FAU Undergraduate Student Research
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2016 Winners: Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Full Text: 6th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium Oral Presentation Winners Category: Basic Sciences First Place “Lanthanide Induced Aggregation of Mercaptobenzoic Acid-Functionalized Gold Nanoparticles” Alexander Santana, Luizetta Navrazhnykh, Maria Martinez, …
Queer Images: Photographs of LGBTQ Americans
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Barrios, Barclay, Hart, Sharon, Pratt, Charles
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Although LBGTQ people currently experience unprecedented
visibility in American media and popular
culture, those representations depict flattened images
that reduce complex individuals into simplified and
limited categories of identity. I created this documentary
to blur and shatter the boundaries currently restraining
the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, and
queer communities through… more
Full Text: Queer Images: Photographs of LGBTQ Americans Charles Pratt, Dr. Barclay Barrios, Assistant Professor Sharon Hart Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Project Statement Although LBGTQ people currently experience unprecedented visibility in …
Is Social Media Influencing Hispanics Voting Behavior?
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Clukey, Ryan, Escaleras, Monica, Giral Lores, Marina
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Social media sites are becoming one of the biggest
sources of information in the world. Particularly, political
and economic news is being communicated widely
on social media in real time with no costs incurred.
The purpose of our research is to examine Hispanics reliance on social media for political information in
the United States. Our results show that the majority
of younger Hispanic… more
Full Text: Is Social Media Influencing Hispanics Voting Behavior? Ryan Clukey, Marina Giral Lores and Dr. Monica Escaleras College of Business: Economics Graph 1. Introduction Do you think political news on the Internet is trustworthy? • Social media sites are …
Taxation and the Separation of Church and State
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Arflin, Cheryl, Roman, Abel
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The separation of church and state was passed under
the First Amendment in 1791. However, Since its
inception the United States has not followed through
with this philosophy. Since colonial times, churches
have been privileged with tax exemptions. Nine out
of the thirteen colonies had some form of tax relief
to aid their churches. This right was granted to all religious
organizations with… more
Full Text: Taxation and the Separation of Church and State Abel Roman College of Business, Florida Atlantic University Issue Does granting religious organization tax exemption violate the first amendment? Statutory and Regulatory Concerns • Are the current tax laws …
Traffic Sign Effectiveness
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Chozas, Ashley, Duitama, Luis, Kamholtz, Tali, Knipp, Tammy
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Visual salience is the perception that renders some
objects in the world to stand out from its given environment
and immediately grab our attention. For the
design of road signs, visual salience plays a significant
role. Studies reveal poor salience of traffic signs
contribute to the increase of traffic violations. With the
aid of eye-tracking technology (analyzing visual fixations
and… more
Full Text: Traffic Sign Effectiveness Tali Kamholtz, Ashley Chozas, and Luis Duitama Professor Tammy Knipp Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters at Florida Atlantic University Will improving the visual saliency of traffic signs be effective? Current traffic …
Treatment Options for Mesial Temporal Lobe Epilepsy
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Melero, Blanca, Nevin, Angelica
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most
common form of epilepsy seen in adults. Most mesial
temporal lobe epilepsy have an association with
hippocampal sclerosis. Patients suffering from MTLE
have had seizures or experienced a serious injury
during critical brain growth periods of their childhood.
Research to date on MTLE has not elicited the discovery
of a pharmaceutical… more
Full Text: Treatment Options for Mesial Temporal lope Epilepsy Blanca Melero Faculty mentor: Angelica Nevin College of Science I Research question Abstract Mesial temporal lobe epilepsy (MTLE) is the most common form of epilepsy seen in adults. Most mesial temporal …
Adult Age Differences in Event Memory for Events
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Beazley, Joanna, Devlin, Patrick, Earles, Julie
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Adult Age Differences in Memory for Events Joanna Beazley, Patrick Devlin, and Dr. Julie Earles Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University Introduction • Younger adults outperform older adults when asked to try to identify which actor performed …
Impact of Glutamate In Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Jaiprashad, Rajesh, Maldonado, Dianabell, Snyder, Patricia Ann
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative
disease afflicting the global population. This
disease affects motor neuron nerve cells located in
the brain, brainstem, and spinal cord that serve as
controlling units and communication points between
the nervous system and the muscles of the body. In
ALS, both the upper motor neurons, in the brain, and
the lower motor neurons, in… more
Full Text: Introduction Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a disease that weakens muscles by affecting motor neurons. In the body, neurons serve to receive and transmit signals from the brain. Some of the 20 essential amino acids are used to stimulate the …
The Importance of Roles, Power and Ethical Standards of Drug Court Officials
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Andrews, Sondra, Sloas, Lincoln
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Often, in the traditional adversarial court system,
prosecutors work to secure a conviction of drug offenders
whereas the defense seeks dismissal of the
charges or a less punishable sentence. The judge
acts as a neutral entity hearing testimony and sustaining
or overruling arguments made by opposing
sides. In drug courts, which is a type of non-adversarial
problem-solving court, these… more
Full Text: The Importance of Roles, Power and Ethical Standards of Drug Court Officials Sondra Andrews and Dr. Lincoln Sloas College for Design and Social Inquiry & School of Criminology and Criminal Justice Image 3 What responsibilities do drug court officials …
On the Expected Increase of Mobile Transactions Authenticated Through Biometrics
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Barcenas, Loren, Karabina, Koray
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Biometrics, the identification of specific individuals
by unique physical characteristics ¬– like fingerprints,
irises, or facial features – promises greater
convenience and security than traditional methods
since physical features cannot be lost or forgotten.
