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- Title
- Development and Calibration of a Low-Cost Visible Spectrometer.
- Creator
- Jinandra, Amisha, Smith, Eugene
- Abstract/Description
-
Visible spectrometers record the absorption of electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavelength, and the spectral data contains both qualitative and quantitative information. While these instruments are an essential tool for chemists, students often have limited access to quality instruments due to their high cost. The components used to construct visible spectrometers are moderately inexpensive due to recent technological advances, yet instruments remain expensive. The long term goal of...
Show moreVisible spectrometers record the absorption of electromagnetic radiation as a function of wavelength, and the spectral data contains both qualitative and quantitative information. While these instruments are an essential tool for chemists, students often have limited access to quality instruments due to their high cost. The components used to construct visible spectrometers are moderately inexpensive due to recent technological advances, yet instruments remain expensive. The long term goal of this study is to develop a visible spectrometer accessible to students using readily available and inexpensive components. To accomplish this goal, a prototype instrument was calibrated. Resolution was determined by recording data for samples that absorb visible light at specific wavelengths. To assess the utility of the spectrometer for quantitative analysis, signal intensities were obtained as a function of sample concentration.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005025
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Epidemiology of alcohol use among Florida college students.
- Creator
- Keim, Carley, Gonzalez, Paz B., Avila, R.R., Rosselli, Monica
- Abstract/Description
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When considering the evolving nature of problematic drinking, it is important to continually assess its prevalence throughout various demographics. Our goal was to analyze significant demographical data from a longitudinal pilot study measuring drinking behavior relative to inhibitory functioning among the young adult college population. Post hoc analyses revealed that when comparing African Americans (M=19.40, SD=±3.286) to European Americans (M=15.75, SD=±2.173) and Hispanics/Latinos (M=16...
Show moreWhen considering the evolving nature of problematic drinking, it is important to continually assess its prevalence throughout various demographics. Our goal was to analyze significant demographical data from a longitudinal pilot study measuring drinking behavior relative to inhibitory functioning among the young adult college population. Post hoc analyses revealed that when comparing African Americans (M=19.40, SD=±3.286) to European Americans (M=15.75, SD=±2.173) and Hispanics/Latinos (M=16.06, SD=±2.886), African Americans reported a significantly older age of drinking onset. ANOVA analyses revealed men and European Americans to consume significantly more alcohol than others. The age at which one began drinking significantly predicted numerous drinking behaviors: average number of drinks consumed, b=-.35, t(47)=-2.56, p < .05; largest number of drinks consumed per occasion, b=-.43, t(48)=-3.26, p < .01. Conversely, older age of one’s first binge drinking experience significantly predicted future frequent drinking behaviors.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005026
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A Misuse Pattern for Flame.
- Creator
- Lewis, Paul, Singh, Sanjay, Fernandez, Eduardo B.
- Abstract/Description
-
Flame is a computer worm that is being used for targeted cyber espionage in Middle Eastern countries. It is considered one of the most complex malware ever found. Flame can record audio, screenshots, keyboard activity and network traffic. It also has a kill switch to erase itself. Its program modules are encrypted. We are writing a misuse pattern to describe its architecture. A pattern is a solution to a recurrent problem in a given context. A pattern embodies the knowledge and experience of...
Show moreFlame is a computer worm that is being used for targeted cyber espionage in Middle Eastern countries. It is considered one of the most complex malware ever found. Flame can record audio, screenshots, keyboard activity and network traffic. It also has a kill switch to erase itself. Its program modules are encrypted. We are writing a misuse pattern to describe its architecture. A pattern is a solution to a recurrent problem in a given context. A pattern embodies the knowledge and experience of software developers and can be reused in new applications. A security pattern describes a mechanism or procedure to defend against an attack. A misuse pattern describes how a misuse is performed from the point of view of the attacker. It defines the environment where the attack is performed, countermeasures to stop it, and provides forensic information in order to trace the attack once it happens.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005027
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Pentraxin 3 Reactivity to Acute Exercise in Obese Individuals.
