Session 1 Abstract Book

1. Catholic Devotion During the Counter Reformation: The Cult of Saints Resurrected 1. Kade McGrail* 2. Dr. Bernard Means. (Professor, Anthropology) In the late sixteenth century, ancient Roman catacombs were (re)discovered and conveniently believed by the Catholic authorities to be full of Christian martyrs. The bodies of these “martyrs” were removed and redistributed to replace the saint relics lost during the Protestant Reformation. Churches who received these artifacts—often full bodies—would spend many years devoted to the decoration of their skeletons and fully revered them as protectors of the community. Most of these “catacomb saints,” as they are nowcalled, were lost once more at the start of the Enlightenment due to their perceived macabre, zealous, and gaudy nature—antithetical to the new movement. During the height of their power, catacomb saints acted as powerful holy relics that served to strengthen Catholic resolve during the Counter Reformation; hence many of the skeletons being located in areas with particularly high levels of anti-Catholic sentiment such as Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. From the late 1500s to mid 1800s, catacomb saints were intense expressions of religious devotion that glorified the afterlife and unified the Roman Catholic communities they resided within. 2. DoseDependentResponsetoExtracellularMatrixNanoparticlesinLPS-InducedLung Injury 1 1 1 1 1. Jessica Nguyen* , Casie E. Slaybaugh , Keith K. Li , Dr. Rebecca L. Heise (Professor) 1 Virginia Commonwealth University, College of Engineering; Richmond, VA Introduction: Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a severe form of lung injury with a high mortality rate and no cure. ARDS is characterized by edema in the lung, gap formation in endothelial tissue, a decrease in lung compliance, and, ultimately, hypoxemia and fibrosis. ARDS also induces an exaggerated immune response and an acute inflammatory response. There is no distinctive cure for ARDS. Current inhaled treatments merely attempt to subdue symptoms or prevent further injury. However, because the particle size of current inhaled treatments is on the microscale, the treatment particles are not able to enter and remain in the distal alveolar regions of the lung, preventing any form of treatment at the injury site. This study utilizes a novel, electrically charged nanoparticle fabricated from xenographic, organ-specific extracellular matrix (ECM), which has been showninvitro to be pro-regenerative and anti-inflammatory. The aim of this study is to optimize the dose of the ECMnanoparticle treatment to decrease the severity of the immune response that induces inflammation and injury. We hypothesize that a higher dose will have a more positive effect on LPS-induced lung injury. Materials and Methods: In this study, extracellular matrix nanoparticles were formed by digesting and electrospraying cryomilled decellularized porcine lung tissue. 12-week-old C57/bl6 mice were anesthetized, intubated orotracheally, and given 50 μL of 0.9% saline or 2 mg/kg LPS. Following injury, 50 μL of 0.9% saline or ECMnanoparticles was administered and mice were allowed to recover. 24 hours after dosing, the animals were anesthetized, intubated via tracheotomy, and mechanically ventilated. Following ventilation, lung mechanics were quantified, the animals were sacrificed, and samples including bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid were collected. BAL fluid was analyzed for immune cell and protein infiltration. Results and Discussions: LPS injury increases immune cell infiltration in the airspace, as shown by cell count analysis of BAL fluid. There is a sex difference in the most effective dose of nanoparticles. In female mice, the most significant decrease in cell infiltration occurs with 0.125 mg/mL (1x) of ECM nanoparticles administered. In male mice, however, a lower dose (0.0625 mg/mL, 0.5x) of ECM nanoparticles trends toward a greater decrease in cell infiltration. Conclusion: While we hypothesized that higher doses of ECM nanoparticles would have a more positive effect on lung injury, our recent in vivo data has shown increased cell infiltration with the highest dose of nanoparticles. Moreover, we discovered a sex difference in the most effective dose, with male mice responding 1

better to lower doses than female mice. To further explore these findings, our future studies will include detailed protein and cytology analysis in BAL fluid, as well as analyzing lung histology, gene expression, and plasma proteins. 3. ThePotential of the Second Amendment: An Examination of Firearm Laws and their Constitutionality after Bruen 1. Penelope Eleni Copetas* 2. Dr. John Aughenbaugh (Professor, Political Science) Protection. A word with numerous meanings, each of which is uniquely subjective to the person tasked with its interpretation. Only does this simple word become increasingly complicated when it is encircled by disputable ambiguity, polar politics, and a scale of opinions reminiscent of the potential of hydrogen. A person’s perspective on the Second Amendment and gun regulations may have its origins in their personal political, regional, and cultural beliefs, what they have witnessed from the media in regards to gun violence, personal socioeconomic factors, what they have heard from politicians, advocacy groups, and other forms of public discourse. In the wake of the recent Supreme Court decision in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association, Inc. v. Bruen (2022), various gun regulations from numerous states begin to be challenged on Second Amendment grounds (Valentine, 2023). A plethora of diverse opinions exist regarding how the Second Amendment's prefatory and operative clauses should be interpreted, as some individuals stress that there is an individual right to bear arms, emphasizing the individualistic qualities of the founders, while others insist on the right being associated with maintaining a well-regulated militia, stressing that the founders were more concerned with the behavior of the collective (Shalhope, 1982). In regards to Bruen, many may oppose the ruling, arguing that it is "moronic" and a step toward the unrestricted right to possess arms for self-defense (Burris, 2023). However, as cited in New York State Rifle & Pistol Association Inc. v. Bruen (2022), District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), McDonaldv.CityofChicago(2010),andothers, the Second Amendment is not unlimited, as the states still possess the ability to implement laws that restrict firearm use as long as these laws are not discretionary and abide by the fundamental right to carry a firearm in public for the purpose of self-defense, which is deeply rooted in both our nation's history and tradition. 4. Implementation of Improved Flow Programs in Positive Psychology Curriculum to Reduce Anxiety and Increase Low-SES High School SAT Scores in the U.S. 1. Skyler Jackson* 2. Mary Boyes (Professor, Honors College) In recent years, mental health issues among high school students have become increasingly prevalent, with a significant number of students experiencing feelings of sadness and hopelessness that impact their ability to engage in their daily activities. This includes attending school and performing well in academic settings, such as standardized testing. Despite the importance of mental health and academic success, there has been limited research on the relationship between these factors and the concept of flow. Flow, a psychological state of heightened focus and immersion in a task, has primarily been studied in the context of sports, but its potential applications in academic settings have been relatively understudied. This proposed study seeks to address this gap by exploring the potential benefits of flow on student anxiety and academic performance, specifically on SATscores. The study focuses on students from low-income households, who may face additional challenges whenit comes to accessing resources to support their academic success and mental well-being. This study aims to propose a theoretical program that seeks to foster a more conducive environment for flow among students. This includes changes to teaching methods, classroom design, and other factors that could impact student engagement and performance. This study has significant implications for improving the well-being and 2

academic success of high school students, particularly those from low-income households who may face additional challenges in accessing resources and support. By exploring the potential benefits of flow in academic settings and developing a program to facilitate its implementation into schools. KeyWords:Flowstate·Highstakes testing · SAT · Socio-economic status (SES) · Anxiety · Positive psychology · Attention · Working memory · Prefrontal cortex (PFC) · Adolescents 5. Effects of the Mouse Estrous Cycle on Perineuronal Nets and Parvalbumin Neurons in the Hippocampus 1. Ashna Deshpande* 2. Dr. Hu Chen (Post-doctoral fellow, Pharmacy and Toxicology) 3. Dr. Luana Martins de Carvalho (Post-doctoral fellow, Pharmacy and Toxicology) 4. Dr. Johnathas Almeida (Post-doctoral fellow, PharmacyandToxicology) 5. Emily Legge (research lab technician, Pharmacy and Toxicology) 6. Dr. Amy W. Lasek (Professor, Pharmacy and Toxicology) Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a common disorder that affects people physically, emotionally, and mentally and can have long-term neurobiological effects. Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are a type of condensed extracellular matrix that wrap around neurons in the central nervous system and control plasticity. AUD causes changes PNNs,whichaffects neuronal plasticity. Previous studies showed a increases in PNNs density in female mice, which is associated with increased aversion-resistant drinking in female mice compared to male mice. Since studies have shown an increase in AUD among women, it is important to look at sex-specific mechanisms that maybeinvolved. Previous research has shown that different phases of the estrous cycle in female mice are a possible indicator of variation in PNN intensity. This study tracked the estrous cycle in female mice and compared the numbers and intensity of staining of PNNs and PV neurons throughout the estrous cycle in the dorsal and ventral hippocampus. Understanding the relationship between the estrous cycle and PNNs is vital to providing insight into sex-specific mechanisms and treatments for AUD. 6. Internalized Fear Response in Chinese Undergraduates: Collectivist Cultures and AcademicProcrastination 1. Aashka Patel* 2. Mary Boyes (Professor, Honors College) Academicprocrastination is a global factor that may impede academic success among undergraduate students of various ethnicities, races, and genders. However, the specific relationship between academic procrastination and collectivist cultural upbringing in Chinese undergraduate students has not yet been thoroughly researched as this group of students is often overlooked in a global context. This review specifically explores the psychosocial causes of academic procrastination in undergraduate college students of Chinese ethnicity to determine if their internalized fear response to failure may be due to a collectivist cultural upbringing, which may further examine the relationship between cultural upbringing and student success. This study analyzed various articles discussing the relationship between academic self-concept, fear of failure, and procrastination in collectivist cultures. This comprehensive literature review found that Chinese undergraduate students raised in collectivist cultures or with collectivist values were more likely to create their academic self-concepts based on the opinions of other individuals, which resulted in anxiety that translated into a general fear of failure. These students often employed avoidant coping mechanisms to manage their fear of failure, which is correlated with increased levels of academic procrastination. The relationship between this collectivist cultural upbringing and overall academic procrastination displayed the need for further research to determine how academic success and mental health can be improved for Chinese undergraduate college students through the possibility of targeted counseling and mental health resources. 3

Keywords: academic procrastination, fear of failure, collectivism, avoidant coping, approach goals, mastery goals, performance goals, collectivistic ambivalence 7. Quantifying Plant Functional Diversity and Composition Between Coastal Dune Communities 1. Isabelle Pillow* 2. Andrew White* 3.Ryan Hearl (Masters Student, Biology)* 4 Dr. Julie Zinnert (Professor, Biology) Coastal dune research often focuses on dominant dune building species as they share similar characteristics or taxonomic similarities across large spatial regions. Less attention is given to dune communities and the functional composition at the community level. Dominant species differ in functional traits, reflecting multiple strategies to exist in the dune environment while also influencing dune building. Functional traits account for both above and belowground processes like resource capture and sediment accretion, but are poorly quantified at the community level. The objective of this project is to quantify and compare the functional diversity and composition of geographically distant coastal dunes. We hypothesized that dunes differing in species assemblages will have similar functional trait composition. Field work was conducted at Hog Island, part of the Virginia Coast Reserve Long-Term Ecological Research site and the US Army Corps of Engineers Duck Field Research Facility in Duck, NC. We found functional diversity and dispersion to be lower at Hog. Differences in communityweighted mean traits between Hog and Duck could influence sediment capture (such as rhizome numberandinternodal length). We observed differences in alongshore accretion between the sites, with more variable sediment accretion at Hog. These results indicate the importance of plant functional traits to dune building processes. Characterizing these differences through the functional composition approach can help improve models predicting dune dynamics in coastal systems. 8. TheShifting Landscape of Amazigh Facial Tattoos for Women: Globalization, Colonialism, and Femininity 1. Parisa Ahmed* 2. Mary Boyes (Professor, Honors College) Theperformance of gender has varied globally, and, in North Africa, it was not until the French colonization of the 19th century, that Western concepts of femininity and gendered social constructs appeared. These Western concepts of femininity often challenged longstanding gendered practices of indigenous groups such as the Amazigh. Patterns in these changing ideals can be traced in the practices used to perform femininity by AmazighwomenintheMaghrebregion,whichincludesmodern-daynationsofMorocco,Algeria, and Tunisia. Amazighwomenoftenperformtheirfemininity through body art practices such as tattooing, which has been a longstanding custom deeply ingrained into the artistic and spiritual aspects of Amazigh culture. This research charts the changes and continuities in the perception of tattooing practices among Amazigh women from the colonial period through post-colonization as a means to translate the shift in the concept of femininity for the Amazigh. This study used religious texts such as Islamic Hadiths, post-colonial theories, images of Amazigh tattoos, art mediums such as pottery and textiles, and anthropological and sociological texts to explore how Amazighwomenrespondedtocolonization. In particular, this study examines how Amazigh women coped with the introduction of new ideas and religion as well as the political struggles caused by the shift of colonies to post-colonial autonomous nations. Globalization, religion, and colonization are important themes that directly influence Amazigh performance of femininity. These findings contribute to a larger discussion on the cultural and social significance of marginalized indigenous communities in post-colonial societies. 4

