Undergraduate Research Posters

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  How does direct volunteering affect the onset of Alzheimer’s Dementia in elderly patients with preexisting cardiac comorbidities?

  Sneha R. Gade

  Alzheimer's Dementia is a disease that affects memory, thinking, and behavior. The Alzheimer's Association reported Alzheimer's as the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States, and a cure does not exist. Donepezil, a cholinesterase inhibitor drug, is frequently prescribed to treat Alzheimer's disease. Still, patients must continuously take the medication for years to receive any measurable improvement in quality of life after developing Alzheimer's Dementia. Further, research shows prolonged use of Donepezil can lead to other health problems, such as QTc prolongation, for cardiac disease patients. Therefore, the effectiveness of non-drug interventions, such as volunteering to prevent the disease's onset, is gaining popularity. The purpose of this study is to review the scientific literature to explore the benefits of various types of volunteering, such as physical, social, and cognitive activities, and their effect in delaying the onset of Alzheimer's Dementia in elderly patients with preexisting cardiac comorbidities.

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  Post-Mortem Brain Nuclei Isolation for Single Nucleus RNA Sequencing

  Charles J. Tran, Lin Y. Xie, Min Zhao, Edwin JCG van den Oord, and Karolina A. Aberg

  Abstract

  Post-Mortem Brain Nuclei Isolation for Single Nucleus RNA Sequencing

  Charles Tran, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Karolina Aberg, VCU School of Pharmacy

  When tissue samples are studied in bulk without consideration for different cell proportions and types, results can be biased due to the attenuation of unique cellular expressions. In order to study cell type specific RNA expression profiles within tissue, single cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) is used. For scRNA-seq studies it is critical to have intact cells. However, when investigating frozen post-mortem brain tissue, it is often challenging to isolate intact whole cells. An alternative solution is to instead isolate nuclei (which have similar, but not identical, transcriptomes to cells) and then perform single-nucleus RNA sequencing (snRNA-seq). In this study we have carefully optimized a protocol for nuclei extraction from post-mortem brain cells suitable for downstream snRNA-seq analysis. We found that adjusting our protocol to include less aggressive methods of tissue homogenization and sample-retaining lab techniques has resulted in the successful removal of cell debris and myelin alongside providing a workable sample size. In conclusion we have successfully evaluated and prepared enough high-quality nuclei for downstream scRNA-seq using our optimized protocol.

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  A proposal for a social dance intervention to improve health in older African Americans living in community settings

  Olivia M. Alsamadi

  A proposal for a social dance intervention to improve health in older African Americans living in community settings

  Olivia Alsamadi, Dept. of Dance & Choreography, with Dr. Ana Diallo, VCU School of Nursing

  Introduction: Older low-income African Americans are at high risk for health problems such as falls, hypertension, stress, and depression, partly due to limited physical activity. Despite the fact that most healthcare professionals prescribe exercise, older adults are likely to drop out of exercise programs or avoid them altogether due to multiple barriers, including lack of interest. Social dance interventions offer innovative solutions for introducing exercise to interested individuals seeking an alternative exercise program. Low-impact aerobic exercise from social dance, for instance, can help address some health problems afflicting older adults, such as mobility, balance, sleep, and gait patterns. Additionally, the endorphins released from the exercise in conjunction with social interaction can combat residents’ depression and social isolation experiences. Furthermore, offering the opportunity to engage in social dancing as exercise on-site eliminates transportation barriers that keep older adults from participation. As part of the VCU Institute for Inclusion, Inquiry and Innovation (iCubed) Health and Wellness Aging Core and in collaboration with the Richmond Health and Wellness Program (RHWP), our research team plans to work with senior residents of a low-income public housing building to assess the feasibility of introducing a social dance intervention to improve physical and mental health. Following implementation of the social dance intervention, it is hypothesized that there will be improvement in participant health and attitudes toward dance as physical activity. Methods: Ten residents will be recruited on a volunteer basis and then assessed by the occupational therapist on-site to determine whether this form of exercise is safe for this population. The research team will conduct surveys to assess residents’ past and current experiences and attitudes toward dancing, and their physical/mental health status. The research team will develop a social dance intervention based on residents’ feedback and tailored to their interests (e.g., line dancing). The proposed intervention will take place two times a week, each session lasting forty-five minutes, over a three-week period. Focus groups with the residents pre- and post-intervention will inform the development of this social dance intervention, as well as provide insight on their overall experience with said intervention. Data collected from the focus groups will be analyzed to determine how the participants’ attitudes about their health and physical activity change over the three weeks. Discussion: The research team hopes to find that the health of the subjects will improve after the intervention as well as their attitudes about their health. This can be tracked through the surveys that are taken before and after the intervention, and the responses given in the focus groups. The research team also hopes to see a new sense of community with the residents in this new group activity that can continue outside of the intervention. A possible limitation could be residents dropping out during the intervention, but we hope to prevent this by having the program onsite for the residents so it is easily accessible. Using social dance, we hope to create and foster a long-term relationship with the residents and sustained exercise and social interaction.

