Digital Commons Network^™

Nutritional Challenges In Children With Down Syndrome And The Use Of Early Interventions, Avisha Thota

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children with Down syndrome (DS) face distinct nutritional challenges that significantly impact their growth, health, and overall quality of life. These challenges include a high prevalence of obesity, gastrointestinal issues, increased risk of oral motor difficulties, and eating disorders such as pica and avoidant/restrictive food intake disorder (ARFID). Contributing conditions include unique low muscle tone, reduced physical activity, and metabolic differences, further compounded by environmental influences such as parental feeding practices and limited access to specialized care. The purpose of this experiment is to explore the nutritional challenges and eating disorders faced by children with DS and examine how early …

Unraveling The Elasmobranch: A Look At Shark Oral Microbiomes In South Florida, Adam Sadik, Adhvika Saravanan, Amanda Finnefrock, Melody Kim

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The intricate relationship between host organisms and their associated microbial communities, known as the microbiome, has garnered increasing attention across various biological disciplines. Sharks, as apex predators in marine ecosystems, are important to study and understand. Previous studies have shown shark gills and oral cavities are abundant in various types of commensal and pathogenic bacteria, many of which are resistant to antibiotics. Previous research on Florida blacktip sharks suggest 43% of all bacteria samples from the sharks were resistant to at least one antibiotic. Using microbial culturing techniques and Next Generation 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing, our objective is to …

A Computational Analysis Of The Monocation And Dication Porphyrins Stability, Dani Sheil, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

A computational analysis was used to study the changes on octaethyl (OEP) and tetraphenyl (TPP) substituted porphyrins when the solvents and acids were changed. The analysis used density functional theory to simulate the effects on the porphyrins’ basicity under different conditions at the B3LYP/6- 31g(d) level of theory and incorporated the solvent using the polarizable continuum model. The calculation accounted for different acid interactions (HCl, HF, acetic acid, trifluoroacetic acid, chloroacetic acid, toluene)) with the porphyrins in the gas phase and in a variety of solvents (heptane, dichloromethane, and acetonitrile). The freebase, monocation, and dication phases of both porphyrins were …

Exploring The Psychological Impact Of In-Vitro Fertilization, Japji G. Madan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) affects both men and women differently, impacting their physical and emotional health throughout the process. Understanding these dynamics is essential to offer support to couples navigating the complex journey of assisted reproduction. This paper delves into the multifaceted stages of IVF, addressing the psychological and emotional challenges faced by individuals undergoing this invasive treatment. With the increasing prevalence of IVF as a common fertility treatment, this review emphasizes the importance of considering both the short-term and long-term psychological implications for couples.

Coconut Oil As A Renewable Source For Carbon Dot Nanoparticles: Synthesis And Characterization, Amaan Khan, Aryan Rathi, Srika Saai Talanki, Pierce Canavan, Tasfia Tazri Howlader, Maria Guillén-Méndez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Carbon dots (C-dots) are zero-dimensional, carbon-based fluorescent nanoparticles that have gained significant attention due to their exceptional optical, chemical, and physical properties, along with their biocompatibility, cost-effectiveness, and facile synthesis. These characteristics make C-dots versatile for applications in biomedical fields, food packaging, anti-counterfeiting, and semiconductors. Despite the exploration of natural products for C-dot synthesis, using oils to synthesize C-dots remains underexplored. In this study, we synthesized C-dots using coconut oil, a lauric acid-rich renewable resource, through a bottom-up approach. A mixture of coconut oil, citric acid, and ethylenediamine was treated at 180°C for 12 hours, followed by purification via centrifugation …

Long Noncoding Rna Malat1 In Mitochondrial Modulation Induced By Ketosis In Human Cardiomyocytes, Meghana Divi, Eera Mehrotra, Colin Pulickathadam, Sathvi Gandra

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Heart failure, a major cause of mortality, is increasingly viewed as a metabolic disorder involving mitochondrial dysfunction. Ketone body treatments have shown promise in enhancing mitochondrial function and improving heart failure outcomes. Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), which are RNA molecules longer than 200 nucleotides that do not code for proteins, play critical roles in regulating gene expression and mitochondrial activity. Despite the known modulation of lncRNAs during heart failure, their specific functions under ketotic conditions remain poorly understood. Based on our preliminary findings, this study aims to explore the impact of ketosis on long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs), particularly MALAT1, and …

