BIO

I am a second year biomedical engineering student. I run cross country and track for FSU. I am from Munster, Indiana and I currently live in Winter Park, Florida. My current research takes place in Dr. Silver's lab and it consists of analyzing RNA stability. Moving forward, I am interested in doing chemical, biomedical, or neurobiology research. I plan to continue doing research with riboswitch RNA and completing a directed individual study.

High-throughput Screening of RNA Stability Through Differential Scanning Fluorimetry

Abstract

The use of RNA has become prevalent in the development of new drugs. Current research has been done on using RNA molecules as drugs themselves. Additionally, RNA that contain riboswitches have shown potential as drug targets. The stability of the RNA plays a role in gene expression and is related to its specific function. The current approaches of analyzing RNA stability through techniques like ultraviolet-visible spectroscopy (UV-Vis spectroscopy) are not efficient as they can only take a certain number of samples and require a large volume for each sample. Therefore, there is a need for a high throughput technique that analyzes RNA more efficiently. The purpose of this research is to establish an alternative technique that accurately measures RNA stability. We have established differential scanning fluorimetry (DSF) as a competent high throughput screening method for analyzing RNA stability.

Keywords: RNA stability, Differential Scanning Fluorimetry

BIO

I am a first-year chemical engineering students at FSU, interested in research on alternative forms of energy, specifically in the form of hydrogen. I am passionate about chemistry, math, and physics, and I want to use the knowledge I gain in courses to better society. I have been a part of multiple trash clean-ups in the Tallahassee area as a part of Florida PIRG Student Action, and plan to continue my service throughout my time at Florida State. Additionally, I plan on pursuing higher education, either to earn a Ph.D and become a professor or work in a managerial position in industry. My love of learning fosters the professional development of myself and my peers, and I hope to be able to show that in my career.

Controlling Fe:Ni Ratios in Carbides to Affect Electrocatalytic Activity

Abstract

For the past several decades scientists around the globe have been searching for fossil fuel alternatives, hydrogen fuel being the most promising candidate. Water electrolysis is the main vector by which renewable hydrogen fuel is produced. Herein we present a study on earth abundant electrocatalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction (OER), the rate limiting step for water splitting, as alternatives to the current noble metal-based catalysts. In this project we attempt to control the Fe:Ni ratio for the synthesis of both Prussian Blue Analogues (PBAs) and nanocarbides, using a novel top-down synthetic technique in order to find an optimum ratio that maximizes electrocatalytic activity and long-term stability (Hardy, 2019). Current literature suggests a ratio of 20-40% Fe as ideal, but not much research has been done involving FeNi carbides, and even less when it comes to controlling the bimetallic ratio (Sun, 2021). In addition to synthesis, characterization and analysis of these materials is presented. The methods used to characterize the materials are pXRD (powder X-ray diffraction), XRF (X-ray fluorescence), and SEM/TEM (scanning electron microscope/transmission electron microscopy) imaging, and the performance and stability of the as synthesized materials are analyzed using CV (cyclic voltammetry). The current results are a promising indication that new, high OER-performing materials were made, and an optimum ratio for Fe was found that outperforms the IrO2/RuO2 state-of-the-art.

Keywords: Carbides, Energy, Catalyst, Iron, Nickel

BIO

I am first year International Affairs major from Woodstock, Georgia. My parents are from Peru and Venezuela, meaning I grew up in a multicultural household while also speaking English and Spanish. I enjoy keeping active through running, hiking and lifting weights. In addition, I also enjoy traveling and learning about new cultures.

Understanding Intercultural Competencies and How to Develop Them in Gap Year and Study Abroad Program Experiences

Abstract

Our research focuses on understanding Intercultural Competencies (ICC) and how to develop it in gap year and study abroad program experiences at FSU. “Intercultural competence(ICC) can be defined as a complex of abilities that are needed to interact with people from other cultures adequately and effectively” (Wolff., & Borzikowsky, 2018). In this study we examine ICC in two experiences: “study abroad” (i.e. an academic experience outside of a student’s home country) and “gap year” (i.e. an experience taken in lieu of an academic experience to bolster a students’ interest in a career choice, rid themselves of burnout, help others, or other personal reasons). Our study compiled articles, found via a convenience sampling, written about developing ICC within study abroad and gap year experiences to note the importance of increasing intercultural competencies by connecting skills gained through both experiences. We found that through defining and understanding what Intercultural Competence was and why it was important, we were able to better understand what attributes in Gap Year and Study abroad programs would be more effective. Which we then collected and noted in our research and discuss in our findings.