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  The Role of Cultural Competency on Treatment Adherence and Health Literacy for Persons of Color Living with HIV/AIDS

  Rohan Arora

  The Role of Cultural Competency on Treatment Adherence and Health Literacy for Persons of Color Living with HIV/AIDS

  Rohan Arora, Depts. of Psychology, Medical Humanities, & Chemistry, with Dr. Faye Pritchard, VCU Honors College

  For decades, the American medical establishment has been a notable perpetrator in the mass marginalization of minority groups, leading to a variety of health disparities. Given that the existing healthcare institution is not culturally equipped to serve the evolving American demographic, experts have called for the greater usage of cultural competency in medicine; however, little research has been done to better understand how the degree of cultural competency of a health-care provider impacts the complex disease management for those living with HIV/AIDS. The aim of this research is to better understand how cultural competency can impact the health literacy and treatment adherence for persons of color living with HIV/AIDS. In addition to considering what factors shape patient experience and expectations, the research explores how many socioeconomic and cultural factors lead to low treatment adherence and health literacy. Also, the research considers the nuance in the patient-provider relationship and explores tools, such as partnerships with existing community institutions, that may strengthen the relationship. In order to regain the trust lost in the medical establishment by persons of color living with HIV/AIDS, the research suggests that a healthcare provider ought to self-reflect about the cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic complexities in America that necessitate cultural competency. By practicing modernized cultural competency in medicine, healthcare providers can shape patient care and strengthen the patient-provider relationship, which may increase treatment adherence and health literacy rates for persons of color living with HIV/AIDS. Bringing attention to how cultural competency can impact treatment adherence and health literacy, the research urges the medical establishment to take educational and policy-related steps to effectively provide healthcare to historically underserved groups such as people of color living with HIV/AIDS.

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  Tobacco Use Prevention: Culturally-Specific Protective Processes in College Students with Asthma

  Vanessa Atra

  Tobacco Use Prevention: Culturally-Specific Protective Processes in College Students with Asthma

  Vanessa Atra, Depts. of Biology, Psychology, & Chemistry, with Dr. Rosalie Corona, Dept. of Psychology

  The African American and Latinx communities are disproportionately affected by health disparities such as cancer. Recent cancer statistics shows death rates of African American men and women at a high of 33% and 16%, respectively, as compared to Caucasian men and women1 it is the leading cause of death in Latinx individuals.2 Minority college students of this group have higher risk of developing cancer later in life; thus this study focuses on examining associations between cancer risk factors (e.g., stress, family history of cancer, poor asthma control), differences in cancer risks factors and tobacco use/frequency of use in African American and Latinx College students with asthma and how these factors are associated with secondhand smoke (SHS) and its outcomes. Recruitment is being done through telegram announcements, website text, text messages, flyers, and E-mail invitations. The investigators seek to recruit 200 college students in Virginia; 100 African Americans and 100 Latinx college students with asthma or who have asthma-like symptoms and are between the ages of 18 and 20. Screening forms and script survey are being used to determine participants eligibility, and participants receive $25 gift card for completing the questionnaires. So far, 135 students have completed the questionnaire on Redcap; the research is ongoing and is supposed to run for two years. The researchers will begin analysis of the data once the target sample size has been met.

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  Thrombolytics in Pediatric Stroke: Imaging Modalities

  Katherine Au and Bisi Hollist

  Thrombolytics in Pediatric Stroke: Imaging Modalities

  Katherine Au, Dept. of Biomedical Engineering, with Dr. Bisi Hollist, Inova Neuroscience and Spine Institute

  We report the potential danger associated with an initial neuroimaging-negative cerebral ischemia in pediatrics. For patients who present with clinical features suggestive of acute ischemic stroke but have an alternative diagnosis, there is concern of utilizing thrombolysis. Due to the short time window from symptom onset to treatment, a thorough history and neurologic examination, along with diagnostic imaging and blood tests are important for diagnosis and timely treatment. We present a case of a 14-year old female with a history of thalamic stroke who presented with neurological symptoms consistent with acute stroke. An MRI of her brain was indeterminate and showed no frank evidence of cerebral infarction. Further inspection showed an area of restricted diffusion which clinically correlated to her symptoms. There was no evidence of vessel wall irregularities, high grade stenosis or dissection. This patient was administered intravenous tPA over the course of 1 hour and her symptoms resolved.

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  A Game-Theoretic Model of Monkeypox to Assess Vaccination Strategies

  Sri Vibhaav Bankaru, Samuel Kossol, William Hou, Parsa Mahmoudi, and Jan Rychtar

  A Game-Theoretic Model of Monkeypox to Assess Vaccination Strategies

  Sri Vibhaav Bankaru, Depts. of Biomedical Engineering, Math, & Chemistry, Samuel Kossol, William Hou, & Parsa Mahmoudi, with Dr. Jan Rychtar, Dept. of Mathematics

  Monkeypox (MPX) is a zoonotic disease similar to smallpox. Its fatality rate is about 11% and it is endemic to the Central and West African countries. In this paper, we analyze a compartmental model of MPX dynamics. Our goal is to see whether MPX can be controlled and eradicated by voluntary vaccinations. We show that there are three equilibria - disease free, fully endemic and previously neglected semi-endemic (with disease existing only among humans). The existence of semi-endemic equilibrium has severe implications should the MPX virus mutate to increased viral fitness in humans. We find that MPX is controllable and can be eradicated in a semi-endemic equilibrium by vaccination. However, in a fully endemic equilibrium, MPX cannot be eradicated by vaccination alone.

