Research Symposium

BIO

My name is Veronika Nash and I am currently a second year student, majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience with a pre-medical track. I am from Daytona Beach, Florida, growing up in an immigrant/ first generation household. Due to this, I strive to broaden my knowledge and get involved on campus to utilize opportunities. One method has been getting involved in research to open up new endeavors for my future. During my time in UROP, I grew interests in psychology with a focus of public health, to have different concepts of psychology make a positive impact on the community. With my time spent with my research mentor, Dr. Amy Ai, I have been able to grow my professionalism and take on tasks to gain new experiences and knowledge. In the future, I plan to go to medical school to further specialize in pediatric or emergency medicine!

Age and Gender Effects on PTG Explained by Psychological Factors in Cardiac Patients

Abstract

The present study explored the role of gender on posttraumatic growth (PTG) 30-months after cardiac surgery and mediation of preoperative psychosocial factors. Two previous meta-analyses found that woman tended to have more growth than men, and that PTG was associated with improved overall health, but most studies were cross-sectional and small-scale. Using a prospective design, we followed 262 patients undergoing cardiovascular operations with surveys and objectively measured medical indices from the Society of Thoracic Surgeons' (STS) national database. Participants completed a follow-up survey on PTG 30-month after surgery. Bivariate correlations related PTG with female gender, age, minority race, marriage, and faith-based factors, but no medical or other psychosocial factors. In hierarchical regressions, gender and age were linked with PTG, alongside other demographics in Step-1. These effects sustained after entry of STS indices, in Step-2, but the gender role diminished after adding medical comorbidities, preoperative depression, optimism, hope, and social support in Step-3. No other factor in these steps had an impact. The age effect vanished when faith factors were entered, but only positive spiritual coping (PSC) were related to PTG. Finally, the role of PSC on PTG was mediated by perceived spiritual support. The final model was significant, accounting for one-third of the variance [F (20, N = 215) = 4.896, p < .001, R2 = .334] in PTG. This suggests that more research should explore the effect of gender and age on PTG in general. For cardiac patients, care providers may encourage positive faith-based coping prior to cardiovascular surgery.

Keywords: Age, Cardiac, Posttraumatic Growth

BIO

My name is Sydney Garber and I am a Junior at Florida State University, studying Environmental Science. I'm from Tallahassee, Florida. I am planning to continue working with Dr. Atwood’s research lab through my undergrad. I am enjoying learning more about working in a geochemistry lab, and pursuing my research goals. After graduation, I plan to attend graduate school and continue research in a Master’s program. I am fascinated by the ocean, so in my free time I frequent the beach as much as possible!

Mid-Holocene Climate Reconstructions from Kiritimati Coral Records

Abstract

Paleoclimatology is the study of the climate system before direct measurements were available. We analyze oxygen isotopes and trace elements in coral aragonite to learn more about past climate variability. The oxygen isotope composition (18Ocoral) of the aragonite reflects the sea surface temperature (SST) and salinity of the surrounding ocean water as the coral grows. The corals we analyze are from Kiritimati Island, which is located in the central equatorial Pacific (1.87ºN, 157.43ºW). To obtain these 18O measurements, we slab the coral along the maximum growth axis and then drill along this line using a high resolution or bulk sampling technique. High resolution sampling requires drilling the coral millimeter by millimeter along the growth transect, while bulk sampling consists of drilling the growth transect in one continuous sweep. The high resolution data allows us to track seasonal and year-to-year changes, while bulk data only allows us to estimate mean changes.
Both methods show lower 18O values, indicating that the area was overall cooler and drier in the mid-Holocene (around 4,000 to 7,000 years ago). Compared to the high resolution records, the bulk records from the mid-Holocene show less coral-to-coral variability. It’s currently unknown whether this reduced variability in the bulk records reflects a true climate signal or whether it is due to secondary alteration of the aragonite. We are producing more high resolution data to fully resolve this discrepancy and reconstruct climate variability during the mid-Holocene. This data is important for contextualizing modern climate variations.