Keywords: International Competency, Study Abroad, Gap

BIO

My name is Arthur (AJ) Egan and I am a sophomore at Florida State University majoring in Biological Sciences. At the university, I am involved with the Medical Response Unit (MRU), Phi Delta Epsilon Medical Fraternity, and I am the Scholarship Chair for Connecting Experimental Lab and Life Sciences. Also I am a certified Emergency Medical Technician. I plan on attending Medical School after my undergraduate studies with an interest in Emergency Medicine, Pediatrics, or Oncology. My research interests with Cancer stems from when I got the opportunity to volunteer with Moffitt Cancer Center, and continued when I learned more about my Nutrition professors' work, who also happened to be my research mentor, in a lab that dealt with the Effects of Alcohol on Cancer Cachexia.

Effects of Alcohol Consumption on Cancer Cachexia

Abstract

Cancer cachexia is a wasting syndrome as it is characterized by deterioration of adipose tissue and skeletal muscle. Chronic alcohol usage can cause cancer, but it remains unclear how alcohol usage can worsen the effects of cancer cachexia. To test this, six treatment groups were used: control diet no cancer, control diet with cancer, prior alcohol diet no cancer, prior alcohol diet with cancer, alcohol diet non cancer, and alcohol diet with cancer. Mice were acclimated to a non-alcohol control liquid diet then transitioned to an isocaloric Lieber DeCarli alcohol diet at 12% kcal for 7-days, then a 20% kcal alcohol diet for 6 weeks. After feeding, mice in the prior groups transitioned to the alcohol-free control diet. Then, colon cancer cells were injected into the cancer groups. At euthanasia, muscles, fat, and body weights was measured. Muscles were sectioned on a cryostat and stained using immunohistochemical procedures. Cross-sectional areas were analyzed using Image J software and manually outlined and the results are forth coming. Analyses are ongoing, but current data show cancer significantly decreased soleus mass in prior-alcohol and alcohol-consuming mice. Within each diet group, tumor-bearing mice had decreased plantaris and gastrocnemius mass compared to non-cancer mice. Tumor-bearing mice in prior and continuous-alcohol groups showed decreased quadricep mass compared to non-cancer mice. This data is essential to know how alcohol consumption can worsen cancer cachexia. This information teaches patients who have cancer that alcohol worsens the effects of cancer cachexia compared to somebody who has cancer and stops drinking.

Keywords: Alcohol Consumption Cancer Cachexia

BIO

Conqualla Scott is currently a second-year social work student on a pre-med track. She is from Tifton, Georgia, and currently resides in Tallahassee, Florida. Her interests include journaling, listening to music, and cooking. She is an active student leader on Florida State's campus and enjoys serving and advocating for others with the Unconquered Scholars Program, the National Council of Negro Women, and the Renegade Leadership Honor Society. She aspires to practice medicine in the pediatric field.

Social Determinants and Comorbidity in North Florida

Abstract

Social determinants, such as socioeconomic status or environmental factors, impact the way people live their lives and their overall health and wellbeing. Comorbidity refers to the state of an individual having more than one illness simultaneously. Emerging research indicates that social determinants can increase the likelihood of comorbidity across the lifespan. When considering the relationship between social determinants and comorbidity, the impact that these factors have on minority groups is foundational to understanding its correlation with socioeconomic disadvantages. This present study investigates the relationship between social determinants and comorbidity in a cohort study of young adults of color (aged 18-29) living in North Florida. Quantitative measures of social and physical wellbeing were administered electronically via REDCap and Qualtrics at two-time points (baseline and six-month follow-up). A non-random sample of participants was recruited through online advertisements and flyers. There was a sample size of 207 people in the study. Preliminary results suggest that participants in this sample are experiencing stress, anxiety, and fatigue. This research will be useful in finding solutions to improving the overall health of minorities and socioeconomically disadvantaged individuals.

