Undergraduate Research Posters

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  Cultural Appropriation of the Plains Native American Headdress in the 21st Century by Middle-to-Upper Class American Non-Indians

  Marisa Wood

  My research addresses the cultural appropriation of the Plains’ Native American headdress by middle to upper class American non-Indians belonging to the hipster subculture. The hipster subculture appropriates minority cultures while also receiving the benefits of the majority culture to which they belong. The hipster subculture is influenced by a generally limited knowledge of Native American culture and the trends pressed by corporations. Native Americans also contribute to stereotype continuation in order to make money.

  I reviewed six journal articles addressing culture appropriation in fashion, spirituality and stereotypes as well as six journal articles addressing the relationship between identity and appropriation; three journal articles addressing the hipster subculture and their reputation for appropriation and three addressing Native American’s place in the market. Because, notably, hipsters do not take pride in their own White culture, the subculture selectively appropriate pieces of Native American culture. With these conclusions, the hipster subculture will gain consciousness of their actions and take more caution in their appropriation habits.

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  Comparisons and Contrasts Between Marketing Techniques Used by the Tobacco Industry and Public Health Figures

  Dorothy Yen

  The tobacco industry has long been known for its aggressive advertising techniques to promote its product to the general public; conversely the public health field has long been regarded as the main opposing force to the tobacco industry's efforts. The public health field's techniques of manipulating and presenting information has not been examined to the degree that the tobacco industry's techniques have been due to public health's mostly-accurate message regarding tobacco smoke. This review was performed by analyzing a variety of articles and academic sources focused on this subject. This review was conducted to examine as well as compare and contrast the methods used by both the industry and accredited public health officials and institutions. Neither the tobacco industry nor public health professionals can deny scientific findings or empirical evidence regarding tobacco smoke and its harmful qualities but that does not deter them from manipulating evidence or even producing their own contradictory studies. The tobacco industry's public relation efforts to promote its product have long been a part of the industry's history. It has also been shown that accredited health professionals (such as the Surgeon General) use manipulative methods to promote their bias on the issue of tobacco and smoking. Accredited health professionals display conflicts of interest when definitively shutting down any opposing opinions regarding the health risks involved with tobacco smoke. Because of the utmost importance of maintaining credibility in the public eye, both institutions must remain careful and tactful in their marketing techniques. The public, however, does not internalize the PR from the tobacco industry in the same way that it does the governmental institutions. While the government is rightfully protecting the public against the damages and harms of tobacco smoke, it is suppressing some of the potential research that can and should be conducted in order to further the public's knowledge on the issue of tobacco smoke and its byproducts.

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  Polypharmacy and Symptoms of Pain in Women with Fibromyalgia

  Anna Young and Victoria S. Menzies

  Fibromyalgia (FMS), a syndrome characterized by chronic widespread pain (CWP), has no known etiology, and coincides with other life-altering symptoms including fatigue, mood disturbances and non-restorative sleep. Despite the multiple medication classes that are typically used for the treatment of FMS, there are no known studies assessing the efficacy of polypharmacy on symptoms of pain in this patient population. While analgesic medications, including opioid or opioid-like medications, are commonly prescribed, the use of these medications for FMS has not been fully described, including potential incidence of analgesic overuse. The primary purpose of this secondary analysis was to examine how many classes of pharmacologic agents were used in a sample of N=122 women diagnosed with FMS, the relationships among baseline pain levels and medication use, controlling for self-reported levels of fatigue and depression. Data was collected from two separate studies: (a) a cross-sectional study to examine the relationship among stress, symptoms and immune markers in women (N=50) with FM^, and (b) an RCT to examine the effect of a 10-week guided imagery intervention on stress, self-efficacy, symptoms and immunity in women (N=72) with FM. In both studies participants were asked to provide lists of currently prescribed medications for treatment of their FMS-related symptoms. Examination of the data revealed that participants were prescribed 6 different classes of medications. These included opioids analgesics, non-opioid analgesics, antidepressants, anticonvulsants, muscle relaxants, and benzodiazepines. Baseline pain severity scores (p=0.0106) and pain interference scores (p=0.0002) were significantly associated with opioid use as compared to those individuals who did not report opioid use. Study findings are considered preliminary data for development of a larger study to examine efficacy of polypharmacy and related potential risks of adverse effects or substance abuse in those with FMS. Supported by grants from NINR #P20 NR008988 (N. McCain, PI); #P30 NR011403 M. J. Grap (PI).

