Digital Commons Network^™

Towards Safer Epirubicin Based Anti-Cancer Treatments, Alanis Malave Carmona, Julian Oliver Bozek, Elizia Jijon, Shivansh Patel, Alvin Binoj, Samuel Dinh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Epirubicin is a widely used anticancer agent whose mechanism of action (DNA intercalation leading to disruption of the double-stranded helical structure) has been extensively studied. Despite its clinical effectiveness, epirubicin is associated with significant side effects that limit its therapeutic window. In this work, we investigated the interaction of epirubicin with a circular double-stranded plasmid DNA (2686 bp) in the presence and absence of 5-amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide (AIC). Spectroscopic studies combined with a modified Stern-Volmer methodology were used to determine binding constants. The results indicate that stepwise addition of AIC enhances epirubicin intercalation, yielding a higher DNA-epirubicin binding constant compared to epirubicin …

Implementing Video Analysis And Titleist Performance Institute Level 1 Screening To Assess Sway In Collegiate Golfers, Sydney Mazur

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Golf swing mechanics are fundamental for proper performance and sustainability in the sport. Understanding the complexities of the golf swing as well are crucial in proper performance and prevent injury. Sway is a common swing fault that occurs in golfers because of improper swing fundamental mechanics. The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Level 1 screen is used in conjunction with video analyses to better understand swing mechanics. The purpose of this study is to better understand these specific components of the golf swing mechanics to prevent injury and improve performance for collegiate golfers. A total of 16 National Collegiate Athletic Association …

Biomechanical Profiles In Cross-Country Runners: Pca Identifies Patterns, Not Injury, Kiana Medina, Sathvi Gandra, Auston Hsieh

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Running biomechanics reflect coordinated strategies rather than isolated variable effects and are thought to influence injury risk. This study investigates whether distinct running gait patterns identified through principal component analysis (PCA) of biomechanical variables were associated with injury occurrence in collegiate cross-country athletes. Twenty-two university cross-country runners (N=22; n = 5 males, n = 17 females; age range = 18-25 years) completed a 3D biomechanical gait assessment from which we derived step frequency (SF), hip and ankle propulsive power, knee abductor moments (KAM), vertical stiffness (kvert), contralateral pelvis drop (CPD), hip adduction (HADD), time of braking force ( …

Ketone Bodies As Regulators Of Cardiac Energy Metabolism And Cardiovascular Signaling, Eera Mehrota, Anika Singh, Meghana Divi, Cynthia Chamoun, Samiksha Chemukula

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The heart has a high and continuous energy demand and depends on metabolic flexibility to maintain function under both physiological and pathological conditions. Ketone bodies, particularly β-hydroxybutyrate, have emerged as important alternative fuels for the myocardium and as biologically active signaling molecules. This review examines how ketone bodies support cardiac energy metabolism and regulate vascular and myocardial biology through intracellular signaling pathways. A narrative synthesis of peer-reviewed literature was conducted, focusing on ketone utilization in healthy and diseased hearts, metabolic remodeling in heart failure, and the non-energetic signaling roles of ketone bodies in cardiovascular tissues. Evidence indicates that ketone bodies …

Ankle Dorsiflexion Differences Due To Fatigue In Men's Division Ii Collegiate Basketball Players, James Manuel Moonnumacakal

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Previous research indicates the biomechanics at the ankle joint can lead to increased risk of injury such as anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tear, Achilles rupture, or patellofemoral tendinopathy. Studies also revealed that the establishment of baseline ankle range-of-motion (ROM) measures can allow the decrease of injury for a team over the course of professional season. Understanding ankle ROM norms can lead to detecting critical injuries and the development of a strength and conditioning plan to help avoid injury. The purpose of this study is to analyze the relationship that fatigue has upon ankle ROM using a static lunge test to …

Comparative Genomics Across Ganoderma Species To Identify Secondary Metabolite Clusters With Cytotoxic Properties, Fatima Muhammad, Maya Pasapuleti, Emily Abraham, Navya Mysore

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. Using the bioinformatics platform antiSMASH, we previously identified and annotated the specific SMCs within these genomes that are predicted to produce such bioactive metabolites. To test the results obtained from the bioinformatics analysis, fungal extracts were prepared from …

