Relationship Between Immigration, Poverty, And Criminality, Imadeddine Zmarou

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study examines the relationship between immigration and crime in France, using departmental data from 2021. Amid rising political tensions and far-right claims linking immigration to insecurity, the research investigates whether these assertions hold statistical merit. Regression analyses assess the impact of immigrant population percentages on homicide and sexual assault rates, controlling for factors such as poverty and population density. The analysis finds no significant link between immigration and homicide rates. Instead, poverty emerges as a major determinant, with departments experiencing higher poverty levels reporting significantly more homicides. Conversely, areas with higher immigrant populations report fewer sexual assaults, a trend …

Comparative Genomics Across Streptomyces Murinus Strains To Identify Biosynthetic Gene Cluster For Antifungal Metabolite 'Pentamycin', Nitish Dundigalla, Ashley Bran Sampson, Smrithi Mukund, Melianni Terrero Terrero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Streptomyces are filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria that are known to produce a diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites. A Streptomyces murinus strain SPC1, contains a 15- gene biosynthetic gene cluster (BGC) that produces an antifungal metabolite ‘pentamycin’ (fungichromin), and is shown to exhibit antimicrobial activity against fungal pathogens of palms¹. Using SPC1 strain as a reference, we analyzed the conservation of BGCs across 17 other S. murinus strains. A specialized bioinformatics analysis tool, antiSMASH² , was used to identify and annotate BGCs that produce pentamycin. Pairwise comparison of the 15 genes comprising the pentamycin cluster …

Effective Weight Cutting And Post Weigh-In Recovery Strategies In Professional Mma, Avanie Balram, Soleil Ramos, Victoria Potvin

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), currently in its 32^nd year, is highly responsible for the exponential growth and international interest in Mixed Martial Arts (MMA). MMA includes groups of contact activities. MMA athletes can kick, throw, punch, elbow, or grapple with their opponent. To gain a perceived advantage, MMA athletes undergo weight cuts/longitudinal weight descents (LDW), to compete in lower weight classes. The weight cut frequently occurs during the “Fight Camp” phase, which may last from 8-12 weeks. The week before a match is termed “Fight Week,” which consists of rapid weight loss (RWL) and acute water loss (AWL) …

Empowering Gender Diverse Students: Developing A Resource Guide At Nova Southeastern University, Meghana Jagarlamudi, Kayla Sewell

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Between 2018 and 2022, faculty mentor and previous research partners conducted interviews and needbased assessments with transgender students at Nova Southeastern University (NSU) highlighting the need for greater awareness of university policies, procedures, and resources supporting the well-being of gender-diverse students. To address this, the research team collaborated to explore NSU's current policies on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), Title IX, protocols for names and pronouns, housing and bathroom accommodations, advocacy processes, and student organizations across these campus offices. These findings led to the creation of the NSU Resource Guide for Gender Diverse Students (work in progress), which offers …

Exit Strategy: How Methods Of Gaining Independence From European Colonial Powers Impact Development In Post-Colonial African Nations, Sophia Wehle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

How does the way a colony gains independence from its power impact that colony’s future development? It is well documented that being a former colony has an impact on how a nation develops once they are independent, however, what is not clear is if a nation’s development is impacted by the way they separate from their colonial power. This paper argues that there is a correlation between the way a colony gains their independence and how developed they are. For the sake of this research three main ways of gaining independence will be considered: though violent resistance, peaceful negotiations, or …

The Stability Of Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids In Salmon Following Gamma Irradiation, Saya Seraj

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), particularly omega-3 and omega-6, are essential nutrients for human health, with salmon being a significant dietary source. However, fish spoilage during refrigeration remains a concern. Gamma irradiation has been approved as a method to reduce bacteria in various foods such as chicken, beef, and shellfish, but it has yet to be approved for fish. To gain FDA approval, it is crucial to demonstrate that this process preserves the nutritional components, particularly PUFAs, in irradiated fish.

