Undergraduate Research Posters

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  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao and Maria Ribera

  The Benefits of a Daily Personal Growth Practice

  Carolyn Henao, Depts. of Psychology and Spanish, and Maria Ribera, with Dr. Richard Bargdill, Dept. of Psychology

  The aim of this poster will be to describe autoethnographic research evaluating the benefits of a daily personal growth practice. For the past four years Dr. Richard Bargdill has taken a reading from one of the 81 chapters of the Tao de Ching as well as a reading from one of the 64 I-Ching excerpts daily. In addition, he writes his own commentary for each chapter of the Tao and a comparative American idiom for each I-Ching reading. The numbers corresponding to each excerpt pulled have all been recorded in an excel file to be examined for numerical trends. This personal growth research has provided us with both qualitative and quantitative data to analyze for the purpose of sharing the transformational power of daily meditative practice.

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  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday and Deborah Howton

  The Role of Pyrethroids on Cell Cycle Regulation and Craniofacial Development in Xenopus laevis

  Kylee Hockaday, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Amanda Dickinson, Dept. of Biology

  Pyrethroids are synthetic insecticides that are found in many household items such as pet flea medication. Pyrethroids are used more so than organophosphate pesticides due to increasing concerns about non-target effects. However, there is some concern with pyrethroid exposure resulting in teratogenic effects including craniofacial defects. Using a Xenopus model, three pesticides (AMDRO Quick Kill, Pyrethrum, and Cypermethrin) were tested for their effect on craniofacial development. Following AMDRO treatment, embryos developed edemas, abnormal gut development, and shorter distances between eyes. Cypermethrin exposure caused a decrease in face width of embryos. Immunohistochemistry colorimetric staining in AMDRO treated embryos resulted in a significant decrease (p-value = 3.644 x 10-6) in mitotic cells of the face. Preliminary data from acridine orange treatment of embryos exposed to pesticide suggests a link to cell death programs. Delta-delta Ct analysis of p53 expression in embryos treated with AMDRO yielded values of 0.371130893, 0.143587294, and 12.46663327. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in pyrethrum treated embryos yielded values of 1.310393, 1.347234, 8.282119, and 1.681793. Expression fold analysis of p53 expression in Cypermethrin treated embryos yielded a value of 1.26575659. All treatments yielded an average increase in p53 expression compared to expression levels in control embryos. This indicates that the mechanism through which pyrethroid insecticides work may involve apoptosis and the transcription of the p53 gene.

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  Exploration of the Neuronal Subtype Specificity of an Ethanol Responsive Gene: Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b)

  Dalton Huey, A van der Vaart, G M. Harris, and M F. MIles

  Exploration of the Neuronal Subtype Specificity of an Ethanol Responsive Gene: Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b)

  Dalton Huey, Depts. of Bioinformatics, Biology & Chemistry, A. van der Vaart, G. M. Harris, and M. F. Miles, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  Previous work done in our laboratory revealed that Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3 Beta (Gsk3b) functions as a hub gene in a network of genes regulated by acute ethanol in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) across a mouse genetic panel. Adult mice treated with acute ethanol showed increased phosphorylation of GSK3B on the Ser9 residue in prefrontal cortex. Subsequent viral-mediated overexpression of Gsk3bin mouse mPFC caused an increase in ethanol consumption and pharmacological inhibition of GSK3B decreased ethanol consumption. However, it is unknown what neuron subtypes are driving this change in behavior. Here, we provide evidence that deletion of Gsk3bin Camk2a+ glutamatergic neurons of the mPFC results in a decrease in ethanol consumption in both continuous and intermittent access drinking paradigms. Furthermore, we have recently designed and validated a plasmid for Cre-dependent overexpression of Gsk3b, along with a Cre-dependent reporter as a control. These plasmids are planned for use in conjunction with different Cre drivers for viral-mediated expression in any cell type. Dissection of the neural circuitry of this ethanol responsive pathway can lead to a better assessment of Gsk3bas a potential target for the treatment of alcohol use disorders. Work supported by grants R01A027581 and P50AA022537 to MFM.

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  Mapping New Olfactory Bulb Neurons at the Single-Cell Level Using Iron Oxide- Assisted MRI

  Sarah Izabel

  Mapping New Olfactory Bulb Neurons at the Single-Cell Level Using Iron Oxide- Assisted MRI

  Sarah Izabel, Dept. of Biology, with Dr. Jeffrey Dupree, Dept. of Anatomy and Neurobiology

  Neurogenesis in the subventricular zone (SVZ) of adult mammalian brains persists throughout life. Precursor cells that are continuously born in the SVZ migrate long-distance to the olfactory bulb (OB), where they differentiate into specific neurons. The distribution of new neurons in the OB has been studied via histological and intravital techniques, which are limited longitudinally and in depth of imaging. In the past decade, in vivo studies using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) have shown the possibility of detecting single cells and tracking new neurons in the OB, where precursor cells can be labelled using iron oxide. In this study, neural progenitor cells in the SVZ were labeled using micro-sized iron oxide particles (MPIOs) and their migration to the OB was detected with MRI. MPIO was confirmed to be present in new neurons via immunohistochemistry and MRI signals were overlapped with MPIOs showing that MPIO-generated MRI contrast can be used to detect single neuronal cells in the OB.

