Fall 2024 Research and Creative Fair Participants

This biannual event, held during the spring and fall semesters, is hosted by the Office of the Provost in collaboration with the Student Success Hub and is open to the public.

The fair is open to all undergraduates, including those engaged in study within the  arts, humanities, social sciences,  STEM, and health sciences. While poster presentations are most common, projects presented in formats other than a poster will be considered.

Fall 2024 Undergraduate Research and Creative Expression Fair was held:
Tuesday, October 1, 2024
5-7 p.m.
Connolly Ballroom, Alumni Hall

Note: students can receive Outside the Classroom Curriculum (OCC) credit for attending this event.

Fall 2024 Presenters and Projects

Jessica Knapp - Poster 1

Drug Sensitivity and Resistance to Derived Immortalized Hepatoblastoma Cell Lines

Advanced hepatoblastoma (HB), the most common pediatric liver cancer, has low cure rates and few therapeutic options. Patients also suffer long-term side effects given the combination of toxic therapies. HB is the least genetically altered cancer with most tumors being associated with mutant forms of the terminal transcription factors β-catenin (B), YAP (Y), and NFE2L2 (N). HB can be expressed in mice through hydrodynamic tail vein injection (HDTVI) of “Sleeping Beauty” (SB) vectors that overexpress B, Y, and N. Any pairwise combination of B, Y, and N, will develop tumors with a 100% success rate. Immortalized cell lines can be derived from the above murine HBs by generating the tumors described above with CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of the Cdkn2a locus for the tumor suppressor genes p16INK4A and p19ARF. These cell lines allow us to study how different B, Y, and N combinations impact drug resistance to different chemotherapies. HB patients are currently treated with a “one size fits all” combination of chemotherapy, despite the molecular heterogeneity of their tumors. In this study, each cell line is being used to determine whether the identities of the oncogenic drivers impact sensitivity to 4 drugs that are most commonly used to treat HB: cis-platinum, doxorubicin, vincristine, and etoposide. We hypothesize that each group will demonstrate distinct drug sensitivities. This would provide evidence against the assumption that all HBs respond identically to standard chemotherapeutics and would provide a new approach to treatment that “personalizes” chemotherapy for HB patients based on its molecular drivers.

Visishta Ginjupally - Poster 2

Effects of aging and vasopressin receptor agonists on water reabsorption in the mouse urinary bladder

Aim: Nocturia is a common condition among the elderly where the need to urinate multiple times at night disrupts restful sleep. This may be a consequence of deficient endocrine arginine vasopressin (AVP) signaling and poor water reabsorption by the kidney collecting ducts during sleep. However, we have demonstrated that AVP is produced in the bladder and is involved in altering urine/blood osmolarity to decrease bladder volume. AVP receptors were recently demonstrated in the bladder as intraluminal desmopressin (dAVP, synthetic AVP) promotes bladder smooth muscle relaxation in a mucosa-dependent manner. Therefore, we investigated whether the age-associated rise in nocturia is linked to decreased water and salt reabsorption in mouse bladders and the therapeutic benefits of exogenous AVP/dAVP.

Results: In absence of AVP/dAVP, female mice exhibited a two-fold age-related decline in water reabsorption. AVP/dAVP significantly increased water reabsorption in adult female and aged male mice in the first 30 minutes. In adult males the effect was more prominent with dAVP than AVP. At 15 minutes post instillation, AVP/dAVP doubled the absorbed dose in aged males compared to 60% with AVP in aged females (p<0.0001). dAVP was more efficacious than AVP in both adult and aged females at 15 minutes while neither had significant effects in adult males. AVP/dAVP raised water reabsorption 5 fold (2 to 10 mL/min) with saline in aged animals.

Conclusion: We demonstrated aged male/female mice exhibit significantly less bladder water reabsorption compared to adults which may be linked to impaired AVP signaling and contribute to nocturia in aging.

Sumehra Amin - Poster 3

Amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques are a neuropathological hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Aβ plaque deposition involves polymerization of diffusible Aβ oligomers (AβO), primarily involving the aggregation-prone Aβ42, into insoluble Aβ fibrils. The status of presumably neurotoxic AβO during early and late AD stages is not well understood.

Commercial ELISA kits were used to assay concentrations of total AβO and soluble Aβ42 in occipital cortex from 25 autopsy cases in groups with AD neuropathologic change low (non-AD controls, n=8), intermediate (AD-mild/ADm, n=7), and high (AD-severe/ADs, n=10). Sequential fractionation produced PBS-soluble (diffusible Aβ) and Na2CO3-soluble (membrane-bound Aβ) fractions.

We observed strong associations between PBS- and Na2CO3-extracted AβO (r2=0.79, p<0.0001) and Aβ42 (r2=0.61, p<0.0001). AβO concentration was higher in PBS than Na2CO3 extracts in controls, while the opposite was seen in both AD groups. Aβ42 was near assay detection limit in both fractions from controls, while in AD groups it was >10-fold higher in Na2CO3 compared to PBS extracts. Relative to the ADs group, the ADm group showed significantly higher Aβ42 in Na2CO3 extracts and higher AβO in both extracts. PBS:Na2CO3 ratios for AβO and Aβ42 were high in controls and low in the AD groups.

These results support a preponderance of membrane-bound vs. diffusible AβO, particularly Aβ42, in AD. Highest concentrations of AβO appear to accumulate in cell membranes during early AD, while lower levels in late AD may be due to fibrilization and sequestration of AβO into plaques. Thus, targeting AβO directly may be an efficient therapy strategy only in early AD.

Ilana Kersh - Poster 4

An investigation of comorbidities: an analysis of symptoms, quality of life, and poor health outcomes in patients with knee osteoarthritis and hypertension

Approximately 25% of United States adults report having at least one comorbidity (Boersma et al., 2020). Defined as the combination of two or more chronic illnesses, comorbidities are associated with poor health outcomes, more difficulty managing illness, and more costly and timely methods of care. Additionally, Osteoarthritis (OA) affects roughly 32.5 million US adults per year, with many of these adults reporting one or more comorbidities. Thus, this study examines individuals with OA and comorbidities to better understand the effects of symptoms and additional chronic illnesses on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). Using HRQoL and comorbidity questionnaires, a literature review, statistical analyses, and a correlational descriptive design, this study allowed me to better understand the quality of life, comorbidity patterns, and symptomology of those with OA and comorbidities. Preliminary results indicate that anxiety, depression, and bone fracture are the most common and debilitating comorbidities among those with OA. Joint pain, back pain, and fatigue were seen to be the most frequent and debilitating symptoms among those with OA. The Short Form-36 quality of life questionnaire indicated a significant decrease in quality of life both physically and mentally among those with OA and comorbidities, with the lowest scores found in those with the above comorbidities and symptoms. Thurs far, this study has demonstrated that having a comorbid illness with Osteoarthritis significantly decreased quality of life, highlighting the implications of chronic illnesses not just physically, but mentally as well.

Vivek Rajkumar - Poster 5

Using Temporal Convolutional Neural Networks to Predict Water Conditions

Artificially intelligent machine learning (ML) models can extrapolate from existing data on surface temperatures and other metrics to predict future climate conditions with incomparable speed and accuracy, making them indispensable tools for climate scientists seeking to mitigate the effects of anthropogenic climate change. However, traditional machine learning models which use architectures such as recurrent neural networks (RNNs) or convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have demonstrated shortcomings when dealing with extremely large datasets, such as decades-long time series of water temperatures. In the case of RNNs – where inputs to a specific node in the network can sequentially loop (or recur) to the same node in order to successively refine the eventual output – the “recurrent” nature of the networks can cause processing costs to explode beyond sustainable levels when they are fed such large datasets, often causing training to fail. By contrast, CNNs are primarily designed to operate on spatial rather than temporal data, thus limiting their effectiveness to the domains of computer vision and image processing. In 2016, temporal convolutional neural networks (TCNNs) were introduced, using a novel architecture that streamlines the RNN paradigm and allows for temporal trends to be extracted from data at much lower costs. In this study, we evaluated the viability of TCNNs to predict water temperatures in both monitored and unmonitored bodies of water across the globe. Our results suggest that TCNNs are significantly faster to train than RNNs without compromising on accuracy, rendering them a promising candidate for predicting water temperatures and other environmental variables.

Sakshi Patel - Poster 6

Fibulin-5 Deficiency in Ascending Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm Patients

Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysm (ATAA) is characterized by the abnormal ballooning of the aortic wall, which has a mortality rate of 90% upon rupture. The significant dilatation associated with TAA is a result of major remodeling and elastin degradation within the microstructure. These changes can compromise the mechanical integrity and function of the aorta as a blood conduit. Meanwhile, the cause of elastic degradation is yet to be determined.

This ongoing project focuses on studying the expression and role of Fibulin-5 (FBLN5) within the aortic microarchitecture to gain a better understand of ATAA pathophysiology. FBLN5 is an extracellular scaffold protein essential for the assembly of elastin fiber network as it anchors to cell surface integrins and elastin fibers. Loss of FBLN5 is known to cause cross-linking disruptions in elastic networks, often causing conditions such as cutis laxa.

We performed immunohistochemical staining, Western blot, and PCR on human thoracic aortic tissue samples, which revealed decreased expression of FBLN5 in TAA patients relative to non-aneurysmal patients. A key objective of this work is to identify the specific cell type that shows most changes in FBLN5 expression. Public single cell RNA sequencing data show that vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), which predominate the aortic cell population, are the majority cells expressing FBLN5 in aortic tissue. Genetic sequencing data and IHC staining from our lab have shown FBLN5 deficiencies within these VSMC cultures. We plan to explore what makes VSMCs change FBLN5 expression and how decreased FBLN5 will affect aneurysmal development.

