Graduate Research Posters

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  Expressed Emotion, Mental Health, and Functioning in Families of Children with and without Asthma

  Katherine W. Dempster; Julia Scheidemantel; Jessica Greenlee; Marcia A. Winter, Ph.D; and Robin S. Everhart, Ph.D

  Introduction: Expressed emotion (EE), the affective attitudes and behaviors of one toward another, can affect caregivers’ behaviors toward their child. Research examining associations between EE and child/family outcomes is mixed; these associations may be affected by other influences such as the presence of a chronic disease or parent mental health. In this study of families living in an urban area, we examined associations between EE and child outcomes (anxiety/depressive symptoms) and family functioning, with parent anxiety as a covariate. We evaluated child asthma status as a moderator in these associations as the presence of a chronic illness may strengthen the association between EE and child/family outcomes.

  Methods: 96 children (mean±SD age=8.83±2.03 years, 48.9% female, 92.6% African American; 47 with asthma) and their parents (81.3% annual household income<$25,000) completed an observational study including interviews and questionnaires. Measures included the Multidimensional Anxiety Scale for Children (MASC), Children’s Depressive Symptoms Inventory (CDI), Self-Report Family Inventory (SFI), Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7), and Five-Minute Speech Sample (FMSS) coded for EE. To examine study aims, regression analyses were conducted using PROCESS macro version 3.1. Asthma status (yes/no) was examined as a moderator.

  Results: EE was associated with child anxiety symptoms, child depressive symptoms, and family functioning, controlling for parent anxiety symptoms (F(1,70) =6.74, p=.011; F(1,69) =7.803, p=.007; F(1,68) =8.637, p=.004). Asthma status did not moderate any of the associations.

  Conclusions: Results suggested that high levels of caregiver EE were associated with child mental health symptoms and family functioning, but asthma status did not moderate associations. It is possible that regardless of additional family demands related to asthma, EE is associated with child mental health and family functioning. Further examination into other systemic stressors that may moderate these associations is warranted, as well as the impact that minimizing parent anxiety might have on overall EE.

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  Daily Sleep Quality is Associated with Daily Cognition in Late-Life

  Emily K. Donovan, Joseph M. Dzierzewski, Constance H. Fung, Karen R. Josephson, Cathy A. Alessi, and Jennifer L. Martin

  Background: Older adults often face sleep disturbance or cognitive decline that goes beyond the scope of normal aging. The present study examined the relationship between self-reported sleep quality and self-reported daytime attention in a community-dwelling sample of older men at the between-persons and within-persons levels of association.

  Methods: Thirty-eight participants (M age =75.36 years, SD age =7.51 years, range=66-90 years) completed a twice-daily sleep diary for one week. Sleep quality and attention were assessed using a single-item 0-10 rating scales from the morning diary (“How was the quality of your sleep last night?”) and from the evening diary (“How was your attention today?”). A two-level multilevel model was parameterized with days nested within individuals to examine whether nightly sleep quality predicts an individual’s daily attention rating.

  Results: A multilevel model predicting self-reported attention revealed (1) older individuals who reported better sleep quality reported having better daily attention [Beta=0.64, t(248.15)=10.12, p<0.001] and (2) following a day of above-average sleep quality, older individuals experienced above-average attention [Beta=0.16, t(259.79)=2.75, p=.006].

  Conclusion: Not only was overall sleep quality associated with self-reported attention, but a good night's sleep was associated with better self-reported next-day attention. Results point to the potential importance of fluctuations in sleep quality for daytime functioning. Interventions aimed at improving nightly sleep consistency may be worth exploring as methods to improve daytime cognitive functioning in older adults.

  Support: This work was supported by the Sleep Research Society Foundation/Jazz Pharmaceuticals (001JP13, PI: Dzierzewski) and by the National Institute on Aging of the National Institutes of Health under Award Number K23AG049955 (PI: Dzierzewski), and National Heart Lung and Blood Institute at the National Institutes of Health under award number K24HL143055 (PI: Martin). The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health or the Department of Veterans Affairs.

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  The future of returning genetic test results for psychiatric conditions

  Morgan Driver, Sally Kuo, and Danielle Dick

  Background: Genome-wide association studies are rapidly advancing our understanding of the genetic architecture of complex psychiatric conditions. In order to use findings from these studies for enhanced clinical prediction, we need to gain a better understanding of the issues surrounding the return of complex genetic results.

  Methods: We review the current literature on genetic literacy in the population, the public’s interest in receiving genetic test results for psychiatric conditions, how individuals react to and interpret their genetic results for psychiatric conditions, and gaps in our knowledge that will be critical to address before returning genetic results for psychiatric conditions.

  Results: We find that in hypothetical scenarios genetic test results indicating increased risk for a psychiatric condition lowers an individual’s confidence to control behavior, reduces self-agency, and negatively impacts affect. Individuals may believe that a change in behavior is important, but there is little evidence that genetic test results indicating increased risk for a psychiatric condition are associated with behavior change. The negative impact of results indicating an increased risk may stem from common misconceptions of complex disorders that exist in approximately 25% to 35% of individuals studied.

  Conclusions: Individuals with these misunderstandings about the role of genetic factors in complex disorders may have a belief in genetic determinism, the idea that behaviors and characteristics are determined solely by one’s genetic information. Regardless of one’s genetic knowledge, a majority of people are interested in receiving genetic feedback for psychiatric conditions, highlighting a need for effective communication of these genetic test results.