Our study explores practical implementations of biometrics,
especially its projected growth in the field of
mobile transactions.… more
Full Text: On the Expected Increase of Mobile Transactions Authenticated Through Biometrics Loren Barcenas and Dr. Koray Karabina Charles E. Schmidt College of Science of Florida Atlantic University Would the general public be receptive to the widespread …
Applications of Calculus In the Real World
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Gray, Danielle, Nikolova-Popova, Daniela
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Applications of Calculus In the Real World Danielle Gray Mentor: Dr. Daniela Nikolova-Popova College of Engineering and Computer Science, Florida Atlantic University Results Continued How is Calculus used in baseball? How is momentum related to calculus …
Aesthetic, Functional, Symbolic, and Ergonomic Impressions: Implications for HoverboardProduct Design Form
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Gordon, Danielle, Llanos, Katherine, Smith, Allen E., Smith, Hunter
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Aesthetic, Functional, Symbolic, and Ergonomic Impressions: Implications for Hoverboard Product Design Form Hunter Smith (Lead Investigator), Danielle Gordon, and Katherine Llanos Introduction and Literature Review New product innovation impacts quality …
Emergence of epilepsy in a transgenic mouse strain that over-expressesbrain- derived neurotrophic factor in theforebrain
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Isgor, Ceylan, Zhou, Wei Hui
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Structural changes that alter hippocampal functional
circuitry are implicated in learning impairments, mood
disorders and epilepsy. Failure to properly gate neuronal
activity arriving in hippocampus may be critical
in developing synaptic circuits that generate seizures
due to sustained elevations in hippocampal BDNF.
Our data shows higher number of synaptic contact
points (spines) on… more
Full Text: Emergence of epilepsy in a transgenic mouse strain that over-expresses brainderived neurotrophic factor in the forebrain Wei Hui Zhou, Mary Laquerre, Ceylan Isgor Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic …
An Analysis on the History of Campaign Finance Reform Laws and the Impact of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling on Campaign
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Arflin, Cheryl, Broggi, Renzo
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Full Text: An Analysis on the History of Campaign Finance Reform Laws and the Impact of the Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission ruling on Campaign Financing Renzo Broggi and Dr. Cheryl Arflin Undergraduate Law Journal, Florida Atlantic University Issue …
Causes of Terrorism
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Carreno-Lukasik, Gina, Hamad, Issa
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: With the growing trends in terrorist organizations and
threats of attack, one must wonder why the people
involved became terrorists in the first place. After
researching the topic, the research paper will delve
into why capitalism, political power, and religion are
all involved in why terrorist organizations are formed
and why people may join them. The capitalism argument
involves the… more
Full Text: Causes of Terrorism Issa Hamad and Dr. Gina Carreño-Lukasik College of Arts and Letters of Florida Atlantic University Restrictions of Study and Analysis Causes Why do people participate? What reason can someone have for becoming a terrorist? What are …
Improvement of Solar Energy Conversion Efficiency by Solar Tracking
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Dereje, Dawit, Griffin, Joshua, Rangel, Guillermo, Rochd, Amine
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The goal of this research project is to increase the
energy conversion efficiency of current commercial
solar panels using an innovative solar tracking
method. To maximize the solar conversion efficiency,
three different control mechanisms were identified:
1) a conventional system with a fixed panel location,
2) a chronological tracking system with a fixed angular
velocity, and 3) an… more
Full Text: Improvement of Solar Energy Conversion Efficiency by Solar Tracking Amine Rochd, Joshua Griffin, Dawit Dereje, Guillermo Rangel and Dr. Mike Kim College of Engineering and Computer Science Florida Atlantic University Q1. How much can the efficiency of …
Potential Influences of Rape Myth Acceptance in Police Judgement
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Branscum, Caralin, Carreno-Lukasik, Gina
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: I explore the influence and potential effects of rape
myth acceptance on police decision making, specifically
the likelihood that an officer recommends that a
case goes to court. From officers’ perspectives, notable
characteristics of “legitimate” cases are identified.