Dft Modeling Of Steroid–Phospholipid Noncovalent Interactions: Conformations, Binding Energy, And Solvation Effects, Sohan Mothkur

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Steroids (STRs) have essential roles in human physiology and disease, regulating processes such as metabolism and immunity. STRs exert their effects through receptor-mediated pathways and by modulating cell membrane properties. STRs can intercalate into phospholipid (PL) bilayers, altering membrane properties that can influence downstream biological processes. While STR-protein interactions have been widely studied, little is known about how STR-PL interactions influence membrane properties. In this study, we used density functional theory (DFT) to investigate the interactions between testosterone (TST) and cholesterol (CHOL) with three representative PLs: phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidylserine (PS), and phosphatidylglycerol (PG). STR-PL complexes were modeled using an aqueous …

University Oral Hygiene Behaviors Compared To The National Population, Noura Naami, Jordan Monteiro, Trisha Jois

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Maintaining optimal oral health is essential for preventing dental caries, periodontal disease, and systemic complications. However, the combined effects of brushing, flossing, and mouthwash, which are common oral practices, remain incompletely understood. While each practice has been studied individually, there is limited data existing that evaluates how different brands and the frequency of use interact to influence the oral environment. In this study, we use a cohort of 40 university aged individuals to examine oral hygiene behaviors compared to the general U.S. population. In regard to flossing, national data suggests that this behavior is the least consistently utilized method of …

Comparison Of Bacteria From Varied Soils With Potential Antimicrobial Activity, Nicole Nesterovitch, Nyobi Fleming, Andrew Sourial

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Antibiotic resistance is increasing at a rate that surpasses the discovery and development of new antimicrobial compounds, creating a widening resistance-innovation gap that poses a global public health concern. To address this need for new antibiotic-producing organisms, we partnered with Tiny Earth, a global initiative that engages students in antibiotic discovery through soil sample collection, bacterial isolation, and antimicrobial screening. We isolated bacteria from local soil in Davie, Florida as well as soil from the White River Badlands, South Dakota with the hypothesis that distinct soil conditions may yield different antimicrobial producers with varied activity and chemical profiles. 42 unique …

Refining Potent Stat3 Inhibitor Structure Through Molecular Docking, Dev Patel, Dev Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) plays a central role in signaling regulation in many cancers including glioblastoma. Normally, STAT3 is activated by the presence of ligand. In cancer cells, STAT3 is constitutively activated, making it a therapeutic target. STAT3 inhibitors currently used in clinical trials act by targeting upstream activators of STAT3. However, cancer cells bypass these pathways, activating STAT3 through receptor-pathway independent mechanism. Therefore, there is a need for inhibitors to directly target and inhibit STAT3, therefore blocking its function. Nitro groups (-NO₂) are being investigated as potential anti-cancer compounds. In cellular studies, IX-11 …

Assessing Recovery In Collegiate Swimmers Through Wearable Technology, Sara Quintero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Collegiate swimmers face extreme physiological demands during high-intensity training phases like "Hell Week," a winter training intensive loading microcycle, that makes recovery monitoring critical for maintaining performance. This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality and recovery markers. Specifically, Heart Rate Variability (HRV) and Resting Heart Rate (RHR), in nine female collegiate swimmers (ages 19-23) across all collegiate years. Participants included sprinters, mid-distance, and distance swimmers, leading to varied total yardage across training groups. Over an eight-day period (seven training days and one rest day), data was collected via screenshots from Garmin (n=4) and WHOOP (n=5) wearable devices. Metrics included …

Pelvic Posture And Spinal Mechanics In Collegiate Golfers: A Tpi Screening And Video Analysis, Rachel Shaw

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Understanding golf swing mechanics is essential for both performance and long-term physical sustainability. The golf swing is a complex movement requiring coordinated action of multiple joints, particularly the spine, hips, and shoulders. Even minor mechanical inefficiencies can reduce shot accuracy, distance, and consistency, while poor mechanics may increase stress on the spine, hips, shoulders, and wrists, raising injury risk. Swing analysis is especially important in collegiate golfers, who are in a critical developmental phase where performance and physical health directly influence future success. Collegiate golfers, typically aged 17-22, are adapting to higher training loads while developing peak strength and power. …