9. Identifying the Kabayan Fire Mummies of the Philippines 1. Aurianna Nacua* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) 3. Dr. Christopher Stevenson (Professor, Anthropology) Within the caves of the Kabayan mountains of Northern Philippines are the Ibaloi Mummies, also known as the KabayanFire Mummies. Dating to 2,000 years before Spanish colonization, the Kabayan Mummies became well known due to their unique and lengthy preservation process. The Ibaloi, an indigenous group native to Kabayan, Benguet, practiced mummification due to their connection with their ancestral spirits, deities, and environment. The method was passed down through oral histories and can be traced back to local Philippine folklore by which a mountain goddess told Apo Anno, a respected Ibaloi demigod, to follow specific steps for his spirit to join the gods. It was these techniques of saltwater purging, use of fire, and application of medicinal plants and herbs that coined the name Kabayan Fire Mummies. This research poster will explore who the Kabayanmummieswerebyanalyzingtheirtattoos, orientation, coffin carvings, and other aspects that identify the mummified Ibaloi while also considering the cultural significance of their mummification process. 10. Vampireburials across Europe 1. Shyann Hathcock* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor , Anthropology) Theposter reviews various traditions and beliefs of assumed vampire burials across Europe. The burials are seen in eastern Europe in a variety of types. It looks at what makes the burials vampire burials. The history of the burials are discussed, such as when, how they started, and the many derivations of the mythical vampire. Along with what classified the recently deceased as vampires and how the assumed vampires were buried. The archeological record is referenced in terms of papers, pictures, and drawings of the remains. Sites specifically in Poland and Bulgaria were studied as these are the 2 major countries where deviant (atypical) burials were observed. Sites such as Drawsko Poland, Veneto Italy, and Perperikon Bulgaria were specifically studied in the journals analyzed. It is understood much of the deceased were only classified as vampyric due to a lack of understanding human decomposition. Vampires were also a means of explaining misfortune across a community. 11. DoesEthnicRacialDiscrimination and Alcohol Use Predict Anxiety Symptoms in Females 1 1 1 1 1. Paloma Rodriguez Saucedo* 2. Arlenis Santana 4. Johanna Pasquel 3. Maiah Jackson 4.Dr. Chelsea 1 2 Williams. (Professor, Psychology) 5.Dr. Danielle M. Dick. (Professor, Psychiatry) 1 Virginia Commonwealth University, 2 Rutgers University Given that anxiety increases during college (Moskow et al., 2022), it is important to focus on factors that may reduce or increase anxiety, such as racial discrimination and alcohol use. Further, Latine and Black females are at increased risk for anxiety (McLaughlin et al., 2007), making it especially important to understand the impact of discrimination and alcohol use on anxiety symptoms among this group of individuals. Racial discrimination is defined as dominant group members’ actions, which are systematic and result in differential and negative effects on subordinate ethnic–racial groups (Williams et al., 2003). Alcohol use captures the number of beverages that individuals consume (NIH 2020), and anxiety is characterized by tension, worried thoughts, and physical changes like increased blood pressure. (APA 2023). Prior research on ethnic-racial discrimination predicting anxiety has only accumulated empirical data over the last two decades, providing that racism is experienced as a stressor that has a negative impact on the mental health of people of color (Carter et al., 2010.) While there has been research on how microaggressions and racial discrimination affect people of color overall 5

(Burke et al., 2022), very little has been done specifically on Black and Latine women, especially those who are college-aged. The current study aimed to address gaps by asking: How does alcohol use and ethnic-racial discrimination affect anxiety in Black and Latine females? 12. UrbanGreenEquityandResilienceProject(UGERP):Preliminarysocialnetworkmapof Richmond'sgreenspaces 1. Dr. Shruti Syal (Professor, Urban and Regional Studies)* 2. Katy Miller (Graduate, Urban and Regional Studies) 3. Tiffani Vasco* (These authors have contributed equally) Background:InRichmond,urbangreeningiscritical to address multiple issues affecting resilience: heat stress, flooding, pollution, food insecurity, etc. GIs are multifunctional, so a tree canopy project to reduce UHI can be linked to another targeting food insecurity via community gardens, or to one designing GI to manage urban flooding, etc. But the panoply of actors developing, managing and using GIs has resulted in a complex and ambiguous network of disconnected projects siloed within their own social networks. Methods:Weconductedcontentanalysis to identify all governmental/private/civic actors and GI projects, identifying their (1) roles and (2) partners on these projects. We are converting this data into a network map showing the Actors (nodes) and Interactions (connections between nodes). Content analysis included a review of websites of ~185 actors, and ~50 research documents on Richmond’s climate challenges and GI application and management. Our deliverable will be an interactive, open-access network map on KUMU (https://kumu.io/) Results: We have already identified 886 GI projects from 165 actors, with data on roles and partnerships. Once this data is mapped on KUMU, it will depict the following information visually: (1) actors with the most projects, (2) interaction densities between actors, (3) interaction types, (4) “clusters” of actors working together, silo-ed actors, “bridging” actors who link “clusters”. We will also be able to calculate the “central” actors in the network. Conclusions: This study is a first-time application of Social Network Analysis for a critical (and universally applied) urban intervention. 13. Predicting Serious Cardiac Events from Noisy PPG Signals Using Intelligent AFib Detection 1. Ihita Bolisetty* Placing up to 6 million individuals at risk yearly, Atrial fibrillation (AFib) remains one of the strongest undetected indicators of heart failure or stroke. A previously self-developed model—Pulse—was employed to detect AFib episodes from extremely noisy PPG signals (an optical metric of atrial oxygen saturation). The Pulse framework consists of transfer learning (transfer of weights for better weight initialization), dual tasking (simultaneous assessment of the two related tasks of signal quality and Afib detection for increased performance), and threshold verification (clustering signal segment predictions for confirmation of true AFib instance). Pulse achieved high precision (97.77%) and recall (98.08%). However, there is limited research exploring the use of AFib detection via PPG signals in predicting more life-threatening cardiac conditions. This research introduces a novel multi-model approach to reconstruct unbiased ECG signals from noisy PPG signals to predict multiple severe cardiac events (i.e. stroke, cardiac arrest, myocardial infarction, syncopal events, and transient ischemic attack). The framework consists of a convolutional denoising autoencoder (CDAE) to generate denoised PPG signals, a linear transform model to construct unbiased ECG signals from denoised PPG signals (ECGreconstructor), and a CNN (CardiacPredictor) to predict the risk of occurrence of various cardiac events by constructing 3D features of AFib events (detected by Pulse), heart rate variability (HRV), and the reconstructed ECG signals (from ECGreconstructor). The CDAE resulted in a loss of 0.46% in clean signal 6

reconstruction. The CardiacPredictor CNN successfully utilized the reconstructed ECG signals and performed with an average of 87.78% recall and 92.38% specificity among all tested severe cardiac events. This comprehensive prediagnostic tool can be implemented in a wide array of smartwatches for real-time assessment of Afib events to alert patients of their cardiac health. 14. BodyMappingofAestheticChills:FinalAnalysis 1. Anompreet Bal* 2. Dr. Richard Bargdill (Professor, Psychology) Aesthetic chills, also known as piloerection, are psychophysiological responses to stimuli that create a “chill” effect on the body irrespective of temperature. One example of an aesthetic chill is the feeling of goosebumps experienced through an instance of beauty. For the last four years, the researcher has recorded every instance of an aesthetic chill, the circumstances that triggered it, and the date of occurrence. Additionally, more recent descriptions include the location on the body of where the chill was experienced, as well as the intensity. This is rated on a scale of 1-10 with levels of mild, medium, intense, and pulsar- an extraordinary, prolonged, full-body chill. These encounters have been assigned a number corresponding to the order of the date it was recorded and analyzed to determine similarities in stimulus triggers. Our research suggests that the function of aesthetic chills is not only a remnant of a mechanical system in the body but is a significant sensation that is unique to one's ownexperiences and emotions. This aligns with Wassiliwizky’s idea that suggested chills are an important indicator of identifying a specific emotion that resonates with oneself. This mixed method approach incorporates quantitative and qualitative data to create a holistic view of the frequency and thematic categories of aesthetic chills that occur for this researcher. 15. Rise From The Rubble: The Great Mosque of Kilwa Kisiwani, Tanzania 1. LaMiyah Robertson * 2. Dr. Bernard Means. (Professor, Anthropology) Kilwa Kisiwani is a Swahili island port city and sultanate off the coast of present-day Tanzania. It was inhabited from the 9th to the 19th centuries, peaking between the 13th and 14th centuries thanks to trade across the Indian Ocean. Its extensive trade routes wove west into the African interior, into Europe, and as far east as China. Here the largest urban settlement on the coast developed, leading to the construction of mosques for its growing Muslimpopulation. Since the Portuguese invasion of the 1800s, it has existed as a small village of ruins, but the Islamic monuments persist to tell a rich history. The Great Mosque is one of them, standing as one of Kilwa’s better preserved buildings after restoration missions since the early 2000s. Its architecture is a testament to the meshofnative techniques and materials, the spread of Islam through maritime trade, and adornments from the Far East. Since 2005, conservation efforts through UNESCO have been made with the help of the United States, French, Norwegian, and Japanese governments, as well as the local community. This poster explores the architectural prestige of the Great Mosque of Kilwa and its rise from deterioration to reminders of East Africa’s Golden Age. 16. Catholic Devotion During the Counter Reformation: The Cult of Saints Resurrected 1. Sirena Pearl* 2. Roberto Jamora (Professor, Art Foundation) According to NASA, July 2023 was the hottest month in global history since 1880. With increasing temperatures influenced by anthropogenic climate change, the urban heat island effect is becoming more prominent of an issue than ever. The researcher created a mural on campus property to educate VCU and local 7

communities about the heat island effect and provided actionable information on reducing this effect with thermal painting. The question of what the thermal infrared images could look like when the artist is purposefully painting with thermal properties inspired the researcher to do this project. The artistic application of the researcher's painting investigated the qualitative contrasts of three methods of thermal painting. First, the researcher measured the thermal appearance of different gradations of tonal shades. The researcher painted the specified areas with either light or dark shades. Then, the researcher found the difference in heat retention between solar reflective paints and regular mural paints. The third area the researcher measured is how various mark-making techniques with light and dark tones impact the surrounding temperature of the mural. The research showed that the solar reflective coating contributes to a cooler surface temperature difference. Another significant finding was that the image clarity depended on the sun as its peak clarity ranged from 2 pm to 4 pm. Lastly, the researcher found a huge determiner of the heat absorption in the tonal values of the mural. This finding confirmed the hypothesis that the darker shades would be warmer than the lighter shades of paint. The researcher created this mural to make temperature data visual and accessible to a broad audience. Sharing only quantitative data would significantly limit the population to spread this message. 17. HowDesignReflectsCulturalIdentities and Why Our Understanding Creates More Thoughtfully Designed Spaces 1. Isabel Dingus* 2. Dr. Bernard Means. (Professor, Anthropology) Thebuilt environment serves as a physical reflection of a society's ethos, values, and socio-political narratives. This Interaction between space and cultural principles emphasizes the intricate relationship design, cultural identities, and how we occupy the spaces we use have on each other; Highlighting how each element both influences and is influenced by the broader context of human experience and expression. By first recognizing howspaceisusedwithin different cultural contexts, we then can begin to create design solutions that connect with its user, ensuring both functionality and cultural relevance. As societies change and grow, so do their spatial needs and aesthetic preferences, creating a foundation for design to continually adapt with it. Recognizing these shifts is important for architects and designers to remain responsive to the changing cultural fabric. This paper begins to explore how design principles are influenced by socio-cultural nuances, examining the symbiotic relationship between aesthetics and the fundamental values different societies hold. 18. PhenomenaofEmotions 1. Jacob Simmons* 2. Shawn Brixey (Professor, Cinema Program & Department of Kinetic Imaging) PhenomenaofEmotionsisadocumentarythatdelves into the intricate relationship between emotions and visual storytelling in film. Emotions serve as a driving force in nearly every aspect of our lives, particularly for filmmakers who craft narratives that resonate with audiences on a profound level. While we often recognize the emotional impact films have on viewers, this documentary seeks to uncover how filmmakers' own emotions shape the art they create. Focusing on filmmakers and creatives involved in the filmmaking process, we aim to explore the range of emotions they draw upon when crafting their art. Through this exploration, we seek to understand the significance of emotions in developing stories that not only highlight marginalized communities but also underscore their importance and value in the realm of filmmaking. In order to establish a deep connection between my audience and the narratives of my subjects, I drew inspiration from the Interrotron Style pioneered by Errol Morris. The Interrotron allows subjects to maintain eye contact with the camera comfortably, thanks to its double mirror mechanism. This stylistic approach fosters a heightened emotional response from the audience during interviews, as it helps create a sense of intimacy and authenticity. Additionally, symmetry plays a crucial role in this documentary, with subjects positioned at the 8

