Sempertegui Plaza, Tito S.

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.

The heme enzyme indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) catalyses L-tryptophan (LTrp) oxidation along the kynurenine pathway and is a key regulator of the mammalian immune system. It’s unknown if the enzyme is under redox control and the use of new potent inhibitors of IDO represents a novel therapeutic approach.

A web-based learning system for Organic Chemistry is being integrated into a Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) environment to restructure the existing Organic Chemistry I discussion (OrgoBOND) sections to enhance student learning, improve overall grades, and lower the Organic Chemistry I DFW rates. Students taking Organic Chemistry I are required to participate in a section of OrgoBOND utilizing the web-based learning system in a smaller classroom than in previous discussion sessions. Student performance will be compared to that of students in future semesters participating in the same small PLTL setting, but with traditional recitation format. The advantages of introducing a web-based learning system into PLTL discussion sessions are (1) providing “hints,” (2) offering multiple attempts per question, and (3) instant grading and feedback. The computer assignments are unique to each student and reflect the topic recently reviewed in lecture. We will report on the preliminary results from data being collected on student performance, satisfaction levels, and retention rate changes.

Phosphorus (P) is required for all living organisms. Fully oxidized pentavalent (+V) is the principal form in organisms, however studies on Desulfotignum phosphitoxidans show the enzymatic metabolism of reduced P oxyanions. Thus a natural source of reduced P is expected. Geothermal waters are naturally occurring reducing environments and ion chromatography has been used for the detection of submicromolar concentrations of P, yet the detection of reduced oxyanions is complicated by fluoride and hydrogen carbonate with similar elution times as hypophosphite(+I) and phosphite(+III) respectively. Studies had shown that simplifying the matrix through pretreatment with silver and sulfonic acid cartridges improves IC limits of detection (LODs). The effects of pretreatment are dependant upon the total concentration of ions in solution. The purpose of this study is to determine IC phosphorous oxyanion LODs and to maximize signals by analyzing the relationship between filtering techniques, effective concentration of P oxyanions, and total ions in the matrix.