Digital Commons Network^™

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Effect Of Dopamine On Nlrp3 Inflammasome Activity And Thiol Metabolites In Human Thp-1 Macrophages, Grace K. Wong, Emily H. Guirguis

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Neuroinflammation plays an important role in aging and neurological disorders across the lifespan and the NLRP3 inflammasome has been closely linked to the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and is a potential target for therapy. The neurotransmitter dopamine regulates production of inflammatory cytokines in an age-dependent manner and in neurons dopamine is stored in a complex with ATP and both are released during neuronal activity. ATP promotes NLRP3 inflammasome activity via the P2X7 receptor. However, the combined influence of dopamine and ATP on inflammasome activity has not been previously investigated. The goal of this study was to examine lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced NLRP3 …

Effects Of Reproductive Experience On Cognitive-Behavioral Outcomes In Mouse Models Of Alzheimer's Disease And Related Dementias, Chana Vogel, Esperanza Barrios, Ariana Hernandez, Natalia Noto

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Dementias, including Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia, are devastating conditions lacking safe and effective treatments. Despite the striking sex/gender difference in the prevalence of dementia, few studies have investigated sex-specific factors that may influence the greater risk and faster progression of disease in females. These factors include but are not limited to prior pregnancy and motherhood. Women with children have slower rates of cognitive decline and lower risk for developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia than women with no children. However, other studies have reported mixed results, suggesting that the influence of reproductive/maternal experience may depend on an individual’s number …

Evaluating Diagnostic And Treatment Timelines For Alk-Positive Nsclc Patients: Results From A Global Registry For Consideration In The Journal Of Clinical Lung Cancer, Swara Chindhade, Aula Alqased

Undergraduate Student Symposium

ALK-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is an aggressive subtype affecting younger, nonsmoking individuals. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are essential treatments; however, global data on comorbidities, diagnosis, treatment, and intervals from initial medical visits to TKI treatment remain limited. This study examines symptoms, comorbidities, and treatment timelines to identify factors contributing to delays in TKI treatment. We conducted a longitudinal observational study using a global registry of ALK-positive NSCLC patients via online surveys from September 2022 to November 2024. Participants were recruited through support groups, patient newsletters, and oncologist referrals. Descriptive statistics and multivariable regression analyses evaluated the impact of …

Examining The Impact Of Volleyball-Specific Movements On Landing Using Vert Wearable Technology, Camille Fonseca

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The sport of volleyball involves constant vertical and lateral motion, as it requires players to attack, block, or serve a ball. The frequency of jumps and landings creates stress on the body, predisposing female athletes to lower extremity injuries. Additionally, volleyball-specific movements such as the slide, swing block, and 7-ball, may cause injury. The purpose of this study is to assess jumps and landings from volleyball-specific movements in female collegiate volleyball athletes using VERT wearable technology. National Collegiate Athletic Association Division II Volleyball athletes wore the VERT device collecting data on performance and workload during team practices and games including …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

Exploring Oral Health Challenges In Pateints With Als: Practices, Barriers, And Disparities, Eden Pressley

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Proper oral health is often neglected in vulnerable populations such as persons living with ALS (plwALS) due to the myriad of physical demands and limitations of the disease.¹ Poor oral hygiene increases the risk of aspiration pneumonia, with studies demonstrating oral bacteria in the pulmonary tract of patients with pneumonia, and contributes to oral discomfort, reduced quality of life and increased caregiver burden.^4-6 Although oral hygiene represents a modifiable risk factor for pulmonary sequalae, it is not routinely addressed in the current standard of care for ALS and our knowledge of oral health in plwALS is limited. Therefore, …

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 …

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 …

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 …

Identifying Key Characteristics In Aspiring Healthcare Professionals: A Strengths And Preference Profile Analysis On Emotional Intelligence, Abbygail Salcido, Emily Young

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Topic: As undergraduate students in a pre-health path or an advisor for these students, understanding one's priorities, strengths, and motivations is crucial for self-awareness and career clarity. This understanding is pivotal in guiding students toward a fulfilling and appropriate career choice. Purpose: Our study aims to identify the characteristics of students with the potential to excel as Optometrists - a profession known for its emphasis on patient care, attention to detail, and creative intuition. In our current investigation, we assessed 125 students aspiring to become Optometrists. Each participant completed a strengths inventory and a positive psychology-based personal preference test. According …

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 …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

Income Disparities In Educational Institutions And The Risk Of Prediabetes In Students, Dev J. Patel, Saketh Kodavanti, Toby Cheng

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Approximately thirty-five million Americans face type 2 Diabetes: a chronic health condition that results in complications like heart disease, kidney failure, and more. Most students ages 6 to 18 spend most of their time in schools, making the funding of these institutions a major factor in their health. Identifying type 2 diabetes, defined as a blood sugar greater than 126 mg/dL, is an early biomarker of type 2 diabetes, enabling early intervention. The research question is "What is the relationship between socioeconomic inequalities in education institutions and the prevalence of type 2 diabetes amongst 6-18-year-olds?"

A descriptive systematic review of …

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 …

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

Undergraduate Student Symposium

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

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

Investigating The Structural And Functional Roles Of Transcriptionally Active Rice Transposons, Eimaan Ahmad, Leelakrishna Angadala, Udhay Nallapati, Rushil Mehrotra, Braham Dhillon Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Transposable elements (TES) are notorious given their contributions to genome dynamics, evolution, gene structure, and regulation of gene expression. Famously once branded as 'junk DNA', TEs are now known to play significant roles in genome structure and function. Plethora of data generated from sequencing projects have advanced the study of transposons but their large size-often larger than read lengths of most sequencing platforms- has limited TE research due to limited coverages in sequenced datasets. Additionally, high copy number of TEs and high sequence similarity-often greater than 80%- between multiple copies of a TE family may lead to erroneous and misguided …

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. …