Time-Share Condominiums: Property's Fourth Dimension, David R. Dubord

Maine Law Review

Time-shared ownership of condominiums is a concept which, though virtually unheard of in this country ten years ago, has now gained a foothold in America's real estate market. Essentially, time-sharing involves the division of ownership of a condominium into a number of fixed time periods during which each purchaser has the exclusive right of use and occupation. While condominium ownership itself is an ancient and well-established method of joint property ownership, what is novel about time-sharing is the division of joint ownership rights into binding periods of exclusive use and possession. The methods of creating time-shared interests are varied and …

The Constitutionality Of Maine's Real Estate Mortgage Foreclosure Statutes, Kathleen Barry

Maine Law Review

In Maine, Fuentes v. Shevin caused understandable concern about the constitutionality of the state statutes governing real property mortgage foreclosures. Of the foreclosure procedures existing in 1972, only one provided for impartial determination by a court of the mortgagor's breach of condition. In response to Fuentes, the Maine Legislature in 1975 enacted a straightforward provision for foreclosure by civil action. Although the constitutionality of Maine's pre-1975 foreclosure statutes under the fourteenth amendment has not been litigated, lenders in Maine's largest city have recently abandoned all methods of foreclosure except foreclosure by civil action. Lenders, debtors, and legislators in Maine would …

The Tort Triangle: Contribution From Defendants Whom Plaintiffs Cannot Sue, Michael T. Hertz

Maine Law Review

The rights of contribution and indemnity between tortfeasors often conflict with other rules foreclosing or limiting one tortfeasor's liability to the plaintiff. Take a simple case involving interspousal immunity. The plaintiff, spouse of one tortfeasor (the "protected tortfeasor"), is injured in a collision between an automobile driven by the spouse and another driven by the second tortfeasor (the "claiming tortfeasor"). The plaintiff brings an action against the claiming tortfeasor, who then claims over against the protected spouse. Many courts hold that because the claiming and protected tortfeasors owe no "common liability" to the plaintiff, contribution will not lie. In some …

Bakke, Lochner, And Law School: The Nobility Clause Versus A Republican Form Of Medicine, James E. Lobsenz

Maine Law Review

Alan Bakke, an unsuccessful medical school applicant, filed suit challenging the constitutionality of the minority admissions program administered by the Medical School of the University of California at Davis. The practice of reserving sixteen special places for minority students out of a total of 100 positions in the entering class, Bakke contended, constituted a denial of the equal protection of the laws guaranteed by the fourteenth amendment to the United States Constitution. Bakke's suit afforded the justices of both the California Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court a unique opportunity to examine the substantive nature of the "equality" …

Sexual Dimorphism In Physiological, Metabolic, And Hypothalamic Alteration In The Tg-Swdi Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Yingying Zhu, Ariana Hernandez, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, Natalia Noto, Julianna Bonetti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder affecting 55 million people worldwide. Cognitive disruptions, linked to pathology in the hippocampus and cortical areas, are frequently observed in individuals with late manifestation of AD; however, non-cognitive dysfunctions, which contribute to poor quality of life and survival, are often overlooked. The hypothalamus plays a role in regulating homeostatic functions such as hunger, thirst, sleep, and blood pressure. The coordinated activity of hypothalamic nuclei regulates energy balance and hormonal functions, which are crucial for maintaining metabolic homeostasis and neuroendocrine processes. Dysregulation of these processes has been shown to directly correlate with amyloid-β and …

Analysis Of Community Impact And Sustainability: A Comparative Of Humana Inc. And Toyota Motor North America, Dev J. Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Climate change affects all aspects of human life. With the depletion of the Ozone layer, increasing frequency of natural disasters, health impact, and more, expectations must be set for large corporations to follow the principle of sustainability. This concept focuses on how businesses can prioritize environmental health, social justice, and economic development of nearby communities they serve. The most common practice for reporting on sustainable issues is through annual iterations of environmental, sustainable, and governance (ESG) reports. This qualitative study examines the sustainability efforts of two major corporations: Humana, Inc. and Toyota Motor North America (TMNA). Humana, Inc. is the …