- Creator
- Maharaj, Arun, Urtula, Alyssa M., Slusher, Aaron L., Mock, J. Thomas, Fisher, Craig B., Huang, Chun-Jung
- Abstract/Description
-
Pentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been demonstrated as a vital biomarker for chronic inflammatory diseases. Decreased plasma PTX3 has been observed in obese populations. However, no studies have examined the impact of obesity on PTX3 reactivity to exercise. Therefore, our study sought to investigate PTX3 plasma response to maximal exercise in obese and normal-weight subjects, and its relationship with insulin sensitivity. Twenty-one subjects (9 obese and 12 normal-weight) were recruited. Plasma PTX3,...
Show morePentraxin 3 (PTX3) has been demonstrated as a vital biomarker for chronic inflammatory diseases. Decreased plasma PTX3 has been observed in obese populations. However, no studies have examined the impact of obesity on PTX3 reactivity to exercise. Therefore, our study sought to investigate PTX3 plasma response to maximal exercise in obese and normal-weight subjects, and its relationship with insulin sensitivity. Twenty-one subjects (9 obese and 12 normal-weight) were recruited. Plasma PTX3, insulin, and glucose levels were measured before and following exercise. While our results showed lower resting PTX3 levels in obese subjects, exercise elicited similar elevations in PTX3 and insulin sensitivity in both groups. Furthermore, PTX3 area-under-curve (AUC) was correlated with glucose AUC, even when controlled for body mass index and fitness level. These findings suggest that glucose may potentially regulate PTX3 response to exercise. Further investigation is needed to verify the impact of substrate utilization on exercise-induced PTX3 elevation.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005028
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- The Power of the Apology.
- Creator
- Miller, Chad, Shaykhutdinov, Renat
- Abstract/Description
-
When conflict arises our society suffers, and if it is not dealt with in a manner that appeals to both sides, then further conflict can arise. Apologies are often a means to prevent further conflict so that both parties can improve their futures. Apologies quell feelings of anger toward the aggressor and promote addressing the past. When an apology is presented it is a sign that the aggressor is willing to discuss its past with the aggrieved to create a permanent resolution. My research...
Show moreWhen conflict arises our society suffers, and if it is not dealt with in a manner that appeals to both sides, then further conflict can arise. Apologies are often a means to prevent further conflict so that both parties can improve their futures. Apologies quell feelings of anger toward the aggressor and promote addressing the past. When an apology is presented it is a sign that the aggressor is willing to discuss its past with the aggrieved to create a permanent resolution. My research documents and categorizes apologies in civil and international conflict over the last few decades to evaluate an apology’s effectiveness at preventing further conflict. I expect the findings to show that cases in which an apology was offered and accepted by both parties will have a lower level of conflict reemergence than cases in which an apology was only offered or only demanded.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005029
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TruD's Effect On RNA Oxidation.
- Creator
- Mills, Darius, Martin, Narelle, Rodriguez, Gabriela, Li, Zhongwei
- Abstract/Description
-
Age-related neurodegenerative diseases impact society in an increasing rate. Oxidative damage to cellular molecules is considered the main cause of many neurological diseases such as, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Understanding the mechanism and what cleans up oxidized molecules is vital in order to further explore therapeutic research for neurodegenerative diseases. RNA damage is potentially a major contributor to these diseases. However, compared to our knowledge about DNA,...
Show moreAge-related neurodegenerative diseases impact society in an increasing rate. Oxidative damage to cellular molecules is considered the main cause of many neurological diseases such as, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, etc. Understanding the mechanism and what cleans up oxidized molecules is vital in order to further explore therapeutic research for neurodegenerative diseases. RNA damage is potentially a major contributor to these diseases. However, compared to our knowledge about DNA, little is known about the mechanism that cells use to eliminate damaged RNA. Our objective in this study is to understand the role of proteins that specifically bind oxidized RNA. We will focus on one such protein TruD in Escherichia coli. By studying how TruD and its mutants help E. coli to survive oxidative stress, we hope to elucidate a mechanism by which cells fight against RNA oxidation, and to suggest disease-preventing mechanisms by the human TruD homologs on a molecular level.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005030
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A comparison of the red fire ant and gopher tortoise burrow distribution within the FAU preserve.