Keywords: Social determinants, minority groups, comorbidity, public health, prevention, minority health, young adults

Keywords: Social determinants, minority groups, comorbidity

BIO

My name is Astrid Daugherty and I'm 20 years old. I grew up in the Republic of Panama, and transferred from FSU Republic of Panama to Tallahassee in Summer 2021. My major is Biomedical Engineering and I'm considering either going to Graduate School or applying to Medical School. I'm a math tutor at the Strozier Library and at The Academic Center for Excellence (ACE). I also used to tutor at the Math Learning Center of FSU Panama. I've been tutoring since Spring 2020. Another thing I like to invest my time in is doing research. I got an assistantship through Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), and now I'm helping in training artificial intelligence into classifying human heartbeats into "normal" or "abnormal" as a diagnosis tool for heart diseases. The training also involves the generation of synthetic data. My favorite things are cats, plants, and tea. I enjoy spending time with friends, exercise, play the piano, and just have a good time.

Training Artificial Intelligence Using Synthetic Data and a Convolutional Neural Network for Sound Classification of a Heartbeat

Abstract

The diagnosis of a heart disease is not as easy as hearing a human heart through a stethoscope. Sometimes it requires the thorough study of a PCG (phonocardiograms), or ECG (electrocardiogram), which sometimes might not be as efficient and straightforward as one wishes it should. Doctors train their whole lives to be able to identify and treat the emergence of one. Technology now aims to help these hardworking doctors do the hard work for them, so that the diagnosis is efficient and accurate.

Keywords: Artificial Intelligence, Synthetic Data, Neural Networks, Heartbeats

BIO

Fatima is a second-year public health and economics student from Miami and plans to get a master's degree in epidemiology. She is interested in healthcare policy and administration and improving the current U.S. healthcare system. She is also interested in the national nutritional crisis leading to increased cases of obesity and linked chronic illnesses and diseases and wants to be a part of the solution. In her free time, Fatima likes to read and expand her skill set through online courses. On campus, Fatima is involved in the Hispanic Honors Society, the Food Recovery Network, and will be working as a resident assistant next semester. A fun fact about her is that she took part in FSU's Gap Year Fellowship program, where she spent most of her time volunteering in Costa Rica.

See it Through My Eyes: The comparison of teacher and student perspective on productive science talk and "doing science" in the classroom.

Abstract

The purpose of the Learning through Collaborative Design Professional Development (LCDPD) project is to support science teachers in meeting reform visions for science education (NGSS, 2013; NRC, 2012). One aspect of this vision is to engage students in productive science talk, talk that positions students to sensemake about scientific phenomenon and develop understandings of scientific concepts and practices. This study takes a deeper look into Mr. Jerry’s middle school biology class to better understand how Mr. Jerry and his students interpreted four focal lessons designed to engage them in productive talk. Through thematic coding, the first four authors identified aspects of students’ interpretations and feelings around these lessons and compared them with Mr. Jerry’s perspective of the same lessons. Through this analysis, we found Mr. Jerry and his students to have similar accounts of the importance of talk in the classroom, and that one lesson, the skin cancer lesson, was particularly impactful on students’ ideas about how science is done. Additionally, we found that Mr. Jerry and his students differed on how they saw the teacher role in talk, as Mr. Jerry saw himself as a facilitator and his students saw him in an authoritative “knowledge giver” role. These initial findings suggest the need for research to look deeper at the framing of the lesson and the role students’ perception plays in the larger ideas of “doing science” when engaging in talk.

Keywords: productive talk, sensemaking, professional development

BIO

Hey! I'm Aidan G. Perez, a freshman student at Florida State University from Hialeah, Florida. When I'm not working on my coursework or conducting research, you can find me playing rounds of golf, catching up on some reading, or watching Formula 1 on the weekends. Growing up, I always loved being in the ocean, and was constantly eager to learn about aquatic wildlife. For this reason, my current research interest include marine conservation and epidemiology, particularly in regard to Florida sea turtle populations. I hope to carry the experience I gain from undergraduate research into my post-graduate professional endeavors, hopefully ultimately culminating into health professional school.

A Spatiotemporal Analysis of Fibropapillomatosis Presence in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Crystal River, Florida

