Current Search: Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering (x) » mixed material (x) » Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry (x)
View All Items
Pages
- Title
- 2-Hydroxychalcone as a Unique Luminescent Probe (ESIPT) for Peptides Labeling.
- Creator
- Kempton, Thomas G., Samanta, Shyam S., Roche, Stéphane P., Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Peptides and proteins with photochemical sensors are valuable tools when analyzing biochemical processes and peptide properties. Recent work on fluorescent α-amino acids (FlAAs) proved extremely useful in studying protein folding, conformational changes and reactivity. When fluorescent tags are appropriately attached to proteins they allow for the detection of their environment and changes therein. Research on the topic of site-specific fluorescent molecules is in its early stages. Several...
Show morePeptides and proteins with photochemical sensors are valuable tools when analyzing biochemical processes and peptide properties. Recent work on fluorescent α-amino acids (FlAAs) proved extremely useful in studying protein folding, conformational changes and reactivity. When fluorescent tags are appropriately attached to proteins they allow for the detection of their environment and changes therein. Research on the topic of site-specific fluorescent molecules is in its early stages. Several challenges face the topic of selectively excitable fluorescent probes. These include limits on the size and lifetime of synthesized proteins and enzymes, attaching the tag at the target location on a peptide chain which will take advantage of the photochemical properties of the tag, and developing molecules that will readily exhibit environment-sensitive fluorescence.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005580
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2016 Winners: Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
- Creator
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAU_SR00000058
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2017 Winners: Seventh Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
- Creator
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAU_SR00000059
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2018 Winners: Eighth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
- Creator
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Date Issued
- 2018
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAU_SR00000060
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2019 Winners: Ninth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium.
- Creator
- Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Date Issued
- 2019
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAU_SR00000061
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Adaptive Control of In-Stream Ocean Current Turbines for Load Reduction.
- Creator
- Lee, Louis M., VanZwieten, James H., Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
The ocean currents off Florida are a renewable and energy dense resource capable of providing Florida with about 25% of its electricity needs. This current is strongest at the sea surface and decreases in strength with depth such that the individual rotor blades on ocean current turbines (OCT) deployed to harness this resource will operate in stronger currents when positioned vertically upwards than when vertically downwards. This current shear will induce cyclic loadings on the rotor blades...
Show moreThe ocean currents off Florida are a renewable and energy dense resource capable of providing Florida with about 25% of its electricity needs. This current is strongest at the sea surface and decreases in strength with depth such that the individual rotor blades on ocean current turbines (OCT) deployed to harness this resource will operate in stronger currents when positioned vertically upwards than when vertically downwards. This current shear will induce cyclic loadings on the rotor blades unless active control is used to reduce these load variations. A direct adaptive individual blade pitch controller is implemented into a numerical model simulating an OCT operating in the Gulf Stream. The adaptive controller is analyzed with the OCT simulated in both stationary and moored configurations. The results concluded that the IBP controller reduced the amplitude of the loads in the stationary and moored simulations by 91.18% and 92.3%, respectively.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005582
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Adult Age Differences in Event Memory for Events.
- Creator
- Beazley, Joanna, Devlin, Patrick, Earles, Julie, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
In order to remember an event, one must remember the participants in the event, the actions that are performed, and which people performed which actions. Often people make binding errors in memory in which they remember the people and the actions, but they incorrectly remember one person as the person who performed an action that was actually performed by someone else. Half of the participants in our study saw a series of actions with each action performed by one of two actors. The other half...
Show moreIn order to remember an event, one must remember the participants in the event, the actions that are performed, and which people performed which actions. Often people make binding errors in memory in which they remember the people and the actions, but they incorrectly remember one person as the person who performed an action that was actually performed by someone else. Half of the participants in our study saw a series of actions with each action performed by one of two actors. The other half of the participants saw each action performed by a different actor. We found that older adults were more likely to make binding errors than were younger adults. Younger adults were equally likely to make binding errors in the two conditions. Older adults, however, made many fewer binding errors when they saw only two actors during encoding than when they saw many actors during encoding.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005557
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Aesthetic, Functional, Symbolic, and Ergonomic Impressions: Implications for HoverboardProduct Design Form.
- Creator
- Smith, Hunter, Gordon, Danielle, Llanos, Katherine, Smith, Allen E., Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Product design, a product’s outward appearance, associates with successful innovation when the design triggers buyers to develop positive impressions. The project assessed impressions of forty respondents to four distinctive hoverboard designs: 1) a prototypical design, 2) an ornate design, 3) an atypical design, and 4) a radical design. The original research extended extant research into design impressions of functionality, aesthetics, and symbolism to add an assessment of ergonomic...
