Digital Commons Network^™

The Effect Of Kras Mutation In Lung Cancers And Neuroblastomas, Lohita Sunkara, Jessica Mangila

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Objective: This literature research examined the effects of KRAS mutation and expression in NonSmall Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) and Neuroblastomas for using it as a therapeutic target. Background: KRAS gene mutations are more common in long-term tobacco smokers with lung cancer than in non-smokers. The KRAS gene mutations in Lung Cancers typically indicate poor prognosis and resistance to several cancer treatments. Patients with KRAS Mutations were often shown to present resistance to certain drugs such as targeted chemotherapeutics, including EGFR inhibitors. Results: KRAS mutations in NSCLC are driver mutations, which are known to activate signaling pathways that promote aggressive tumor …

The Impact Of Mass Media Coverage And Mass Shooting Copycats, Zamil Abid

Undergraduate Student Symposium

As a business, journalism relies on attention for profit through ad revenue. In order to survive, they need to find ways to remain interesting and worthy for the viewer to watch, and the occurrence of a mass shooting is the perfect opportunity for the media to capture attention from viewers. This easy money grab by saturating the news with mass shooting coverage gives rise to an inadvertent side effect: copycats, or people who attempt to imitate a mass shooting incident, are incentivized to do so by attention and overnight fame given through extensive media coverage. This constant cycle leads to …

The Impact Of The Delivery Style Of A Down Syndrome Diagnosis On Familial Attitudes, Palak Bhargav, Rehan Contractor

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Down syndrome is a common genetic disorder that is caused by the nondisjunction of chromosome 21 and usually manifests in the form of a third 21st chromosome. Clinical outcomes of Down syndrome include but are not limited to distinct facial features, intellectual disabilities, and developmental delays. According to numerous studies, parents have expressed that physicians often use a biased and directive tone when explaining their child’s diagnosis of Down syndrome. This often results in ambiguity for parents regarding future treatment plans, decreased self-efficacy when providing for their child, and negative stigmas associated with the condition. The purpose of this study …

The Impacts Of Feeding And Swallowing On Infants And Toddlers With Hypoxic Ischemic Encephalopathy: A Scoping Review Of The Literature, Elenie Ortiz, Katheline Hernandez, Julie Fumero, Rachel Seganti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hypoxic ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) is when the brain is deprived of oxygen leading to brain damage. There are two stages- the acute phase and the latent phase. The acute phase is when an initial lack of oxygen to the brain occurs. The latent phase occurs when oxygenated blood flow resumes in the brain, this is known as reperfusion injury. Symptoms can present directly after birth, or later in a child’s development, during the early childhood years. It is one of the most common causes of neonatal encephalopathy. It is a prevalent source of morbidity and mortality for infants throughout the …

The Life Of Carmen, Madison Hurtado

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Life of Carmen is a short documentary film about the life and experiences of a 94-year-old Ecuadorian raised woman, Carmen Panchana. Her vast encounters allow her to share advice to those who are willing to learn from an elder. We travel back through her life experiences and memories shown through photos and stories about her time in Ecuador, moving to America, and her relationships with her husband and son. The film is directed by Madison Hurtado, Carmen’s granddaughter. The film was coedited by Brooke Bowser.

The New Global Wave Of Authoritarianism: An Inevitable Economic Downfall?, Charlotte Opris

Undergraduate Student Symposium

After decades of democracy establishing itself as both the norm and most moral form of government, many countries are gradually shifting towards autocracy. Whether it be a natural progression of societal growth or associated with economic instability and government inefficiency, this is an overarching global trend. A debate about the consequences of this phenomenon naturally arises, especially regarding possible economic impacts. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether authoritarianism and democracy are equally capable of positive economic development. Some argue that democracy is essential for capitalist growth, while others promote autocracy's power in implementing policy. However, capitalism and …

The Portrayal Of The Femme Fatale: The Evolution Of Gender Roles In The Depiction Of A Femme Fatale, Esperanza Barrios, Amanda Perez Romero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

