Graduate Research Posters

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  Vascular Dysfunction and Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Examining the Role of Oxidative Stress and Sympathetic Activity

  Jennifer Weggen, Aaron Autler, Gina Tuzzolo, Austin C. Hogwood, Ashley M. Darling, Kevin P. Decker, and Ryan S. Garten

  Purpose: The physiological manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of negative lifestyle factors. The goal of the study was to better elucidate the mechanisms behind the increased CVD risk by examining peripheral vascular function, a precursor to CVD. Moreover, this study sought to determine the role of oxidative stress and sympathetic nervous system (SNS) activity in PTSD-induced vascular dysfunction.

  Methods: Sixteen individuals with PTSD (10 women, 6 men; age 24 ± 4 years), and twenty-four healthy controls (CTRL; 15 women, 9 men, 24 ± 4 years), participated in the study. The PTSD group participated in two visits, consuming either a placebo or antioxidant cocktail (AO - vitamins C and E and alpha lipoic acid) prior to their visits, in a randomized order. Arm vascular function was assessed via the reactive hyperemia- induced flow mediated dilation of the brachial artery (BAFMD) technique and evaluated with Doppler ultrasonography. Brachial artery and arm microvascular function were determined by percent change of diameter from baseline normalized for BA shear rate (BAD/Shear), and blood flow area under the curve (BF AUC), respectively. Heart rate variability (HRV) was used to assess autonomic nervous system activity.

  Results: BF AUC was significantly lower (p = 0.02) and SNS activity was significantly higher (p = 0.02) in the PTSD group when compared to the CTRL group. BAD/Shear was not different between groups. Following the acute AO supplementation, BF AUC was augmented to which it was no longer significantly different (p = 0.16) when compared to the CTRL group. SNS activity within the PTSD group was significantly reduced (p=.007) following the AO supplementation when compared to the PL condition, and the difference between PTSD and CTRL was no longer significant (p=.41).

  Conclusion: Young individuals with PTSD demonstrated lower arm microvascular, but not brachial artery, function as well as higher sympathetic activity when compared to healthy controls matched for age, sex, and physical activity level. Furthermore, this microvascular dysfunction and SNS activity was attenuated by an acute AO supplementation to the level of the healthy controls. Taken together, this study revealed that the modulation of oxidative stress, via an acute AO supplementation, improved vascular dysfunction in individuals with PTSD, potentially by reducing the substantial SNS activity associated with this disorder.

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  SPATIO-TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF WARM DENSE PLASMAS: MOLECULAR DYNAMICS MODELING

  Harrison Wenzel and Gennady Miloshevsky

  SPATIO-TEMPORAL EVOLUTION OF WARM DENSE PLASMAS: MOLECULAR

  DYNAMICS MODELING Cole Wenzel and Gennady Miloshevsky

  Virginia Commonwealth University, Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, 401

  West Main St, Richmond, VA 23284-3015

  The exo-atmospheric detonation of nuclear device would be of great impact on the material integrity of orbiting satellites. The spectral energy distribution of high intensity X-ray flux, ~10 28 -10 35 photons/(cm 2 ∙s), originating from a nuclear blast is described by the Planck's blackbody function with the temperature from 0.1 keV to 10 keV. Particular damage would occur to the multi-layered, solar cell panels of satellites. However, the X-ray flux incident upon the solar panels is inversely proportional to the square of the distance from a point where a weapon was detonated. For example, the X-ray flux is reduced by a factor of 10 -10 at the distance of 100 km. Even accounting for this geometric factor, the enormous power density, ~0.1 - 10 4 GW/cm 3 , absorbed within a few microns of a Ge slab of solar cells produces the extreme pressures and temperatures. The X-ray induced blow-off and Warm Dense Plasma (WDP) formation on the surface of materials, particularly in a gap between the unshielded Ge elements is initiated. In this work, the profiles of deposited energy and power density produced by cold X- rays (~ 1 keV) in the multi-layered materials are calculated using the Monte Carlo method within the Geant4 software toolkit. The power density is used as an input for the Molecular Dynamics (MD) modeling of WDP formation and expansion into vacuum. The MD computational model is implemented within the LAMMPS software toolkit. The spatio-temporal evolution of WDP as well as its temperature, stress, and mass density distribution are investigated for different X-ray irradiation conditions. Presenting author: Cole Wenzel This work is supported by Defense Threat Reduction Agency, Grant No. DTRA1‐19‐1‐0019.

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  Understanding Alzheimer’s Disease Knowledge in Low-Income, Richmond, VA Community Dwelling Older Adults

  Taylor Wilkerson, Ann Rhodes, Jennifer Inker, Joann Richardson, and Faika Zanjani

  Background: Different populations of individuals demonstrate varying levels of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) knowledge, as well as commonly held misconceptions about the nature of the disease and its risk factors. Older adults often demonstrate lower scores on Alzheimer’s disease knowledge scales and African American adults are often specifically not aware of their higher Alzheimer’s risk status compared to other racial groups. In addition, African American older adults are more likely to receive the fewest AD interventions. Methods: We measured the Alzheimer’s knowledge of twenty community-dwelling elders at two separate time points (baseline and 6 month follow-up) as part of a larger study on AD health coaching. Participants (n=20) were recruited from low-income communities within the Richmond, Virginia (RVA) area; the sample was 85% African American individuals (n=17), 45% female (n=9) and 55% male (n=11). Participants completed demographic measures, true/false AD knowledge measures, a relational ageism scale, and questions about their health and habits. Results: Similar to previous research, this population of older adults held common misconceptions about AD, including the ideas that mental exercise can prevent Alzheimer’s disease (20% answered correctly) and individuals with Alzheimer’s are incapable of making decisions about their care (30% answered correctly). In this sample, the majority of African American older adults were aware of the fact that they make up the population at the highest risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease (80% answered correctly). Analyses also found no significant relationship between AD knowledge and health outcomes, alcohol consumption, or education. Conclusion: AD knowledge needs to be better addressed in low-income, racially diverse older adults.

