Digital Commons Network^™

Impacts Of Social Enrichment On Shelter Operations And Canine Welfare, Julia Capirano, Apoorva Bommanaveni, Robyn Hugh Sam, Emily Jiron, Raquel Walton

Undergraduate Student Symposium

~2,000,000 dogs are adopted from shelters each year; many have long and stressful residencies and ~10% are returned after adoptions for behavioral or other complications. Social enrichment programs aim to reduce shelter residencies and improve adoption placement success by providing stress-reducing social enrichment to resident animals. In this study, we test whether these programs measurably impact stress biomarkers in dogs, and whether they result in more rapid or successful adoption outcomes. We will use public data from Broward County Shelter (including the focal dogs’ in-shelter enrichment regimes), to test our hypothesis that enrichment expedites adoption and/or increases the likelihood of …

Investigating Structural Alterations In Antagonistic Peptides For The Development Of Orally Bioavailable Pcsk9 Inhibitors, Pritika Vemulapalli, Bhavya Soni

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Familial Hypercholesterolemia (FH) is an autosomal genetic disease that causes elevated blood levels of low-density lipoprotein (LDL). One of the leading causes of FH is gain-of-function mutations in the gene coding for proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9). The PCSK9 protein binds to LDL receptors (LDLR) on the surface of hepatocytes and promotes their degradation, preventing the recycling of LDLRs and thus increasing LDL blood levels. Monoclonal antibody therapies that bind to PCSK9 inhibiting LDLR binding are currently only available as an injection. However, several orally bioavailable PCSK9 inhibitors have been formulated and are undergoing clinical trials. One such therapy …

Mathematics Models For Aedes Albopictus Population Pattern In Miami-Dade, Triet Doranala

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Miami-Dade’s humid tropical climate is conducive to an outbreak of vector transmission diseases. To protect their residents, cities in those areas enforce spraying schemes to keep the mosquito population under control. However, collecting data from mosquito traps alone cannot provide sufficient information for an effective and efficient spraying system. Hence, this research seeks to find mathematical models that reflect a dominant mosquito Aedes Albopictus population in South Florida’s areas. We determined the parameter of life span, oviposition, juvenile survival, and development rate models driven by the temperature using computer simulation. For further study, we compared Aedes Albopictus and Aedes Aegypti. …

Mother-Calf Contact Exchanges In Bottlenose Dolphins, Savanna Duda

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The relationship between a dolphin mother and her calf has been well studied, but details regarding tactile exchanges within these dyads are limited. Contacts between five adult female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and their calves were examined from video collected in October 2017, 2018, 2019, and January 2018. Of the 312 contact events documented, 289 had a clearly initiating dolphin, who started the behavior. Calves initiated 65.7% of contacts, with 82.6% categorized as affiliative, initiating with body parts besides rostrum or fluke, while 77.8% of mother-initiated contacts were affiliative. Therefore, the overall trend for mother-calf contacts was affiliative. …

No Evidence Of Recovery After The Dwhos In The Abundance Of The Five Dominant Families Of Micronektonic Crustaceans In The Gulf Of Mexico, Theophilus Herbet

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Micronektonic crustaceans are an essential element of the global marine food web. A number of studies conducted between 2011 and 2015 indicated that the was a significant decrease in all families of micronektonic crustaceans sampled on these cruises. The sampling was in the vicinity of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, which may have contributed to the die-off. Two datasets from 2021 and 2022 were analyzed in the current study to determine if there have been any signs of recovery. Statistical analysis determined that there was no significant difference between the 2021 and 2022 datasets, even though the abundances for three …

Nutraceutical Supplementation Effects On Perceptive Fatique Symptoms In Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome: A Systemic Review, Rajvi Patel, Emanuella Brito

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a seriously debilitating disease characterized by long lasting fatigue and exhaustion that does not improve with rest. ME/CFS is reported in individuals of all ages and various racial, socioeconomic, and ethnic groups. This condition has no standard treatment but supplementation with vitamins and other nutraceuticals have been recommended by clinicians to manage the patient symptoms. The evidence of efficacy of these nutraceuticals or diet strategies are however absent from the current literature. The intent of this systematic review is to evaluate the ClinicalTrials.gov, a registry of clinical trials run by the United States National …