Show moreProduct design, a product’s outward appearance, associates with successful innovation when the design triggers buyers to develop positive impressions. The project assessed impressions of forty respondents to four distinctive hoverboard designs: 1) a prototypical design, 2) an ornate design, 3) an atypical design, and 4) a radical design. The original research extended extant research into design impressions of functionality, aesthetics, and symbolism to add an assessment of ergonomic impressions. The systematic research method entailed a literature review, qualitative research, manipulation check, questionnaire pretest, convenience sample, and Chi-Square method enabling inferences with 90% confidence. A consent form and adherence to FAU’s academic integrity provided an ethical foundation. Results suggest that designers of hoverboards conform to the prototypical design to increase positive functional impressions, avoid ornate designs, and consider buyers’ skill level and self-expression when developing atypical designs due to respondents’ negative impressions of safety risks and ability to control a hoverboard.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005604
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Analysis of Gopherus polyphemus Reproduction at the Florida Atlantic University Preserve.
- Creator
- Nguyen, Thuymi, Huffman, Jessica, Frazier, Evelyn, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Gopherus polyphemus (gopher tortoise) is a threatened keystone species whose burrows benefit over 350 species. Surveys conducted throughout 2010- 2015 at Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP) have found an age gap of ten years and a lack of nests. To update the demographic survey and to examine the population’s reproduction and health, we conducted burrow and nest surveys from May to September 2016 and collected fecal samples to check for endo-parasites. Transects were used to locate...
Show moreGopherus polyphemus (gopher tortoise) is a threatened keystone species whose burrows benefit over 350 species. Surveys conducted throughout 2010- 2015 at Florida Atlantic University Preserve (FAUP) have found an age gap of ten years and a lack of nests. To update the demographic survey and to examine the population’s reproduction and health, we conducted burrow and nest surveys from May to September 2016 and collected fecal samples to check for endo-parasites. Transects were used to locate burrows and measurements were taken to determine population structure. Wire-probing was used to locate nests and feces were tested for endo-parasites. From a total of 261 marked burrows and fecal sampling, results indicated a continuous age range, one nest, and presence of intestinal parasites. Future work will focus on health and reproductive behavior that will improve our understanding of the FAUP gopher tortoise population and may ultimately aid in future conservation methods.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005631
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Analysis on the History of Campaign Finance Reform Laws and the Impact of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling on Campaign.
- Creator
- Broggi, Renzo, Arflin, Cheryl, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005561
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Excited States of Isobutene.
- Creator
- McLachlan, Jeffrey, Snyder, Patricia Ann, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Vacuum ultraviolet magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and absorption spectra of isobutene were obtained experimentally and compared to theoretical data (DFT calculation with Gaussian software) with the goal of better understanding the electronic structure of simple olefins. MCD is the differential absorption of left and right circular polarized light in the presence of an external magnetic field. This means that a MCD spectrum contains both positive and negative peaks while an absorbance...
Show moreVacuum ultraviolet magnetic circular dichroism (MCD) and absorption spectra of isobutene were obtained experimentally and compared to theoretical data (DFT calculation with Gaussian software) with the goal of better understanding the electronic structure of simple olefins. MCD is the differential absorption of left and right circular polarized light in the presence of an external magnetic field. This means that a MCD spectrum contains both positive and negative peaks while an absorbance spectrum contains only positive peaks. MCD is useful when used in conjunction with a corresponding absorbance spectrum to assign spectral bands that may have been hidden by overlap in the absorbance spectrum. The experimental and theoretical results coincide with the two lowest energy transitions of isobutene being assigned as [...]. This is also consistent with what has been observed in ethylene and propylene, π→π^* is not the lowest transition in mono-olefins.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005589
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Angiographic Changes of Blood Vessels in the Photoreceptor Degenerative Mouse Retina.
- Creator
- Nguyen, Matthew, Shen, Wen, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Tortuous, or twisted, arteries and veins are commonly observed in humans and animals diagnosed with diseases caused by the degeneration of photoreceptor cells. However, the mechanisms of their formation and development are poorly understood. We used immunocytochemical, confocal imaging and computer remodeling techniques to map the angiographic changes in the photoreceptor degenerative mouse model, pde6d (rd1) mice. We found that mechanical instability and rewiring in the distal retina of rd1...
Show moreTortuous, or twisted, arteries and veins are commonly observed in humans and animals diagnosed with diseases caused by the degeneration of photoreceptor cells. However, the mechanisms of their formation and development are poorly understood. We used immunocytochemical, confocal imaging and computer remodeling techniques to map the angiographic changes in the photoreceptor degenerative mouse model, pde6d (rd1) mice. We found that mechanical instability and rewiring in the distal retina of rd1 mice could be mechanisms for the initiation and development of these tortuous vessels. We also found that in the late stages of retinal degeneration, severe tortuosity leads to ischemic attack in the distal retina. This study provides valuable insights into understanding the pathologic changes of retinal blood vessels in the development of diseases in humans and animals.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005594
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Applications of Calculus In the Real World.