Keywords: Geochemistry, Coral, Oxygen Isotope

BIO

Hi, I'm Robert Wilson. I'm From Bradenton, Florida and I am currently a freshman. I am interested in research that will improve people's lives and help to create safer communities. I am currently a premed student majoring in IMS - Clinical Professions with a goal of going to medical school to become a physician.

Turnout Gear Affect On Fire Fighters Range of Motion

Abstract

Ergonomics is an important field of study to consider when researching the efficiency of firefighter’s turnout gear. Firefighter gear consists of three main layers: the outer shell, moisture barrier and thermal liner(Luo, Constance, Jin, 2012). Firefighter gear tends to be extremely heavy and can decrease firefighter range of motion, resulting in many work-related injuries (Campbell, Richard, et al, 2019). This study involved developing a new turnout suit design for potential ergonomic improvement compared to suits currently on the market. The main areas altered on the prototype were the collar, tailcoat, underarm, elbow shape, knee contour, and shape of the crotch gusset. This study was conducted using three different turnout suits that were made by a leading turnout gear manufacturer in the U.S. Two of the turnout suits are currently available for purchase on the market and the third was the novel prototype design. The purpose of the wear study was to assess differences between the three suits for range of motion and ease of movement in the neck, shoulder, elbow, knee, and hip areas.

Keywords: Firefighter Safety McQuerry Ergonomics

BIO

I am a sophomore pursuing a duel degree in Criminology and Psychology with a minor in Child Development. I am involved in Dance Marathon, Phi Alpha Delta, and my sorority Sigma Delta Tau as the Membership Experience Director.

Do Early Childhood Educators Have a Positive or Negative Perception on the Implementation of a Social-Emotional Curriculum?

Abstract

This mixed-methods (i.e., quantitative and qualitative) study is aimed at exploring early childhood educators’ perceptions and experiences with the social-emotional curriculum Rebound Recovery, focusing on preschool-aged children. Early childhood is a critical period for development that can help to build foundational skills that influence social and academic development.. Early education teachers who implemented the social-emotional curriculum will complete several survey instruments related to managing challenging behavior as well as their self-efficacy and other perceptions of working with preschool age children. They will then be placed in groups of four to participate in a focus group interview. Data from the survey instruments and focus groups will be analyzed to answer the following research questions: What are the experiences, perceptions, and opinions of early childhood educators after implementing the Rebound and Recovery curriculum with preschool age children? What is the relationship between teacher (1) self-efficacy, (2) perceived relationships with students in their classrooms, (3) stress, and (4) priorities and beliefs about behavior, teaching practices and children, and their continued use of Rebound and Recovery?

Keywords: rebound recovery, education, preschool

BIO

I am a sophomore from Marietta, GA studying Psychology with a minor in Child Development. Academically, I am interested in neuroscience and clinical psychology. Currently, I am on the Pre-Physician Assistant track with hopes to attend PA school after graduation.

Healing Through Self After Harm by Others: The Associations Between Self-Compassion, Trauma-Related Shame, and Physical Health

Abstract

In this study, researchers observed the impact of trauma-related symptoms on physical health and identified if increased levels of self-compassion are associated with increased physical health after experiencing interpersonal violence. Current studies suggest that self-compassion reduces interpersonal violence's adverse physical health effects, specifically trauma-related shame. This research team predicted that less trauma-related shame (reduced trauma-related symptoms) would negatively correlate with better physical health, and more self-compassion would positively correlate with better physical health. They also predicted that incorporating self-compassion into this model while controlling for trauma-related shame would yield significant results. An online survey via Qualtrics was given to 179 participants to test this. The survey assessed their levels of self-compassion, trauma-related shame, physical health, and experience of interpersonal violence. After data collection, researchers ran a hierarchical linear regression to determine if self-compassion held any predictive power for physical health while controlling for trauma-related shame. Researchers assessed trauma-related shame as a predictor for physical health first, and then added self-compassion in a second block. Correlations were evaluated to avoid multicollinearity. The results indicated that trauma-related shame predicted physical health, including when controlling for self-compassion, and self-compassion predicted physical health when controlling for trauma-related shame.