Annetta Yuwono - Poster 7

The role of the amyloid precursor protein (APP) on tau phosphorylation and aggregation in Alzheimer’s Disease

Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is characterized by the accumulation of amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). NFT formation is due to the progressive pathological accumulation and

aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) in degenerating neurons. Intriguingly, the amyloid precursor protein (APP), which is cleaved to generate Aβ, is specifically upregulated in NFT-bearing neurons. Moreover, familial mutations in APP, but not MAPT, play a causal role in AD development. Although APP pathobiology is undoubtably involved in AD progression, the lack of appropriate models has hindered our understanding of whether APP directly impacts tau aggregation in AD.

Method: We investigated the involvement of APP in tau aggregation and phosphorylation using HEK293 cells that overexpress full-length APP and a novel optogenetic system to induce tau aggregation, termed optoTAU. We utilized biochemical and immunocytochemical analysis of total tau, phosphorylated tau (pTau), APP, and Aβ species to establish a causal role and investigate the putative mechanism via which APP influences tau pathogenesis.

Result: First, we show that overexpression of APP in optoTAU expressing cells increases tau aggregation, favoring increases in pTau levels. Despite a known relationship between Aβ generation and pTau formation, we show that treatment with α-, β-, and γ-secretase inhibitors does not reverse APP-mediated tau aggregation. As such, we investigated Aβ-independent mechanisms through which APP may influence tau aggregation. We show that tau and APP directly interact, though this interaction is not enhanced in cells undergoing tau aggregation. Furthermore, aggregated tau displays trended co-localization increase with APP and decrease with alpha-tubulin, suggesting a putative effect of tau aggregation in disrupting tau physiological interactions. Lastly, we show that APP overexpression enhances cell toxicity in the presence of tau aggregation, which could further potentiate neuronal death in AD brains.

Conclusion: Our results elucidate a direct impact of APP on tau aggregation and confirm the synergistic effect of APP and tau in AD pathogenesis. Future studies aimed at harnessing this relationship in patient-derived neurons will continue to dissect APP-dependent mechanisms upstream of tau pathogenesis.

Shanmayee Devarapalli - Poster 8

Protective Role of GDAP1 in Maintaining Mitochondrial Calcium Homeostasis Under Oxidative Stress

Calcium signaling is essential for cellular function, with mitochondria playing a critical role in regulating calcium levels by absorbing and releasing calcium to maintain homeostasis. This process involves calcium uptake through the outer membrane protein VDAC1 and the inner membrane protein MCU, driven by mitochondrial membrane potential. Oxidative stress, induced by lipid peroxidation products like 4-Hydroxynonenal (4HNE), disrupts this calcium exchange, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction. 4HNE modifies and inhibits VDAC1 and MCU, impairing calcium regulation. This study investigates whether GDAP1, a protein hypothesized to protect mitochondria by removing 4HNE modifications from VDAC1, can maintain mitochondrial calcium homeostasis under oxidative stress. We used flow cytometry and the calcium-sensitive dye Rhod 2 to monitor calcium levels in GDAP1-overexpressing HEK cells exposed to tert-Butyl Hydroperoxide (tBHP) and Uridine Triphosphate (UTP). Ionomycin was applied to release intracellular calcium and observe calcium dynamics.

The data revealed that GDAP1 overexpression modulates calcium signaling under oxidative stress. In GDAP1-overexpressing cells, tBHP treatment significantly increased calcium levels, indicating elevated calcium under stress. The addition of UTP did not further increase calcium, suggesting GDAP1 helps stabilize calcium homeostasis during prolonged stress. Resting calcium levels increased with higher tBHP concentrations and then plateaued, highlighting the impact of oxidative stress on calcium dynamics. These findings suggest that GDAP1 plays a protective role in maintaining mitochondrial calcium balance and mitigating oxidative stress, potentially by preventing 4HNE modification of VDAC1.

Hunar Sanghani - Poster 9

Delving into the Mind of Charles Darwin: A study of his pre-Beagle Musings, Beagle Expedition, and subsequent development

Charles Darwin's exploration of the Galápagos Islands in 1835 and his subsequent formulation of the theory of evolution in 1839 were significantly influenced by his observations of land-birds, including finches, larks, owls, and mockingthrushes. Despite a primary focus on geology during his voyage on the HMS Beagle, Darwin meticulously documented various species in his field notebooks. Early observations during his youth at Edinburgh University and the Beagle expedition reflected Darwin's growing curiosity about species variation. However, it was not until his return to England and his interaction with ornithologist John Gould that Darwin began to recognize the significance of the finches he had observed in the Galápagos. This collaboration, despite differing beliefs on species' fixity, helped Darwin refine his understanding of species transmutation. This paper explores Darwin's journey from initial geological interests to groundbreaking evolutionary insights, highlighting the pivotal role of his Galápagos observations and Gould's influence in shaping his revolutionary theory.

Oluwatofunmi Abiola - Poster 10

Optimization of head-fixed probabilistic reversal learning paradigm to explore cognitive flexibility in mice.

Cognitive inflexibility is a common symptom of obsessive-compulsive disorder. Probabilistic reversal learning (PRL) tasks require subjects to adjust behavior in response to changes in choice-outcome contingencies and are frequently used to study the neural mechanisms underlying inflexibility. In rodent studies, these experiments are often limited by a low number of trials and few reversals per session. Here, we optimized a head-fixed PRL task with a high number of trials and contingency reversals each session.

Mice were positioned in front of an LED screen and wheel and learned that wheel movement controls the movement of a central bar on the LED screen to the left or right (for left vs. right wheel turns). Turns were probabilistically rewarded (90%/10%) with the delivery of sweetened water. After choosing the correct side on 75% of trials, reward contingencies were reversed. If mice persisted on the incorrect side, forced trials were initiated in which they were only able to make the correct choice. If a choice was not made within 10 seconds of the trial start, a 3-second timeout occurs.

All mice completed hundreds of trials per session with few timeouts (<15%). 60% of mice learned the task and had a rapid decrease in the number of forced trials. These mice made on average 13 switches over 600 trials in the last 3 sessions, and behavior showed a high level of flexibility. This consistent behavior characterized by many switches over hundreds of trials provides a framework for investigating the neural circuitry underlying cognitive flexibility.

Ashawnti Buckner - Poster 11

COMPUBOLD: Promoting Computing in a Black Girls Classroom

Compubold is a two week summer camp for black 4th to 8th grade girls. The curriculum focused on robotics, artificial intelligence, and topics in computing. The goal was to use culturally responsive computing as a tool to allow black girls to express joy and creativity while exploring these topics.

Gloria Wang - Poster 12

Optimizing a Genomic-Wide Association Study in Ligature-Induced Peri-implantitis

Dental implants are increasing in prevalence as desirable options in replacement of missing teeth. Unfortunately, implants come with complications, and animal models are key to studying the pathophysiology of complications, such as peri-implantitis (PI). PI is characterized by inflammation in the tissues around dental implants with progressive loss of supporting bone. VCF files from the Mouse Genomes Project were merged using bcftools. PLINK was employed to create filtered bed files. This study outlines a genome-wide association study (GWAS) for peri-implantitis in mice. Phenotype files were generated separately for control and ligature-induced peri-implantitis groups, incorporating average linear and volumetric bone loss measurements. The GWAS analysis was performed using FaST-LMM. This approach allows for identifying genetic variants associated with peri implantitis susceptibility, potentially revealing novel insights into the disease's molecular mechanisms.

Mahmood Abdelkader - Poster 13

Lifespan Predictors of Neural Stress Reactivity Among Central Visceral Regions

Dysregulated stress reactivity is a risk factor for negative mental and physical health outcomes, however, underlying neural mechanisms are not well understood. The paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus (PVN), the dorsal (dBNST) and ventral bed nucleus of the stria terminalis (vBNST), and the brainstem nucleus of the solitary tract (NST) form a core “central visceral” stress-control circuit regulating neuroendocrine and autonomic outflow, which is also implicated in affective disorders. Our goal was to identify predictors of stressor-evoked activity within these regions among several lifespan indicators of adverse experiences.

Participants underwent a mild stress task, the Multisource Interference Task. Hierarchical regression analyses were performed covarying for age, sex, and race examining childhood cognitive deprivation (HOME), childhood maltreatment (MACE), major experiences of discrimination (MED), current family income, childhood socioeconomic deprivation (chSED, parental education level reverse coded), and negative life events (past year).

Regression analyses revealed significant effects of discrimination (p=0.021) and chSED (p=0.027) on NST stressor-evoked activity. Childhood maltreatment had a significant effect on dBNST stressor-evoked activity (p=0.020). Negative life events had a significant effect on PVN stressor-evoked activity (p=0.049). No significant predictors of vBNST were revealed, although cognitive deprivation had the largest effect among the predictors. All significant predictors were within the moderate effect size range.

Childhood maltreatment (dBNST), discrimination (NST), childhood socioeconomic deprivation (NST), and negative life events (PVN) were associated with stressor-evoked activity within a central visceral circuit. These relationships suggest that adverse circumstances contribute to dysregulation of neural circuit function involved in mounting an appropriate physiological stress response.

Isabel Sichlau - Poster 14

Associations between maternal and paternal spatial talk with toddlers’ spatial skills

Early achievement in spatial tasks is correlated with higher math achievement and prepares children to succeed in the STEM fields (Uttal et al., 2013; Verdine et al., 2017). Previous studies have shown that parent-child interactions play an important role in mathematical learning (Pomerantz et al., 2007). This project seeks to investigate whether overall parents’ use of spatial language relates to their toddlers’ spatial skills, and whether mothers and fathers differ in their use of spatial language. Using data from the Everyday Learning Study in the Kids’ Thinking Lab at the University of Pittsburgh, I will examine the associations between parental spatial language (frequency and diversity) and toddlers assessed spatial skills, between both mothers and fathers. A majority of previous research on parent-child interactions effect on child spatial skills has focused only on mother’s spatial inputs. This project will expand the body of literature on spatial learning by including both parents' influence.