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  A Facile, Fast, and Low-Cost Method for Fabrication of Micro/Nano-Textured Superhydrophobic Surfaces

  Amir Esmaeili, Noshin Mir, and Reza Mohammadi

  Background

  Alkyl ketene dimer (AKD) is frequently used in paper industry as an inexpensive sizing agent. The formation of a fractal structure after curing the solidified AKD for an extra-long time (4 - 6 days) results in superhydrophobicity. In this study, a facile and low-cost method was utilized to turn AKD’s surface superhydrophobic in a very short period of time.

  Method

  We fabricated a superhydrophobic layer by dipping glass and paper substrates in molten AKD and then treating them with ethanol after solidification. The samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction, Scanning electron microscopy, Fourier transform-infrared spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, Confocal laser scanning microscopy, and dynamic contact angle goniometry.

  Results

  The results show that briefly treating the coatings, obtained from isothermally heated AKD melt at 40°C for 3 min, with ethanol leads to superhydrophobicity with an advancing and receding contact angle of 158.7±1.4° and 156.8±0.9°, respectively. By increasing the melt temperature to 70°C and heating time to 6 h followed by ethanol treatment, the advancing and receding contact angles increased to 163.7±1.3° and 162.6±1.2°, respectively.

  Conclusions

  This enhancement in superhydrophobicity is due to the formation of entangled irregular micro/nano textures that create air cushions on the surface resulting in droplet state transition from Wenzel to Cassie. In this method, ethanol can be used several times, and the energy consumption becomes very low. Based on the other techniques in this field, our method has eliminated the complex equipment and procedure applied in the fabrication of a superhydrophobic AKD.

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  Development of a targeted and controlled nanoparticle delivery system for FoxO1 inhibitors

  Andrea Ferrer Vega, Michael Imondo, Andriy Mulyar, Bridget T. McInnes, Zhiyong Cheng, and Nastassja Lewinski

  Background: Poly (lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) are polymers approved by the United States’ Food and Drug Administration. Drugs for various medical treatments have been encapsulated in PLGA-PEG nanoparticles for targeted delivery and reduction of unwanted side effects.

  Methods: A flow synthesis method for PLGA-PEG nanoparticles containing FoxO1 inhibitors and adipose vasculature targeting agents was developed. A set of nanoparticles including PLGA and PLGA-PEG-P3 unloaded and drug loaded were generated. The particles were characterized by DLS, fluorescence spectroscopy, TEM, and dialysis. Endotoxin levels were measured using the LAL chromogenic assay. Our approach was compared to over 270 research articles using information extraction tools.

  Results: Nanoparticle hydrodynamic diameters ranged from 142.4 ±0.4 d.nm to 208.7 ±3.6 d.nm while the polydispersity index was less than 0.500 for all samples (0.057 ±0.021 to 0.369 ±0.038). Zeta potentials were all negative ranging from -4.33 mV to -13.4 mV. Stability testing confirmed that size remained unchanged for up to 4 weeks. For AS1842856, loading was 0.5 mg drug/mL solution and encapsulation efficiency was ~100%. Dialysis indicated burst release of drug in the first 4 hours.

  Conclusion: PLGA encapsulation of AS1842856 was successful but unsuccessful for the two more hydrophilic drugs. Alternative syntheses such as water/oil/water emulsion or liposomal encapsulation are being considered. Analysis of data from published papers on PLGA nanoparticles indicated that our results were consistent with identified process-structure relationships and few groups reported endotoxin levels even though in vivo testing was performed.

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  Legal Status Effects on Parent-Child Relationships and Parent Well-Being

  Isis Garcia-Rodriguez, Tamara Ribas-Camargo, Ronald L. Blackwell, and Amy K. Marks

  Despite heightened levels of parenting stress and psychological distress experienced by many immigrant-origin families in the United States, little is known about the resiliency of Latinx families, particularly in today’s political climate. This research presents the results of a pilot study examining the effects of legal stressors on parent-child relationships and parent well-being in Latinx immigrant families. Taken from the Latinx Immigrant Family Stories and Strengths project, this mixed-methods study was informed by the integrative risk and resilience model for understanding the adaptation of immigrant-origin children and youth (Suarez-Orozco, Motti- Stefanidi, Marks, & Katsiaficas, 2018). The pilot included a sample of 30 adult parent participants with various legal statuses and migration experiences. Qualitatively, participants shared their experiences of legal vulnerability, fears or concerns of deportation, and coping mechanisms. Quantitatively, scores for parental stress, psychological distress, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms, and resilience were collected. Following a, sequential explanatory design (Creswell et al., 2003), quantitative data were analyzed for relationships among study variables. A case-oriented research comparative strategy (Eckstein, 1975; Mahoney & Goertz, 2004; George & Bennett, 2005; Gerring, 2006) was then used to qualitatively examine the migration and resiliency experiences of the two cases with lowest and highest levels of resilience according to the Brief Resilience Scale (BRS; Smith et al., 2008) scores. Results suggest that, on average, parents experienced normal to high rates of parenting-related stress, low levels of psychological distress, moderate to severe symptoms of PTSD, and low to average levels of resiliency. Parents identifying as undocumented experienced higher rates of parental stress (r = 0.49, p<.05) and psychological distress (r = 0.41, p<.05) compared to their liminally

  legal and documented peers. Although the trauma experienced by many immigrant-origin parents in the study was markedly high, resilience was fostered and expressed, and was exemplified through our high-resilience case analysis. Participants’ stories expressed throughout this study spoke volumes about the complex and often times traumatic lived experiences that many foreign- born parents face. Implications for comprehensive, detailed, and longitudinal future research is discussed.