Next, the relationship between a case’s legitimacy
and acceptance of specific rape myths are analyzed.
A conclusion that… more
Full Text: Potential Influences of Rape Myth Acceptance in Police Judgement Caralin Branscum and Dr. Gina Carreno-Lukasik College of Arts and Letters Literature Review Does Rape Myth Acceptance Affect Cases being recommended for further action in the Criminal …
What Are The Legalities of Accepting or Refusing Refugees and Asylum Seekers?
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Arflin, Cheryl, Cichoracki, Caitlin, Kahook, Sama
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: In the wake of contemporary events, such as the Syrian refugee crisis, and recalling historical events such
as the Holocaust, it is important to understand the
dynamic between states and international law. In the
midst of the current refugee crisis, how might countries
decide who accepts and denies refugees into
their borders? We answer this by focusing on the laws
and regulations that have… more
Full Text: What Are The Legalities of Accepting or Refusing Refugees and Asylum Seekers? Caitlin Cichoracki & Sama Kahook & Dr. Cheryl Arflin College of Arts & Letters, Florida Atlantic University Issue • Our world is suffering from an ever-growing crisis as a …
Crashworthiness of Low Speed Vehicles
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Cusano, Emma, Francis, Sherwin, Masory, Oren, Pinto, Michael
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The Crashworthiness of Low Speed Vehicles is to
be determined using a custom built crash testing apparatus.
The safety of golf carts is often overlooked because they are considered “low risk” vehicles. The
danger of these vehicles lies in the fact that they
aren’t mandated to have safety features outside of
seatbelts. A test rig that sufficiently tested how these
vehicles react under… more
Full Text: Crashworthiness of Low Speed Vehicles Emma Cusano, Sherwin Francis, Michael Pinto & Dr. Oren Masory College of Engineering of Florida Atlantic University Introduction • The purpose of this research project is to determine the crash worthiness of Low Speed …
Exploring Beliefs and Opinions about Vaping on the College Campus
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Attonito, Jennifer, Mesa, Katherine
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Vaping refers to the inhale and exhale of water vapor
through a vaporizer or electronic cigarette. It has
become increasingly popular within the last 5 years
and is common indoors and outdoors. Florida Atlantic
University (FAU) protects people from the health
hazards of secondhand tobacco smoke by having implemented a no tobacco policy. Due to the undiscovered
health risks caused by vaping… more
Full Text: Exploring Beliefs and Opinions about Vaping on the College Campus Katherine Mesa and Dr. Jennifer Attonito College of Business of Florida Atlantic University Do people know what vaping is? Do they have a negative, positive or neutral reaction towards vape …
Legal and Ethical Aspects of Death Spiral Financing
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Arflin, Cheryl, Marian, Alina, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: “Death Spiral Financing” refers to a certain type of
Private Investment in Public Equity (PIPE), generally
used by companies in financial trouble. I will show
how these “toxic” PIPEs usually lead to the devaluation
and even destruction of companies. While not
illegal, these transactions take advantage of loopholes
within the SEC regulations regarding disclosure
of securities purchases. I… more
Full Text: Legal and Ethical Aspects of Death Spiral Financing Alina Marian and Dr. Cheryl Arflin College of Business, Florida Atlantic University Issues Should the SEC expand its disclosure requirements regarding Private Investments in Public Equity ( PIPE) in …
Snake Oil in the 21stCentury
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Arflin, Cheryl, Yanchinova, Asya
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: This article questions the legality of issues that fall
into the gray-area of the law in regards to misrepresentation
as exemplified by the distortion of results
from a lack of publishers and researchers willing to
publish negative results, ineffectual disclaimers in
social media content, the fine line between what is
legally permissible and legally questionable advertising,
and more. This… more
Full Text: Snake Oil in the 21st Century Asya Yanchinova and Professor Cheryl Arflin, JD College of Business, Florida Atlantic University Issue Regulation Analysis Conclusion Exploitation of Misrepresentation: • This subject falls into a legal gray area since many …
Arabian Women of the Jahiliyya(Early Islamic) Times
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Douglas, Nora, Kanter, Douglas
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Arabian Women of the Jahiliyya (Early Islamic) Times Nora Douglas and Dr. Douglas Kanter Florida Atlantic University Image 3 Image 1 Introduction Presenting a historical analysis of the treatment and societal position of women in the Jahiliyya period, …
Examining Faces: Transgender and Subconscious Perceptions
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Brady, Danielle, Garcia, Denise, Londono, Samantha, Salcedo, Israel
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Transgender women are a marginalized group in society.
