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- Title
- Small Molecules Targeting RNA A-bulge sites using Computer-Aided Drug Design.
- Creator
- Tanner, Maureen, Yildirim, Ilyas, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects memory with no known cure. One of the mechanisms behind AD is an overproduction of imbalanced tau proteins caused by a mutation in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mRNA, which has an RNA adenosine bulge (A-bulge). Targeting the A-bulge motif in the MAPT can stabilize the junction site and balance the imbalanced tau isoforms produced. Being able to stabilize the A-bulge site can lead to finding therapeutics for...
Show moreAlzheimer’s Disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects memory with no known cure. One of the mechanisms behind AD is an overproduction of imbalanced tau proteins caused by a mutation in the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) mRNA, which has an RNA adenosine bulge (A-bulge). Targeting the A-bulge motif in the MAPT can stabilize the junction site and balance the imbalanced tau isoforms produced. Being able to stabilize the A-bulge site can lead to finding therapeutics for combating AD. Past research of structures discovered three unique compounds that stabilize the A-bulge site (Figure 1). We investigated the binding properties of these three compounds and their stabilities using molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We hypothesize that the three compounds can be optimized to enhance their binding affinities to the RNA A-bulge site, which would lead to quicker and inexpensive ways to optimize drugs for patient treatments. Preliminary results showed that the bound states match partially well with the MD predictions. Our future studies will involve optimization of these three compounds using dynamic binding methodology to discover novel drugs having potent binding affinities and specificities.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00277
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- IS ADHD DIRECTLY RELATED TO EVENTUAL PARTICIPATION IN CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
- Creator
- Vinciguerra, Tayler, Vernon, Laura, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is among one of the most thoroughly studied disorders in psychological and neurological fields that examine psychopathology, along with being one of the most common as well. It is known to have symptomatic features that may have a relationship, in some way, to outcomes that are linked to criminal behaviors. However, due to the disorder’s various facets, comorbidities, and unique environmental interactions, this relationship between ADHD and...
Show moreAttention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is among one of the most thoroughly studied disorders in psychological and neurological fields that examine psychopathology, along with being one of the most common as well. It is known to have symptomatic features that may have a relationship, in some way, to outcomes that are linked to criminal behaviors. However, due to the disorder’s various facets, comorbidities, and unique environmental interactions, this relationship between ADHD and criminality is a rather complex and psychologically difficult one to ascertain. A number of peer-reviewed studied were analyzed and integrated in this literary review in order to explore this relationship, and the overall consensus that has been found here emphasizes a more indirect relationship between ADHD and criminality, with external factors mediating the eventual participation in non-violent and violent forms of crime in tandem with ADHD.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00278
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- TWO PARMOTREMA LICHEN SPECIES AS POLLUTION BIOINDICATORS IN FLORIDA.
- Creator
- Womble, Hunter, Wetterer, James K., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Lichens are commonly used as bioindicators of air pollution. For my thesis, I tested the utility of two easily identified lichen species as bioindicators. Parmotrema perforatum is considered to be pollution intolerant, while Parmotrema subrigidium is considered to be somewhat pollution tolerant. I surveyed P. perforatum and P. subrigidum growing on the trunks of southern live oak trees (Quercus virginiana) at two sites on the John D. MacArthur campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter,...
Show moreLichens are commonly used as bioindicators of air pollution. For my thesis, I tested the utility of two easily identified lichen species as bioindicators. Parmotrema perforatum is considered to be pollution intolerant, while Parmotrema subrigidium is considered to be somewhat pollution tolerant. I surveyed P. perforatum and P. subrigidum growing on the trunks of southern live oak trees (Quercus virginiana) at two sites on the John D. MacArthur campus of Florida Atlantic University in Jupiter, Florida that differed in exposure to road traffic. One site on the interior of campus (AOS1) was distant from any road, while the other site (AOS2) was along a busy road. I identified lichen samples from using keys and chemical spot tests. I found AOS1 had a higher density of P. perforatum, and whereas AOS2 had a higher density of P. subrigidum, confirming the utility of these two lichens as bioindicators of pollution.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00279
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- COMPUTER VISION: A PAIR OF FRESH EYES TO STUDY ANIMAL BEHAVIOR.
- Creator
- Yee, Warren, Fily, Yaouen, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Computer vision has completely changed the way we study animal behavior. Over the past 15 years, researchers have developed several computer vision-based tools to automatically track an animal’s position and pose through time. This data can then be used to uncover the reasons behind the animal’s behavior. In this talk, I will compare two tracking tools, one based on contrast detection (Trilab-Tracker), and one based on machine learning (DeepLabCut), to determine which performs better on an...