- Creator
- Gray, Danielle, Nikolova-Popova, Daniela, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Calculus is a division of mathematics that involves finding derivatives, integrals, and properties of functions. One subdivision of calculus is differential calculus which deals with continuous change and its applications. Another subdivision is differential calculus which deals with the rates at which quantities change. Although calculus was not discovered until the 1670’s, by Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, it still is relevant today and can be used in the “real world”. For example,...
Show moreCalculus is a division of mathematics that involves finding derivatives, integrals, and properties of functions. One subdivision of calculus is differential calculus which deals with continuous change and its applications. Another subdivision is differential calculus which deals with the rates at which quantities change. Although calculus was not discovered until the 1670’s, by Sir Isaac Newton and Gottfried Leibniz, it still is relevant today and can be used in the “real world”. For example, calculus can be applied to the physical interactions in the game of baseball, the shape and color of rainbows as well as finding the area under a bridge. This project will prove that calculus is not something that can be just learned in the classroom but can be applied to everyday life.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005571
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Applications of Rain Catchers For Reduced Usage of Clean Water in Household Plumbing.
- Creator
- King, Bertrand, Figallo, Jean Paul, Mesnick, Joshua, Su, Joe, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Adequate supply of clean water is one of the major challenges facing humanity for decades to come. For every flush of a toilet, 1 to 3 gallons of clean water is used. To put this in perspective, the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 5 gallons of water per person per day for washing, cooking, and drinking. To conserve water and the associated energy required for produce clean water, our research focuses on recycling of rainwater by rerouting the plumbing of a house to connect...
Show moreAdequate supply of clean water is one of the major challenges facing humanity for decades to come. For every flush of a toilet, 1 to 3 gallons of clean water is used. To put this in perspective, the World Health Organization recommends a minimum of 5 gallons of water per person per day for washing, cooking, and drinking. To conserve water and the associated energy required for produce clean water, our research focuses on recycling of rainwater by rerouting the plumbing of a house to connect to an outdoor rain catcher. Design of replacing clean water with rainwater for a typical house is presented.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005581
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Arabian Women of the Jahiliyya(Early Islamic) Times.
- Creator
- Douglas, Nora, Kanter, Douglas, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
In the Jahiliyya (Pre- Islamic period), only women of the elite classes who were related to men of influence in the tribe were the women who had power in society. The men of the elite prized their prowess in defending their tribal pagan traditions, which defined their place in society. Once Islam was established, those who were most respected in pagan times, instead, became the ones who were most looked down upon because they were against the new order. Islam effectively shifted the center of...
Show moreIn the Jahiliyya (Pre- Islamic period), only women of the elite classes who were related to men of influence in the tribe were the women who had power in society. The men of the elite prized their prowess in defending their tribal pagan traditions, which defined their place in society. Once Islam was established, those who were most respected in pagan times, instead, became the ones who were most looked down upon because they were against the new order. Islam effectively shifted the center of power from those who were wealthy in the tribe, to those who embraced Islam first; who were disproportionately women and slaves.It is crucial to put early Islamic traditions under the lens of cultural continuity from Pre- Islamic tradition to understand the development of power in tribal society and how this affected gender relations and patriarchy.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005566
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Are Americans Financially Literate?.
- Creator
- Fetzer, William, Armatrading, Jennifer, Escaleras, Monica, Levy, Eric, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Financial literacy is the backbone of the American financial system. As cash begins to be used less, credit is playing a larger role in our day to day activities such as purchasing a home, car, or online shopping. This change can create trouble for those who do not have knowledge about their credit and finances. To understand the financial education of Americans, we developed an online survey about financial literacy and collected responses from over 200 people. Our findings show that there...
Show moreFinancial literacy is the backbone of the American financial system. As cash begins to be used less, credit is playing a larger role in our day to day activities such as purchasing a home, car, or online shopping. This change can create trouble for those who do not have knowledge about their credit and finances. To understand the financial education of Americans, we developed an online survey about financial literacy and collected responses from over 200 people. Our findings show that there is a statistically significant difference of financial literacy based on factors such as income level and age group.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005620
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Are Americans Saving Enough for Retirement?.
- Creator
- Cantwell, Lucas E., Escaleras, Monica, Levy, Eric, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
The economic future of our country is uncertain after the most recent presidential election, and many people are wondering if they will have enough money to retire. There are lots of people, even proficient economists who were stunned by the economy’s positive trend over the past few months. While there is a strong growth in our country’s economy, there is no clear way to see what the future has in store. The purpose of my research is to see how people are preparing financially towards their...