Priyal Goyal - Poster 15

Enriching rats prior to traumatic brain injury does not protect against subsequent neurobehavioral deficits

Environmental enrichment (EE) reliably produces behavioral and histological benefits when initiated after experimental traumatic brain injury (TBI). However, no benefit or prophylactic effect was revealed in a recent study where EE was provided for 2-weeks before a single controlled cortical impact (CCI) impact to the right hemisphere. The lack of protection with Pre-TBI EE may have been due to limited exposure and thus to verify this possibility, the current study utilized a 4-week Pre-TBI EE paradigm to test the hypothesis that pre-TBI EE can exert a prophylactic effect. A group receiving EE before and after TBI was included to determine whether Pre-TBI EE affects the robust effectiveness of Post-TBI EE. After 4 weeks of EE or standard (STD) housing, anesthetized adult male rats were subjected to a right hemisphere CCI injury (2.8 mm deformation at 4 m/s) or sham surgery and then randomly assigned to post-operative EE or STD conditions. Beam-walk agility and acquisition of spatial learning were assessed on post-operative days 1-5 and 14-19, respectively. The Post-TBI EE groups performed better than the Post-TBI STD groups (p<0.05) but did not differ from each other (p>0.05). However, despite 4 weeks of EE prior to TBI, no prophylactic effect was observed as there were no differences between the STD-housed TBI groups regardless of whether they received EE or STD housing before surgery (p>0.05). These data reproduce previous findings showing that EE post-TBI is effective and replicate a recent report that providing EE prior to TBI does not confer protection.

Malhaar Nagaraj - Poster 16

Emotional Appraisal of the Hindustani Classical Raag System

Experts in North Indian Classical [Hindustani] Music ascribe emotional responses to melodic structures [Raag]. While research into the emotional appraisal of Western scales exists, there is little research into the universality of emotional appraisal of Hindustani Music. To what extent do demographics, training, and culture influence this association of a Raag and its emotional appraisal? If strong emotional associations are identified, these may be utilized in emergent Raag-based music therapy, applicable to diverse demographics.

Participants (n=665) were provided with a survey where they were prompted to listen to vocal recordings of compositions in four Raags, each associated with a dominant emotional response. For each clip, participants were asked to choose one among four options of emotions they experienced. Recorded factors included demographics (age, gender, ethnic background), familiarity with Indian and non-Indian Music, and understanding of lyrics.

A numerical score for each participant's response was assigned relative to the “correct” response, and a frequency distribution of emotional response accuracy was generated for each Raag and factor. Statistical tests conducted rejected the null hypothesis that the distribution was uniform across emotional responses. To analyze the relative importance of different factors, a Random Forest classification algorithm was implemented.

Age is the most important factor in response accuracy: younger participants more correctly/consistently identify the correct emotional response. Interestingly, expertise in Indian and non-Indian music or understanding lyrics does not correlate with higher accuracy. The results strongly suggest the universality of Raag-based music’s emotional appraisal, which suggests a promising applicability to music therapy.

Bella Patel - Poster 17

The Effects of Reward, Salience, and Spatial Expectation on Non-Human Primate Saccades and Attention

Humans and non-human primates (NHPs) use saccades to overtly orient gaze, defining field-of-view (FOV) and covert attention to select visual information within the FOV. Reward value, physical salience, and spatial expectation are three key factors influencing saccades and attention, but their interactions remain unclear. We manipulated reward, salience, and attention to determine whether behaviors exhibited stereotyped variation consistent with a common substrate or if behavioral variation was inconsistent with, suggesting a unified substrate or idiosyncratic variation consistent with distinct substrates. Two monkeys (macacca mulatta) performed two tasks daily for multiple sessions. In the first task, monkeys made “memory guided saccades” saccades to while target value and salience were independently manipulated. In the second, spatial expectation was manipulated with a visual cue indicating the probability that the “cued stimulus” would undergo an “orientation change” the monkey was required to detect and report manually. The saccade task had consistent effects: high salience targets evoked saccades with smaller end-point error and saccades to big reward value targets had shorter reaction times. Meanwhile, in the spatial attention task cued orientation changes were detected at a higher rate compared to uncued changes. However, we found no evidence of a stereotyped relationship between the effects of reward, salience, or spatial expectation. These findings suggest that despite influencing common neuronal substrates in the primate brain, reward, salience, and spatial expectation are able to independently modulate orienting behaviors. Future work will focus on understanding neuronal mechanisms supporting the neuronal integration but behavioral separation of these influences.

Sophia Smallwood - Poster 18

The Comorbidities of Iron Deficiency Anemia and Psychiatric Illness: Analyzing Global Data to Bridge the Gap in the Literature

Iron deficiency anemia is a condition marked by hemoglobin levels of <12.0 gm/dl in women and <13.5 gm/dl in men, and ferritin levels of <50 ng/mL. Rampant in pregnant and menstruating women, the condition is known for its physiological manifestations, including extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, increased heart rate, and unexplained weakness in the body. The psychiatric aspects of the disease, though, remain rather under-researched in the fields of hematology and psychiatry. Executive functions and psychiatric disorders in adults with iron deficiency anemia is a study conducted in Turkey and published in Cukurova Medical Journal, and is one of the few sets of data we have regarding co-occurring psychiatric disorders in iron deficiency anemia patients at the moment. Upon evaluation with the DSM-5 Clinician’s Version, it was determined that psychiatric disorders were 29.4% more common in IDA patients (43%) than in healthy controls (13.6%). It was suggested that patients with IDA should be closely monitored by a physician for any comorbid health consequences. Despite the promising results of the original study in creating a bridge between IDA and its psychiatric comorbidities, it lacks discussion and data in areas including the role of iron supplements and intravenous iron in the co-occurrence of IDA and psychiatric illness, the reality behind accessibility to intravenous iron, limitations of the study in terms of data collection over a 6-month-period, and a minimal amount of studies done on adults with IDA in the realm of psychiatric disorders.

Aditi Junagade - Poster 19

TGFα Plays an Essential Role in Angiogenesis and Vascular Repair Post Stroke

Ischemic stroke, characterized by the blockage of major blood vessels in the brain, damages both gray and white neural matter. Microglia, the resident immune cells protecting neurons, are also highly vulnerable to reduced blood flow during strokes. Post-ischemia, rapid brain damage occurs, impacting nerve function and cognition. The brain responds by increasing microglial activation to ingest dead neural cells, improving the microenvironment to promote angiogenesis.

Current stroke treatments are limited and often futile long-term. These include intravenous tissue plasminogen activators (TPA), endovascular thrombectomy, or anti-coagulant drugs like aspirin. These aim to restore blood flow and prevent further damage but do not stimulate neural or vascular tissue recovery. Moreover, they have narrow time windows and eligibility criteria, leaving many stroke patients untreated or without benefit.

While neuronal regeneration is vital for tissue repair, numerous studies show that these newly generated neurons often die without a favorable microenvironment. Our project proposes immunological methods using growth factors, molecules that stimulate cellular processes like proliferation or migration, to improve the microenvironment, increasing vasculature and promoting neurogenesis. Specifically, we focus on increasing the expression of transforming growth factor α (TGFα). TGFα binds to epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFRs), stimulating new endothelial cell (EC) proliferation. These ECs, concentrated in the peri-infarct area, enhance post-ischemia vasculature, improving blood flow and cognitive outcomes. Prior experiments using TGFα knockout mice and TGFα-inhibitors show increased white matter recovery, proving the protein to be a potential therapeutic target for promoting angiogenesis, functional recovery, and long-term rehabilitation post-stroke.

Satyaj Bhargava - Poster 20

Novel Algorithm for Accurate Brain Vessel Segmentation in MRI Scans Using Variance Wells

It is believed that conditions such as late-life depression and Alzheimer’s have etiological roots in brain vasculature. As a result, methods to study the morphology of brain vessels are warranted. Current methods allow for viewing 3D MRI brain scans to examine a patient’s vessels, but there is no accurate and reliable way to automatically isolate the vessels and obtain quantifiable data. We present a novel image analysis algorithm designed to accurately segment the vessels of the brain from 3D MRI images for further analysis.

Our algorithm begins by preprocessing the image into small, relatively homogeneous regions we refer to as 'variance wells' or 'vWells,' as they are derived from the variance of the image's intensity. VWells fall into the class of entities known in computer vision as “superpixels,” which are generally small, irregular, homogenous regions that can be combined to segment objects in an image while preserving sharp boundaries. The computed vWells are then arranged into a graph structure where vWells serve as nodes, and edges connect adjacent vWells. The algorithm takes two manually placed points along a vessel and uses the graph structure to connect and complete the corresponding vessel, segmenting it incrementally. Our approach provides a robust and reliable method for brain vessel segmentation, addressing longstanding image segmentation challenges by combining powerful processing techniques with human supervision. Preliminary results demonstrate the algorithm’s effectiveness, enabling precise and quantifiable comparisons of vessel measurements across a wide range of 3D MRI brain scans.

Margaret Cassady - Poster 21

Investigating Klebsiella pneumoniae host-pathogen interactions

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) is a gram-negative bacteria that has been identified as an increasing threat to public health due to increased resistance to various antibiotic classes. Notably, they have gained resistance to carbapenems, which are the last line of antibiotics for multidrug-resistant KP. KP sequence type 258 (ST258) is a multidrug-resistant strain that has caused numerous hospital outbreaks globally. ST258 isolates can be further characterized as members of Clade I or II, which differ primarily in their capsule loci. Capsule is a critical virulence factor for KP, so this project aims to understand how differences in capsule between KP ST258 clades impact their interactions with the host. Complement proteins play an important role in innate immunity via direct pathogen lysis or opsonization. We measured binding affinity of C3 complement proteins from normal human serum to 68 KP ST258 isolates, which included 17 Clade I isolates and 51 Clade II isolates. C3 binding was measured using indirect ELISAs and this was compared to prior data collected on isolate source location and serum susceptibility. No correlation emerged between source location and C3 binding affinity. Clade II isolates exhibited higher C3 binding affinity yet lower susceptibility to serum killing than Clade I isolates, which was unexpected. These results indicate differences in how each clade interacts with the host, indicating that different strategies may be needed to target each clade. Future work will explore sequence type ST307, which has increased in prevalence, and compare its virulence to ST258.