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  Inkjet Printing Retinal cells vs. Gene Therapy in the treatment of Glaucoma

  Shirley Yu

  The neurodegenerative disease glaucoma is one of the leading causes of blindness and accounts for over ten million visits to physicians for treatment. Unfortunately, there is yet to be a concrete accepted approach to alleviating the effects of glaucoma. This dissertation examines recent studies and reports on the specifics of viral vectors, non-viral vectors, piezoelectric inkjet printing, heat inkjet printing, and glaucoma. A few of the studies involve the progression of an experiment while others combine and discuss the results of multiple experiments. Using these articles I compared the effectiveness of gene therapy to the use of inkjet printing to create retinal cells. By replacing, adding, or deleting a specific sequence in the human body, the gene expression of the eye can be altered. There are two different types of injections for gene therapy, viral vectors and non-viral vectors. Both methods typically target the trabecular meshwork and neuroretina to regulate the aqueous humor outflow and lower the intraocular pressure. In the case of glaucoma, the treatment solely provides neuroprotection instead of curing the disease, thus patients must undergo repeated injections in order to keep the disease from deteriorating. Inkjet printing of retinal cells have shown to produce three dimensional tissue grafts that may replace defective tissues. The printed cells have been tested for survivability and regeneration properties, since it has been suggested that the printing process can cause defects. Both heat inkjet printing and piezoelectric printing have been used to create neural cells. By evaluating the advantages and disadvantages of gene therapy as well as printing, I can evaluate whether or not inkjet printing can overtake gene therapy to become a conventional treatment for glaucoma in the near future. There have not been many clinical trials done on either of these methods for glaucoma, thus it is difficult to obtain a certain answer to the question at hand. At this point advancements in the area of three-dimensional printing neural sheets may provide a more promising cure. However, more research must be done on how each of these treatments affect glaucoma in humans.

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  The Relationship between Deviant High School Behavior and the frequencies of Alcohol and Nicotine Use

  Flora Achiko

  The study examined the relationship between deviant high school behavior as defined by symptoms of conduct disorder and the frequencies of alcohol and nicotine use among freshmen at VCU. The sample sizes for items corresponding to alcohol and nicotine use were n=1184 and n=689 freshmen, respectively. Correlation analyses revealed significant statistical evidence for a positive relationship between deviant high school behavior and frequency of alcohol use (r= .231, significant at p=0.01 level) and deviant high school behavior and the frequency of nicotine use (r=.219, significant at p=0.01 level). There was also a significant correlation between the frequencies of alcohol and nicotine use (r=.197, significant at p=0.01 level). These findings suggest there is a relationship between deviant behavior in high school and increased alcohol and nicotine use in college. Establishment of a positive correlation allows for further testing on risk factors for substance use and could lead to preventive strategies.

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  Factor H Cleavage by the Treponema denticola Protease Dentilisin: Understanding the Pathogenesis of Periodontal Disease

  Sahil Aggarwal

  Periodontal disease is an infectious condition that results in the inflammation and gradual degradation of gum tissue and alveolar bone. Caused by plaque deposits on teeth that harden into tartar to inflame gum tissue, the condition is highly pervasive, with 15 percent of US adults over 30 years of age exhibiting destructive periodontal disease. The abundance of Treponema denticola, a spirochete, in the oral flora is strongly correlated with disease severity. T. denticola binds to Factor H (FH), a negative regulator of the complement system, through its Factor H binding protein (FhbB) to evade complement-mediated killing. The protease dentilisin, produced by T. denticola, cleaves FH for reasons that are still being studied. We hypothesize that dentilisin-dependent cleavage of FH may result in the local dysregulation of the complement immune system, leading to gum destruction. The primary goal of this research project was to identify the specific location of FH cleavage by dentilisin. Characterization of the complex interaction between T. denticola and FH may explain the molecular pathogenesis of periodontal disease.

