Undergraduate Research Posters

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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.

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  Negative Perception of Sexuality in Advertising And the Counterarguments or Solutions to These Reactions

  Rachael Mott

  This paper focuses on the comparison of how people in the United States perceive sexuality in advertising and how negative reactions may be prevented or counteracted. Through the analyzing of multiple articles on the perception of sexuality, data was analyzed to find that in most situations, the use of sexuality in advertising negatively affects the sale of a product. This is because of a reduction of brand recall and the fact that many consumers, mainly women, find overt sexuality in a public advertisement offensive; however all of these negative effects can either be prevented or offset. If the product at hand has a pre-existing sexual connotation, there is no worry about the advertisement being viewed negatively. While brand recall is decreased due to sexuality, the attention paid to the advertisement is increased and while women dislike sexuality, sexuality in the context of a relationship increases the positivity of a woman’s views. All of these negative effects show that sexuality in advertising must be dealt with carefully in order for the message portrayed to both be remembered by consumers and to be viewed in a positive light by consumers. These findings allow readers understand if sexuality in advertising sells and if so, in what situations it does. The implications of this research can allow advertisers and companies to understand which products would benefit from sexuality in advertising and how to treat the sexuality in advertising to prevent negative effects on the product or even the brand itself.

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  Examining the relationship between high school deviant behavior and substance use in college students.

  Amanda Ndemo

  The main purpose of the study was to determine the relationship between deviant high school behavior and substance use, as limited to alcohol and cigarette use. Deviant behavior as analyzed was defined by symptoms of conduct disorder and alcohol and cigarette use was limited to the past 30 days of the individual’s college career. The Conduct Disorder (CD) symptoms queried in the survey included setting fires, fights and things of that nature. Deviant behavior sum scores were created based on a pattern of related behaviors and the frequency at which each occurred. Data from 2022 VCU freshman who completed the Spit for Science survey were included in the study. The sample was also limited to age groups between 18 and 21. This is a longitudinal survey based on continuous variables. Our results displayed a positive correlation (r=0.231) between deviant high school behavior and frequency of alcohol consumption which was statistically significant (p<0.05). There was also a positive correlation (r=.219) between deviant high school behavior and frequency of cigarette use which was also statistically significant (p<0.05). The results showed a significant relationship between deviant high school behavior and substance use. The prevalence of deviant behavior in high school students may serve as an indicator of patterns of substance use in these individuals in college. This could serve as an effective targeting method in preventive interventions.

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  Analysis of Humira, Electro-Acupuncture, and Pulsatile Dry Cupping on Reducing Joint Inflammation in Patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis

  Natalie Noll

  Humira, an anti-TNF drug aimed at decreasing inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients, can cause skin diseases from a rash to skin cancer. Humira works by blocking the chemical receptor RANKL, which therefore halts the production of osteoclasts, which attack and eat bone and cartilage, causing inflammation in arthritis patient’s joints. By analyzing Humira’s effect on the human body, it can be compared against other treatments such as electro-acupuncture and pulsatile dry cupping to see if these alternative treatments can decrease inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients through blocking RANKL, and if they are safer methods for carrying out this treatment. Under close examination of scientific journals written on studies where patients and animals were treated with Humira, acupuncture, and cupping for inflammation due to arthritis, the data collected suggests that Humira, electro-acupuncture, and pulsatile dry cupping all decrease inflammation in the joints of Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. However, acupuncture patients overall have the least harmful side-effects, with nausea and localized tingling being the most common complaints. These outcomes are less life-altering than localized bruising from cupping or the consequences of Humira which include an increased risk of cancer, and heat and liver failure. Therefore, electro-acupuncture and pulsatile dry cupping should be used as a viable safer alternative to Humira in treatment of inflammation in Rheumatoid Arthritis patients. The data collected from this review is important because patients should know about less harmful alternative treatments, such as acupuncture, because it has been proven to have the same effects as Humira, but have less harmful consequences that will benefit the patient’s overall health.