- Creator
- Nenkova, Anzehla, Frazier, Evelyn
- Abstract/Description
-
The gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is considered a threatened species throughout much of its range. Their decline is mainly attributed to habitat fragmentation and destruction. These habitat disturbances commonly favor invasive species such as the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The red fire ant has been detected on aprons of gopher tortoise burrows at the FAU preserve and we would like to evaluate whether the distribution of red fire ants overlaps with that of the tortoises burrows...
Show moreThe gopher tortoise (Gopherus polyphemus) is considered a threatened species throughout much of its range. Their decline is mainly attributed to habitat fragmentation and destruction. These habitat disturbances commonly favor invasive species such as the red fire ant (Solenopsis invicta). The red fire ant has been detected on aprons of gopher tortoise burrows at the FAU preserve and we would like to evaluate whether the distribution of red fire ants overlaps with that of the tortoises burrows. Ant distribution was accessed at the FAU preserve by running 10 random 100m transect lines and placing sardine baits at every 20m interval. Preliminary data suggests that red fire ants were abundant in 70% of the transects; however, we were unable to establish a direct correlation between the distribution of gopher tortoise burrows and that of red fire ants. The ants were tentatively identified to subfamilies and further identification will be performed.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005031
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Examining Consumption Behavior differences between Pomacea maculata and Pomacea paludosa on Vallisneria americana.
- Creator
- Olavarria, Adriana, Markwith, Scott, Ewe, Sharon, Monette, Dean
- Abstract/Description
-
Pomacea maculata is invading Florida’s freshwater ecosystems. P. maculata is potentially competing with native Pomacea paludosa. However very little work has looked at the consumption behavior to Vallisneria americana. V. Americana, a restoration plant used by resource managers provides important habitat to nursery species. This study examines P. maculata and P. paludosa’s rate of physical, herbivory, and total damage on V. americana. Our results show P. maculata and P. paludosa demonstrate...
Show morePomacea maculata is invading Florida’s freshwater ecosystems. P. maculata is potentially competing with native Pomacea paludosa. However very little work has looked at the consumption behavior to Vallisneria americana. V. Americana, a restoration plant used by resource managers provides important habitat to nursery species. This study examines P. maculata and P. paludosa’s rate of physical, herbivory, and total damage on V. americana. Our results show P. maculata and P. paludosa demonstrate an average rate of physical damage of 2.5 cm/hr and 1.2 cm/hr, herbivory rates of 1.8 cm/hr and 0.2 cm/hr and total physical damage rates of 4.2 cm/hr and 1.4 cm/hr respectively; and with t-values of 0.180, 0.006, and 0.024 respectively. This study illustrates P. maculata herbivory is significantly greater compared to P. paludosa herbivory, and total damage rates but not physical damage. Resource managers need to consider these higher rates when planning to use V. Americana.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005032
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Bilingualism Characteristics in Second Generation Latin American Immigrants.
- Creator
- Ortega, Alexandra, Rosselli, Monica
- Abstract/Description
-
This study examined the linguistic characteristics of a sample of second-generation Latin American immigrants and a control group of English monolinguals. Participants included both males and females from 18-40 years old. For all the bilingual participants L1 was Spanish but they had been schooled mostly in English (L2). The examined language domains included: grammatical and semantic judgment, vocabulary, reading, writing, and fluency of both L1 and L2. It was observed that L2 significantly...
Show moreThis study examined the linguistic characteristics of a sample of second-generation Latin American immigrants and a control group of English monolinguals. Participants included both males and females from 18-40 years old. For all the bilingual participants L1 was Spanish but they had been schooled mostly in English (L2). The examined language domains included: grammatical and semantic judgment, vocabulary, reading, writing, and fluency of both L1 and L2. It was observed that L2 significantly overwrote L1, becoming the dominant language. Grammatical judgment as well as reading and writing became more accurate, vocabulary was larger, and fluency was greater in English than in Spanish. Interference from English to Spanish in reading, writing and vocabulary was significant, whereas interference in the opposite direction was minimal. Two questions are discussed: the switch of the dominant language from L1 to L2 and the language profile in each one of the two languages.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005033
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- A simple method for measuring antibiotic resistance in a community of bacteria.