When male authors describe the word ‘femme fatale’, it is always a synonym for a seductive woman who brings disaster to an unfortunate male hero. But, when a female author writes the story, the definition changes to women who become victims of patriarchy. In turn, they transform into unfeeling women who use their charms to survive in a world where they are viewed as subdued, mink, and consenting objects for a male’s pride and satisfaction. There are two femme fatales who although they struggled to obtain their happiness, kept striving forward and did not let any difficulty fracture their minds …

The Social Benefits Of Merit-Based Education Versus Compulsary Education, Ajani Saldaña, Taaron Branch

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Are there social benefits to children being placed in specific educational tracks at an early age? The Austrian school system is comprised of four levels of schooling with divergent paths for vocational and academic interests. Students who are not academically inclined can be placed on a vocational pathway at an early age or even stop schooling as early as 14 if they feel their time is better spent in the workforce. This approach, known as ability tracking, groups students by similar interests, which can lead to increased participation and targeted instruction. The Austrian system ensures that every student doesn't surpass …

The Universal Mass Function And Its Applicability To Organic Molecules, Abby Schamber, Raquel Walton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The ability to predict the yield when synthesizing an organic molecule is a challenging issue in organic chemistry and a major obstacle when planning a multi-step organic synthesis. It would be beneficial to predict the yield of the product such that the most time, money, and waste-efficient method can be used. The Universal Mass Function (UMF) states that cosmic objects on all scales are in direct relation to each other. It shows that massive objects are much rarer than objects with lower masses. The following research aims to examine if the UMF theory is applicable to the field of organic …

True Wilds, Justin Abonce, Gabrielle Spankus

Undergraduate Student Symposium

“True Wilds” is a documentary filmed in Miami-Dade County covering the concern of the conservation of South Florida’s Pine Rockland ecosystem. Miami Wilds, a projected water park, was to be built adjacent to Zoo Miami and within their property, which contained most of the remaining Pine Rocklands acreage. The documentary informs viewers on South Florida’s ecological history, displays the opinions of local residents rallying against the construction of Miami Wilds, and brings awareness to the larger ongoing issue of South Florida’s loss of nature to urbanization. The film is directed by Justin Abonce and Gabrielle Spankus. Other crew members include …

Ubiquitinated Il-1Β & Defective Inflammasome Formation In Alzheimer's Disease: Implications For Chronic Brain Inflammation, Deepthi Prince, Vibha Sankavaram

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Chronic inflammation, a prolonged and more long-term process, has been implicated in various diseases, including Alzheimer's. Alzheimer's is the most common form of progressive dementia, associated with memory deficits and neuron damage. Multiple hypotheses have been proposed for the development of the disease, and among them, chronic inflammation is increasingly considered as an important underlying factor for the disease's development.

This research explores the role of interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), a key inflammatory cytokine, in Alzheimer's pathogenesis. Elevated IL-1β levels are found in the cerebrospinal fluid and brain tissue of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients. The study focuses on the post-translational modification …

Unraveling The Elasmobranch: A Look At Shark Oral Microbiomes In South Florida, Varsha Chigurupati, Paul Paronich, Adhvika Saravanan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The intricate relationship between host organisms and their associated microbial communities, known as the microbiome, has garnered increasing attention across various fields of biology. Sharks, as apex predators in marine ecosystems, are important organisms to study and understand. Previous studies have shown shark gills and shark mouths are abundant in various types of commensal and pathogenic bacteria. This study examines results from a variety of swabs collected from shark species off the east coast of Florida. Through traditional microbial culturing and Next Generation 16S rRNA (Ribosomal RNA sequencing), we will understand the composition and functional significance of the shark microbiome …

Using 3d Modeling To Describe The Electromotility Of The Outer Hair Cell Protein Prestin, And Its Role In Sound Perception Among Mammals, Marqus Colon, Syed Hussain, Russel Robert Reside

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Prestin is a vital motor protein that enables auditory perception in mammals by modulating the shape of cochlear outer hair cells (OHCs) in response to environmental voltage. Part of the SLC26A5 anion transporter family, prestin excels at binding anions, which facilitates its oscillation through unique conformations. While salicylate has been demonstrated to induce reversible inhibition in prestin, the broader mechanisms of how this protein senses and transduces voltage into cellular movement are not fully understood. Crucial to sound amplification in the cochlea and the ability for OHCs to selectively respond to different sound frequencies is non-linear capacitance (NLC), wherein conformational …