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  How Important is being "Liked"? The Relation between Facebook Use and Well-being

  Lauren Oglesby, Allison Crowley, Prachi Desai, Jhaminique Lynwood, Meredith Murgia, and Kelsey Richardson

  Facebook is used by approximately 1.06 billion(Craig,2013) to keep in touch with family and friends. However, the question remains whether Facebook is helpful or harmful to people’s well being. According to a research study conducted by Gonzales and Hancock (2010), Facebook use enhances self-esteem by providing multiple opportunities for selective self-presentation through photos and personal details. Another research study by Twenge, Freeman and Campbell (2012) found that participants who spent time on social network sites endorsed more positive self-views. While some research indicates that Facebook has a positive effect on the user other studies suggest that Facebook use is detrimental. A study conducted by Tazghini and Siedlecki (2013) found a negative association between self-esteem and Facebook activity. This association was related to actions like untagging “undesirable” pictures or adding others as friends who they are not familiar with. Similarly, Sheppard Pratt’s (2012) research indicated that Facebook has a negative impact on self-esteem and body image . “Facebook is making it easier for people to spend more time and energy criticizing their own bodies and wishing they looked like someone else” (Dr. Harry Brandt, director of The Center for Eating Disorders at Sheppard Pratt). Given the discrepancies in the research, a worthwhile next step involves examining personal characteristics that may influence the relationship between Facebook use and well-being. The present research will examine whether certain factors influence the relationship between Facebook use and overall well-being.

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  Spit for Science: The relationship between deviant high school behavior and college substance use

  Preetha Palasuberniam

  This study examined the relationship between deviant high school behavior, as defined by symptoms of conduct disorder, and frequency of alcohol and cigarette use in the past 30 days in college freshman at VCU. Deviant high school behaviors included skipping school, running away, stealing, starting a fire, destroying property, hurting animals or people, using weapons, fighting, and lying. The sample included first year freshmen at VCU who participated in the Spit for Science study. The software SPSS was used to calculate the significance of the correlations between deviant high school behavior and frequency of alcohol and cigarette use. A sum score was created for each individual based on their endorsement and frequency of each deviant behavior. There was a positive, significant correlation between deviant high school behavior and frequency of alcohol and cigarette use (p=.0001 and p=.0001, respectively). This suggested that there is a relationship between high school students’ deviant behavior, as defined by symptoms of conduct disorder, and the use of alcohol and cigarettes once they attend college. This study suggests risk factors for substance use in the VCU student body.

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  The Fundamental Law of Hungary and its Effect on Social Cohesion

  Veronica Peterkin

  During the Hungarian Revolution of 1956, citizens of Hungary stood side by side to revolt against Communism. Today, the Fidesz party, a right wing group that considers itself more moderate than the infamous Jobbik party, has a majority in Parliament as well as the presidency and recently proposed a new constitution that took act on January 1, 2012. Through analysis of survey studies and interviews conducted by researchers with citizens and scholars, I determined that social trust has decreased and the presence of racism has increased in Hungary during the past three years. Although the idea of passing the new constitution, Fundamental Law of Hungary, was appropriate since the nation is in need of a new constitution, the recent changes in Hungarian laws and government in the past three years has deteriorated social cohesion among Hungarian citizens by causing a decrease of social trust and an increase of discrimination.

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  PERCUSSION AND VIBRATION AIRWAY CLEARANCE THERAPY INCREASES INFLAMMATORY FACTORS

  Gil Rubia, Mike Davis, and Alison Montpetit

  Ventilator associated pneumonia is a common problem with the mechanically ventilated population. Mortality, hospital stay, and cost increase with ventilator associated pneumonia. The importance of tackling this problem has spurred an effort within the medical community to prevent the onset of VAP. Upon years of study, a basic bundle of care has been recommended by the IHI for implementation in the hospital so that the incidence of VAP would decrease. This paper will focus on the nurse’s role in implementing the bundle of care. The paper will explore the different interventions and will cover the evidence behind the practice. The paper will also try to mention the avenues in which research can focus due to the lack of development in that area.

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  Analysis of Prescribed Gender Roles through the Use of Dissociative Identity Disorder in Contemporary Film

  Christian Ruiz

  Art is considered both a mirror to reality and a means of critiquing society. This is especially evident through contemporary filmmakers’ use of dissociative identity disorder (DID) in psychological thrillers from the 1990s to 2012, which is a time frame in which both film and society were notably different from those of the previous decades and in which there has not been extensive cultural study regarding DID. Through the presence of multiple selves, which is characteristic of DID, filmmakers illustrate their main characters’ attempts to resolve a stressful, or traumatic, situation. This study is an examination of the ways in which the main characters of Primal Fear (1996), Fight Club (1999), Black Swan (2010), and Silent House (2011) use DID to cope with pervasive and debilitating gender role expectations. For men, there is an increasing cultural call to act in accordance with the feminine traits of sensitivity and submission, which are contradictory to the masculine roles of being macho and independent. For women, there is a cultural call to continue to adhere to the traditional roles of being submissive, to allow themselves to be repressed by men, and to be bound by being caretakers. While the men in these films struggle to reassert their traditional, masculine roles of machismo and independence in the wake of a feminizing society, the women struggle to break away from traditional gender roles in order to become more like men, which conflict with the submissive roles that they are also forced to play. In essence, through this conflicting dichotomy of gender roles that both sexes are forced to play, the characters become fractured and beaten by these debilitating cultural expectations.