Reassessing Taxonomic Classification Of The Zoantidean Epizoanthus Giveni Using Marginal Musculature As A Defining Character, Mackenzie Magyar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The ability to identify species as individual units of evolution determines our capacity to link individuals to all knowledge of structure, function, and evolution of biological systems. Species that are misclassified will be linked to the wrong catalog of knowledge, errors which may propagate through the literature in unpredictable ways. Zoanthidean taxonomic classifications are commonly determined using histological sections of the marginal musculature, which is responsible for polyp retraction and has diverse structural components unique to different taxa. Although classification defined by marginal musculature has been used over time, publications since 2015 have increasingly expanded the working knowledge of this …

Repeated Mild Traumatic Brain Injuries And Increased Dementia Risk: A Pilot Study Investigating Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy As A Mechanistic Link, Nikhila Paleati, Nika Kozar Yazmin Restrepo, Nitish Dundigalla, Aishwarya Muppoor, Natalia Noto, Blanche Tamiya, Roshini Bodicherla

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is estimated to affect ~69 million people worldwide each year. Mild TBI’s are the most common form of brain injury, characterized by little-to-no time unconscious and minimal observable deficits immediately post-injury. Mild brain injuries are commonly attributed to participation in contact sports and military service. Even mild TBIs, especially repeated injuries, have devastating long-term consequences, including an increased risk of stroke and dementia. Therefore, it is of great interest to determine the mechanisms that drive the relationship between different types of TBIs and various aspects of dementia-associated neuropathology, so that targets for intervention may be identified. …

Semantic Priming Across Many Languages, Ramsha Ahmed, Aishwarya Muppoor, Michelle Gruboy, Ishani Patel, Riya Patel, Sneh Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The Psychological Science Accelerator (PSA) is a globally distributed network of labs that conducts studies with the goals of inclusion and transparency. Crowdsourcing data worldwide enables research to be generalized through diverse participants with unique language backgrounds providing worldwide multilingual data. The PSA makes opportunities available for researchers to network and replicate studies. We have been collecting data on a study organized by the PSA. In addition to data collection, we helped to verify translations of the consent form and protocol information from English to different languages. The study examines semantic priming, which occurs when a semantically related prime (e.g. …

Social Vulnerability, Built Environments Conducive To Physical Activity, And Adult Obesity Int He State Of Florida, 2021, Shreeya Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Social vulnerability, or a community’s ability to respond to stressors on health, might contribute to disparities in obesity rates. For officials to better target anti-obesity efforts, it is also important to understand the contextual factors surrounding social vulnerability from an environmental justice perspective. This study’s purpose is to investigate the role of social vulnerability and environments not conducive to physical activity on adult obesity at the county level in Florida. We conducted an ecological, cross-sectional study among the 67 Florida counties. To measure county-level social vulnerability, we utilized the 2020 CDC Social Vulnerability Index (SVI). Environments not conducive to physical …

Synthesis Of Metal Binding Polymers Via Raft Polymerization Of Activated Ester Monomers And Post-Polymerization Functionalization, Francisco Castro Wetzstein, Meha Pandya

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Poly pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PPFPA) is an activated ester polymer used for the binding and removal of toxic metals out of solution through filtration. PPFPA was synthesized via reversible additionfragmentation chain transfer (RAFT) polymerization using pentafluorophenyl acrylate (PFPA) as the monomer to create linear and hyperbranched polymers. RAFT polymerization allows control over molecular weight and the molecular architecture of PPFPA. H-NMR and F-NMR spectroscopy was utilized to assess monomer purity, polymer conversion, and confirm the structure of the final polymer. The purpose of this study is to synthesize PPFPA, a chelating polymer, as well as to functionalize said polymer with different …

The Abundance Of Streptococcus Mutans Within The Oral Cavity Of University Students And Implications For Disease Etiology, Esha Manku

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Microorganisms within the human oral cavity are part of a healthy ecosystem but can also contribute to disease states by increasing the severity of dental caries, the incidence of gingivitis, and the onset of periodontitis. In particular, patients with poor oral health exhibit a significant increase the pathogenic microbe Streptococcus mutans. However, research shows that S. mutans abundance may be related to a SNP within the human genome (an A/G substitution at rs7294985 in the microsomal glutathione-Stransferase 1 (MGST1) gene). Here we address the role of S. mutans abundance and SNP genotype ratios within a healthy student population (n …