Research suggests there are specific parts of
the brain, such as the fusiform face area, dedicated
to recognizing faces. Subsequently, cisnormative
facial structures are the standard by which attractiveness
is determined. Studies have shown that the
upper third region including the glabellar is a determining
facial feature when… more
Full Text: Examining Faces: Transgender and Subconscious Perceptions Israel Salcedo, Danielle Brady, Denise Garcia, Samantha Londono, Charley Barker, Prof. Tammy Knipp Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters of Florida Atlantic University Figure 1 Figure 2 …
Selected TLR Agonists Act in Synergy to Reprogram DC-NK Cross-talk and Generate Effector T cells in Nicotinic Environment
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Abu-Nuwar, Emily, Nouri-Shirazi, Mahyar, Tamjidi, Saba
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The magnitude of immune responses to vaccination
is a critical factor in determining protection from diseases.
We reported that nicotine disrupts the properties
of DCs that are pivotal in the initiation of immune
response to vaccines. Here we investigated whether
TLR agonist(s) could overcome the effects of nicotine
on human DC and DC-NK cross-talk essential
for effector T cell generation… more
Full Text: Selected TLR agonists act in synergy to reprogram DC-NK cross-talk and generate effector T cells in nicotinic environment Emily Abu-Nuwar , Saba Tamjidi, and Dr. Nouri-Shirazi College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University Figure 1 Abstract The …
Linnaeus’ and Buffon’s Ornithological Methodological During the Age of Enlightenment
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Norman, Sandra, Satishchandran, Siddharth
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: During the 1700’s, several biologists and naturalists
attempted to create a myriad of designs in order
imbibe structure in this world of chaotic organisms.
Among the many candidates for a taxonomic system
were the Swedish biologist Carol Linnaeus (1707-1778)
and George Leclerc, Comte de Buffon (1707-1788). Insight
into their scientific methodologies allows us a
rare window into mid-… more
Full Text: Linnaeus’ and Buffon’s Ornithological Methodological During the Age of Enlightenment Siddharth Satishchandran and Dr. Sandra Norman Department of History, Florida Atlantic University Introduction During the 1700’s, several biologists and naturalists …
Increasing Language Development Through Rhythm
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Dassa, Lori, Miller, Morgan
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: My objective is to determine if rhythm and rap can
help increase language development in an urban
elementary classroom. To determine this outcome
I created a pre/post assessment cycle design using
vocabulary relevant to the water cycle. Participants
included 18 first graders at Park Lakes Elementary.
These students took a pretest, were involved in 5
rhythm and rap based lessons, and a… more
Full Text: Increasing Language Development Through Rhythm Morgan Miller and Dr. Lori Dassa College of Education of Florida Atlantic University Results Method Can using the techniques of rhythm, chants, and raps help increase language development in the elementary …
Quantifying Wading Bird Activity in Drying Wetlands Using Time Lapse Imagery
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Campbell, Hannah, Dorn, Nathan
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The purpose of this research was to quantify wading
bird hourly and daily foraging activity in a drying
wetland. We sought to determine the hours of peak
activity and identify water depths that facilitate high
foraging activity. Our results indicated that 56% of
daily activity occurred between 0600 – 0800 h and
>95% of the daily activity was found in images taken
between 0600 and 1400 h… more
Full Text: Quantifying Wading Bird Foraging Activity Using Time Lapse Imagery Hannah Campbell1 and Dr. Nathan Dorn2 1Undergraduate Student, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University 2Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic …
Regulatory Pattern of PUN Promoter for Gene Expression
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Kirke, Justin, Velez, Stephanie, Zhang, Xing-Hai
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The purpose of this research was to analyze the regulatory
pattern of the PUN promoter in the expression
of a marker gene, β-glucoronidase (GUS), within regenerated
tobacco plants. The genes for neomycin
phosphotransferase (NPT II) and GUS were included
in the coding region of the Ti plasmid construct. The
NPTII gene drove antibiotic resistance and was used
to select and identify… more
Full Text: Regulatory Pattern of PUN Promoter for Gene Expression Stephanie Velez, Justin Kirke, and Dr. Xing-Hai Zhang Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University A A Introduction Soil bacterium Agrobacterium tumefaciens is widely used for its …
The infinite gravity of a black hole
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Nikolova-Popova, Daniela, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, Younan, Mark
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The black hole is one of the most interesting phenomena’s
that exist in our world, it’s said that the gravity
of a black hole is super strong that in can literally pull
anything including light, but the speed of the light
is said to be infinite because nothing in the known
physical form can actually stay in the form on reaching
the speed of light. That means that for the light
to be pulled… more
Full Text: The infinite gravity of a black hole Mark Younan and Dr. Nikolova Math department of Florida Atlantic University Why do black holes have such a huge gravity force ? Introduction • We have read a lot about black holes, but what is a black hole ? • How is …
Adaptive Control of In-Stream Ocean Current Turbines for Load Reduction
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Lee, Louis M., VanZwieten, James H.