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  The Effect of Amitriptyline on Biomarkers Associated with Brain Health and Drug Metabolism

  Ashana Jackson, Bukola Odeniyi, and Omar Hassan

  The Effect of Amitriptyline on Biomarkers Associated with Brain Health and Drug Metabolism

  Ashana Jackson, Dept. of Psychology, Bukola Odeniyi, and Omar Hassan, with Dr. Elvin T. Price, VCU School of Pharmacy

  High anticholinergic drugs, like amitriptyline have been linked to dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases. Chronic use of high doses of amitriptyline can lead to a decrease in brain capabilities and even negative effects on short-term memory. Expression of different brain biomarkers are also linked to various cognitive decline: Decreased expressions of PPARG and CREB1 have been correlated with a decrease in the brain’s ability to protect against aging, and impaired spatial memory, respectively. Increased expression of CACNA1C has been negatively correlated with short term object recognition. Therefore, the study examined the effect of amitriptyline on brain biomarkers: CACNA1C, CREB1, and PPARG. Human astrocytes were grown and separated into three 6-well sample plates. Cell treatment groups were: ILB, Amitriptyline 50M, Amitriptyline 220M, ILB + Amitriptyline 50M and ILB + Amitriptyline 220M. The mRNA expression was measured using RT-PCR. The data was analyzed by graph pad prism and ANOVA with Sidak’s multiple comparison’s test.After exposure of astrocytes to both concentrations of amitriptyline, there was increased expression of the CANA1C and decreased PPARG. Exposure to 220M amitriptyline lead to decreased expression of CREB1, but amitriptyline at 50M lead to an increase in expression. Findings indicated that amitriptyline significantly increased expression and decreased expression of PPARG. Though, different concentrations had varying effects on CREB1. These results indicate that the cognitive decline linked to amitriptyline are likely the effects that this drug has on these genes.

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  Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities

  Ammar Jawad

  Drugs and the Music Industry: How the Neurological and Visual Effects of LSD and Psilocybin Impact Creativity and Songwriting Abilities

  Ammar Jawad, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  The 5-hydroxy-tryptamine 2A receptor, 5-HT2A, is a G protein-coupled receptor that belongs to a subtype of receptors known as serotonergic receptors. The 5-HT2A receptor plays a wide variety of roles that are pivotal in the optimal functionality of the brain, such as mediating the neurological, visual, and auditory pathways of the central nervous system. Typical agonists of the 5-HT2A receptor include psychedelic or hallucinogenic drugs such as LSD, psilocybin, and N, N-Dimethyltryptamine (DMT). Psychedelic drugs in particular have been a means for many artists and musicians to further enhance their creativity, leading to a subgenre of music and instrumentation known as psychedelic music, or psychedelia. Typically, psychedelic music is characterized by feelings of depersonalization and derealization, and artists who’ve experimented with drugs such as LSD and psilocybin claim to have an expanded imagination, along with a heightened sense of creativity and mesmerism. The research presented in this study explores the overlap between music and psychedelic drugs, namely LSD and psilocybin, and how the 5-HT2A receptor engages and mediates the neurological as well as the biological effects of these substances. This study has concluded that further research is necessary to explore the possibility of activating the 5-HT2A receptors with substances that do not carry the harmful effects that drugs such as LSD and psilocybin do.

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  Mental Health Comorbidities in Adolescents with ASD: Indirect Effects of Family Functioning through Youth Social Competence

  Marie Johnson, Jessica Greenlee, and Cathryn Richmond

  Mental Health Comorbidities in Adolescents with ASD: Indirect Effects of Family Functioning through Youth Social Competence

  Marie Johnson, Depts. of Psychology and Product Innovation, and Jessica Greenlee and Cathryn Richmond, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Students, with Dr. Marcia Winter, Dept. of Psychology

  Recent research has established the high comorbidities of mental health problems in adolescents with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD; see Strang, et al., 2012), prompting researchers to examine factors that may contribute to elevated anxiety and depression. Given the centrality during adolescence of both the family and peer contexts (Greenlee, Winter, & Diehl, 2018) as well as the stage salience of peer relationships (Masten et al., 1995), this study focused on family functioning, social competence, and mental health in verbally-fluent adolescents with ASD. Some have suggested that adolescents with ASD who have no cognitive impairment are more interested in social interaction but also more aware of their social differences (Mazurek & Kanne, 2010). Combined with the social demands of adolescence, increased social awareness may put youth at risk for disengaging from peers; poor peer relationships, feelings of isolation, and loneliness have been associated with internalizing problems in youth with ASD (Bauminger & Kasari, 2000; Vickerstaff et al., 2007; Whitehouse et al., 2009). We reasoned that adolescents learn social skills in part from family experiences, even in the context of ASD, and that the family environment plays a role in adolescent’s social competence. Thus, while social-communication deficits are an inherent part of an ASD diagnosis, families still play a role in adolescents’ social competencies and influence their social development. Therefore, we tested part of the larger theoretical model by examining the indirect relationship between family functioning and adolescent anxiety and depression symptomatology via adolescent social competence for adolescents with ASD.