Trail-Camera Monitoring Of Gopher Tortoise Burrows And The Commensal Wildlife Across South Florida Natural Areas, Madison Smith, Heidi Martz, Coral Kovac, Olivia Baker, Javier Vasallo, Jade Andreu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Gopher tortoises (Gopherus polyphemus) are a keystone species whose burrows provide essential shelter for numerous commensal organisms in Florida's upland ecosystems. Understanding tortoise behavior and the wildlife activity that occurs around burrow entrances is critical for informing conservation management and public outreach. This project used motion-triggered trail cameras to document gopher tortoise activity and burrow-associated wildlife across multiple protected natural areas in South Florida. At each natural area, three active burrows were selected and monitored, resulting in three trail cameras deployed per site and nine cameras deployed in total. All cameras operated continuously over an extended observation period. …

Analysis Of Conserved Domains In Promoters Of Differentially Expressed Genes In Rice, Mahalaxmi Some, Eimaan Ahmad, Emalynn Tobias

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Plant responses to stress involve changes in gene expression, and understanding these changes is key to improving crop resilience. A critical step in this process is identifying "conserved domains" in the promoters of Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs), as these domains often provide binding sites for transcription factors. In this study, we aim to identify the Cis-Regulatory Elements (CREs) in the promoters of DEGs associated with heat stress. Previously, we identified 149 DEGs from transcriptomic analyses of two rice varieties, Cypress (heat-tolerant) and LaGrue (heat-sensitive), both exposed to high night temperatures (HNT; 82.4 ± 1°F or 28 ± 1°C). We hypothesize …

The Central Role Of Caffeine In Energy Drink Effects, Viviana Valerio, Sarah Bailey

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The goal of this study was to assess the effects of caffeine in an energy drink against a caffeine-matched control on attention span. Two double-blind groups of a total of 107 subjects were formed. Each group was either assigned to the energy drink (C4 - Nutrabolt®) or a caffeine-matched control of 200 mg of caffeine. The subjects consumed the caffeine sources and waited 45 minutes. They then completed a psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), Memtrax (memory), handgrip strength, and a wall-sit endurance test. There were no differences in the improvement (pre vs. post) of the PVT test between the caffeine-matched control …

Group Differences In Conflict Processing Between Bilinguals And Monolinguals, Isidora Varas-Sanchez, Dylan Kuni, Julia Ribeiro, Andrea Fajardo Aguilar, Alyssa Harris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

There is an ongoing debate in the literature on the existence of a bilingual advantage on tests of attention. Hypothetically, bilinguals have an advantage over monolinguals on tests of attention because both attention and language control share the same inhibitory mechanism. Because bilinguals engage this mechanism more often than monolinguals, inhibitory control is believed to be stronger and confer an advantage. However, research findings on the bilingual advantage are inconsistent and attempts to reproduce prior results have sometimes failed. The argument is that studies may have failed to capture the important aspects of language linked to attention. Prior research from …

Sexual Dimorphism In Physiological, Metabolic, And Hypothalamic Alterations In The Tg-Swdi Mouse Model Of Alzheimer's Disease, Yingying Zhu, Ariana Hernandez, Natalia Noto, Victoria Pulido-Correa, Chana Vogel, 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 regions such as the paraventricular nucleus, arcuate nucleus, ventromedial nucleus, dorsomedial nucleus, and lateral hypothalamus are crucial in maintaining metabolic homeostasis and neuroendocrine processes. Dysregulation of these processes has been …

Architecture As Frozen Music: An Original Wind Ensemble Work Exploring Architectural Metaphors In Contemporary Music, Leighannah J. Turner

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Architecture has long served as a source of inspiration for Western art music composers from the Early Renaissance through the Neoclassical period. While the relationship between music and architecture has been widely studied, much of the existing research focuses on traditional mediums such as the symphony orchestra. This project explores the concept of music as “frozen architecture” – introduced by Friedrich Schelling – and the metaphorical correlations as described by Vitruvius and Lupishko, applying these concepts to the contemporary medium of the wind ensemble through my original composition. My work integrates the architectural principles proposed by Vitruvius and Lupishko while …