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  Clinical reconciliation of patient social context and implementation of preventive care guidelines

  April Williams

  Background

  Preventive care practice guidelines are disseminated regularly through federal and scientific groups as a way of promoting best practices and evidence-based health promotion. Yet rates of their implementation are historically low and complex, with cited barriers including limits on physicians’ time, knowledge or attitudes; and external factors related to the guideline itself, the clinical environment, or patient factors. The objective of this qualitative research is to understand how primary care clinicians and staff reconcile perceived patient-level factors and implementation of preventive care guidelines.

  Methods

  Key informant interviews (n=23) with 14 clinicians and 9 office managers from 14 primary care clinics were analyzed using a grounded theory approach. Codes were categorized, then reviewed using conventional content analysis to determine thematic content.

  Results

  The importance of using communication tools; convenience for access to preventive services; and weighing the evidence when deciding how to proceed with preventive care emerged as themes related to understanding how providers reconcile between patient factors and implementation of preventive care guidelines.

  Conclusions

  The interviews used in this study provide some rich context to address the research objective: how providers reconcile between what they perceive to be patient factors and how they go about providing preventive care according to guidelines. The hope for this study is to identify key themes to instigate future exploratory research and provide evidence to target improvements in patient care.

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  Prevalence of Mental Health Disorder Symptoms and Rates of Help-seeking Among University-Enrolled, Black Men

  Kofoworola D. A. Williams, Amy Adkins, Sally I-Chun Kuo, Jessica G. LaRose, Shawn O. Utsey, Jeanine P. D. Guidry, Danielle Dick, Spit for Science Working Group, and Kellie E. Carlyle

  Background. Black men in college represent a subgroup of emerging adults who are at increased risk of developing mental health disorders (MHDs), such as anxiety and depression. Such risk has been attributed to disproportionate experiences with everyday racial discrimination and high levels of psychological distress. Despite being at higher risk, university-enrolled, Black men are not utilizing mental health or health resources at optimal rates. The current evidence base describing prevalence of MHDs and health services utilization among Black men in college is limited. The present study addresses this by examining mental health prevalence among university-enrolled, Black men and their rates of health services utilization.

  Methods. We analyzed data (N ~ 2500) from a student survey, Spit for Science, a longitudinal, ongoing, research study at a mid-Atlantic, public university. Participants are given surveys in their freshman year and follow-up surveys every spring thereafter. Measures included: mental health disorders (depression and anxiety, as measured by the Symptom Checklist 90) and campus health service utilization (counseling center, health services, wellness center, and recreational sports). We conducted descriptive analyses to determine MHD symptom prevalence and utilization rates; Mann Whitney U tests to compare prevalence rates to White men and Black women; and, Chi-squared tests to compare rates of utilization among groups.

  Results. During their Freshman year, greater than 60% of students from each ethnic group reported at least one anxiety symptom and greater than 80% reported at least one depressive symptom. By senior year, reporting rates decreased significantly for Black men (49.6%) but remained high for White men (69.1%) and Black women (63%); p <0.000. For depression, results were similar; however, only significant differences between Black men (72.7%) and Black women (87.1%); p<0.000. Black men (20.4%), though reporting high levels of symptoms, still utilized counseling services at lower rates compared to White men (37.76%); p = 0.024.

  Conclusion. Findings suggest that Black men underutilize available campus health resources despite reporting one or more symptoms associated with anxiety and depression. Further research and prevention efforts are needed to improve help-seeking among this vulnerable population.

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  For I Know the Plans I Have for You: God Locus of Control, Spiritual Change, and Death Anxiety in Primary Brain Tumor Patients

  Kelci D. Willis, Julia Brechbiel, Rachel Boutte, Laurel Kovalchick, Kyra Parker, Audrey Ann Louis Villanueva, and Ashlee R. Loughan

  Background/Purpose. Primary brain tumor (PBT) patients risk experiencing death anxiety given the high mortality rate of their diagnosis. In line with Terror Management Theory (TMT), many diagnosed with cancer utilize religion as a method of coping with the disease. However, previous literature on the relation between death anxiety and religion in cancer patients indicates mixed findings of either a negative relationship or no association. To the authors’ knowledge, no study has analyzed these two constructs together in PBT patients. The current study sought to address this gap by investigating the relationship between religiosity and death anxiety in an understudied population.

  Methods. Adult PBT patients (N = 56, Mage = 49.38, 51.8% female, 71.4% Caucasian, Mmonths since diagnosis = 55.34) completed measures of religiosity and death anxiety at their routine medical appointment at an academic medical center, including: The God Locus of Health Control Scale (GLHCS), Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (PTGI), Death and Dying Distress Scale (DADDS), and the Death Distress Scale (DDS). Descriptives and Pearson correlations were utilized.