  This study uses data from the Teens and Parents (TAP) Study (see Greenlee, 2019). Participants were adolescents aged 13-17 (N = 178; Mage= 14.92, SD = 1.31; 73% male) diagnosed with ASD, and their primary caregivers (PCs) who all identified as biological or adoptive mothers. PCs reported demographics and completed (1) the Self-Report of Family Inventory (SFI; Beavers & Hampston, 2000) to assess global family functioning via the Health and Competence subscale, and (2) the Social Responsiveness Scale (SRS; Constantino & Gruber, 2012) to assess deficits in adolescent social competencies. Adolescents reported their own depression and anxiety symptoms via the Revised Children’s Anxiety and Depression Scale-Short Version (RCADS; Ebesutani et al., 2012).

  As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the indirect pathway from family functioning to social competence deficits and in turn to internalizing symptoms was statistically significant for adolescent anxiety (B= -1.015, SE = 0.394, 95% CI = [-1.893, -0.353]) and depression symptoms (B= -0.513, SE = 0.192, 95% CI = [-0.938, -0.189]) over and above the effects of family SES and adolescent age, sex, and restrictive and repetitive behavior. It was proposed that family functioning would play a role in adolescent mental health symptomatology via the mediating effect of social competence. Results support this hypothesis, indicating the importance of family functioning in youth social competence, and the subsequent effects on adolescent mental health. These results contribute to the understanding of mental health comorbidities in adolescents with ASD and could be used to inform future interventions.

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  The Moderating Role of Body Appreciation on Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Intentions

  Breanna Jones, Noelle Manfredi, and Calvin Hall

  The Moderating Role of Body Appreciation on Ethnic Identity and Condom Use Intentions

  Breanna Jones, Depts. of Psychology and Sociology, Noelle Manfredi, and Calvin Hall, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Kristina Hood, Dept. of Psychology

  Scholars have long explored the influence of ethnic identity affirmation, or feelings of belonging to one’s ethnic group (Phinney, 1990), on sexual health outcomes (e.g., condom use intentions; Beadnell et al., 2003). Higher ethnic identity safeguards against risky sexual behaviors (Townsend et al., 2010), such that those with higher ethnic identity affirmation reported less risky sexual behaviors. However, limited research has explored how personal factors, such as positive body image (i.e., body appreciation), may influence the relationship between ethnic identity and sexual risk behaviors. Previous research found that women with higher body appreciation tend to report greater condom use self-efficacy (Grower & Ward, 2018). Furthermore, findings suggest that body appreciation and ethnic identity affirmation are positively associated (Cotter et al., 2013), such that those with higher body appreciation reported greater ethnic identity affirmation. However, body appreciation, ethnic identity affirmation, and condom use intentions have not been studied together. Responsively, the current study aimed to examine the role of body appreciation on the relationship between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions in a sample of Black and Latinx women. This study was guided by the theory of plan behavior (Ajzen, 1985; Townsend et al., 2006)), which asserts that one’s behavioral intentions (e.g., condom use intentions) are tied to social norms and their attitudes about themselves and others. We hypothesized that body appreciation would moderate the link between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions. The current sample consisted of 148 heterosexual Black (n= 81) and Latinx women (n= 67), ages 18 to 60 (M= 30.78, SD= 7.65), who were recruited from Amazon Mechanical Turk.

  The Hayes PROCESS (2017) regression-based tool was used to examine whether body appreciation moderated the relationship between ethnic identity affirmation and future condom use intentions after controlling for age and relationship status. Results suggest an interaction between ethnic identity affirmation and body appreciation on future condom use intentions, B(SE)= -.11(0.06), ΔR2= .02, p= 0.05. To interpret the statistically significant moderation effect, Hayes’s (2017) PROCESS v.3 Johnson-Neyman analysis was used. For Black and Latinx women with lower body appreciation, ethnic identity affirmation did not influence condom use scores, b(SE)= -7.20 (.05), 95% CI[-.17, 0.28], p= 0.16. However, for Black and Latinx women with higher body appreciation, those with lower ethnic identity affirmation had greater condom use intentions than those with higher ethnic identity affirmation, b(SE)= 0.84(.90) 95% CI[-.40, -0.52], p= 0.01. That is, among participants who appreciate their bodies, those who felt less belonging to their ethnic group endorsed greater intentions to use condoms in the future compared to those who felt greater belonging to their ethnic group. Findings suggest that, the influence of body appreciation differs based on one’s level of ethnic identity affirmation, which is counterintuitive to literature suggesting that low ethnic identity is associated with worse sexual health outcomes (e.g., Espinosa-Hernandez & Lefkowitz, 2009). For that reason, more research is needed to replicate the current findings.

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  Does Sexual Orientation Moderate between Partner Substance Use and Alcohol Consumption?

  Jasmine Jones

  Does Sexual Orientation Moderate between Partner Substance Use and Alcohol Consumption?

