Undergraduate Research Posters

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  Analysis of Fiber UV Degradation Through an Environmental Chamber

  Davis A. Eames

  Environmentally degraded fibers could impact multiple aspects of a fiber comparison, considering that collected weathered fabrics/fibers may express an altered chemical structure and/or colorimetric property compared to their unexposed counterparts. Depending on the amount of degradation the evidence has suffered, it could be challenging for forensic scientists to make conclusions from their comparative analyses. Observations presented in this study were orchestrated to test the possible outcomes that sunlight has on fabric-based materials. Photodegradation of fabrics was investigated through the use of an environmental chamber for a duration of six weeks, which would be equivalent to three months of real-world UV exposure. Red and blue fabrics of 100% polyester, nylon, and cotton were tested; purity and identity of each sample were confirmed by polarized light microscopy and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Colorimetric properties were analyzed through fluorescence microscopy. Accelerated weathering was accomplished in an environmental chamber, fabrics were subjected to repeated cycles—two hours at an irradiance of 0.25 w/m², two hours at 0.47 w/m², four hours at 0.68 w/m², two hours at 0.47 w/m², and lastly two hours at 0.25 w/m²—of UV light (340nm) for 1,008 hours. Relative humidity (< 25%), air temperature (25°C), and black panel temperature (35°C) were programmed to be held constant for the whole duration of the experiment. All exposed fibers either lost all pigment completely or were a faded variation of the original dyed color. Fluorescence microscopic analysis of the blue and red nylon fibers, as well as the red polyester fibers, all revealed substantially varied results between the UV-degraded and their counterparts. In addition, UV-exposed synthetic fibers were found to be more textured, which could have resulted from a reaction between the light and the particles of TiO₂ and polymer. This observation should be further studied. Overall, results presented within this study suggest that the UV-exposed fiber would be assumed as a different fiber when compared to its counterpart. Considering that this study mimicked the methods commonly performed by forensic personnel, this conclusion presents a threat for cases with evidentiary fiber samples from both indoor and outdoor conditions.

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  Women's Marital Roles in Classical Athens: Male Understanding and Portrayal in Aeschylus' Agamemnon and Euripides' Medea

  Elena Graf and Mary Boyes

  Abstract

  The Classical Period of Athens (500-336 BCE) was an era of sociocultural growth and stability for the ancient Greeks, renowned for its development of tragic theatre. While Classical Athens nurtured the public sociocultural success of male citizens, women adopted a submissive role, confined to their marital responsibilities. Women were forbidden from directly taking part in politics, philosophy, and above all, the theatrical scene of Athens. Due to these societal perceptions of traditional gender roles, the literature of the Classical Period was heavily influenced by a male bias. This study investigates the connections between women’s role in Classical Athenian society and the portrayal of female literary characters in tragic theatre by male playwrights. The use of stage costumes, characterization, and narrative of female characters in Euripides’ Classical tragic play Medea was analyzed to determine if male societal perceptions of women in Greek society influenced the structure of female characters. Through these analyses, it was determined that male bias and traditional gender roles of women in Athenian society established four prominent stereotypes in female dramatic characters: the femme fatale, the conspirator, the victim, and the villain. Tragic theatre was a vital pillar of ancient Greek history, so contemporary understanding of the reality of roles of women in Classical society are undeniably influenced by a male bias.

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  Investigation of the DYRK1A Regulation by LZTS2-SIPA1L1 Complex

  Rebecca Gunnin; Austin Witt B.S.; and Larisa Litovchick M.D.,Ph.D.

  A region on chromosome 21, the Down Syndrome critical region (DSCR), is associated with major defects found in Down Syndrome, such as craniofacial malformations. DYRK1A is a gene found on chromosome 21 within the DSCR that encodes an enzyme, dual specificity tyrosine-phosphorylation-regulated kinase 1A. DYRK1A is known to phosphorylate many substrate proteins and is thought to be involved in tumor suppression, neurological development, cell cycle regulation, and aging. Recently, the Litovchick lab and others reported that DYRK1A also plays a role in the double-strand break repair of DNA, which could lead to mutations and tumorigenesis, if deregulated.