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  Relationship of Caffeine Content in Energy Drinks to Health in High School and College-Aged Adolescents

  Arti Alagappan

  Although energy drink consumption is not currently regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the high concentrations of caffeine in energy drinks—especially in comparison to drinks such as sodas and coffee—pose a potential threat to cardiovascular, muscular and immune system health. Caffeine in these energy drinks, especially when consumed in quantities over 70 mg, can lead to problems such as atrial fibrillation, muscle contractions and tension, and myocardial infarction. The objective of this research is to examine caffeine and its amplified role due to the different synergistic ingredients contained in energy drinks (including taurine, vitamin B6, carbohydrates, amino acids, and herbal supplements) to determine if there is a significant relationship between consumption and degradation of cardiovascular, muscular, or immune system health in high school and college-aged adolescents. Though additives found in energy drinks may not be as harmful alone, they serve to enhance caffeine and increase health risks. This study suggests that physical health risks can be attributed to specific ingredients found in these energy drinks, namely caffeine. This research further suggests that the FDA should enact regulations that prohibit the sale of highly caffeinated energy drinks to individuals under the age of 18 and that the FDA should require explicit labeling of these products as is currently mandated for alcoholic beverages.

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  Female leadership in Powhatan Indian tribes: Changes from first contact with the Europeans to the present day

  Brittany Allen

  The negative effects of European colonization on Native American groups have long been observed and studied, but little attention has been given to the impact those negative effects had on the roles of women in the leadership of tribes. All Native American groups faced disease, warfare, and limitations of their rights after the arrival of European settlers in their land, but women in particular were affected by hardships that resulted from colonization. By analyzing records of women acting as chiefs in the century immediately following the Powhatan tribes’ first contact with the Europeans and comparing the high number of women chiefs in the early years with the complete lack of women chiefs in Powhatan tribes from the eighteenth century until 1998, I found that the number of women in east coast Algonquian tribes wielding political power initially increased for several decades, but then decreased dramatically after the tribes were forced to enter treaties with the government of Virginia which limited the rights they had previously experienced. The number of women serving as chiefs, on tribal councils, and in intertribal groups increased as the Powhatan tribes began to strive to be more politically active in response to even further limitations to their rights in the form of segregation and race restrictions throughout the twentieth century. The increase in the number of Powhatan women involved with tribal and extra-tribal politics in recent decades indicates that Powhatan tribes are steadily overcoming the race-related obstacles before them and finally obtaining the legal and social equality that has eluded them since Europeans first began settling in the Powhatans’ native land in the seventeenth century. The correlation of the increase in the number of Powhatan women in leadership positions with the removal of race-related obstacles suggests that similar trends may be present in other cultures that have experienced significant race-related struggles.

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  Just Say Know! Evaluation of a Novel Drug Education Program

  Rose Bono and Kirsten Schunn

  Just Say Know is a novel drug education program that focuses on teaching facts, not fear. We aimed to create a seminar series that educates students on one drug or class of drugs at a time, focusing on the characteristics of the drug, its mental and physical effects, potential consequences (positive or negative), legal status, VCU and national student use rates, and ways to reduce the harms associated with drug use, such as how to respond to an overdose-related emergency. Just Say Know (JSK) strives to be dispassionate and agenda-free. This poster reviews highlights from our first few years' worth of seminars, including evaluation questions given to our audiences about drug knowledge, drug use intentionality and harm reduction strategies.

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  Stray Dogs Cause Health Risks in Thailand

  Kadie Brigham

  Around 120,000 stray dogs are currently roaming the streets of Thailand compared to the 67,000,000 people that currently live there. Although the stray dog population doesn't outnumber the human population, it still should be a concern of the Thai government because stray dogs have shown aggression towards people and, carry diseases and rabies that could be transferred to people causing them serious ailments. Chantapong Wasi and colleagues from the Medicine Siriraj Hospital at Mahidol Universty in Thailand estimate that within the stray dog population only about 20% of the dogs are vaccinated or sterilized. My research explores what type of diseases that the stray dogs carry that could be transferred to humans, the cost of rabies vaccinations and sterilization, pet ownership and Asian attitude towards animals, and the government debt. The sources that I looked at range in variety from epidemiological studies on rabies and diseases to studies that look at attitudes towards dogs to sources that discuss economic problems. By looking at these sources, I examined the psychological, sociological and medical outlooks that people have on stray dogs.