The Democratization Of South Korea: A Study Of The United States Involvement Pre- And Post-Korean War, Amenia Farraj

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The United States has an extensive history of foreign intervention, especially during the latter half of the 20th century. While most Americans know this involvement includes Vietnam, the Middle East, and Latin America, the impact of the United States on South Korea is studied less, earning the Korean War its moniker as the forgotten war. The initial involvement of the US in the development of South Korea began following World War II and continued through the end of the 20th century into the 21st century. The similarities between South Korea and the United States demonstrate the build-up of South Korea …

The Effect Of Anti-Angiogenic Agents Jfd And F16 On The Cell Cycle Arrest And Apoptosis Mechanisms In U87 And T98 Glioblastoma Cells, Sri Vaishnavi Konagalla, Ritu Upadhyay

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is an aggressive type of cancer that can occur in the brain or spinal cord, with a 5-year survival rate of only 5%. Two novel anti-angiogenic agents, JFD and F16, have been developed and seem to be favorable for treating GBM. They work by inhibiting tumor angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels that plays a pivotal role in tumor growth. JFD is a small molecule that was developed for blocking vascular endothelial growth factor receptor (VEGFR). F16 is the second small molecule that can cross the blood brain barrier and block angiogenesis in tumors …

The Effects Of Forced Exercise On Traumatic Brain Injury, Courtney Mai, Drew Smith, Juanita Castillo, Karla Munoz

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a worldwide public health problem that can alter daily function and quality of life. TBIs affects approximately 1.5 million people in the United States annually and 300,000 of these TBIs are sports-related. Sports-related TBIs are generally known as concussions and have garnered attention due to the neurobehavioral outcomes that could arise from athletic training or exercise. This study aims to examine how forced exercise can affect TBI. This study was conducted by inducing stress via forced exercise and mild TBIs. Behavioral tests included elevated zero maze, novel object recognition, open field, and sucrose preference. Currently, …

The Impact Of Playing Music In The Neonatal Intensive Care Unit, Amaya Allen, Angela Razo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) are at increased risk for developmental delays, anxiety, and stress. Additionally, parents and caregivers are susceptible to an increased risk for trauma due to the hospital admission. This occurs secondary to the medical environment, including negative medical touch and unnatural motoric and sensory stimulation to the developing brain. The purpose of this scoping review of the literature, is to determine if music therapy in the NICU decreases stress and trauma.

A scoping review will be completed of peer reviewed articles assessing the impact of music therapy on infants in the NICU and …

The Relationship Between Minority Communities, Health Care, And Sexual Literacy, Samantha Grady

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Within the medical field, there is evidence of disparities related to the race/ethnicity of individuals, specifically in minority communities (Guzzo & Hayford, 2012). This issue is highly prevalent, and multiple studies have been conducted attempting to find the root cause (Richardson & Norris, 2010; Guzzo & Hayford, 2012). This study aimed to not only understand the background between minority communities, sexual literacy knowledge, and healthcare access but to also conduct a pilot project that spread information about reproductive health to a predominantly Latinx community in Sarasota, Florida. Additionally, the values and culture of those communities were investigated to identify the …

The Tale Of Traditional Tobacco As Told Through The Hummingbird Brings Back Tobacco Cherokee Legend, Natalie Toops

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hummingbird Brings Back Tobacco is a Cherokee legend which emphasizes the cultural, spiritual, and medicinal properties of tobacco. The plot of this story will align with the research of, and presentation on, traditional tobacco. The story begins with a connected community praying for healing and wisdom through tobacco rituals. Suddenly, the community suffers as their tobacco was stolen by the Dagul’ku geese who wanted the benefits for themselves. In the end, the heroic hummingbird reclaims the community’s tobacco thus restoring their spirit. The paradox of tobacco for many Native American communities confounds anthropological study. Tobacco has been revered as a …

Using X-Ray Crystallography To Inform Small Molecule Drug Design, Ilana Kolomiyets, Shreya Surti