  The Litovchick lab is currently investigating novel interactions of DYRK1A, and their implications for cancer. One of these proteins, DCAF7, is already a well-known DYRK1A interacting partner. Another less characterized protein is LZTS2, also known as LAPSER1 or leucine-zipper tumor suppressor 2. LZTS2 is found to be deleted in many human tumors and is known to bind a signaling intermediate SIPA1L1.2 Our preliminary data show that LZTS2 may promote DYRK1A phosphorylation, thereby regulating DYRK1A kinase activity. We suspect that SIPA1L1 may be involved in this interaction and, as this complex is known to be involved in the WNT pathway that plays a role in both cancer and orofacial formation,

  To test this hypothesis, we started characterization of the DYRK1A-LZTS2 interaction using ectopic expressions of the full-length LZTS2 and DYRK1A as well as their fragments expressed in human T98G cells. We will further perform experiments investigating the physical binding and functional interactions between DCAF7, SIPA1L1, and the DYRK1A-LZTS2 complex.

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  Glyphosate and Dopaminergic Neurotoxicity: Herbicide Impacts on Parkinson's Disease Development

  Lojy Hozyen

  Nearly one million individuals in the United States are living with Parkinson’s disease (PD). In the past two decades, the death rate from PD has risen by about 63 percent in the United States. Major findings have been made in the past five years about the potential impact of glyphosate (N-(phosphonomethyl) glycine) exposure on the onset of PD symptoms. The purpose of this meta-analysis is to provide a compiled update on the chemical and biological alterations that glyphosate imposes on the human brain. A meta-analysis was conducted to create a quantitative estimate of the connection between PD and glyphosate. Findings suggest that glyphosate exposure causes synaptic terminal alterations which affect the synaptic assembly and neuronal connectivity and alters adaptation of gene expression by crossing the blood-brain barrier. This paper highlights findings towards glyphosate impacts on dopamine production through similar mechanisms as the banned pesticide Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT). Despite DDT being banned in 1972, glyphosate still remains readily available for consumer use. Although The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has assured Americans that glyphosate poses no risk to human health, the herbicide is banned in at least 10 countries and some states and cities within the United States are starting to implement restrictions. The results of this study provide a proposal for legislatures to mandate glyphosate restrictions for the United States as a whole.

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  A Three-Dimensional in vitro Model of Disease That Improves Preclinical Research by Incorporating Genetic Diversity and Increasing Physiological Accuracy

  Akash Jagdeesh

  Biomedical research is essential for the discovery of new medications and treatments, and is built upon the cooperation of preclinical (in vitro/vivo) research and clinical trials. However, 85% of treatments previously successful in vitro/vivo fail in clinical trials, suggesting that in vitro models are poor indicators of clinical success. The issue lies in conventional “two-dimensional” in vitro models containing genetically identical cells grown on a flat plate, which lack the variety of cell types and cooperation/structure found in real tissue. Moreover, 2D in vitro models do not simulate humans’ genotypic variability, which affects both pathophysiology and treatment effectiveness. 3D in vitro disease models (e.g. organoids/spheroids) include the extracellular components, structures, cell-cell interactions, and microenvironment observed in human tissue, resulting in more physiologically accurate disease models. This paper consolidates current research of 3D models of varying complexities for different diseases to propose an effective and efficient solution for creating 3D in vitro models. Organoids should be the model of interest for organ/tissue-specific diseases and tumors, while patient-derived xenografts formed by implanting organoids into humanized mouse models are useful for studying body-wide disease/treatment effects. Growing organoids in prepared hydrogels allows them to mimic a human extracellular matrix and microenvironment, and adjusting the hydrogel’s characteristics allows control over organoid growth/differentiation. Sourcing undifferentiated stem cells from patients of different ethnicities, ages, and socioeconomic statuses allows representation of diverse populations and corresponding epigenetics. Adipose stem cells are abundant in humans and easily accessible with minimally invasive procedures.

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  Proposing an RNA Interference (RNAi)-based Treatment for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) by Analyzing the Post-Transcriptional Gene Targeting of SARS-CoV-2, Hepatitis C Virus, and A549 Lung Cancer Cells