Trustgen: A Platform Of Dynamic Benchmarking On The Trustworthiness Of Generative Foundation Models, Yue Huang, Et. Al

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Generative foundation models (GenFMs), such as large language models and text-to-image systems, have demonstrated remarkable capabilities in various downstream applications. As they are increasingly deployed in high-stakes applications, assessing their trustworthiness has become both a critical necessity and a substantial challenge. Existing evaluation efforts are fragmented, rapidly outdated, and often lack extensibility across modalities. This raises a fundamental question: how can we systematically, reliably, and continuously assess the trustworthiness of rapidly advancing GenFMs across diverse modalities and use cases? To address these gaps, we introduce TrustGen, a dynamic and modular benchmarking system designed to systematically evaluate the trustworthiness of GenFMs …

Standardized Home Blood Pressure Log Implementation For Patients With Hypertension To Increase Patient Awareness And Clinical Action, Ashley Alcala

Doctoral Dissertations & Projects

Background: Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is recommended for hypertension management, yet primary care clinics often lack standardized workflows for distributing, collecting, and using home blood pressure (BP) data. Inconsistent reporting and limited patient understanding of their own BP trends, such as whether readings are stable, elevated, or unchanged, reduce providers ability to make timely clinical decisions.

Problem: Despite evidence supporting HBPM, patients rarely brought usable BP logs to follow‑up visits, limiting providers ability to assess BP control, identify trends, and make timely medication or care plan adjustments.

Approach: This project used a Plan‑Do‑Study‑Act (PDSA) model to implement a standardized …

Development Of A Benchmark Building Condition Index Utilizing Discrete Facility Subsets For Use In Risk Prioritization Analysis, Christopher A. May

Engineering Management & Systems Engineering Theses & Dissertations

Within the healthcare facilities management arena, key performance-based condition indices such as a calculated Building Condition Index (BCI) are currently utilized as a governing indicator of facility health and performance. However, BCI alone does not adequately support enterprise-level risk prioritization and fails to provide a validated facility-to-facility risk prioritization model. Assets within the same enterprise receiving similar sustainment funding experience different rates of degradation depending on asset type and construction age thus impairing the BCI rating scale. Statistical analysis of facility metrics indicates a strong correlation between facility degradation drivers and prediction of a subset-based benchmark BCI. The research validates …

Education And Training In Water Operator Certification And Its Role In Water Utility System Performance, Heath A. Edelman

Educational Leadership & Workforce Development Theses & Dissertations

Access to safe and reliable drinking water is a foundational component of public health and environmental protection. The United States drinking water sector is highly regulated and increasingly challenged by workforce shortages, aging infrastructure, and variability in operator training requirements across states. Despite the federal mandate for operator certification under the Safe Drinking Water Act Amendments of 1996, empirical evidence on the effectiveness of certification policies in improving regulatory compliance outcomes remains limited.

This study examined the relationship between operator certification policies and drinking water compliance outcomes under the Safe Drinking Water Act, with particular attention to differences across violation …

Advancing Paleontologic Mapping: A Gis And Drone Photogrammetry Approach To The Lance Formation Beds Of Glenrock, Wyoming, William H. Steelman, Monika Angner, Norman S. Levine, W S. Persons

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Small museums and volunteer-driven field programs often lack the resources required for detailed geological mapping, limiting the stratigraphic data associated with their fossil collections. To address this challenge, an affordable and replicable mapping workflow was developed that combined drone-based photogrammetry, GIS analysis, and targeted structural measurements using the Glenrock Exposure of the Lance Formation as a study site. The resulting 3D outcrop models, bedding-plane reconstructions, and 750-m-thick stratigraphic column provide the first comprehensive spatial framework for 35 fossil quarries curated by the Glenrock Paleon Museum. The results reveal tightly clustered fossil-bearing horizons, a long interval lacking preservation, and a notable …

The Compass - Volume 95 Issue 1 - Complete Issue, Scott R. Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

No abstract provided.