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  Overuse of Fluoride in Public Water Systems: Stimulating Fluorosis Rather Than Preventing Dental Caries

  Kaixin Chen

  In the early 1940’s, researchers sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) discovered an inverse correlation between the prevalence of dental caries and the quantity of fluoride consumption and exposure. As a result of this finding, the Environmental Protection Agency under the advisement of the CDC instructed municipalities in the United States to fluoridate their public water systems in order to increase fluoride exposure. More recently though, other researchers have concluded that there is a positive correlation between another dental condition, dental fluorosis, and fluoride consumption and have made recommendations to decrease fluoride consumption due to the aesthetic and physical damage associated with dental fluorosis. The researchers also suggested that the African American population in municipalities with fluoridated water systems expressed significantly higher susceptibility to dental fluorosis due to biological susceptibility and cultural practices. A study was conducted on the concentrations of fluoride in public water systems of municipalities with large African American populations. Because the African American demographic is essentially being overdosed with fluoride, it can be suggested that communities with large African American populations ought to reduce the concentration of fluoride in their water systems or completely eliminate public water fluoridation and give residents the option of accessing fluoride in the form of dental products or fluoride supplements. Until fluoride reduction is achievable, public health officials need to inform and educate African Americans of the risks associated with dental fluorosis and the preventative measures that African Americans, as well as other individuals, can utilize to reduce their fluorosis susceptibility.

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  Biases in the Macro-System and How They Affect Treatment of LGBT Domestic Violence Victims

  Taylor Coombs

  In the past twenty to thirty years, the United States has made great strides in treating the victims of heterosexual domestic violence. For victims that are in same-sex relationships, the story is much different. Traditional gender roles frame the quality of treatment victims receive, and biases held by many public officials and servants make many avoid help at all. Negative views of LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transsexual) stemming from traditional gender roles affect victims of LGBT violence by impacting the scope of assistance they receive. This claim has been founded by examining sources from mental health, public policy, and gender studies for potential results of bias and gendered views. By improving the quality of care and educating those who handle domestic violence on a daily basis, victims will begin to reach out for help more often while encouraging other victims who are trapped in their own relationships.

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  “It’ll Be OK”: The Effects of Supportive Talk on Patient Perceptions of Physicians in Racially Discordant Medical Interactions

  Grace Denio

  Background: In recent years there has been hopeful interest in using a patient-centered communication style to optimize medical visits. Patient-centered communication is associated with patients’ positive views of their physicians. As a result, having patient-centered communication can influence the degree of patient adherence, which in turn can affect health outcomes. One of several styles that characterize patient-centered communication is for physicians to engage in supportive talk that legitimizes the patient’s perspective and concerns. Objectives: The main goal of the study was to explore whether supportive talk is associated with patients’ positive views of their physician (i.e., warmth) and the interaction (i.e., patient-centered care, “being on the same team”) in racially discordant medical interactions between Black patients and non-Black physicians. Methods: 133 transcripts of patient-physician interactions from an existing longitudinal study of Black patients who interacted with non-Black physicians at a primary care clinic were coded for supportive talk (reassurance, encouragement, comfort) in the current study. Results: Supportive talk was significantly and positively associated with perceived physician warmth, patient-centered care, and teamness, such that Black patients whose non-Black physicians engaged in more supportive talk reported greater perceived warmth, patient-centered care, and teamness, as compared to patients whose physicians engaged in less supportive talk. Conclusion: The findings from the current study suggest that physicians may be able to improve patients’ perceptions of them even in racially discordant medical interactions (which is often characterized as less positive than the racially concordant ones) by reassuring, encouraging, and comforting the patients. Thus, the findings further support the importance of training medical students on incorporating patient-centered communication in their practice.

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  From Cooking Meals to Cocking guns

  Janeal Downs

  Empowerment through Violence: Most people associate gangs with their ability to destroy communities by engaging in drug use, drug distribution and violence, and they have been studied for decades. Researchers are interested in defining gangs, understanding how they work, and finding reasons why the members join and stay in the gangs. However, when researchers study gangs, they invariably focus on male members. When and if these studies mention women, most of the research solely references their roles as sexual objects or girlfriends of gang members. Only recently have a small percentage of researchers begun to include females as a part of the demographics of their studies. While examining research in Gender Studies, I have found evidence that women’s role in gangs and violent acts have become more ‘masculine’ over time. Granted, women’s roles in mixed gangs continue to be sexualized, but this is rapidly changing, especially within all girl gangs. By including organized crime, these women are transforming the boundaries of gaining gender equality. Although gangs can be dangerous, many operate much like organized businesses. Females' growing rate of gang involvement in such "masculine" structures offers the potential for building status in all male communities and female empowerment.