  Jasmine Jones, Depts. of Psychology and African American Studies, with Dr. Jessica Salvatore, Dept. of Psychology

  Being with an antisocial partner can be challenging in various ways. Prior research suggests that involvement with an antisocial partner is associated with higher levels of substance use (Fleming, White, and Catalano 2010). Having a minority sexual orientation can also influence one’s own substance use. Prior research shows that individuals who identify as a sexual minority report higher levels of substance use compared to those who identify as heterosexual (Hughes, Wilsnack, Kantor 2016). Despite the robust associations between partner antisocial behavior, alcohol consumption, and sexual orientation there is little research looking at whether the association between having an antisocial partner and alcohol consumption differs as a function of sexual orientation. The aim for this study was to examine whether the association between a partner’s antisocial behavior and alcohol use differs as a function of sexual orientation. Participants came from “Spit for Science,” a university research opportunity for any freshman that would like to participate. Participants (N = 1502, 70.8% female) were invited to participate in surveys during their freshman year and every spring semester after. We used a subset based on participants who reported to be in a relationship during the spring semester of their freshman year. Consistent with prior research and our hypothesis, having a partner with higher substance use is associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption. Contrary to our hypothesis, we did not find evidence that partner substance use and alcohol consumption differed as a function of sexual orientation. Individuals who are involved with someone who consumes alcohol will consume more alcohol, however, this does not differ as a function of sexual orientation.

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  Trafficking Patterns of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 and Assembly into the Slow Delayed Rectifier (Iks) Channel

  Sukhleen Kaur

  Trafficking Patterns of KCNQ1 and KCNE1 and Assembly into the Slow Delayed Rectifier (Iks) Channel

  Sukhleen Kaur, Depts. of Bioinformatics and Chemistry, with Dr. Gea-Ny Tseng, Dept. of Physiology and Biophysics

  KCNQ1 and KCNE1 are both proteins that are essential in maintaining cardiac electrical stability. The assembly of the two units forms the slow delayed rectifier channel (Iks) which plays a role in repolarization of the action potential in adult ventricular myocytes when a shorter action potential is required. Iks remains unassembled under basal conditions as KCNQ1 and KCNE1 are segregated. While KCNQ1 is a pore-forming subunit, KCNE1 is a smaller, auxiliary subunit. The assembly of both subunits is essential in forming Iks, for they do not function when they are present as separate, individual units. In other words, the two units are mutually inclusive, yet they both have very different properties, especially in reference to the trafficking phenomenon of each protein following translation. The question being addressed, therefore, was “how do KCNQ1 and KCNE1 assemble to form Iks channels in COS-7 cells and adult ventricular myocytes?” Confocal imaging experiments were conducted to visualize the movement of fluorescent protein-tagged KCNQ1 and KCNE1 COS-7 cells at fixed time points. The RUSH (retention using selective hooks) construct was utilized to analyze the proteins after they had exited the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Biotinylation experiments were furthermore conducted in order to quantify cell surface KCNQ1 and KCNE1. Lastly, more imaging experiments were conducted, this time using adenovirus-mediated expression in cardiomyocytes, to address the research question. The results of the experiments showed KCNQ1-GFP traveled largely in the ER network and budded out into vesicles which then fused with the cell membrane. On the other hand, KCNE1-dsRed traveled largely in vesicles throughout the cytoplasm. Through the limited results of the experiments, it was concluded that KCNQ1 and KCNE1 traffic separately and in different manners to the plasma membrane and assemble into the slow-delayed rectifier channel on the cell surface.

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  Stakeholder Perceptions of Health Needs in Refugee Populations in the Greater Richmond Area

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

  Stakeholder Perceptions of Health Needs in Refugee Populations in the Greater Richmond Area

  Ashley Koo, Depts. of Medical Anthropology and Chemistry, Matt Tessama, and Tatiana Brown, with Dr. Dina Garcia, Dept. of Health Behavior and Policy

  A refugee is a person outside of the country of his or her nationality who is unable or unwilling to return to that country because of persecution or a well-founded fear of persecution based on her race, religion, nationality, or membership in a certain social group. The United Nations High Commissioner on Refugees estimates that in 2018, approximately 22,500 refugees were resettled in the U.S. with 1,805 arrived in Virginia. Many of these refugees face multiple health challenges post-resettlement, particularly in oral health. Although these oral health needs are a recognized concern, there is very little information to support what the specific facilitators and barriers to dental care access is for this population. The long-term objective of this study is to identify the largest gaps in healthcare access for refugee populations, and plan an intervention to bridge these gaps through local clinics. The health and oral health needs of refugees post-resettlement can be determined through one-on-one semi-structured interviews with health liaisons. The participants will be recruited from a list of organizations involved in refugee resettlement and employment, including the Virginia Department of Health, Commonwealth Catholic Charities, ReEstablish Richmond and the International Rescue Committee. The interviews will allow stakeholders to share their experience serving the refugee community, their perspective on health needs that are present in this population and ideas on how to address these needs. The interviews will be audiotaped and then transcribed via research participants and stored in the password-protected MAXQDA software. There exists a link between dental/ oral health and overall health: untreated dental cavities can lead to cardiovascular issues and can be fatal. Intervention within the community is needed to increase healthcare access; analyzing stakeholder perspectives will allow greater understanding of what inequities exist for refugee populations in the Greater Richmond area.

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  To Read or Not to Read; That is the Question

  Christopher Latourrette and Morgan Haas

  To Read or Not to Read; That is the Question

  Christopher Latourrette, Depts. of Psychology and Sociology, and Morgan Haas, with Dr. Jeffrey Green, Dept. of Psychology

  Do regular leisure readers have a different psychological profile from non-readers? We investigated whether particular positive psychological traits (i.e., greater subjective well-being, self-esteem, meaning in life, and lower loneliness) and leisure motivational variables (i.e., intellectual pursuits or distraction source) would distinguish undergraduate readers from non-readers. In support of a larger ongoing research study exploring the psychological benefits of reading and re-reading novels, we conducted a k-means cluster analysis followed by an analysis of variance to determine the clustering group membership that exists based on various psychological trait measures and motivational factors, and the subsequent effect of the clusters on reading frequency. People with higher positive personality traits, specifically subjective well-being and presence of meaning in life, are more motivated to read leisurely for intellectual gains and as a source of distraction read significantly more often, compared to people with less positive personality traits or who are unmotivated to read for intellectual gains and a source of distraction.

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  Transit Manipulation by the Koch Brothers: Analyzing the Relationship between the Division of Power in the United States Government, Societal Benefits, Voter and Rider Composition, Referendum Language and Cost of Improvement Under the Lens of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum

  Samantha Lee

  Transit Manipulation by the Koch Brothers: Analyzing the Relationship between the Division of Power in the United States Government, Societal Benefits, Voter and Rider Composition, Referendum Language and Cost of Improvement Under the Lens of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum

  Samantha Lee, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  In Nashville, Tennessee, Charles and David Koch, known as the Koch Brothers, manipulated these areas--the division of power in the United States government, change in leadership, societal benefits, voter and rider composition, referendum language and cost of the improvement--in order to turn what was initially positive voter feedback into a roadblock for the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum, even though many voters would have benefitted from such a system. The federal government focuses on the united country whereas the state governments account solely for their respective interests, causing projects in states that received the majority of the funding for the 2010 national high-speed rail to fail since they misrepresented the expectations of the people, alluding to the systemic bias in funding against public transportation in comparison to automobiles. The voter and rider composition of Nashville, specifically the $49,391 median household income contributed to failure of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum as the project was neither affordable nor relevant for voting residents, exemplified by the election results. Pro-public transportation voting Americans support public transit because of social benefits: reduction of congestion, cleaner environment, aid for the poor and socially excluded, revitalization of cities, and job creation, resulting in limited in-support votes and ridership, reflecting the greater influence of self-interest on voters, especially when taxes are involved. The referendum language and estimated $5.4 billion project cost prompted the Nashville voters to become dissuaded because of their socioeconomic status, supported by their unwillingness to pay. Understanding the failure of the 2018 Nashville Transit Improvement Program Referendum was a result of the Nashville’s societal and economic conditions that were exploited by conservative political groups, such as Americans for Prosperity, one can apply such knowledge to future transportation referendums and mirror or counteract the Koch Brothers’ actions to prompt successful passage.

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  Academic Socialization and Its Effects on Academic Success

  David Lim and Maria Cisneros-Elias

  Academic Socialization and Its Effects on Academic Success

  David Lim, Dept. of Psychology and Maria J. Cisneros-Elias, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Chelsea D. Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  Academic socialization in education is how parents use their own educational beliefs and expectations to provide messages to their children to help navigate or influence their academic success and development (Hill & Tyson, 2009). There is currently very little research done on academic socialization, and recent studies have just started addressing the lack of research on this subject. This narrative review focuses on parental academic socialization, to understand the influence it has on their child’s academic endeavors. Eight peer-reviewed articles on academic socialization were found from Psychinfo for this narrative review. This scoping review explores the literature related specifically to academic socialization to better understand how much of an impact it has on outcomes among different age groups of children, ranging from elementary, middle, and high school. Results of the studies reviewed show that there are positive influences of parental academic socialization such as, increased socio-emotional competencies among kindergarten students (Puccioni et al, 2019) and academic achievement especially among high school students (Hill & Tyson, 2009). Implications to further research academic socialization will be discussed.

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  How the Diversity of Curriculum Prepares Future Physician Assistants (PA's) to Provide Healthcare for Underserved Populations

  Jessica Lim-Wilson

  How the Diversity of Curriculum Prepares Future Physician Assistants (PA's) to Provide Healthcare for Underserved Populations

  Jessica Lim-Wilson, Depts. of Health, Physical Education & Exercise Science and Psychology, with Dr. Christine Booker, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Sciences

  This research project was conducted to explore the availability of the diverse curriculum in Physician Assistant programs by region as well as the scope of PA responsibility across the United States. Using the information collected, the association between Physician Assistant curriculum and underserved population health outcomes by region was examined. In conclusion, this research has assisted in understanding the relationship between PA education and health outcomes.

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  Autobiographical Storytelling in English Language Arts Instruction: Fostering Literacy and Social Emotional Development in the Elementary English Language Learner Classroom

  Elysia Lin

  Autobiographical Storytelling in English Language Arts Instruction: Fostering Literacy and Social Emotional Development in the Elementary English Language Learner Classroom

  Elysia Lin, with Prof. Mary Boyes, VCU Honors College

  Given the changing cultural and linguistic profile of the United States classroom, culturally relevant teaching strategies that address individual learning needs and establish meaningful learning contexts have become increasingly important for student success. The integration of autobiographical student narratives into traditional English language instruction via storytelling represents a promising area of educational research. The present study sought to investigate the extent to which storytelling facilitates inclusivity, fosters positive social-emotional development, enhances engagement, and contributes to gains in academic performance of elementary-aged English language learner (ELL) students. In a comprehensive literature review, this study explored storytelling in relation to classroom demographic profiles, literacy development, dynamics of interpersonal relationships, and mechanisms of student engagement and motivation. Storytelling in promoting language achievement and social-emotional development was evaluated through the lens of Gardner’s social educational model of second language acquisition. Research found that fewer opportunities for open dialogue within diverse classrooms contribute to negative cultural stereotypes. Storytelling supports the social-emotional development of students by broadening cultural attitudes and affirming both peer-to-peer and student-teacher relationships. Storytelling, compared to traditional instruction, better incorporates multimodal literacy skills into language. Additionally, storytelling increases student engagement by creating a meaningful learning context, which in turn heightens motivation and mediates positive academic outcomes. Four guidelines for storytelling-based language instruction in diverse classrooms emerged: (1) acknowledgement and acceptance of diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds, (2) legitimization of student experience and student voice, (3) implementation of scaffolding techniques by teacher-storytellers, and (4) support of active student roles in learning.

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  The Use of Physician Assistants for Health and Wellness in Aging Populations

  Desiree Longmire

  The Use of Physician Assistants for Health and Wellness in Aging Populations

  Desiree Longmire, Depts. of Kinesiology and Health Science, Biology, & Chemistry, with Dr. Christine Booker, Dept. of Kinesiology and Health Science

  I conducted a study to expand my research on the demographics of Physician Assistant (PA) programs and how the programs can benefit from having Gerontology in their curriculum. I was able to record data on an excel spreadsheet on the demographics and pass rate scores of PA program graduates. This data was used to assess if PA programs have Gerontology in their curriculum as separate courses. Also, the data was used to determine if there is a correlation of pass rates of PA programs with more diverse students in specific geographical regions that serve aging populations. This information helps fill the gap in the literature by ascertaining the significance of the use of more diverse PA’s in the health care industry and their ability to impact care for the health and wellness of the aging population.

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  The Induction of Dendritic Cell Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Irradiated-Tumor Derived Extracellular Vesicles Supports the Adoption of a Pro-Tumor Phenotype

  Sitara Mahmoodi

  The Induction of Macrophage Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress by Irradiated-Tumor Derived Extracellular Vesicles Supports the Adoption of a Pro-Tumor Phenotype

  Sitara Mahmoodi, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, with Dr. Sarah Golding, Dept. of Biology

  Recent studies have shown that long term exposure of tumor cells to sub-lethal levels of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress leads to the suppression of anti-tumor immunity through the manipulation of myeloid cells in the tumor microenvironment.1 While this effect seems to be dependent upon the ability of cancer cells to “transfer” the state of ER stress to myeloid cells, i.e. to initiate ER stress signaling in myeloid cells independent of the original stimulus, exactly how stressed cancer cells accomplish this is still not well understood1. Our focus is on exosomes which are extracellular vesicles and how they play a significant role in this mechanism. In recent studies, we demonstrated how extracellular vesicles secreted by irradiated melanoma cancer cells (IR-EVs) induce ER stress in Bone Marrow Dendritic Cells (BMDCs). In addition, BMDCs treated with IR-EVs demonstrated enhanced STAT3 and p38 signaling, two related pathways that have been demonstrated to induce tolerogenic DC phenotypes, in an ER stress dependent manner2. We have also found that IR- EVs stimulate the production of IL-10, a major negative regulator of antitumor immunity, from BMDCs and that this expression can be eliminated by STAT3 inhibition2. However, using a T-Cell Receptor/ tumor- associated antigen (TCR/TAA) system to model the interaction between BMDCs and cytotoxic T cells from a tumor rejection antigen (Pmel/gp100), we have observed that pharmaceutical ER stress or STAT3 inhibition dramatically inhibits T cell proliferation and IFN-gamma expression in response to antigen pulsed BMDCs. This suggests that ER stress and STAT3 signaling are both necessary for the presentation of tumor antigens to cytotoxic T cells, indicating that inhibition of these pathways would not be a desirable approach to enhance antitumor immunity in vivo. Thus, our current focus is on finding a way to inhibit the production or activity of these IR-EVs directly, inhibiting their effects on DCs in the body while leaving STAT3 signaling in proliferating T cells unaltered.