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project involves organic synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and the design of small molecule drugs. The ultimate goal of this project is to better understand the forces that affect the conformation of small molecules in order to develop more effective cancer therapeutics. The key molecule in this project is in reminiscent of an indole-2-carboxamide, and past research has shown that these molecules have antitumor and apoptotic effects against a variety of cancer cells. The crystals of this molecule were orthorhombic in P2₁2₁2₁ with unit cell dimensions a = 14.0111(1), b = 17.7521(1), c = 45.0224(3) and …

X-Ray Crystallography Of Self-Assembling Materials, Shreya P. Surti, Ilana Kolomiyets, Zachary C. Pizzo

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This research represents an interdisciplinary collaboration between NSU and KAIST, a leading research university in South Korea, and involves organic synthesis, X-ray crystallography, and materials selfassembly. This research informs the design of a new generation of self-assembling materials with improved physical properties for biomedical and technological applications.

Through analysis of the software packages CRYSTALS and Mercury, the structure of the molecule was found. The X-ray crystal’s parameters were found to be triclinic in P1 with a = 8.7008(5), b = 11.5507(7), c = 12.8580(8), a = 69.8418(18), b = 80.9295(18), g = 88.4199(18) and a unit cell volume of 1197.41(7) …

A Review Of Healthcare-Related Decisions Faced By Women At Risk For Hereditary Breast Cancer, Rathika Manikandan, Ilan Nedjar

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Hereditary breast cancer is defined as cancer that results from pathogenic mutations that are generationally inherited. In the U.S., hereditary cancer accounts for 5-10% of all cancer cases. Furthermore, approximately 264,000 newly diagnosed breast cancer cases are linked to pathogenic mutations. Pathogenic mutations in BRCA1, BRCA2, PALB2, and other genes are linked to a higher lifetime risk of breast cancer and ovarian cancer; women with these pathogenic mutations have lifetime risk of breast cancer up to 85% and lifetime risk of ovarian cancer up to 54% . Previvors are defined as individuals with an identified pathogenic mutation prior to a …

A Search For A Solution To Antibiotic-Resistance: Uncovering Phage From Soil Samples That Bind To A Type Iii Secretion System Of Yersinia Pestis, Shruti Patel, Ritika Vonguru, Kenya Reid, Jewel Mousa, Megha Kurian

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The rise of antibiotic-resistant bacteria has recently become a major global health concern, requiring new methods to successfully combat these highly resistant microbes. One promising alternative to traditional antibiotics is phage therapy, where bacteriophages (viruses that infect bacteria) are utilized to target and kill bacteria. This study primarily focuses on discovering phages that are effective against Yersinia pestis (Y. pestis), the bacteria responsible for bubonic and pneumonic plague. One distinctive aspect of Y. pestis is its utilization of a type III secretion system (T3SS), a needle-like structure used to inject host cells with toxins that lead to infection. …

Accommodations Needed For Asd Patients During Dental Care, Krystal Eischen Olsen

Undergraduate Student Symposium

This project aimed to investigate caregiver perspective regarding dental provider care for visits for their child[ren] with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). ASD is a developmental disorder that affects communication, sensory processing, and behavior. ASD can cause problems regarding oral health care and treatments due to the overwhelming sensations experienced by the patient, resulting in refusal behaviors regarding prevention, maintenance, diagnosis, and treatment of oral health care needs (Zhou et al., 2020). Dental providers aren’t extensively trained on treatment or support techniques recommended for this population, leading to a drop-off in patient care and a lack of caregiver training or support …

An Impartial Supreme Court? Evaluating The Role Of Public Opinion In Supreme Court Rulings, Alexis Lass

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Susceptibility to public opinion is a phenomena faced by most political leaders, whether that be in City Halls or the United States’ Senate. Regardless, when separation of powers was conceptualized and the Supreme Court of the United States was created, the intent was to have a particular branch that didn’t make the law, but interpreted it, impartially, with a lack of partisanship opinion. In recent years, researchers have noticed a pattern of Supreme Court rulings aligning perfectly with public opinion, making field experts and citizens alike, question the integrity of the institution. The current study seeks to better understand the …