  Results. The results revealed that while the GLHCS was not significantly related to either measure of death anxiety, the Spiritual Change subscale of the PTGI was positively correlated to both the DADDS (r = .56, p < .001) and the DDS (r = .41, p = .01).

  Conclusions and Implications. Results suggest that certain proxies of religiosity may be more closely associated with death anxiety than others. Although there was no evidence in our sample that PBT patient’s God locus of control was related to death anxiety, those who reported higher levels of death anxiety endorsed greater spiritual change (i.e., I have a stronger religious faith). Considering TMT, perhaps feelings of death anxiety prompt one to strengthen their religious beliefs. Future longitudinal analyses addressing the direction and course of these relationships are warranted.

  Acknowledgement of Funding:

  The current study was funded on behalf of Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine.

  Learning Objective.

  Participants will learn about the relationship between religiosity and death anxiety in oncology patients. Further, participants will consider how these findings may or may not differ for PBT patients and across various measures of religiosity.

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  Let’s Talk: A Study of the Impact of Gendered Racial Socialization on African American Adolescent Girls’ Mental Health

  Lesley Winchester; Keyona Allen; Shawn C. T. Jones, Ph.D; and Elan Hope, Ph.D

  Internalized racial oppression in African American girls is understudied within research. As people of color are victimized by racism, they may internalize it, developing ideas, beliefs, actions and behaviors that support or collude with racism (Bivens, 1995). This internalized racism has its own systemic reality and its own negative consequences in the lives and communities of people of color. Understanding the way negative racial messages influence the mental health of African American adolescent girls allows for the development of intervention and prevention methods to reduce symptomology of depression, anxiety, and stress. In order for African American girls and young women to develop a healthy sense of self, families must prepare them to cope with the realities of experiencing intersecting oppression (i.e., racism and sexism; Edmondson Bell & Nkomo 1998; Lewis et al. 2013). This may occur through an African American-specific process of gendered racial socialization (Brown et al. 2016). While some research has examined the relationship between racial discrimination and race related stress outcomes (Buford, 2009) or internalized racial oppression on ethnic identity and self-efficacy (La Mar, 2018), there are no current studies that have looked at the impact of internalized gendered racial oppression (IGRO) on negative affect of African American adolescent girls or possible ways to moderate this impact. This study identifies a relationship between IGRO and depression, anxiety and stress symptoms while isolating messages of gendered racial pride and empowerment (GRPE) that reduce these symptoms in Black adolescent girls. To test the hypothesis, GRPE socialization moderates the relationship between IGRO socialization and indicators of psychological wellbeing (i.e., depressive, anxiety, and stress symptoms) this study analyzed the responses of 287 Black adolescent girls (MAge = 15.40) who completed questionnaires assessing the study variables of interest as part of a larger parent-teen dyadic study. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses were conducted. Models of the main effects of IGRO and GRPE on depression (R 2 = .04), anxiety (R 2 = .04), and stress (R 2 = .04) were significant (all ps < .001), suggesting these variables accounted for significant variance in the mental health symptoms. For depression, increases in both IGRO (b=.83, p < .001) and GRPE (b=.20, p < .05) were associated with increases in reported depression symptoms. However, examination of the interaction (b=-.16, p < .01) via simple slopes suggested that the Black girls reported higher levels of GRPE, the negative impact of IGRO on depressive symptoms was attenuated. Indeed, at the highest levels of GRPE, the effect of IGRO on depressive symptoms was reduced to non-significance. Similar patterns emerged for teen anxiety and stress, with increased IGRO associated with increasing symptom endorsement and increasing GRPE attenuating this effect. These findings suggest that it is particularly important for African-American youth to receive messages conveying pride and empowerment on being a black girl to aid in reducing the mental health symptoms associated with IGRO. By identifying key messages of gendered racial socialization, this study has the potential to educate parents and teachers on the impact of their messages on children’s mental health. Implications and future directions regarding gendered racial socialization of Black teenaged girls are discussed.

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  Empirical Relationships among Trauma Exposure, Anxiety Sensitivity, and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

  Sandra Yankah, Michael Southam-Gerow, Samantha Dehart, and Payton Beam

  This review synthesized and critically reviewed empirical studies that assessed relationships among trauma exposure, anxiety sensitivity (AS), and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Across the literature, the prominent theory conceptualized anxiety sensitivity as a causal risk factor within two competing models. One model posited that individuals with dispositionally high AS prior to experiencing a potentially traumatizing event (PTE) have a greater likelihood of developing PTSD after trauma exposure. The second model theorized that the introduction of a PTE raises an individual’s baseline level of AS, leading to the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Emerging research highlighted the possibility of reciprocal relationships, as well as moderating and mediating variables (e.g., age, gender) that cause differential relationships among the variables of interest. The majority of studies to date used a cross-sectional study design, and primarily relied on a descriptive approach that solely highlighted correlations between AS and PTSD. Consequently, the current state of the literature is still unable to authoritatively discern whether AS causes PTSD, PTSD increases AS, or if the two variables have a bidirectional relationship. Accordingly, extant evidence has only demonstrated that AS is a variable risk factor for the development and maintenance of PTSD symptoms. Current limitations within the literature, clinical implications, and suggestions for future research are discussed.

