Volume 1, No. 1, 2015
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Acta Spartae is the undergraduate journal of sciences and mathematics at The University of Tampa, and is designed to recognize and promote the vibrant undergraduate research community at UT by providing a forum for the dissemination of research and ideas produced at the University.
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Item Editor's Note(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Ethan DeneaultItem Analysis of Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli inhibition from varying concentrations of Vitamin C(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Victoria Suslovitch; Madeleine Kenton; Eric C. FreundtThe effects of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the gram positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) and the gram negative bacteria Escherichia coli (E. coli) were studied using a serial dilution of concentrated vitamin C applied in a Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion assay. It was observed that higher concentrations of ascorbic acid are more effective in killing bacteria. It was also observed that the gram positive bacteria, S. aureus, is more susceptible than the gram negative bacteria, E. coli. Lastly, it was shown that a saturation of vitamin C at high concentrations was not achieved within the experimental parameters, as no plateau effect was observed. The possibility of ascorbic acid as an antimicrobial agent is worthy of future research due to its safety, versatility, and availability.Item Comparative Analysis of Triclosan Resistance in E. coli, S. aureus, and S. cerevisiae(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Michael L. Koren; Omari M. Richins; Eric C. FreundtThe introduction of antibiotics into everyday life has led to untreatable infections because some bacteria are resistant to nearly all forms of antibiotics. One antimicrobial, triclosan, has been used for over 30 years in an attempt to control microbe growth on commercial products. In this study, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Saccharomyces cerevisiae were used as model organisms to demonstrate the effects of triclosan on gram-negative, gram-positive, and eukaryotic organisms, respectively. The organisms were grown in a 96-well plate that contained serial dilutions of triclosan. This study propagated triclosan resistance over several generations, which could provide insight into which group of organisms are more susceptible or resistant to triclosan. The results of this study showed that E. coli is sensitive to triclosan, whereas S. aureus and S. cerevisiae demonstrated higher levels of resistance.Item Experimental Hybridization Between Two Species of Subtropical Sea Urchins from Tampa Bay, Arbacia punctulata and Lytechinus variegatus: An Analysis of Skeletal Morphology Using the Scanning Electron Microscope(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Erin M. Meadows and Stanley A. RiceTwo genera of subtropical sea urchins, Arbacia punctulata and Lytechinus variegatus are common in the Tampa Bay area. A. punctulata is typically found in deeper coastal waters in the Gulf of Mexico, while L. variegatus typically inhabits the inshore sea grass beds of Tampa Bay. A. punctulata has recently expanded its range to include the shallow coastal waters near the mouth of Tampa Bay and now overlaps the range of L. variegatus. The two species broadcast spawn during overlapping seasons and hybrid embryos, from L. variegatus male with A. punctulata female and A. punctulata male with L. variegatus female, have been generated and raised in the laboratory up to the pluteus larval stage. In order to determine if the two genera are hybridizing in the field, specimens from Tampa Bay have been collected, acclimated to lab conditions, spawned, and the skeletal morphometrics of the larvae from four crosses, including two within species crosses used as controls and the two reciprocal hybrid crosses, have been examined at both the light and electron microscopy level. Mean percent fertilization was highest, 87%, in the L. variegatus control cross, 45% in the A. punctulata control cross, 37% in the L. variegatus female × A. punctulata male hybrid cross, and below 5% in the A. punctulata female × L. variegatus male hybrid cross. The prism stage of each control cross had minor differences so the focus of this study was on the four arm pluteus stage skeletal features at the Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) level.The pluteus larvae from each control cross for A. punctulata and L. variegatus had distinctive skeletal features. The skeletal features of the pluteus larvae from the hybrid cross were very similar to those of the maternal parent, but some variations were observed. In the A. punctulata control cross, the Anterolateral Rods (AR) of the larvae initially grew at day four and then shrank at day six while the Post-oral Rods (PR) continued to grow. Total Rod Length of A. punctulata control was generally always smaller than L. variegatus control. Also, the total rod length of L. variegatus female × A. punctulata male hybrids was about the same as L. variegatus control and sometimes larger. Growth patterns of all treatments, L. variegatus and A. punctulata controls as well as L. variegatus female × A. punctulata male hybrids, did not follow a clear trend as expected; as time proceeded total rod length shrunk, grew, and shrunk again. When live larval and skeletal measurements (SEM) were compared, skeletal measurements seemed to be more accurate.Item The Effects of Birth Order on Academic Success(College of Social Sciences, Mathematics and Education, The University of Tampa, 2015) Erin McNally and Erica YuenThis study examines the relationship between birth order and college GPA, high school GPA, SAT scores, anxiety level, and self-esteem. We hypothesized that eldest children would have higher college and high school GPAs, higher SAT scores, lower anxiety levels, and higher self-esteem compared to middle, youngest, and only children. The sample consisted of 127 students from General Psychology and Gateways (freshmen orientation) classes who completed a demographic survey, academic performance survey, the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale, and the Beck Anxiety Inventory. Results of a one-way ANOVA demonstrated a statistically significant relationship between birth order and college GPA. However, the analyses for high school GPA, SAT scores, anxiety level, and self-esteem yielded statistically insignificant results.Item Lanthanide Extraction and Luminescence Properties of Multipodal CMPO Ligands(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Michael G. Patterson, David A. Hardy, and Hope T. Sartain, Julie A. Stoscup, Shannon M. Biros, and Eric J. WernerToxic waste streams containing lanthanide (Ln) and