Keywords: Self-Compassion Trauma Physical Health

BIO

Adin Weatherby is a sophomore electrical engineering student at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. He earned his associates Degree from Eastern Florida State College under the early enrollment program in high school, and was accepted into the College of Engineering his freshman year. During the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, he was able to volunteer at the Center for Advanced Power Systems and earn valuable real-world experience and open up further opportunities.

Scale Replica of a Zero-Emission Electric Aircraft - IZEA

Abstract

The Integrated Zero Emission Aviation (IZEA) project is funded by the NASA University Leadership Initiative for the Center for Advanced Power Systems (CAPS) to develop a superconducting power delivery system for flight operations over a five-year span. The undergraduate students in the program worked to demonstrate and realize the constraints of the power delivery network by developing a model of the aerial vehicle to demonstrate the function of the aircraft with STEM outreach in mind and to help design the final system. This model is useful for defining and designing the physical structure of the power delivery system that will be assembled as superconductor research for the IZEA project progresses at CAPS. Tools such as Creo and Carbide Create were used to design and produce prototypes to evaluate the efficacy of proposed cable system schematics.

Keywords: High Temperature Superconductor (HTS), Modeling, Design software

BIO

Hello! My name is Trisha Bhaskaran and I am from Orlando, Florida. Currently, I am majoring in Cell and Molecular Neuroscience on the pre-med track with ambitions to expand my career into neurosurgery. My research interests mainly focus on the psychology of the human mind. To be more specific, I am intrigued by the science behind the way our brain works and influences our everyday actions. Research aside, I am also a passionate Indian Classical Dancer and I love to play the violin. I enjoy listening to music, trying new types of milk tea flavors, and spending time with my friends.

Effects of the stimulation of alpha oscillations on the Default Mode Network in correlation with PTSD and Anxiety

Abstract

Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), is a mental health disorder that is triggered by traumatic events. Neural synchronizations in the brain are what align neural activity across brain regions and promote the temporal lobe functions, such as memory and auditory processes. Of the listed oscillations, alpha, beta, gamma, and delta, this research mainly focuses on the alpha oscillations in the brain and how it differs between people with PTSD versus those without. The lab uses electroencephalography (EEG) and Functional MRI (fMRI) technology in order to determine these differences. Alpha oscillations usually range from about 8-12 hertz and since we are interested in the frequency of this firing, the data is transferred through a Fourier transformation system. Using discrete bands, we observe how it affects the Default-Mode-Network (DMN). For people with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, the DMN is known to be atypically active at these times and has shown an increase in activity of these alpha oscillations through stimulation. By analyzing these discrete bands after transcranial stimulation, and through fMRI scans to see a more detailed picture of the brain, we can determine how the DMN is affected by these processes.

Keywords: Neuroscience, Brain, Anxiety, fMRI, PTSD

BIO

Molly is a sophomore at Florida State University majoring in Behavioral Neuroscience. She is originally from Kingsport, Tennessee, but currently lives in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida. Her interests lie mainly in psychological and neuroscience related research, as her main passion is in mental health treatments related to the brain and brain disorders. Molly hopes to go on to graduate school and work in Neuroscience research in the future.

How Social Media Correlates With Emotion in FSU Students

Abstract

Social media has become a prominent part of the 21st century. It provides a way for people to connect and communicate like never before. However, people are now associating social media in both a negative and positive light. This study aims to explore the possible correlations between social media and negative and positive emotions in undergraduate and graduate-age students. The objective of this research was to, one, identify the emotions that individuals felt about their social media use, and, two, analyze why they felt this way. Participants in this study were interviewed over an hour and initially asked a series of background questions regarding their life at Florida State University and their experience with Social Media. Then, participants were given several scenarios, such as time spent on social media, and asked if they associated positive or negative emotions with it, and if so to what intensity. Data was analyzed through thematic analysis.