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  JxB FORCE EFFECTS ON BERYLLIUM MELT SPLASHING IN FUSION DEVICES

  Cheng Zhang and Gennady Miloshevsky

  Instability and disruption of high-temperature plasma in fusion devices may result in the edge-localized modes (ELMs) and lead to melting of plasma facing components (PFCs) causing their damage. Beryllium (Be) is used as a first wall for PFCs due to its low density, high strength, and high thermal conductivity. However, melting of Be on the surface of first wall is of a great concern as splashing of a molten Be layer will result in the plasma contamination and termination of fusion reaction. Therefore, it is important to understand the physics mechanisms characterizing the splashing of Be from a pool under the plasma impact in a strong magnetic field as that in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER). The computational model that combines the volume of fluid (VoF) and magneto-hydrodynamic (MHD) models is used to simulate the effects of thermal, viscous, gravitational and surface tension forces on the molten Be layer. The additional source terms representing the external and thermo-emission currents are also implemented. These currents are taken into consideration as they contribute to the electromagnetic JxB force and may result in faster melt motion, redistribution, and splashing. In this work, the effects of JxB forces on splashing of molten Be, development and growth of waves, and ejection of molten droplets are examined. The stimulation results show the motion of molten Be layer and development waves at the vapor-melt interface. Results may complement the experiments at Joint European Torus (JET) and studies of PFCs melt layer phenomenon for ITER program.

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  Deafness: Disability or Culture? Best Practices Regarding Controversial Interventions for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Students

  Jacob Ziemba

  Background: Many people in the deaf community view deafness as a distinct culture, with its own unique language and history. They reject the use of assistive technologies which can restore hearing for themselves and their children. However, some members of the medical and legal communities consider it unethical to deprive a child of these interventions. Learn more about this emerging conflict, as well as best practices for working with deaf and hard of hearing students in a school environment.

  Methods: Peer-reviewed journals and popular publications were consulted to gather information about attitudes towards interventions such as the cochlear implant from members of the deaf community, as well the legal and medical communities. Education journals were consulted to gather information about best practices when working with deaf and hard of hearing students.

  Results: There are strong opinions on both sides of this issue, with various arguments being made both for and against the use of interventions like the cochlear implant. From the perspective of K-12 educators and school counselors, making sure that students feel safe and supported at school.

  Conclusions: It is not necessary for K-12 educators and school counselors to have opinions on specific assistive technologies. It is important for them to be aware of best practices for working with deaf and hard of hearing students, and to support and respect the decisions of deaf families with regards to their culture.

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  Characterization of Protein Involved in Hemolysis Expressed by Sneathia amnii, a Pathogen of the Female Urogenital Tract

  Gabriella Gentile, Lizette Carrasco, Amy Stanford, and Kimberly Jefferson

  Sneathia amnii is a poorly characterized gram-negative anaerobe that commonly colonizes the vagina. It has been linked to many obstetric disorders, including preterm labor, preeclampsia, and chorioamnionitis. S. amnii lyses human red blood cells, and we aimed to identify the hemolysin. We identified two genes that appear to encode transporter and effector components of a two-partner secretion system. The putative effector, which we refer to as SaFHA, contains a domain with amino acid similarity to the filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA) of Bordetella pertussis and its predicted structure suggests it may form a transmembrane channel or pore. Thus, we hypothesized that SaFHA would be secreted by S. amnii and that it would play a role in hemoglobbin release. To test this, a portion of the gene encoding the SaFHA protein in S. amnii was expressed in E. coli and used as an immunogen in rabbits. Western analysis using anti-SaFHA revealed that the protein is secreted and localizes to the bacterial surface. Pre-treatment of S. amnii with anti-SaFHA blocked the hemolytic activity whereas antiserum against an irrelevant protein had no effect. We partially purified SaFHA from S. amnii using cation exchange chromatography and the partially purified protein mediated hemoglobin release from human RBC, supporting our hypothesis. Further characterization of SaFHA will help provide more insight on the virulence of S. amnii, and perhaps shed light on the etiology of Sneathia-associated vaginal conditions, as well as future treatment options.

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  The Association Between Discrimination and Sleep is Exacerbated in Individuals with Comorbid Chronic Health Conditions

  Sarah M. Ghose, Natalie D. Dautovich, Joseph M. Dzierzewski, Sahar M. Sabet, Janna L. Imel, Dana R. Schreiber, Ashley R. MacPherson, and Morgan P. Reid

  Introduction: The consequences of recurrent, stressful daily experiences for sleep health appear intensified in individuals with pre-existing health conditions. Although discrimination has been associated with sleep outcomes, the role of comorbid chronic health conditions (CCHCs), and impact of perceived discrimination, remains unclear. The present study investigated (1) the associations between daily discrimination and sleep and (2) moderating roles of CCHCs and daily life interference and hardship.

  Methods: The current study utilized archival data from the Midlife in the United States (MIDUS) Study II. Participants, 174 adults (51% female, M_age=57 yrs., SD=11.5 yrs.), completed 7 days of actigraphy, sleep diary, PSQI, and CCHC-reporting measures. Models examined the moderating effects of CCHCs, daily interference, and hardship on the association between discrimination and sleep.

  Results: Daily discriminatory experiences predicted numerous poor sleep outcomes, exacerbated for persons with higher CCHCs. Higher comorbidity (95% CI=5.40, 68.75) exacerbated the association between discrimination and TST_actigraphy, further strengthened by perceived hardship (95% CI=-3.75, -.40) and interference (95% CI=-3.65, -.30). Number of CCHCs, qualified by perceived hardship (95% CI=.00, .04) and interference (95% CI=.01, .05), predicted diary sleep quality above discrimination. The interaction between CCHCs and hardship predicted global PSQI scores (95% CI=-.91, -.12) beyond discrimination.