center of the frame to enhance the connection between them and the viewer. By employing these techniques, I aim to create the parallel emotional space of the interview for the viewer and foster a more immersive experience for my audience. 19. Genetic perturbation of mitochondrial function reveals functional role for specific mitonuclear genes, metabolites, and pathways that regulate lifespan 1. Lesly Turcios-Hernandez* 2 Dr. Alaattin Kaya (Professor, Biology) Altered mitochondrial function is tightly linked to lifespan regulation, but underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we report the chronological and replicative lifespan variation across 168 yeast knock-out strains, each lacking a single nuclear-coded mitochondrial gene, including 144 genes with human homologs, many associated with diseases. We dissected the signatures of observed lifespan differences by analyzing profiles of each strains' proteome, lipidome, and metabolome under fermentative and respiratory culture conditions, which correspond to the metabolic states of replicative and chronologically aging cells, respectively. Examination of the relationships among extended longevity phenotypes, protein, and metabolite levels revealed that although manyofthesenuclear-encoded mitochondrial genes carry out different functions, their inhibition attenuates a commonmechanismthatcontrolscytosolic ribosomal protein abundance, actin dynamics, and proteasome function to regulate lifespan. The principles of lifespan control learned through this work may be applicable to the regulation of lifespan in more complex organisms, since many aspects of mitochondrial function are highly conserved among eukaryotes. 20. Gemcitabine for the Treatment of Osteosarcoma Lung Metastases 1. Matthew Woodson 2. Dr. Sandro da Rocha (Professor, Chemical and Life Sciences Engineering) Osteosarcoma is the most prevalent bone cancer in all ages. It is the third most prevalent cancer type in children and adolescents. The only current treatment for OSLM is surgical resection, chemotherapy, or radiotherapy. Our lab seeks to use inhaled gemcitabine in a liposome capsule in order to effectively treat lung metastases. Our aims were to prepare and characterize liposomal gemcitabine formulations with varied surface chemistry and use them to target critical quality attributes, and also evaluate chemical and physical stability of the nanoparticles upon storage. We did not aerosolize our solution during the program. 21. Systemic Treatment of RVX-208 Prevented Experimental Periodontitis 1. Simrah Ansari 2. Dr. Zhao Lin (Professor, Periodontics) 3. Dr. Sheikh Alam (Periodontics) 4. Dr. Josh Cohen (Professor,Biomedical Engineering) 5. Dr. Barbara Boyan (Executive Director, Biomedical Engineering), 6. Dr. Zvi Schwartz (Professor, Biomedical Engineering) Objective: Bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) proteins facilitate the binding of acetylated histones and transcription machinery, and therefore initiate RNA transcription. This process contributes to inflammatory responses and overproduction of cytokines in inflammatory diseases. Our previous studies have shown that local injection of RVX-208 (Apabetalone), a selective BET inhibitor targeting the BD2 domain, suppresses periodontal inflammation. Here, we sought to determine if systemic RVX-208 treatment has a similar preventive effect on an experimental periodontitis model. Methods:Porphyromonasgingivalis (Pg) lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was injected into gingiva between first and second left maxillary molars and between second and third left maxillary molars in mice twice a week for 6 weeks to induce periodontitis. RVX-208 (n=9) or vehicle (n=8) was administered to mice via oral gavage every 9

MondaytoFridaystarting from 1 week prior to LPS injection and lasting for 7 weeks. Three mice without LPS injection and treatment were kept as control. Skulls were harvested and scanned by micro-CT. Alveolar bone loss was analyzed at maxillae. Linear measurements were performed in Image J to measure the distance from cementum-enamel junction (CEJ) to alveolar bone crest (ABC) from 6 anatomical landmarks. The crown and exposed root areas were measured respectively. The interproximal bone loss was assessed by volumetric measurement with a layer tracing method. Results: Pg LPS injection led to periodontal bone loss in mice. Compared to vehicle group, systemic treatment of RVX-208 significantly prevented alveolar bone loss, as evidenced by reduced CEJ-ABC distance, less exposed root area, and smaller exposed root/crown ratio. A tendency of decreased interproximal bone loss was also seen in RVX-208 treatment group in volumetric measurement. Conclusions: Systemic applications of RVX-208 prevented periodontal bone loss induced by Pg LPS, supporting its potential as an epi-drug in the prevention of periodontitis. 22. Redlining Medicaid: Does Racial Segregation Affect Public Approval of Medicaid Policy? ACaseStudyofVirginia 1. Natasha Smith* 2. Dr. John Froitzheim (Professor, Political Science) This research proposal advocates for a small-n case study to analyze eight cities in Virginia to determine the effect of racial segregation on Medicaid approval. Levels of segregation and integration are determined by The Othering and Belonging Institute. Four cities are classified as highly segregated (Colonial Heights, Petersburg, Richmond, and Roanoke) and the remaining four are integrated (Harrisonburg, Hopewell, Williamsburg, and Winchester). Within these eight cities, a 21-question survey will be distributed to measure racial resentment and associated beliefs, attitudes, behaviors, and Medicaid approval. Results will be compared to the city's vote for Governor to further test Medicaid approval. I predict that in highly segregated communities with a large minority population, Medicaid approval will be low among white constituents. With appropriate funding and resources, this research proposal will be able to test if there is a relationship between segregation and constituent approval of Medicaid. 23. ComparingThreeDNAExtractionMethodson45-year-oldPupaeCases 1. Ananya Udyaver* 2. Dr. Baneshwar Singh (Professor, Forensic Science) Blowflies are the primary colonizers of human cadavers. In many death investigations, insect evidence can help in prediction of minimum post-mortem interval (PMImin) but to do that, the first step is to identify collected insect evidence. For immature stages of blow flies, morphological keys are either limited or incomplete and hence DNA-based identification method is used. For DNA based ID, DNA extraction is the first and the most important step, especially when collected evidence is highly degraded. The main aim of this study was to compare three DNA extraction methods (Organic extraction method and QIAgen Blood and Tissue Kit) to determine the quality and quantity of recovered DNA from 45-year-old pupal cases. To accomplish this goal, half of each pupal case (n=10 for QIAgen Blood and Tissue Kit and n=5 for organic extraction) were used for DNAextraction from each method. Extracted DNA was quantified using the Qubit fluorometer. Extracted DNA wasthenamplified for mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase one (COI) gene and amplification success was visualized using agarose gel electrophoresis. Results from this study indicated that the QIAgen Blood and Tissue Kit is a better DNA extraction method than the organic extraction method for highly degraded pupal cases, because the QIAgen method yielded more insect genomic DNA than organic method. Mitochondrial COI gene amplification didn’t result in a PCR product from any sample. 10

Keywords: Forensic Science, DNA based insect identification, Cold Case, Degraded Sample, Blow Fly 24. GuardiansofTradition: Exploring Women's Roles in Practicing African Traditional Religion and Spiritualities in the British Caribbean 1. Biruk Yigrem* 2. Dr. Grace Gipson (Profesor, African American Studies) African spirituality is not a religion. It's a way of life." - Yvonne Chaka Chaka. This quote shows the true nature of African Spitituality and yet there is not much documentation about African Spirituality in scholarly work and especially the truth about how it made its way to the New World during the Atlantic Slave Trade and how it has been maintained over time. This research focuses on African Spirituality and its impact on women in the British Caribbean. Furthermore, it tries to debunk many of the associated myths with African Spirituality and highlight someofits positive impacts on an area such as the British Caribbean, which includes Barbados, Antigua, Jamaica, Grenada, and many more. In this study, I will use primary and secondary data, in particular transmedia mediumssuchasdocumentaries, films, and songs. This body of work will put an emphasis on looking at the various ways that women represent themselves using African Spirituality in the British Caribbean. There will be a historical analysis of African Spirituality and a modern emphasis to show how it has survived through the opposition of Eurocentric ideals. Overall, this study seeks to expand the knowledge of African Traditional Religion and aims to challenge the many media tropes and stereotypes. Furthermore, this body of knowledge will add more information on this topic as well as adding to the epistemology of African American Studies. It will also build on the existing work so that we can continue to discover more about the difference and similarities of spirituality within the African Diaspora and its people. 25. TheImpactofAdverseChildhoodExperiencesonYoungAfricanAmericanGirlsInto Adulthood 1. Janaya Goode* 2. Dr. Grace Gipson (Profesor, African American Studies) Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are a lot more common than some people think they are, and many young children experience traumatic events before the age of 18, affecting them into adulthood. Young African American girls are more likely to experience more ACEs than young African American boys in the United States. Once they are exposed to these traumatic events, it may lead to offending, drug and alcohol abuse, mental health issues, and severe medical issues, to name a few. To research this, I will use secondary data analysis to see how trauma affects someone, specifically young Black girls entering adulthood. It is important to understand how trauma can affect one's life so severely and what can be done to either prevent trauma or help those who have already experienced it cope with what has happened to them. Many children and adults are villainized because of their actions, but they might be due to trauma, so it is important to understand what is going on instead of forcing them to deal with the consequences of something they don't have control over. They mayhavedifficulty making and maintaining relationships, job opportunities, sobriety, and mental health. Introducing more resources for young girls and adult women to access may have a positive impact on their lives, decreasing the negative impacts of their trauma. This paper aims to answer these questions: How do adverse childhood experiences affect African American girls into adulthood? What resources are needed to decrease the amount of trauma African American girls experience and to support African American women in coping with their previous trauma? Ultimately, this research seeks to find that abuse and trauma will affect Black girls a lot into adulthood, and they need resources to both prevent and deal with their trauma. 11