In this study, we investigate the effects of gamma irradiation on the PUFA content of salmon at doses of 0.5 kGy …

How Do Gamified Interventions Influence Long-Term Health Outcomes In Managing And Reducing The Progression Of Chronic Illnesses Among Children Under 18?, Taruni Singanamala, Mohit Belur, Jeremy Ignatius

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Despite the advancements in medical care, children below the age of 18 years and their parents or guardians face significant challenges in managing chronic diseases, such as strict treatment regimens with lifestyle modifications for effective management. Nutrition, exercise, and adherence to medication all prevent children from acquiring or assist them in managing a chronic illness. Recent studies have shown that gamifying these aspects makes these goals more attainable and could be the answer to encouraging children and their families. Gamified interventions show promise in improving behavioral adherence and longer-term health outcomes by including features such as rewards, challenges, and progress …

Impacts Of Early Childhood Intervention On The Cognitive Development Of Individuals With Down Syndrome, Ella Riddle

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Trisomy 21, commonly known as Down Syndrome, is a chromosomal condition that causes intellectual and developmental delays. It is one of the several intellectual disabilities that is protected in the education system under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that provides free and appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities. Though there is no “cure” for the syndrome, there are several therapies and interventions that significantly improve the cognitive capabilities of individuals diagnosed with Down Syndrome. In recent years, early intervention strategies taking place as early as birth until the age of three have been implemented through services …

Exploring Vibrational Energy Transfer Between Dna And Water Molecules, Jarlynn Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies have shown that when DNA absorbs ultraviolet light it can become structurally damaged leading to a mutation. Absorption of ultraviolet light causes molecular vibrations in DNA and these vibrations are what likely leads to structural changes in the DNA. However, exposing DNA to ultraviolet light rarely leads to structural damage. This indicates that the energy from the absorbed ultraviolet light is often dissipated in a way that does not damage the DNA. One way the structural changes could be avoided is by vibrational energy transfer from DNA to nearby water molecules. To investigate this potential biological mechanism, molecular dynamics …

Exploring The Effects Of Food Additives On Electroshock-Induced Seizures In Caenorhabditis Elegans, Sharvani Nune, Carina Pavlov, Japji G. Madan, Emma Hickey, Bhargav Potineni, Dillen-Preetesh Patel, Jeremy Ignatius, Mackenzie Mcgrogan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Many commercially available food products are laced with food additives, such as non-nutritive sweeteners (NNSs, e.g. Equal and Splenda). Due to the minimal caloric content and increased palatability, these products are often preferred. Some research exists on the adverse effects of these food additives, but the neurotoxic effects of these compounds are not yet understood beyond anecdotes. In this study, we explore the effects of chemical sweeteners and food additives on seizure behavior in Caenorhabditis elegans. C. elegans are widely used in neuroscience research due to their simple and fully mapped nervous system. To study convulsant behavior of C. …

Investigation And Reclassification Of Gordonia Bacteriophage Protein Folding And Function With Google Deepmind's Alphafold Artificial Intellifence Software, Taylor Butler

Undergraduate Student Symposium

As the rapid evolution of multi-drug-resistant bacteria inflict public health and environmental crises, the need for alternatives to convention antibiotics is necessary. Bacteriophage (phage) interventions has resurfaced as a prospective avenue of study. However, these viruses that are capable of infecting and killing bacteria are widely undiscovered and lack genetic characterization. Current methods utilize bioinformatics and comparative tools to identify genes and protein functions. Unfortunately, functional classification of phage proteins is difficult with limited experimental data. As a result, functional assignments are often made on synteny using genetically similar bacteriophages. However, many proteins are assigned “hypothetical” functions as no comparative …

Paradise Lost And Character Motivation: Sinful Behavior Or Inferiority Complex?, Esperanza Barrios