Using Physiochemical Properties Of Phenylalkylamines In Silico As A Predictive Classification Of Psychedelic Effect, Tatum Hedrick, Caleb Siguenza

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Rationale: Substituted phenethylamines have been widely used and distributed for religious, therapeutic, and recreational purposes. While some correlations have been reported on small subsets of these molecules and their action, little is known about the fundamental basis of their action at an atomic level. As such, collecting a large collection of computationally predicted physiochemical properties of these compounds in a comprehensive database can serve to aid in predicting their mechanisms of action. Knowing this will ultimately reduce harm among recreational users and increase efficacy in personalized therapies. As such this study aims at establishing a relationship between the calculated atomic …

Utilizing Item-Analyses Method To Identify Opportunities For Improving Mental Health Literacy Training Programs, Aashi Chhabra

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Mental health literacy (MHL) refers to the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs that are linked to actions in recognizing, managing, and preventing mental health disorders. Acknowledging the importance of quantifying this information, the study aims to explore differences in mental health literacy among various groups. Understanding these disparities is crucial for designing targeted educational campaigns that address specific concerns within the training curriculum.

Participants (n = 170) enrolled in a Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) certification course completed a 15-item pre-survey measuring knowledge and attitudes about mental health. Demographic data was collected, and results were stratified by age, race, gender, and …

What Is Categorized As A War Crime Depends On Who Commits It: An Asymmetry In Moral Judgments Of Acts Of War, Alexis Lass

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Should all acts of aggression carried out in war be categorized as War Crimes? The Geneva Conventions and the International Criminal Court set specific parameters as to what does and does not constitute a war crime. Research in the domain of moral psychology displays that individuals are guided by the justness of cause when making moral judgements about combatant behavior. However, minimal research has evaluated the differentiation of atrocities being categorized as a war crime or not. Across two studies, this research seeks to investigate the role aggressors play in lay people’s categorization of war crimes. Do pre-existing beliefs about …

What Is The Level Of Knowledge And Awareness Among Healthcare Providers In Neonatal Intensive Care Units (Nicus) Regarding Prelinguistic And Linguistic Development In Premature And Newborn Infants?, Brooke Gallo, Preye Ford

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Healthcare professionals in the Neonatal/Newborn Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are charged with education and competencies to maximize life support and viability in premature infants and medically fragile term infants. Often, the neonate’s first experiences with communication occur while in the hospital environment. It is well established that neonates and infants who spend more than five days in the NICU are at an increased risk for developmental delays, including language delays, speech sound disorders, motor speech disorders, and/or cognitive delays. Research indicates that 'Up to 50% of infants born less than 32 weeks of gestation develop disadvantaged outcomes, including language and …

An Approach To Using X-Ray Crystallography To Understand Peptidomimetics, Mariapaz Velez

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Peptidomimetics can fold into a variety of well-defined shapes. The goal of this project is to understand shape selection in a beta peptide foldamer with an alpha amino acid cap. This research represents interdisciplinary collaboration between KAIST, a research university in South Korea, and NSU. We solved the single crystal x-ray structure and found that the crystals of this molecule were orthorhombic in P2₁2₁2with unit cell dimensions a=22.655(6), b=30.008(8), c=18.271(5) and a unit cell volume of 12421.2 ų (Z=8). We observed a total of 6 intermolecular hydrogen bonds within the beta peptide foldamer. Each of …

Changes In Neuromuscular Function Across A Competitive Collegiate Cross-Country Season, Riley Schemel, Alexis Arena, Isabella Vargas-Blanchard

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Resistance training strengthens neural adaptations that aid in improving neuromuscular functions such as the rate of force development (RFD) and power execution during an explosive task like a countermovement jump (CMJ). Distance runners do not engage in heavy resistance training and the effects of endurance running on neuromuscular functions are less known but may provide crucial biomarkers for monitoring performance and injury. The purpose of this intervention study was to evaluate changes in neuromuscular function from 7 weeks of competitive distance running without heavy resistance training. Thirteen university runners (age, 19.8±2.2 yrs; height, 1.74±0.10 m; mass, 61.9±9.0 kg) performed 3 …