Keywords: Social Media, Emotion

BIO

Katharine is a sophomore from Glastonbury, Connecticut majoring in the environmental sciences with the career goal of being a dentist. She grew up going camping with her family during nearly every school break, cultivating a lifelong fascination with the environment around us. She saw UROP as being an incredible opportunity to explore this passion while still in an undergraduate program, before dental studies take precedence. Lush, dewy greenery has always been Katharine's favorite environmental domain, and this research project traverses the beauty and complexity of the Laupāhoehoe Hawai'ian wet tropical rainforest. She looks forward to following her fascination with the sciences through research at FSU and beyond.

Examining the influence of climate change on Hawaiian wet tropical forest species using carbon-12 to carbon-13 stable isotope ratios

Abstract

Climate change affects all aspects of the global environment including the amount of water available to plants in tropical forests, particularly those located in the dry and wet tropical forests of Hawai’i. Captured and examined over time, the stable carbon isotopes in plant litter, carbon-12 and carbon-13, can act as tracers for the unique water-use efficiency of plants in given climate conditions. Water-use efficiency of plants relates to entire ecosystem processes such as net carbon accumulation through photosynthesis. These observations may provide a clearer look into the response of tropical forests to climate change. From 7-10 years of leaf litter collections from the wet forest at Laupahoehoe, we sorted the species Acacia Koa (“Koa”) and Metrosideros polymorpha (“Ohi’a lehua”), while from the dry forest at Palamanui, we sorted the species Dodonaea viscosa (“A’ali’i”), Psydrax odorata (“Alahe’e”), and Diospyros sandwicensis (“Lama”). After sorting by species, we ground the samples into a homogenous fine-grained powder and dried them to ensure all extra water weight was dissipated. A mass spectrometer was used to measure the carbon stable isotope concentrations. The records of these isotopic ratios allow us to track the plant's water-use efficiency over time and how water-use efficiency fluctuates with various climate conditions that the plants were experiencing seasonally, including temperature and precipitation. In time, we expect species adapted to dry conditions, from the dry forest, to have higher water use efficiencies regardless of climate fluctuations over the allotted time period.

Keywords: Hawaii, leaves, climate change, isotope, forest

BIO

My name is Rebecca Hanauer and I am a sophomore at Florida State University. My hometown is Boynton Beach Florida and my research interests are in the field of medicine.

Analyzing the factors that affect body image and breastfeeding in postpartum mothers

Abstract

Mothers who breastfeed their babies for longer see health benefits in their children and themselves. This study aims to compare body image, depression, and BMI, to one another and see if any of them effect breastfeeding in postpartum mothers.
We will collect information from these mothers by having them take a quantitative survey and by giving them a qualitative interview. We will then analyze the data pertaining to body image, BMI, depression, and breastfeeding using statistical analysis
Results showed that there is a significant positive correlation between postpartum mother’s body image questionnaire results and depression, an insignificant positive correlation between the body image questionnaire and BMI, and that mothers who are still currently breastfeeding when they took the survey are an average of 4.76 kilograms lighter than mothers who aren’t.
These results show that mothers who have a higher BMI are more likely to stop breastfeeding earlier than mothers with a lower BMI.

Keywords: Body Image Breastfeeding Postpartum

BIO

Hello! I’m Kylee and I’m a second year student from Port St. Lucie, FL pursuing my bachelor's in criminology with a minor in psychology. I am currently completing the bachelor's to master's pathway in the College of Criminology where I am taking graduate level courses to get a headstart on my master's degree. I plan to pursue a career within the juvenile justice system in hopes to be able to guide the youth in the system and advocate for at-risk youth. I am currently a part of Teach for America’s IGNITE Fellowship program where I tutor 5th grade math. This experience has given me a better understanding of the issue of educational inequity while simultaneously having the opportunity to impact students' academic growth. My research interests include disproportionate minority youth contact, assessing the school-to-prison pipeline, and delinquency & education. In the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, I have been able to further explore my research interests and expand my knowledge on the importance of culturally responsive classroom management and how it relates to my own career interests.