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  Paroxetine is Pro-inflammatory in Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells

  Syeda Hashimi, Sulay Patel, Omar Hassan, and Bukola Odeniyi

  BACKGROUND: Paroxetine is an antidepressant that is widely used. However, Paroxetine possesses anticholinergic properties which may contribute to cognitive decline in older adults. Surprisingly, the mechanisms of the cognitive decline of anticholinergic drugs in older adults remains elusive. A hypothesis is that a loss of cholinergic signaling is pro-inflammatory in the brain. We designed experiments to determine if Paroxetine is pro-inflammatory in Normal Human Brain Microvascular Endothelial Cells (NHBMECs).

  METHOD: NHBMECs were grown at 5% CO2, 37C and 95% relative humidity until 90% confluent. NHBMECs were treated with the RNA free water as control, Paroxetine as 1.67x 10 4 mM/mol, IL1B 2ng/ml for 24 hours. RNA was isolated, converted into CDNA, and gene expression determined via RT-PCR. Statistical analysis was performed via ANOVA and post-hoc Tukey’s with a significant p-value < 0.05. Experiments were completed on 10-04-19. The mRNA expression studies were performed on 11-01-19.

  RESULTS: NHBMECs exposed to Paroxetine for 24 hours demonstrated elevated expression of CCL2 and CXCL5. NHBMECs exposed to Paroxetine + IL1B demonstrated synergistic elevations in CCL2 and CXCL5.

  CONCLUSION: Our result suggests that Paroxetine may have pro-inflammatory properties within this subset of human brain cells. Therefore, our preliminary data suggests the possibility of pathological pro- inflammatory mechanisms associated with Paroxetine. Further evaluation of different populations of normal human brain cells are warranted.

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  Why Them: The Informal Caregiver's Transition to a Cancer Diagnosis

  Rebecca Hoppe, Marcia A. Winter, and Tara A. Albrecht

  Background: Hematologic malignancies (HM) are life-threatening cancers associated with high mortality, numerous symptoms, and lengthy hospitalizations. Informal caregivers (family or friend; IC) of adults with various diseases experience negative quality of life and poor psychological well-being. However, there is scant research exploring the IC experience.

  Objective: To learn how ICs adapt to patients’ diagnosis of HM and their caregiver role.

  Methods: The current study used a qualitative descriptive design to analyze the semi-structured interview responses from ICs (N=28) within six weeks of the patients’ HM diagnosis. A content analysis was conducted to generate common themes.

  Findings: Several themes emerged related to the IC’s psychological adjustment to their loved one’s illness (HM). Markers of positive adaptation included accepting help, preparedness for caregiver roles, and feelings of empowerment. Markers of poor adaptation included perceived powerlessness, rumination over discomforting thoughts, and struggle with illness transition. Reports of positivity and hope were accompanied by endorsements of easing stress about the patient’s survival and aiding the IC coping. Findings suggest that IC’s are uncomfortable with uncertainty for their future and the logistical challenges associated with the diagnosis.

  Implications: Results foster understanding of the psychological complexities of caregiver burden as ICs adapt to the diagnosis and their new supportive role as a caregiver for their loved one with HM. This highlights the need to assess and support ICs during this time. For example, palliative care principles can be leveraged to promote healthy acceptance of the diagnosis, preparation for caregiving, burden prevention, and targeted coping strategies.

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  An Examination of Virginia WIC Staff’s Attitudes and Knowledge Towards the Brush, Book, Bed Oral Health Program

  Tia Jackson, Tegwyn H. Brickhouse, Lizbeth Snead, and Natalie Pennywell

  Introduction: Families who are low income and have low oral health literacy tend to have poor oral health. The Brush, Book, Bed (BBB) program helps caregivers establish a consistent night routine for their children that includes brushing teeth, reading, and an age-appropriate bedtime. BBB has been shown to increase oral hygiene behaviors and therefore oral health outcomes. Studies have shown that children who participate in Women, Infants, and Children, (WIC) programs are more likely to access dental services. This study examined local Richmond, Virginia (VA) WIC staff on their current oral health knowledge and views on implementing BBB.

  Methods: A 10-question the pre-assessment survey was administered to 11 WIC staff. The pre- assessment evaluated WIC staff’s knowledge of children’s oral health and their confidence levels toward counseling clients on dental care. After the pre-assessment, a short presentation on BBB and children’s oral health was given. Following the presentation, a 19-question post-assessment was conducted to determine how much information WIC staff retained and changes in their confidence levels.

  Results: All participants improved their scores on the post-assessment after the BBB presentation showing a 17% improvement. The percent of staff that felt very confident in advising clients on their children’s oral health grew by 19%. Across the sample, 100% of participants reported that BBB would benefit their clients and implementing it in their office would be feasible.

  Conclusion: Findings from the current study demonstrate that WIC staff are receptive to the goals of BBB and believe that its implementation could help their clients.

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  Metal-Oxide Nanostructures Fabricated from Laser-Assisted Synthesis Technique

  Mallory John and Katharine M. Tibbetts

  Background

  Rising levels of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere such as CO 2 are contributing to global rises in temperature, acidification of the oceans, and more extreme weather conditions. Hydrogenation of CO 2 to form carbon-based products is of great importance to reduce CO 2 levels and generate carbon-based compounds that can be used for industrial purposes. Copper- and nickel- based nanocatalysts have promising catalytic activity toward CO 2 hydrogenation, and have great interest to replace expensive and rare Pt- and Pd-based catalysts.