Catherine Wynne - Poster 22

Characterization of Two Novel Jumbo Bacteriophages Active on Klebsiella pneumoniae

Klebsiella pneumoniae, a member of the ESKAPE pathogens, is classified as high-priority bacteria by the WHO that has shown increasing levels of antimicrobial resistance and virulence. K. pneumoniae is responsible for many life-threatening nosocomial infections in the hospital system (Mulani et al., 2019). Such infections occur via direct contact with the pathogen or contaminated medical equipment (Pu et al., 2023). The increase in antimicrobial resistance and the lack of new antibiotic discovery have necessitated the exploration of experimental therapies like bacteriophages.

This project explores the use of two novel jumbo bacteriophages, phages greater than 200 kb, and their utility for treatment of multidrug-resistant infections. Previous research indicates that jumbo bacteriophages are able to infect diverse hosts, making them practical targets for further phage therapeutic research. Very few Klebsiella spp. jumbo phages have been isolated and their genomes sequenced. In addition, very little is currently known about the mechanisms of action of jumbo phages or their potential usefulness in phage therapy.

The activity of these two jumbo phages were tested in a host range screen utilizing >40 Klebsiella spp. isolates, spanning seven species. Although they exhibited different activity levels, the two jumbo phages were only able to infect K. pneumoniae isolates. This data suggests that the jumbo phages studied have a narrower host range compared to previously documented jumbo phages.

Further investigation is needed to identify the utility of these phages for therapeutic purposes, including how these phages interact with commonly used antibiotics for treatment of K. pneumoniae.

Kloee Connelly - Poster 23

Investigating the Effect of Zinc on the Intracellular pH of Sperm

Mammalian sperm cannot fertilize an egg at mating, and must first undergo a series of biochemical and physical processes that give them the capacity to fertilize. These processes are called capacitation. Sperm also encounters an unusually high concentration of zinc within the seminal fluid (roughly 1-3 mM total). However, it is not entirely understood how zinc might regulate sperm physiology. We demonstrate that extracellular zinc is transported into the sperm, and we believe that it does so via a symporter with protons. Therefore, we hypothesize that the presence of zinc will lower the intracellular pH of sperm and will use a fluorescent indicator to test this.

Chloe Merino - Poster 24

Investigating the role of anisotropic tissue strain on neural cell rearrangement in developing Xenopus laevis

Mechanics are integral to organismal development, not only by shaping early stage embryos, but by providing cues to guide cellular and subcellular activities (Chu et al., 2020). In developing Xenopus embryos, the central nervous system is established during neurulation via mechanical processes of elongation of the neural plate and folding of the neural tube (Vijayraghavan and Davidson, 2017). During elongation, cells in the neural ectoderm rearrange collectively and are thought to actively drive convergent extension (Keller and Sutherland, 2020). While several factors, such as planar cell polarity, are known to drive cell rearrangement in a specific direction, it is difficult to decouple the role of mechanical cues from biological cues in cell rearrangement in neural ectoderm in vivo. To test this, we generate a non-polarized neural ectoderm within Xenopus animal cap ectoderm using Wnt3a and Noggin over-expression. Next, we apply uniaxial strain to the induced neural ectoderm to investigate if anisotropic strain alone can induce directional cell rearrangement observed in vivo. We hypothesize that mechanical cues alone can drive rearrangement of unpolarized neural ectoderm tissue. Preliminary data also suggest that patterns of cell rearrangement in the native neural plate can be altered by external strain from stretching. This work suggests that external forces driving uniaxial strain play a key role in guiding directional cell rearrangement in the neural ectoderm. (NIH R37 HD044750)

Connor Friedman - Poster 25

Unlocking Therapeutic Potential: Decoding the Toxicity of Mycobacteriophage Muddy's Nonstructural Genes for Combatting Mycobacterial Infections

Nontuberculous Mycobacterium (NTM) infections, common in cystic fibrosis and immunocompromised patients, are often resistant to antibiotics, highlighting the need for alternative treatments. Mycobacteriophage Muddy, a siphophage isolated on Mycobacterium smegmatis, is one of the few phages used to treat NTM infections. Muddy has a 48,229 bp genome with 71 predicted protein-coding genes, of which approximately 30 are involved in phage structure and assembly, while the functions of many others remain unknown. Our research focused on the non-structural genes of Muddy, aiming to identify those with therapeutic potential by cloning and overexpressing them in M. smegmatis. Using a tet-on vector system, we determined the impact of gene expression on bacterial growth. Of the 31 genes analyzed (genes 38-43, 45-49, 51-62, and 64-71), four (12.9%) showed strong toxicity, particularly genes 41, 48, 59, and 62. Gene 41 overexpression caused a filamentous phenotype, possibly suggesting interference with DNA replication or cell division, although gene 48 is annotated as a dUTPase. Six additional genes (19.4%) exhibited moderate growth inhibition and are predicted to be involved in processes such as DNA recombination and thymidylate synthesis. These findings not only enhance our understanding of the biology of Muddy, but their toxic phenotypes may help to identify essential cellular functions and potential targets for new anti-NTM drugs.

Mare McGrory - Poster 26

Determining nitrogen application rate for adequate experimental leaching

Nutrient leaching occurs when water carrying soluble nutrients moves from the root zone to deeper soils. This is especially an issue in agricultural settings where excess leached nutrients can contaminate groundwater and expedite eutrophication. Nanofertilizers offer potential for improved plant nutrient uptake compared to traditional fertilizers. This project contributes to a larger study investigating the efficacy of liposomes carrying nitrogen (N) (one such nanofertilizer) to reduce N leaching. The objective of this investigation was to identify appropriate growing conditions (water quantity, timing, and N fertilization amount) for corn (Zea mays) to inform future experiments incorporating liposomes. Briefly, corn was grown in a climate-controlled chamber for 30 days in soil columns (15” length, 4” diameter) filled with soil from USDA LTAR no-till corn plots (Pennsylvania Furnace, PA). Fertilization rates of 0, 100, 200, and 300 lb N/A were applied as aqueous potassium nitrate (KNO3) solutions to paired soil columns with and without corn. Plant height was measured throughout the growth period and final dry biomass of plants was measured. Leachate was collected after each watering event. Total volume was recorded and nitrate (NO3-) concentrations were quantified for all samples. No statistically significant difference was observed in height or biomass for plants receiving different levels of N. Total leached NO3- increased with N fertilization rate. Upcoming leaf N content measurements will further assess plant uptake. Establishing a set of optimal growth methods provides a foundation for continued studies on N uptake and leaching relationships.

Sophie Stefancic - Poster 27

Updates in the Performance of the UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trials Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 Instrument in a Juvenile Systemic Sclerosis Cohort

Objective: To assess gastrointestinal (GI) manifestations in juvenile-onset systemic sclerosis (jSSc) utilizing the UCLA Scleroderma Clinical Trial Consortium Gastrointestinal Tract 2.0 (GIT 2.0; GIT) patient reported outcomes (PROs).

Methods: Subjects were enrolled in the National Registry for Childhood Onset Scleroderma and given the GIT 2.0 at initial visit. Demographic and summary data were collected, and correlation studies were applied to analyze relationships between the GIT and the visual analog scale of the Scleroderma Health Assessment Questionnaire (SHAQ-DIS-VAS; SHAQ-GI-VAS). Longitudinal data was collected on patients 1 year ± 6 months after baseline.

Results: Data from 54 jSSc patients were collected with an average age of onset of 9.6 years and disease duration of 2.98 years at baseline. Most values were comparable to adult SSc subjects, with Distension and Reflux having the most impact. The GIT and its subscales correlated well with the SHAQ-GI-VAS, and the total score correlated moderately with the SHAQ-DIS-VAS. Follow up data from 22 patients showed small decreases.

Conclusion: Results demonstrate that the GIT 2.0 is likely a useful tool in jSSc, despite being developed for adult SSc. The median Total and subscale scores in jSSc were similar to those in adults, with the greatest impact from Distension and Reflux domains. Targeting supportive and pharmacological therapies in these areas should be pursued. This study also highlights the social and emotional impact of GI disease in pediatrics, underscoring the importance of using PROs, especially as teens may be reluctant to fully answer GI-related questions from physicians.

Maia Getz - Poster 28

An 11-year longitudinal study of a competitive swimmer following a severe TBI

Objectives

Symptoms of severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) are oftentimes significant, long lasting, and treated by a variety of medications and therapies. Although exercise is known to be beneficial for brain health, the effects of substantial exercise on recovery following severe TBI (sTBI) in female athletes are undiscovered.

Methods

This case study examines a 51-year-old woman who sustained a sTBI, involving multiple hemorrhagic contusions to the right cerebellum, inferior bilateral frontal lobes, anterior left temporal lobe, and diffuse axonal injury on 8/5/13 from a bicycle accident, resulting in a 13-day coma and cognitive impairment. She underwent 6 brain surgeries, an artificial skull implant and intensive therapies. Before the accident, she was a competitive swimmer and triathlon racer. Despite being told that she would never swim again, she resumed swimming on 09/1/14. She swims 6 days a week for 90-minutes a day, winning open water races.

Results

Examination from four neuropsychological assessments over 11 years focusing on executive functioning, memory and emotional functioning provide substantial longitudinal data. Results revealed improvement over the 4 testing periods particularly on the Processing Speed Index, verbal fluency, and Boston Naming Test with t-score differences ranging between 8 and 24. Additionally, she performed in the average range on General Abilities Index, NAB Mazes, and Trail Making Test across the four assessments.