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Adaptive Control of In-Stream Ocean Current Turbines for Load Reduction Louis M. Lee and Dr. James H. VanZwieten Southeast National Marine Renewable Energy Center Introduction • Ocean current energy is one of the many renewable energy resources available …
Preparation and Coping of Medical Practitioners When Dealing With Terminal Patients
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Carreno-Lukasik, Gina, Gomez, Sarah
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: This paper will use various sociological publications
based on research to investigate and analyze the relationship
between medical practitioners and patients
deemed terminal. Some topics the paper will include
how prepared practitioners feel they are in terms of
interacting with terminal patients, as well as the personal
methods of coping with grief that practitioners
implement into their… more
Full Text: Preparation and Coping of Medical Practitioners When Dealing With Terminal Patients Sarah Gomez and Dr. Gina Carreno-Lukasik Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University Literature Review How prepared do medical practitioners feel when delivering …
Angiographic Changes of Blood Vessels in the Photoreceptor Degenerative Mouse Retina
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Nguyen, Matthew, Shen, Wen
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Angiographic Changes of Blood Vessels Ve in the Photoreceptor Degenerative Mouse Retina Matthew Nguyen1 and Dr. Wen Shen2 1FAU High School, Charles E Schmidt College of Science 2Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E Schmidt College of Medicine …
Consumer Motivation: The Craft Beer Boom
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Boone, Taylor, Harris, Devon, Mendiola, Sofia, Sly, Henry
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: In the world of business, advertising is essential to
success. With all of the technological clutter that consumers
face every day, creating impact can only be
achieved through deep understanding of what the
target audience’s motivation for purchasing is. Our
research team has been watching a monumental rise
in demand for craft beer, and to reach that market
successfully, we have set out… more
Full Text: Consumer Motivation: The Craft Beer Boom Why this generation? What is the emotional motivation? Why are young people choosing craft beer? Devon Harris, Taylor Boone, Henry Sly, Sofia Mendiola and Dr. Allen Smith College of Business: Florida Atlantic …
Creation of a bacteria surrogate to accelerate research on Ebolavirus Zaire
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Coarsey, C., Holmes, Douglas, Singkorat, D., Varghese, Reen
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Ebola Viral Disease (EVD) is a devastating illness with
high infectivity and mortality rates. The 2014 West African
EVD outbreak was unprecedented in case numbers
and fatalities, and has highlighted the need to
develop rapid Point of Care detection devices. Progress
in the diagnosis and treatment of highly virulent
pathogens like the Ebola virus is often limited by the
small number of labs… more
Full Text: Creation of a bacteria surrogate to accelerate research on Ebolavirus Zaire R. Varghese, D. Holmes, C. Coarsey1, D. Singkorat, A. Shell, W. Asghar1, and N. Esiobu* Microbial Biotechnology Lab, Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic …
Graphic Novels: Comprehension of Text and Image
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Bermudez, Angel, Duenas, Ana Maria, Rodriguez, Oscar, Taylor, Amanda
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Research suggests that, instinctively, humans follow
a Z-shaped pattern when reading graphic novels.
Studies have also revealed that readers organize information
through Gestalt’s theory of proximity when
the panel structure is altered. This paper explores the
separation of text and image from the constraints of
the traditional comic book format. Through the utilization
of an eye-tracking… more
Full Text: Graphic Novels: Comprehension of Text and Image Angel Bermudez, Oscar Rodriguez, Ana Maria Duenas, Amanda Taylor, Nicolle Donado and Professor Tammy Knipp Does panel structure of comics Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Florida Atlantic University affect …
Photo Documentary: Frog Alley Community Garden
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Hart, Sharon, Lightbody, Lauren
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Frog Alley Community Garden is located in the historic
neighborhood of Frog Alley in Delray Beach.
