Digital Commons Network^™

The Effects Of Turkesterone Supplementation On Body Composition, Ava Lukowiak

Undergraduate Student Symposium

It has been proposed that turkesterone supplementation can cause an increase in muscle mass and overall improvements in body composition. Turkesterone is a phytoecdysteroid derived from plants such as common wheat (Triticum aestivum) and Vitex plants (sage and mint). The purpose of this study was to determine if turkesterone supplementation in healthy, active males and females can increase lean muscle mass. This randomized, double-blind, controlled trial consisted of thirty-one physically active males (n=14) and females (n=17). Muscle mass was determined pre-test and post-test using a dual-energy Xray absorptiometry machine (DEXA). The treatment group ingested 500 milligrams of turkesterone daily for …

The Impact Of Doula Support On Maternal Mental Health, Neonatal Outcomes, And Epidural Use: Correlation With Mental Health Inventory-5 And Apgar Scores, Katherine Dookhan, Eesha Ramisetti, Rosselyn Perez, Rhea Hede-Sakhardande

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Maternal and neonatal health disparities disproportionately affect Black and biracial women in underserved communities, with higher rates of mental health challenges and adverse neonatal outcomes. This longitudinal cohort study examines the impact of doula support on maternal mental health, neonatal outcomes, and epidural use during labor. Participants are recruited from the Urban League of Broward County and the Broward Healthy Start Coalition in Florida and divided into two groups: those receiving doula support from 16 weeks of pregnancy to one month postpartum and those receiving standard care. Outcomes are assessed using the Mental Health Inventory-5 (MHI-5) for maternal mental health, …

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 = …

Understanding The Healthcare Needs Of Lgbtq+ Adults In South Florida, Vir Patel, Emilee Tennen, Christina Bedley, Dhruv Edamadaka

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Adults over the age of 65 represent 18% of Broward County's population. Over 886,000 lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ+) individuals live in Florida, with 43,000 LGBTQ+ seniors residing in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach Counties. Lifetime stigma, discrimination, and structural stressors impacting their social determinants of health (SDOH) engender negative long-term health outcomes, such as elevated rates of mental health and substance abuse issues, among LGBTQ+ adults. The purpose of this study is to assess the SDOH that affect LGBTQ+ adults in South Florida and their interests in community health events. 110 LGBTQ+ adults who attended either the …

Volleyball Serve Analysis Using A Wearable Electroencephalograph (Eeg) Device In Collegiate Athletes, Taylor Stockman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The volleyball serve is a crucial skill within the sport. Service errors drastically change the momentum of the game, and understanding how to reduce these errors could create positive outcomes for players. The study will utilize the electroencephalograph (EEG) device to analyze brain activity and record the four types of brain waves: alpha, beta, theta, and delta. The added component of the self-report survey will aid in exploring individual differences of athlete’s connection between brain function and volleyball serves. The purpose of this study is to assess collegiate volleyball players brain function during volleyball serves using a wearable EEG. Participants …

Assessment Of Brain Function And Personality Types On A Soccer Penalty Kick Performance In Women Collegiate Soccer Players, Emily Cabral

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The research study assesses women’s soccer players personality types and brain function while taking a soccer penalty kick using a wearable electroencephalograph (EEG) band. The EEG recorded major brain wave function during activity and the personality test identified different fields of emotions of how an individual perceives, processes and expresses emotions to distinct stimulus. Included in this study were participants from a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division II women’s soccer players that completed a baseline personality test and baseline EEG device. Each participant then completed a series of penalty kicks wearing the EEG aiming for multiple targets in a …

Assessment Of Dna Methylation Pattern Differences Between Healthy And Obese Dogs Using A Cohort Of Golden Retrievers, Jordan Marriott