  Arjun Jagdeesh

  Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects CD4+ T cell lymphocytes in humans, leading to the development of Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) if left untreated. While current treatment methods, including antiretroviral combination treatments, effectively limit HIV replication, HIV can evade these treatments due to its high mutation rate. Long-term antiretroviral treatment can also be toxic to patients, meaning patients would benefit from a new mechanism of HIV treatment. RNA interference (RNAi) is an antiviral pathway found in mammals, plants, and insects that involves a small-interfering RNA that is incorporated into a protein complex called the RNA-induced Silencing Complex (RISC). This complex binds to and cleaves viral mRNAs, reducing viral gene expression. RNAi is a promising method of treating HIV/AIDS, since it has been found to adapt to and target highly-conserved sequences in Hepatitis C Virus, A549 lung cancer, and SARS-CoV-2 in mammalian cells. Patisiran is an FDA-approved RNAi treatment for use in humans, making an HIV RNAi treatment plausible. However, an RNAi treatment for HIV has not yet been designed or developed. This paper aims to propose a comprehensive potential RNAi treatment for HIV. RNAi may effectively inhibit HIV replication by containing two siRNAs with the sequences 5’-UUAAUACUGACGCUCUCGC-3’ and 5’-UGUAUUGAUAGAUAACUAU-3’ that target the highly-conserved p17 and Reverse Transcriptase genes, respectively, delivered within a solid lipid nanoparticle composed of equimolar amounts of DOTAP and DODMA cationic lipids and containing LFA-1 antibody on the surface for receptor-mediated endocytosis, and cotransported with Rev and GagPol HIV proteins to limit the anti-RNAi function of HIV’s RRE and TAR.

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  Glycations on Muscle Extracellular Matrix Promote RAGE Expression in Volumetric Muscle Injury Model

  Ammar Jawad, Lucas C. Olson, Brock Lodato, Eirian Crocker, Scott Pennebaker, David Joshua Cohen, Tri M. Nguyen, Zvi Schwartz, and Michael J. McClure

  The accessible version of the poster is available.

  Volumetric muscle loss (VML) has been found to overwhelm muscle regeneration, resulting in loss of long-term muscle function and increased risk of injury to individuals with age-associated diseases. Current treatment plans result in suboptimal recovery; however, decellularized muscle matrices (DMMs) have been found to provide an effective environment for muscle regeneration via muscle-specific growth factors. These factors limit scarring, enabling these DMMs to guide progenitor cells toward effective tissue regeneration. However, factors such as age may affect DMM’s regenerative capacity, and must be considered when developing these technologies. Advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) are chemical cross-links that contribute to the aging process and are implicated in receptor for advanced glycation end-product (RAGE) activity. In this study, we developed a model of aged rat DMMs by using AGE cross-links and hypothesized that increased AGE levels in DMM would reduce its regenerative capacity.

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  Isoprenylation Inhibition Suppresses FcεRI-mediated Mast Cell Function and Allergic Inflammation

  Aditya Kotha, Jordan M. Dailey, Aslamuzzaman Kazi, Said Sebti, and John J. Ryan

  Allergic disease is driven by cell signaling cascades that activate immune cells. One key player is mast cells, which is activated by IgE antibodies signaling through the high affinity IgE receptor, FceRI. Therefore, targeting FceRI-mediated cascades can offer for novel treatments for allergic disease. Statins have been demonstrated to reduce the severity of asthma, a common allergic airway disease. Statins are an FDA approved class of drugs with the intended purpose of lowering blood cholesterol. We previously found that while statins inhibit mast cell function in allergic disease, these anti-inflammatory effects vary widely amongst differing mouse strains and human donors, suggesting genetic variability. This project sought to overcome statin resistance by acting “downstream” in the cholesterol synthesis pathway on protein isoprenylation pathways. The logic is that isoprenylated proteins are critical for FceRI signaling, thus blocking this step of protein modification should reduce FceRI-mediated mast cell function. The novel FGTI-2734 drug was used to suppress the isoprenylation enzymes farnesyl transferase and geranylgeranyl transferase. FGTI-2734 reduced IgE-mediated mast cell degranulation and cytokine and chemokine secretion. Additional work found that both transferases must be targeted to produce these anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, we revealed that the K-Ras protein is an isoprenylation target that is essential for IgE-mediated mast cell function. Collectively, these studies demonstrate the translational potential of the novel drug FGTI-2734 and suggest it acts by suppressing isoprenylation of proteins critical for mast cell function, including K-Ras.

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  Development and Usability Testing of a PHR for Down’s Syndrome (DS) Care Coordination

  Edward Ladia, Brianna Boston, Bethany Cosgrove PhD, Elizabeth Baker PhD, and Jeffrey Duah

  321Connect was first drafted by Dr. Bethany Cosgrove to support caregivers of children with Down’s Syndrome in coordinating care.

  These children often require multiple appointments with various healthcare professionals throughout the course of their life. Caregivers expressed a need for accurate and up-to-date information, providing evidence of the potential benefit of an mHealth application. A mobile health application with a PHR (personal health record) for the child would aid in keeping track of this information. However, there is no existing solution on the market that met this need, prompting the creation of 321Connect.

  321Connect aims to provide information and support for families and caregivers of children with Down’s Syndrome, allowing them to focus on what truly matters: their child.