Evaluation Of The Effects Of Mdmx And Mdm2 Inhibitors Causing Cell Death In Prostate Cancer Cells, Saaketh Palli, Revanth Madamsetty

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Objective: In this research, we examined the molecular mechanisms by which inhibition of the MDM2 and MDMX pathways induces cell death in prostate cancer cells. Background: In the United States alone, more than 3 million men are living with prostate cancer. Though significant advances have been made in treating prostate cancer, the need for new anti-cancer drugs and treatment methods still persists to fight this deadly disease. Therefore, our study explored the intracellular link between MDMX and necroptosis, to determine how manipulating this molecular target can lead to cell cycle arrest and cell death. Methods: The LNCaP Prostate Cancer cells …

Resveratrol-Inspired Synthetic Compounds For Glioblastoma Stem Cell Cytotoxicity, Nhi Van, Daniela Otero-Wincher, Elaine Chen, Brianna Calderon, Eliezer Gurovich, Marissa Bonsangue, Maria Moreno Hollweg, Eduardo Veliz Ph.D., Steven Vanni Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma is an aggressive brain tumor that poses a formidable challenge in terms of treatment due to its infiltrative nature and lack of effective conventional therapies. The presence of treatment resistant glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) is hypothesized to be responsible for tumor growth; therefore, successful elimination of GSCs is necessary to prevent post-therapy tumor recurrence and patient death. Resveratrol (RSV) is a natural polyphenolic stilbene found vastly in plant products, such as the skin of red grapes. RSV and its analogs are known for their antimicrobial, neuroprotective, antiaging, anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective, and blood-sugar lowering properties. A challenge of utilizing RSV in …

Social Anxiety Disorder In Gerontological Populations: Analysis Of Retirement, Spousal Loss, And Health-Related Challenges In Older Adults, Nathan Tinu

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This study will explore Social Anxiety Disorder (SAD) in gerontological populations, specifically examining how it manifests in the context of retirement, spousal loss, and health challenges. Employing surveys, interviews, and clinical assessments, the research will investigate both the subjective experiences and objective markers of SAD among older adults. The study will delve into the impact of retirement on social interactions, identity, and self-esteem to uncover potential contributions to social anxiety symptoms. Additionally, the research will observe the repercussions of spousal loss, using advanced statistical modeling to analyze longitudinal data and identify temporal patterns in the development of social anxiety. The …

Measuring Drug Metabolism Efficiency Of P450 Enzyme, Rachel Gruboy, Kena Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Cytochrome P450 enzyme is responsible for the majority of drug metabolism in the human body, generally increasing the drugs’ solubility for secretion. Drug companies have routinely tested how fast drugs are metabolized and the metabolites they produce, but the low efficiency of drug metabolism makes this measurement a challenging task. The purpose of this project was to increase metabolism efficiency by changing the reaction conditions. The drug metabolism of cytochrome P450 enzyme was measured using commonly prescribed medications. The P450 enzyme uses NADPH to reduce the heme iron- O₂ complex making it highly reactive. This highly reactive center is …

Comparative Genomics Across Streptomyces Murinus Strains To Study Conservation Of Biosynthetic Gene Clusters Producing Antifungal Compound Pentamycin, Sheril Mathew, Niah Johnson, Vamsi Korisapati, Dhivyan Kurani, Sathvi Gandra, Rebecca Thomas

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Streptomyces are filamentous, Gram-positive bacteria in the phylum Actinobacteria that are known to produce a diverse array of antimicrobial metabolites. A bacterial isolate, labeled Streptomyces murinus strain SPC1, recovered in Davie, FL, from ripe berries of foxtail palm (Wodyetia bifurcata) exhibited antimicrobial activity against fungal pathogens of palms (Dhillon and Chakrabarti 2023). Interestingly, the genome of Streptomyces strain SPC1 contains a complete secondary metabolite cluster for antifungal metabolite pentamycin (fungichromin) biosynthesis. Secondary metabolite clusters (SMCs) or biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are groups of genes responsible for the production of bioactive compounds, such as antibacterial and antifungal agents. In …