Show moreComputer vision has completely changed the way we study animal behavior. Over the past 15 years, researchers have developed several computer vision-based tools to automatically track an animal’s position and pose through time. This data can then be used to uncover the reasons behind the animal’s behavior. In this talk, I will compare two tracking tools, one based on contrast detection (Trilab-Tracker), and one based on machine learning (DeepLabCut), to determine which performs better on an existing set of videos of Mexican cavefish (Astyanax mexicanus) collected in Johanna Kowalko’s lab.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00280
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE EVOLUTIONARY BASIS OF SENSORY-MOTOR INTEGRATION THROUGH CRISPR/CAS9.
- Creator
- Zaninelli, Samantha, Duboué, Erik R., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Startle responses are evolutionarily conserved behaviors that play key roles in the daily necessities of an animal, including foraging and predator avoidance. While the neuronal mechanisms underlying startle responses are well understood, less is known about the evolutionary mechanisms that modify this behavior. This study places a focus on uncovering the evolutionary and genetic basis of sensory-motor integration through the analysis of startle response behavior. We address this question...
Show moreStartle responses are evolutionarily conserved behaviors that play key roles in the daily necessities of an animal, including foraging and predator avoidance. While the neuronal mechanisms underlying startle responses are well understood, less is known about the evolutionary mechanisms that modify this behavior. This study places a focus on uncovering the evolutionary and genetic basis of sensory-motor integration through the analysis of startle response behavior. We address this question using the emerging evolutionary model, Astyanax mexicanus, which consists of 2 different populations: a river-dwelling surface fish and a cave-dwelling fish. These populations drastically evolved differential traits due to their environment. This study focused on the extracellular leucine-rich repeat and fibronectin type III domain containing 1 (elfn1) gene, and its impact on sensory-motor behaviors utilizing the CRISPR/Cas 9 gene- editing technique. It was found that there is no statistically significant involvement of startle response with this gene. Together, this study helps reveal genetic mechanisms underlying the evolution of conserved sensory-motor behavior. Startle response behaviors are evolutionarily fundamental assets to life, and understanding the role genetics play in this will assist us with identifying a continuous circuit of genes with significant roles in sensory overload.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2023
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00281
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Deja vu.
- Creator
- Tavora, Arthur, Ruest, Annina, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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This thesis is divided into two parts: a machinima (a short film created in a game engine) and a written thesis document. My machinima is a short surrealist film created with photorealistic 3D elements that are then used to create lifelike environments. The video is divided into four environments, each of which resembles a rocky landscape. The final environment has a surrealistic aspect to stimulate the viewer's imagination . The written component of this thesis demonstrates my process when...
Show moreThis thesis is divided into two parts: a machinima (a short film created in a game engine) and a written thesis document. My machinima is a short surrealist film created with photorealistic 3D elements that are then used to create lifelike environments. The video is divided into four environments, each of which resembles a rocky landscape. The final environment has a surrealistic aspect to stimulate the viewer's imagination . The written component of this thesis demonstrates my process when creating this machinima. It also discusses related work by other artists as well as related work done by me previously that aided in the development of my thesis.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00239
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- NOVEL CONTEXT EXPOSURE ENHANCES OBJECT RECOGNITION MEMORY: ASSESSING INVOLVEMENT OF NOREPINEPHRINE NEUROTRANSMISSION.
- Creator
- Lurie, Eleonora, Stackman Jr., Robert W., Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Long-term memories are encoded within the hippocampus, but some are quickly forgotten. Brief exposure of mice to a novel context following encoding of object memory significantly enhances consolidation of the object memory. The memory-enhancing effect of post-training novelty may rely on locus coeruleus tyrosine-hydroxylase expressing neurons which co-release norepinephrine and dopamine in the hippocampus. To test the contribution of norepinephrine to this novelty effect, mice received...
Show moreLong-term memories are encoded within the hippocampus, but some are quickly forgotten. Brief exposure of mice to a novel context following encoding of object memory significantly enhances consolidation of the object memory. The memory-enhancing effect of post-training novelty may rely on locus coeruleus tyrosine-hydroxylase expressing neurons which co-release norepinephrine and dopamine in the hippocampus. To test the contribution of norepinephrine to this novelty effect, mice received propranolol, a synthetic beta-adrenergic receptor antagonist (10 mg/kg), to block norepinephrine or 0.9% saline as a control post-training. Pre-novel context exposure and object memory was tested 24 hr later. Results revealed that propranolol did not block the memory enhancing effect of post-training novel context exposure. Further, the memory performance of the propranolol-treated mice was comparable to that of saline-treated mice. These findings support the view that enhanced consolidation of object memory brought about by post-training novel context exposure is not dependent upon norepinephrine neurotransmission.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00240
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- THE INNER/OUTER SYSTEM OF DANTE ALIGHIERI’S DIVINE COMEDY.