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  Testing the Efficacy and Synergistic Components of Sesamol and Black Rice Extract on Human Colon Cancer Cells

  Sera Lim and Philip M. Gerk

  Purpose: Systemic treatment of colorectal cancer involves chemotherapeutic agents which elicit serious and negative side effects from the toxicity of the drug. To address this issue, we are testing dietary supplements for their efficacy against human colon cancer cell lines and also their potential synergistic effects when combined with conventional chemotherapy. Dietary supplements (specifically sesamol and black rice extract) exhibit anticancer, anti-inflammatory, and chemo-preventive properties. Meanwhile, one of the cancer resistance mechanisms is the upregulation of drug elimination mechanisms, leading to multi-drug resistance. We hypothesize that dietary compounds will act as chemo-enhancers, thus enhancing potency of the chemotherapy drug(s) on colon cancer cell lines, even in the presence of induced drug-resistance mechanisms.

  Methods: LS180 or HT29 human colonic adenocarcinoma cells were cultured in 96-well plates in standard media lacking or containing active vitamin D (250nM). Doxorubicin, oxaliplatin, irinotecan (chemotherapeutics), sesamol, and black rice extract (dietary supplements) were examined at varying concentrations to determine their antiproliferative potencies. Alamar blue activity was measured by fluorimetry to compare the growth rates in the presence of the treatments.

  Results: In the presence of vitamin D, the tested substances showed decreased potency against cell proliferation. Vitamin D treatments accelerated cell proliferation and decreased the potency of doxorubicin (IC50 values: 1.9nM (alone), 3.9nM (vitamin D)). However, a large degree of variability obscured some of the results.

  Conclusions: Futures studies will find ways to decrease the variability and determine the extent to which sesamol and black rice extract enhance chemotherapy and overcome drug resistance mechanisms.

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  Racial Experiences and Racial Identity Experiences of “New” African Americans in the United States

  Sosna Marshet and Kenna Yadeta

  The challenges faced by Black immigrants in the United States are significant, beginning with isolation and loneliness and intensified by pervasive discrimination. This study examines the impact of racism on the racial identity of Black immigrants in the United States. Using the Multidimensional Inventory of Black Identity (MIBI), various dimensions of Black identity were measured among 119 Black first and second-generation immigrants aged 18 to 51. The results showed a positive correlation between experiences of racism and the centrality dimension of Black identity, a negative correlation with the humanist, and a positive correlation with Nationalist dimensions of Black identity. These findings highlight the need for ongoing efforts to address racism and its impact on the racial identity of Black immigrants in the United States.

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  Finite Element Analysis of 3D-printed PCL Scaffolds

  Ireolu K. Orenuga, Joao Soares, Phillip D. Glass, and Daeha Joung Ph.D.

  Finite Element Analysis of 3D-printed PCL Scaffolds for Synergizing Cellular Micro-Environment and Mechanical Stimuli to Enhance Engineered Tissue Growth in Vitro

  Ireolu Orenuga,1 Phillip Glass,2 Daeha Joung,2 Joao S. Soares1

  1. Department of Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering, College of Engineering, Virginia Commonwealth University
  2. Department of Physics, College of Humanities & Sciences, Virginia Commonwealth University

  Introduction: Tissue engineering aims to create viable and functional engineered tissues via biodegradable scaffolds and autologous cells. Scaffolds play an essential part in organizing the architecture of developing tissues and aid in the proper function of implants acutely by serving as mechanical support and long-term by degrading and undergoing absorption as de novo tissue is produced. Polycaprolactone (PCL) is a commonly used biodegradable and biocompatible material. PCL scaffolds are typically electrospun or nonwoven, which produces random microstructures without a very robust control. 3D printed PCL scaffolds allow for the design of a structured and controlled cellular micro-environment and mechanical properties for cells to grow in vitro. However, the translation of mechanical training at the tissue level happening in bioreactors during in vitro culture to cellular stimulation is poorly understood. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of 3d-printed PCL scaffolds may elucidate the different roles of microstructural parameters in cellular mechanotransduction and provide insight on how to effectively engineer better tissues.

  Methods: SolidWorks was used to make four models of 3D-printed PCL fibers with 0-90 and 45-45 orientations in two configurations, i.e. aligned and staggered fibers. The completed 0-90 and 45-45 orientations staggered model was exported as an .stl file to 3D-print. SEM imaging analyzing the 3d-printing results were conducted to obtain realistic microstructures of the 3D-printed PCL scaffolds. These 3D-models were imported into FEBio for FEA analysis of the deformations involved with in vitro mechanical training up to a uniaxial strain of 50% (aligned with the 0-degree orientation). Additionally, we have performed exploratory cell seeding experiments on some scaffolds to analyze seeding efficiency and mechanical testing of virgin scaffolds to validate the FEA results.