The garden’s philosophy believes in “sowing community
through organic practices”. They advocate the
importance of sustainable life practice by providing
the community an open space in which to cultivate
and grow their own food. Through documenting the
ins and outs of the Frog Alley Community… more
Full Text: Photo Documentary: Frog Alley Community Garden Lauren Lightbody & Assistant Professor of Art Sharon Hart Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Project Statement Frog Alley Community Garden is located in the historic neighborhood of Frog Alley in …
Autonomous Projectile Firing System
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Correa, Alyssa, Jordan, Craig, Miller, Devon, Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry, Quinones, Chris
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Autonomous Projectile Firing System Devon Miller, Alyssa Correa, Craig Jordan, Chris Quinones, Dr. Hashemii De Department of Mechanical and Ocean Engineering Introduction Image 1 The purpose of this project is to explore new innovative designs in order to …
Increasing Students’ Academics Through the Use of Whole Brain Strategies
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Dassa, Lori, Hernandez, Christina
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The objective of my research was to determine if
whole brain teaching strategies could help increase
students’ academic scores in an urban elementary
classroom. To test this hypothesis, I created a pre/
post assessment cycle design focusing on whole
brain chants and gestures taught during a science
unit on the states of matter. Participants included
20 first grade ELL students at Park… more
Full Text: Increasing Students’ Academics Through the Use of Whole Brain Strategies Christina Hernandez and Dr. Lori Dassa College of Education of Florida Atlantic University Method Results Participants Does the “Whole Brain Teaching” method impact students’ …
Increasing Comprehension Levels Through Content-Specific Vocabulary
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Alexandre, Chandani, Dassa, Lori
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The objective of my study is to determine if explicitly
teaching content-specific vocabulary can increase
reading comprehension in low expectancy students. I
have created a pre/post assessment cycle design that
tests reading comprehension and familiarity with vocabulary
specific to the unit being taught. Participants
include 26 fourth graders at Park Lakes Elementary.
A pretest will be… more
Full Text: Increasing Comprehension Levels Through Content-Specific Vocabulary Chandani Alexandre and Dr. Lori Dassa College of Education of Florida Atlantic University Method Can explicit teaching of contentspecific vocabulary improve reading comprehension in the …
The Effect of Time on Visual Search Patterns
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Higgen, Bonnie, Paredes, Luis, Tamir, Daniel, Taner, Utku
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Spatial intelligence is the ability to conceptualize and
comprehend complicated visual scenes. Previous
studies have shown that scanning patterns change
based on the content and the layout viewed. For example,
subjects will scan a webpage differently when
imagery is present as opposed to reading text-only
pages. This study proposes the question: Does the
element of time have a crucial… more
Full Text: The Effect of Time on Visual Search Patterns Daniel Tamir, Bonnie Higgen, Luis Paredes, Utku Taner, Dr. Tammy Knipp College of Arts and Letters of Florida Atlantic University Does time have a crucial effect on scanning patterns? Unlimited Time Analysis: …
An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Excited States of Isobutene
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: McLachlan, Jeffrey, Snyder, Patricia Ann
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: An Experimental and Theoretical Investigation of the Excited States of Isobutene Jeffrey McLachlan and Dr. Patricia Snyder Department of Chemistry, Florida Atlantic University What is the lowest energy electronic transition of Isobutene? Can Gaussian be …
2-Hydroxychalcone as a Unique Luminescent Probe (ESIPT) for Peptides Labeling
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Kempton, Thomas G., Roche, Stephane P., Samanta, Shyam S.
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: 2-Hydroxychalcone as a Unique Luminescent Probe (ESIPT) for Peptides Labeling Thomas G. Kempton, Shyam S. Samanta, Dr. Stéphane P. Roche Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, Florida Atlantic University i. UV-Vis …
Everglades Florida Apple Snail Density
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Gawlik, Dale E., Mansoor, Zara
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is found
in tropical/subtropical freshwater ecosystems climate
(Cordeiro & Perez, 2011). The Florida apple snail
is of special management interest because survival
of the endangered Snail Kite (Rostrhamus sociabilis
plumbeus) depends on a healthy populations of apple
snails. Results of this study show Florida apple
snails occur independently… more
Full Text: Everglades Florida Apple Snail Density • The Florida apple snail (Pomacea paludosa) is found in the Florida Everglades, a subtropical wetland shaped by water level fluctuations, including periods of extreme inundation then periods of severe drought (Darby …
The Effect of Inactivation of the Nucleus Reuniens on Spatial Working Memory
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Martinez Rey, Macarena, Minnerly, Christopher, Vertes, Robert P.
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The Nucleus Reuniens (RE) of the ventral midline thalamus
has been shown to have extensive reciprocal
innervations with the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC)
and the hippocampus (HF) in the brain of the rat.