  Conclusion: Daily experiences of discrimination are associated with decreased sleep duration and quality. These associations were stronger for individuals with multiple CCHCs. Exacerbating CCHC effects were perpetuated by perceived interference and hardships, suggesting individual emotion regulation (ER) differences. Future research should attend to sleep-related consequences of differential discrimination-informed ER by persons with CCHCs.

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  An Exploration of Racial/Ethnic Differences in the Association between Perfectionism and Disordered Eating in College Students

  Neha J. Goel, C Blair Burnette, and Suzanne E. Mazzeo

  Perfectionism is a robust risk factor for eating disorders (EDs). Although individually-oriented dimensions of perfectionism are strongly related to eating pathology, less is known about the contribution of parent-oriented dimensions, specifically parental expectations (PE) and parental criticisms (PC). Further, few studies have investigated these effects within racially/ethnically diverse samples. However, PE and PC might be particularly relevant to eating pathology among certain cultural groups, such as those from collectivistic and interdependent societies. This study examined associations among PE, PC, and ED symptoms across racial/ethnic groups. Undergraduates (N=706; 74.8% Female; 48% White, 19.8% Black, 7.1% Latinx, 16% Asian, 9.1% multiracial) completed online surveys assessing perfectionism and ED symptoms. Multiple and logistic regressions examined the association between parent-oriented perfectionism, global eating pathology, loss-of-control (LOC) eating, purging behaviors, and ED risk status (EDE-Q global < 4.0). Analyses were conducted by racial/ethnic group, controlling for gender. Both PE and PC were related to greater ED pathology in students identifying as White (pp=.03), Asian (p=.02), and multiracial (pp=.19). Higher PC was related to a greater likelihood of endorsing LOC eating in White (p=.004) and Black students (p=.05) and purging behaviors in White (p=.004), Asian (p=.04), and multiracial students (p=.03). Greater PC was also associated with ED risk in Asian (p=.03) and multiracial participants (p=.01). Findings indicate that the relations between specific aspects of parent-oriented perfectionism differ among cultural groups and are associated with ED symptoms in college students. PC seemed more relevant to ED pathology than did PE overall. Findings suggest that parent-oriented perfectionism, particularly PC, might be important to include in clinical assessment and treatment with students at-risk of EDs.

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  Evaluation of a new trauma-related drinking to cope measure: Latent structure and heritability

  Sage E. Hawn, Steven H. Aggen, Danielle Dick, and Ananda B. Amstadter PhD

  Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and alcohol use disorder (AUD) commonly co-occur, share latent genetic risk, and are associated with many negative public health outcomes. Via a self-medication framework, trauma-related drinking to cope (TRD), an unexplored phenotype to date, may help explain why these two disorders co-occur, thus serving as an essential target for treatment and prevention efforts. This study sought to create a novel measure of TRD and to investigate its indirect influences on the association between PTSD and AUD, as well as its potential shared molecular genetic risk with PTSD in a genetically-informative study of college students. A sample of 1,896 undergraduate students with a history of trauma and alcohol use provided genotypic data and completed an online assessment battery. The psychometric properties of TRD and how it relates to relevant constructs were examined using descriptive statistics and structural equation modeling. Results of a correlated multiple mediator model indicated that, while accounting for the effects of generalized drinking motives, TRD partially mediated the relation between PTSD and alcohol use problems (β = 0.213, p < .001), consistent with the self-medication hypothesis, and that this relationship was stronger for males (β = 0.804, p < .001) than for females (β = 0.463, p < .001). Results were substantiated using longitudinal data. Genotypic analyses to be presented will include univariate genome wide complex trait analyses (GCTA) to establish SNP-based heritability associated with TRD and PTSD, separately, as well as bivariate GCTA to examine potential overlap in heritability between TRD and PTSD.

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  Molecular and behavioral mechanisms mediating paclitaxel-induced changes in affect-like behavior in mice

  Julia Meade, Yasmin Alkhlaif, Wisam B. Toma, Samuel Obeng, Dana E. Selley, and Imad Damaj

  The antineoplastic paclitaxel is associated with negative affective outcomes, such as depression, anxiety, and decreased quality of life during treatment and convalescence. With the Baby Boomer population approaching peak cancer age, it is dire that the mechanisms behind paclitaxel-induced changes in mood are uncovered. Cancer-free male and female C57BL/6J mice were treated with one set of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (32mg/kg cumulative), or two sets of four injections of vehicle or paclitaxel (64mg/kg cumulative), and periodically assessed for depression-like behaviors. Paclitaxel caused significant, time-dependent deficits in sucrose preference and operant responding for palatable food. Because there is growing evidence to support the role of kappa opioid receptors (KORs) in stress-mediated depression and reward dysfunction, we investigated KOR signaling as a putative mechanism of paclitaxel-induced depression-like behaviors. The selective KOR antagonist norbinaltorphimine (norBNI) reversed paclitaxel-induced attenuation of sucrose preference. At the molecular level, paclitaxel time-dependently induced an increase in the expression of Prodynorphin mRNA, the precursor for endogenous KOR agonists, in the nucleus accumbens (NAc). Using the [³⁵S]GTPγS assay, we discovered that a history of paclitaxel time-dependently attenuated activation of dopamine D₂ receptors (D₂R) and KORs in the NAc but not caudate putamen. These data suggest that paclitaxel-induced changes in affect-like behavior may be due to time- and region-dependent dysregulation of KOR and D₂R signaling. These observations help to establish the roles of KOR and D₂R systems in paclitaxel-induced disruption of behavioral reward, thus revealing potential neurochemical targets for therapeutic intervention in cancer survivors with treatment-resistant depression.