  Methods

  Focusing high powered laser pulses onto the surface of a silicon wafer immersed in liquid solutions containing nickel nitrate or copper nitrate in alkaline media leads to the formation of Cu, Ni or copper-nickel phyllosilicates (PS). The laser pulses remove Si atoms from the wafer, allowing them to interact with the surrounding liquid where the Cu 2+ or Ni 2+ ions incorporate themselves into the forming phyllosilicate structure. The well-dispersed Cu and Ni atoms throughout the structure lead to a highly catalytically active material.

  Results

  The Cu-PS and Ni-PS nanostructures were synthesized, and the formation mechanisms from different experimental parameters were investigated. The Cu-PS selectively converted CO 2 to methanol below 500ºC, and formed methanol and methane above 500ºC.

  Conclusions

  The synthesis of Cu-PS and Ni-PS nanostructured catalysts were achieved using a reactive laser ablation in liquid technique, and the products displayed catalytic activity toward the hydrogenation of CO 2 , with temperature-dependent selectivity toward methanol and methane.

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  Scoring Sound: Explicating the Role of Musical Notation

  Marie Kreck

  Background:

  While art, entertainment, and technology trend towards the audiovisual, towards the synesthetic, it remains difficult to encompass multi-sensory media in any single analytical framework. Sound studies has always grappled with sound’s apparent subjugation to image. Eidsheim's “music as vibrational practice” accounts for music as a “thick event,” thereby bridging some gaps between the senses, but she declines to incorporate musical notation into her model.

  Methods:

  Drawing on Helmreich's theory of transduction and on focused studies on composition, notation, and interpretation, I examine the role of notation in the composition and performance of Western art music in order to revise the model of music as a thick event to encompass notation.

  Results:

  As a transformation of temporal sound into fixed image, notation is naturally limited. It also carries the baggage of colonialist attitudes in early ethnomusicology. However, in Western art music, notation is essential to the process of composition and therefore to the act of music making. The cultural weight of the score creates an illusion of objective representation which is emblematic of Western art music’s problematic belief in the werktreue – an original, ideal form of a musical work accessible to a performer with sufficient historical knowledge – and a wider culture of naïve listening. By positioning notation as the means of composition (rather than transmission), we can untether ourselves from the idea of a work existing prior to the score.

  Conclusion:

  For musical analysis, this model implies a focus on how the cultural context of a performance shapes the work.

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  Richmond City Health District (RCHD), Bon Secours Richmond City Hospital (RCH), and Virginia Commonwealth Universities (VCU) Department of Health Behavior Policy (HBP): Partnering with Community Health Workers (CHW) to Improve Community Health Outcomes and Reduce Emergency Department (ED) Use

  Anita M. Kumar, MPH; Stephanie Toney, RN BSN; Tamera Langhorne, MBA CHW; and Bassan Dahman, Ph.D.

  Background: Frequent ED users (5%) are sicker, poorer, not satisfied with the health system and cost 20% of total ED charges.

  Objective: A pilot study of feasibility of partnering with CHW to improve health knowledge and outcomes and reduce ED use in low income community.

  Methods: RCH ED utilizers were randomized to intervention and control groups. CHW contacted intervention group within 10 days of ED visit, surveyed about access to care, healthy living, and knowledge about chronic disease, and offered education, referrals to insurance and social and economic support. ED utilization and cost were recorded for all patients for 6 months. Preventable ED visits were classified according to Johnston et al1 and high utilizers have 2+ ED visits. Intervention and control characteristics and ED utilizations and cost were described and compared using t-tests, ANOVA, and Chi-square at alpha=0.1. Adjusted analyses were performed using linear and logistic regressions.

  Results: 91 and 61 randomized to intervention and control with 29 and 23 high utilizers respectively. Drop-in percent of patients with all and preventable ED visits was higher among intervention (12 and 17 percentage points, respectively). 65% of the total ED cost is preventable in the pre-intervention period. That dropped by 17 and 7% in intervention period among the intervention and control groups. The intervention estimated cost savings were $120K. Intervention group had significant improvement in self-reported general health, regular exercise, understanding of health benefits and chronic disease.

  Conclusions: hospital, academic, and CHW partnership reduces ED utilization and cost and improves health.

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  Shedding Psychological Light on the Racial Disparities in School Disciplinary Measures: The Role of Dehumanization as a Potential Mechanism

  Ebony Lambert and Nao Hagiwara

  Schools should be safe and supportive spaces for all students, yet Black students tend to face biased treatment in the education system, which often results in harsh disciplinary measures. This research examined the role of animalistic dehumanization (i.e., perceiving others as animal- like and uncultured and denying uniquely human characteristics), in predicting choice of harsher disciplinary measures for Black students as opposed to White students. It was hypothesized that individuals who dehumanize Black students to a greater degree would be more likely to believe that Black students need to be disciplined through harsher measures. Both Study 1 (in which dehumanization was assessed) and Study 2 (in which dehumanization was experimentally manipulated) failed to provide evidence supporting the role of dehumanization in differential choices of school disciplinary measures for Black vs. White students. However, both studies provided evidence suggesting that dehumanization of, and negative attitudes toward, Black Americans are still prevalent and related in American society, and that animal learning perceptions and paradigms influence participant perceptions of threat from students and disciplinary decisions. These findings indicate a need for continued investigation of racial stereotypes about students when assessing racial disparities in school discipline.