  Results: The 3D-printed models produced were a 0-90 and a 45-45 staggered configuration scaffold each with dimensions of 8 x 20 x 0.45mm thickness with 16 layers. PCL fibers were printed as ribbons with 10 by 85 microns and spaced apart creating pores of 235 by 235 microns. Meshing both configurations was successful and FEA simulations showed that scaffolds can undergo strains of up to 33% before pores start collapsing. Mechanical tests showed the scaffold was able to undergo strains of up to 10% in the elastic regime without appreciating damage. Drip seeding experiments showed that RVSMCs are able to survive and grow on the 3D printed PCL scaffolds.

  Conclusions: FEA has proven to be useful for predicting mechanical behavior of 3D printed PCL scaffolds. Future experiments will focus on conducting mechanical testing on more scaffolds and in vitro engineered tissue culture under mechanical stimulation.

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  COVID-19 Impact on Latinx Families within the RVA Breathes Program

  Abigail Poulston; Robin S. Everhart, Ph.D; and Sarah C M Morton

  RVA Breathes is a community-based asthma intervention program that aims to reduce asthma disparities among 5 to 11-year-old children in Richmond, Virginia. Prior to the pandemic, Latinx children faced greater disparities in asthma treatment and morbidity than non-Latinx White children. During the pandemic, there is evidence to suggest that these disparities may have been further exacerbated. Specifically, research shows that COVID-19 health disparities among Latinx individuals arose due to social inequities, such as poverty, living conditions, lack of access to health care, language barriers, and employment. The current study provides an overview of responses from 20 Latinx caregivers to pandemic-related questions asked during intervention sessions.

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  Prevalence of Nicotine Delivery Systems by Biological Sex in the Spit for Science Study

  Ayrton Quiroz, Amy Adkins, S4S Working Group, Elizabeth Prom-Wormley, Elizabeth K. Do, Megan Cooke, James Clifford, and Hermine H. Maes

  Nicotine intake usage trends have changed over recent decades given the wide variety of nicotine delivery systems including cigarettes, vaping, hookah, and snubs/chewables. These trends also vary by demographic factors, such as race/ethnicity, sex, and socioeconomic status (SES). For example, studies in rat populations, as well as humans, have found that females tend to be more dependent on nicotine products and have a more difficult time quitting than male rats and humans (Pogun et al., 2017). Also, race/ethnicity may impact the frequency of nicotine usage in different populations; in that non-white Hispanics were more susceptible to smoking through adolescence with a peak at ages 12 and 16; whereas non-Hispanic Asian Americans were less susceptible to smoking at ages 11 and 15 (El-Toukhy et al., 2016). Certain nicotine delivery methods may be more available or perhaps more socially accepted by certain groups of people. While lower SES is associated with more prevalent cigarette advertisements and usage, individuals with a higher SES were associated with an increased prevalence of e-cigarette advertisements, leading to an increased frequency of e-cigarette usage among adolescents (Simon et al., 2018). This project aims to document rates of nicotine use across different nicotine delivery systems in college students by demographic factors. We use the Spit for Science (S4S) database to investigate prevalence rates and study if they differ by sex, race/ethnicity, or SES. It is hypothesized that higher SES individuals will have an increased frequency of use with nicotine products that are non-cigarette based, non-white Hispanics will have greater frequency with nicotine usage, and females within the study sample will display a higher dependency on nicotine products than males. Preliminary analyses reveal that there are more female participants than males throughout the S4S cohorts collected between 2020 and 2022. Across cohorts, prevalence of all nicotine delivery systems differs in female and male participants across all products. Larger differences in prevalence between females and males are observed for cigarettes, smokeless tobacco, and cigars than for products that have been introduced more recently, such as hookah, vaping, and heat-not-burn products. Further analyses will focus on patterns of use in relation to race/ethnicity and SES. Understanding nicotine usage trends within our sample could pave the way for additional research (i.e., genetic studies) and allow for the development of prevention/intervention models tailored to our sample populations.