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  Weight Loss and Self-Monitoring among Young Men in a Technology-Driven Weight Loss Intervention

  Jean M. Reading and Jessica G. LaRose

  Background

  Young men with obesity have double the mortality risk compared to young men with a healthy weight, but are notoriously challenging to recruit for behavioral weight loss (BWL) programs. Emerging evidence suggests that young men might prefer self-guided or low touch interventions, but limited data are available as to their effectiveness. To inform future efforts, we conducted a secondary analysis of young men’s performance in a technology-driven BWL trial developed specifically for young adults. Objectives were to: 1) examine young men’s enrollment rates; and 2) compare young men and women’s weight loss outcomes and self-regulation behaviors.

  Methods

  Data were drawn from an ongoing randomized controlled trial targeting young adults (18-25 years, body mass index 25-45 kg/m²) for weight loss. Participants (N=184, 60% racial / ethnic minority, BMI=33.2) were recruited using a multi-method approach and randomized to one of three arms, all of which received a 6-month technology mediated intervention with content adapted specifically for young adults. For the purposes of the present analysis, outcomes of interest included weight change at 3 months (objectively assessed in-clinic) and engagement with self-regulation behaviors (captured via Bluetooth scales and self-monitoring app). Treatment arm was included as a covariate in all outcome analyses. Descriptive statistics were computed to capture enrollment rates. GLM was used to compare men and women on percent weight change at 3-months, days of self-weighing, and days of dietary self-monitoring.

  Results

  Young men represented 17% of enrolled participants. At 3-months, men manifested greater weight losses compared to women (-4.8±5.1% vs. -2.5±4.1%, p=.008). Over the course of the 3-months, engagement with self-regulation behaviors was similar for men and women; men had a similar number of days of self-weighing (46.77±24.6 vs. 47.42±24.0, p=.88) and a lower number of days for tracking diet (36.87±24.3 vs. 43.42±22.6, p=.15) relative to women.

  Conclusion

  While enrollment was low among young men in this technology-driven BWL program, those men who enrolled lost double the weight compared to women—even though engagement with self-monitoring behaviors was similar or lower. These results suggest that a low touch and primarily self-guided weight loss program may be sufficient to produce clinically meaningful weight loss among young men. Findings are discussed in terms of implications for future work.

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  THE IMPACT OF POSTTRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER ON PERIPHERAL VASCULAR FUNCTION

  Jennifer B. Weggen, Kevin P. Decker, and Ryan S. Garten

  The physiological manifestations of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) have been associated with an increase in risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) independent of negative lifestyle factors. Peripheral vascular dysfunction may be a mechanism by which PTSD increases CVD risk via increases in oxidative stress, inflammation, and/or sympathetic nervous system activity. PURPOSE: This study sought to examine peripheral vascular function in those with PTSD compared to age-matched controls. METHODS: Eight individuals with PTSD (5 women, 3 men; age 22 ± 2 years), and sixteen healthy controls (CON; 10 women, 6 men, 23 ± 2 years), participated in the study. Leg vascular function was assessed via passive leg movement (PLM) technique and evaluated with Doppler ultrasonography. PLM-induced increases in leg blood flow were quantified as peak change in blood flow from baseline (ΔPeak LBF) and blood flow area under the curve (LBF AUC). RESULTS: Significant differences in leg vascular function were revealed between groups. The PTSD group reported significantly lower ΔPeak LBF (PTSD: 294.16 ± 54.16; CON: 594.78 ± 73.70 ml∙min^-1; p = 0.01) and LBF AUC (PTSD: 57.23 ± 24.37; CON: 169.92 ± 29.84 ml; p = 0.02) when compared to the CON group. CONCLUSION: This study revealed that lower limb vascular function is impaired in individuals with PTSD when compared to healthy counterparts.

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  Impact of Socialization in Elderly Public-Housing Residents

  Taylor M. Wilkerson, Schanea Ward, Amy Popovich, Pamela Parsons, and Faika Zanjani

  Older adults who experience social isolation have higher rates of mortality relative to their counterparts. Social interactions are an important way to combat this isolation. This research aims to better understand how social isolation in older adults living in low-income households in Richmond, Virginia (RVA) is related to their economic, physical, and psychological health status. As part of the iCubed Health and Wellness Aging Core and in collaboration with the Richmond Memorial: East End Housing Coalition for Older Adults, older adults from a selected public housing unit (n=28) self-reported their financial status, experiences with physical and psycho-social health, and feelings of social isolation. Survey participants were 71.4% female, the mean age was 69.75 years, and 25% were high school graduates. Participants averaged 34 years living in the East End and reported an average of $300 to spend on rent monthly. Overall, 55% (n=20) reported having two or more supports and 61% (n=22) reported hardly ever feeling isolated. However, a small subset of the sample reported having either no supports (5.6%, n=2) and 41.7% (n=15) lacked companionship some of the time or often. A one-way ANOVA was conducted and it was determined that participants who reported feeling left out more often were significantly more likely to report stress, anxiety, and depression (F[2, 25] = 6.998). Findings support the existence of supportive communities formed in low-income areas. Findings also indicate some older individuals residing in public housing in RVA experience social isolation and that this status is linked to poorer psycho-social health.