A Systematic Review of 20 Years of Culturally Responsive Classroom Management Research

Abstract

Teachers may be struggling to manage their rapidly diversifying student population. Scholars have conducted an array of culture and classroom management studies attempting to ameliorate this concern. Across these studies, Culturally Responsive Classroom Management (CRCM) has remained a prominent theoretical model suggested by researchers for teachers to equitably manage their diverse classrooms (Milner, 2019). However, in the nearly 20 years since the introduction of the CRCM model (Weinstein et al., 2003, 2004), there has not been a focus on synthesizing this literature to further iterate on this model. This has resulted in limitations for researchers using the CRCM model to describe the CRCM phenomenon and may have limited teachers using this model to manage their diverse classrooms.
Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review is to develop a new parsimonious iteration of the CRCM model. We will fulfil this purpose by thematically analyzing the literature and synthesizing the results. We hope that the findings gained from nearly 20 years of literature on this topic will assist researchers and teachers in better understanding the CRCM model. Furthermore, with a stronger understanding of the CRCM model, this may assist teachers in implementing CRCM in their classrooms so that they may celebrate their students’ diversity instead of punishing them for it. This study is the second of three culture and classroom management studies; a series aimed at further understanding the broader phenomenon of the role of culture in classroom management.

Keywords: Culturally responsive classroom management, systematic literature review, culturally relevant and responsive education, classroom management, behavior management

BIO

Hi! My name is Kaitlyn and I am freshman here at Florida State. I'm from New Jersey and I am currently majoring in Interdisciplinary Medical Sciences: Clinical Professions. I hope to use this degree to attend medical school. I participate in research at the psychology department focusing on Alzheimers disease.

Amyloid Pathology Profile Across a Parietal-Hippocampal Brain Network Associated With Spatial Reorientation Learning and Memory Performance in the 3xTg-AD Mouse

Abstract

One of the earliest symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease is impaired spatial navigation. This ability has also been found to be impaired in AD mice (Stimmell et al, 2019). We previously demonstrated that the 3xTg-AD mice, specifically 6-month females, show impairments on spatial reorientation tasks. This mouse model demonstrates tau and amyloid beta aggregation, but it is unclear which pathology causes spatial reorientation impairments. We previously analyzed tau and amyloid beta accumulation patterns relationship with reorientation deficits (Stimmell et al, 2021). At 6-months, female 3xTg-AD mice showed tau accumulation in spatial navigation networks that predicted spatial reorientation impairments as identified by independent components analysis. However, amyloid beta accumulation did not predict performance and did not differ across age groups. This amyloid accumulation assessed non-specific amyloid beta 1-16 (6e10) and conformation specific amyloid beta 1-42 (moc78). Here we are assessing one additional amyloid beta stained, anti-moc22, which binds to a different conformation of amyloid beta 1-42 than moc78, predicts behavior performance better than moc78.

Keywords: Alzheimers, spatial navigation, tau and amyloid beta aggregation

BIO

Hello my name is Marguerite, I am from Tampa Florida. I am a sophomore majoring in Biological sciences on the pre-medical track. My career goals are to go to medical school and become a physician. My research interests are in the STEM area and particularly looking into medicine. Research has become a big interest of mine since joining UROP and I am looking forward to expanding my research experience.

Better To Not Be Alone: Relationships between Hurricane Related Trauma, Spiritual Support, and Social Support

Abstract

Media use can be beneficial in many ways such as mood regulation, companionship, anxiety buffering from mortality salience, promoting character development and human flourishing, to name just a few. One phenomenon remains under examined: the extent to which media use might benefit trauma sufferers. This study explored how media use was related to post-traumatic growth and stress among victims of Hurricane Michael and Hurricane Katrina. The results of this exploratory study offer some initial evidence in support of the use of media as a means toward post-traumatic growth but place doubt on its use as a buffer against post-traumatic stress, at least in the months following a traumatic natural disaster. The findings support emerging theories and models of the salutary effects of media use, over time and in response to life stressors. Some of these findings also support that post-traumatic growth is amplified through post-hurricane media use, eudaemonic and hedonic media use and inspirational media use. Much more work is needed for these effects—and the psychological mechanisms and processes facilitating them—to be more fully understood. Our hope is that this study motivates others to join these efforts.