Undergraduate Student Symposium

It is essential to understand the mechanisms of aging and disease in dogs, especially in the role played by DNA methylation (DNAm). DNAm, an epigenetic modification, offers insights into biological age and disease progression, which are often linked to obesity and its comorbidities. This study addresses the growing prevalence of canine obesity, a major contributor to chronic inflammation and age-related diseases through the exploration of DNAm patterns to identify early biomarkers for disease detection. To find out how DNAm patterns differ between healthy and diseased dogs and whether these patterns can reveal biomarkers for early diagnosis and treatment, researchers analyzed …

Census Of Non-U.S. Billfish And Swordfish Recreation Tournaments In The Iccat Convention Area, Kevin Rafferty

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Swordfish and istiophorid billfishes are large pelagic predators with circumglobal distributions. In the Atlantic Ocean, these economically valuable fishes are considered highly migratory species (HMS) and managed domestically by National Oceanographic Atmospheric Association (NOAA) Fisheries and internationally by the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT). Internationally, swordfish has long supported primarily commercial fisheries but is increasingly targeted by recreational fisheries; although occasionally landed as incidental catch, istiophorid billfish fisheries are primarily fished recreationally. In the U.S. Atlantic, NOAA Fisheries regulates HMS fisheries, including mandatory recreational tournament registration and monitoring. Commercial landings are often reported to ICCAT, but …

Climactic Transition And Loess Transport In The White River Badlands, South Dakota, John Nichols, Victor Pomales Pinto, Iyanla Reid, Lillie Suthers

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Great Plains is one of the most important agricultural regions in the world. However, the semiarid climate makes the region vulnerable to drought and climate change. Safeguarding this critical resource will depend on forecasting the timing and magnitude of climatic transitions and drought events. This study investigates dust deposition during the climate transition from the last glacial period into the modern interglacial period (Late Pleistocene to Holocene) in the White River Badlands (WRB), South Dakota. Preliminary radiocarbon evidence indicates significant dust deposition began around 25,000 years ago (25 ka), coinciding with the coldest time during the last glacial period …

Synthesizing Ferrocene Bipyridine Adducts For The Creation Of New Metal Based Photosensitizing Complexes, Gabrielle Spankus, Jarlynn Ramirez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Metal-based photosensitizers commonly use bipyridine molecules and their ligands. Their absorption and chemical properties can be tuned through substitutions. This study synthesized a ferrocene appended 2,2 -bipyridine dimer (Fc-bipy2-Fc) using palladium(0)-catalyzed Suzuki-Miyaura cross coupling reaction to create new photosensitizing molecule that could further complex with metals such as ruthenium to enhance photophysical and electronic properties. The product was purified by flash chromatography and characterized by NMR, FTIR, UV-Vis, and fluorescence spectroscopy.

Targeting Glioblastoma Stem Cells: Structure-Activity Relationship Of Potent Diaryl Acrylonitrile Resveratrol Analogs, Brianna Calderon, Alma Partenza, Neha Jasti, Saya Seraj, Nhi Van, Daniela Otero-Wincher, Elaine Chen, Xavier Pantig, Sabrin Safar, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Eduardo Véliz Ph.D., Steven Vanni Ph.D., Venkatesh Shanbhag Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor that presents significant treatment challenges due to its infiltrative nature and therapy resistance. Elimination of GBM stem cells (GSCs), which drive tumor progression and treatment resistance, is essential for a successful outcome. Resveratrol (RSV), a natural compound with anticancer properties, shows limited therapeutic potential due to poor bioavailability, prompting the development of more potent analogs. In this study, 80 diaryl acrylonitrile RSV analogs were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation and evaluated for their cytotoxicity toward GSCs using MTS assay. Among these compounds, E03 exhibited notable activity, with an average GSC IC50 value of 106 …