Abstract

Among the risk factors for sea turtles in Florida, fibropapillomatosis (FP) is of particular relevance. FP is a viral, environmentally transmitted neoplastic disease that is often linked to Chelonid alphaherpesvirus 5 (ChHV5) and various environmental conditions, such as eutrophication events and coastal habitat degradation. The disease is notably more prevalent in green turtles (Chelonia mydas) than other species, with incidence rates >20x greater than loggerhead (Caretta caretta) and Kemp’s ridley turtles (Lepidochelys kempii) in Florida. Severe cases of FP are dangerous in turtles, as debilitating tumors can cause loss of mechanical functions and blindness, often leading to death. This study will investigate the spatiotemporal patterns of FP incidence among green turtles captured from 2016 to 2021 (N=73) in the relatively pristine Big Bend region near Crystal River, Florida. Based on this analysis, we will determine which epizootic and anthropogenic factors may drive changes in observed prevalence of FP over space and time. Our study will also evaluate tumors present on captured green turtles based on criteria of size and location in order to characterize neoplastic growths among Crystal River turtles. The results from this study will assist our understanding of FP prevalence for green turtles in Crystal River, which can then be compared against FP incidence in more degraded habitats in other parts of Florida. Further, results from this study will be used to promote further green sea turtle conservations efforts, and may be used as a baseline when compared to other regions with similar or greater risk factors.

Keywords: marine, turtles, Florida, ecology, conservation

BIO

My name is Natalie Tosto and I am a sophomore here at Florida State University. I enjoyed conducting research this year with Dr. Cullen, but in the future I am hoping to pursue environmental law.

Seasonal and latitudinal comparisons of space use by juvenile green turtles (Chelonia mydas) from the Northwest Atlantic 

Abstract

Understanding the movement patterns of animals is important to making inference on their resource use and may inform conservation efforts to protect vital habitats. Space use by marine organisms is often driven by environmental conditions, typically as a result of seasonal patterns or latitudinal gradients. Green turtles exhibit a circumglobal tropical distribution and are expected to vary their space use with respect to the abundance and distribution of resources. Although space use has been previously estimated for green turtles at many different locations, methods used to do so likely resulted in overestimates due to the violation of temporal autocorrelation from the tracked turtles. Additionally, it remains unclear whether there are any effects of latitude (possibly as a result of temperature, species richness, biodiversity) on green turtle space use. The goal of this research is to understand the spatial ecology of juvenile green turtles with respect to environmental gradients over space (latitude) and time (seasons). I hypothesize that space use will be much smaller in the warmer seasons as well as in the tropical region (Bimini) than in Crystal River. Satellite tags were deployed on five juvenile green turtles in Crystal River, FL and eight juvenile green turtles in Bimini, Bahamas and error was accounted for using RStudio. To estimate the space use I will be using a dynamic Brownian Bridge Movement Model (dBBMM) which accounts for temporal autocorrelation and changes in behavior.

Keywords: green turtles, latitude, space use

BIO

Ally Kukanza is an economics major minoring in business analytics at Florida State University. She is a part of the Presidential Scholars Program at FSU, as well as Chi Omega and the National Association of Business Economics. She plans on receiving her masters in applied economics from FSU and continuing on to a career in consulting.

Representation of Women in Bollywood Films

Abstract

This project aims to understand and explain patterns in the representation of Bollywood films directed by women. Films have a significant influence on culture. In the past, Bollywood films have represented women according to misogynistic stereotypes. However, recently there has been an increase in the number of women directors in the industry. In order to understand how women directors are changing the portrayal of women in Indian culture, this study examines the lives of women directors in Bollywood and their work that has been released in the commercial industry in India in the last 10 years. Researchers have developed a coding book that uses techniques of a research method called ‘film coding.’ Research assistants gather both qualitative and quantitative data on films through using Qualtrics surveys. Researchers record observations on demographics, representation, behavior, and women relationships. The project is still new, as only sixteen films have been coded. Therefore, there are no conclusive results yet, however there are apparent trends in the data.

Keywords: Film, gender, women

BIO

My name is Timothy Robinson and I am a second-year student at FSU majoring in political science with a minor in business. I graduated from Winter Park high school where I received my International Baccalaureate diploma. In 2019 I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout where I learned the importance of teamwork, problem solving, and giving back to the community. This summer I will be engaging in an internship with a criminal attorney in Orlando where I strive to prepare myself for a career in the legal field. Succeeding my undergraduate studies I strive to attend law school and practice either criminal or corporate law in the future.

Students, Social Media & Schools: Teen Social Media Use

Abstract

Through the COVID-19 pandemic, students and teens have been challenged with learning remotely and relying ever more on technology to interact with each other. Our study investigates teen social media use and ratings of happiness. Focusing on the positive and negative attributes the participants feel utilizing distance learning and online friendships, we expand this investigation to include the changes in the personal habits and mental health of the participants. There were 43 participants from ages 12-18. Participants were interviewed twice for 1 hour with a researcher and kept week-long video diaries where they recounted their day and their use of social media. This was done for the summer of 2020 and 2021. Using the interviews and the personal video diaries, we utilize Qualtrics forms to code the data into the social media, personal habits, and schooling categories. We expect to find that most teens acknowledge social media as a positive attribute to their happiness with overuse generating negative effects on their happiness. To date, this research project is still in the preliminary phase, and in the future, it will be used to further expand our knowledge on mental health and social media usage.