Keywords: Natural Disasters, Post traumatic Growth, Hurricane

BIO

Hi, I'm Isabella Isasi. I'm originally from Fort Lauderale, FL and I'm currently pursuing a double major in Political Science and Economics. This is my first year at Florida State and my time in UROP is my first experience with research. In the future, I hope to pursue other research endeavors in either political science, economics, public policy, or international relations.

Domestic Violence Discourse As Political And Civic Engagement: A Textual Analysis Of Comments On Social Media

Abstract

Domestic violence continues to be an issue around the globe, particularly in Africa; this research study works to analyze the role of online discourse as a form of political and civic engagement when talking about topics such as domestic violence. Social media platforms encourage the mass sharing of ideas, views, and opinions that may influence behavioral changes on a societal level. This study explores the factors that make online discourse an effective medium by analyzing language use. Using NVivo software, reactions and actions in these comments are coded by highlighting the use of adjectives and verbs, respectively. Qualitative discourse analysis allowed us to gain a deeper understanding of language use in particular contexts on social issues, which in the case of our study is domestic violence. Given how recent this form of data collection is in analyzing language use in domestic violence discourse, grounded theory is adopted to give way for themes to emerge naturally from the discourse. We gathered data from the comment sections of thirteen discussion threads on a Nigerian news and information blog on Instagram, Instablog9ja. Two thousand of these comments were cleaned, collated, and eventually analyzed to understand how these comment sections serve the purpose of being a space for dialogue and their potential as catalysts for cultural and religious reforms.

Keywords: NVivo, Nigeria, domestic violence

BIO

My name is Tiana Cates and I am a second-year student on a pre-nursing track. I am from Coral Springs, Florida, and I plan to become a nurse practitioner following my undergrad years. I am interested in research surrounding anatomy and biology, such as how to prevent certain viruses/diseases, as well as which communities may be predisposed to certain illnesses. A fun fact about myself is that I am in an a cappella group here on campus!

Post Traumatic Growth and Mental Health after Cardiovascular Events and Procedures

Abstract

Over the past several years, new research has been conducted regarding cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and their effect on post-traumatic growth (PTG), or positive psychological changes seen after a traumatic event. A large number of trauma survivors have been found to develop post-traumatic growth, rather than post-traumatic stress disorder. Most of the literature studied in this analysis was conducted after patients underwent cardiovascular events and/or surgeries, such as myocardial infarctions (MI), strokes, coronary artery diseases (CAD), heart attacks, etc. Patients were given follow-up questionnaires such as the Post-traumatic Growth Index (PTGI) in order to assess their physical and mental state following cardiovascular illnesses. Recent literature has been looking at the correlation between CVD and PTG, finding that there are many positive relationships between CVD and PTG traits, such as social support, appreciation of life, extraversion, spiritual well-being, amongst others. While this research is still within its developmental stage and has not found any concrete conclusions at this time, it is important to review in order to determine which factors can increase PTG following a CVD event.

Keywords: cardiovascular, post-traumatic growth, health, surgery

BIO

Hey! I’m Aidan Perez and I’m from Miami, Florida. I’m a second year Biological Science major here at Florida State and I’m hoping to eventually matriculate into medical school. Although I’m pre-med, I have had a life-long passion for marine science, ecology, and conservation. I knew I wanted to do research in this field so I can help promote these interests to the greatest extent I could. Currently, I work in the Marine Turtle Research, Ecology, and Conservation Group (MTREC) where I’m able to combine both my interest in marine science and epidemiology. My specific research interest revolves around looking at incidence rates and prevalence of Fibropapillomatosis in green sea turtles in Florida and the Bahamas. Ultimately, my goal is to impart as much of an impact as possible to help preserve this endangered species, and learn some practical research skills along the way!