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  Three Day Dietary Recalls is Equivalent to Five Day Dietary Recalls in Evaluating Caloric Intake and Macronutrients in Person with Spinal Cord Injury

  Tulsi Shah and Letitia Romero

  Background: The detrimental adaptations on body composition characterized by rapid loss in lean mass and accumulation of fat mass are associated with several non-communicable diseases similar to type II diabetes mellitus, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular diseases in persons with spinal cord injury (SCI). Accurately evaluating dietary intakes is an essential component in management of body composition adaptations following SCI. We have previously shown that 7 days of diary recalls is an accurate method of capturing weekly caloric intake and providing accurate estimates of macronutrients (% carbohydrate, % fat and % protein). Purpose: The purpose of this pilot work is to examine whether three days are equivalent to five days of dietary recalls and whether it is more efficient than one day of dietary recall in evaluating caloric intake and the percent of macronutrients in persons with SCI. Methods: Three persons with complete SCI were enrolled as a part of a federally funded study investigating the effects of exercise and testosterone on body composition and metabolic profile after SCI (http://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01652040). Participants were asked to turn in a 5-day dietary recall on a weekly basis for 16 weeks. Data of the first 8 weeks were analyzed using the Nutrition Data System for Research (NDSR 2012) software. Basal metabolic rate was measured using indirect calorimeter and participants received feedback from the dietitian every 4 weeks. The averages of 5-day, 3-day and 1-day dietary recalls for caloric intake and percentage macronutrients (% carbohydrate, % fat and % protein) were calculated. Results: One-way ANOVA revealed that the caloric intake of 5-day dietary recalls (1231 ± 66 kcal/day) was not different from 3-day (1228 ± 119 kcal/day) or 1-day dietary (1217 ± 166 kcal/day) recalls over 8 weeks (P > 0.05). However, the 1-day dietary recall did not show the same pattern, especially during the first 4 weeks. Percentage macronutrients were not different among 5-day, 3-day or 1-day dietary recalls. Conclusions: Three-day dietary recalls provide an accurate estimate of caloric intake and macronutrients compared to 5-day dietary recalls. The results did not show a difference from a one-day dietary recall; the pattern, however, in caloric intake was clearly not similar to 3 or 5-day dietary recalls.

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  Effects of photoinitiators on intracellular signaling transduction

  Natasha Sheybani

  Photopolymerization has been widely explored in biomedical and tissue engineering applications due to its widely held potentials in the biomedical field. Photoinitiators embedded within crosslinked scaffold materials could potentially serve as a more effective alternative to present uses of gamma radiation for sterilization of implants and biomaterials. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the cellular toxicity and the intracellular response of three ultraviolet (UV) sensitive photoinitiators including eosin Y, 2-hydroxy-1-[4-(hydroxyethoxy)phenyl]-2methyl-1-propanone (Irgacure 2959) and dimethoxyphenyl acetophenone (DMPA) as well as the subsequent degree of proliferation of free radicals on HN4 cells. WST-1 assay indicated that HN4 cells can tolerate a wide range of concentrations of eosin Y and low concentrations of Irgacure 2959 (≤ 1 mg/ml) but not DMPA. Consistent with these results, eosin Y displayed no effect on intracellular AKT inactivation, but both Irgacure 2959 and DMPA concentration-dependently induced intracellular AKT inactivation. To initiate free radicals, these photoinitiators were exposed to UV light at 365 nm with an intensity of 100 watts for 30 minutes. In all three photoinitiating systems, HN4 cells failed to maintain cell viability and intracellular AKT activity. To further demonstrate the stability of free radicals on cytocompatibility, cell culture medium was mixed with eosin Y to reach a final concentration of 25μl/ml, and this mixture was exposed to UV light for 30 min. The mixture was kept in the dark prior to exposure to the cells. The results illustrate that the free radicals can be stable up to 48 hours, and HN4 cells failed to maintain cell viability and intracellular AKT activity in the eosin Y photoinitiating system after UV exposure. In summary, these results suggest that eosin Y is able to stabilize intracellular AKT activity and cell viability in a wider range than Irgacure 2959 and DMPA. However, the free radicals introduced by UV light significantly inhibit intracellular AKT activation and induce cytotoxicity. Future studies will aim to overcome the cruciality of removing from or significantly limiting free radicals within the photopolymer before biomedical applications.