26. MassSpectrometry-BasedLipidomicQuantitative Analysis on Cellular Signaling of Sphingosine-1-Phosphate 1. Lucas Codispoti* 2. Isaiah Klimek (MS Student) 3. Taylor Jones (MS Student) 4. Elizabeth Malaugh (Ph.D. Student) 5. Dr. Jason Newton (Professor, Biology) Sphingosine-1-phosphate is a crucial bioactive sphingolipid metabolite that plays an important role in certain mammaliancellular processes. A mutation in the NPC1 or NPC2 genes leads to a lysosomal storage disorder commonlyknownasNiemann-PickTypeCdisease.Thismutationresultsinirregular intracellular sphingolipid metabolism which can lead to critical malfunctions in cellular processes, which include proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis, occurring in conjunction with the family of S1P receptors (S1P1-5). This study aims to understand the transport of S1P directed by Spinster homolog 2 (SPNS2), a multi-transmembrane transporter, and to examine both intracellular and extracellular S1P concentrations in CHO cells after treatment with PDGF. Further research will focus on determining whether SPNS2 could be a therapeutic drug target through pharmacological modulation for future treatments of not only NPC, but cancer, the auditory system, ocular development, and other inflammatory/autoimmune diseases. 27. 3D-Printed Actuators With Customizable Resonant Frequencies 1. Gabriel Bohannon 2. Phillip Glass (PhD student, Nanoscience) 3. Daeha Joung (Professor, Physics) Actuators play a pivotal role in modern technology with applications ranging from consumer electronics to biomedical devices. However, current actuator designs are limited by their material discomfort and their inability to target specific resonant frequencies needed for biomedical applications. Here, a simple skin-like silicone 3D-printed actuator with a customizable resonant frequency is presented. The ability to change resonant frequencies allows the actuators to target specific mechanoreceptors of the skins making the device useful for a wide variety of biomedical applications. The advantages and disadvantages of current actuator designs are discussed along with methods and reasoning for the construction of our actuator design. Simulations of the magnetic field of our simple solenoid housing are also presented giving further insight into the design process. Overall, the simple and useful design of the actuators makes them exceptionally beneficial for patient-specific wearable medical devices. 28. Differences in COVID-19 pandemic drinking alcohol-related consequences between LGBTQ+andcisgenderheterosexualuniversitystudents 1. Jasper Oliver* 2. Namitha Kapa* 3. Michelle Tapia-Lopez* 4. Cole Ward* 5. Spit for Science Working Group TheLGBTQ+communityhasalengthyhistorywithhighratesofalcoholuseduetofactorsincluding inadequate access to healthcare and both external and internalized homophobia (Beatty et al. 2006). After the COVID-19pandemicbegan,researchers noticed greater alcohol use in both LGBTQ+ and Cisgender Heterosexual (cishet) populations (Sumetsky et al. 2022), and they observed that queer individuals had worse mental health and drinking outcomes (Benotsch et al. 2023; Connolly et al. 2023). We aim to explore significant differences in alcohol-related consequences between LGBTQ+ and cishet university students during the COVID-19pandemic.Wehypothesizetherewillbeasignificant increase in alcohol-related consequences for LGBTQ+individualsbecausethe queer community faces disparities in healthcare access as well as larger risks for social isolation, poverty, and homelessness when compared with their cishet counterparts (Akré et al. 2021; Shorey et al. 2022). We obtained data from the Spit for Science study wave Y3S and Cohort 5. Utilizing self-reported demographic data, participants were categorized into two groups including LGBTQ+ or cishet gender identity/sexual orientation. The dependent variable for our study is COVID-19 drinking alcohol-related 12

consequences which was measured by 13 survey items then coded and summed to find the final number of alcohol-related consequences. This study is still in progress, and we plan to run a t-test to examine the difference in alcohol-related consequences between LGBTQ+ and cishet participants. Current research asserts there is a large gap between LGBTQ+ and cishet individuals' access to mental health and substance use treatment options, and there are limited programs specifically designed to help promote healthy drinking behaviors in the LGBTQ+ community (Shorey et al. 2022). The implications of this study could lead to the development of interventions specifically targeted at treating substance use disorders in LGBTQ+ individuals in a post-pandemic world. 29. TheRepresentation of Black Bodies in Video Games 1.Jackson Turner 2. Dr. Grace Gipson (Professor, African American Studies) In popular culture, animation, and video game development has become a major source of entertainment. There is a history of the misrepresentation of Black characters within these spaces that give false ideas about the experiences of Black people. This misinterpretation of Black people can reaffirm stereotypes and shows a lack of effort in advancing diversity in predominantly white spaces. Such fixed viewpoints can be seen through stereotypical mannerisms of Black animated characters. These stigmas create false perceptions of Black experiences not only in popular media but also in self-identity within the Black community itself. Black experiences can pertain to, but are not limited to, Black dynamics and traditions of living, regional accents, demeanors, implementation of Black hairstyles, Black facial features, and even African American Vernacular English (AAVE). Additionally, there is a lack of effort that is set forth when Black characters’ stories are being told in video games. Thus, this research study will focus on obtaining experiences from Black curators in video gamedevelopmentandviewpoints from Black fans of these circles. Textual analysis and historical context of the animated pieces are crucial in understanding how black experiences are represented in these circles. The motivation of this research is concentrated on providing context to the following concepts regarding race and animation as they conflate in popular media: applying ethnic background to non-human animated characters, exemplary representations of Black characters in video games, the influence of having black writers and game developers, and experiences/opinions of Black creators and fans. Through this analysis, I seek to gain a deeper understanding of how to present blackness in these media circles by providing better and unpredictable storylines, complete character development, enhanced authenticity of characters, and admired characters for Black fans in these spaces. 30. Insular Cortex and Hippocampal Perineuronal Net and Parvalbumin Intensity Across the Estrous Cycle 1. Rachel Nguyen* 2. Dr. Amy W. Lasek (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) 3. Dr. Hu Chen (Post-doctoral fellow, Pharmacy and Toxicology) 4. Dr. Luana Martins de Carvalho (Post-doctoral fellow, PharmacyandToxicology) 5. Dr. Johnathas Almeida (Post-doctoral fellow, Pharmacy and Toxicology) 6. Emily Legge (research lab technician, Pharmacy and Toxicology) Perineuronal nets (PNNs) are extracellular matrix structures that stabilize synapses of parvalbumin (PV) interneurons in the cortex and play a crucial role in the brain's adaptive response to drugs and alcohol. Studies indicate higher PNN intensities in the insular cortex in female mice, which is associated with increased aversion-resistant alcohol drinking. As alcohol use disorder (AUD) has increased in women over the past few decades, understanding the mechanisms that mediate this condition is vital for the development of new biological targets and sex-specific treatments. While previous research has linked estrogen levels to elevated 13

hippocampus PNNs, the relationship between 17β-estradiol fluctuations during the estrous cycle and insular cortex and dorsal and ventral PNNs remains unexplored. This study tracked the estrous cycle stages in female mice and compared PNN intensities in the insula and hippocampus, assessing associations with estrogen and progesterone levels. Using fluorescently labeled Wisteria floribunda agglutinin (WFA) to visualize PNNs and a fluorescent antibody to parvalbumin for PV neurons, we show here that PNN intensity was highest in the insular cortex during estrus, indicating an association with low estradiol levels. In contrast, the estrous cycle had a limited impact on PV intensity. These findings suggest a complex relationship between hormone fluctuations, particularly estradiol levels, and PNN dynamics in the insular cortex. This knowledge may provide a greater understanding of sex-specific mechanisms underlying AUD. Keywords: perineuronal nets, extracellular matrix structures, synapses, cortex. 31. Who’sZoomin’Who:TheEffectsofZoomInterviewing 1. Grace Morfeld* 2. Olivia Stokes* 3. Anthony Scheuer* 4.Tasnia Zakir* 5. Sarah Lee* 6. Snehalitha Rajagopalan* 7. Camille Navia Munoz* 8. Dr. Jennifer A. Joy-Gaba (Professor, Psychology) Thecurrent research examines how warm, competent, and hirable a job applicant is perceived during an online interview using Zoom. Specifically, we examined how the applicant’s background influenced people’s impressions. To test, 187 participants from a large public Mid-Atlantic university viewed a one minute mock interview of an applicant with either a blank wall background, a blurred background, or a natural “lived-in” background. The participants then completed measures assessing the warmth, competence, organization, and hireability of the applicant. There were no significant differences based on applicant background for warmth, competence, organization, or hireability. These results indicate that the substance of the interview may be more important than the interview background. To further tease apart the findings, we are conducting a follow up study to examine whether Internet connection (i.e., a glitch) negatively impacts a candidate’s hireability. To test, participants will be shown an interview clip with either an internet connection ‘glitch’ or an interview clip with no glitch. We predict that an applicant with a poor internet connection ‘glitch’ will be rated as less organized, less competent, less warm, and less hireable compared to an applicant with good internet connection. 32. ThrownAcrossTime;EconomicsofTechnologyinGradientsofAges 1. Zoë Tolen 2. Dr. Matthew Pawlowicz (Professor, Anthropology) In modern Zambia, the Ila people still use a technology that many other cultures before and beside them have utilized; the spear. While to the urban American this might seem to be a trivial fact, the preference of using spears instead of guns in the daily life of an Ila hunter is an economic, cultural and social example of why old technology persists in newer times. This preference is even seen when more antiquated cultures still prefer lithic tools for certain tasks over metal tools, and in fact metal and lithic tools compliment each other similar to how spears compliment many aspects of Bantu life today. The spear is studied in its importance and history, comparing it to the lithic tools found before and beside the archaeological metallurgy as well as the complex phones that literally everyone has access to - even the modern rural Zambian hunter-farmer. As a study done under the greater scope of the Bantu Mobility Project, gradients of time are presented as to be expected and considerations for why older technologies are preferred are explored. 14

33. Preparation and Characterization of Stationary Phase Gradients on Butyl Functionalized Liquid ChromatographyColumnsforProteinandPeptideSeparations 1. Ash Young* 2. Thomas Cecil (PhD student, Chemistry) 3. Dr. Maryanne Collinson (Professor, Chemistry) 4. Dr. Sarah Rutan (Professor, Chemistry) Mixed-modecolumnseparations have received considerable interest over the past few years as a way to achieve unique selectivities that cannot be achieved on a uniformly functionalized column alone. However, these are often done with multiple columns run in series, making the technique slow to implement experimentally, along with creating issues such as band broadening. Stationary phase gradients (SPGs) on a single chromatography column provide the opportunity for the same unique selectivities without the issues that come with more traditional mixed-mode methods. Furthermore, SPGs are underutilized for protein and peptide separations, which are important applications requiring complex separations. This project focuses on the creation of SPGs on commercially available butyl-functionalized columns to examine their utility in protein and peptide separations. This was achieved by using trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) to cleave or “strip” the C4 functional groups off the column in a gradient manner, resulting in a column with both C4 and bare silica separation mechanisms. Chromatographic characterization of protein and peptide mixtures, as well as small-molecule testing was conducted before and after the stripping of the column. The column was then analyzed by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) in order to characterize the functionalization remaining on the column. 34. HowtheCookieCrumbles:ThePurificationandGenomicAnnotationofCrumblethe Bacteriophage 1. Emerson Bavuso 2. Phuong-Anh Bui 3. Hisham Naveed 4. Giovanna Alves 5. Maryam Amir 6. Keyonna Jones 7. Adeline John 8. Hannah Keenhold 9. Subrat Poudel 10. Dr. Allison Johnson (Professor, Bioinformatics) Bacteriophages are viruses that specifically target host bacteria. Bacteriophage research is important to advance medical treatments of bacterial infections and illnesses in the form of phage therapy. By understanding a phage genome, we can gain a better understanding of the phage mechanisms of infection and whether a phage might be useful in phage therapy. In this work, the host bacteria Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 was used to discover novel phages. Bacteriophage Crumble came from soil outside of the Trani Life Sciences building. The phage genomic DNAwassequenced,andanalyzedusingavarietyofBioinformatics tools to ‘annotate’, or determine the position and function of each gene in the genome. When navigating positional annotation, characteristics such as BlastP alignments, ribosome binding site scores, gap/overlap to the previous gene, and gene length were used to determine an ideal start position for the gene. When navigating functional annotation, tools that compare sequences to predict function such as Blastp conserved domains database and HHPred were used to determine function. Student researchers determined the most likely Open Reading Frame (ORF) and described the function of each gene. Crumble genome is 53424 nucleotides long, with 98 genes, and a GC content of 61.4%.. Interesting highlights observed during annotation will be shared. For example, Crumble gene 26 was concluded to be Holin, however, the transmembrane helices were only predicted by one of our transmembrane prediction tools. For Crumble gene 87, tools selected a start position at 48789, however, based on better student-determined features, an alternative start position at 48699 was selected for this gene. In summary, using a variety of tools, and applying our knowledge of bacteriophage genomes, we were able to create positional and functional annotations that predicted the function of proteins of Crumble and to understand Crumble’s sequence relationships to other bacteriophages. 15

35. GenomeAnnotationofNovelMycobacteriumPhageShowerHandel 1. Kezie Osei* 2. Drew Kirchner* 3. Blair Morgan* 4. Sue Kabba* 5. Jasmine Lewis* 6. Martin Michael* 7. Zachery Middleton* 8. Shreya Paruchuri* 9. Anirudh Praveen* 10.Courtney Sartor* 11. Kiersten Scott* 12. Shraddha Todupunoori 13. Dr. Allison Johnson (Professor, Bioinformatics) Mycobacteria are one of the main groups of pathogens that can cause many health concerns. Mycobacterium smegmatis mc2155 is known as a fast-growing species that facilitates experimental work in an undergraduate research-based course. It is mostly used in the field of microbiology and molecular biology. M. smegmatis is a non-pathogenic mycobacterium that is often used as a model organism for studying various aspects of mycobacterial biology. Viruses that infect bacteria are known as bacteriophages. Bacteriophages play an increasingly important role in medicine to treat antibacterial resistance using phage therapy. During fall semester, we were tasked to collect soil in order to find a phage that infects the host bacteria M.smegmatis. The soil sample was collected outside the West Engineering Building, from a tree bed adjacent to a busy crosswalk and road. To learn more about the phage, we did soil enrichment, phage and DNA purification. Phage characterization results will be shared. ThephagegenomicDNAwassequencedandanalyzed.Theapproximategenomelengthwasfoundto be 76419 bp, with the general structure being a 9-base 3’ overhang (CGCTTGTCA) containing 146 ORF’s, 2 tRNA’s, and a %GC of 62.8%. The genome was analyzed to “annotate” the genome. To annotate the genes, we determined the best start codon for each gene, and used bioinformatics tools to predict function. Interesting functional annotations and highlights from genome annotation will be shared. Balomoji shares extensive homologywith3otherphagesandcomparativegenomicswill also be explored through this poster. Mycobacteriophages have diversified over millions of years through evolution. To explore the genomes of these phages we use many annotation tools to learn about individual proteins and make educated guesses about the functions of each gene as well. 36. Elimination of Senescent Cells Does Not Protect Against Disuse-Induced Bone Loss in FemaleMice 1. Gabriella M. Daire* 2. Steven J. Meas (MD-PhD student, Biomedical Engineering) 3. Henry J. Donahue (Professor, Biomedical Engineering) Senescence is a phenomenon that affects the normal physiology of a cell, in that it stops dividing despite remaining metabolically active. It is affirmed in literature that senescent cells accumulate during age; with that in mind and the phenotypic similarities between age and disuse-induced bone loss, it is of interest to determine whether senescence also plays a mechanistic role in disuse-induced bone loss. In the following study, hind limb unloading was used as a model of disuse in Cre+/- mice. Control groups were intraperitoneally injected with vehicle (4%EtOH,10%PEG400,86%, 2%Tween-80/H2O) and treatment groups with AP20187 (2.5 mg/kg). After the 3-week intervention, mice were sacrificed and had their tibias harvested. RT-qPCR was used to screen for bone metabolism (RANKL and OPG) and senescence markers (Cdkn1a and Cdkn2a). Cre+denotes a genetic modulation which ultimately diminishes the expression of p16INK4A, as it is expressed near the p16 promoter. In order to determine whether bone formation or resorption was imbalanced, a Rankl/Opg ratio was created. The treatment of AP20187 in Cre+/- female mice did not present any significant differences compared to vehicle controls. While the (+) AP group’s ratio was slightly less than the Cre+ vehicle group, there was still no significant difference. For Cdkn2a, which encodes the p16, there was slightly less mRNAexpression(greater dCq value) in the Cre+ AP20187 treated group when compared to the Cre+ vehicle 16

control; yet again, the trend was not significant. These results are most likely due to there not being more senescent cells within the bone. Further studies validating whether the AP treatment worked should be done to fully discern whether AP treatment is efficient. Disuse-induced bone loss is something that affects a large portion of the aged population; the possibility of delineating the mechanism of such bone loss is imperative. 37. HowDailyLifeAffectsCysticFibrosis 1. Sydney Evans* 2. Mahsa Farsad 3. Imani Abdul-Mateen 4. Fajar Rehman 5. Dr. Nauman Chaudary (Professor, School of Medicine) This survey aims to assess the extent to which maintaining a healthy diet and attending the Mayland clinic have impacted individuals with cystic fibrosis over an 8-week period. The results will highlight the experiences and views related to health of participants who willingly completed the survey during their scheduled appointments. Thesurvey is anonymous so that the participants would not have to worry about their personal information being released. 38. GenomeAnnotationofNovelMycobacteriumPhageShowerHandel 1. Anjali Jarral*, 2. Dr. Amy Cook (Professor, Criminal Justice), 3. Dr. Nancy Morris (Professor, Criminal Justice) Prior research has found that there are multiple risk factors related to adolescents carrying guns in schools, such as self-reported anxiety and depression, personal and peer delinquency, drug dealing, substance use, prior victimization and fear of victimization. Less examined has been the effects of exposure to community violence on perceptions of the availability of guns and gun carrying in schools. In this study, we use self-report data collected using the Communities That Care Youth Survey to examine the relationships between exposure to communityviolence, perceptions of availability of and access to guns, and gun carrying in schools among 800 adolescent boys and girls that were in 7th to 12th grade. Preliminary results indicate adolescents that describe their communities as having more crime and drug selling are more likely to report easier accessibility of guns. Wediscuss our full results, and the implications for community-based violence reduction programs and interventions designed to reduce gun carrying on schools. 39. Soil respiration response to increasing disturbance severity in a manipulative forest experiment 1. Sona Suni 2. Kayla Mathes (PhD) 3. Ariel Johnson (PhD student, Integrative Life Sciences) 4. Christopher Gough(Professor, Biology) Moderate-severity disturbances caused by wood-boring insects are increasing throughout the deciduous forests in North America, changing essential ecosystem functions such as carbon (C) cycling. Soil respiration (Rs) is the largest carbon flux from forest ecosystems and may be particularly sensitive to disturbances that influence belowground carbon allocation. Changes in Rs rates triggered by disturbances have the potential to significantly impact the carbon cycle within ecosystems. TheForest Resilience Threshold Experiment (FoRTE) is an ecosystem-scale manipulative study that evaluates how C cycling processes respond to different severities of disturbance, with defoliation ranging from 0%,45%,65%and85%andtwodisturbancetypes(topdownandbottomup).Thiswasconductedthrough 17

stem-girdling of over 3600 trees. We measured Rs using a LI-6400-XT portable gas analyzer at 160 collars, and recorded soil temperature and moisture concurrently. Rs initially declined with increasing severity as leaf area index declined and canopy composition changed in response to disturbance. Following this disturbance-prompted canopy restructuring, we anticipated a gradual increase in the soil respiration rates due to the lagged increase in the decomposition of coarse woody debris but saw suppressed Rs into the fifth year of the experiment, with control plots remaining higher than other severity plots. Understanding how moderate severity disturbances alter long-term ecosystem functions is vital, yet most studies are limited in scope and may not capture multiyear structural and functional change. Therefore, long-term monitoring of Rs across disturbance severities can help predict changes in the overall carbon balance of disturbed forests. This study aims to assess drivers of long-term forest Rs responses over time as a northern temperate forest undergoes disturbance-driven canopy structural organization. Keywords: Soil respiration - Soil moisture - Soil temperature - Disturbance levels - Severity 40. Theextenttowhichchilddisclosure relates to physical and relational aggression and the role of biological sex as a moderator. 1. Mimi Ibrahim* 2. Colleen Walsh, MS (PhD candidate, Psychology) 3. Dr. Terri Sullivan (Professor, Psychology) Understanding how youth-caregiver communication is related to youth aggression outcomes may be important for Black families in communities with disproportionate rates of community violence, where familial norms have not been well explored. Child disclosure is a specific aspect of youth-caregiver communication defined as the decision made by youth to confide in their parents about their behavior and whereabouts and is a key parenting practice that may relate to youths’ behavioral outcomes. Child disclosure is a strong predictor of parental knowledge of their children’s activities and relationships, allows for parents to make informed decisions regarding the monitoring of their children’s behavior, and may act as a buffer for aggression and victimization. Prior research has found some relation between high rates of child disclosure and lower rates of problem behavior, such as lower rates of delinquent behavior across time, but has not been explored in relation to specific forms of aggression outcomes. Some preliminary findings have suggested there may be sex differences in the choice to disclose or conceal certain behaviors. To date, few studies have examined the moderating effect of sex on the relation between youth reported child disclosure and externalizing behaviors. This project has two key research questions: (1) To what extent does child disclosure associate with youths’ physical and relational aggression? (2) Does youths’ biological sex moderate the relation between child disclosure and physical and relational aggression outcomes? Toaddress these research questions, we used secondary data from a larger community-based study of positive youth development and youth violence prevention in a low-income urban area. The sample included 254 participants (ages 12-17; 56% female; 88% African American) living in 3 study communities. A series of hierarchical regression analyses were run in SPSS. Covariates included age, race, and community. In both analyses, the overall models were not significant. In the final step, hierarchical regression analyses indicated (1) child disclosure was significantly associated with physical aggression (β = -.23, S.E. = .10, p < .001) and relational aggression (β = -.14, S.E. = .04, p < .001), (2) biological sex was not significantly associated with physical aggression (β = -.10, S.E. = .10, p = .61), but was significantly associated with relational aggression (β = -.18, S.E. = .07, p = .014), and (3) the interaction between child disclosure and biological sex did not significantly moderate the relation between child disclosure and physical aggression (β = -.11, S.E. = .10, p = .28) or relational aggression (β = .04, S.E. = .10, p = .60). Details about indirect effects will be provided in the presentation. 18

Theresults indicated that child disclosure may play an important role in decreasing youth aggressive behavior across aggression types. While our study did not find differences in these associations by sex, it may be important to consider these relations in a larger sample of Black youth in neighborhoods with high rates of poverty and violence. Future research may consider longitudinal analyses to garner more comprehensive understanding of the child disclosure on aggression outcomes across time, and may benefit from incorporating caregiver reports of child disclosure in future analyses. 42. Parent Emotion Socialization Behaviors and Depression among Children and Adolescents: AScopingReview 1. Nona Alston 2. Sydney Sumrall (PhD Student, Psychology), 3. Dr. Marcia Winter (Associate Professor, Psychology) Depression is prevalent among children and adolescents, with rates increasing despite available treatments. For example, according to Pew Research, there was a 59% increase in the rate of major depression in U.S. adolescents in the period between 2007 and 2017; additional increases occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Family processes play a crucial role in depression treatment, with interventions involving caregivers showing greater efficacy. However, there is a need to understand which aspects of family processes are most beneficial. Emotion socialization, specifically parents' responses to children's emotions, is a potential focus for intervention. Theprimary goal of this scoping review is to contribute to the understanding of child and adolescent depression by exploring how previous studies have assessed the influence of parent emotion socialization on youth depression. Emphasis will be placed on the studies’ methodologies, for example study design, measures used to assess emotion socialization and depression, and the analytic approach employed. Interpretation will also center on developmental and cultural considerations, for example, individual and contextual consideration of how families express and reinforce emotion. Results, which are currently being synthesized, show that studies assessing the relationship between parent emotion socialization and depression in children and adolescents are limited by cross-sectional designs, diversity of emotion socialization constructs, and absence of cultural considerations. 43. Parent Emotion Socialization Behaviors and Depression among Children and Adolescents: AScopingReview 1. Natalie Auandee* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Loveis one of the most consistent and common principles among all cultures, especially in Italy, where tales like Romeo and Juliet and Valentine’s Day originated. In fact, several burials have been uncovered to reveal skeletons in embrace (their sexes established through bodily analysis, which I expand on). Despite this act of fondness bearing close appearance to what society deems love today, the concept in Ancient Italy was not always viewed the same as we know the definition, for it was associated with fertility and unifying family trees to legitimize status. This project aims to dissect what love meant in ancient Italy/Rome, including what traditions its citizens practiced, ancient artifacts associated with these traditions, the institution of marriage, and physical intimacy. Without only pertaining to significant others, I also explore love through different types of relationships, like pets. With research, we can now determine how affection was shown in Ancient Italy and understand the cultural significance and sustenance of some of these traditions throughout time. 19

44. BonePathologyandNon-specificIndicators of Stress in skeletal remains from the East Marshall St. Well Project 1. Felix Arsenault* 2. Finn Smith* 3. Dr. Tal Simmons (Professor, Forensic Science) This project is being conducted to observe the health environment surrounding the individuals that were found in the East Marshall Street Well, both juvenile and adult, utilizing visual and radiographic examination. One of the pieces of research being conducted is analyzing non-specific indicators of stress such as Harris lines found in juvenile skeletal remains from the East Marshall Street Well Project. Harris lines are alternating transverse rings of sclerosis and represent the temporary interruption of normally ossifying physis. They are useful for demarcating long bone development and can also be used anthropologically to study illness, nutrition, and historic living conditions. The other piece of research is analyzing bone pathology and antemortem trauma. Osteoarthritis, myositis ossificans, periostitis, and osteitis are some examples of the conditions that are being analyzed using x-rays. Conditions that affect bone growth and health are especially useful for analysis since they are able to be seen in the x-ray and are more robust than conditions affecting soft tissue. These will help determine some of the health challenges adults at the time faced while also providing information regarding the individuals found in the Well. 45. Intergenerational child maltreatment: A scoping review of social-emotional risk and protective factors 1. Jessica France 2. Dr. Marcia Winter (Professor, Psychology) Previous research has found that parents who experienced childhood maltreatment (CM) are nearly three times as likely to mistreat their own children (Assink et al., 2018). CM has been shown to negatively impact social emotional competencies (Doyle & Cicchetti, 2017), which in turn may increase the risk of CM perpetration (Lo et al., 2019; Riggs, 2010). This study was a systematic (scoping) review of social-emotional risk and protective factors for intergenerational transmission/continuity (IT/C) of CM; that is, how social-emotional competencies impacted the continuity or discontinuity CM. Eligible studies were empirical, primary, peer-reviewed and published work written in English. Included studies contained a parental history of maltreatment, maltreatment to the child, and at least one independent parental social-emotional factor. Studies were organized and findings conceptually mapped according to Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) social-emotional competency domains. Of the original 12,235 articles, 23 studies were identified as having met all inclusion criteria. This review found that self management (e.g., emotional dysregulation, self control and aggression) was the most frequently studied CASEL social-emotional competency domain, while there is little information regarding relationship skills and responsible decision making. Further, the majority of previous research focused on assessing risk factors for IT/C CM, rather than protective factors. This scoping review found that across all CASEL domains, social emotional skills were a significant factor in whether or not cycles of maltreatment were continued or were broken. Future research would benefit from: (1) addressing stages of child development in relation to CM and its timing; and (2) exploring more robust profiles of social emotional risk and resilience in order to promote more effective prevention strategies. 46. SexDifferences in Persistent Visual Dysfunction Following Adolescent Concussion 1.Tina Habibi* 2. Laura Boylan (PhD student, Psychology) 3. Dr. Katherine Dec (Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) 4. Dr. Nikki Miller-Ferguson (Professor & Physician, Pediatrics) 5. Dr. Alia O’Meara (Professor, & Physician) 5. Jessie Oldham (Professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation) 20

Context: Concussions impact the neural pathways associated with the visual system, affecting both vestibular and ocular function. Further, greater visual symptoms, as well as female sex, have been associated with prolonged symptoms and recovery. The Vestibular/ Ocular Motor Screening (VOMS) assessment and eye tracking have both successfully identified abnormalities in oculomotor neural pathways; however, it is unknown whether these abnormalities differ between sexes. Our study aimed to explore biological sex differences in visual dysfunction (VD) following adolescent concussion. Methods:Weincluded18adolescents (age:14.4 ± 1.8 years, 39.0% female) with diagnosed concussions in the last month (M=33.87 ± 6.03 days) who completed both VOMS and eye tracking assessments. During eye tracking participants watched a brief (220 second) video that moved clockwise around the screen while their eye movementswererecorded. The BOX score, a metric of pupillary disconjugacy, was then calculated. BOX scores >10 were considered abnormal based on existing standards. We conducted independent samples t-tests to examine sex differences on the trajectories of VD. Results: There were no significant differences in BOX scores based on biological sex t(16)=2.91, p=.107, despite males (M=7.35, SD=7.46) having higher BOX scores than females (M=4.30, SD = 4.71). However, VOMSscoresweresignificantly different between sexes (F(16)=18.16, p

STEMresourcesinRegion1throughspatial analysis. Using ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, I analyzed the correlation between school density, racial demographics, educational achievement, income, social vulnerability, and the prevalence of STEM resources by county. To connect communities to STEM resources near them, my research also enables anyone to see every STEM-specialty school, STEM organization, or after-school program near them, within a select radius. Though my research identifies disparities and attempts to identify influentia factors, further research is needed to identify strategies to bridge the gap in STEM resources between counties in Region 1. 49. Wakingonthewrongsideofthebed:Interactiveeffectsofnegativeurgencyandsleep quality on intimate partner aggression 1. Kaitlin Leahy * 2. Wyatt Brown (PhD student, Psychology) 3. Dave Chester (Professor, Psychology) Previous research suggests that self-regulation can predict occurrences of intimate partner aggression (IPA), and that emotional reactivity becomes more likely as self-regulation becomes more difficult. Poor sleep quality also negatively impacts self-regulation and is associated with increased aggressive behavior. Negative urgency is a knownpredictor of IPA, more so than most other personality-based predictors. However, the interactive effects of negative urgency and sleep quality in IPA are unknown. A moderation analysis to assess this relationship will be performed using a generalized linear model, accounting for the zero-inflated nature of the data. We hypothesize that IPA will be greatest at high levels of negative urgency and low levels of sleep quality. Given the prevalence of sleep disturbances reported in instances of intimate partner aggression, the interactive effects of negative urgency and sleep quality on IPA in the general population may serve to better inform prevention and treatment measures for those impacted by IPA. 50. HowdidprevioushumansoftheChesapeakeBayregionperceivethegiantmegalodon? 1. Charles Baker 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Thename‘megalodon’oftenevokesasenseofcaptivation and mystery, leaving the mind with a long leash for imagination. What most don’t know is that Carcharocles megalodon were not the first colossal shark, and instead were among the last. Large ancestors to C. megalodon, such as Otodus obliquus, go as far back as the Paleocene era around ~40 million years prior to megalodon. Thevast evolution of these colossal sharks is not the only aspect worth looking at. With numerous marine fossil deposits across the eastern United States, the presence of large shark teeth in earlier human life is of interest to manyarcheologists and anthropologists. There is evidence that suggests the use of shark teeth as projectile points, jewelry, and tools by some Native American tribes. This fascination continued through the colonial era, with important figures such as Thomas Jefferson keeping a megalodon tooth for display. The Chesapeake bay region is known for its rich colonial history, and, before the Colonists arrived, was well inhabited by Native Americans. What many don’t know is that the region is abundant in marine fossil deposits that range across manyeras. These deposits exist along the Chesapeakes’ tributaries, shorelines, and bluffs. In areas that carry miocene formation, megalodon teeth can be found, and sometimes with some frequency. This exhibit will examine the evolution of colossal shark teeth and explain the significance of these teeth across Colonial and Native American history, with an emphasis on the Chesapeake Bay region. By tying evolution to the historic human significance of megalodon teeth, the exhibit can grab the interest of both history and paleontology enthusiasts. 22

51. Archaeology and History of Residential Schools: The Lament of Indigenous Peoples in CanadaandtheUnitedStates 1. Nasrin Alizada* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Will present a chronological overview of the archaeology, and history of the North American Natives. My research will include accounts from both the United States and Canada. In the mid-late 19th century, US and Canadian governments began to implement “rehabilitation” programs for native youth to tackle “the Indian Problem”; to these western powers, it was a matter of re-education or extermination. With the help of the church, these schools sprung up all across North America, bringing over 100 years of suffering and cultural genocide in their wake. After the fact, we find ourselves with traumatized elders and mass graves consisting of hundreds of native children. In the context of archaeology regarding residential schools, working with the indigenous tribes and elders is key to uncovering and sharing a previously overlooked history. Understanding howthetraumaandsuffering of indigenous people continues into the modern day, at the hands of these two country’s governments and broader society, is essential to proper education and reparations. 52. ComparingConfidenceandSkillsinRacialSocialization to Dysfunctional Coping RegardingRaceRelatedStress 1. Jayda Bryant* 2. Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones (Professor, Psychology) Thepresent study hopes to extend current research to examine the relationship between one’s Racial Socialization (RS) competency (confidence, skills, and stress associated with the RS process), and the type of coping mechanism used when faced with a race related stressor. To do so, we used both the Racial Socialization CompetencyScale (RaSCs; Anderson, Jones & Stevenson, 2020), and the race-related Brief COPE scale (COPE;Carver, 1997). We hypothesize that participants who endorse less confidence and skills in RS, as well as greater RS stress will engage in more maladaptive coping with regard to race-related stress. Data includes 203 Black-identified caregivers (MAge = 43.06, SD =8.99) that are part of a larger dataset of Black caregiver-youth dyads collected using Qualtrics Panels. Both the RaSCs and Brief COPE subscales will also be examined for normality. Bivariate correlations will be utilized to examine the initial relationships among the key variables, as well as potential relevant socio demographic covariates. Implications and future directions will also be presented. 53. Soundscapes from the Past 1. Lillian Dennis* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Myresearch for this poster will be focusing on the unique sounds from the past that come from different archaeological instruments and how these soundscapes are of cultural significance. Using 3-D printed recreations of artifacts like whistles for example, will help to describe the specific sounds that come from certain instruments and how these soundscapes relate to the environment and the way of life of particular cultures from the past. A variety of instruments will be described in this poster with an Armadillo Ocarina being an object used as a prime example that will also be 3-D printed. This poster will explore the different sounds these instruments create, but also focus on what inspired the creation of these instruments and what they might have meant to a specific culture. This poster will make connections between culture, religion, sound, and environment based on a select few instruments that will range from whistles to jaw harps. 23

54. ConsumingLove:Cannibalism,Power,andGenderinConceptualizingDesire 1. Emily Pitts* 2. Lee Hill* 3. Dr. Rebecca Gibson (Professor, Anthropology) Theconsumption of the body is often poetically described as the consumption of the soul, because to love someoneis apparently to want to consume them. Although the concept and act of anthropophagy is initially thought to be horrific and gruesome, both classic and contemporary literature and media have used it as a demonstration of profound love. Desire is depicted as an all-consuming, mind-bending hunger for another person; to consume them is not only literally but figuratively. This is not the only way cannibalism has been portrayed. Like most concepts, there are contradictory connotations. The act of consuming another isn’t always about love, it can be an act of power and possession of another person. Metaphorically, cannibalism can be both a manifestation of profound love but also a representation of the consumer’s extreme obsession and selfishness towards their “lover” whom they have devoured. By investigating ethnographic accounts of anthropophagy alongside recurrent literary and media representations, an explanation for the world’s perverse interest in the meaning behind cannibalism can be conceptualized. 55. TheRoleofCardiomyocyte-specific knockout of Ceramide Synthase 2 in metabolic cardiomyopathy 1.Ali Khan* 2. Dr. Anna Kovilakath (Post-Doctoral Researcher) 3. Dr. Ashley Cowart (Professor, School of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology) Metabolic cardiomyopathy presents a growing health challenge with adverse cardiovascular implications. Ceramide Synthase 2 (CerS2) has emerged as a potential modulator of this condition. Here, we explore the hypothesis that depletion of cardiomyocyte CerS2 exacerbates metabolic cardiomyopathy using an inducible loxP murine model for precise genetic manipulation. Two cohorts of mice, one with CerS2 knockout induced before diet initiation and another with knockout initiated after onset of diastolic dysfunction, were subjected to high-fat (HFD) or control diets (CD). CerS2 cKO mice exhibited worsened diastolic dysfunction and weight gain compared to controls, particularly evident when knockout was induced after dysfunction onset. Blood pressure remained unaffected, while sphingolipid analysis suggested CerS2 depletion's impact on metabolic pathways. These findings underline the significance of CerS2 in metabolic cardiomyopathy. Understanding the role of CerS2-derived sphingolipids in the myocardial sphingolipid pool and how this translates into metabolism mayoffer valuable therapeutic opportunities in managing or even thwarting metabolic cardiomyopathy. 56. TheEffects of Seating, Attendance, and Electronic Use on Academic Performance in a LargeUndergraduate,Core,BiologyLectureCourse. 1.Samreen Manj* 2. Jumana Meri 3. Dr. Jaclyn Vick (Professor, Biology) 4. Dr. Tricia Smith (Professor, Biology) Electronic use in educational settings has increased drastically in recent decades and may impact academic performance. Students in an undergraduate, core Cellular and Molecular Biology course (BIOL 300) at Virginia CommonwealthUniversity were examined during the fall 2022 semester to analyze the effects of electronic use on attendance and academic performance. The lecture hall was split into pre-determined sections or bins based on whether or not students chose to use electronics during lecture. Students were able to choose seating based on preference for each lecture. Grade data and REDCAP survey data, including demographics, were collected from participating students. The relationship between seating choice, attendance, and exam grades was analyzed. This study was conducted in accordance with and approval of the VCU Institutional Review Board (HM20013611). 24

57. Investigation Into a Simplified Method For Measuring Thermal Conductivity of UV Resin 1. Ethan Villarreal* 2. Connor Donlan (PhD student, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering) 3. Dr. Lane Carasik (Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering) Additive manufacturing has various technologies, such as fused deposition modeling or stereolithography, which all use different materials. An ongoing issue with additive manufactured parts is the impact of printing on material properties as compared to traditional manufacturing. Variations in these technologies, including the choice of materials or the construction method employed, impact the characteristics and values of certain material properties. This research focuses on thermal conductivity where determining a material's thermal conductivity accurately is exacerbated by the inherent error and cost associated in existing techniques. Current literature contains multiple methods to measure thermal conductivity; one specific publication suggests a method of measuring thermal conductivity akin to the comparative method [1]. The literature regarding cost-effective and straightforward methods for determining a material's thermal conductivity is limited. Thus, this research employs the methodology suggested by Whaley [2], simplified to measure the thermal conductivity of an unknown material. The experimental configuration entails placing an unidentified material between two distinct known materials, with thermocouples positioned between the surfaces. One-dimensional heat flow within the system would be achieved through a hot plate, an ice bath, and insulation. The measured temperature difference between the surfaces of the unknown material and the known reference material can be used to calculate the thermal conductivity of the unknown material using Fourier's law. The data obtained from the proposed methodology suggests that the results were inconclusive, indicating the need for additional enhancements and changes to the experimental setup. Modifications to the methodology are currently undergoing testing, including experiments aimed at minimizing heat losses caused by surface contacts, improper insulation, and subject geometry. 58. Establishing an Ethogram and Scoring Procedure for Home Cage Observation of California Mice 1. Yonis Rosa-Suliveres* 2. Charlotte Ream (Undergraduate student, University of Virginia) 3. Amy Wegener (PhDstudent, Neuroscience) 4. Hannah Fulenwider (IRACDA Fellow) 5. Paul Howell (Lab Technician) 6. Gretchen Neigh (Principal Investigator) Meaningful social connections are crucial for well-being and health. The pandemic lockdown highlighted the risks of perceived social isolation and loneliness in the United States, having profound impacts on mental and physical health. A recent CDC report (Soc. Isol. Loneliness Older Adults, 2020) links loneliness to increased risks of dementia, heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, suicide, and early death. Additionally, Holt-Lunstad et al. (2010) found that stronger social connections were associated with a 50% increase in survival odds. Standard laboratory rats and mice do not form social bonds to the extent that humans do which limits study of neural effects of social bonds. Our study aims to explore the effect of pair bond dissolution on neural function in California mice, known for their pair bond formation. To document the behavioral response to separation from a bonded partner, we aimed to develop a recording and analysis protocol to evaluate behavior in the home-cage environment and identify differences in stress-related behaviors between paired, separated, and singly-housed subjects. California mice (Peromyscus californicus) are housed in male:female pairs for 10 days to facilitate bond formation. After 10 days, pairs are separated and housed individually for an additional 10 days. An ethogram specific to the California mouse was reviewed while watching the recorded videos and modified to reflect the 25

behaviors that could be accurately recorded under the current conditions. Tabulation of time spent in each behavior was conducted with Behavioral Observation Research Interactive Software (BORIS). TheCalifornia mouse ethogram focused on the following behaviors: side-by-side contact, nose-to-anogenital sniffing, nose-to-nose sniffing, allogrooming, auto-grooming, eating, jumping, back-flipping, circling, bar-mouthing, inactive, twisting, and route-tracing. The list of behaviors were further reduced to the following behaviors which could be reliably identified in both white and red light conditions: jumping, back-flipping, circling, twisting, route-tracing, and inactive time. This change was made due to limitations in differentiating indistinguishable behaviors like eating and auto-grooming. These behaviors are categorized into state and point events for accurate tracking. In addition, the sampling frame of the video footage to the most efficient sampling window to accurately capture home cage behavior has been observed to be the first 5 minutes. Two-wayANOVA(AnalysisofVariance)wasusedforstatistical analysis. Weight and partner preference endpoints had undergone analysis via repeated measures ANOVAs. This analysis will incorporate housing, and sex as between-subject factors, while time will serve as the within-subjects factor. Housing and sex are the two-way ANOVA independent variables, where stereotypy frequency is the dependent variable. Theimprovementofanethogramandsamplingstrategy helped assess home cage behavior, offering insights into the stress level and behavioral status of the subjects in the study. Analysis showed that there were no differences between males and females that were singly housed or separated from their opposite sex partner.This, in turn, will aid in interpreting the collected molecular data. Understanding the physiological and psychological impact of social disruption on a social species is vital for developing interventions to enhance the well-being of individuals without positive social support. 59. Anovelbileductsavingportalligation technique for acute hepatectomy survival operations in rats 1. Ester Jo* 2. Kush Savsani 3. Anjelica Alfonso 4. Dr. Seung Lee (Physician, Department of Surgery) Background:Creating a model for acute liver failure in animal models is essential to performing research on liver regeneration and designing animal models of cancer. Current surgical techniques used in research allow for a maximumof80%partialhepatectomyinrats with low rate of survival due to poor inflow control. Common resection technique involves ligation at the liver lobe neck, which leads to peri-operative blood loss and perfused lobar stubs contributing to post-operative blood loss. Methods:90%partial hepatectomy was performed on 5 rats using a bile duct saving portal ligation technique. Thehepatectomy procedure was performed using two hilum dissections to preserve the bile duct. The first dissection controlled the blood supply to the median and left lateral lobes, and the second dissection controlled the blood supply to the right inferior and right superior lobes. Prior to closing, all rats were given 5mL of 10% dextrose solution intraperitoneally. All rats were provided ClearH2O DietGel Recovery and 20% dextrose solution ad libitum. Animal weight and behavior was closely monitored during the 7-day post-operative period. Results: Using the bile duct saving portal ligation method resulted in 100% survival over the 7-day post-operative period. Sacrifice 7 days after operation revealed enlarged caudate lobes with an average 3.1% increase in liver mass between the estimated pre-operative liver and the enlarged liver upon sacrifice. Additionally, liver to body mass ratio increased an average 12.3%. Conclusions: The bile duct saving portal ligation technique in 90% liver resections is a novel procedure for rodent models of acute liver failure leading to long-term survival and complete hepatic regeneration after a 7-day post-operative period. The 90% hepatectomy model can be used for controlled models of acute liver failure with improved significance due to a greater polarity between injury and recovery. 26

60. Applied Ethics in American Anthropology: Institutional Review Boards 1. Isabella Schwitters 2. Bernard. K. Means ( Professor, Anthropology) This research, in the form of a literature review, aims to answer what the intersection is between American anthropological ethical guidelines and institutional review boards (IRB) enforcement of ethics in the context of anthropological research. It will establish the current ethical issues within American anthropology, answer how the American Anthropological Association (AAA) enforces the ethical guidelines it proposes and how effective institutional review boards are at enforcing ethical research practices. Specifically, it will explore how institutional review boards interact with researchers directly throughout the research process. Additionally, this project will establish the connection between AAA guidelines and IRB’s ethical enforcement, if it exists at all. It specifically aims to identify to which degree the American anthropological association relies on the individual researcher for ethical enforcement. The research aims to establish what is knownabouttheconnection between the AAA’s ethical guidelines and IRB’s enforcement of ethical practices so that new questions can be formed. 61. WhenisaFakeReal? 1. Sabine Segaloff 2. Bernard. K. Means (Professor, Anthropology) Whenisacopymorethanacopy?Whenisafakealsofineart?Therearemanymodernreplicasofculturally significant objects. Part of the value of such replicas lies in their being representations of the original object. Theyarepowerful tools for education and research, allowing multiple copies of an object to be studied simultaneously in different places. Such replicas can enable physical interaction that conservation and safety concerns would prevent with the original item. Further, they are versions of objects that can be far more accessible than the original. In addition to these kinds of value in relation to the original object, there are plentiful circumstances in which modern replicas can gain their own individual value. My research will focus on ways in which modern replicas can take on cultural significance in their own right in order to determine someofthedriving forces behind this accumulation of intrinsic value. 62. Phavorable Characteristics of Phages Used in Therapy 1. Divya Spurthi Amancherla 2. Dr. Allison Johnson (Professor, Biology) Whenisacopymorethanacopy?Whenisafakealsofineart?Therearemanymodernreplicasofculturally significant objects. Part of the value of such replicas lies in their being representations of the original object. Theyarepowerful tools for education and research, allowing multiple copies of an object to be studied simultaneously in different places. Such replicas can enable physical interaction that conservation and safety concerns would prevent with the original item. Further, they are versions of objects that can be far more accessible than the original. In addition to these kinds of value in relation to the original object, there are plentiful circumstances in which modern replicas can gain their own individual value. My research will focus on ways in which modern replicas can take on cultural significance in their own right in order to determine someofthedriving forces behind this accumulation of intrinsic value. 27

63. TheHistoryofDrugUse 1. Robert Rangel* 2. Delilah Hoffman* 3. Dr. Amy Cook (Professor, Criminal Justice) Asampleof77incarcerated persons enrolled in a substance use treatment program at a local jail completed a self-report survey on the history of drug overdose. This study uses cross-sectional data and provides an exploratory analysis of drug overdose. Inmates and previously incarcerated individuals are at a higher risk of drug usage as compared to the general population. These individuals are most likely to not only use drugs but overdose from them when released from criminal facilities. Multiple factors play into this such as age, geographic location, types of drugs used, etc. Strategies to reduce drug overdose, as well as identify the statistics is important to address these concerns and reduce numbers. This study aims to provide an analysis of these numbers and situations. 64. Scalable coprecipitation of Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxides using a Slug-flow process for effect on properties of microparticles and electrochemical performance in Li-ion Batteries 1. Nicolas Lopez-Riveira* 2. Arjun Patel (PhD Candidate, Chemical & Life Science Engineering) 3. Dr. Sourav Mallick (Postdoctoral Researcher, Chemical & Life Science Engineering) 4. Jethrine Mugumya ( Graduate Research Assistant, Engineering) 5. Sunuk Kim 6. Dr. Mo Jiang (Professor, Chemical and Life Science Engineering) 7. Mariappan Parans Paranthaman 8. Micheal L. Rasche 9. Herman Lopez 10. Dr. Ram B. Gupta (Associate Dean for Research, Chemical and Life Science Engineering) Nickel-rich layered cathode materials such as Nickel Cobalt Manganese Oxide (NCM811) are new materials with high potential as they have a high energy capacity. However, the current industry production utilizes a batch style process which is complicated and is difficult to scale-up. Here, a three-phase slug process utilizing slug-flow is designed for the purpose of producing uniform spherical micro-particles. Slug flow drastically reduces the time necessary for synthesis as it eliminates the need of Ostwald ripening. Ni-rich NCM materials have their limitations such as cation mixing, micro-cracking, thermal and structural stability. In this study, NCM wasdopedwithaluminumtomakeNickelCobaltManganeseAluminum(NCMA).Thisdopinghelpsmitigate the previously stated limitations. It was found that with increase in Al-content there is a decrease in initial specific capacity but the cyclic stability and rate capability increases. An optimum Al-doping can help reduce the adverse effect of reducing cobalt. 65. TheRoleofRegulatoryTcellsinMammaryGlandDevelopmentandBreastCancer 2 1. Sareh Bayatpour (Ph. D. student, biochemistry) 2. He Shen1(post-doc fellow) 3. Ailen S. Garcia-Santillan1(Ph. D. student, genetics) 4. Hossein Ehsanbakhsh (Ph. D. student, clinial and translational science) 1 Department of Pathology, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center 2 Department of biochemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center Regulatory T (Treg) cells are a subtype of CD4+ T lymphocytes with suppressive function, and the main enforcers of peripheral tolerance. They accumulate in solid tumors, including breast cancer, and usually correlate with poor prognosis. Our previous work using murine mouse models of breast cancer has shown that genetic ablation of Treg cells leads to a significant reduction of tumor growth and metastatic dissemination. Conversely, ablation of Treg cells in early stages of breast cancer such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) accelerated the progression of cancer to invasive states, led to alternative activation of macrophages, and expansion of the cancer stem cell population. Given those critical roles of Treg cells, we hypothesize that Treg 28