Fibropapillomatosis Presence in Green Sea Turtles (Chelonia mydas) at Crystal River, Florida and Bimini, Bahamas

Abstract

The virally transmitted neoplastic disease, Fibropapillomatosis (FP) , is a considerable research priority in global green sea turtle (Chelonia mydas) conservation and management (Hamann, et al.). FP typically presents as external tumor growths, typically on soft-skin areas such as the neck, eyes, and flipper bases. In advanced cases, these tumors may inhibit biomechanical functions, and in severe cases lead to mortality due to impairment, reduced foraging ability, or reduced threat evasion. FP was first reported in the early 20th century in the Florida Keys, and since has been observed in all major oceans. This study evaluated FP visibility rates among green sea turtles captured from 2016 to 2022 in two distinct capture sites: Crystal River, Florida, USA (N=120) and Bimini, Bahamas (N=128). The relationship between FP presence and standard carapace length (SCL) was explored to compare visibility of FP tumors and turtle size. FP was present in all capture years across both sites, although FP was notably more present overall in the Crystal River, despite its relatively pristine environment. When comparing FP presence and SCL between the two sites, a greater proportion of smaller turtles were found with FP in Crystal River than in Bimini. Overall, the results of this study aim to characterize and document the extent of FP in these two regions to create a data baseline and promote conservation efforts.

Keywords: ecology, marine, ocean, turtle, epidimeiology

BIO

Hi! My name is Sheevam Patel and I am a first year Finance and Management major from Jupiter, Florida. I'm an avid watcher and player of basketball, a total foodie, and I'm passionate about the intersection of investment and market research.

Assessing the Social Side of Corporate Responsibility

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to identify current social sustainability metrics in place and the role they play in fostering corporate social responsibility (CSR). In doing so, we felt it was necessary to examine consumer and stockholder demand for sustainable products and the overall net benefits of engaging in both environmental and social sustainability practices. Therefore, we decided to compile social and environmental sustainability metrics from our review and construct an all-encompassing sustainability evaluation framework that could be applied to any company based on its current practices. In the interest of time, we decided to center our framework around social and environmental sustainability in the agri-food industry and engage in a case study on two companies in order to see how the framework fares in real-world application against an already existing framework. Based off the data collected in the case study, we will assess the framework and its effectiveness. This information can be beneficial to corporations, small businesses, governmental agencies, shareholders, and consumers among other entities.

Keywords: Sustainability, Corporate Responsibility, Framework

BIO

Hello! My name is Mariana Avila, I am a second year student studying Behavioral Neuroscience with a minor in Chemistry. My family emigrated from Colombia and I am a first generation college student. During my time at FSU I have been involved in Healthy Noles, Alpha Chi Sigma, Strike Magazine and research in the Shatruk Lab. I would like to continue my research experience in this lab and develop independent projects. I hope to pursue an MD-PhD after my undergraduate studies.

Fe(II) Spin Crossover Complexes with Novel Ligand Types

Abstract

Transition metal complexes that exhibit spin crossover (SCO) are promising materials for application in next-generation stimuli-responsive. SCO manifests itself as switching between the high-spin (HS) and low-spin (LS) electronic configurations triggered by changes in temperature, pressure, or light radiation. Previous research from our labs has explored the SCO behavior of an FeII complex with naphthalene-functionalized 2,2'-biimidazole (xnap-bim). [Fe(tpma)(xnap-bim)](ClO4)2 showed an abrupt and hysteric thermally driven spin transition, as well as light-induced excited spin state trapping (LIESST) at lower temperatures. In the present work, we extend these studies to a new ligand, anthra-bim, obtained by N-alkylation of 2,2'-biimidazole with 2,3-dimethylanthracene. We examine how the change in the ligand structure impacts the crystal packing of the new Fe(II) complex, [Fe(tpma)(anthra-bim)](BF4)2, and its structural, magnetic, and photophysical behavior.