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  Mental health difficulties and service use of incarcerated women: The influence of violence perpetration and victimization

  Rachel C. Casey

  The study investigated the relationships between incarcerated women’s experiences with violence and their mental health with the goal of identifying avenues for more tailored, compassionate responses to their mental health difficulties during incarceration. To achieve this aim, a secondary data analysis was performed using data from the Survey of Inmates in State Correctional Facilities completed by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in 2004 (N=2553). Six research questions guided the inquiry, which involved univariate, bivariate, and multivariate statistical analyses, including latent class analysis—performed to identify patterns in mental health difficulties among incarcerated women—and multiple logistic regression procedures. The latent class analysis resulted in selection of a 4-class solution. The four classes presented subgroups of women with varying mental health difficulties, including the serious mental illness group, the mood and drug use disorders group, the substance use only group, and the resilient group. Women were less likely to be in the resilient mental health group and more likely to engage with a range of mental health services if they had perpetrated violence or experienced sexual or physical victimization in either childhood or adulthood. Social workers should develop and implement clinical mental health treatment in correctional centers that targets the specific co-occurring needs of incarcerated women, especially those needs related to trauma stemming from victimization and perpetration of violence. Additionally, social workers should advocate for policies and programs to prevent and remediate drug-related crime and divert women with serious mental illness away from the criminal justice system.

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  Visualizing the opioid overdose with a dynamic heat map to identify and predict vulnerable communities

  Justin R. Chang, Garrett K. Wong, Chase Greco, Yadunandan Pillai, Mohammad A. Shahrezaei, Melissa H. Burton, Rob Lawrence, and Alan Dow

  Background: Opioid and heroin overdose epidemic is a public health emergency in the state of Virginia. In order to prevent overdose deaths, we need the target expertise in substance use disorders to areas with high rates of overdose. In particular, an area with an acute spike in overdoses might represent an urgent need for intervention.

  Aims: The CDC urges the use of near real-time surveillance to effectively identify overdose incidence, and to coordinate community responses in the states affected by the epidemic, including Virginia. However, current opioid overdose datasets for Virginia lack adequate consistency, granularity, and temporality for rigorous data analyses and near real-time surveillance.

  Methods: In this project, we modeled a collaboration between emergency medical services (EMS), public health advocates and computer scientists to increase the geodata resolution around opioid overdoses; monitor outbreaks in real-time; and produce predictive models to target interventions for vulnerable communities.

  Results: EMS professionals could use this tool to funnel efforts towards these communities and intervene prior to additional overdoses. Using data obtained from the Richmond Ambulance Authority, we will create a dynamic incidence heatmap to demonstrate high resolution data visualization and machine learning opportunities.

  Conclusions: We envision a no-cost, easy implementation of this approach in current EMS practice which will generate predictions of when and where first responders and substance use professionals can intervene to prevent further overdoses. Community health workers and telemedicine doctors can provide immediate care to outbreak areas, followed by peer counselors and social workers for long term follow-up.

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  Healthcare Cost Savings Through Telemedicine Use At Correctional State Facilities

  Sydney Davis, Paulius Mui, Tamara Broadnax, David Collins, and Vimal Mishra

  Telemedicine offers both soft and hard return on investment, including cost savings avoidance and convenience of access to care. Incarcerated individuals represent a patient population that uniquely benefit from receiving care via telemedicine. They lack access to subspecialty care as prison facilities are located outside of urban areas, which is compounded by security risks, risk to individuals around inmates, and transportation cost to tertiary care facilities. To attend a brief in-office medical visit, an inmate requires hours of administrative support and logistical coordination, including appointment scheduling, transport arrangement and related fuel expense, and guard accompaniment - all at a financial cost to taxpayers. Telemedicine stands as a proven solution to decrease these costs and improve access to the care of inmates. The Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) Office of Telemedicine has provided telemedicine visits to more than 45,000 patients over 22 years and encompasses over 15 subspecialties, which have facilitated care to incarcerated patients at 30 Department of Corrections (DOC) sites in Virginia. Cost savings analysis was performed by the VCU Office of Telemedicine for the 2016 fiscal year. The amount saved per telemedicine visit was estimated by calculating officer costs and transportation costs associated with transporting an inmate to an on-site visit. It was found that each telemedicine visit represents a cost avoidance of $800 per visit. There were 2,850 Virginia DOC telemedicine visits in the fiscal year 2016, resulting in over 2 million dollars in estimated cost savings.