Solvent Effect On The Stabilization Of The Monoprotonated Species Of Tetraphenylporphyrin, Pablo Perez, Dani Sheil

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The protonation of Tetraphenylporphyrin (TPP) demonstrates unusual behavior where protonation causes only the formation of a diprotonated species. This behavior is due to a change in conformation leading to an unstable saddle deformation in which the monoprotonated species is highly unfavorable. The stabilization of the unfavored conformation in the monoprotonated intermediate species may be achieved by understanding the effects of different solvents on the protonation of TPP. This study was done to explore the protonation of TPP using Toluene Chloroform, and Dichloromethane using trifluoroacetic acid and chloroacetic acid to analyze the effects of the different solvents. Using a UV spectrophotometer, …

Synergistic Effects Of Quercetin And Lutein In Tagetes Erecta Against Antibiotic-Resistant Microorganisms, Ninoshka I. Garcia Torres

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The increasing global problem of antibiotic resistance has driven the need to look for innovative classes of antimicrobial agents. Phytochemicals isolated from Tagetes erecta, such as Quercetin, a flavonoid, and lutein, a carotenoid, have antimicrobial properties against bacteria through various mechanisms, such as disruption of bacterial membrane integrity, production of reactive oxygen species, and biofilm inhibition. Quercetin and lutein also improve the effectiveness of standard antibiotics, indicating their usability as adjuvants against resistant microbes such as Staphylococcus aureus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Despite their potential, several challenges need to be addressed, including the fluctuating yield production of phytochemicals, the …

The Effects Of Early Mobilization On Rotator Cuff Tears: A Meta Analysis, Colton Batz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this research is to assess post-surgical early mobilization of the rotator cuff compared to conservative treatment and the impact on return-to-participation. BACKGROUND: Rotator cuff tears are common upper-body injuries in sports such as baseball, volleyball, and handball, requiring surgical intervention in 21% of reported rotator cuff tears among volleyball players, and often dependent on tear size and severity of tear among athletes. Although, some post-surgical rehabilitation programs may provide quicker return-to-participation times compared to others, further research may provide insight into the impact of early mobilization. (P:) Rotator cuff patients looking for effective and prompt …

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. …

Adoptive Transfer Of B10 Cells Promotes Resolution Of Periodontal Inflammation, Jayant Ari

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Regulatory B cells (Bregs) play a crucial role in reducing the inflammation of periodontitis. It has been shown that specialized pro-resolving mediator (SPM) synthesis and production mediate the resolution of periodontitis inflammation and alleviate bone resorption. Bregs has been reported alleviate the inflammation in periodontitis, but little is known about their function in SPM production. The present study aims to investigate whether IL-10 expressing regulatory B cells (B10) can inhibit periodontitis progression by promoting the production of SPMs. Experimental periodontitis models were established in mice by ligation combined with periodontal pathogen P. gingivalis bacteria inoculation for 14 days, and B10 …

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 …

Decrypting Unknown Viruses: Characterizing Two Unique Bacteriophages, Razorc And Astralis, Through Genome Sequence Annotation, Lidhu Arakkal, Chris Cherian, Vivian Luong, Yuktha Milukuri, Hrishi Paliath-Pathiyal, Hansi Parmar, Shruthi Senthil, Jerqual Smith, Ashley Thompson, Chanakya Prasad Valmiki, Despina Varghese, George Vasilakis, Jyothi Vivekananda, Kayle Mederos, Swara Chindhade, Dev J. Patel, Earlissa Tucker, Rishubh Madaboosi, Mehtab Singh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

In 1915, Frederick William Twort and Felix d’Herelle discovered bacteriophages (phage), viruses that kill bacteria. As this was prior to the discovery of antibiotics, their work led to early development of phage therapy, treatment that involves the use of phage to selectively kill bacterial. Today, phage therapy provides an alternative to antibiotics especially by targeting specific pathogens that are normally resistant to multiple treatments. Even with its ability to alleviate the antibiotic-resistant problem, the vast majority of phage remains uncharacterized. Therefore, it is important to expand bacteriophage discovery-based and genome characterization research. Through the SEA-PHAGES (Science Education Alliance – Phage …