Show moreThe economic future of our country is uncertain after the most recent presidential election, and many people are wondering if they will have enough money to retire. There are lots of people, even proficient economists who were stunned by the economy’s positive trend over the past few months. While there is a strong growth in our country’s economy, there is no clear way to see what the future has in store. The purpose of my research is to see how people are preparing financially towards their future. My goal is to see if people started saving for retirement, and how worried they are about the future. I am interested to see how much people saved so far. What I found is that many people did start to put money away for retirement, but they are worried about the future regardless of how much they have saved so far.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005617
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Attitudinal Evaluation of Ex-Vivo Cultivated Meat; Exploring Methods of Increasing Appeal.
- Creator
- Gasteratos, Kristopher, Brown, Nicolas A., Sherman, Ryne A., Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Animal protein production systems are reaching production capacity limits due to their associated ecological detriments. Therefore, a global shift towards an ecologically sustainable alternative is vital, and hence exploring the scope of market for such alternatives.“ Cultured meat”, or ex vivo cultivated meat, may indeed serve as a viable alternative. However, although this method aims to lessen environmental woes, one current drawback is the ambiguity of consumer acceptance. This study...
Show moreAnimal protein production systems are reaching production capacity limits due to their associated ecological detriments. Therefore, a global shift towards an ecologically sustainable alternative is vital, and hence exploring the scope of market for such alternatives.“ Cultured meat”, or ex vivo cultivated meat, may indeed serve as a viable alternative. However, although this method aims to lessen environmental woes, one current drawback is the ambiguity of consumer acceptance. This study addresses this concern through calculus of potential markets. Indeed, through surveying about 5,000 people worldwide, with focused populations in the United States and University undergraduates, statistically significant results of positive consumer interest in cultured meat were attained. After survey completion, over 75% of participants expressed interest in eating cultured meat (interested in “probably” or “definitely” eating cultured meat). Ultimately, this novel study ought to serve as a foundational framework for catalyzing funding towards privatized and academic research on cultured meat.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005621
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Autonomous Projectile Firing System.
- Creator
- Miller, Devon, Correa, Alyssa, Jordan, Craig, Quinones, Chris, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
Modern devices such as the projectile t-shirt launching cannon is consisted of a handheld cannon with a tank of compressed air attached at the base. Our team explored new innovative designs in order to revamp current state of the art products on the market. The team took initiative to focus on a more autonomous functioning device rather than a user-controlled system. The design would have capabilities to locate and transport to pre-determined locations for optimal proficiency to launch t...
Show moreModern devices such as the projectile t-shirt launching cannon is consisted of a handheld cannon with a tank of compressed air attached at the base. Our team explored new innovative designs in order to revamp current state of the art products on the market. The team took initiative to focus on a more autonomous functioning device rather than a user-controlled system. The design would have capabilities to locate and transport to pre-determined locations for optimal proficiency to launch t-shirts to fans in all ranges of the venue/stadium. Similarly, alongside with automatic dynamic abilities, the device must control the pitch and rotation of the barrel while firing t-shirts and launch multiple rounds of shirts in one trial run. The device will provide an overall better experience for corporate or private investors to interact with their fan-base delivering free merchandise within the limitations of the respected venues.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005600
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Branding and Advertising Strategy for FitBit Flex-2: Implications From Survey Research and Persuasion Theory.
- Creator
- Ayala, Andrea G., Robinette, Devin N., Lacerda, Rubens P., Smith, Allen E., Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
- Abstract/Description
-
A robust audience profile informs advertising campaign planning. The systematic research-in-progress will reveal a rigorous audience profile for FitBit-Flex 2, a wearable fitness tracking technology, through secondary research using credible business databases, the survey research method (e.g., consent form, questionnaire pre-test, convenience sampling, personal distribution and pick-up), descriptive statistics, and reliability assessment. The audience profile will inform the campaign problem...
Show moreA robust audience profile informs advertising campaign planning. The systematic research-in-progress will reveal a rigorous audience profile for FitBit-Flex 2, a wearable fitness tracking technology, through secondary research using credible business databases, the survey research method (e.g., consent form, questionnaire pre-test, convenience sampling, personal distribution and pick-up), descriptive statistics, and reliability assessment. The audience profile will inform the campaign problem, campaign objectives, and message strategy by revealing brand concept elements and message tactics to convey. Secondary research using FAU Library’s business databases has revealed marketplace, environmental, competitive conditions, and the audience’s demographic, geographic, generational, and psychographic characteristics. This basic profile will be enriched by survey research using items extracted from reliable and valid marketing scales. Motives, benefits, product perceptions and preferences, relative performance, lifestyle relevance, hedonistic pleasure, and decision making strategies will be subjected to measurement. Advertisements will be based on the audience profile, persuasion theory, and creative thinking techniques.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00005612
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)