Both structures are essential for encoding, retrieval,
and delayed spatial working memory. The (RE) is believed
to play a vital role in facilitating cognitive function
and affective… more
Full Text: The Effect of Inactivation of the Nucleus Reuniens on Spatial Working Memory Macarena Martinez Rey, Christopher Minnerly and Dr. Robert P. Vertes Center for Complex Systems and Brain Sciences, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL 33431 Introduction …
Constructing Adulthood in Contemporary Societies
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Branaman, Ann, Ostroot, Ashley
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: In America and other industrialized countries there
has been a delay in attainment of traditional markers
of adulthood (i.e. marriage, parenthood, completion
of education, and full-time employment). Young people
are becoming “adults” much later than previous
generations, and their ideas of what it means to be
an adult are shifting. Some have claimed that a new
period of life called “… more
Full Text: Constructing Adulthood in Contemporary Societies Ashley Ostroot and Dr. Ann Branaman College of Arts and Letters of Florida Atlantic University Abstract In America and other industrialized countries there has been a delay in attainment of traditional …
Sixth Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: FAU's Office of Undergraduate Research and Inquiry hosts an annual symposium where students engaged in undergraduate research may present their findings either through a poster presentation or an oral presentation. more
Full Text: WELCOME Welcome to the 6th Annual Undergraduate Research Symposium, which showcases undergraduate students at FAU who are engaged in research, scholarship and creative activities. Students present their findings through poster or visual and oral or …
Photo Documentary: Equine Assisted Therapies of South Florida
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Hart, Sharon, Pratt, Charles
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: My documentary focuses on the aspects of therapeutic
riding: which engages the rider both physically and
mentally. Physically the rider is able to build core body
strength and the movement of the horse mimics the
human gate. Mentally the riders attention has to be
engaged multi-dimensionally focusing both on the instructions
they are given and on the connection with
the horse. The shift in… more
Full Text: Photo Documentary: Equine Assisted Therapies of South Florida Charles Pratt & Assistant Professor Sharon Hart Dorothy F. Schmidt College of Arts and Letters Project Statement 6I¾IGXMSRW Equine Assisted Therapies of South Florida currently Equine Assisted …
Applications of Rain Catchers For Reduced Usage of Clean Water in Household Plumbing
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Figallo, Jean Paul, King, Bertrand, Mesnick, Joshua, Su, Joe
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
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… more
Full Text: Applications of Rain Catchers For Reduced Usage of Clean Water in Household Plumbing Bertrand King, Jean Paul Figallo, Joshua Mesnick and Dr. Joe Su College of Engineering and Computer Science Palm Beach County Background Results •The average American …
Genetic Engineering of Tomato Plants Expressing β-Glucuronidasethrough Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Justs, Adriana, Kaplan, Noah, Zhang, Xing-Hai
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Advancements in biotechnology have allowed us to
study genetics and plant physiology by engineering
transgenic plants. For our research we transformed
Micro-Tom, a tomato variety developed for use in
genetic research, using Agrobacterium mediated
transformation. Within a time span of fourteen weeks,
we inserted two distinct plasmid constructs (pCAMBIA2301
and E1492). Plants have the unique… more
Full Text: Genetic Engineering of Tomato Plants Expressing βGlucuronidase through Agrobacterium-mediated Transformation Adriana Justs, Noah Kaplan and Xing-Hai Zhang Department of Biological Sciences, Florida Atlantic University Table 1. Summary of the regenerated …
Community-based research to address dementia & Parkinson’s disease in older adults
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Alam, Khosnur, Martini, Jessica, Perez, Yolanda, Sonin, Jaclyn
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: There are increasing numbers of older adults living
in Continuing Care Retirement Communities (CCRCs).
Many of these residents are living with dementia and Parkinson’s disease. CCRCs are challenged to provide
therapies that enhance ability to carry out activities
of daily living for these residents. The purpose
of this project is to identify effective therapies. The
Stinger Action research… more
Full Text: Community-based research to address dementia & Parkinson’s disease in older adults Khosnur Alam, Jessica Martini, Yolanda Perez, Jaclyn Sonin, Dr. Joy Longo, Dr. Patricia Liehr Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, Florida Atlantic University Introduction …
Rational and Emotional Advertising is most persuasive to Tile GPS locating device’s Target Market
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Cenizal, Roman, Hill, Linda, Potenza, Alex
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: This study analyzes which advertising techniques
would best entice consumers to purchase a “Tile”.
Tile, a portable GPS device, connects to a smartphone
app to make the process of finding lost or
valuable items quick and easy. We researched which
advertising techniques would best attract customers
and enable them to see Tile as a need not a want.
Secondary, research shows that Americans… more
Full Text: Rational and Emotional Advertising is most persuasive to Tile GPS locating device’s Target Market Alex Potenza, Linda Hill, Roman Cenizal College of Business Florida Atlantic University Which advertising approaches will best persuade Tile’s target market …
Laboratory Industry Affordable Care Act (ACA)
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Cox, Kevin, Estriplet, Ed, Koku, Paul Sergius, Smith, Allen E.