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  Correlation of Acculturation in the U.S. and Oral Health Knowledge

  Silvia Manzano and Tatiana Kohlmann

  Abigail Manzano, Dept. of Kinesiology, and Tatiana Kohlmann, with Dr. Aderonke A. Akinkugbe, VCU School of Dentistry and Dr. Sarah Raskin, L. Douglas Wilder School

  Introduction: The United States (U.S.) is one of the top leading nations among developed countries, with the highest infant mortality rates, obesity rates, and chronic disease rates. Healthcare disparities and inequalities across the U.S. are becoming an increasing problem; low-income and minority families are regularly denied basic healthcare or simply cannot afford care. Thus, the current study assessed the relationship between time since settling in the U.S. and the oral health knowledge of a sample of low-income immigrants served at a free clinic in Richmond, Virginia. Methods: Patients from the CrossOver Healthcare Ministry clinics were recruited to measure reasons for dental disengagement. The staff at the clinics developed and provided a list of patients that have not been to the clinic in over a year or at all. Eligible participants were asked to complete a consent form and surveys on dental health status, socioeconomic status, and associated health conditions (e.g., chronic diseases, diabetes, etc.). Oral health knowledge was assessed using a validated instrument, the Comprehensive Measure of Oral Health Knowledge (CMOHK) that included a set of 25 questions designed to help understand the patient’s knowledge of dental health. Given that a majority of the patients that register with the CrossOver clinics are Latinx and Spanish-speaking individuals, the surveys were administered in both English and Spanish, depending on the patient’s preference. Responses from the surveys were entered into a protected, online research portal (REDCap) and will subsequently be analyzed using SAS. We plan to produce descriptive statistics using means and standard deviations or frequencies and relative frequencies and assess differences in oral health knowledge according to time since settling in the U.S. using t-tests or chi square tests. Results: Participant recruitment and data collection are still ongoing; however, I hypothesize that those that have accultured to the U.S. for more than 10 years would yield the highest CMOHK scores. Conclusions: Minorities and low-income individuals often neglect their own dental care needs for various reasons, this study will help us understand if length of stay in the U.S. affects oral health knowledge.

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  Impulsivity in Sexual Trauma Survivors and their Use of Alcohol and Substances

  Kayla McLean

  Impulsivity in Sexual Trauma Survivors and their Use of Alcohol and Substances

  Kayla McLean, Dept. of Psychology, with Dr. Jasmin Vassileva, Depts. of Psychology and Psychiatry

  The current study investigates the associations of neurocognitive ‘choice’ impulsivity (delay discounting) and personality ‘trait’ impulsivity (UPPS Impulsive Behavior Scale) with alcohol and substance use among female college students reporting history of sexual trauma. Participants included 2476 students enrolled in the Spit for Science study of college student mental health at VCU. Bivariate correlations were used to examine the associations between lifetime use of alcohol and different types of drugs with delay discounting and trait impulsivity among female students reporting history of sexual trauma (N=688). The results revealed that only cannabis (r=0.10, p<.05) and prescription stimulants (r=0.11, p<.05) were significantly correlated with delay discounting, particularly of rewards of small magnitude. Emotion-related factors of the UPPS trait impulsivity (negative urgency, positive urgency, and sensation seeking), showed positive relationships with cannabis (r=0.34, p<.01), opioids (r=0.27, p<.05), stimulants (r=0.23, p<.05), prescription sedatives (r=0.43, p<.05) and prescription anxiolytics (r=0.43, p<.05). These results may indicate substance use as a means of coping with the emotional effects of sexual trauma.

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  Trait Parochial Empathy Scale (TPES)

  Lauren McLeod and David Lansdell

  Trait Parochial Empathy Scale (TPES)

  Lauren McLeod, Dept. of Psychology, and David Lansdell, with Dr. Jennifer Joy-Gaba, Dept. of Psychology

  The goal of the research was to build and test a new scale regarding parochial empathy - a previously un-measured aspect of social interaction. Parochial empathy is the tendency to exhibit intergroup empathy bias (greater empathic concern for members of one's ingroup). Thus, the Parochial Empathy scale (TPES) measures how much an individual aids members of an outgroup compared to their willingness to aid their ingroup. Upon scale design, the TPES went through several validation measures. In the current study, participants were shown a pair of scripted videos given by college Democrat and Republican groups. Ostensibly, these groups were located on campus and were vying for donations from the participants. After viewing the message, participants were asked to determine how much money should be given to each group. Results revealed that the TPES suggests that participants donated more money toward their reported political identification (i.e., their ingroup) compared to the outgroup.

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  Polo-Like Kinase 1 Mediated Regulation of Androgen Receptor: Potential Role in the Development of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

  Xavier Moore

  Polo-Like Kinase 1 Mediated Regulation of Androgen Receptor: Potential Role in the Development of Castration Resistant Prostate Cancer

  Xavier Moore, Depts. of Chemistry and Biology, with Dr. Zheng Fu, Ph.D., Department of Human and Molecular Genetics

  Brief Description:

  Primary therapy for advanced prostate cancer (PCa) is androgen deprivation therapy. This therapy is effective for generally one to two years, however, the disease then progresses to lethal castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). There is significant interest in determining the molecular underpinnings of this transformation. Preliminary data suggests that polo-like kinase one (PLK1) may play a role in the development of CRPC. This study seeks to investigate if PLK1 interacts with the androgen receptor and to characterize the functional significance of such an interaction.

  Abstract:

  The advancement to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) brings a ubiquitously terminal prognosis. Incomplete understanding of the molecular driving forces of this transformation hinders the development of novel therapeutics to treat lethal prostate cancer (PCa). Herein, we provide preliminary evidence that polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) and the androgen receptor (AR) interact endogenously, resulting in PLK1-mediated phosphorylation. These data, among other publications, provide evidence that PLK1 may be involved in the development of terminal PCa and justify further investigations to delineate the functional significance of this interaction. Comprehensive characterization offers the potential for novel therapeutic avenues in the treatment of castration-resistant prostate cancer.