Keywords: Spin Cross Over

BIO

I am a first-year Pure Mathematics student with a minor in Computer Science from Tallahassee, FL. While attending Florida State University, I have maintained and 3.89 GPA. I am a current member of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars, the Association for Women in Mathematics, and the University Honors Program. This year maybe my first encounter with the UROP program, but it is not my first experience with research. Previously, I participated in my high school science fair, as well as, the Capital Regional Science and Engineering Fairs and placed on several different occasions over the years. I've also had the privilege to be a part of FAMU Program of Excellence in STEM for 4 years, which taught me more about the significance of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. I was accompanied through various learning experiments and my own research projects. This past Fall I was able to present a project in the 2022 MSEIP Student Research Conference. I am now a program mentor, where I guide and encourage other high school students through STEM. In the future, I'd like to attend graduate school to achieve my aspirations of becoming a mathematician and hope to be apart new fundamental research.

Optimal Lubrication of Nickel-Titanium as a Mechanical Material for Spacecraft

Abstract

In space, there are much harsher conditions present than those that typically reside on earth. Temperatures ranging as low as -270.42 degrees Celsius, intense thermal radiation, atomic oxygen, and pressures between 10^(−13) and 10^(−16) torr are all complications that can potentially obstruct the stability of a standard mechanical material. Extremely cool temperatures can make materials brittle and easy to damage, while levels of radiation can make them overheat or experience substantial levels of ionization. Atomic oxygen is a primary cause of erosion, because of its highly reactive nature, as well as low pressures that increase rates of evaporation. Nickel-titanium or NITINOL (Nickel Titanium Naval Ordnance Laboratory), specifically NITINOL60 (NiTi 60), has emerged as an innovative candidate to potentially serve as a bearing material for future spacecraft. NiTi 60 is a binary shape memory alloy (SMA) comprised of a unique set of properties including high hardness and high corrosive resistance. When lubricated, we believe it will produce the utmost optimal performance. We seek to discover benefits from coatings such as diamond-like carbon (DLC) and molybdenum disulfide (MoS2) on NiTi 60 that may produce a durability that’s superior to other mechanical materials. The intention was to test both coated and uncoated samples of Niti 60 on a multistage linear tribometer against counter samples to observe wear rates. After testing uncoated samples, we concluded that NiTi 60 has consistent wear properties against different counter surfaces.

Keywords: Lubrication, Nickel-Titanium, Spacecraft

BIO

Naomi is a Public Health major and pre-health student from Tampa, Florida. You can find her studying, doing research, or volunteering when she's not in class. She hopes to be a physician one-day serving communities with limited access to healthcare. Her research interests include public health and science research.

Examining Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Honduran Communities

Abstract

The Global Health Collaborative Project (GHCP) is an international and interdisciplinary research initiative aimed at improving health outcomes in rural
Honduras. This team includes physicians, researchers, medical students, healthcare workers, and undergraduates from FSU College of Medicine, FAMU, and the University of Honduras.

Lack of healthcare access, economic burden, and low physician-to-patient ratio are just some of the many factors that contribute to underdiagnosis and poor management of hypertension and Diabetes mellitus (DM). Furthermore, Hypertension in Honduras is often underdiagnosed due to a lack of healthcare
access. DM is shown to disproportionately affect low-middle-income countries (LMICs), such as Honduras. (1) With 48.3% of Hondurans living in poverty, this is a serious issue affecting the community. (2)

These chronic conditions have a significant impact on quality of life, especially when left untreated. importance of educating Hondurans on the progression, treatment, risks, and prevention of these diseases to improve the incidence of hypertension and DM in Honduras. Information from this soon-to-be-implemented survey will hopefully provide some insight into the next steps in addressing diabetes and hypertension in these rural Honduran communities

Keywords: global health public honduras