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Laboratory testing has been significantly changed
by the implementation of the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) which has influenced reimbursements, patient
choice, and direct access testing policies. However,
the impact of the ACA on individual laboratory facilities
is unclear. The focus of this research initiative is to identify how this regulatory change has influenced
laboratory facilities. We… more
Full Text: Laboratory Industry Affordable Care Act (ACA) Ed Estriplet Jr, Prof. Kevin Cox, Dr. Paul Koku, and Dr. Allen Smith College of Business Florida Atlantic University What are the effects of the Affordable Preliminary Findings Care Act (ACA) on the laboratory …
Removing Methanol Additives from Fracking Fluids
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Meeroff, Daniel E., Meyer, Lisandre
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Methanol additives used in fracking fluids are harmful
to both the environment and to public health. This
is because methanol is a hazardous air pollutant and
can contaminate the groundwater. The EPA estimates
32.5 tons of methanol is released into the environment
each year. The aim of this study is to test the
removal efficiency of methanol additives from fracking
fluids using advanced… more
Full Text: Removing Methanol Additives from Fracking Fluids Lisandré Meyer and Dr. Daniel Meeroff College of Engineering and Computer Science Florida Atlantic University Results Introduction • Methanol additives used in fracking fluids can contaminate nearby …
Self-Care for Nurse Leaders in Acute Care Environment Reduces Perceived Stress: A Pilot Study
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Dyess, Susan MacLeod, Marquit, Doren-Elyse, Newman, David, Prestia, Angela
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Nurse leaders need to possess stress management
skills to support their effective and successful management
of their patient service units. Meditation is
frequently cited within the literature as an option for
a number of workforces to cultivate being present,
and recognizing and reducing stress. Therefore, the
purpose of this study is to examine the impact of a
personal systematic… more
Full Text: es Self-Care for Nurse Leaders in Acute Care Environment Reduces Perceived Stress: A Pilot Study Doren-Elyse Marquit Undergraduate Researcher Background Susan MacLeod Dyess, PhD, RN, AHN-BC, NE-BC, Faculty Mentor Purpose Angela Prestia PhD, RN, NEA-BC- …
Improvement of Cooling Efficiency for Data Centers using Heat Pipes
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Ashfaq, Ahmed, Hawkins, Patrick, Hoo-Fatt, Stephan, Stepien, Danielle
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: Data centers are one of key components in success
of many IT companies such as Google. Cooling of
data centers has been a decade-long problem since
tremendous heat emitted from multiple racks of computing
facilities typically overwhelms the cooling
magnitude by traditional air-based cooling schemes.
The objective of this study is to investigate the effectiveness
of heat pipe-based cooling… more
Full Text: Improvement of Cooling Efficiency for Data Centers using Heat Pipes Stephan Hoo-Fatt, Danielle Stepien, Patrick Hawkins, Ahmed Ashfaq, and Dr. Mike Kim Department of Ocean and Mechanical Engineering Florida Atlantic University INTRODUCTION METHODOLOGIES …
Let’s Play! Using Academic Games and Friendly Competition to Enhance Content Knowledge
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Dassa, Lori, Osborne, Chelsea
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: My research question was to determine if using academic
games and friendly competitions during instruction
would increase the knowledge of 5th grade
students in science content. To test this hypothesis, I
created a pre/post assessment cycle design focusing
on the human body standard. Participants included
20 5th graders at Park Lakes Elementary. These students
took a pre test, were… more
Full Text: Let’s Play! Using Academic Games and Friendly Competition to Enhance Content Knowledge. Chelsea Osborne and Dr. Lori Dassa College of Education of Florida Atlantic University Method Can incorporating academic games and friendly competition lead to …
Seasonal Patterns of Frequently Observed Manatees in the Harbor Branch Channel Using Photo-Identification Techniques
Type: Text
Year: 2016, 2016, 2016, 2016
Member of: FAU Undergraduate Student Research
Contributors: Goldsworthy Gomez, Lauren, Moore, Jon
Publisher: Florida Atlantic University
Description: The manatee project at Harbor Branch Oceanographic
Institute was established in 2009. Land-based observations
and photo-identification techniques have
been used over the last seven years. This has allowed
observers to recognize specific resident manatees
that visit this location season after season. The photographs
have been shared with the Manatee Photo-
Identification System database and… more
Full Text: Seasonal Patterns of Frequently Observed Manatees in the Harbor Branch Channel Using Photo-Identification Techniques Lauren Goldsworthy and Dr. Jon Moore Wilkes Honors College of Florida Atlantic University Introduction Method Frequently Seen Manatees C …