Characterizing Mayflies (Ephemeroptera) And Other Freshwater Macroinvertebrates Of Negros, Philippines, Aidan Pflieger, Lhear Elloren, Robert Guino-O Ii, Ph.D., Chris Bird Ph.D., David Gauthier Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mayflies (Order: Ephemeroptera) and other aquatic macroinvertebrates are heavily understudied in the Philippines, and especially the province of Negros Oriental, despite making up a significant portion of biomass in freshwater ecosystems. The processes of morphological assessment and genetic barcoding of Ephemeroptera and other insect taxa sourced from three locations along the Malaunay River are described. The CO1 maternal mitochondrial gene was amplified via PCR and sequenced to DNA barcode specimens and construct a maximum likelihood phylogeny of taxa in the region. This study has generated foundational DNA barcoding data for Ephemeroptera biodiversity research in the Philippines, and there is …

Comparative Genomics Across Ganoderma Species To Identify Secondary Metabolite Clusters With Cytoxic Properties, Omobolanle Ayangade, Abril Chao, Emily Abraham, Maya Pasapuleti, Fatima Muhammad, Rajendra Pangeni Ph.D., Braham Dhillon Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Fungi in the genus Ganoderma have been widely studied in Chinese culture for their medicinal properties and promoting overall health and longevity. Our prior work on eight Ganoderma species showed that they contain Secondary Metabolite Clusters (SMCs) that code for multiple terpenes, betalactones, and ribosomally synthesized and post-translationally modified peptides (RiPPs). These compounds are well known for their cytotoxic and anticancer potential. A specialized bioinformatics analysis tool, antiSMASH1, was used to identify and annotate SMCs that produce anticancer compounds in the eight Ganoderma genomes. To test the results obtained from the bioinformatics analysis, fungal extracts were prepared from G. lucidum …

How Framing Medical Treatments Affects Patient Risk-Taking Behavior, Deepthi Prince

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The framing effect, a psychological phenomenon in which decision-making is influenced by how information is presented, is crucial in understanding human behavior under risk. This study examined the influence of positive versus negative framing on risk-taking behavior in a medical context. This study hypothesized that participants exposed to positive framing (emphasizing success) would exhibit lower levels of risk-taking behavior, while participants exposed to negative framing (emphasizing failure) would display higher levels of risk-taking behavior. Participants chose between two hypothetical treatment options for a life-threatening illness, with framing manipulated accordingly. Decision-making was assessed through participant preference, confidence, and awareness of cognitive …

Impact Of Educational Attainment On Coronary Heart Disease Risk Among Black Individuals, Lyndzee Bensky

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Coronary heart disease disproportionately affects Black individuals and is caused by the buildup of fatty acids in the heart. Research has shown a correlation between educational attainment and the diagnosis of coronary heart disease in Black individuals. Higher levels of education—ranging from high school diplomas to college degrees—may enhance individuals' understanding of health issues and preventive measures related to this disease. This study aims to explore the relationship between educational attainment and coronary heart disease among Black individuals. Using a cross-sectional study design, the researchers will analyze data from the 2023 National Health Interview Survey. The study will create an …

Investigation Children's Sensory Responses To Stressful Stimuli Using Eye Tracking Technology, Pearly Trivedi

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) often have a challenging time navigating stressful situations. This can be connected to the differences in emotional regulation and sensory processing when compared to children who are neurotypical. Despite the research performed on ASD, there seems to be a gap in understanding how effectively children with ASD are able to reconnect with reality after experiencing an overstimulating environment. To bridge the gap, this study was performed to use advanced eye-tracking technology to gather objective data on key indicators such as facial expressions, pupil dilation, and eye movement patterns. By comparing the responses of …

Modeling Nicotine, At-1001, & Varenicline At The α3β4 Nicotine Acetylcholine Receptor, Japji G. Madan, Mourya Khandai, Andersen Cheong

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The escalating prevalence of nicotine addiction among adolescents has been linked to the increasing use of e-cigarettes, known as vapes. Approximately, 1.63 million students in the United States (ages 11-18) use vapes, reflecting a concerning trend of nicotine dependence among adolescents. Activation of the nicotine acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) can modulate the dopamine pathways in the mesolimbic system, increasing nicotine addictive behavior. A 3-D printed molecular model was prepared using the PDB file 6PV7, to explore the molecular dynamics of one of the binding sites between subunits A and B of the pentameric receptor. This model highlights the binding of two …