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  Six Weeks of Resveratrol Improves Cardiovascular Health in Patients with COPD

  Rebekah Lavender, Kolton Cobb, Kendall Goldman, and Paula Rodriguez-Miguelez PhD

  BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the third leading cause of death worldwide. One-third of people diagnosed with COPD die of cardiovascular (CV) complications as opposed to pulmonary. Despite these odds, there are no therapies that mitigate this important health issue. Resveratrol, a naturally occurring antioxidant, improves CV health in other populations. However, there is currently no literature on resveratrol in patients with COPD. The purpose of this pilot study was to test if six weeks of resveratrol supplementation could improve CV health in patients with COPD. METHODS: A randomized, double-blind, pilot trial was completed in 8 patients with COPD. Participants were given either resveratrol (n=5; 500 mg) or placebo (n=3) for six weeks. CV health was measured before and after treatment through arterial stiffness and 6-Minute Walk Test (6MWT). RESULTS: Six weeks of resveratrol improved arterial stiffness in patients with COPD through reductions in augmentation index and pulse pressure amplification. Improvements in total 6MWT distance were also observed after six weeks of resveratrol. No changes after placebo were observed in any of the measurements. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that six weeks of resveratrol improves markers of CV health in patients with COPD. Future studies are warranted to expand this pilot study and understand the potential role of resveratrol in COPD CV health.

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  Family Perception, Levels of US Acculturation and School Contextual Effects on Achievement of Second-Generation Immigrants: Multi-Level Modeling

  Beatrice Lele

  Background: Students’ academic achievement is influenced by several factors from individual characteristics to contextual factors. In addition to these factors, second-generation immigrant children are faced with acculturation effects that impact on their achievement. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the individual, family, and contextual effects on the academic achievement of second-generation immigrant children.

  Methods: This was a quantitative research where a two-level Hierarchical Linear Modeling (HLM) was used. The data used in the study comes from Children of Immigrants Longitudinal Study (CILS) which was done with 5,262 respondents. This data was collected through interviews and surveys. The relevant variables in the study were; GPA which was the dependent variable, and individual characteristics, perception of family, levels of acculturation (level one variables), school contextual effects (level two variables) were the independent variables.

  Results: Grade level, gender, length of stay in the U.S, Family Social Economic Status and levels of U.S acculturation; the individual characteristics all measured as level one predictors were positive and significant predictors of GPA. Contextual factors of the school population, minority population all measured as level two predictors were significant and negative predictors of GPA, while School Social Economic Status also a level two predictor was a positive and significant predictor of GPA.

  Conclusions: Family Socioeconomic Status, levels of U.S acculturation (children’s proficiency in English, children’s perception of family) and school Social Economic Status were strong and significant positive predictors of GPA.

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  L1-norm Regularized L1-norm Best-fit line problem

  Xiao Ling and Paul Brooks

  Background

  Conventional Principal Component Analysis (PCA) is a widely used technique to reduce data dimension. PCA finds linear combinations of the original features capturing maximal variance of data via Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). However, SVD is sensitive to outliers, and often leads to high dimensional results. To address the issues, we propose a new method to estimate best-fit one-dimensional subspace, called l1-norm Regularized l1-norm.

  Methods

  In this article, we describe a method to fit a lower-dimensional subspace by approximate a non-linear, non-convex, non-smooth optimization problem called l1 regularized l1-norm Best- Fit Line problem; minimize a combination of the l1 error and of the l1 regularization. The procedure can be simply performed using ratios and sorting. Also ,we present applications in the area of video surveillance, where our methodology allows for background subtraction with jitters, illumination changes, and clutters.

  Results

  We compared our performance with SVD on synthetic data. The numerical results showed our algorithm successfully found a better principal component from a grossly corrupted data than SVD in terms of discordance. Moreover, our algorithm provided a sparser principal component than SVD. However, we expect it to be faster on multi-node environment.

  Conclusions

  This paper proposes a new algorithm able to generate a sparse best-fit subspace robust to outliers. The projected subspaces sought on non-contaminated data, differ little from that of traditional PCA. When subspaces are projected from contaminated data, it attain arguably significant both smaller discordance and lower dimension than that of traditional PCA.

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  When whiteness is invisible to those who teach: Teacher training, critical professional development, and the intersection of equitable education opportunities

  Robyn Lyn

  Background

  Non-White teachers comprise 18% of the teaching force with faster burnout rates than White teachers. Teachers of Color (ToC) are exhausted. Institutionally, pre-service teacher education (TE) and inservice teacher professional development (PD) neglect the experiences and perspectives of non-White teachers. Critical Professional Development (CPD) “frames teachers as politically-aware individuals who have a stake in teaching and transforming society; dialogical; honors relationality/collectivity; strengthens racial literacy; recognizes critical consciousness & transformation as an ongoing process” (Mosely, 2018, p. 271).

  Q1: What type of critical TE and PD is needed to transform the racialized education system?

  Q2: What are the benefits of transformational critical TE and PD for educators? Methods I did a systemic literature review of TE and PD in peer-reviewed journal articles.

  Results

  The results of the literature review found several themes including a lack of any racial or structural analysis; recruitment of ToC happens simultaneously with the enabling and reifying of racist beliefs; there is no education for ToC helping them navigate the racist educational system and conversations; there is no safe space in schools or the academy, e.g., “White space is unsafe – all schools are white space”; ToC experience racial violence every day in schools.

  Conclusions

  White teachers and administrators should listen to and believe ToC; critically and reflectively question their assumptions and biases; become an accomplice, a co-conspirator, not just an ally; become more observant of the ways that race and racism are operating in schools and classrooms; and engage in tough conversations about inequity at work.