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  Identification of Alternative Transcription Start Sites that Generate Neuron-Specific nhsl1b Isoform that Regulates Neuron Migration

  Abanoub Bector

  Identification of Alternative Transcription Start Sites that Generate Neuron-Specific nhsl1b Isoform that Regulates Neuron Migration

  Abanoub Bector, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  A recently identified novel gene, nhsl1b, has been shown to be necessary for the caudal tangential migration of facial branchiomotor neurons (FBMNs) as an effector of planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. The role of nhsl1b in regulating neuron migration remains unknown. Nhsl1b has six variants, termed ex1nhsl1b, ex1anhsl1b, ex1bnhsl1b, ex1cnhsl1b, ex1dnhsl1b, and ex1enhsl1b in exon 1 that then splices into the common portion of the transcript (exon 2 to exon 8). Each isoform has its own transcriptional start site (TSS) and 5-prime UTR region. Here we examined the spatial expression patterns for the six nhsl1b variants and investigated their role in FBMN migration. In order to determine the spatial expression pattern for each isoform, we performed whole mount in-situ hybridization. We found that all nhsl1b variants were expressed generally throughout the developing nervous system, including neural progenitor cells. An exception was the ex1dnhsl1b that exhibited an enrichment in FBMNs, suggesting that ex1dnhsl1b is a neuron-specific isoform of nhsl1b. To determine whether ex1dnhsl1b was required for FBMN migration, we generated de novo mutations in ex1dnhsl1b using CRISPR/-Cas9 genome editing. We found that an ex1dnhsl1b mutation can lead to a severe migration defect of motor neurons consistent with the idea that ex1dNhsl1b is a neuron-specific isoform.

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  Veteran spinal cord injury: An investigation of the mediating role of pain interference on the relationship between pain and emotional distress.

  Carly Blaine, Jack Watson, and Richard Henry

  Veteran Spinal Cord Injury: An Investigation of the Mediating Role of Pain Interference on the Relationship between Pain and Emotional Distress

  Carly Blaine, Dept. of Psychology, Jack Watson, and Richard Henry, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Scott McDonald, VCU School of Medicine

  Background: Pain commonly co-occurs with spinal cord injury (SCI) and has been linked to poorer psychological function. SCI patients who experience chronic pain report great levels of interference with daily life.Pain interference with daily life may lead to emotional distress and depression.Objective: Using the PROCESS macro (model 4; Hayes, 2017), this study examines whether pain interference with daily life mediates a positive relationship between pain severity and mental health. Design: This study used a cross-sectional design. Setting and Participants: 221 veterans with SCI were interviewed by a psychologist during their annual evaluation at a Veteran Affairs medical center outpatient clinic. Outcome Measures: Single-item, self-report, Likert scale measures of pain severity and pain interference (M-HIP) were used along with the Patient Health Questionaire-4 (PHQ-4), a measure of mental health symptom severity. Results: Pain severity had a direct effect on mental health as well as an indirect effect through pain interference, using 5,000 bootstrap samples. The overall model was significant (F[1, 219] = 17.763, R2= .075, p < .001). The direct paths from pain severity to pain interference (b= .857, p< .001) and from pain interference to mental health (b= .929, p< .001) were both statistically significant. Further, the indirect effect of pain on mental health through pain interference was statistically significant (b= .796, 95% CI [.493, 1.140]), indicating a full mediation because the direct path from pain severity to mental health was no longer statistically significant in the model (b= .094, p= .683). Discussion: Findings suggest SCI-related emotional distress can result from the inability to participate in daily activities such as going to work, spending time with others, or engaging in hobbies due to pain. Such interference with regular life was found to significantly mediated the positive relationship between SCI-related pain and emotional distress. Future research may take a more qualitative account of how pain inhibits daily life emotionally and physically and focus on interventions designed to decrease pain’s interference with daily living.

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  Parent-Child Perception of Cancer-Specific Quality of Life and Relationship to Medication Adherence

  Tiara Bolden and Evrosina Isaac

  Parent-Child Perception of Cancer-Specific Quality of Life and Relationship to Medication Adherence

  Tiara Bolden, Dept. of Psychology, and Evrosina I. Isaac, VCU School of Medicine Medical Student, with Dr. Jennifer M. Rohan, Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU

  Background: Medication adherence has a significant impact on health outcomes in pediatric cancer with adherence <95% indicating a significant increase in relapse risk. In recent years, the literature on medication adherence in pediatric oncology has increased. However, there is a lack of research on determining what specific factors may result in nonadherence. The current research was conducted to address the gaps in the literature regarding parent-child perceptions of cancer-specific quality of life and medical adherence. Objective: The objective of this study was to assess the relationship between quality of life and medication adherence in the pediatric oncology setting. We also aim to examine the discrepancies of parent and child perceptions in cancer-specific quality of life. To our knowledge, there is limited literature on parent-child rater discrepancies in pediatric cancer studies. Methods: Children/adolescents ages 7 to 19 years old (N=139; Mage = 12.29 ± 3.44)diagnosed with cancer who were in the maintenance phase of treatment were monitored over fifteen months by using Medication Event Monitoring System devices to examine medication adherence. Parents and patients completed an assessment battery, which included a Parent- and Child-Report of PedsQL Quality of Life Inventory.. Assessments were taken at baseline, six months, and 15 months. Results: A bivariate (Pearson) correlation suggested that there was a significant relationship between parent and child reports of cancer-specific quality of life across all domains from baseline to 15 months (p<.05) We also identified three group-based trajectories of quality of life, including an optimal, moderate, and low quality of life group across 15 months. Conclusion: These preliminary findings suggested the importance of examining both patient and parent-reported cancer specific quality of life as parents and patients may not always report congruent perceptions of quality of life during cancer treatment. Future interventions should explore strategies for improving quality of life and medication adherence in pediatric cancer.