Dehydration And Traumatic Brain Injury, Lauren Gray

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Boxers lose up to 15% of their body weight and on average 6.7% prior to weigh in. Boxers dehydrate to make the weight class and will rapidly rehydrate before fighting. During fights, boxers receive traumatic brain injuries. There is reason to believe that if boxers are not properly rehydrated the traumatic brain injuries could be exacerbated, however, this hypothesis had never been explored. This study aimed to determine the extent of fluid loss and traumatic brain injuries. This study utilized 48 mice. Half of the mice received dehydration followed by rehydration while the other half had normal fluid intake. Half …

Diabetes Progression: From Statistical Analysis To Mathematical Modeling, Sandeep Dronavalli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Diabetes constitutes one of the leading neuroendocrine conditions with nearly 9.4 % of the US population showing symptoms of it. Noteworthy, type 2 diabetes (T2D) accounts for 90 to 95 % of all cases. It is a chronic disease, and the clinical manifestations include hyperglycemia (prolonged blood glucose levels above normal), hyperinsulinemia (excess levels of insulin circulating in the blood) along with insulin resistance. This presentation includes a statistical analysis based on a cohort of 440 individuals where both, demographic and laboratory measurements are included. Based on these results, a mathematical model accounting for the obtained associations is solved. It …

Exploring Alternative Binding Locations Of 5-Ht Antagonist Ketanserin In Microtubules; Implications For Future Research, Caleb Siguenza, Tatum Hedrick

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Recently, it’s been demonstrated that classic psychedelic action is mediated via intracellular mechanisms rather than action at membrane receptors. This intracellular action elicits neuroplastic effect. The conclusion is that these effects are due to activation of intracellular 5-HT2AR based on using ketanserin as a selective antagonist based on its selectivity to bind to the membrane 5-HT2A serotonin receptor. However, neuroplasticity is dependent upon multiple mechanisms and signaling cascades including the dynamics of neuronal microtubules. As the targets of ketanserin’s biological intracellular activity are not fully elucidated, here we investigate the binding potential of ketanserin to domains of the microtubule constituent …

How The Molecular Vibrations Of Water May Prevent Skin Cancer, Jarlynn Ramirez, Angelina Georg, Colette Costello, Mahi Desai, Sandeep Dronavalli

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Studies have shown that when DNA absorbs ultraviolet light it can become structurally damaged leading to a mutation and possibly skin cancer. However, exposing skin to sunlight rarely leads to a mutation. This indicates that after the ultraviolet light is absorbed by the DNA the energy from the light can either cause a structural change to the DNA (a mutation) or be dissipated in a way that does not damage the DNA. Absorption of ultraviolet light causes molecular vibrations in DNA and these vibrations are what likely leads to structural changes in the DNA. One way the structural changes could …

In Their Own Words: Collaborative Assessment Of Undergraduate Intellectual Curiosity, Amenia Farraj, Jaylynn Sylvain

Undergraduate Student Symposium

For the last decade, college enrollment across the U.S. has trended downward, which has been attributed to factors including increased college tuition and impacts of the pandemic (Welding, 2022). Others predict that digital technologies like AI will end academia as younger generations lean less into their intellectual curiosity (Marche, 2022). Yet, some universities like Nova Southeastern University have seen an increase in enrollment even while college enrollment generally declined by 7% between 2019 and 2022 (Welding, 2022). Much of these educational forecasts do not come from students but from older generations who sense a shift in how students learn. By …

Influence Of Variables On Vaping Behaviors Among College Students, Michelle Tiji

Undergraduate Student Symposium

E-cigarette use among youth in the United States has increased in the past decade, with the majority of vaping advertisements targeting adolescents and young adults. There are a multitude of individual, interpersonal, and community-level risk factors that influence the uptake of vaping behaviors. This study investigated the influence of the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease 2019) pandemic and parental/guardian vaping and smoking history on vaping behaviors among undergraduate, graduate, and professional students. Additionally, this study evaluated the extent to which vaping history influences the perceived effectiveness of anti-vaping advertisements. A survey was administered to current students to measure their vaping behaviors and …