Conclusions

This longitudinal case study provides evidence that extensive swimming is associated with cognitive recovery from sTBI, particularly female athletes' ability to return to high level exercise. Evidence suggests that carefully tailored and monitored exercise programs can benefit long term cognitive following from sTBI.

Abigail Obeng - Poster 29

Predictors of Opioid Use Severity: Exploring Gender Differences in Depression and Anxiety

Opioid use disorder (OUD) is a U.S. epidemic, resulting in 130 deaths daily. OUD often coexists with psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety, especially in women. These comorbidities lead to poorer outcomes and increased substance use. his study examines gender differences in prescription opioid users to determine if depression and anxiety severity are associated with opioid use.

Baseline data from a larger opiate study, (N=38) meeting DSM-IV criteria for prescription opioid use, were analyzed. Examined characteristics included demographics, depression (Beck Depression Inventory, and Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, anxiety (State-Trait Anxiety Inventory), and opioid use severity measured by Timeline Follow-Back (TLFB) for percent days using (PDU). Independent samples t-tests, Chi-Square tests, and hierarchical linear regression were used to examine differences and predict substance use.

The sample was 83% Caucasian, and 53% men. Women were older (p = .004) and more likely to smoke cigarettes (p = .005). Both genders reported similar education levels (~12 years), and unemployment rates (15% vs. 10%) were not significantly different. Women reported higher depression levels on the IDS (22.9 vs. 20.9) and BDI-II (14.7 vs. 11.9), and more substance use days (66.9 PDU vs. 56.8 PDU), but these differences were not significant. Women had significantly higher anxiety levels (STAI: 46.0 vs. 39.1, p = .025).

Notable gender differences were found in age, smoking habits, and anxiety levels among prescription opioid users, with women showing higher anxiety. Baseline anxiety and depressive symptoms did not significantly predict opioid use. Future studies should explore additional predictors, larger samples, and address multicollinearity for better model accuracy.

Akriti Mishra - Poster 30

Effects of Entanglements on Hydrogel Osmotic Pressure

Osmotic pressure is the driving force for the swelling of hydrogels, separated into two parts: mixing part caused by polymer-solvent interaction and mixing part caused by polymer chain stretching. The hydrogels are 3D networks of hydrophilic polymers that can swell in water and have the ability to change the swelling ratio in response to various environmental stimuli. There, they form entanglements due to crosslinking between polymer chains, affecting the level of stiffness of the polymer.  While the prediction of the mixing part of Osmotic Pressure can successfully be derived from the Flory-Rehner model, limited understanding of the elastic part of Osmotic Pressure has affected further hydrogel studies. Considering that the entanglement occurs during the crosslinking (essential component for the cause for chain stretch in polymer), we study the degree of entanglement to quantitatively measure the elastic part of Osmotic Pressure through a well-known set-up using a fully constrained swelling test.

Sofia Milone - Poster 31

Diabetes Induces Abnormal Vessel Remodeling in the Vagina: Implications in Urogynecologic Surgeries Diabetes Induces Abnormal Vessel Remodeling in the Vagina: Implications in Urogynecologic Surgeries

Pelvic floor disorders (PFD) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are common conditions in aging women, with DM increasing complications after urogynecologic surgeries. However, little data are available regarding the impact of DM on vaginal vessel remodeling, which is key to PFD surgical outcomes. We aimed to investigate the effects of DM, postmenopausal status, and urogynecologic surgeries with/without polypropylene mesh implantation on vessel remodeling and neovascularization in the vagina.

Nondiabetic and diabetic rats underwent supra-cervical hysterectomy with or without mesh implantation and/or ovariectomy (OVX). Trichrome staining and immunofluorescence labeling of alpha smooth muscle actin were performed in vaginal tissue cryosections to analyze vascular density, vessel wall thicknesses, and ratio of wall thickness to lumen radius (T/Lr) in the subepithelium and muscularis layers (subE/M) and in mesh regions (350μm radially from each mesh fiber).

Under nondiabetic conditions without OVX, vascular density was significantly elevated in mesh-impacted areas compared to the subE/M (p=0.0159), indicating localized neovascularization induced by mesh.

OVX significantly increased vascular density in the subE/M and mesh-impacted areas (p=0.0014, p=0.0159) and decreased vessel wall thickness (p<0.0001, p=0.0034). Under diabetic conditions, the effects of OVX on vascular density disappeared, but vessel wall thinning persisted in mesh-impacted regions (p=0.0345).

Without OVX, diabetes significantly increased vascular density in the subE/M and in mesh-impacted regions (p=0.0006, p=0.0317). With and without OVX, vessel T/Lr was reduced (p=0.0001, p=0.0002). Despite increased vascularity, vessel quality was compromised with vessel wall thinning under diabetic conditions. Abnormal vessel remodeling is a potential mechanism for elevated risks of surgical complications with DM.

Zachary Miller - Poster 32

Concentration Dependent Architecture and Biocompatibility of Vaginal Extracellular Matrix Hydrogels for Biomimetic Pelvic Organ Prolapse Repair

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) occurs when weakened pelvic floor muscles cause pelvic organs to descend into or outside the vagina, leading to pain, incontinence, and distress. Around 50% of women over 50 experience some degree of POP, particularly parous postmenopausal women. Polypropylene (PP) mesh is commonly used for POP repair but is associated with complications like fibroblast activation due to its stiffness.

To address this, we developed a tunable porcine vaginal extracellular matrix (vECM) hydrogel coating for PP mesh. We evaluated the hydrogel’s microstructure and tested its biocompatibility with human vaginal fibroblasts. Our hypothesis was that increased gel protein concentration would result in a more compact extracellular matrix (ECM) and increased fibroblast-to-myofibroblast transformation. Additionally, we expected that coating PP mesh with vECM hydrogel would not significantly alter hydrogel microstructure.

Results showed that higher gel protein concentrations decreased the average fiber diameter (AFD) but increased fiber connectivity, with no effect on porosity or shrinkage. Fibroblast seeding led to gel contraction, modified AFD, and additional fibrous structures. Importantly, embedding PP mesh in the hydrogel did not significantly change the microstructure. Future studies will assess these hydrogel-mesh constructs in rabbit models to evaluate tissue response.

Malini Harinath - Poster 33

Correlating mesh burden and myofibroblast origin in human mesh-vagina explants from patients with complications from pelvic organ prolapse repair surgery

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP), affecting ~50% of women over age 50, occurs when weakened connective tissue causes pelvic organs to descend into the vagina. Over 10% of women who receive polypropylene mesh (PPM) implants for POP face complications like mesh exposure and pain, requiring excision. Increased mesh burden (amount of mesh contacting the vagina) is linked to higher complication rates in animal models. Macrophages that transition to myofibroblasts (MMF cells) are essential for wound healing, but their persistence is pathologic.

We investigated whether MMF cell presence correlates with mesh burden, hypothesizing a positive correlation.

Eleven mesh-vaginal complexes were randomly selected from a human mesh biorepository. Samples were labeled for alpha smooth muscle actin (αSMA), vimentin (Vim), and CD68, imaged using a Nikon 90i microscope, and the adventitia (site of mesh attachment) was outlined. Cells that express αSMA+/Vim+ (FMF), CD68+ (macrophages), and αSMA+/Vim+/CD68+ (MMF) were quantified. Mesh burden was defined as the percentage of adventitia occupied by mesh fibers. Statistical analysis utilized Chi Square tests for trend, Mann Whitney U-tests, and Kruskal Wallis tests.

High mesh burden samples had significantly more fibroblasts than myofibroblasts (p=0.04) and MMF cells (p<0.0001). There was a notable difference between myofibroblasts and MMF cells (p=0.03). There was no significant difference between macrophages and MMF cells (p=0.08). MMF cells may be a macrophage subtype. Mesh burden correlates highly with myofibroblast quantity (p<0.0001), indicating a causal relationship. MMF cell presence increases with mesh burden, warranting further research to explore the role of MMF cells in mesh complications.

Dev Trivedi - Poster 34

Unlocking the Potential of Non-Mutational Characteristics of Cell-Free DNA as a Biomarker for Oral Cancer

Plasma cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a developing source of biomarkers for oral cancer and potentially other diseases. Previous studies have used Broad Range whole genome sequencing to identify various patterns in cfDNA such as methylation patterns, acetylation patterns, and g-quadruplex abundance. In our study on plasma cfDNA for oral cancer detection, we analyzed short to long fragment ratios, G-quadruplex abundance, and end-motif profiles throughout the genome. For each feature, we examined three cfDNA populations: mononucleosomal (mncfDNA), ultrashort (uscfDNA), and short cfDNA (scfDNA). The results demonstrated distinct fragmentomic ratios across the different cfDNA populations and microenvironments. Additionally, G-quadruplex abundance was notably higher in certain cfDNA populations, indicating potential as biomarkers for oral cancer detection. Our comprehensive approach highlights the diagnostic potential of cfDNA characteristics, providing insights into their role in the complex microenvironment of oral cancer.