Differentiation Of Stress Response In Children With Autism, Devanshi Patel

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) process stressors differently than children with neurotypical development and have a poor response to stress. Furthermore, it is not clear if children with ASD are able to regulate appropriately in order to bounce back from a stressful experience. As such this study appraised results from big data in order to examine the stress response of children with neurotypical development compared to children with ASD. Data from a previous study in which neurotypical children and children with ASD were recruited from public events and from educational programs were analyzed using machine learning methods as a …

Effects Of Altered Tpp-1 Expression In Human Neural Progenitor Cells, Nitisha Gajavalli, Julia Langman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Batten’s Disease or neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis type 2 (CLN2) is a pediatric autosomal recessive, neurodegenerative lysosomal storage disorder due to a deficit of the lysosomal protease tripeptidyl peptidase (TPP-1). The lack of TPP-1 leads to an accumulation of lysosomal waste and cell death. The disease is characterized by language delays, seizures, cognitive and motor decline, blindness, as well as early death. Currently, a clinical trial of the experimental treatment Brineura® (Cerilponase Alfa) is the only approved treatment for CLN2. The clinical trial involves infusion of human recombinant TPP-1 (rhTPP-1) into the ventricles of the brain. Diffusion models suggest the protein …

Faulty Hip And Pelvis Biomechanics Do Not Differentiate Between 5k Performance In Ncaa Division Ii Cross-Country Runners, Maya Varghese, Shandon Marshall, Isabella Rivero

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Excessive hip adduction (HADD) and contralateral pelvis drop (CPD) angles during running are associated with running-related injuries. Their influence on performance is less known. Therefore, we aimed to determine if HADD and CPD could differentiate between high and low race performers, and if there were relationships between CPD, HADD and race performance. 26 healthy male and female NCAA Division II cross-country runners participated in this prospective study. They underwent 3D motion analysis of their HADD and CPD during pre-participation physical examinations. Times from the first race of the season were converted to International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) points and …

Nfl Draft Trainee Performance Profiling By Position, Maria Berrocales, Aidan Rohman

Undergraduate Student Symposium

The purpose of this study was to profile NFL draft trainees on physical and performance characteristics. Fifty-four players were categorized into Big, Big-skill, and Skill groups. We measured body fat (BF%), lean body mass (LBM), total mass, sprinting forces and ground contact time (GCT), jump height (JH), jump absolute (AJP), and relative (RJP) power, and reactive strength (RS). ANOVA determined between-group differences. Profiles were viewed via Z-score radar plots. There was a significant between-group difference in characteristics, F(24, 76)=5.18, p<0.001;Wilk's Λ=, partial η²=0.621. Post-hocs showed Skill had greater JH (p<0.001), RJP (p<0.001), and RSI (p=0.005) versus Big. Big had greater values versus …

Photodynamic Inactivation (Pdi) Of Microorganisms With Nitrogen Substituted Meso-Pyridyl Porphyrin Structures, Tiffany Pakela, Sanjana Sivaiah, Trisha Jaganathan

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Photodynamic Inactivation (PDI) is an antimicrobial approach targeting pathogens independent of antibiotic resistance. The growing international concern for the rise in drug resistant microorganisms has driven for research in approaches that will keep these microbes from developing any immunological adaptations. Photosensitizers are molecules activated by light that produce reactive oxygen species (ROS) lysing and causing cell death in structures of microbes and in diseased mammalian cells. The photosensitizers applied in this experiment are meso-Tetra(N-methyl-_-pyridyl)porphine tetrachloride structures. Three variations of the nitrogen placement were used to understand the interactions between such and the bacterial cell wall of Escherichia coli. These …

Regulatory Roles For Stress Responsive Transposable Elements In Rice, Jenna Handal, Michael Egozi, Andy Pereira Ph.D.

Undergraduate Student Symposium

Transposable elements, or mobile DNA sequences, are known for their structural and functional roles in the rice genome. As sources of genetic variation and drivers of evolution, transposable elements have been extensively studied for their regulation of gene expression and alteration of phenotypic traits. In addition, transposable elements are shown to be activated in response to various biotic and abiotic stresses. As the global temperature rises, heat stress threatens crop production worldwide. Research has shown that heat stress hinders optimal rice growth, development, and yield. Concern for food security amidst a growing population calls for development of novel methods to …