Keywords: Social Media, Mental health, COVID

BIO

I am a third-year pursuing a dual degree in psychology and criminology with a minor in social work. I'm from Orlando Florida. My long term career goal is to work for the FBI as a criminal psychologist

A Review of the Literature on Alcohol Consequences in African American College Students​

Abstract

​

Frequent and heavy use of alcohol has been related to several negative social, mental, and physical health outcomes, such as increased violent behavior, criminal offenses, legal problems, family and interpersonal problems, and alcohol-related injuries and illness (Zapolski et al., 2014). ​
Racism can increase alcohol consequences (Grekin, 2012).​
Black and Hispanic drinkers are approximately 1.5 times more likely than Whites to report one or more social consequences of drinking, and multiple dependence symptoms (Mulia et al., 2009). ​
The purpose of this study is to provide an integrated literature review of the alcohol-related consequences faced by African American college students.

Keywords: African American . alcohol consequences

BIO

My name is Shaniyah Jennings I am a third year pursuing a degree in Psychology with a minor in Child Development from Jacksonville, Florida. I plan to have my own private practice working in a hospital as a Clinical Psychologist and specialize in working with adolescents and primarily the African- American community. The African- American population struggles with mental health the most and because mental health in the black community is so stigmatized it looks as if seeking therapy is not the ideal thing to do and I seek to change this stigma as a Psychologist who is an African- American woman. My research interests include researching ways in which awareness for mental health as well as interventions are put in place for society to grow as one.

The Slow Regard of Silent Things: Building Mental and Emotional Resilience for Dancers

Abstract

To many, the purpose of dance science is to alleviate physical health stressors for dancers. However, more recently, mental health stressors have come to light. With the rise of COVID-19 bringing anxiety and depression, new levels of awareness of and emphasis on mental health have been circulating among the dance community. Authors such as Kathleen McGuire Gains with “Minding the Gap,” currently in pilot testing at Point Park University, and Lynda Mainwaring’s program, “The Delivery of a Short-Term Psychological Skills Training Program to College Dance Students,” conducted in 2019, help bring dancers’ stories forward in quantitative research and qualitative anecdotes. This study will use the RAND Mental Health Inventory to survey university level dance majors' students at Florida State University School of Dance using a convenience sampling method. This allows data collection from a sample reflective of the broader population of undergraduate dance majors in BFA programs. The Help4Dancers app, developed by British psychotherapist, Terry Hyde: MA MBACP, will be implemented with a focus group of 6-12 dancers. The intervention will be assessed using three methods, a knowledge base quiz, the RAND Survey, and behavioral observation to determine artistic and academic performance. From this, a baseline can be established confirming the existence of mental health stressors within the School of Dance. Ultimately, the purpose of this study is to document the prevalence of mental health stressors within the Florida State University School of Dance and assess an intervention targeted at building mental and emotional resilience through increasing awareness.

Keywords: Mental Health, Intervention, Dance

BIO

Hi! My name is Nicole Kidd. I am an honors student and Criminology major from Miami, Florida. I am pursuing a career in intelligence analysis via the Emergency Management and Homeland Security program at FSU. I chose this research project because I am interested in the security and criminal aspects of financial exploitation.

State Policies and Practices Regarding the Financial Exploitation of Older Adults

Abstract

Elder justice has received more attention in the past decade as a pressing public issue, including a new focus on the financial exploitation of aging adults. This population of aging Americans holds a significant percentage of the nation’s wealth; an estimated $2.9 to $36.5 billion is lost annually to their financial exploitation (CFPB, 2019). State-and federal-level responses to this have been lacking in standardization and any evidential basis. While many states, such as Texas and West Virginia, have passed legislation criminalizing perpetrators of financial exploitation, ancillary factors such as data collection, specialized task forces, and nonpolice intervention vary from state to state (NCEA, 2021). Recent research and policy reports have acknowledged the previous state efforts to prevent the financial exploitation of aging adults while emphasizing the need for more centralized prevention, response, and data collection system. Cooperation and streamlined communication between state entities and private financial institutions is stressed as the most promising means to detect financial exploitation early on. This examination of state policies and practices will provide a foundation on which to examine state Attorneys General possible improvements and required further action.