Riya Sharma - Poster 35

Evaluating the Hemostatic Efficacy of Lyophilized SynthoPlate™ in a Rat Liver Laceration Model: Systemic Markers of Injury and Coagulation

Platelet transfusions are complicated by limited availability, contamination risks, and a short shelf life. We hypothesize that indicators of coagulation will improve after administration of Lyophilized SynthoPlate™ (Lyo-SP), a platelet mimicking nanoparticle in powdered form. Thirty-six rats were randomly assigned to receive 0.5 mg/kg of Lyo-SP, Lyophilized Control Particles (Lyo-CP), or Vehicle. A laparotomy was performed and a needle was inserted into the tibia to bolus administer 1 ml of reconstituted Vehicle, SP or Lyo-SP. Blood samples were collected 30 minutes post-injury and plasma was analyzed via ELISAs. In vivo, Lyo-SP treated rats demonstrated quicker recovery from hypotension (p < 0.01) and reduced blood loss compared to the Lyo-CP (p < 0.001) and vehicle groups (p < 0.0001). This is also supported by systemic markers of coagulation. Thrombin-antithrombin complex (TAT) levels were significantly lower in the Lyo-SP treated groups compared to both the Lyo-CP (p < 0.01) and Vehicle groups (p < 0.01). Additionally, D-dimer, had slightly higher levels in the Lyo-SP group compared to the Lyo-CP and vehicle groups. Lower levels of TAT and higher levels of D-dimer in the Lyo-SP groups suggest earlier clot formation. Furthermore, syndecan-1 levels were significantly lower in the Lyo-SP group compared to the Lyo-CP (p < 0.05) and vehicle groups (p < 0.05), suggesting reduced endothelial injury. Our study indicates that the novel IO bolus injection of Lyo-SP is a promising hemostatic treatment in a liver laceration rat model where improved hemodynamics and more effective hemostasis were observed in the Lyo-SP treated rats.

Kayleigh Phillips - Poster 36

Unraveling Poison Ivy’s Response to Climate Change: An Analysis of Toxicity

Poison ivy (Toxicodendron radicans) is a public health concern due to its potential to cause contact dermatitis. Previous experimental research showed that poison ivy grown under artificially enhanced carbon dioxide (CO2) exhibits increased toxicity. Whether these results occurred under natural conditions with increasing carbon dioxide emissions over the last century is unknown. A recent study with herbarium samples spanning the last 200 years found that changes in poison ivy leaf traits were associated with increasing atmospheric CO2 concentrations. However, poison ivy shows high levels of morphological variation within and across plants, and preserved herbarium specimen labels rarely contain full collection dates (year/month/day) or indicate whether leaves were collected from plants growing in the sun or shade. To analyze potential changes in toxicity related to CO2 from preserved samples the potential impact of factors such as sun/shade exposure or seasonal variation on toxicity must be understood. We investigated the impact of sunlight exposure on toxicity of poison ivy leaves. Monthly samples were collected from a single wild poison ivy plant from May to October and analyzed by GC/MS. Leaves exposed to sunlight consistently contain higher ratios of more toxic compounds than shaded counterparts, t(16) = 6.46, p < .001. Additionally, we observed seasonal shifts in relative abundance of specific compounds, suggesting poison ivy toxicity varies throughout the growing season. These findings highlight the potential for increased risk of contact dermatitis in humans from poison ivy as canopy cover diminishes with anthropogenic climate change.

Cameran Thompson - Poster 37

Sex Differences in Fixational Eye Movements Following Concussion

Purpose: Non-invasive techniques including visual psychophysics and eye tracking are powerful tools for monitoring and evaluating neurological disorders and brain injury, including concussion. Though research has shown that sex is a significant predictor of performance on psychophysical tasks it is unclear if saccade-related metrics differ between males and females. In this study, we investigated sex differences in fixational eye movements (FEMs) in a group of patients with concussion and healthy controls.

Methods: FEMS were recorded in concussion patients (N = 44) and controls (N = 44) using a retinal eye tracking device, a tracking scanning laser ophthalmoscope (TSLO), while subjects performed: 1) a "center" task requiring them to fixate the center of the imaging raster; and 2) a "corner" task requiring them to fixate the corner of the raster. A two-way ANOVA was then performed for each task to compare the effects of group (concussion vs. control) and sex (male vs. female) on microsaccade amplitude.

Results: In support of previous research, no significant effect of group was found for the corner task, whereas on the center task patients with concussion made larger amplitude microsaccades than controls. Importantly, there was also a significant effect of sex on the center task indicating that overall females made larger amplitude microsaccades than males.

Conclusions: These findings highlight the importance of sex as a biological variable and for controlling for sex when investigating saccade-related metrics following concussion, as marked imbalances between participant groups could mask or exaggerate between group differences. In the context of sport-related concussion, baseline measurements of FEMs, allowing athletes to serve as their own controls, should be evaluated as a possible mechanism to improve their diagnostic and prognostic utility.

Thelda Sarpong - Poster 38

Optimization of Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction on Bacterial DNA Quantification for Klebsiella pneumoniae 396

Quantitative PCR (qPCR) was evaluated as an advanced method for quantifying Klebsiella pneumoniae DNA, specifically strain 396. Traditionally, bacterial quantification has relied on Colony Forming Units (CFU), which estimate viable bacteria by counting colonies grown under specific conditions using the equation CFU/ml = Number of colonies counted / Volume plated × Dilution factor. However, CFU methods are labor-intensive, time-consuming, and require live bacterial cultures, limiting their application to fresh samples. To overcome these limitations, qPCR directly detects and quantifies bacterial DNA. The study targeted two genes: the Klebsiella hemolysin gene (KHE), which contains instructions for making hemolysin—a protein aiding in nutrient acquisition and potentially contributing to disease pathogenesis in Klebsiella pneumoniae bacteria; and the 16S ribosomal RNA gene, which is conserved across bacteria and used for evolutionary tracing and bacterial identification. Our qPCR protocol involved DNA extraction using the ZymoResearch D4068 kit from Kp396 samples. Initially, we confirmed qPCR's sensitivity for detecting Kp396 DNA across a wide concentration range, measuring the cycle threshold (Ct), which is the number of cycles required for the fluorescent signal to cross a defined threshold. Lower Ct values indicate higher initial DNA concentrations in the sample. Consequently, we applied qPCR to mouse lung/spleen samples infected with Kp396 and observed 16s and KHE DNA patterns. As well as normalized samples to GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase), regulatory enzyme used as for housekeeping. We successfully applied qPCR to frozen lung and spleen homogenates ranging from one to four years old, demonstrating the method’s consistency over time. In conclusion, qPCR proved effective in quantifying Kp396 DNA, offering advantages over CFU methods in terms of sensitivity and applicability to archived samples.

Xiangyu Yan - Poster 39

Soluble guanylate cyclase activators apoptose radiation-induced senescence cells to inhibit prostate tumor reemergence

Recurrence of intermediate/high-grade prostate cancer following first-line treatments is a significant issue that can lead to castration resistance. Soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) activator, cinaciguat, has been demonstrated to modulate malignant and aged (benign prostatic hyperplasia) prostate cells. Therefore, we examine the effects of cinaciguat, a heme-mimetic, on TRAMP-C1 mouse prostate tumors following fractionated radiation therapy (2Gy/day/5days).

Jiaxiong (Irvin) Li - Poster 40

From Retreat to Reality: How Does a Weeklong Mindfulness Retreat Impact Adolescents’ Social and Emotional Lives One Month Later

Research exploring how mindfulness training may support positive development among adolescents has proliferated in recent years. While a growing body of quantitative evidence suggests mindfulness training can help adolescents manage stress, improve relationships, and foster greater emotional well-being, less is known about how adolescents apply what they have learned from mindfulness training into their daily lives. Are there certain insights or shifts in perspective adolescents develop that help them better navigate the many social and emotional demands of life? In this first-of-its-kind study, I employ a qualitative approach to describe adolescents’ experiences of applying new skills and knowledge learned during an intensive weeklong mindfulness training retreat. Data were collected from 15 self-selected adolescents (Mage = 16.73 years; range = 14–19 years; 73% girls, 27% boys) who participated in a mindfulness retreat. One-month post-retreat, adolescents completed a 30-minute semi-structured interview and shared insights into their mindfulness practice, perceived benefits, and difficulties in daily life. Interviews explored the frequency and type of mindfulness practice, the successes and challenges that they experienced during meditations, and the ways adolescents applied mindfulness to manage emotions and navigate social interactions. Informed by a phenomenological approach, I aim to identify common themes in adolescents’ experiences to provide a deeper understanding of how intensive mindfulness training supports resilience and well-being. By examining the real-world application of mindfulness practices from a youth-centered perspective, this research will contribute valuable insights into how mindfulness interventions can better meet the developmental needs of adolescents beyond clinical or school settings.

Clarisse Lin - Poster 41

Alcohol Is “Liquid Courage” and An “Emotional Crutch”: Results From A Qualitative Study with Sexual and Gender Minority Youth

Sexual and gender minority youth (SGMY; e.g., lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people <18 years) experience substantial inequities in alcohol use compared to their cisgender heterosexual peers, leading to heightened alcohol-related harms and other sequela. While these inequities are well-documented, few studies have qualitatively characterized the SGMY’s friends’ drinking motivations and experiences. This study aimed to investigate SGMY’s friends’ perceived benefits and experienced harms of drinking alcohol as well as SGMY’s desires for alcohol-related knowledge and harm reduction skills. Interviewers were conducted online with SGMY (Ncurrent=9; Nexpected = 15) recruited via social media from throughout the United States. Rapid qualitative analysis was used to identify themes. Benefits of alcohol use reported by SGMY included having distractions from life stressors and more genuine and emotional connections with friends, while alcohol-related harms included injuries or illnesses, rifts in social relationships, and lower performance in school. SGMY are curious about the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol use, what makes alcohol addictive, and responsible drinking behavior, including harm reduction techniques. Results from this community-informed study have implications for future interventions and clinical practice.

Mariska Goswami - Poster 42

A Longitudinal Analysis of Xylazine-Related Stigma in Media

Stigmatizing language and imagery related to drug use are pervasive in society and amplify clinical and social harms experienced by people who use drugs (PWUD). Xylazine, colloquially referred to as “zombie drug” by mainstream news media, is a veterinary sedative that has been increasingly adulterating the illicit opioid supply and was deemed an emerging threat by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in April 2023. If media sensationalizes emerging drug threats, there is a potential to perpetuate societal drug-related stigma and divert attention away from addressing this ongoing public health crisis. We used Google News to quantify stigmatizing U.S. media reporting on xylazine published between October 2022-September 2023. Articles were considered stigmatizing if they used the term “zombie” or included stigmatizing images (e.g., used paraphernalia, intoxicated individuals, unhoused persons, or necrotic wounds). In a 12-month period, 910 news articles had relevant mentions of xylazine. Mentions of xylazine in the media increased around times of federal agency alerts about xylazine adulteration, and 24% of all articles mentioning xylazine were categorized as stigmatizing. Nearly 75% of the stigmatizing articles mentioned the terms “zombie” or “zombie drug.” Of the 601 articles with embedded images, 15% had stigmatizing imagery, most often an image of used paraphernalia or intoxicated individuals. Stigmatizing language and imagery related to people suffering harms related to xylazine adulteration proliferate in U.S. news media. Collaborative efforts between government agencies, the media, and the medical sector are needed to proactively challenge these narratives to avoid further dehumanizing PWUD among the public.

Hanna Enos - Poster 43

Cha-ching! Describing Parent Money Talk during Play Grocery Shopping with Toddlers and Preschoolers

The early home learning environment is vital to the development of early math skills which in turn relate to later math achievement. Prior studies have identified significant gaps in math achievement and knowledge based on SES by the time children enter formal schooling. The current study seeks to describe how parents of toddlers and preschoolers talk about money during pretend grocery shopping. I will explore the frequency of parents’ conversations about money with their children and age-related and SES-related differences. I will examine total money talk as well as two subcategories: money talk co-occurring with number talk and money talk in the absence of number talk. Data come from an ongoing longitudinal study in which parents and their preschooler (n = 135) or toddler (n = 253) were filmed in their homes playing with pretend grocery store toys. Preliminary results indicate preschoolers’ parents used more total money talk and money talk co-occurring with number talk than toddlers’ parents. Preschoolers’ parents used the same amount of money talk co-occurring with and without number talk while toddlers’ parents used more money talk in the absence of number talk. It is possible low-SES parents will use more total money talk, money talk co-occurring with number talk, or money talk in the absence of number talk, but the opposite could also reasonably occur. Understanding children’s exposure to conversations about money can inform our understanding of the opportunities young children experience to learn math. This knowledge can guide educational policy and early math intervention programs.

Sahil Khattar - Poster 44

Extending mouse-human paralaminar amygdala homology

The human amygdala, a subcortical structure important for emotional salience and social perception, contains a region with excitatory neurons that remain immature into adulthood called the paralaminar nucleus (PL). This complex region in humans contains two subdivisions: a larger, medial division and several smaller, ventricular-adjacent lateral islands. A mouse model of the medial subdivision has recently been established, however, a homologous region in mice to the lateral subdivision has not been reported. Here we describe our finding of a previously uncharacterized region posterior to the mouse amygdala in the ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ) containing immature excitatory neurons that, like humans, are also present into young adulthood in mice. We determined that these cells have a molecular identity and birthdate similar to the PL and are distinct from postnatally-born inhibitory cells that migrate to the olfactory bulb and are also born in this region. Additionally, despite the V-SVZ being a site for gliogenesis, we found that the immature neurons in this region are primarily neurons, not glia. The establishment of homology suggests a conserved mechanism for delaying maturation that is present in both humans and mice. This creates a plastic environment that allows these immature cells to integrate into amygdala circuits during adolescence to enhance emotional and social learning.

Bella Wayhs - Poster 45

TCER-1 Coordinates immunity and Reproduction through Egg Integrity

The intricate balance between fertility and immune function is a well-documented phenomenon across various organisms. However, the mechanisms connecting these two crucial and energy-intensive processes remain poorly understood, particularly in complex, slow-reproducing animals. Our lab previously discovered that TCER-1, the homologue to the human Transcription Elongation & Splicing Factor 1 (TCERG1), links reproductive fitness to innate immunity in the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. TCER-1 mutants show reduced fertility but enhanced innate immunity against the human opportunistic pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain PA14 (PA14). This study aims to investigate the epigenetic modifications of TCER-1 and how its downstream lysosomal lipolysis pathway influences reproductive health, specifically egg integrity. Our preliminary studies suggest that TCER-1 modulates lipid metabolism to repress immunity and enhance reproductive health. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry revealed that the absence of TCER-1, especially during maternal infection, leads to a deficiency in essential fatty acids in the embryos. These fatty acids are crucial for developing the permeability barrier of the eggshell. Using BODIPY dye exposure, we observed that eggshell defects predominantly occur in TCER-1-deficient mothers. This indicates that TCER-1 is vital for ensuring that essential fatty acids are available for eggshell development, particularly under stress conditions.

Anvita Bhattad - Poster 46

Loss of Ly86 gene expression in nonpeptidergic neurons contributes to exaggerated immune response in cutaneous tissue and dorsal root ganglia (DRG)

The neuroimmune communication and response in cutaneous tissue involves the participation of peptidergic and nonpeptidergic sensory neurons. Peptidergic neurons and their role in the neuroimmune response have been well-studied, whereas the role of nonpeptidergic neurons remains elusive. In a recent study, it was found that nonpeptidergic sensory neurons that express Mrgprd receptors suppress mast cell activation, demonstrating a potential immune suppressor function. To investigate this possible relationship, Mrgprd nonpeptidergic neurons were subject to transcriptomic studies, which revealed that myeloid differentiation 1 (MD-1), a molecule associated with the innate immune response sourced from the Ly86 gene, is produced almost exclusively by Mrgprd-expressing sensory neurons. Further studies of MD-1 have confirmed its localization to nonpeptidergic neurons in dorsal root ganglia. Other studies have shown that decreased MD-1 mRNA expression is associated with proinflammatory disorders such as lupus and obesity, indicating MD-1 may have an anti-inflammatory function. Interestingly, neuronal MD-1 expression increases robustly in the presence of neurturin (Nrtn), a member of the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor family. Nrtn supports nonpeptidergic sensory neuron development and function; it is also implicated in the skin pathogenesis observed in the inflammatory murine imiquimod model of psoriasis. Using this model, psoriasis area and severity was assessed between littermate controls (LMC) and neuronal MD-1 knockout (MCKO) mice up to 5 days of treatment. After 6 days of treatment of imiquimod on ear tissue the thickness of tissue, an indicator of inflammation, was assessed. RT-PCR was used to evaluate expression of immune cell mRNA markers, like Ly6G, as well as a series of ROS-pathway markers. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) scores significantly increased for MCKO mice compared to LMCs. Ear tissue thickness appeared to significantly increase, suggesting greater amounts of inflammation. RT-PCR analysis revealed a strong correlation between imiquimod treatment and Ly6G expression, as well as some suggestive increases in fold change gene expression of select ROS-pathway related genes. The combination of these findings imply that neuronal MD-1 expression is essential to the maintenance of robust neuroimmune communication and response, but requires further study to elucidate its exact mechanism of action.

Anvita Bhattad - Poster 47

Deep Sea Adaptation to Hydrostatic Pressure

The planet is covered in extreme environments that are constantly changing. The organisms that live in these environments have to adapt to the unique problems these environments impose and how these environments can change around them. This research focuses on discovering how organisms adapt to living at the bottom of the ocean. We are aiming to identify the genes and pathways that are changed in response to changing pressures deep in the ocean. Other research groups have looked at the effects of pressure on individual organisms such as Apostichopus japonicus (sea cucumber) and Bathyacmaea lactea (sea limpet). In their research they have performed deep-seq experiments looking at the transcriptional response of pressure. Our goal is to take these datasets and identify universal adaptations to increased hydrostatic pressure. To accomplish this we are annotating these genomes in order to find homologous genes between these species. Then we plan on identifying genes that have a similar change in expression in response to changes in pressure. The genes identified from this analysis will be tested in a model organism to see if they confer resistance to pressure. Our research will help people adapt to working at extreme depths.

Baihe Zhang - Poster 48

Delving into the role of the primary somatosensory cortex in tactile detection

The primary somatosensory cortex (S1) has long been believed to encode whisker sensory processing, but whether it is needed in detection behavior remains controversial. Recent research found seemingly conflicting results: that detection behavior is impaired when S1 is transiently inactivated but recovers abruptly after permanent S1 lesions. A three-stage optogenetic paradigm was proposed aiming to explain this observation and distinguish between two hypotheses. The first is the permissive model: area A may interact with area B which mediates detection. In this hypothesis, the recovered detection behavior post-lesion is explained by homeostatic recovery of activity in area B. The second hypothesis is the instructive model: area A is the main, default mediator of detection in normal cases, but area B can compensate for detection behavior only when area A is absent. We applied this optogenetic paradigm on S1 while mice perform a tactile detection task. Preliminarily, our results suggest that S1 plays a permissive role, and that another brain region may be mediating tactile detection. Future work aims to elucidate the other brain region’s contribution to sequential recovery of detection behavior in the absence of S1. This project will provide further solidifying evidence contradicting the long-standing assumption that S1 is the main mediator for tactile detection.

Macie Hakim - Poster 49

Changes in closed- and open-loop basal ganglia circuits with the primary motor cortex in the Parkinsonian nonhuman primate

The sensorimotor territory of the dorsal putamen (PUTd) participates in a closed-loop circuit (CLC) with the primary motor cortex (M1). Specifically, M1 is both a source of input to and target of multi-synaptic outputs from this basal ganglia (BG) region. Results from previous neuroanatomical tracing studies indicate that the ventral putamen (PUTv) also sends multi-synaptic projections to M1. However, M1 is not a source of input to PUTv. Rather, PUTv is the target of projections from limbic regions of the cerebral cortex and amygdala. Therefore, it is an open-loop circuit (OLC) that links PUTv with M1. Traditional motor signs of Parkinson’s disease (PD) result from a loss of dopaminergic input to PUTd. However, dopaminergic input to portions of PUTv remains relatively spared. In the present study, we aim to investigate the integrity of the CLC and OLC in the parkinsonian state.