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  Effects of Touch Therapy as a Means of Treatment for Autism Among Young Children

  Pahul Hanjra

  Autism causes impediments for children with the disorder that they carry as obstacles to overcome for their entire lives. Major characteristics of autism include social delays such as inhibited interaction with others, touch aversion, as well as abnormal intake of sensory information, with understated reactions or high sensitivity to external stimuli. As a result of the many inhibitions the disorder places on afflicted individuals, day-to-day life can be a struggle. The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder is increasing in the United States and the world, and the publication of the DSM-IV has broadened the definition of autism to include forms of varying severity including Asperger syndrome and Rett syndrome. As the influence of autism grows, a greater number of treatments including medicine as well as alternative methods are considered. The objective of this research project was to determine what effects touch therapy has on children with autism spectrum disorder between the ages of 2 and 16. To accomplish this, I surveyed various studies regarding different massage methods and measures of effects on autistic children. Articles examined included: a study that assessed the level of reactiveness children expressed prior to, and after, receiving various forms of therapy, multiple studies assessing the effectiveness of different forms of massage developed by researchers in improving attentiveness of autistic children in school settings, studies which looked at the effect of massage therapy in decreasing anxiety often expressed in autistic children, studies that assessed the impact of massage therapy on the communicative abilities of autistic children as well as examined the relationship between autistic children and their parents, and a meta-analysis which reviewed the validity of other studies regarding massage therapy and its benefits in treating symptoms of autism in children. The studies suggest that massage therapy seems to be an effective treatment to decrease the off-task behavior of autistic children in school, to assuage anxiety, to ameliorate hyper-sensitivity to external stimuli, as well as to further cement intimate bonds between children and their parents, although all acknowledge that their experimental design reduces the ability of results to be generalized. The meta-analysis concluded that there is not yet sufficient empirical data to provide any conclusive support for the benefits of touch therapy in treating autism. Current studies’ findings suggest that massage is indeed therapeutic for autistic children, though they remain inconclusive; as such, these findings, and by extension, the potential benefits of massage as a therapy to mitigate obstacles autistic children face, merit more large-scale, empirical research.

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  Neuroticism as a Moderator of the Relationship Between Family History of Drinking Problems and College Alcohol Use

  Pahul Hanjra, Arden Moscati, James Clifford, Amy Adkins, and Danielle Dick

  Literature has long suggested a correlation between family history and alcohol dependence; heredity plays a role in risk for alcohol dependence. To investigate the influence of the personality trait neuroticism as a moderating factor of the relationship between family history of alcohol dependence, and an individual’s alcohol consumption, analyses were conducted in the Fall 2011 Spit for Science cohort. Survey questions examined the binary variable of whether participants reported a family history of drinking problems, as well as the continuous variable measuring the number of alcoholic drinks participants had consumed in the past 30 days. There were a total of 779 responses that included answers to both questions about family history as well as drinking scores in the data and on these, a linear regression and ANOVA was performed. Results show that reports of family history and high levels of neuroticism are both correlated with increased frequency of alcohol use. Analyses continue to examine the moderating effect of neuroticism on the relationship between family history of alcohol use and an individual’s alcohol consumption. These results add more basic information to the literature on alcohol use in college students.

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  A Broken Model: Solving America's Airport Security System