- Creator
- Padilla-Rodriguez, Maximilian, Washington, Sondra, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Inferno, the first part of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, notably divides its depiction of hell into nine “circles,” structuring them in a manner that forms a descending hierarchy of increasingly immoral sins. However, this study argues that Dante’s hierarchy doubles as an invisible scale, wherein I classify the sins of upper hell as “inner sins” (twisted values that incriminate their practitioner) and those of lower hell as “outer sins” (unethical acts conducted against individuals)....
Show moreInferno, the first part of Dante Alighieri’s The Divine Comedy, notably divides its depiction of hell into nine “circles,” structuring them in a manner that forms a descending hierarchy of increasingly immoral sins. However, this study argues that Dante’s hierarchy doubles as an invisible scale, wherein I classify the sins of upper hell as “inner sins” (twisted values that incriminate their practitioner) and those of lower hell as “outer sins” (unethical acts conducted against individuals). This fundamental aspect of The Divine Comedy transforms the epic poem into a unification of Christian theology and Aristotelian philosophy, as Dante integrates values and judgements from both schools of thought into his inner/outer conceptions of spiritual damnation and ascension. Understanding how the concepts of inner and outer sins serve as the basis of Dante’s moral beliefs ultimately unveils a complex ideology that structures the poet’s entire journey around the virtues of reason and faith.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00241
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2009-2010 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2009-2010
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007960
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2010-2011 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2010-2011
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007961
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2012-2013 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2012-2013
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007962
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2013-2014 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2013-2014
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007963
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2014-2015 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2014-2015
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007964
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2015-2016 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2015-2016
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007965
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- 2016-2017 Program Review Honors College.
- Creator
- Florida Atlantic University, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College
- Date Issued
- 2016-2017
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FA00007966
- Subject Headings
- Florida Atlantic University -- History
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Investigation of Individualistic Behavior in Astyanax mexicanus Reveals Evolutionary Divergent Patterns Among Surface and Cave Conspecifics.
- Creator
- Begum, Jannatul, Duboué, Erik, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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A conserved and important form of variability within and across species is behavioral individuality or the inter-individual variation in behavioral responses to similar stimuli. Although there is extensive research on the neurobiological basis of individuality, little is known about how individualistic behaviors are imposed on the brain and the mechanisms by which they change through evolution. A considerable impediment to addressing this question has been the lack of a suitable model...
Show moreA conserved and important form of variability within and across species is behavioral individuality or the inter-individual variation in behavioral responses to similar stimuli. Although there is extensive research on the neurobiological basis of individuality, little is known about how individualistic behaviors are imposed on the brain and the mechanisms by which they change through evolution. A considerable impediment to addressing this question has been the lack of a suitable model organism with naturally occurring differences in behavior and physiology which can be manipulated experientially. Astyanax mexicanus is an emerging vertebrate model in evolutionary biology comprising two same-species morphological types. This system shares neuronal and molecular homology with zebrafish in which turning bias, an individualistic behavior, has been established. Accordingly, A. mexicanus can be used to determine how individuality is imposed on the brain and how the evolution of distinct brain loci alters individuality at the behavioral and neurological levels.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00227
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- PREDICTING HAPPINESS ON TWITTER.
- Creator
- Bush, Scott, Lanning, Kevin, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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The Hedonometer analyzes Twitter data using human evaluations of happiness to give a happiness score for a given day. The goal of this study was to be able to predict the Hedonometer’s happiness score for a given day using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Using a sample of over 15 million Tweets gathered from Archive.org’s Twitter Stream Grab, the positive emotion dictionary of the LIWC was able to predict happiness on an independent sample, R2 = .57, p
Show moreThe Hedonometer analyzes Twitter data using human evaluations of happiness to give a happiness score for a given day. The goal of this study was to be able to predict the Hedonometer’s happiness score for a given day using the Linguistic Inquiry and Word Count (LIWC). Using a sample of over 15 million Tweets gathered from Archive.org’s Twitter Stream Grab, the positive emotion dictionary of the LIWC was able to predict happiness on an independent sample, R2 = .57, p < .001. When adding seven additional LIWC dictionaries and using lasso regression, predictive power improved, R2 = .85, p < .001. This reveals that different language analysis metrics may also be able to reveal positivity and happiness within the population of Twitter.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00228
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Optimizing Hybridization Chain Reaction (HCR) In Situ Hybridization in Astyanax Larvae.