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 …

Eat-26 As A Stable Measure Of American College Athletes: Diet, Food, Preoccupancy, And Calorie Counting As Predictors Of Health, Simrin Raju

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study examines the structure and reliability of the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) in a sample of 144 college athletes. The EAT-26 is commonly used to measure eating attitudes but is not intended to diagnose eating disorders. The study aims to confirm if the test's factor structure, which has been stable since its development in 1979, remains consistent in this new group. The results show that the EAT-26 continues to reflect three main factors—Dieting, Preoccupation with Food (Others Notice) and Calorie Counting (Oral Control). These factors accounted for the majority of the variation in responses, with "Dieting" being the most …

Feedback Literacy In Higher Education: A Mixed Methods Examination Into Student Perceptions Of Feedback Literacy & Feedback Processes Using The Deft Toolkit As A Training Intervention, Tiya Goins

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Feedback literacy has emerged as a critical skill in higher education, enabling students to actively engage with, interpret, and apply feedback to improve their learning outcomes. Despite its significance, there is limited research examining how students perceive their own feedback literacy and how they engage with feedback dependent mechanisms, such as Student Evaluation of Teaching (SETs). This study aims to investigate student perceptions of feedback literacy and feedback processes using the Developing Engagement with Feedback Toolkit (DEFT) as a training intervention. A mixed-methods approach was employed, incorporating pre- and post-intervention surveys, a scenario-based assessment in which students evaluate a mock …

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 …

Investigating Epigenetic Modification As Bio Markers In Ovarian Cancer Cells, Nitya Gourishetty, Anthony Marzouk, Fatimah Hassan M. Alssamani

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Ovarian cancer (OCs) is a one of the leading causes of mortality among gynecological cancers, with approximately 10/100,000 women in the U.S. being diagnosed with the disease. A significant challenge in treating OCs is its inherent resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy drugs, particularly Cisplatin. This study aims to elucidate the mechanisms underlying cisplatin resistance (CR) in ovarian cancer cells by comparing biomarkers of DNA modification between cisplatin-resistant and sensitive ovarian cancer (A2780) cell lines.

Both sensitive and resistant (A2780/A2780-CR) cells were treated with 2 μM of RG-7388, Cisplatin, and CM-272. These drugs are known to act as MDM2 inhibitor, alkylating agent, …

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 Therapeutic Potential Of Mdm2 And Dnmts Inhibition In Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer, Nathan Tinu, Samhitha Vangala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths, underscoring the need for more effective therapeutic strategies. This study explores the impact of MDM2 and DNMTs inhibition on key regulatory pathways in the HCC827 lung cancer cells, specifically focusing on epigenetic modification and cell cycle regulation. We investigated the effects of RG-7388 (MDM2 inhibitor) and CM-272 (G9a/DNMTs inhibitor) on MRNAs and miRNAs gene expressions that were suspected to be modulating the above-mentioned processes. Our qRT-PCR results showed significant downregulation of epigenetic modifiers (DNMT1, DNMT3A, DNMT3b) and cell cycle arrest genes (CDC25A, CDC25C) in both RG-7388 and CM-272 treated …

Ketogenic Diet Improves Cognitive Function And Hippocampal Neurogenesis While Reducing Amyloid Pathology In The Tg-Swdi Mouse Model Of Dementia, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Ariana Hernandez, Eleanor J. Wind, Yingying Zhu, Chana Vogel, Shaina Binu, Mikayla Jeneske, Dylan Kurni, Vedika Chidiruppa, Bianca Echeverria

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA), characterized by amyloid buildup in cerebral blood vessels, is highly comorbid with Alzheimer's disease (AD) and, on its own, increases the risk of stroke, cognitive impairment, and dementia. Despite its high incidence, no FDA-approved treatments currently exist to treat or prevent this condition. The ketogenic diet (KD), which is high in fats and low in carbohydrates, has shown promise for its therapeutic potential in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's. Studies in AD rodent models have found that KD and/or ketogenic supplements attenuate cognitive-behavioral impairments, neuroinflammation, and amyloid pathology. However, its effects on CAA remain unclear. …

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 …

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 …