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  The Association Between Survivors’ Guilt and Gratitude in the Belongingness of Refugee College Students

  Mehwish Safdar

  Many refugees experience significant stress and trauma before relocating to their host country (Leo, 2021) and often encounter new challenges when adapting to their unfamiliar environment. Refugee college students, who are often the first in their families to attend college, face additional pressure to excel academically to give back to their families and host country (Turjanmaa & Jasinskaja-Lahti, 2020). Despite prior research on refugee individuals, little work has focused on refugee college students. This study aimed to address this gap by examining the relationships between survivors’ guilt, gratitude, indebtedness, and belongingness in 16 refugee university students. Specifically, the study investigated the following research questions: 1) How does survivors’ guilt relate to the feeling of belongingness in refugee college students? 2) How does gratitude relate to the feeling of belongingness in refugee college students? 3) How does indebtedness relate to the feeling of belongingness in refugee college students? 4) Is the feeling of gratitude or indebtedness stronger in refugee college students? Results revealed no significant correlation between survivor guilt or gratitude and belongingness but showed a significant correlation between indebtedness and belongingness. Implications and limitations are discussed.

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  Black Liberation in Transnational Terms: The Case of Haiti and the United States

  Dulanda F. P. Saintcyr

  Haiti made history on January 1st, 1804 when it secured independence from France. Not only did Haiti become a sovereign state, it also earned the title of being the first independent Black nation in the world. The latter accomplishment should not be ignored. The Haitians’ efforts created an impact that transcends their national border, particularly in the context of Black liberation. For example, the United States' history of working towards achieving full freedom for Black people resembles the Haitian struggle. Whether the connection between the two states is widely acknowledged is a point of interest. As a result, this project aims to answer the following research question: “How has the Haitian Revolution shaped our perception of Black liberation in the United States?” Its methodology consists of a researcher-administered survey that captures the perspectives of legal-aged adults in the United States. By using this method, the study hopes to find a commonality between Haitian and American history that further shows how Black history is everyone’s history.

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  The Collaboration between Art and Botany

  Hee So and Sierra Beecher

  Using past research from my work study with Dr. Beecher where a team of students focused on quantitative and diagnostic anatomies of salt marsh and beach grasses on the Atlantic coasts, I used the research collected and created vector-based diagrams that were easily readable for Biology students at VCU. These illustrations were used in a manuscript we have been preparing, which has been accepted by the “Castanea” scientific journal. During the research fellowship, I was able to design a poster that portrayed the benefits of collaboration between art and botany, and Dr. Beecher presented the poster at the ASPB conference in Portland. We are continuing to work on a free laboratory manual resource where I oversee the creation of the diagrams while Dr. Beecher authors the manual. The manual resource will hopefully be adaptable to changing curriculums as the project finishes.

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  The Role of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in Alzheimer's Disease

  Ethan S. Terman

  This study examines the consequences of Alzheimer’s in rat and mice test subjects. The goal is to identify the effects of certain NLRP3 inhibiting drugs and to see if there are any noticeable effects in regards to impeding the pathological development of Alzheimer’s disease. The results are visualized by implementing the immunohistochemical process to identify neurodegeneration in the brain and to assess the expression levels of amyloid beta as an indicator of Alzheimer’s pathology. Other tests are also conducted on these transgenic mice to gauge cognitive functioning levels during the onset of their disease, those being behavior tests, but not limited to the extraction of information on the results of the NLRP3 inhibitor drug trials which aid in adding to the existing database of quantitative data from previous tests. The results of this study play into further understanding of this crippling neurodegenerative disease.

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  Comparing the Microbiomes of Dental Plaques in 19th Century Ancestral Remains

  Ananya Udyaver

  During the construction of VCU’s Hermes A. Kontos Medical Sciences Building in April 1994, nineteenth century ancestral remains were found in an abandoned well on the Medical College of Virginia (MCV) campus. This well, now known as the East Marshall Street Well (EMSW), is thought to have been used as a disposal location for cadaver dissection for surgical and other medical waste in the past. VCU is now seeking to use DNA sequencing technology to match and assemble bones from each individual for a proper burial, uncover the cultural and historical context in which these people lived, and bring a sense of closure to our community and to these ancestors. The development of oral diseases can result from disruptions to the ecological balance of the oral microbiome, especially by pathogenic bacteria, so studying the dental plaque microbiome and recognizing the different species present can provide insight into the health and disease status of these individuals. This research includes a preliminary study (n=8) on the calcified dental plaques (dental calculus) found on the teeth of the skulls using 16S rDNA high throughput sequencing to uncover information about microbes associated with dental calculus. The two most abundant bacteria associated with these samples were Caulobacteraceae and Cytophagales. The composition of the ancient oral microbiome, which preserves dietary and environmental debris, might also provide us with insight into the dietary patterns and environmental conditions of these individuals.