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  Evidence-Based Programs & Measures Of Mental Health Literacy among Adolescents: A Narrative Research Review

  Roxana Naemi, Sabrina Hawa, and Chloe Walker

  Evidence-Based Programs & Measures Of Mental Health Literacy among Adolescents: A Narrative Research Review

  Roxana Naemi, Dept. of Psychology, Sabrina Hawa, & Chloe Walker, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Chelsea D. Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  This current narrative research review aims to provide a review of measures that assess the principles of mental health literacy among adolescents. Mental health literacy can be defined as the degree to which an individual processes and understands mental health information and is able to seek further treatment (Olsson & Kennedy, 2010) and varies based upon age (Farrera et al., 2008), sex differences and relationships with peers (Burns& Rupee 2006), and attitudes towards mental health (Olsson & Kennedy, 2010). Using PsycINFO to find research to date, findings of the review indicated that for evidence-based programs using mental health literacy, adolescents had a better understanding of mental health literacy post-program, whereas when they were first interviewed through surveys and questionnaires. Additionally, the review indicated that more studies assessing psychometrics of existing measures used to assess mental health literacy among adolescents are warranted. Discussion will center on programs and methodological approaches used to examine mental health literacy among adolescents and the need for implementing more programs promoting mental health literacy within schools.

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  Analysis of the Role of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Genes in Global Protein Synthesis and mRNA Specific Regulation of Translation in Cancer Cells

  Elyse Nguyen, Dipak Poria, and Esta Sterneck

  Analysis of the Role of Aminoacyl tRNA Synthetase Genes in Global Protein Synthesis and mRNA Specific Regulation of Translation in Cancer Cells

  Elyse Nguyen, Depts. of Biology and Chemistry, Dipak Poria, & Esta Sterneck, with Dr. Sarah Williams, Dept. of Forensic Science

  Coordinated control of transcription and translation of gene expression impels cellular fate decision under different microenvironmental stresses. Cancer cells often usurp these regulatory machineries to adapt under microenvironmental stress or under therapeutic intervention. The transcription factor CEBPδ is induced by various stressors and mediates cellular adaptation and survival. RNA-seq analysis of a CEBPD-silenced human melanoma cell line, MB-435s, showed decreased expression of 12 aminoacyl-tRNA synthetase (aaRS) genes. Our group recently found that deletion of CEBPD by CRISPR/Cas9 (CEBPD-KO) compromised aminoacyl tRNA synthetase (aaRS) expression and global protein synthesis. However, despite this decrease in global protein production, the synthesis of certain proteins, such as ATF4, which promotes survival and/or death under stress conditions, is increased. Aminoacyl tRNA synthetases are essential enzymes in the process of protein synthesis which catalyze the addition of appropriate amino acid to its corresponding tRNA, and therefore act as a rate limiting step in cellular protein synthesis. In the current project, we sought to investigate the effect of silencing of specific aaRS genes, glutamyl-prolyl-tRNA synthetase (EPRS) and valyl-tRNA synthetase (VARS) on global protein translation and ATF4 expression. To address this question, we silenced the EPRS and VARS gene expression using two independent short-hairpin-RNA (shRNA) targeting two different regions of EPRS and VARS mRNAs in MB-435s cells. Silencing of EPRS gene showed compensatory upregulation of VARS and vice versa. Interestingly, our preliminary data suggested an upregulation of global protein synthesis after EPRS and VARS silencing in MB435s cells measured by puromycin pulse labelling. Ongoing experiments to validate the preliminary data and ATF4 expression will be discussed.

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  A Narrative Review of Interpersonal Trauma, Mental Health, and Substance Use Among LGBQ College Students

  Meagan Nguyen, Mar'Quelle Winfield, and Eryn DeLaney

  A Narrative Review of Interpersonal Trauma, Mental Health, and Substance Use Among LGBQ College Students

  Meagan Nguyen, Dept. of Psychology, Mar’Quelle Winfield, & Eryn DeLaney, Dept. of Psychology Graduate Student, with Dr. Chelsea D. Williams, Dept. of Psychology

  College is a critical time for LGBQ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, queer) individuals due to sexual identity formation and trauma exposure (e.g. Arnett, 2000; Acierno et al,. 2001). Studies have shown that heterosexism is manifested on college campuses through discriminaition and cultural norms that devalue LGBQ individuals and perpetuate heterosexuality as normative and superior (Rankin et al., 2010). Additionally, there is a drastic increase in prevalence across different trauma types (e.g., sexual assault), as well as the continuation of risk behavior and psychological distress, including substance abuse (Oswalt & Wyatt, 2011) during this time period. Using psychinfo to find articles to day, the purpose of this literature review was to examine the literature review and identify gaps in work that has exposed the associations between intimate partner violence (i.e., IPV), childhood sexual abuse, physical assault and sexual assault on mental health and substance use among LGBQ college students. Findings indicated that the previously mentioned associations exist among LGBQ+ adults. Discussion will include limitations within these studies, implications and future directions to improve LGBQ college students’ outcomes.