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  Establishing a Community-Academic Partnership to Investigate the Sociopolitical Context of Oral Care Among Refugees Resettled in Richmond, Virginia

  Tatiana Brown, Ashley Koo, Matthew Tessama, and Jay Lawson

  Establishing a Community-Academic Partnership to Investigate the Sociopolitical Context of Oral Care Among Refugees Resettled in Richmond, Virginia

  Tatiana Brown, Depts. of Anthropology, Medical Humanities, & Mathematics, with Dr. Dina Garcia, Dept. of Health Behavior and Policy

  This study has established a community-academic partnership between four organizations and VCU Health Behavior and Policy’s Kalpulli Research Team to investigate the sociopolitical context of oral health needs among refugees resettling in Richmond, Virginia. In the year 2018, 1,689 refugees resettled in the state of Virginia; 47.7 percent of this population reported oral health needs during their initial health assessment screening. Despite the oral health needs present within this population, little is known about the facilitators and barriers to dental care access for this population post-resettlement. Creating a partnership with two local resettlement agencies (e.g., the International Rescue Committee, Commonwealth Catholic Charities), the Department of Social Services (DSS), and VA Department of Health’s Newcomer (Refugee) Health Program, in addition to having a transdisciplinary research team, enable the development of a holistic representation within, and of, the refugee community. The use of semi-structured interviews is the strongest approach to build the research team’s understanding of community perceptions towards access to oral health care, refugee health workers’ identified barriers to equitable care, and providers’ attitudes towards treating the refugee and Medicaid population. Community partners are key in shaping study recruitment, determining which interview questions will be most salient, and creating an effective intervention from the results. This partnership plans to create two collaborative interventions: a process map to help refugees better navigate establishing care with local providers and “oral care cards” in the top three refugee languages (Arabic, Farsi/Dhari, and Swahili) to be distributed through dental providers in the area.

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  Ethnic-Racial Identity and Social Outcomes in Childhood: A Research Review

  Grace Bryan, Keyri Hernandez, Chloe Walker, and Eryn Delaney

  Ethnic-Racial Identity and Social Outcomes in Childhood: A Research Review

  Grace Bryan, Dept. of Sculpture, Keyri Hernandez, and Chloe Walker and Eryn DeLaney, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Chelsea Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  Ethnic-racial Identity (ERI) is the labeling, identification, and processing regarding ethnicity-race that takes place during childhood (Umana-Taylor, 2014). Development of ERI begins as early as 4 years (Derlan et al., 2017), and may have implications for social outcomes, such as prosocial and externalizing behaviors. The aim of the current narrative review was to review research that has tested how ERI is associated with social outcomes, and identify gaps in this field. The results of the narrative review suggest that, in adolescence, higher ERI is associated with better social outcomes, such as prosocial behaviors (Armenta et al 2011:Streit et al 2020). Further, findings of the review indicated that limited work has included individuals younger than adolescents; one study that did found that lower ERI was linked with more externalizing problem behaviors (Smith et al., 2009). The review also highlighted various gaps in this literature, such as that an operational definition of prosocial behavior in the context of ERI needs to be established, and there is a lack of research that includes multiracial individuals, and individuals younger than adolescents. Future research should investigate ERI and social outcomes in childhood with diverse samples, as such research may provide important information to school systems, counselors, and caregivers about the development of ERI and its implications for development.

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  Molecular Mechanisms of the DYRK1A-regulated DNA Repair

  Polina Bukina and Varsha Ananthapadmanabhan

  Molecular Mechanisms of the DYRK1A-regulated DNA Repair

  Polina Bukina, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  The functions of human Dual-specificity tyrosine (Y)-Regulated Kinase 1A, or DYRK1A, include cell cycle control and differentiation. DYRK1A is required for assembly of the DREAM complex and repression of the cell cycle-dependent genes, such as BRCA1 and RAD51, in quiescence. Our lab previously reported that overexpression of DYRK1A inhibits the accumulation of a DNA repair protein 53BP1, at the DNA double-stranded breaks (DSB). Accumulation of 53BP1 is attributed to repair by non-homologous end joining (NHEJ) over homologous recombination (HRR). The function of 53BP1 is opposed by RNF169, a ubiquitin-binding protein that also accumulates at the DSB sites and promotes HRR. It was found that DYRK1A interacts with RNF169 to regulate the displacement of 53BP1 from the DSB sites. This study focuses on RNF169 in order to understand the role of DYRK1A in DNA damage response. We used the Multi-Dimensional Protein Identification Technology (MudPIT) proteomic analysis to identify RNF169-interacting proteins. Human cancer U-2 OS cells stably expressing HA-tagged RNF169, as well as control cells were used for immunoprecipitation. The samples were sent to Stowers Institute for Medical Research for MudPIT proteomic analysis. In order to understand the regulation of DNA repair by DYRK1A, the RNA sequencing dataset was analyzed as part of other studies in the lab. The expression of the mRNA for repair factors RAD51 and BRCA1 was found to be regulated by DYRK1A. To determine the significance of this finding, an experiment was designed to assess BRCA1 and RAD51 protein levels in the normal U-2 OS cells and in the cells lacking DYRK1A (U-2 OS DYRK1A knockout cells) after inducing DNA damage by gamma irradiation. It was found that the levels of RAD51, BRCA1 and 53BP1 levels were increased with DYRK1A KO. These results were consistent with the finding that DNA repair efficiency is increased with DYRK1A KO. Further studies can help to understand if these effects are mediated by DYRK1A-regulated DREAM complex.