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  From Invisible to Visible: Exploring Invisibility Syndrome and Coping Among African American Men

  Jesha Jones and Stacey Lawson

  INTRODUCTION: African American men may experience feelings of invisibility when maneuvering throughout the public education system. Encounters with alienation, discrimination, and prejudice play a major role in influencing one’s decision to remain in school or dropout. Examining the extent to which the invisibility syndrome manifests in African American men during their K-12 experiences can expand knowledge in understanding their feelings of worthlessness and insignificance in the classroom. METHOD: This research investigated the degree to which invisibility syndrome manifested in retrospective accounts in the K-12 experiences of African American collegiate men. Analysis aim to identify how coping mechanisms can assist in reducing or alleviating feelings of invisibility. RESULTS: Findings suggest that alienation was the most prevalent feeling of invisibility followed by discrimination. Emotional regulation and higher education encouragement were found to be the most frequently used coping mechanisms among the participants. CONCLUSION: Overall, findings revealed the sample of African American assumed internalized feelings of invisibility, but they possessed the psychological assets needed to overcome such a damaging emotional and psychological state of being. Implementing culturally responsive and relevant teaching practices in addition to cultivating a positive family-school-community connection can assist in promoting confidence and motivation within African American men to remain in school and persist to higher education.

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  Exercise Preferences Among Young Adults: Do Men and Women Want Different Things?

  Jean M. Reading and Jessica Gokee LaRose

  Background

  Young adult men are difficult to recruit and retain in lifestyle interventions. This may be in part to gender differences in exercise goals observed in men, but little is known about exercise preferences for young adults, specifically. The purpose of this study is to compare the exercise preferences of young men and women to inform future interventions in this area. We hypothesize that men will prefer strength training at higher rates than women, and that women will prefer supervised guidance at higher rates than men.

  Methods

  The sample included 288 young adults aged 18-25 (mean age=21.85, SD=2.2). Majority were women and within a normal BMI range (M=25.91, SD=5.3). An anonymous online survey study was completed. Participants were asked their preferred type of exercise (moderate intensity cardio, strength training, intense strength training, or a combination of cardio and strength training), and if they preferred to exercise at a clinic-based facility with supervised guidance or to exercise alone with guidance.Chi-square tests were conducted to determine if there are gender differences in preferences for exercise type and mode of delivery, accounting for BMI.

  Results

  Over two-third of young adults preferred a combination of moderate intensity cardio and strength training. Women and men differed significantly in their exercise preferences (p=< .001). Less than 1% of women preferred intense strength training compared to the 15.3% of men. Women (17.4%) preferred moderate intensity cardio at higher rates than men (12.2%). However, when examining outcomes by BMI category, these results were only significantly different among individuals within a normal BMI (p=.000). Majority of young adults (67.7%) prefer exercising with their own with guidance from a program. Men and women did not differ in their preference to exercise with guidance or in a clinic-based program with supervision (p=.115).

  Conclusion

  Findings suggest that young adults overall prefer a combination of strength training and cardio, conducted on their own with guidance from a program. However, young men were more likely to prefer intense strength training; this was particularly true among men in a normal BMI range. These findings may be used to inform the tailoring of recruitment messaging and lifestyle interventions targeting this high-risk population.

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  Change in Working Length at Different Stages of Instrumentation as a Function of Canal Curvature

  Mei Tang, Garry L. Myers, Richard D. Archer, and Al M. Best

  The aim of this study was to determine the change in working length (∆WL) before and after coronal flaring and after complete rotary instrumentation as a function of canal curvature. One mesiobuccal or mesiolingual canal from each of 43 extracted molars had coronal standardization and access performed. Once the access was completed, canal preparation was accomplished using Gates Glidden drills for coronal flaring and EndoSequence files for rotary instrumentation. WLs were obtained at 3 time points: pre-instrumentation (unflared), mid-instrumentation (flared) and post-instrumentation (concluded). Measurements were made via direct visualization (DV) and the CanalPro apex locator (EM) in triplicate by a single operator with blinding within the time points. Root curvature was measured using Schneider’s technique. The change in working length was assessed using repeated-measures ANCOVA. The direct visualization measurements were statistically larger than the electronic measurements (paired t-test difference = 0.20 mm, SE = 0.037, P < .0001), although a difference this large may not be clinically important. Overall, a greater change in working length was observed in straight canals than in curved canals, and this trend was more pronounced when measured electronically than via direct visualization, especially in the unflared-concluded time points compared with unflared-flared time points. A greater change in working length was also observed in longer canals than in shorter canals.

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  Mapping opioid mortality rates across treatment capacity to identify need and access

  Garrett K. Wong, Justin R. Chang, Chase Greco, Yadunandan Pillai, Mohammad A. Shahrezaei, Melissa H. Burton, Rob Lawrence, and Alan Dow

  Background: The opioid and heroin overdose epidemic is a public health emergency in the state of Virginia, resulting in the death of more than 1,100 people in 2016. In order to overcome this epidemic, we need to match the places with the greatest need for services related to substance use disorders with the appropriate healthcare workforce.

  Aims: As the data about the overdose outbreak and related socioeconomic factors grow in size and complexity, data scientists have attempted to utilize big data techniques to identify communities and risk factors contributing to addiction.

  Methods: Using data obtained from the Virginia Department of Health and U.S. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, we overlaid county-level opioid mortality rates with the current locations of treatment facilities.

  Results: Areas with fewer numbers of treatment centers were associated with higher overdose mortality rates.

  Conclusions: There was an apparent mismatch in 2016 between overdose deaths and treatment capacity. To understand this mismatch, future directions include interprofessional collaborative efforts among community health workers, substance abuse specialists, and health professionals via models such as the TeleECHO clinic to both identify and address economic, workforce, and leadership factors implicated in the establishment and maintenance of substance abuse treatment facilities in high-need areas. Doing so can provide insight for improving access to care and addressing elevated opioid mortality rates.