- Creator
- Chacon, Ana Santiago, Duboué, Erik, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Fluorescent in-situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR-RNA FISH) is a technique that allows for the simultaneous labeling of multiple target mRNA molecules, signal quantification, and high-resolution oligonucleotide visualization. While this method has been employed to study several common laboratory model systems, its application to non-traditional models is lacking. With the goals of circumventing this limitation and introducing Hybridization Chain Reaction (v3.0) (HCR), the latest version...
Show moreFluorescent in-situ hybridization chain reaction (HCR-RNA FISH) is a technique that allows for the simultaneous labeling of multiple target mRNA molecules, signal quantification, and high-resolution oligonucleotide visualization. While this method has been employed to study several common laboratory model systems, its application to non-traditional models is lacking. With the goals of circumventing this limitation and introducing Hybridization Chain Reaction (v3.0) (HCR), the latest version of a new technique for high resolution in situ hybridization, to the Astyanax mexicanus model, we have optimized a novel protocol for this robust evolutionary system. The optimization of HCR in Astyanax mexicanus strengthens the reproducibility of this staining method across a larger number of model organisms while opening the doors to the molecular physiology and genetic study of an insufficiently explored yet promising biological system.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00229
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- MICROPLASTIC EXTRACTION FROM INDIAN RIVER LAGOON SEDIMENT SAMPLES.
- Creator
- Corellis, Brianna, Mincer, Tracy, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
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Sediments are the ultimate resting place of plastics in the ocean, providing information on plastics that have escaped from the waste stream through freshwater input, marinas, and agricultural runoff. Sediment samples taken as part of a previous study in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, may shed light on the speculation of microplastics in this environment. These samples were taken in four seasons (2 wet and 2 dry) during 2016, 2017, and 2018 in Harbor Branch, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, and...
Show moreSediments are the ultimate resting place of plastics in the ocean, providing information on plastics that have escaped from the waste stream through freshwater input, marinas, and agricultural runoff. Sediment samples taken as part of a previous study in the Indian River Lagoon, Florida, may shed light on the speculation of microplastics in this environment. These samples were taken in four seasons (2 wet and 2 dry) during 2016, 2017, and 2018 in Harbor Branch, Jensen Beach, Fort Pierce, and Vero Beach. Plastic particles were extracted from the sediments with >95% efficiency through density separation, filtration, and scanned using infrared spectroscopy. Analysis identified plastics as small as 30 μm, the most common polymers individuated being ~100μm. A preliminary overview of the study has revealed the presence of microplastics in the majority of the sediments analyzed. Future in depth analysies of these samples is planned to determine the polymers present.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00230
- Format
- Document (PDF)
- Title
- Summary of SARS-CoV-2 Variants and Omicron’s Evolution.
- Creator
- Freedman, Brandon, Mincer, Tracy, Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College, Florida Atlantic University
- Abstract/Description
-
SARS-CoV-2, commonly referred to by the disease it causes, COVID-19, took the world by surprise in late 2019 and triggered a multi-year-long pandemic. Helped by its initial airborne infectivity, the virus accumulated mutations causing the disease to become even more infectious and lethal. This led to variants that struck the globe in waves, outcompeting their predecessors and leading to yet more mutations. However, this trend ended with the emergence of Omicron, the present dominant variant,...
Show moreSARS-CoV-2, commonly referred to by the disease it causes, COVID-19, took the world by surprise in late 2019 and triggered a multi-year-long pandemic. Helped by its initial airborne infectivity, the virus accumulated mutations causing the disease to become even more infectious and lethal. This led to variants that struck the globe in waves, outcompeting their predecessors and leading to yet more mutations. However, this trend ended with the emergence of Omicron, the present dominant variant, which exhibits greater infectivity but lessened lethality. Notably, the same mutations have repeatedly emerged, evolving from independent lineages all around the planet. This paper aims to identify and compare these mutations, and evaluate their influence on the variants that they inhabit. Using this information, this paper predicts characteristics of future SARS-CoV-2 variants by speculating what changes Omicron may undergo.
Show less - Date Issued
- 2022
- PURL
- http://purl.flvc.org/fau/fd/FAUHT00231
- Format
- Document (PDF)