Harriet L. Wilkes Honors College

Pancreatic cancers are difficult to treat with a 13% survival rate. Factors such as hypoxic niches within the cancer promote drug resistance, while enzymes such as membrane-type 1 matrix metalloproteinase (MT1-MMP) are linked to disease etiology. MT1-MMP’s transmembrane region is implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis. However, little is known about the cytoplasmic tail (MT1-MMP-CT). Recent studies have linked MT1-MMP-CT and the transcription factor, hypoxia-inducible-factor-1-subunit-alpha (HIF-1α); a transcription factor that is stable only under hypoxia. This study uses flow cytometry to quantify the co expression of HIF-1α and MT1-MMP-CT among human pancreatic cell lines, under both normoxia and hypoxia. This study seeks to understand more about the relationship between MT1-MMP and HIF-1α in normoxic and hypoxic conditions within pancreatic cancer.

This thesis explores the concept of precarity in relation to sustainability efforts within the United States through a comparison of victory gardens during World War II and the contemporary garden movement in the twenty-first century. Victory gardens were used as a means to promote civilian action in war efforts to supplement food rationing and contemporary gardening has encouraged the average homeowner to grow backyard gardens in the name of sustainability. Both demonstrate how the marketing strategies during perceived crises have utilized precarity rather than progress to propel action among the common man. While some tactics employed then still remain useful now, others have lost relevance since then. I will compare and contrast how persuasive speech and marketing have changed to suit the target audience of those marketing sustainability goals, focusing on the influence of optimism as a driving motivator during both time periods.

Wave energy converters (WECs) are marine renewable energy devices designed to harness the potential and kinetic energy present in waves and convert it into electrical energy. This energy can then be stored or directed to power coastal cities or offshore installations. This thesis discusses a small-scale (~2m diameter) wave energy converter developed to gather open-water performance data for validating the numerical simulation of a 4-body oscillating body type WEC design. This WEC underwent numerical simulation using both WEC-Sim and ProteusDS, and these results were subsequently compared to the in-water testing data to validate the accuracy of the simulation. This research was conducted as part of the REU program in Marine Renewable Energy at FAU.

As nations grow more diverse in religious beliefs, the debate intensifies over what, if any, public religious displays governments should allow. Some argue that the separation of church and state does not hinder the state and religious institutions from coexisting peacefully, thereby allowing the public display of some religious symbols. In contrast, others firmly believe in preventing overlap between the two and that public displays of religion are inappropriate. I argue that in democratic republic nations with laws upholding the separation of church and state, the government should not allow religious displays on public, government-owned land by examining John Rawls’ theory of liberal pluralism and applying its principles to case studies from the United States and Italy, countries that recognize the separation of church and state.

Graphene is a novel nanomaterial with great potential in biomedicine owing to its high electron mobility, thermal conductivity, and mechanical strength. In biological applications, graphene often makes direct contact with the plasma membrane and likely affects cellular function. The lack of understanding about graphene-plasmalemma interaction inspired this mechanistic study. Based on published work from our lab about graphene’s chronic effects on cell growth, we used graphene nanoflakes (GNFs) and examined their acute effects in astrocytes. Our tests show that GNFs readily insert into the plasmalemma, focally enrich membrane cholesterol (mChol), stabilize surrounding membrane, and promote membrane protein activity and transmembrane signaling. More importantly, GNFs’ interplay with mChol stimulates cellular cholesterol production, leading to a long-lasting functional impact. In summary, these results advocate for novel and broad applications of GNFs, such as allosteric modulation of cell signaling pathways and active control of sterol metabolism, both of which have promising therapeutic implications.

In this thesis, titled “Hotel Pricing Strategies in Miami’s Brickell and Coral Gables Neighborhoods,” various statistical techniques and data analytics were employed to examine the current hotel industry in Miami's Brickell and Coral Gables neighborhoods. The central research question examines the prevalence of dynamic pricing in this hotel sector and attempts to identify the most cost-effective time to book hotel rooms in these neighborhoods. The initial hypothesis sought to be proven or disproven is that dynamic pricing is widely used in the hotel industry, meaning there will be a specific time for cost-effective bookings. Moreover, this thesis sought to uncover how hotels in these neighborhoods set their prices for select dates and attempt to categorize them by revenue management techniques. While the research provides insights into the hotel pricing strategies in Brickell and Coral Gables, it acknowledges its limitations due to the sample size and the duration of data collection. These constraints prevent broad generalizations about Miami's entire hotel market.

To expand the variety of meditation types researched and available for use in improving mental health, this study examined whether Freeze Frame meditation, a lesser-studied meditation type, increases decision-making capabilities and wellbeing. We hypothesized that, compared to an active control group, participants engaging in Freeze Frame meditation would self-report increased wellbeing and decreased stress, as well as would rate the answers they received during the meditation to be impactful. Our hypothesis was partially supported by our results, which indicated Freeze Frame meditation increased self-reported wellbeing between pre-meditation and post-meditation time points but did not have an effect on decision-making.

Utilizing data sets from the Corruption Perceptions Index and Latino Barometer, this thesis investigates the persistent corruption within the Guatemalan government, examining the influence of colonial and liberal legacies and their continuation through the Guatemalan Civil War in perpetuating systemic corruption and impunity. It explores the rise of a progressive anti-establishment presidential ticket in 2023, despite oligarchic opposition, emphasizing the role of resilient democratic values in shaping election outcomes. By detailing the fluctuations of corruption levels in relation to regime changes from 2012-2023, this study underscores the impact of anti-corruption efforts, such as the International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala (CICIG), in reducing corruption within the state. The significance of this report lies in its ability to inform anti-corruption efforts moving forward, especially under the Arévalo administration, to dismantle colonial structures and foster a more equitable Guatemalan society.

The ‘loot box’ has become a prevalent monetization method in the gaming industry where users receive a randomly selected in-game reward after paying a fee. The items in these boxes can range from cosmetic items to valuable tools that help players gain a competitive advantage. This mechanism is akin to gambling because players can utilize in-game trading platforms or third-party platforms to trade in-game items for actual currency. This thesis will argue that the elements of chance, purchase, and reward involved with this mechanism exploit the same neurological reward pathways associated with gambling in a way that leaves audiences of adolescents, pathological gamblers, and individuals with anxiety more at risk of impulsive choice and maladaptive behaviors such as Problem Gambling (PG) and Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD). Because of the risks associated with this mechanism, the federal government should implement stricter regulations to warn and protect at-risk and underage players.

This thesis investigates the ethical implications surrounding the sudden death of a 46-year-old male patient from glioblastoma, a highly aggressive brain tumor. The analysis focuses on the intricate details of the case, dissecting the events that transpired, and identifying the medical and ethical mistakes that were made. Further, this thesis critically examines the decisions made by both the healthcare professionals and the patient, and the deficiencies in diagnosis, communication, and treatment strategy in the case. Because of delayed diagnosis and inadequate treatment, the patient suffered an untimely death. By unraveling the complexities of this case, this thesis seeks to contribute a nuanced perspective to the discourse on medical ethics, by offering insights into areas that demand improvement, both in this particular case, and in medicine more generally. Failures at multiple levels resulted in the patient deteriorating rapidly and missing the chance to say goodbye to his loved ones. In this thesis, I suggest that by fostering a compassionate and patient-centered approach to healthcare, we can provide more optimal care to individuals facing glioblastoma and similar formidable conditions.