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  The Moderating Effect of Comfort from Companion Animals and Social Support on the Relationship between Microaggressions and Mental Health in LGBTQ+ Emerging Adults

  Angela Matijczak, Jennifer L. Murphy, Camie A. Tomlinson, Kelly O'Connor, and Shelby E. McDonald

  Introduction: Sexual and/or gender minority (SGM; e.g., lesbian, transgender, nonbinary, LGBTQ+) individuals are frequently exposed to various forms of minority stress that impact their mental health and wellbeing. Microaggressions, a form of minority stress, are defined as unconscious behaviors or statements directed at members of marginalized groups that reflect a hostile or discriminatory message. Microaggressions have been associated with several detrimental outcomes, such as depression and anxiety. Social support has been found to be an important protective factor for SGM emerging adults. Additionally, relationships with companion animals are an underexplored source of support that may be important for SGM individuals. This study aims to explore whether, and to what extent, social support from humans and comfort from companion animals moderates the relationship between SGM-related microaggressions and depressive and anxiety symptoms.

  Methods: We partnered with five community organizations to recruit our sample, which consisted of 134 SGM emerging adults between the ages of 18 and 21 (Mage = 19.31). Approximately 98.5% of our sample identified with a sexual minority identity, 49.5% identified with a gender minority identity, and 37.3% identified as a racial/ethnic minority. All participants had lived with a companion animal within the past year, with the majority of participants living with a dog and/or a cat. We conducted eight simple moderation analyses to explore whether, and to what extent, comfort from companion animals and human social support individually moderated the relationship between two forms of microaggressions (i.e., interpersonal, environmental) and anxiety and depressive symptoms. Further, we ran four additive moderation analyses to investigate whether comfort from companion animals and social support from humans moderated the relationship between each form of microaggressions and mental health symptoms, when the other moderator was held constant.

  Results: The results of our simple moderation analyses indicated that social support moderated the relationship between both forms of microaggressions and depressive symptoms (interpersonal: ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.74, ꞵ = -0.17, t(125) = -2.18, p = .03; environmental: ΔR2 = 0.02, F(1, 124) = 3.93, ꞵ = -0.19, t(124) = -1.98, p = .05). Our findings suggest that social support acted as a protective factor, because the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was not significant when participants reported high levels of social support. Comfort from companion animals also moderated the relationship between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms (ΔR2 = 0.03, F(1, 125) = 4.78, ꞵ = 0.18, t(125) = 2.19, p = .03). However, comfort from companion animals seemed to exacerbate the association between interpersonal microaggressions and depressive symptoms, as there was a positive and significant relationship between these two variables when participants reported medium or high levels of comfort from companion animals. The results of the additive moderation analyses found that the relationship between exposure to microaggressions and depressive symptoms was positive and significant when social support was low or medium and comfort from companion animals was high or medium. However, when social support was high, the relationship was no longer significant, regardless of the level of comfort from companion animals.

  Discussion: Our results suggest that social support from humans may be a key protective factor that buffers the relationship between microaggressions and depressive symptoms. Further, these findings also highlight the need to continue investigating the complex role of relationships with companion animals on mental health outcomes for SGM emerging adults. In particular, longitudinal studies are needed to clarify the direction of these relationships, as we are unable to make causal inferences with this cross-sectional study. The results from this study have important implications for future research in this area and practice with SGM populations.

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  Investigating The Role of AEG-1 in Mouse Models of Pain

  Bryan Mckiver, Wisam Toma, Deniz Bagdas, Devanand Sarkar, and M. Imad. Damaj

  Background: Astrocyte Elevated Gene 1 (AEG-1) is a multifunctional protein shown to be a regulator of transcription and multiple intracellular signaling pathways. The role of AEG-1 in cellular inflammation appears to be primarily facilitated by its direct interaction with the transcription factor NFκB, transcriptional regulator of inflammatory cytokines. May be have a potential role in models of pain, particularly chronic inflammatory and chemotherapy induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). Methods: C57BL6/J male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. AEG-1 wild type (WT) and global knockout (KO) male and female mice, 8-14 weeks old. Chronic Inflammatory Pain induced via i.pl. injection of 50% Freund's Complete Adjuvant (CFA) or vehicle into mouse right hind paw. CIPN induced via four 8 mg/kg, i.p. injections of Paclitaxel or vehicle (Toma, et. al). Mechanical hypersensitivity assessed via von frey filaments. Acetone Test was used to assess cold sensitivity. mRNA transcripts collected from tissues were measured via qRT-PCR. Results: AEG-1 KO mice displayed protection from CFA induced mechanical hypersensitivity, thermal sensitivity, and reduces paw edema compare to WT mice. AEG-1 KO mice displayed enhanced recovery from paclitaxel induced mechanical hypersensitivity and cold sensitivity compared to WT mice. AEG-1 expression levels in the periaqueductal grey, spinal cord, and L4-6 corresponding dorsal root ganglia collected from C57BL6/J mice treated with 8mg/Kg paclitaxel or 50% CFA (3 days post injection) showed no difference from control groups. Conclusions: Our data suggest that AEG-1 may be involved in inflammatory and CIPN related nociception in C57BL6/J mice.

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  “How am I supposed to feel?”: Social Support and Black Mothers’ Infant Feeding Decisions

  Hannah M. Ming and Cecilia Barbosa

  Background: Many of the adverse health outcomes that breastfeeding protects against disparately affect black mothers and children; however, black mothers are the least likely racial group in the U.S. to breastfeed. Black mothers have indicated that breastfeeding barriers include a lack of social support. Qualitative studies examining such breastfeeding barriers often focus on women who have unsuccessfully breastfed and fail to define the experiences of women who have successfully breastfed. This study aims to identify the impacts of social support on the infant feeding decisions of black women with varying levels of breastfeeding success.