  Danielle Honings

  In the wake of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the need for heightened security in all aspects, especially for airports, created reciprocal tensions amongst air passengers as resentful Americans looked to President George W. Bush for answers. As the Homeland Security Alert Code escalated in threat level and airline ticket sales continued to plummet, only the assurance of a new security system could offer a temporary saving grace for airlines in the United States. In response, body scanners arose with the intentions and promises offering speedy checking times and processing large volumes of people at once, however, the implementation of these scanners comes with a hefty list of consequences. Although doing away with body scanners entirely is probably not feasible, we should limit and reduce their usage in the US airport security model because the costs outweigh the benefits, they cause privacy and health concerns, and there are much better alternatives to add and even replace them. I analyzed sources from departments in the United States government, including the Department of Homeland Security, and among the leading scientific journals, most notably the Journal of Transportation Security and the Law and Security Review. In approaching this question from varying angles, I concentrated my research on sources offering general information about the Israeli and American airport security models, sources arguing in favor of low-tech solutions, sources concerning true public opinion, and sources describing the effectiveness of mixing security techniques. The body scanners are extremely expensive considering the current TSA’s budget proposals and the Homeland Security section of the US budget. For all that the manufacturers claim about the scanners, especially speedy scanning rates and the complete detection of explosives and triggers on the body, they have not lived up to expectations set by the manufacturers. In addition, the body scanners work by emitting low-dose backscatter radiation, and there are concerns about possible long-term health effects. Privacy issues have also arisen in response to evidence suggesting that sensitive photographs taken by the scanners have been kept despite the manufacturer’s reassurances. Although the US has poured much money into the body scanners, all is not lost, as there are still a myriad of other alternatives that can be explored to ensure the safety of airport passengers and workers. Among these options include: behavioral detection techniques, the Computer Assisted Passenger Pre-screening System (CAPPS), the privatization of airport security, improved baggage screening techniques, Express Checks for frequent flyers, a profile for illicit drug traffickers and sky-jackers, and a special interviewing process for identifying potential threats.

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  Incomplete Reflections: Addressing Potential Bias in Digital Curation

  Rachael Hulvey

  Digital scanning technology offers many benefits to archaeology and curation in its ability to preserve virtual representations of artifacts in databases without harming the object. However, various selective pressures may limit which artifacts are digitally curated. The material of an artifact or details on an object’s surface may prevent it from scanning properly. Scans which inaccurately portray the surface detail of an artifact may be ignored by those who edit and process the files in favor of a more attractive scan. Scanning efforts designed for public outreach may favor certain artifacts over others. These selective pressures may produce unintentional bias in the digital artifact databases, which could potentially limit the applicability to certain scopes of archaeological research.

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  Don’t Be a Drag, Just Be a Queen! Assessing the Popularity of Drag Queens as Opposed to Levels of Anti-Transgender Prejudice in Modern American Society

  Neha Jadhav

  Over the past few decades, drag queen shows have become a popular sensation among men and women, homosexuals and heterosexuals alike. On the other hand, transgender individuals are confronted with more prejudice than gays, lesbians, or bisexuals are. What about drag queens sets them apart from the stigma directed toward transgenders? For this study, I attended a drag brunch in a gay bar and observed how each performance compelled audience members to question perceptions of gender and sexuality. In addition, I analyzed several scholarly journal articles for research on the practices of drag queens during their performances and their appeal, or on the treatment of transgenders in heterosexual-dominant communities. From this research, I have concluded that what sets drag queens apart from most of the anti-transgender prejudice is the emphasis on hyper-femininity; in fact, the exaggerated feminine appearances and mannerisms are what usually draw audience members to a drag queen. Through this exuberant female impersonation, drag queens blur barriers between different social identifications and create a new form of entertainment that both overturns and asserts cultural ideals of masculine power. The study of their performances implies that despite the progression of women’s and LGBT rights, true equality in our society will not be realized until we find new ways of identifying and relating to others.

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  Characterization of HIV-1 Integrase Reactions with Viral DNA

  Joanna Kettlewell

  HIV-1 integrase (integrase) catalyzes the insertion of viral DNA into human chromosomes and is a focus for development of anti-integrase inhibitors to combat HIV infection. Integrase catalyzes two steps, a DNA-end cleavage reaction (3’-processing), and a DNA-end joining reaction (strand transfer). Together, these steps result in viral DNA integration into the genome of the host cell, resulting in persistent infection. Better understanding of the mechanism of integration and interactions of the viral and host DNA with integrase are required for optimal inhibitor development. Recombinant integrase protein was purified and activity was evaluated in a biochemistry assay under bulk conditions to optimize 3’-processing and strand transfer activity. Integrase binding to DNA was then measured under these conditions, using quartz crystal microbalance. This technique will also be used to characterize the disruption of integrase binding to DNA by inhibitors. Finally, integrase/DNA complexes will be visualized by atomic force microscopy to explore their interaction. This study addresses gaps in knowledge of viral DNA and HIV-1 integrase interactions as well as the effects of inhibitors on DNA binding.