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Sin is a concept mainly viewed from a religious perspective. But, through Paradise Lost, John Milton brought a further understanding of human nature and one’s sense of committing what’s perceived as sinful behavior without the veil of religion glazing over academic understanding. In religious terms, sinful behavior is the idea of defying God’s commandments. Still, for this research, sinful behavior may be described as abnormal behavior that damages our best interests and relationships for selfish gains. Sin is also synonymous with the term criminality, the act of committing immoral or deviant acts. Each of Milton’s main characters, Satan, Adam, …

Hybrid Introgression Has Resulted In Bleeding Shiners Exhibiting Striped Shiner Mitogenomes In Certain Missouri Ozark Streams, Carson Arnold, Shila Koju, David D. Duvernell

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Predicting Baseball Game Wins With Machine Learning, Alexandar Djidjev, Nathan Hellwege

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Developing Behavior Based Rubrics To Improve Evaluation Processes: A Case Study, Celia Freed, Clair Reynolds Kueny

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Combined With Biosolids And Biochar Sustained Phytostabilization And Enhanced Soil Properties Of Mine Tailings, Emma Kettler, Mariam K. Al-Lami, Joel Gerard Burken

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Cytokinesis & Dbf2, Katharine Gray, Katie Shannon

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Developing Modular Radiological Containment For The Naval Nuclear Lab, Markus Baur, Eric Franklin, Cameron Ashley, Joshua P. Schlegel

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Discovering Localization Of Fun19 Orf In Yeast, Megan Percy, Galayna Baur, Katie Shannon

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Tracing News Of The St. John Slave Rebellion Across The Atlantic, 1733-4, Milo Hathaway, Justin Pope

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Carrier Analysis Of Alc Lipid Nanoparticles With Lung Cancer Drug, Noah Sparks, Lei Xu, Hu Yang

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Automated Tool Recognition And Retrieval, Tyler Rowden, Niloofar Zendedhel, Ming-Chuan Leu

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Training Ai Models For Automatic Melanoma Detection, Victoria Wegley, Jason Hagerty, R. Joe Stanley

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Peter Zhou Retires From The Uc Berkeley East Asian Library

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

New Appointments

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

Lists Of Selected Full-Text Databases By Subscription In East Asian Studies, Michiko Ito, Ellie Kim, Jian P. Lee, Anlin Yang

Journal of East Asian Libraries

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Nanomorphology As Quantified Via The K‑Index On The Drug Delivery Properties Of Isocyanate-Derived Aerogels, Stephen Y. Owusu, A. B. M. Shaheen Ud Doulah, Vaibhav A. Edlabadkar, Kamden J. George, Chariklia Sotiriou-Leventis

Miners Solving for Tomorrow Research Conference

No abstract provided.

Examining The Impact Of Health Insurance On Covid-19 Outcomes: A Comparative Analysis Of England And The United States Of America, Dibya Mullapudi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

During the COVID-19 pandemic, several countries were put under tremendous strain due to the sudden increase in patients requiring immediate hospital care. The pandemic exposed latent issues within these healthcare systems that were only exacerbated under the pressure of COVID-19. Insurance remains a major factor in determining the quality and availability of healthcare services. This study will examine the distinct insurance systems of the United Kingdom (UK) and the United States (US) and analyze how they impacted COVID-19 patients’ healthcare outcomes. The US has a mixed insurance system composed of various public and private systems with around two-thirds of the …

Last Glacial Maximum Paleoenvironmental Proxies For The White River Badlands, Sd, Corinne Renshaw, John Nichols, Kaitlyn Perez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Paleoclimate research on Central North American droughts can help reconstruct regional climate effects that leave America’s agricultural areas vulnerable to future droughts. The past climate of the White River Badlands (WRB), located in the northwestern Great Plains, is poorly understood, due to the lack of traditional paleoclimate proxies in the area. However, with geochemical analyses of fossils preserved within mesa material there, we constrained the age of sediment deposition in this region and characterized climatic forces associated with last glacial drought and subsequent (dust) deposition. Geochemical proxies from gastropod fossil shells show that drought-driven dust deposition occurred at the Last …