  Methods: Twenty-five black women were interviewed in mini-focus groups and were recruited according to three categorizations of breastfeeding duration: formula-fed only, breastfed for ≤3 months, or breastfed for ≥4 months. Focus group questions addressed mothers’ perceptions, attitudes, intentions, experiences, and perceived barriers and facilitators regarding infant feeding practices. Group interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed, and then analyzed specific to social support using a grounded theory approach.

  Results: Mothers in all three breastfeeding categorizations reported experiences with tangible, emotional, and informational support from members across sectors of their social networks. Additionally, mothers reported dissonance between informational support received and their personal infant feeding intentions as well as a need for increased social support regardless of infant feeding method.

  Conclusions: This study provides an in-depth analysis of social support as a facilitator and barrier to infant feeding decisions for black mothers. Given the findings, it is suspected that experiences with social support are integral to women’s infant feeding decisions.

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  Molecular Predictors of Anakinra Treatment Success in Heart Failure Patients with Reduced Ejection Fraction

  Joshua Morriss, Daniel Contaifer Jr, Leo F. Buckley, George Wohlford, Monther Alsultan, Suad Alshammari, Asanga D. Ranasinghe, Salvatore Carbone, Justin M. Canada, Cory Trankle, Elvin T. Price, Antonio Abbate, Benjamin W. Van Tassell, and Dayanjan S. Wijesinghe

  Background. Kineret (Anakinra) is an interleukin-1 antagonist that is under investigation for its novel clinical application treating patients that have heart failure with reduced (<50%) ejection fraction (HFrEF). A prior study from our group indicated that Anakinra may restore heart function by addressing dysregulations in HFrEF metabolic pathways. Herein, we attempt to elicit Anakinra’s effects on both metabolome and lipidome.

  Methods. Lipids and metabolites that had previously been quantified by mass spectrometry (MS) from patients (n=49) who had ≥2 mg/L of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) were mTIC normalized and transformed. We conducted a stepwise Linear Discriminant Analysis (r- LDA) to test Anakinra (2 and 12 weeks) vs placebo for separation from combined baseline. Metabolic pathway analysis was performed with Fisher’s exact test algorithm for detection of over-represented and enriched analytes. Univariate analysis (one tailed t-test p<0.05) compared placebo and Anakinra after 12-weeks for effect(s). Metaboanalyst 4.0, JMP Pro 14.0, and a proprietary package in R (version 3.4.4) were the software for all analyses and data wrangling.

  Results. Analytes such as acylcarnitines C10:0 and C16:0 and hsCRP showed significant improvements after 12 weeks of Anakinra, leading to improved mitochondrial function, reduced inflammation, and overall better health outcomes. Statistically significant (p<0.05) pathways including the citrate cycle, cysteine and methionine metabolism, galactose metabolism among others were associated with treatment.

  Conclusions. We were able to determine significant alterations to metabolomic and lipidomic concentrations after 12 weeks of Anakinra therapy. Our biochemical analyses verifies that Anakinra did improve heart function within our HFrEF pilot cohort.

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  Offering the Choice of Self-Administered Oral HIV Testing (CHIVST) among Long-distance Truck Drivers in Kenya: A Trial-based Cost-effectiveness Analysis

  Deo Mujwara and April D. Kimmel

  Background: Long distance truck drivers (LDTD) are a high-HIV-risk population facing unique healthcare barriers due to continuous travel and irregular schedules, and may require targeted, resource-intensive strategies for HIV-test uptake. We conducted a trial-based cost-effectiveness of CHIVST among LDTD in Kenya.

  Methods: Effectiveness data came from a randomized-controlled trial of CHIVST (n=150) versus provider-administered testing (n=155). Economic cost data came from the literature and reflected a societal perspective. Generalized Poisson and linear-gamma regression models estimated the effectiveness (relative-risk) and incremental costs (2017 I$), respectively, with incremental effectiveness calculated as the reciprocal of the absolute risk difference and reported as the number needing to receive CHIVST for an additional HIV-test uptake. We reported incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs), with 95%CIs calculated using Fieller’s theorem. Deterministic sensitivity analysis identified key cost drivers and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves assessed uncertainty in the ICER. We determined cost-effectiveness according to a willingness-to-pay threshold of 3xGDP per-capita of Kenya (I$9,774).

  Results: HIV-test uptake was 23% more likely for CHIVST versus provider-administered HIVtesting, with six individuals needing to be offered CHIVST for an additional HIV-test uptake (6.25, 95%CI 5.00-8.33). The mean cost per patient was more than double for CHIVST (I$26.56 vs I$10.47). The incremental cost-effectiveness of CHIVST was I$97.21 [95%CI 65.74-120.98] per additional HIV-test uptake compared to provider-administered HIV-testing. Self-test kits and Page | 59 patient time were the main cost drivers of the ICER. The probability of CHIVST being costeffective approached one at a willingness-to-pay threshold of I$140.

  Conclusion: CHIVST is an efficient use of resources compared to provider-administered testing.

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  Gene-by-Intervention Effects on Alcohol Dependence Symptoms in Emerging Adulthood

  Zoe E. Neale, Sally I. Kuo, Fazil Aliev, Peter B. Barr, Jinni Su, Kit K. Elam, Thao Ha, Kathryn Lemery-Chalfant, and Danielle M. Dick

  The Importance of Peer Influence for LGBTQ+ Youth in Rural Communities

  Aaron Kemmerer

  supported by findings from Safe as Yourself (SAY) Project

  Traci Wike (PI), Leah Bouchard, Maurico Yabar, and Aaron Kemmerer

  Objectives: To explore the experiences and narratives of LGBTQ+ youth in rural North Carolina. To elaborate on the influence of peer support and impact of peer victimization for LGBTQ+ youth in rural North Carolina.