We used retrograde transneuronal transport of rabies virus (RV) from M1 in a control and in a monkey rendered parkinsonian through treatment with 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). Following injection of RV into M1, we observed striking differences in RV transport to the putamen. RV transport to PUTd appeared drastically reduced in the MPTP monkey when compared to the control, suggesting impairment of the CLC. However, the OLC from PUTv to M1 appeared well maintained in the parkinsonian state. These results suggest the OLC remains a viable route to motor control in PD. Novel therapeutic targets capable of restoring functional movement in patients with PD are likely embedded within the OLC.

Kynies Xiao - Poster 50

A Longitudinal Study: Early Math Acquisitions in Children

This current study aims to understand whether patterns of developmental trajectories in children's counting skills could be examined during parent-child play from 24 to 48 months. Twenty-two children (10 boys and 12 girls) were recruited at 24 months. Observational play sessions were conducted at each developmental milestone (24 months, 30 months, 36 months, 48 months). During each play session, parents and children participated in three activities: sorting and counting, reading and pointing, and songs and imitations. These play sessions were intended to show developmental patterns in children’s numeracy skills. Results indicated that children at 36 months of age are more skilled at counting tasks than when they were 24 months of age. Additionally, results also showed that children who are within the same age tend to vary in their counting skills.

Samuel Cohan - Poster 51

In-Cage Training: an Effective Measure for Visual Restoration?

Visual restoration is a growing field of research in neuro-ophthalmology, as novel research aims to find methods to partially or completely restore visual capacities in primates. However, it is critical to have the means to measure potential changes in visual capabilities over time. In conjunction with the Byrne Lab, the Mayo Lab has made substantial progress in finding ways to measure visual restoration. Through the use of a tablet and interactive tasks, we can better measure visual restoration in non-human primate subjects. In this poster, I will explain the motivation and implementation of these tasks, and how a liquid reward dispensing system was constructed to facilitate learning in macaque monkeys. By capitalizing on these advances, monkeys are able to perform these tasks and receive a juice reward for accurate completion in their home enclosure with minimal intervention by the experimenter. Tasks adapt to the success of the subjects, as the stimuli become more or less recognizable relative to the black background. To compile extensive data, we have constructed an online database that can remotely measure subject interaction and performance in each task. The ultimate goals of the in-cage training apparatus is to both provide learning and enrichment for non-human primate subjects and to provide evidence that visual restoration efforts done may improve the subjects’ visual capacities.

Theresa Chiu - Poster 52

Isolation, Characterization, and Genomic Analysis of 34 Novel Curtobacterium Phages

We present characterization of 34 bacteriophages that infect Curtobacterium luteum and flaccumfaciens. Curtobacterium species are Gram-positive bacteria that play a complex ecological role. The genus contains phytopathogenic strains which cause wilting and rotting in legumes and ornamental plants. Most notably, one pathovar (pv.), Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pv. flaccumfaciens causes bacterial wilt and tan spot in dry beans, an emerging and economically significant disease. Bacteriophages are genetically mosaic viruses that establish lytic or lysogenic life cycles in bacterial hosts. Lytic life cycles conclude with the lysis of the bacterial host, making lytic phages potential alternatives to antibiotics. This is especially valuable in the context of the antibiotic resistance crisis. To date, only five sequenced Curtobacteriophages have been reported in the literature, including one which has shown biocontrol potential. Using methods of phage isolation, purification, amplification, and DNA extraction, we have successfully sequenced 34 novel Curtobacteriophages. Most interesting is that the genome sequences of 11 Curtobacteriophages can be grouped with sequences from Arthrobacter and Microbacterium phages. Our characterizations include electron micrographs of the phage particles, restriction digests of the genomic DNA, host range infection analysis, and comparative genomics, visualizing the genomic relationships of these phages.

Amanda Lucas - Poster 53

Addressing Food Insecurity on College Campuses: From Charity to Social Responsibility Framing

Kaitlyn Acker - Poster 54

Stakeholder perspectives on implementation of BMT caregiver support at an academic medical center

Caregivers of Bone Marrow Transplant (BMT) recipients experience high levels of caregiving-related burden and downstream psychosocial and health issues. Caregiver support programs are limited across cancer centers with the majority only providing caregiver support groups. The purpose was to describe the current state of BMT caregiver support in one academic medical center and to gather perspectives on an intervention to support BMT caregivers (Care4Caregivers).

Methods

We conducted a qualitative descriptive study focused on organizational stakeholders’ perspectives of current BMT caregiver support at a large academic medical center. Zoom interviews were conducted and transcribed verbatim. A team of four coders inductively coded transcripts using inner setting codes from the consolidated framework for the implementation of research. We then identified cross-cutting themes using an iterative thematic analysis approach. Interviews focused on caregiver expectations, the current state of caregiver support, implementation barriers/facilitators, and feedback about Care4Caregivers.

Results

We interviewed 20 stakeholders (BMT clinicians/staff=8, BMT Leadership=2, Social Work=3, Other Supportive Care individuals=7). We identified 4 cross-cutting themes: 1) Staff/clinicians are primarily patient-focused, and their knowledge/responsibilities in supporting caregivers is limited, 2) Staff/clinicians have limited bandwidth to support caregivers, specific staff for caregivers is needed, 3) Supportive care resources for caregivers exist, but have limited accessibility and use, and 4) The Care4Caregivers intervention was perceived as valuable and needed to better support caregivers.

Conclusion

Our findings highlight that barriers exist in supporting caregivers even in a large academic medical center. Implementing caregiver support interventions and programs requires additional organization structures and planning to sustain them (e.g., standalone caregiver clinics and paid staff whose primary focus is caregivers). Policies supporting funding for caregiver clinics and billing for services by alternative supportive care providers (e.g., nurses, community health workers) are needed to build sustainable programs.

Shreya Jadhav - Poster 55

Addressing social determinants of health: an observational study of patient-clinician communication in the first prenatal visit

Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) represent non-medical factors including economic resources, access to employment or education, and social support. Studies have shown SDOH has a significant impact on maternal and pregnancy outcomes yet few empirical studies describe whether and how obstetric clinicians address SDOH in prenatal care encounters.

Methods: We used an existing data-set of audio-recorded and transcribed patient-obstetric clinician conversations from first obstetric visits. We used a manual coding approach where 2 researchers screened each transcript independently for mentions of SDoH. We then used the coding software NVivo for each transcript to conclude whether the SDoH was discussed and who initiated it (provider or patient).

Results: Providers initiated discussion of at least one SDoH in 37.5% of visits, with employment (25.6%), housing (8.3%), and safety in the home and community (7.7%) being the most frequently discussed. Patients initiated discussion of at least one SDoH in 32.7% of visits with employment (20.8%), housing (7.1%), finances(7.1%), and employment conditions (6.5%) being most frequently discussed. Providers more often initiated discussion about the patient’s support system (58.3%, while patients initiated in 35.1% of visits), with father of baby or partner being discussed in 46.4% of visits, family in 10.1%, and friends in 3.6%. Discussion of intimate partner violence occurred in 26.8% of visits, also all initiated by the provider.

Discussion: SDoH screening and discussion is not occurring thoroughly or universally among prenatal providers. Addressing SDOH during prenatal care is an opportunity to provide additional supports and resources to mitigate risks of negative outcomes.

Hannah Leary - Poster 56

The Resolution Dependence of Cloud-Wind Simulations

Galactic winds are a crucial part of galaxy evolution, as they regulate star formation and the metallicity of star forming regions. These winds are highly multiphase, with cold gas observed comoving with the hot wind at high velocities. A current goal of cosmological simulations is to accurately model these winds, but it is very computationally expensive to resolve the interaction between cool clouds and the hot wind. In idealized wind tunnel simulations, mixing has been shown to play a key role in the cloud’s evolution. Historically, mixing has quickly destroyed the clouds, but when radiative cooling is implemented, mixing injects mass and momentum into the cloud, allowing it to survive and accelerate. Mixing occurs faster as the resolution of the simulation increases, however the relationship between resolution and cloud survival and acceleration is an under-explored area. In this work, we investigate the effects of resolution in both the subsonic and supersonic regime. We find that simulations with a resolution of 16 cells per cloud radius are mixed significantly slower than other simulations. We also find that this trend is more prevalent in our subsonic simulations than in our supersonic simulations.

 

Tatyana Olevich - PowerPoint 1

Legal socialization across nativity status: Examining how parents discuss police with their children.

Purpose: Legal socialization is the process by which individuals develop beliefs about the law and its agents, such as the police. Much of the research on legal socialization has focused on the influence of direct or vicarious experiences with the police on these beliefs. Less work has examined how parents discuss the police with their children. The current study seeks to understand how parents communicate with their children about police. In doing so, we elaborate on the relevance of instructional learning in the legal socialization process. We examine the formation of these beliefs among Hispanic individuals, the largest and fastest growing ethnic minority in the United States, with a focus on differences across nativity status.

Methods: Using a national sample of 1750 Hispanic adults residing in the US, Likert-type questions were asked about the frequency of discussions about how to interact with police, emphasis on the police being able to be trusted, and mentioning negative comments about police. This was measured amongst foreign-born and native-born Hispanics. A Mann-Whitney test was completed to compare the various variables.

Results: The Mann-Whitney test showed only a significant difference between native born and foreign-born individuals when it came to the frequency of negative comments about police. This means that native-born parents spoke negatively about the police with their children more frequently than foreign born parents. There was no significant difference between the native- born and foreign-born parents when it came to the frequency of discussions about interacting with police or how often they mentioned that the police can be trusted.

Conclusions: Findings suggest that the legal socialization literature expand to incorporate instructional learning. Continued exploration of differences in nativity status, and processes such as acculturation and assimilation, are necessary.

View the Spring 2024 projects >>

View the Fall 2023 Projects >>

View the Spring 2023 Projects >>

View the Spring 2022 Projects >>