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  Memory Reconsolidation and Alcohol Use Disorder: Intravenous Infusion of Ketamine to Alleviate Addictive Symptoms in Alcohol Use Disorder Diagnoses

  Yasaswi Veera

  According to the National Institute of Health, substance use disorder in the United States in 2021 caused nearly 106,000 deaths and an annual healthcare and criminal justice expenditure of roughly $200 billion, however, only 10% of diagnoses receive proper treatment. This is primarily due to the lack of previous research in addictive studies as well as the lack of accessibility to resources and proper treatments. Current treatments for alcohol use disorder range from medications and behavioral therapies, such as acamprosate, naltrexone, and cognitive behavior therapy. Much of these treatments consist of reconditioning the brain to associate alcohol with a negative outcome, demotivating the patient to consume alcohol. Recent studies propose ketamine as an effective treatment method due to its anesthetic properties and its potential to interfere with the association between alcohol consumption and its transient effects. In this study, the researcher investigated the extent to which current treatments are able to modify neural pathways to alleviate alcoholic associations as well as the benefits of providing treatment specifically during the memory reconsolidation period rather than providing treatment alone. It was concluded that ketamine would offer a longer onset of effects when administered immediately after alcoholic desire was stimulated in patients, signifying that it is a more effective treatment than other current treatments.

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  Structural Analysis of Predicted Proteins Using AlphaFold

  Brydon P. Wall

  The function of around 67% of predicted proteins from genes in Mycobacteriophage CheetoDust can not be confidently predicted using traditional techniques and can only be functionally labeled “hypothetical proteins”. However, a new approach using AlphaFold, an artificial intelligence tool to generate a structural prediction from a sequence, can take advantage of structurally conserved regions that were previously obfuscated to gain new insights and visualize data in new ways.

  Since amino acid sequences are more conserved than its corresponding DNA sequence, amino acid sequences are used when predicting the function of the corresponding translated protein. Until recently, predicting structure from an amino acid sequence, known as the “protein-folding problem,” was unreliable, and thus, not widely used. Functional analysis of predicted proteins can now be enhanced with new tools like AlphaFold that attempt to solve the protein-folding problem and generate monomer and multimer structural predictions that can be used to further functional predictions.

  For this project, AlphaFold was used to: 1) confirm the function of gene product 68 as DNA primase/helicase, 2) confirm a ‘wing’ structure to enable functional annotation as a winged-helix-turn-helix protein, and 3) predict functions for other proteins previously annotated as hypothetical protein. This poster will explore the potential for using artificial intelligence to improve functional annotation of protein sequences.

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  The Impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic On Mental Health of College Students

  Alexis West, Afton White, Punit Gandhi, Indranil Sahoo, Michael Robert, and David Chan

  In April and May of 2020, at the beginning of the pandemic, a few hundred VCU students were surveyed about their academics, mental health, support network, and the impact COVID was having in their life.

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  ROS and SFK signaling is required for development of hematopoietic stem cells in zebrafish

  Bradley Williams and Erich Damm

  ROS and SFK signaling is required for development of hematopoietic stem cells in zebrafish

  Bradley Williams and Erich Damm

  Background

  Hematopoiesis is the process in which the myriad of mature blood cell types, including erythrocytes and leukocytes, develop from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) throughout the life of an organism. In vertebrates, HSCs originate from endothelial cells lining the floor of the dorsal aorta. This process is referred to as the endothelial to hematopoietic transition and is likely controlled in part by molecular signals from neighboring cells. Investigation into the molecular signaling mechanisms controlling the development of HSCs is critical to the development of potential treatments to blood disorders, such as training patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) to differentiate into replacement HSCs for transplantation into leukemia patients or patients receiving gene therapy for genetic hematologic disorders. Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as superoxides and peroxides, have been shown to act as cellular signaling molecules. Previous studies have shown a requirement for ROS signaling in the early development of HSCs, although the complete mechanism of ROS signaling involvement has not yet been determined. Additionally, it has been suggested that Src family kinases (SFKs), a family of key cell signaling regulators, can be regulated by ROS signaling, although a role for SFKs in developmental hematopoiesis has not been demonstrated.

  Objectives

  The aim of this study was to determine if ROS and SFK signaling are required for the earliest stages of HSC development in the zebrafish embryo.