Keywords: Financial exploitation, elder abuse

BIO

Cameron is a first year pursuing a major in Economics with a minor in History from Lakeland, Florida. He is exploring a future in academia or as an analyst.

Draft-Dodging: Investigating the Relationship between Income and Vietnam War Draft Statistics

Abstract

In the 1960s and 1970s in the United States, the possibility for young, able-bodied men to be involuntarily drafted into the Vietnam War was non-trivial. Hundreds of thousands of young men across all fifty states and of all socioeconomic backgrounds attempted to evade the draft, so we investigated whether young men in wealthier states were more likely to successfully find exit options from the draft, using per capita personal income as a proxy for socioeconomic status. To investigate our two alternative hypotheses that per capita personal incomes are negatively correlated with induction risk and positively correlated with student deferment rates, we calculated the Pearson correlation coefficients and p-values for each dataset. We did not find a statistically significant negative correlation between per capita personal income and induction risk, but we did find a moderately positive, statistically significant correlation between per capita personal income and student deferment rates by state. This may indicate that young men from wealthier states and higher socioeconomic strata were more likely to achieve student deferments for college in order to avoid the Vietnam War draft, posing important implications for the socioeconomic dynamics of military conscription in the Postwar era.

Keywords: Vietnam War, draft, conscription, college deferment, labor markets, socioeconomics

BIO

My name is Rachelys Jorrin, I am a first-generation student in the Biological Sciences major on a Pre-Medical track in hopes of attending medical school with a focus on pediatrics. Although my occupational goals are seemingly unrelated to my research, I have actually been able to attain a greater understanding of cardiovascular function and health, learn the Doppler Ultrasound technique, and take part in the data collection/analysis process in a lab setting. I have had an extremely amazing time partaking in this research opportunity and I definitely look forward to continuing on this path!

Long-Term Effects of Simulated Spaceflight Exposure Assessed by Doppler Ultrasonography

Abstract

There are limited studies of assessing the ways in which cardiovascular health is affected by spaceflight. From this study, we investigate how spaceflight affects the heart and vascular properties of rats utilizing the Doppler Ultrasound Technique. This non-invasive technique allows us to acquire information on any effects resulting from spaceflight factors, including the single- and combined-effects of microgravity and deep space radiation. Doppler Ultrasound allows us to quantify heart rate and blood velocity, which is then mathematically transformed by a specialized computational program into specific measurements providing an index of cardiovascular function. These data are then statistically compared and tested for any effects from microgravity +/- deep space radiation exposure. These findings are still on-going, though once complete, can be extrapolated to astronaut health and identify what they may expect from missions to the Moon, and/or beyond, through our Artemis’ projects and human space exploration.

Keywords: NASA, Cardiovascular, Spaceflight

BIO

I have been fascinated with molecular biology. As I viewed it, it is the rules by which life operates at the smallest level. Now I am studying how these mechanisms work on the atomic level of detail using molecular modeling software such as PyRosetta and CHARMM. I will be taking these skills for my DIS this summer and fall as I will be modeling how proteins in the GT-2 protein family work. These proteins produce structural polysaccharides, like cellulose, in plants animals and even humans. Hopefully my research this summer and fall will test hypotheses about the mechanism of action of this widely important protein family.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations of a Mouse Monoclonal IgG2A Antibody at the Interface of Polar and Nonpolar Solvent

Abstract

Antibodies play an important role in many multicellular eukaryotic immune systems as they are the primary way in which these organisms detect and locate specific pathogens by binding to peptides or surface proteins of pathogens. Due to advancements in expressing and purifying antibodies, it is now possible to treat diseases with antibody therapies. It may be helpful to understand the conformation of antibodies in solvents with different polarity, as it can explain extraction equilibria constants and may aid the engineering of future antibodies to be more amicable to extraction or the interaction of a lipid membrane. This paper uses molecular dynamics simulations of a monoclonal mouse IgG2a class antibody in water and in a water-nonpolar solvent interfacial environment.

Keywords: anitbodies Molecular Dynamics

BIO

My current research interests include the underlying neural mechanisms behind different aspects of human cognition, like memory, perception, and learning, and how sleep contributes to these aspects. My future aspirations are to attend graduate school to obtain a PhD in cognitive neuroscience studying these topics.

The neural basis of task-relevant memory retrieval

Abstract

Semantic and Episodic memory are two forms of declarative memory. These memory systems differ substantially from one another at the level of content; semantic memory reflects knowledge abstracted from multiple experiences whereas episodic memory reflects memory for specific moments. Cognitive neuroscience research studying how semantic and episodic memory are supported by the brain has traditionally focused on either one system or the other. However, an emerging line of evidence suggests that the perirhinal cortex (PRC) contributes to both of these fundamentally different kinds of memory. In the current study, we used functional magnetic resonance imaging to quantify activity in PRC while participants retrieve either semantic or episodic information from memory. Using a representational similarity analysis, we first ask whether information in this brain region is dynamically reshaped to reflect task demands. We expect that semantic information will be most salient during the semantic task context and that episodic information will be most salient during the episodic task context. In a second set of analyses, we investigate whether this representational flexibility emerges through interactions with cognitive control mechanisms. Using a functional connectivity analysis, we expect to reveal task-dependent interactions between PRC and the inferior frontal gyrus during retrieval of semantic memory and the PRC and ventromedial prefrontal cortex when task demands require retrieval of episodic memory. These results will suggest the semantic and episodic memories are more deeply integrated than was previously thought and reveal a neural mechanism that flexibly enables retrieval of one kind of information or the other.

Keywords: Cognitive Neuroscience, Memory, fMRI, Recollection, Semantic

BIO

My name is Vinchenzo Vassalotti and I am from West Palm Beach, Florida. I am a Senior graduating at the end of this spring semester. In the fall, I will be pursuing a PhD in Applied Social Psychology at Loyola University in Chicago! I aspire to be a professor in the future and conduct research in the social psychology field alongside inspiring students to pursue their own questioning. My research interests reflect criminology, in-group and out-group relationships, and questioning related to marginalized communities. My passion is finding the intersection of research and public policy to implement local change!

Exploring LGBTQ+ Labels: Body Image and Self-Identity

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to understand the usage of labels within the LGBTQ+ community and the relationship to body image, self-identity, and social stigma. Through the surveying of queer participants only, we gathered data toward a more tangible definition of the "Bear" label and canvassed opinion on in-group labeling. To solidify the definition, we created a task involving simulated male bodies organized by physique, weight, and body hair. Through this, we gathered information on variance in defining the "Bear" label via different LGBTQ identities, what these bodies may look like, and the personal effect of label usage.

As it is understood, there is confusion surrounding the usage of these labels as they can prompt rigidity in appearance and can often rely on harmful stereotypes. Through the study of the communities in which labels are highly utilized, we can gather intimate insight on labeling and personal identity. There is a fundamental lack of understanding of what characterizes these labels from an in-group perspective, and through community-reflective participation, we can gain much-needed information for marginalized identities.

Keywords: LGBTQ, SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY, LANGUAGE, LABELS, PRIDE

BIO

Hi! My name is Annalia Buchanan. I am a history major from Little Rock, Arkansas interested in archival research alongside oral history and modern folklore. Some of my study focuses are American Southern history, legal policy, and LGBT+ history. When I'm not watching lectures at one of my favorite local cafes or facetiming my cats, I love going to concerts and listening to music as part of my job at FSU's student-run radio station!

The Shogun's Grandniece

Abstract

The history of Japanese-American relations is a fascinating field with many oscillations between periods of tension and allyship. Due to these changes, the cultural history between these two countries is rich and can often seem outwardly confusing to amateur historians. My instructor's book will seek to unite both historical and personal perspectives through the story of Mrs. Chiye Hachisuka. Working as microhistory, this book will attempt to encapsulate the cultural history of these different groups of people through the eyes of one family. Most of my methodology stemmed from the assignment given to me by my instructor along with the goals I formed on my own. My job was to be the researcher for this project was to get background context and delve into the family's public history. I started this project with research on the internment of Japanese-Americans during World War Two after discovering the family's history with internment. After this background context, I got in touch with the subject librarian for my major (history) to inquire if FSU had free ancestry access and was directed to the Leon County Library System. I spent days combing through all the documents I could find. When I compiled them, my process was to summarize the contents of the documents. After this work, I began forming a timeline of all of the relevant historical and personal events throughout this time period. I am still using ancestry and other sources as a means of gathering further information.

Keywords: shogun, japanese-american, microhistory