Lessons Learned From The Implementation Of A Pragmatic Trial Evaluating Non-Pharmacological Approaches To Dementia Care In Us Nursing Homes, Carin Wong, Catherine V. Piersol, Felicia Chew, Cara Lekovitch, Victoria Shier, Mike Morris, Jenny Martínez, Julie Britton, Natalie E. Leland

Department of Occupational Therapy Faculty Papers

RATIONALE: The consistent delivery of effective evidence into nursing home practice has been shown to enhance quality of care and residents' outcomes. Pragmatic trials enable the evaluation of efficacious interventions in a real-world context, including care of residents living with Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD). Yet, there are limited pragmatic trials conducted in nursing homes and even less evidence on the strategies to successfully conduct such research in this setting.

OBJECTIVE: To identify the lessons learned from a pragmatic trial and provide recommendations for future successful studies in United States (US) nursing homes.

METHODS: Drawing on a case example …

The Acquisition, Consumption, And Disposal Of Clothing: A Qualitative Analysis, Omar H. Alqudsi, Trang Phuc Tran

AMTP Proceedings 2026

Using 22 semi-structured interviews on apparel acquisition, use, and disposal, we find that practical value dominates choice while identity cues matter at the margin. Price and comfort consistently outrank brand and trend. Disposal is purposeful: donation is favored when garments retain utility, with resale and recycling rising alongside sustainability awareness. Consumers often justify purchases as extensions of self yet report lower satisfaction when items lack durability or clear ethical provenance. These patterns align with utilitarian value frameworks and signal clear levers for marketers: durable basics, transparent sourcing, and simple channels for responsible end of life. Overall, everyday clothing decisions follow …

Beyond The Launch: Designing Integrated Marketing Communications Across The Publishing Lifecycle, Philip J. Boutin Jr.

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This paper advances a lifecycle view of integrated marketing communications for book publishing and specifies a practical model beyond launch. We present the Lifecycle IMC in Publishing (L-IMC) framework with four layers—strategic capability, orchestration, phased execution (pre-launch, launch, post-publication), and measurement/learning—grounded in evidence on carryover, cross-media complementarity, discoverability, and the creator economy. Seven propositions predict that lifecycle consistency, coordinated post-publication activity, metadata priming, creator–title fit with clear disclosures, network-aware seeding, continuous testing, and reserved reinforcement budgets improve visibility, conversion, and returns. Design principles include codified message architecture and governance, a vetted creator bench, managed discoverability, sequencing high-trust signals before conversion …

Experiential Learning In Marketing Education: Student Reflections In A Client Based Project, Samit Chakravorti

AMTP Proceedings 2026

This paper explores student experience with a client based project in an upper division marketing class and its impact on development of work readiness skills, learning and satisfaction with the course. The client was a local small business food cooperative. Student reflection papers submitted at the end of the project were content analyzed based on preset categories to understand the impact of the project on the outcome variables. Analysis shows that for most students the project was interesting, relevant but challenging, increased their satisfaction and enjoyment of the course, and positively impacted learning of profession specific and foundational work ready …

Influencer Effect? An Examination Of Dunkin’ And Tarte’S Use Of Influencers, Amanda D. Damiano Ph.D., Wenjing Xie Ph.D.

AMTP Proceedings 2026

The purpose of this project was to understand public perceptions of brands using influencers. The brands Dunkin’ and Tarte Cosmetics served as case studies for this study. A mixed-methods approach was undertaken. Specifically, social media listening in the form of a content analysis was conducted. That was then followed by an online survey of students from a medium-sized university in the northeast. A number of factors were measured related to participants’ stated brand and influencer effectiveness on social media in general, as well as specific to Dunkin’ and Tarte. Additionally, participant demographic factors were measured in accordance with their stated …

Ai Fosters Customer Co-Creation For Solo Entrepreneurs Operating Under Resource Constraints, Kamrunnahar Happy, Ismet Anitsal, Melek Meral Anitsal

AMTP Proceedings 2026

A growing trend in the modern labor market is solo entrepreneurship or self-employment without employees. Advances in technology and the changing nature of socio-economic environments are reshaping the working environments and creating a new form of employment. (Cieślik & van Stel, 2023). This trend is particularly evident in the United States, where 5.2 million applicants filed for new businesses in 2024, with more than 80% of businesses operating without employees (Melhorn et al., 2024). Solo entrepreneurs can offer both financial and non-financial advantages. It is estimated that solo entrepreneurs earn 6.7% more than traditional employees doing a salary or wage-based …