  Methods

  To evaluate the roles of ROS signaling and SFK activity in HSC development, pharmacological inhibition or anti-sense morpholino oligonucleotides were used to knockdown ROS and SFK activity. Wild type zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos were treated with either MCI-186, a ROS scavenging compound, or PP2, a pharmacological inhibitor of SFKs. Whole-mount in-situ hybridization (WISH) for key HSC and endothelial cell marker genes was performed to examine the status of HSC and endothelial development under these conditions. To examine the expression of the SFK yes related kinase (yrk) in the zebrafish embryo, WISH was performed. Transgenic zebrafish embryos exhibiting fluorescent vascular tissue (Tg(kdrl:mCherry)) were stained with a phospho-Src antibody to highlight SFK activity in the embryonic vasculature. Transgenic embryos were also injected with splice-blocking morpholino oligonucleotides targeting yrk mRNA transcripts to knock down Yrk protein expression.

  Results and Conclusions

  We show that inhibition of ROS signaling results in a loss of HSC development and a reduction in phosphorylated Src kinases in the dorsal aorta of zebrafish embryos during the stage when HSCs develop. Importantly, we confirmed that the SFK yrk is expressed in the embryonic vasculature during the stage when HSCs initially develop. We further show that embryos treated with the SFK inhibitor PP2 or injected with morpholinos targeting yrk, exhibit defective HSC development, implying that both ROS and SFKs are required for HSC development. Our results suggest a model where ROS signaling is required for phosphorylation of the SFK yrk, which in turn plays a yet to be determined signaling role in the development of HSCs.

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  Perspectives of Middle School Students on their Engagement and Relevance in Science

  Dylan E. Young, Kamil Hankour, Javonti Braxton, Martinique Sealy, Hui Sun, and Christine Bae

  The purpose of this study is to explore urban middle school students' thoughts and attitudes about engagement, belonging, use of their funds of knowledge (FoK), and discourse in their science classrooms. Historically, students from this population often feel disengaged and alienated from science, which is why it is important to study their point of view; and, there is currently a dearth of literature that does so (Emdin et al., 2021; Fredricks et al., 2018). The engagement model used includes behavioral, cognitive, affective and social dimensions (Wang et al., 2016). The data was collected in a study that involves collaboration between teachers and researchers, including the development of the science lessons that were taught during data collection. The data included 135 students across seven mid-Atlantic, urban middle school science classrooms in the United States. Students were administered surveys after their lessons, and later participated in focus group interviews collected in a previous study. Descriptive statistics and profile analysis were conducted on our quantitative data, resulting in 3 main profiles of students being identified. The profiles included (1) Above average engagement, FoK and discourse, (2) Below average engagement and FoK with high discourse, and (3) Average engagement and FoK with high discourse. Furthermore, qualitative themes were identified, such as students preferring group work and “hands-on” lessons. Implications for practice and plans for future distribution are discussed.

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  A Participatory Group Process to Collect and Disseminate COVID-19 Needs Assessment Data

  Areebah Ahmed

  The Richmond, VA COVID-19 Needs Assessment Survey (RVA CoNA) was created in March 2020 to identify behaviors and needs related to COVID-19 in Richmond area adults ages 18 and over. Results are being used to inform support, strategic efforts, and educational outreach of local community organizations. The purpose of this study is to (1) summarize the process used to develop the RVA CoNA, (2) summarize preliminary survey results from a second phase of data collection as well as initial feedback from community partners, and (3) summarize initial conclusions and results dissemination strategies.Community partners and researchers at Virginia Commonwealth University jointly contributed to the RVA CoNA through: (1) survey development, (2) pilot testing, (3) survey administration, (4) review survey results, (5) identifying dissemination strategies, and (6) identifying activities informed by survey results. Survey respondents answered questions in the following areas: healthcare, education, access to transportation, employment, behaviors, and self-reported illnesses. Two phases of data collection were conducted using: internet-based surveys (August 4, 2020-March 4, 2021; N = 350) and paper/pencil surveys (May 22-October 22, 2021; N = 265). Summary statistics were produced in R (Version 3.6.1). Second phase data collection results were discussed by the RPN-CAN in December 2021.Over half (58.5%) of second phase participants indicated that they spent more time doing enjoyable activities with family and friends during the pandemic. However, 45% of participants reported increased feelings of isolation and loneliness since the pandemic, 56% indicated having sleep problems since the start of the pandemic, and 48.1% indicated increased mental health problems.Community partners identified mental health as a priority. They considered developing organizational support that connects people with mental health resources to be a priority. Additional community-wide results dissemination and strategy implementation began in 2022 and is ongoing.