actinide (An) metals are byproducts of nuclear power generation. While these metals are considered waste by nuclear energy manufacturers, they may serve many purposes if selectively extracted. Liquid-liquid separation of these metals can be readily achieved using carbamoylmethylphosphine oxide (CMPO) ligand derivatives dissolved in organic solvents and mixed with aqueous waste streams. While An selectivity is currently achieved by CMPO-based ligands, efficient extraction of the valuable Ln ions presents a challenge. Therefore, new ligands are being investigated in attempts to successfully target selective Ln extraction. In this study, the tripodal TREN-CMPO-OEt ligand was explored for its efficiency in Ln ion extraction. By way of ICP-AES analysis, an extraction percentage of 23.0% was determined for Tb(III), an unprecedented four to five times greater than that of any other Ln ion in the study. Further, a fluorimetric study conducted to probe the effect of solvent on luminescence showed a strong correlation between acetonitrile and increased metal-centered emissions of Tb(III) or Eu(III) ions when complexed with an uncapped CMPO-diOEt ligand.Item Assessment of College Students’ Risk Level, Behaviors, Knowledge and Attitude of Type 2 Diabetes at the University of Tampa(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Donna R. Rauschuber, Joshua L. Rodriguez, Domenic L. Sestito, Christopher A. Campbell; Mary P. MartinasekThe purpose of this study was to assess the risk of type 2 diabetes among Black/African American and White/Caucasian male and female students at the University of Tampa using a validated survey instrument for comparison based on a point system for level of risk. Secondly, it was to determine through descriptive statistics if there is the need for a Diabetes Awareness Program at the university based on the current behaviors, attitudes and knowledge of students. Researchers surveyed students to evaluate type 2 diabetes risk levels. The surveys were hand delivered to students at the Vaughn Student Center during normal school hours. Questions based on known risk factors were assigned point values and given a total score that ranged from 0 to 18. These scores were then used to assess low, intermediate and high risk levels. Additional questions on behaviors, attitudes and knowledge regarding type 2 diabetes assessed the need for an awareness program. The researchers used SPSS (ver. 22) to analyze the descriptive statistics to establish the means, standard deviations and percentages of data collected. Total scores were higher for men who averaged 4.000 (s = 1.431) while women averaged 2.633 (s = 1.537). Total scores were also higher for Black/African Americans who averaged 4.086 (s = 1.380) as opposed to White/Caucasians who averaged 2.546 (s = 1.606). Risk levels ranged between low and intermediate, with no student having a high-risk level. Students scored very high when asked about their attitude and knowledge of type 2 diabetes. However, percentages for the questions regarding their behavior were much lower, except for the question regarding physical activity.Item The Search for a Model Organism for Panspermia: Examining the Effects of Vacuum and Ultraviolet Radiation Exposure on Differently Encysted Artemia Embryos(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Corinne Speight; Ethan DeneaultPanspermia, or the idea that sources of life are distributed throughout the Universe via transportational units such as meteoroids, has become a tantalizing possibility throughout the realm of astrobiology. In this experiment, Artemia franciscana (brine shrimp a.k.a. Sea Monkey) embryos under different encystment states (dehydrated, hydrated-capsulated, and hydrated-decapsulated) were exposed to extreme vacuum and ultraviolet radiation conditions similar to those found in space in order to determine whether or not they could be a prototypical organism for this theory. Quantitative analyses were done by calculating Artemia hatch rates for umbrella, naupliar, and both umbrella & naupliar stages following treatments. Although hatch rates varied, exposure to these extreme space-like conditions did not completely impede the viability of the encysted Artemia studied. This suggests that encysted Artemia franciscana may be a model organism supporting the theory of panspermia, although the effects of encystment state during exposure to other space-like conditions besides extreme vacuum and UV radiation warrants further investigation.Item Phylogenetic Analysis of a Chlorovirus Isolated from New York State(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Tara D. Temkar; Eric C. FreundtChloroviruses are large icosahedral viruses that contain about 50 structural proteins, and typically infect certain green eukaryotic algae. Recently, chlorovirus sequences were isolated from throat swabs of healthy adults and were associated with cognitive impairment. Here, we analyzed a pond water sample from New York for the presence of chlorovirus. Cytopathic effects were observed in Chlorella heliozoae, strain SAG 3.83. A portion of the chlorovirus polymerase gene was amplified by the polymerase chain reaction using degenerate primers. The PCR product was bidirectionally sequenced. The sequence of the polymerase gene was compared to known chloroviruses and shown to be 98% identical to ATCV-1. The sequence of the environmental isolate was phylogenetically compared to related chloroviruses, and genetic relatedness to known viruses is presented.Item High-Resolution Abundance Analysis of Stars with Small Planets Discovered by Kepler(College of Natural and Health Sciences, The University of Tampa, 2015) Drake C. Williams; Simon Schuler; Zachary A. VazUsing high-resolution, high signal-to-noise ratio Keck/HIRES spectra we have derived the parameters and abundances of 17elements of four planetary host stars discovered by Kepler: Kepler-97, Kepler-128, Kepler-131, and Kepler-411. All four stars are known to host small planets (from 0.8 to 1.8 Earth radii), and densities have been determined for planets in two of the systems. We find the metallicities of the stars to range from [Fe/H] = −0.17to [Fe/H]= +0.13 (on a scale where the Sun has a metallicity of [Fe/H]= 0.00). This suggests that small planet formation occurs over a wide range of metallicities, in contrast to large, Jupiter-size planets which have been shown to form preferentially in high-metallicity environments. In addition, our four stars are found to have elemental abundances which fall along trends defined by a large sample of stars within the disk of the Galaxy. Based on this result, small planets appear to form around stars that have compositions typical of the general Galactic population. The detailed compositions of these host stars, along with densities of small planets, will provide important constraints for models of small planet formation.