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  The Prison Child Dilemma: An Assessment of Human Rights Infringements and Custodial Autonomy in Bolivian Prisons

  Natasha Sheybani

  The primary focus of this study is to assess the healthcare conditions and availability for imprisoned women and children in Bolivia. The international community has recently been faced with an overwhelming dilemma of children being subjected unjustly to prison conditions due to circumstances of parental incarceration. Commonly referred to as prison children, these dependents, ranging from newborns to adolescent minors in age, often follow their convicted mothers to prison due to lack of a better alternative. Research has indicated that while there is a tremendous threat to the safety, development, and general wellbeing of innocent children residing in prison, one benefit includes that of remaining close to their mothers during key early emotional, physical, and mental development stages. Threats to these children persist in the categories of security and protection from abuse and sexual harassment, denial of rights to education, physical recreation, proper nutrition, and most importantly due medical attention. Deterioration of healthcare rights for women and children is currently one of the most significant sectors of human rights violations. Recent proposed legislative resolutions include development of an international prison monitoring system for nations that subject prisoners to sub-humane conditions due to socioeconomic disparities, birthing and childcare provisions for imprisoned mothers, mother-baby units in prisons, gender and child sensitive prison facilities, comprehensive record-keeping systems for children entering prisons, as well as availability of well-trained and more specialized medical staff to attend to the specific needs of women in prisons. A final resolution in this particular study will include that of development of a child welfare system specific to Bolivia that can be later adapted to other socioeconomically disadvantaged countries, modeled after the present system in the United States and nonetheless compatible with nations' respective resource bases.

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  Strategies to Improve Oral Health Systems in Rural Vietnam

  Dylan Vu

  Oral health care systems seek to prevent and treat problems related to the mouth as well as restore teeth and the tissues that support the teeth. Oral health is important because it is closely related to general health and affects quality of life, food consumption, and physical appearance (Uetani et al., 2006). Poor, rural areas of the world especially do not have the oral health care system to keep up with the worsening oral health statuses of their people due to a lack of resources and/or infrastructure (Kandelman et al., 2012). Such is the case of Vietnam, where according to the National Oral Health Survey of Vietnam from 2001 and data from the World Health Organization, “large parts of the population of Vietnam must have incomplete natural dentitions” due to a high number of extractions and the average number of dental caries (cavities) is higher than the global average (Bhide et al., 2008; Nguyen et al., 2010, p.1). Rural areas of Vietnam are vulnerable because dental decay is prevalent but access to dental professionals is limited. While the oral health of individuals goes untreated, pain increases and quality of life deteriorates. This paper sought to create a plan for improving the oral health care system in rural Vietnam by analyzing a range of previously performed studies. The studies offered different perspectives and suggestions, which were then evaluated and compared to inspire new oral health strategies. One article provided a historical overview of Vietnam’s health care system as it transitioned from a planned to market economy, and another discussed health care issues that rural areas of Vietnam currently have. Multiple studies investigated the oral health status of Vietnamese people and two others analyzed the effectiveness of national health programs in rural areas. Moreover, several studies gave a general overview on oral health care systems and how to improve them. Results of the investigation reveal that although there are not many resources in rural areas of Vietnam to have a robust and sophisticated oral health system, a combination of preventive, structural, and curative strategies can help improve oral health in rural Vietnam. For example, preventive strategies include promoting school education programs and fluoridation treatment. Structural strategies offer changes to how the oral health system is organized, such as creating regional and local plans or using general health care workers to perform oral health tasks. Curative strategies include trying to restore teeth to a functional state instead of extracting them and emphasizing the importance of anterior teeth. Most importantly, the plan should be cost-effective and suit local priorities. Once an improved model is developed in rural Vietnam, it can be used as a model to improve oral health in poor areas around the world.

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  Foliage as a Modifier of Erotica and Indicator of Politics in Fragonard Paintings

  Michael Walker

  The French Revolution invoked prejudice against the aristocracy and the Rococo works they purchased, including those by eighteenth century artist Jean-Honoré Fragonard whose compositions display erotic subject matter, fluid brushwork, and preference for the natural world. Today that stigma persists; Fragonard’s works, though included in authoritative texts, are described as superficial and banal. This study examines a collection of four of Fragonard’s paintings and, through consideration of over twenty-one expertly written texts, shows that painted flora symbolically modifies the erotic themes of his works. Flowers, trees, and shrubs recontextualize erotic imagery, suggesting that Fragonard’s paintings contain conceits about the French aristocracy. This study calls for a reconsideration of Fragonard’s work in general.