- Creator
- Pelski, Ana, Samaroo, Sheynelle, Varughese, Vipin, Behr, Evalena, Browne, Trisha, Esiobu, Nwadiuto
- Abstract/Description
-
Antibiotic resistant bacteria infiltrate drinking water, increase human exposure, and spread into clinical settings. Regulatory agencies need simple test for ARI to monitor environmental quality. This study is first to measure resistance in a consortium of bacteria, not pure cultures. Our rapid method – “In-the-zone” (ITZ) employs a) the size of zones of inhibition b) identity of bacteria in the zone c) number of resistant clones within zones of inhibition and d) type of antibiotic to compute...
Show moreAntibiotic resistant bacteria infiltrate drinking water, increase human exposure, and spread into clinical settings. Regulatory agencies need simple test for ARI to monitor environmental quality. This study is first to measure resistance in a consortium of bacteria, not pure cultures. Our rapid method – “In-the-zone” (ITZ) employs a) the size of zones of inhibition b) identity of bacteria in the zone c) number of resistant clones within zones of inhibition and d) type of antibiotic to compute ARI. Results can be obtained within 24 - 48 hrs with very little effort. This semester, we repeated the test and validated the weighting of various parameters. The ITZ assay yield consistent and reproducible data on zones of inhibition of bacteria community. The diameter of inhibition zones was the most important parameter distinguishing resistomes of varying ARI. Landfill, manured garden, and waste plant samples scored highest in antibiotic resistance index compared to beach sand.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005034
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2D:4D Digit Ratio and Muscularity.
- Creator
- Simmonds, Lori, Wetterer, James K.
- Abstract/Description
-
Studies in geriatrics have found that the second and fourth digit (of the hand) ratio (2D:4D), an indicator of in utero androgen exposure, shows significantly negative correlation with muscle mass (MM) and muscle strength (MS). In my thesis research, I examined correlations between 2D:4D ratio and the MM and MS of college students and compared the results to previous geriatric studies in order to evaluate 2D:4D measurement as a supplementary tool for understanding factors associated with...
Show moreStudies in geriatrics have found that the second and fourth digit (of the hand) ratio (2D:4D), an indicator of in utero androgen exposure, shows significantly negative correlation with muscle mass (MM) and muscle strength (MS). In my thesis research, I examined correlations between 2D:4D ratio and the MM and MS of college students and compared the results to previous geriatric studies in order to evaluate 2D:4D measurement as a supplementary tool for understanding factors associated with muscularity. I evaluated college students using a scanning bed and calipers to determine digit ratio. I then measured calf-circumference, MM using bioimpedence technology and MS using a dynamometer for grip strength.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005036
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effects of MsrA and MsrB During Anoxic Stress in Drosophila melanogaster.
- Creator
- Suthakaran, Nirthieca, Binninger, David
- Abstract/Description
-
Drosophila melanogaster can withstand hours of oxygen deprivation (anoxia) by entering a protective coma called spreading depression. When oxygen is reintroduced to the cells, a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative damage. Methionine is susceptible to oxidation to form methionine sulfoxide. This oxidation is reversible where methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) A and B reduce the S and R enantiomers, respectively. In this study, MsrA and MsrB single deletion lines were...