Playing Stereoscopic Video Games Enhances The Precision But Not The Accuracy Of Depth Perception, Charlene Li, Nada Bleibel, Lara Cereminati, Yingzi Luo, Betty Z. Li Ph.D., Dennis M. Levi Ph.D., Sandy W. Chat

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Purpose. We recently reported that playing immersive video games in a three-dimensions (3D) environment boosts stereo vision in young adults with normal vision. Here we asked whether the improvement in stereoscopic acuity (precision) was the result of a reduced disparity pedestal, as indicated by a decreased subjective depth bias (accuracy).

Methods. Twenty-one university students with normal visual acuity and stereoacuity were recruited. All of them had limited previous video game experience, and none had ever played 3D video games. Participants were required to play stereoscopic 3D video games for a total of 40 hours, 2 hours per session, over 4-5 …

Psychedelic Substituted Phenethylamine Alters Human Neural Progenitor Cell Morphology, Proliferation, And Survival, Omar E. Saleh, Grace K. Wong, Chase A. Gonzales, Mark Apterman, Laury Pierre, Stacey Doret, Isaac Hai, Travis J.A. Craddock

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Examining how psychedelic substituted phenethylamines affect neural plasticity is key to understanding harms and potential medical implications of recreational drugs. The microtubule cytoskeleton has been proposed to modulate the effects of phenethylamines as a downstream effector and through scaffolding mechanisms. Microtubules play a crucial role in neurite outgrowth, protein transport, and synaptic stability in cells. Our group has shown that specific psychedelic substituted phenethylamines (25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP) alter microtubule formation in a dose-dependent manner. As these phenethylamines limit microtubule capacities, they may impact cytoskeletal-mediated neural plasticity. This study’s purpose is to determine if substituted phenethylamines, 25B-NBF, 25C-NBF, and DMBMPP …

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 …

Sgi-1027 Small Molecule Inhibits Dnmt And Promotes P21-Mediated Apoptosis Via Epigenetic Alterations In Sk-N-Sh Neuroblastoma Cells, Sadhna Seth, Anika Singh, Shyam Sundar Jaganathan Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroblastoma is an aggressive childhood cancer originating from neural crest cells. Treatment for high-risk neuroblastoma includes chemotherapy. Emerging evidence indicates that DNMT inhibitor codenamed SGI-1027 may facilitate cell cycle arrest and induce apoptosis by modulating cell cycle regulatory pathways. Therefore, we hypothesize that SGI-1027 treatment could lead to apoptosis mediated cell death in SK-N-SH cells through the upregulation of p21 transcription.

This study investigated whether SGI-1027, a DNA methyltransferase inhibitor, causes DNA methylation and upregulation of p21 through a p53-independent pathway, which could lead to cell cycle arrest and intrinsic-pathway mediated apoptosis in SK-N-SH cells. To assess the effects of …

Spliceosomal Modulation Induces Immunogenicity Of Melanoma Cells And In Vivo Immune Response, Sadeeshkumar Velayutham, Shweta Shah, Tulsi Desai, Keiran S.M. Smalley Ph.D., Aveta Singh Ph.D., Jun Yong Choi Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Melanoma is an aggressive skin cancer with high mortality rates, often driven by BRAF and NRAS mutations. While targeted therapies like Vemurafenib have improved outcomes in BRAF-mutant melanoma, resistance and adverse effects limit their long-term efficacy. There is an urgent need for novel therapeutic approaches to overcome these challenges. This study investigates the efficacy of novel anti-melanoma compounds, 2155-14 and 2155-18, targeting spliceosomal proteins, in a xenograft model derived from the A375 BRAF/NRAS double mutant cell line. Seven-week-old mice were implanted with A375 BRAF/NRAS mutant cells and treated with 2155-14 or 2155-18. Treatments were administered subcutaneously thrice weekly. Tumor growth …

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …