Life Sciences Commons^™

Understanding Bigeye Scad (Selar Crumenophthalmus) In Southeast Florida: Age-Growth, Reproduction, And Diet, Mariah France

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

In southeastern Florida, the bigeye scad (Selar crumenophthalmus) is highly regarded as a baitfish for targeting billfish and other large sportfishes, often commanding market prices as live bait exceeding $180 per dozen. Despite its economic significance, there is limited knowledge regarding the species within the Atlantic Ocean, especially the population that occurs in Florida. Bigeye scad were collected monthly from local bait shops in Pompano Beach, Miami, and Islamorada to assess age-growth, reproductive behaviors, and dietary habits. Specimens from May to August had the highest values for length-weight relationships and gonadsomatic index, indicative of a spawning season during …

Red Snapper (Lutjanus Campechanus) Neurocranium, Michelle Bassali, Anthony D'Auria, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Assessment And Prioritization Of Contaminants Of Concern Along Florida's Coral Reef, Ellen Regina E. Skelton

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) is the third largest barrier reef in the world and faces significant stress from localized land, water, and air-based sources of pollution. Numerous chemical contaminants have been found in waters surrounding reefs and within corals, including pesticides, hydrocarbons, personal care products, pharmaceuticals, and trace metals. However, for most current and emergent environmental contaminants, little to no consistent information exists regarding environmental concentrations or toxicological effects on corals. Assessment of the levels of contaminants in coral reef environments is needed to conduct risk assessments to guide management, restoration, and recovery strategies, and the coral reef resource management …

Largemouth Bass Neurocranium, Owen Duerbeck, Ian Thelwell, Oliva Weeks

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Black Grouper Neurocranium, Angelina Trapani-Banyra, Victoria Bruno, Mason Schleicher

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Dehydration And Traumatic Brain Injury: A Pilot Study Of A Translational Rodent Model Of Conditions In Professional Combat Sports, Alexander S. Martinie, Corey Peacock, Chris Algeri, Bill Kochen

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Traumatic brain injuries are a widespread public health issue, with athletes being at an increased risk of traumatic brain injury, especially in contact sports. Dehydration and rehydration prior to use of a weight drop served as a model for conditions experienced by professional boxers in a rodent model of traumatic brain injury. Following dehydration, rehydration, and traumatic brain injury procedures, subjects’ symptoms were assessed using the novel object recognition task, sucrose preference test, open field maze, and elevated zero maze. There were significant effects of both dehydration and TBI on time to righting, and there was a significant interaction between …

Snakehead Neurocranium, Alexis K. Crass, Megan E. Martiello, Matthew D. Gassmann, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Exercise Type On Working Memory, Ariana Gonzalez, William R. Kochen

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Martial arts encompass a wide range of sports and techniques that have been practiced for self-defense and combat for thousands of years. It has expanded to include various styles such as Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Taekwondo, judo, and karate. It has also been practiced as a form of exercise and entertainment. Martial arts have been associated to discipline, integrity, improved stamina, and increased mental and problem-solving capabilities. Unlike other exercise methods, most martial arts require focus, skill, and technique, which have been hypothesized to improve memory. The purpose of the study was to determine if there was a significant improvement in the …

Use Of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators In High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion, Soumya Malhotra, Khavir Sharieff

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Title: Use of Electrical Bone Growth Stimulators in High-Risk Patients Following Spinal Fusion Authors: Soumya Malhotra, BA., MS1 & Khavir Sharieff, DO, MBA2 1Class of 2027, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Fort Lauderdale, FL 2Assistant Professor of Surgery, Nova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine, Tampa Bay, FLNova Southeastern University Dr. Kiran C. Patel College of Osteopathic Medicine Objective: This study aimed to elucidate the advantages of EBGSs following high-risk spinal fusions. Background: Pseudarthrosis is a condition where bones fail to fuse after an injury or surgery. It causes significant …

Nourishing Skin Health: The Impact Of A Balanced Diet On Chronic Inflammatory Skin Conditions, Archana Banda

HCA-NSU MD Research Day

Objective: This study was conducted to determine the influence a balanced diet has on the outcome of specific dermatologic conditions notably psoriasis, atopic dermatitis, and rosacea. Background: Nutritional status is pivotal in shaping holistic wellness, which extends to skin health. Adequate nutrition can prevent the worsening of inflammatory conditions. Methods: A literature review was conducted to analyze how specific dietary habits for selected chronic inflammatory cutaneous conditions influence the presentation and overall clinical outcome. Results: The analysis indicates a higher incidence of flare-ups with diets heavily consisting of carbohydrates, red meat, alcohol, and fats. Specific diets, such as the Western …

Black Grouper Neurocranium, Grace K. Triplett, Katelyn A. Mckimmy, Lacey Adamik, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Todaro Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea Canaliculata), Jasmyn Todaro, Amy C. Hirons

Hirons Field Techniques

Channeled Apple Snail (Pomacea canaliculata) shell.

Red Snapper Neurocranium, Roman Devlin, Michael A. Birnbaum, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Butterfly Peacock Bass (Cichla Ocellaris) Neurocranium, Jasmyn Todaro, Emma Horton, David Kerstetter

All Scans: Kerstetter Fisheries and Avian Ecology 3D Scan Series

No abstract provided.

Proceedings From The Fifth Annual For Society For Sports Neuroscience Conference, Neurosports Editorial Staff

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Proceedings from the Fifth Annual for Society for Sports Neuroscience Conference

Qualitative Literacy: A Guide To Evaluating Ethnographic And Interview Research, Frida Akmalia

The Qualitative Report

Qualitative Literacy: A Guide to Evaluating Ethnographic and Interview Research by Mario Luis Small and Jessica McCrory Calarco is a comprehensive guide that offers a framework for evaluating the quality of qualitative research. The book is particularly relevant for researchers seeking to assess or enhance the rigor of their qualitative studies. Small and Calarco (2022) introduce five key indicators; cognitive empathy, heterogeneity, palpability, follow-up, and self-awareness that assist readers and researchers in determining whether a qualitative study is well-executed. This review discusses the organization and content of the book, the rationale for selecting it, its strengths and weaknesses, and provides …

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

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) are groups of microbial genes that play a critical role in producing secondary metabolites with varied functions. Secondary metabolites include compounds such as siderophores, antibiotics, antifungal compounds, toxins, and pigments. The BGCs are modular units that usually contain a transcription factor, core biosynthetic gene, other genes involved in modifications and addition of side chains as well as genes needed for extracellular export. In specific, the metabolites produced by BGCs have diverse biological activities and usually display antimicrobial properties. The genome of Streptomyces murinus strain SPC1 revealed a complete BGC involved in the biosynthesis of the antifungal …

Exploring Genetic Elements Related To The Co-Occurrence Of Crohn’S Disease And Rheumatoid Arthritis, Vamsi Korisapati, Karam Asad, Andrew T. Ozga

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Crohn’s disease (CD) is a rare inflammatory bowel disease that negatively impacts the lining of the digestive tract, while Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disorder wherein the body attacks healthy cells, also causing inflammation. The primary cause of inflammation in both diseases is an overactive immune response, but patients who are diagnosed with RA are typically prescribed nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, which is not a suggested method for treating CD. Here we do a literature survey through PubMed to uncover genetic variants common to both diseases and highlighted four shared genes: HLA-DRB1, NOD2, CARD9, and CXCL10. We then examined these …

Cytotoxic Potential Of Fungi In The Genus Ganoderma, Abril Chao, Omobolanle A. Ayangade, Braham Dhillon, Navi Gill

Mako: NSU Undergraduate Student Journal

Ganoderma lucidum is a mushroom forming fungus that has been used in traditional Chinese medicine for over 2,000 years. G. lucidum, also known as lingzhi or reishi, is consumed in several Asian cultures to promote health and longevity. Bioactive molecules with anticancer properties have been isolated and characterized primarily from the species Ganoderma lucidum, and the cytotoxic potential of other species in the genus Ganoderma remains relatively unclear. Bioactive molecules isolated from mushroom fruiting bodies are demonstrated to have cytotoxicity against different cancer cell lines. Triterpenes and polysaccharides are the two major groups of compounds that exhibit antitumor and anti-inflammatory …

Tame Your Inner Flame: A Sample Nutrition Intervention Protocol For Firefighters, Rachel Keating-Fleming

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Firefighters are an essential part of every community that perform life saving duties and critical work to sustain everyday life. These individuals perform strenuous work every shift and are under larger amounts of job stress compared to other professions. It has been found that firefighters have increased risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality by sudden cardiac death. Studies have found that this risk comes from factors such as shift work, increased job stress, lack of time to eat a proper diet, and lack of time to engage in physical activity. A Mediterranean diet plan shows promise as an improvement strategy …

Northern Fur Ssal Vibrissae Organochlorine Contaminant Concentrations, Dimitri Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Courtney White

SECLER Data

The eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands has experienced population declines since 1980. The decline may be due to anthropogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which bioaccumulate, are toxic, and persistent. This study conducted a comparison of 21 organochlorine (OC) and 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) analyte concentrations utilizing archived vibrissae (whiskers) from individual fur seals sampled in 1993 (n=30) and 2013 (n=41). The PBDEs had values five times greater than the legacy status OCs. There were no significant mean concentration differences between 1993 and 2013 for total organochlorines (ΣOCs), or total …

Northern Fur Seal Vibrissae Polybrominateddiphenylether Concentrations, Dimitri Giarikos, Amy Hirons, Courtney White

SECLER Data

The eastern Pacific stock of northern fur seals (Callorhinus ursinus) on the Pribilof Islands has experienced population declines since 1980. The decline may be due to anthropogenic persistent organic pollutants (POPs) which bioaccumulate, are toxic, and persistent. This study conducted a comparison of 21 organochlorine (OC) and 39 polybrominated diphenyl ether (PBDE) analyte concentrations utilizing archived vibrissae (whiskers) from individual fur seals sampled in 1993 (n=30) and 2013 (n=41). The PBDEs had values five times greater than the legacy status OCs. There were no significant mean concentration differences between 1993 and 2013 for total organochlorines (ΣOCs), or total …

Emotional Response In Working Memory Of Individuals With Latent Toxoplasmosis, Antonella Quimbayo

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Toxoplasma gondii is a prevalent parasite that infects about 30% of the world population. House cats and other felids serve as definitive hosts and acquire Toxoplasma by consuming infected prey, which are intermediate hosts. This includes rats and avians, but also large mammals such as wolves and deer. Toxoplasma gondii is known to manipulate prey behavior to enhance its transmission. For example, infected rodents demonstrates attraction to and curiosity around cat urine. Wolves infected with Toxoplasma were 11 times more likely to disperse from their pack and start a new pack. The manipulation of intermediate host behavior observed in rodents …

A Comparative Analysis Of Extant Oceanic Shark Species Using Trait-Based Ecology, Elizabeth A. Johnson

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, scientists have been working together to mitigate human impacts on global shark populations, but deciding which species need the most immediate attention can be difficult. This study uses a newly emerging approach to ecology, trait-based ecology, to identify trends in trait expression with depth and determine which species have the most unique sets of traits. While trait-based ecology has already been applied to numerous fields, a trait-based approach to shark research is still in its infancy. A total of 15 traits across 337 oceanic shark species were examined to identify trends in trait expression and …

Five A Day, The Rainbow Way: A Nutrition Education Toolkit For Elementary School Aged Children, Sasha Menard

Department of Nutrition Student Projects

Learning Outcome: Develop a nutrition educational toolkit based on Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) for obesity prevention among elementary school-aged children by improving determinants of fruit and vegetable intake.

Background: Poor consumption of fruits and vegetables is a major contributing factor to childhood obesity, increasing the risk for chronic diseases later in life. There is a need for multicomponent nutrition educational tools to influence children to improve their eating behavior by increasing their awareness and self-efficacy. The current project describes the development of a 3-component toolkit for improving participants’ knowledge and values related to fruit and vegetable intake among 6-11-year-olds.

Methods: …

The Effects Of Simulated Predation And Nursery Structure On Post-Outplant Survival And Growth Of Sexual Juveniles Of Six Caribbean Coral Species, Jarrod Little

All HCAS Student Capstones, Theses, and Dissertations

Over the past few decades, increasing frequency and severity of direct and indirect anthropogenic stressors have resulted in reef degradation and decreased coral cover and diversity. In South Florida, coral propagation ex situ has gained popularity as a means to restore coral cover. Outplanting sexually propagated corals on the reef is particularly important as it contributes to greater genetic diversity and potentially overall reef resilience. However, these corals typically experience high levels of predation following outplanting, significantly reducing coral survival, and thus constitute a major bottleneck to the success of restoration efforts. This study assessed if simulated predation events on …

Energy Drinks, Shots, And Pre-Workout Supplements: A Brief Review, Jason M. Curtis, Jose Antonio

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Abstract

Introduction: There are many purported benefits, both physically and mentally, to consuming energy drinks, energy shots, and multi-ingredient pre-workout supplements ¹.

Methods: This current review, we used studies that investigated the benefits of ED, ES, and MIPS products. We looked for studies that reported the effects of these products, both physical and/or mental.

Review Findings: Current literature on these products suggests that the consumption of these ergogenic aids may increase power, force production, anaerobic production, muscular endurance, and endurance performance in athletes as well as improvement in many indices of mental performance ^2,15.

Practical …

Wearable Device Case-Study: Unveiling Physiological Stress Patterns In A Neurosurgeon Operating Multiple Surgeries, Andy Suarez, Justin Braun, Gabriel J. Sanders, Yoav Ritter, Steven Vanni, Jaime Tartar, Corey A. Peacock

Journal for Sports Neuroscience

Introduction

Utilizing a wearable device, this case study aims to measure stress at different surgical durations to bridge the gap in research regarding the physiological stress of surgery. Significant stress variations throughout the surgeries are anticipated, which will provide valuable insight into the patterns of physiological stress experienced by our neurosurgeon.

Materials and Methods

One male neurosurgeon subject (n=1; age: 48; height: 188 cm; weight: 87.3 kg) conducted 82 surgeries (2023-2024). A wearable device (Whoop 4, Boston, MA) was used to monitor maximum heart rate (MAXHR), average heart rate (AVGHR), calories (CAL), strain (STR) and surgery duration (MIN). Surgeries were …

Stakeholder Involvement And Systematic Review Of Elements That Determine A Successful Return To Work For Injured Workers: A Scoping Review, Sundip Kaur Khosa, Wilma Jelley Professor

Internet Journal of Allied Health Sciences and Practice

Introduction: A healthy and sustainable return to work (RTW) for a worker after injury or illness has benefits for the worker, their family, the employer, and society.¹ For this research we used the following definition of RTW success; return to positive and meaningful work in a position or occupation not necessarily including all the aspects of the worker’s pre-injury or pre-illness functions or tasks. Purpose: The question behind this survey-based research was, What elements are perceived as essential, to ensure return to employment of injured or ill workers, by stakeholders with experience in the RTW process? Methods: A 32 …

Evolution Of Global Anatomy Research Through Covid-19: A Post-Pandemic Evaluation, Harsh Chheda, Santanu De

FDLA Journal

The Coronavirus Infectious Disease 2019 (COVID-19) struck the world with a deep impact on many countries' healthcare systems. More specifically, anatomical research experienced a drastic setback due to the limitations and restrictions placed upon them by the medical community. This study aims to review how COVID-19 guidelines presented conflict regarding the retrieval and use of cadavers, as well as how anatomy research was modified on a global scale owing to the pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak called for several changes upon each significant anatomical research technique, ranging from cadaver dissection to diagnostic imaging. Given the remarkable shift in medical research guidelines …