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  Basalt Leaching in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Rock Gardens Favours Agricultural Surplus Production

  Elisabeth Burns

  Basalt Leaching in Rapa Nui (Easter Island) Rock Gardens Favours Agricultural Surplus Production

  Elisabeth Burns, Depts. of Anthropology and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies, with Dr. Christopher Stevenson, Dept. of Anthropology

  In an effort to provide evidential support for the process of basaltic mineral dissolution replenishing soil fertility and enabling productive plant growth in Rapa Nui rock gardens, a simulated leaching experiment was conducted to determine the elemental release rates from the basalt matrix, and the availability of these elements for plant absorption. The dissolution experiment modeled Rapa Nui soil conditions and rainwater with a pH of 6.3. Basalt leaching was accelerated at elevated temperatures (50-90°C) for 44.8 days. The results indicated that calcium and magnesium were preferentially leached even with a short-term exposure. These data support an earlier observation of calcium enhancement in rock gardens above levels of natural fertility in non-garden soils. Ultimately, it is of interest to determine if soil nutrient enrichment through basalt leaching was enough to increase crop surplus and facilitate the construction of megalithic architecture.

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  Role of Self-Worth Contingencies on Sleep Quality Due to Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms

  Victoria Cambar, Ruth Laryea, Bianca Owens, and Chelsie Dunn

  Role of Self-Worth Contingencies on Sleep Quality Due to Discrimination and Depressive Symptoms

  Victoria Cambar, Depts. of Psychology and Criminal Justice, Ruth Laryea, and Bianca Owens and Chelsie Dunn, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Kristina Hood, Dept. of Psychology

  Scholars have well documented the association on discrimination experiences, negative implications for both physical and psychological symptoms (Gee et al., 2007; Williams et al., 2008). According to Stone and Carlisle (2018), the experience of racial discrimination at the workplace may increase the likelihood of negative emotions and sadness. In addition, the occurrence of perceived discrimination experienced by African American undergrad students in college settings has been associated with psychological and emotional problems including depression (Chao, Mallinckrodt, & Wei, 2012). Subtle forms of discrimination in both the school and the workplace are predictors of negative physical health conditions like low energy levels and fatigue (Nadal et al., 2017). A notable variable that may play an influential role in the relationship between discrimination and depressive symptoms is one’s self-worth; but more specifically their self-worth contingencies. Such that, self-worth may also play a role in the link between discrimination and depression. Orth and Robins (2013) suggest that individuals with low self-esteem/worth are more likely to feel sad, lonely, and dejected. Contingent self-worth, the fluctuation of one’s self-worth in response to positive or negative experiences including the perceived approval or lack thereof of peers, has also shown to be a vulnerability factor for depression and depressive symptoms (Crocker & Knight, 2005; Crocker et al., 2003). According to Zahn and colleagues (2015) low self-worth and feelings of worthlessness, often appear to occur consistently with lack of energy. Therefore, the present study sought to examine the moderating role of contingent self-worth (i.e., others’ approval) on the link between experiences of discrimination at work or school and depressive symptoms after controlling for age, frequency of gendered racial discriminatory experiences, and gendered racial socializations. The current study consisted of 206 Black/African American women between the ages of 18 and 55 (M=33.24, SD=8.46). Majority of the sample was employed (97%) and about 30% were enrolled in a two- or four-year university. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and completed questions assessing their sleep quality due to discrimination, depressive symptoms (i.e., energy and emotion levels), and self-worth contingencies (i.e., self-worth based on others’ approval).

  The moderation model was assessed via the PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2017) within SPSS v.26 using 5,000 bootstrapped samples. Moderation analysis revealed a statistically significant interaction between sleep quality due to discrimination and others’ approval-contingent self-worth on depressive symptoms (i.e., energy and emotions), b=-.07,SE=.04, 95% CI [-.14, -.01], p=.04. To interpret the statistically significant moderation effect, we used Hayes’s PROCESS v.3 (2017) Johnson-Neyman and bootstrap analysis. Findings revealed that others’ approval-contingent self-worth is a significant moderator of the link between sleep quality due to discrimination and depressive symptoms at higher levels of self-worth contingencies only (b=-.20,SE=.07, 95% CI [-.33, -.06], p=.00). More specifically, among those who higher self-worth contingencies, those who reported poor sleep quality due to discrimination reported greater depressive symptoms compared to those with better sleep quality. Findings could potentially enhance existing mental health interventions by increasing awareness of how discriminatory events impact sleep quality and depressive symptoms.

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  Phenotypic Expression of Two Candidate Genes of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis in Danio rerio

  Annemarie Carver

  Phenotypic Expression of Two Candidate Genes of Nonsyndromic Craniosynostosis in Danio rerio

  Annemarie Carver, Dept. of Biology with Dr. Rita Shiang, Dept. of Human and Molecular Genetics

  Craniosynostosis, the premature fusion of cranial sutures, can be either syndromic or nonsyndromic. The majority of cases are nonsyndromic, the causes of which are rarely known. Craniosynostosis is relatively common and occurs in about 1 in every 2,000 babies. Bambia is suspected to cause craniosynostosis as a predicted deleterious stabilizing variant has been identified in affected individuals within one family, though when normally or under expressed no phenotypic differences are observed. Slc30a9, a gene involved in zinc transport within cells,is also suspected to cause craniosynostosis as a predicted pathogenic variant was also identified in the same family, the variant is predicted to replace a leucine with proline. It is hypothesized that when the gene bambiais overexpressed or the null slc30a9 mutant gene is present in Danio rerio, phenotypic characteristics of craniosynostosis will be observed when compared to wildtype animals. The purpose of this study is to determine whether a phenotypic difference occurs in the development of the skull when the gene bambia is overexpressed or when slc30a9 is mutated in D. rerio, zebrafish. Wholemount in situ hybridization and observation of 8 weeks of skull development of zebrafish were performed to test this hypothesis. The results of this study could be used to identify causes for nonsyndromic craniosynostosis and help to learn more about the condition.

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  The Role of Gendered Racial Microaggressions on African American Women's Sleep Quality

  Shanya Chandel, Ashlynn Bell, and Chelsie Dunn

  The Role of Gendered Racial Microaggressions on African American Women's Sleep Quality

  Shanya Chandel, Depts. of Psychology and Human Resource Management, and Ashlynn Bell and Chelsie Dunn, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Kristina Hood, Dept. of Psychology

  African American women are often subjected to oppressive and marginalizing commentary directed toward various facet of their being. This subtle yet harmful oppressive commentary is commonly referred to as silencing and marginalizing gendered racial microaggressions (Lewis & Neville, 2015). These types of microaggressions can be expressed by silencing, meaning taking away the voices of others. Microaggressions can also be used to marginalize individuals in regard to physical appearance, stereotypes about behavior, and even sexually objectifying messages. While the deleterious effects (e.g., mental health, sleep quality) of the more overt workplace and academic discrimination have been previously established; little is known about the subtle, pervasive forms of discrimination (Whitaker, 2019). It is important to explore one’s sleep quality as adequate sleep allows for critical cognition, or the ability to think clearly, be alert, and sustain attention (Worley, 2018) – aspects essential for good workplace and academic performance. Previous work has established the link between discriminatory experiences and the sleep quality of African American adults (Fuller-Rowell et al., 2017; Owens et al., 2017). Additionally, frequent exposure to microaggressions can impact African American women’s bodily functioning, such as their sleep quality (Lewis, Williams, Peppers & Gadson, 2017). However, little to no research has examined the potential effects of silencing and marginalizing experiences on African American women, who experience a unique combination of racism and sexism in the workplace, school, or other professional settings. The present study sought to examine the moderating role of frequency of silencing and marginalizing gendered racial microaggressions (GRM) on the link between GRM stress appraisal and sleep quality due to discriminatory events after controlling for gendered racial socialization, sleep patterns, silencing behaviors, ethnic identity, and self-worth contingencies. The current study consisted of 229 Black/African American women between the ages of 18 and 55 (M=33.30,SD=8.49). Majority of the sample was employed (87%) and about 27% were enrolled in a two- or four-year university. Participants were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk and completed questions assessing their sleep quality due to discrimination, stress appraisal and experiences of GRM, ethnic identity, self-worth contingencies, and demographics.

  The moderation model was assessed via the PROCESS macro (Hayes, 2018) within SPSS v.26 using 5,000 bootstrapped samples. Moderation analysis revealed a statistically significant interaction between GRM frequency and stress appraisal on sleep quality due to discrimination, b=.05, SE=.02, 95% CI [.00, .10], p=.05. To interpret the statistically significant moderation effect, we used Hayes’s PROCESS v.3 (2017) Johnson-Neyman and bootstrap analysis. Findings revealed that GRM frequency is a significant moderator of the link between GRM stress appraisal and sleep quality due to discrimination at both higher (b=.25, SE=.05, 95% CI [.14, .36], p=.00) and lower (b=.12, SE=.05, 95% CI [.02, .23], p=.02) frequencies. More specifically, among those who higher frequency of GRM events, those who reported greater stress appraisal of GRM events reported poor sleep quality due to discrimination compared to those with lower stress appraisal. This positive relationship was also true for those who reported lower frequency of GRM events. Findings could potentially enhance existing mental health interventions by increasing awareness of how silencing and marginalizing experiences at work or school impact sleep quality among African American women.

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  GABRA2 and Alcohol Dependence in College-Aged Students

  Abaiz Chaudhri

  GABRA2 and Alcohol Dependence in College-aged Students

  Abaiz Chaudhri, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Amy Adkins and Dr. Sally Kuo, Dept. of Psychology

  Problematic alcohol use and associated consequences is a major problem in college-aged students. These outcomes, and alcohol dependence (uncontrolled alcohol consumption despite consequences), are complex and influenced by genetics and environmental factors, and the interplay between both. Variants in the gene GABRA2 have been shown to be associated with alcohol dependence in adolescents and older adults, yet the association is not studied nearly enough in the college-aged population, a high-risk period for the development of alcohol-related problems. The hypothesis of this study is that GABRA2 is associated with alcohol dependence in college-aged students of European and African ancestry. The data was obtained from Spit4Science, where surveys were given to college students and saliva samples were collected and DNA extracted. The results indicate that the 8 genetic variants studied showed no significant association between GABRA2 and alcohol dependence in either ancestry. Our results suggest that further research needs to be conducted, either on the same or different genetic variants to see whether there may still be an association. This study adds a primary look at GABRA2 as it relates to alcohol dependence within a college-aged sample.

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  Victim Silencing, Sexual Violence Culture, Social Healing: Inherited Collective Trauma of World War II South Korean Military "Comfort Women"

  MiJin Cho

  Victim Silencing, Sexual Violence Culture, Social Healing: Inherited Collective Trauma of World War II South Korean Military "Comfort Women"

  MiJin Cho, Depts. of Psychology and English, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  The unresolved reconciliation process for WWII South Korean military “comfort women” presents a case of nationally inherited collective trauma, in which South Koreans far removed in time and space from the historical tragedy feel its implications and obligations for reparations and social healing. In examining the South Korean comfort women redress movement and systemic concealment of WWII military sexual slavery, this study investigates a pattern of victim silencing, characterized by institutional patriarchy and ineffective government involvement, from 1945 to 2019. Following the South Korean government’s formal rejection of the 2015 agreement with Japan regarding a final and irreversible conclusion to the comfort women issue, South Korean and international women’s rights organizations have openly addressed a need for new reconciliation efforts with Japan; however, the current stance of the South Korean government, under President Moon Jae-in, remains hesitant to seek a renegotiation. Based on the effective methods of democratic reparations from South Africa, Germany, and the United States, this study proposes a new victim-centered approach to the reconciliation of collective trauma through the role of the South Korean government. The new approach encompasses the following: (1) organizing an official collection of victim testimonies, (2) fostering government relationships with women’s rights organizations, and (3) instating sexual violence education in university settings in order to facilitate long-term social healing.

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  The Relationship Between Enslaved Individuals And Plantation Architecture In 18th And 19th Century Virginia

  Emma Clark

  The Relationship Between Enslaved Individuals And Plantation Architecture In 18th And 19th Century Virginia

  Emma Clark, Depts. of History and Anthropology, with Dr. Bernard K. Means, Dept. of Anthropology

  Enslaved labor built the physical environment of 18th and 19th century plantations from slave quarters to plantation houses. These built environments were designed in a way to showcase the stratification between enslavers and the enslaved. An analysis of plantation archaeology on three significant Virginian plantations can reveal two aspects of the relationship between enslaved individuals and plantation architecture. First, it can reveal the physical process of construction (brickmaking, building development). Second, it can reveal the impact of these structures on African American identity (representing their status in society, social grouping). This analysis further highlights the lives of individuals forgotten in the shadow of Virginia’s remembered.

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  Static Degradation of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds

  Emily Clement, Connor Donlan, Same Cole, Sarah K. Saunders, and Johanna Bracamonte

  Static Degradation of Electrospun Polycaprolactone Scaffolds

  Emily Clement, Depts. of Biomedical Engineering and Electrical Engineering, Connor Donlan, Sam Cole, Sarah K. Saunders, and Johana Bracamonte, with Dr. Joao Soares, Dept. of Mechanical Engineering

  Introduction: Engineered tissue vascular grafts (ETVGs), composed of cells seeded on a biodegradable scaffold, can be used to replace non-functional blood vessels. The scaffold acts as a replacement for the extracellular matrix, providing structural support to the developing tissue. A common biodegradable scaffold material is polycaprolactone (PCL). The main degradation mechanism of PCL is hydrolysis, which can be catalyzed by the use of NaOH solutions. Acceleration techniques must be employed to obtain information about the degradation in shorter observation times. In this study, we will compare the effect of degradation on physical and mechanical properties from samples degraded in PBS solutions (that mimics the pH of biological environments), and alkaline NaOH solutions. We hypothesize that the accelerated degradation profiles can be correlated to degradation profiles under in vivo like conditions. Methods: This study focuses on PCL (PCL 80,000 g/mol) 3mm electrospun scaffolds. Accelerated conditions were produced by submerging the scaffolds in increased NaOH solutions. The weight loss, elastic modulus, and microstructure of the scaffolds were assessed after vacuum drying at 0, 7, 14, 21, and 42 days. Phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) solution was used to replicate physiological-like pH conditions. This group was tested for elastic modulus, weight loss, and thickness at 0, 3, and 6 months. Results: The rate of change in mass, fiber orientation, and mechanical stiffness increased as the alkalinity of the liquid media increased to pH 12.45. Changes in the mechanical properties of the scaffolds became noticeable after 3 weeks of degradation. A decrease in mass stiffness was observed following a steep decrease in mass. At 6 weeks of degradation, the samples experienced a 20% decrease from the original mass and a 50% drop in membrane stiffness. The scaffolds swelled shortly after degradation began, but the swelling decreased as the mass decreased. In the non-accelerated degradation group, the scaffolds exhibited an average mass loss of 10 +/- 7% with no significant changes to mechanical properties. The scaffold thickness swelled to 40 +/- 20%, aligning with our previous works that showed scaffold swelling decreases at a larger pH. Conclusions: If the degradation of PCL scaffolds in physiological pH conditions follows the same trend as those in accelerated conditions, a stage of pronounced decrease in mass will be accompanied by a significant decrease in membrane stiffness and porosity. We hypothesize that the accelerated and non-accelerated degradation profiles are equivalent, meaning accelerated degradation can be used as a base to predict a scaffold’s behavior in physiological conditions.

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  Chemical Composition of Airborne PM10 Particles from the Salton Sea Playa: Development and Severity of Asthma in Children under 14 in Imperial County

  Maggie Colangelo and Mary Boyes

  Chemical Composition of Airborne PM10 Particles from the Salton Sea Playa: Development and Severity of Asthma in Children under 14 in Imperial County

  Maggie Colangelo, Depts. of Communication Arts and Environmental Studies, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  I was prompted to begin this paper after reading about a water transfer agreement which will significantly reduce the water levels of the Salton Sea beginning in January 2018. Concerns over the impact this change would have on local air quality and how air quality changes would affect respiratory health, particularly in children were present in the community. I chose to investigate the validity of these concerns. The recession of the Salton Sea will expose large areas of playa, or lakebed, that has been significantly polluted by the agricultural runoff that feeds the Salton Sea. In order to determine the impact this change may have on the air quality of nearby Imperial Valley and what effect airborne pollutants could have on local respiratory health, I studied journals concerning the predicted levels of dust from the exposed playa. Another important aspect of the dust emitted from the playa is the particle mass PM10, which several journals connected to a decrease in childhood respiratory health. I also explored journals which connected persistent organic pollutants which are commonly used in agriculture to respiratory distress and the development of asthma. I focused on journals which studied the levels of the same pollutants in the Salton Sea sediment as well. From my research, I found that the composition, as well as the particle mass of the dust emitted by Salton Sea playa will have a significant negative impact on the respiratory health and development of asthma in Imperial Valley children. Furthermore, the levels of dust emitted by the Salton Sea are expected to increase dramatically as the sea recedes. Continued research and studies should be conducted on the exact composition of airborne pollutants produced by the sea, and their specific impact on childhood respiratory health and asthma development.

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  Gender and Ethnic Differences in Sound Tolerance

  Nicole Concepcion and Rachel Wallace

  Gender and Ethnic Differences in Sound Tolerance

  Nicole Concepcion, Depts. of Psychology, Social Work, and Human Resource Management, and Rachel Wallace, M.S., Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Scott Vrana, Dept. of Psychology

  Misophonia, hyperacusis, and tinnitus are related to decreased sound tolerance (DST). Misophonia is characterized as strong aversive reactions to specific sounds. Hyperacusis is a heightened sensitivity to certain sounds below the loudness sensitivity levels. Tinnitus is a condition that includes continuous ringing or buzzing in the ears. Current research has shown that misophonia symptoms have many commonalities with psychiatric diagnoses and these symptoms result in substantial functional disability and lower quality of life. In the growing literature, there are some questions that need to be answered. The questions sought to be answered in this study are: what is the prevalence of the DST conditions? Are there any significant ethnic and gender differences for those who endorse misophonia, hyperacusis, or tinnitus? Can these differences be corroborated by current health items, like anxiety? To answer these questions, a large scale survey (n= 1,200) was examined by conducting chi-square, independent samples t-test, and ANOVA analyses. The findings indicate there were significant gender and racial differences among hyperacusis and misophonia. Women reported more negative responses towards misophonia and hyperacusis. This is consistent with the past findings that women report higher anxiety. White participants endorsed all DST conditions more than any other group. These findings promote further research.

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  Economical Custom-Made 3D BioPrinter

  Lucas Craft

  Economical Custom-Made 3D BioPrinter

  Lucas Craft, Depts. of Electrical and Computer Engineering & Physics, with Dr. Daeha Joung, Dept. of Physics

  Bioprinters are used to extrude biomaterials that contain living cells to develop synthetic organ and tissue models. Being able to 3D bioprint these models allows us to build the small intricate structures that mimic complicated living organs. As of now, the technology is expensive, with the average bioprinter exceeding ten thousand dollars. The high price often makes this tool a high-risk investment for many biomedical companies and researchers who may want to use this technology for research. Fortunately, the components that make a bioprinter could become inexpensive, especially with the open-source environment 3D printers have become. Altering the firmware and mechanics of a 3D printer can be relatively simple. To make a cost-effective bioprinter, inexpensive 3D printer parts can be used to make the system necessary for bioprinting. For this system, a one-hundred-dollar 3D printer (Fused Deposition Modeling based) is used for the XYZ movement and machine control from the included motherboard. A holder was designed for two pipettes to replace the plastic extruder the inexpensive printer came with. The biomaterials (including cells and hydrogels) are extruded out of the pipettes using air pressure from an air compressor and controlled using thirty-dollar solenoids. To incorporate the pneumatic system with the 3D printer, the open-source firmware Marlin was altered to use a header file (.h file) called Baricuda, which was designed for extruding chocolate for elaborate candy sculptures. Baricuda is used for the extruding system of a bioprinter using air pressure control to push biomaterials through a pipette for extrusion. Another critical aspect of a bioprinter is maintaining the viability of the living cells, which needs to be at average body temperature (37 ℃). For this, an insulation chamber will be made to completely contain the 3D printer so that the heat from the bedplate is used to warm the whole system’s environment. A thermistor mounted at the top of the printer will be used to ensure the temperature is maintained. Overall, the cost for a bioprinter like this will be less than one-thousand-dollars, depending on the type of air compressor. Air compressor cost aside, the printer costs approximately three-hundred-dollars, making it far cheaper than the ones on the market today.

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  A Comparison of PTSD, AUD, and MDD Symptom Patterns in Different Trauma Types

  Elizabeth Crump

  A Comparison of PTSD, AUD, and MDD Symptom Patterns in Different Trauma Types

  Elizabeth Crump, Depts. of Biology and Sociology, with Dr. Kaitlin Bountress, Virginia Institute of Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics

  About 66% of college students have been exposed to a traumatic event (Read et al., 2011). Research thus far suggests that interpersonal trauma (IPT; e.g., physical or sexual abuse or assault) is linked to higher risk of developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), variability in PTSD symptom cluster presentation, and comorbidities with substance use compared to accidental trauma (e.g., natural disaster, motor vehicle accident; Kessler et al. 1995; Kelley et al., 2009; Kilpatrick et al. 2000). There is little research investigating the role of trauma type in the expression of symptoms related to PTSD (both overall severity and symptom cluster presentation), Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD), and Major Depression (MD) in a representative college population. The first aim of this study was to investigate the relation between trauma type (interpersonal and accidental trauma) and PTSD, AUD, and MD symptoms as well as PTSD symptom cluster presentation (avoidance, arousal, negative thoughts and emotions, and reexperiencing). We also sought to test in an exploratory manner whether there was an association between these symptoms and increased trauma type count (i.e., experiencing both IPT and accidental trauma). Results found that those with IPT exposure experienced the highest rate of all symptom outcomes (excluding MD symptoms and PTSD reexperiencing) and had significantly greater symptom severity as compared to the group with both IPT and accidental exposure. The findings suggest that greater intervention measures should be focused on those who experience IPT trauma due to the greater vulnerability to PTSD, Alcohol Use, and Depressive symptoms.