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  Environmental and Genetic Variables Converge: Regional Trends Determine Alzheimer's Disease Prevalence

  Ellen Korcovelos

  Research on Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has recently begun to expand in the scope of variables considered in examining prevalence worldwide; many scientists argue prevalence is related to geographic distribution of its major symptom, dementia. For this reason, I researched the components of AD and their specific effects on the regional trends of dementia. Evidence from eight peer-reviewed journal articles authored by both neurologists and environmental scientists reveals that researchers argue either the environmental or genetic effects of location on dementia prevalence. However, it appears the regional bias for the disease seen worldwide is caused by a combination of environmental and genetic factors. A singular factor of AD cases varies among different regions of the world, yet always takes a role in prevalence rates: a population’s ability to age. National development and modernization allow for a heightened life expectancy; therefore, the prevalence of AD has risen throughout those regions of the world that exhibit these characteristics. Likewise, as a population ages beyond 65 years old, the frequency of genetic influence increases as a result of the Apolipoprotein E. Together, the environmental and genetic factors of AD converge as one component stimulates the other. Thus, because the development of AD is determined by the aging of an individual, more efficient, accessible, and affordable methods of detecting dementia symptoms must be investigated. Observing AD results from both environmental and genetic characteristics, a systematic test that considers both variables would best lead to earlier detection of the disease in countries where its prevalence is more concentrated.

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  Love the One You’re With: Rejection and Trait Forgiveness Predict Partner Attraction

  Priya Lall

  Rejection presents a strong belonging threat, but how do individuals regain a sense of belonging? Would you be more attracted to a partner in an existing relationship if you were rejected by others? Participants completed a measure of trait forgiveness and were then asked to write either about a time they were rejected or accepted by someone other than their romantic partner. After the rejection manipulation, participants completed questionnaires regarding their feelings toward their current romantic partners. Participants reported greater attraction to their partners following the rejection manipulation, and the effect was moderated by trait forgiveness. When participants possessed low levels of trait forgiveness, rejection resulted in greater attraction toward their partners. The results suggest that existing relationships may act as a buffer for unforgiving individuals who experience an interpersonal rejection by a third party.

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  Redesigning the Brain: The Effect of Bilingualism on Neuroplasticity

  Swetha Mannem

  Neuroplasticity is a relatively new subject of study in the past few decades. One’s genetic background and environmental adaptations, are known to lay the foundation for one’s capacity for neuroplasticity. This study focuses on bilingualism to examine the relative effects of genetic expression and environmental background on cognitive performance in those who are bilingual. Peer-reviewed scientific journals and recent studies were referenced to understand these correlations. Bilingualism has been found to have physiological effects that leads to greater connectivity in the brain, and ultimately, greater ability for cognitive development. Although concrete ratios of the influences of genetics to environment on neuroplasticity have not been found, future research on academic performance in relation to genetics and environment could help bolster current research findings on fostering neuroplasticity.

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  Determinants of Music Preference: Why Do You Like the Music You Like?

  Shannon Minor

  Turn on the radio or click play; your favorite song begins to fill your ears. You bob your head and maybe sing along, but do you question why you like the music you are hearing? Many research studies indicate that people’s emotional states dictate their music preference; however, music preference is determined by a combination of a person’s self view and the culture they are immersed in. As technology advances and the music delivery system evolves, music is able to be played more and with the option of new genres and songs. My theory is, picture a world without music, and you will witness an identity crisis and silence consuming mostly everyone. This paper explores how people’s values and self-views are shifting due to the correlation between the transformation of the music delivery system and the evolution of culture to a more technology driven world. In order to understand the connections between music preference and personality, I looked at research studies that focused on neurological responses to music, psychology of music, and human identity in connection to music. With this research, I divided music listeners into two categories of active and passive listeners. I found that the juxtaposition of a human’s need to be an individual while still fitting in with a group shapes how a person projects their values in their environment. Overall, the techno-centric world that we live in has produced a human desire of instant gratification in a disposable world, acting as an umbrella over the understandings as to why people like the music that they do.

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  Of Monsters and Men: A Comparison of Greek and Norse Mythology in the Western Canon

  Amber Morrow

  Greek literature has long been considered the most valuable to Western culture, and it has been held up through the ages as a literary exemplar. While the western literary canon has often been revised and added to, we have never truly questioned the place of Greek mythology in it, nor have we considered that other mythologies, particularly Norse, may deserve a place in our canon alongside their Greek peers. Although we must acknowledge the merit of Greek mythology and the vast influence it has had on literature and art, this does not necessarily mean that Norse mythology and its peers are of lesser importance.