Show moreDrosophila melanogaster can withstand hours of oxygen deprivation (anoxia) by entering a protective coma called spreading depression. When oxygen is reintroduced to the cells, a burst of reactive oxygen species (ROS) causes oxidative damage. Methionine is susceptible to oxidation to form methionine sulfoxide. This oxidation is reversible where methionine sulfoxide reductase (Msr) A and B reduce the S and R enantiomers, respectively. In this study, MsrA and MsrB single deletion lines were exposed to one hour of anoxia and the Drosophila Activity Monitor (DAM) recorded their recovery times. RNA interference (RNAi) lines were used to mimic the effect of these deletion lines by ubiquitously knocking down their expression. My current data indicates that MsrA loss-of-function strains recover significantly faster than the MsrB loss-of-function lines with increasing age. Insight into the roles of Msr genes under anoxic stress could lead to a better understanding of how these genes contribute to aging.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005037
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- T.O.S.S ( The Official Shredding System).
- Creator
- Vanande, Katryna, Horowitz, Arielle, Smith, Jo Mei, Zingman, Shana
- Abstract/Description
-
In the past 24 years, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has decommissioned over 218,064 mail drop-off collection boxes due to lack of usage. The mail collection at these mailboxes is projected to drop even more in the coming years. This project's objective is to repurpose the decommissioned mailboxes into The Official Shredding System (TOSS). TOSS will be a publicly accessible shredding service located at official USPS locations to ensure security. TOSS will allow people to destroy...
Show moreIn the past 24 years, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has decommissioned over 218,064 mail drop-off collection boxes due to lack of usage. The mail collection at these mailboxes is projected to drop even more in the coming years. This project's objective is to repurpose the decommissioned mailboxes into The Official Shredding System (TOSS). TOSS will be a publicly accessible shredding service located at official USPS locations to ensure security. TOSS will allow people to destroy sensitive documents and mail with personal information in a secure setting. The shredded documents will ultimately be recycled through the current USPS recycling system. The goal and research of the project is to demonstrate how interdisciplinary studies of graphic design and engineering can work together to address and solve social problems. The result of this project will be communicated in a concept manual.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA0005039
- Subject Headings
- College students --Research --United States.
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Effect of MDMA abuse on axonal transportation of serotonergic nervous system in the rat brain.
- Creator
- Adams, Herbert D., Ma, Zhiyuan, Tao, Rui
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348609
- Subject Headings
- N-Methyl-3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine, Ecstasy, Receptors, Serotonin - drug effects, Serotonergic nervous system, Substance-related disorders, Methamphetamine --adverse effects, Serotonin --pharmacokinetics
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Confirming ecological factors affecting mangrove prop roots as habitat for oysters through structural equation modeling.
- Creator
- Aquino-Thomas, Jessene, Proffitt, C. Edward
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348615
- Subject Headings
- Marine ecosystems, Terrestrial ecosystems, Mangrove prop roots, Mangrove tree communities, Oyster habitat, Oyster reefs
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Adult neural stem cell proliferation is not altered in trans-genic mice overexpressing BDNF or mutant HTT in forebrain.
- Creator
- Bahga, Dalbir, Guthrie, Kathleen M.
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348622
- Subject Headings
- Neural stem cells, Subventricular zone, Brain-derived neuro-trophic factor, Stem cell proliferation
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Feeding patterns effect brain development in infancy.
- Creator
- Barrera, Chloe, Jones, Nancy Aaron
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348623
- Subject Headings
- Child development, Breast feeding, Infant nutritional physiological phenomena, Brain waves --physiology, Brain --growth & development
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Creative anachronism: paintings on history and authenticity.
- Creator
- Boehm, Megan, Broderick, Amy S.
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348626
- Subject Headings
- Creative Anachronism, Paintings authenticity, Historical painting, Visual arts, Art history
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Human powered reverse osmosis for providing portable water for developing countries.
- Creator
- Drake, Dustin, Su, Tsung-Chow
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348818
- Subject Headings
- Drinking water --Health aspects, Water-supply, Reverse osmosis, Manually operable reverse osmosis apparatus, Developing countries, Human powered water purification
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Solving repeated square-roots.
- Creator
- Gala, Garritt, Farino, Nick
- Date Issued
- 2012-04-06
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fcla/dt/3348821
- Subject Headings
- Mathematics, Farino, Nick, Taylor series, Numerical models, Repeated square-roots
- Format
- Document (PDF)