  Methods: Data was collected from eleven young people who were interviewed from 2019-2020 at an LGBTQ+ youth center in rural North Carolina. The interviews were coded and analyzed using narrative analysis on a team of interraters; the team consisted of four members from VCU School of Social Work: the principle investigator, two doctoral research assistants, and an MSW research assistant.

  Results: Analysis of the interviews, though still in process, so far highlights the impact of the dual impact of participants’ peers --- simultaneously pointing to LGBTQ+ youth experiences with both peer victimization (as a risk factor) and peer support (as a resilience factor).

  Conclusions: Peer support is vital for LGBTQ+ youth in rural communities and may help offset the negative impact of peer victimization.

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  Is Helping Really Helping? Health-Related Quality of Life after TBI Predicting Caregiver Depression Longitudinally in Latin America

  Chimdindu Ohayagha, Paul B. Perrin, Mickeal Pugh Jr., Yaneth Rodriguez, Silvia Olivera, Maria Cristina Quijano, and Juan Carlos Arango-Lasprilla

  Objective: Studies have shown that functional and psychosocial sequelae of traumatic brain injury (TBI) predict emotional well-being of caregivers (Harris, 2000). Previous research examining the mental health of caregivers and the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of people with TBI have primarily been in the US (Sander, 2012). Very little research has been conducted to uncover the unique relationships between HRQoL of people with TBI and caregiver mental health longitudinally, or in low-middle income Latin American countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate how HRQoL after TBI predict caregiver depression longitudinally in two countries and three data collection sites in Latin America.

  Design: Multi-site, multinational longitudinal study.

  Setting: Three hospitals in Neiva and Cali, Colombia, and Mexico City, Mexico (before hospital discharge), as well as in the homes of individuals with TBI and caregivers in these regions (before discharge, at 2 and 4 months after discharge).

  Participants: A sample of 109 TBI caregiver-patient dyads (n = 218) was included in the study.

  Main Outcome Measure(s): Caregiver depression (Patient Health Questionnaire-9) and HRQoL in the person with TBI (Short Form-36).

  Results: Three multiple regressions were conducted to examine which aspects of patient HRQoL at baseline predicted caregiver depression at baseline, 2 months, and 4 months post-discharge. Eight aspects of patient HRQoL were simultaneously entered into each model as predictors: physical functioning, role limitations (physical and emotional), vitality, mental health, social functioning, pain, and general health. At baseline, the overall model significantly predicted caregiver depression, F(8, 105) = 2.62, p = .012, R 2 = .18. Patient mental health was the only significant unique predictor of caregiver depression at baseline, p = .021, β = -.34. The overall model predicting 2-month caregiver depression was significant, F(8, 101) = 3.21, p = .003, R 2 = .22. Only mental health, p = .016, β = -.36, was a significant unique predictor. The overall model predicting 4-month caregiver depression was significant, F(8, 98) = 2.70, p = .010, R 2 = .19, and no factors uniquely predicted caregiver depression, all ps>.05.

  Conclusions: Results suggest that TBI patient HRQoL can predict caregiver depression among Latin American caregivers before and during the first 4 months after hospital discharge. Across all three time points (baseline, 2 months, and 4 months), caregiver depression was significantly predicted by patient HRQoL. At baseline, patient mental health was the only domain that uniquely predicted caregiver depression. At 2 months, only physical role limitations uniquely predicted caregiver depression, and no unique predictors were detected at 4 months. These findings suggest that within the cultural framework in Latin America, there is a strong relationship between functional and psychological impairments after TBI and depression outcomes in Latin American caregivers. The results highlight the importance of uncovering these relational distinctions and may infer early detection of mental health needs and psychological intervention considerations for Latin American caregivers.

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  Community Input on an Enhanced Care Planning Tool Addressing Health Behaviors, Mental Health Needs, and Social Risks

  Kristen O'Loughlin, Hannah Shadowen, Paulette Lail Kashiri, and Alex Krist

  Background: Many patients with multiple chronic conditions (MCC) have social risks, mental health needs, and/or unhealthy behaviors. These interfere with their ability to manage their MCC. A care planning tool was created to help address these needs; this study solicited feedback from stakeholder groups and incorporated it into improving the tool.

  Methods: Instrument: The Enhanced Care Planning (ECP) tool screens patients for social risks, mental health needs, and unhealthy behaviors. They are shown where their responses revealed risk, then select 1-2 to improve upon. Next, patients set personal goals and select strategies to support them. Patients are supported by the clinical care team and a community health worker to connect them to community resources. Procedures: Four stakeholder groups provided feedback on the ECP tool: community members, community service professionals (CSPs), researchers, and patients. A community review board of community members reviewed the ECP process. Researchers and CSPs then reviewed ECP content. Feedback was incorporated into revisions of the ECP content and process, then patients provided final feedback.

  Results: All stakeholder groups provided unique feedback. Community members desired visuals, the ability to individualize and receive support throughout the process. Researchers and CSPs recommended removing jargon. While researchers were interested in specific evidence-based strategies, CSPs suggested strategies with anecdotal support. Patients expressed positive overall impressions of the tool, interest in using it, and increased awareness of domains that influence their health.

  Conclusion: Feedback from all groups significantly altered the ECP tool’s design, and is likely to improve its usability and impact.