cells play a role in normal mammary gland development. Furthermore, we propose that Treg cells interact and regulate the mammary gland stem cell population. To evaluate this, we utilized the Foxp3DTR mouse model, in which Treg cells express the diphtheria toxin receptor. Injection of 2 doses of 50ug/kg of the toxin leads to complete ablation of the Treg cell population in 24 hours, and slow recovery until Treg cell numbers return to normal levels by 7-10 days. Ablation was performed at four weeks postnatally when the ductal tree started branching into the fat pad, and the mammary glands were harvested at eight weeks when growth was complete. Weperformedmammaryglandwholemountswithinguinalglandsandmammosphereformationassayin non-adherent plates with dissociated thoracic glands. We observed that the Treg cell-ablated experimental group had reduced length of the mammary gland, reduced number of alveoli and branching points, and reduced terminal end buds compared to the control group. In addition, spheroid formation assays from Treg cell-ablated mammaryglandshadfewermammospheresthanthecontrolglands.Theseresults indicate that Treg cells are necessary for the normal development of the mammary gland and might regulate stem cell numbers. 66. Analyzing the Dynamics of Crime Rate Influences Overtime: A Case Study of El Salvador 1. Cindy Vigil 2. Dr. RaJade Berry-James (Senior Associate Dean , Professor, Wilder School) Numerousstudies have been conducted on several factors that influence violent crime in El Salvador. This current study will refine the current studies on violent crime in El Salvador by focusing on homicide rates in El Salvador and analyzing the impact through various factors. The quantitative variables of interest in this study are: (i) population; (ii) poverty; (iii) government-negotiated truce with local gangs; and (iv); leadership. The purpose of this study is to explore whether crime in El Salvador decreases overtime when influenced by these factors. This current study will use historical data from 1994-2019 to determine the influence of external factors on the homicide rate in El Salvador. Based on homicidal rates from 1994-2019, the study will explore each of the factors utilizing the homicide rates and determine whether these factors had an influence on crime in El Salvador. Ultimately, this paper aims at determining whether the factors population, poverty, truce, leadership, influence the homicide rate in El Salvador. 67. Virtual Reality for Inclusive Fitness: Bridging Gaps in Exercise Access for Individuals with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities 1. Boyd Ballance* 2. Alexis Brown* 3. Walaa Abu Rukbah (PhD student, Pharmacotherapy and Outcome Sciences) 4. Silas Contaifer (PhD student, Pharmacotherapy and Outcome Sciences) 5. Dr. Wijesinghe (Professor, Pharmacotherapy and Outcome Sciences) 6. Matthew Scott (Assistant Professor, Kinesiology and Health Sciences) Introduction: Intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), a diverse and often misunderstood realm, impacts up to 3 out of every 100 individuals in the US. A majority of those with IDD do not meet physical activity guidelines, which may contribute to the elevated risk of developing cardiovascular and metabolic disease in comparison to those without IDD. Our research aims to address this by developing Virtual Reality (VR)gamesforhome-basedexercise that are tailored to diverse disability needs; an affordable and safe alternative to a traditional gym. Through this study, we seek to evaluate the health outcomes of VR exercise games, empowering individuals with IDD to achieve higher physical activity levels and mitigate health risks effectively. Methodology: Our developmental approach revolves around crafting an engaging VR gaming experience tailored for individuals with IDD. Our initial focus has been on ensuring accessibility and comfort, incorporating features such as accommodation of sit-down play. To further refine our design, we engaged directly with the target audience to discern their preferences regarding game types and virtual environments. 29

Keyinsights include the significance of avatar and environment customization, as well as the importance of varied gameplay levels. Moving forward, we aim to empirically evaluate the physical exertion levels induced by different game types using the VR Health Exercise Tracker app developed by the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise. Our goal is to identify games that can be played for approximately 20-30 minutes without causing undue fatigue in our target population. By leveraging this data-driven approach, we aspire to develop an enjoyable and entertaining VR exercise gaming experience that promotes health and well-being among individuals with IDD. Expected Results: Following the publication of VR games, it is expected that exercise for individuals with disabilities will increase to at least once a day for a minimum of twenty minutes. As exercise levels increase, the risk of future chronic disease will decrease. To evaluate the effectiveness of our VR game, we plan to obtain a measurement of average KCal/min expenditure while playing. Future Implications: The curation of new VR games will be used to help increase activity and exercise levels in people with IDD. With further testing of our developed game, we can contribute data to the sphere of VR exercise, currently spearheaded by the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise. This contribution will aid in advancing future VR games, promoting exercise inclusivity, and improving health outcomes for individuals with IDD. 68. Content Analysis to Identify Patterns of School Employee Sexual Misconduct in K-12 School Districts 1. Ashley Sharp* 2. Emiola Oyefuga (PhD student, Education) Educator sexual misconduct is any conduct that would be considered sexual abuse of a minor or a sexual relationship by an educator with a student, regardless of age. Sexual activity could include sexual dialogue, intimate letters, sexually charged language, contacting through text or social media, inappropriate comments, or dating a student. When a child is abused by the individuals that they are supposed to trust, this not only leads to problems with completing their education, but it has shown to lead to depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, alcoholism, drug addiction, or death. In 2022 alone, almost 350 public educators were arrested for child sex abuse crimes. This number only includes public education and those who reported. The focus of this research is to find patterns of sexual assault in K–12 schools by examining: (1) description of abusers; (2) description of victims; (3) location of abuse; (4) patterns of grooming, etc. Additionally, we are analyzing school policies for students and faculty, the hiring process, trainings, supervising, and how cases of sexual assault are investigated. Ourmethodsincluded conducting post mortem examinations to identify the places where policies, training, supervision, hiring, and reporting failed to prevent the abuse. This study uses expert witness reports written in cases of civil litigation where a parent or child has filed a suit against a school district for not preventing the abuse of the child by a school employee and where the school employee predator has been convicted in a criminal trial of sexually abusing a student. Among the data points for analysis that are included in civil case documentation are school district policies, training materials and requirements, hiring policies and practices, personnel files, student files, medical/mental health files, environmental scans of the school buildings, police files from the criminal prosecution, and pictures of classrooms. 30

69. Fabrication of 2D Textile Patterns via Electrospinning - Achieving Negative Space Features 1. Ioana Caloian* 2. Professor Hawa Stwodah (Professor, Fashion and Merchandising) 3. Dr. Christina Tang (Professor, Chemical and Life Science Engineering) Electrospinning is a simple method of producing polymer fibers. Controlling the spatial arrangement of fibers to achieve patterned morphologies has attracted attention for various textile, filtration, and sensor applications. Metal templates such as grid electrode collectors create an “electric field lensing” effect that result in hierarchical self-assembly of the fibers. Overall, we aim to achieve fabrication of 2D textile patterns using electrospinning and such metal templates. Arbitrary garment shapes (e.g. mitten, apron) were obtained by templating the grid electrode collector with insulating material. The focus of this work is to attain a negative space feature (e.g. holes) during electrospinning using nylon fibers spun from formic acid as a model system. Pattern features, specifically hole size and location, as well as utilizing various insulating methods such as air gaps are being explored. Air gaps and other insulating materials reduce fiber deposition on specified areas of the template. Using this approach, holes at the edge of the pattern (e.g. ear loops of masks, neck piece of an apron) have been achieved. In contrast, holes in the center of a pattern are more difficult to achieve as fibers accumulate over the desired negative space. Use of tape as insulating material over the desired hole produced the best results compared to foam or rubber: the area covered was 88% of the expected area. Foam and rubber decreased the area covered of the desired pattern to 86% and 60%, respectively. Experiments to understand the minimumdistance from the center necessary to successfully achieve a hole as well as the smallest hole (relative to the width of the pattern) are currently underway. 70. Parent PTSDandAUDeffectsonOffspringSymptoms:ModerationbySocialSupportor SES? 1. Kristen Bermingham* 2. Christopher Latourrette 3. Dr. Karen Chartier (Professor, Social Work; Psychiatry) 4. Spit for Science Working Group 5. Dr. Ananda B. Amstadter (Professor, Psychiatric and Behavioral Genetics) 6. Dr. Kaitlin E. Bountress(Professor, Psychiatry) There is robust literature suggesting that Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) run in families. Individuals with a family history of AUD are at higher risk for AUD themselves, and this same trend holds for PTSD. However, whether other factors influence the association between family history and symptomsisless known, with some finding evidence for social support and SES as a buffer against this association. Participants (N=231; 81% female; 53.7% White, 17.3% Asian, 15. 6% Black; 13.4% Other) were recruited from an existing longitudinal study (Spit for Science) and were included if they had experienced a traumatic event and endorsed lifetime alcohol use. Participants completed self-report measures of current PTSD and AUDsymptoms(PTSDChecklist/PCL-5,Semi-Structured Assessment for the Genetics of Alcoholism/SSAGA), a report of whether their mother or father had PTSD or AUD, a modified Medical OutcomesStudySocial Support Survey, to measure perceived support in family of origin, and reported on parent income and education. Regression analyses conducted in SPSS version 29.0 suggest that parent AUD is associated with higher AUD symptoms (β=.138, p

71. ExaminingChildhoodSocialDevelopment:PerceivedParentalWarmthRelatedto Limited Prosocial Emotions (LPE) in a Youth with Conduct Disorder 1. Mikayla Heightshoe 2. Isabella Schneck (Clinical Research Coordinator, Injury and Violence Prevention) 3. Nicholas Thomson (Director of Research, Injury and Violence Prevention) In the most recent edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5), a limited prosocial emotion (LPE) has been added as a specifier when making a diagnosis of conduct disorder (CD) in youth. The DSM-5 categorizes conduct disorder “with Limited Prosocial Emotions” (CD+LPE) in children who exhibit 2 out of the 4 criteria: lack of remorse or guilt, lack of empathy, unconcerned with performance, and shallow deficit, (Colins et al., 2021). Studies have shown those with CD+LPE are more likely to use a weapon to cause serious harm to others and have a higher level of conduct problems (Déry et al, 2019) as well as children with the LPE subtype exhibit more CD symptoms and comorbid problems (Colins et al, 2021). In current studies, there has been a knowledge gap in parenting effects, perceived parenting included, related to a CD+LPEdiagnosisandifthisrelation could be a risk factor for childhood emotional development. In this study, as a part of a greater project (NIMHR01 HM20021727), there has been an investigation on perceived parental warmthlinked to the number of limited prosocial emotions in 152 youth participants (68% male, average child age = 15.64, SD = 1.76). The results demonstrated a significant effect in females, as limited prosocial emotions positively predicted mothers’ warmth (p= .022) and positively predicted fathers’ warmth (p= .04), and vice versa. This indicates that there is an association between limited prosocial emotions and perceived parental warmth, meaning as children experience more limited prosocial emotions the more likely there is to be a higher report of perceived parental warmth. 72. AnAnalysisofAdverseChildhoodExperiencesandDrugUseAmongIncarcerated Persons 1. Maria Sanuot* 2. Youstina Gamil* 3. Dr. Amy K Cook (Professor, Criminal Justice) 4. Dr. Nancy A. Morris (Professor, Criminal Justice) Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are traumatic events that happen during childhood and may contribute to negative outcomes including drug use, post-traumatic stress, and serious mental illnesses. There are different types of adverse childhood experiences such as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and mental abuse. This study will discuss how childhood abuse will affect an individual in adulthood and might cause them to turn to substance use. Using a sample of 77 incarcerated individuals for substance use, our research examines the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and drug use. Participants completed a self-report survey on their adverse childhood experiences. Cross-sectional data was used to analyze the relationship between these experiences and the individual's usage of drugs. The research is concluded with policy recommendations. 73. Forensic Signatures Differentiating between Laboratory Cultured and Simulated Natural Bacillus Cereus Spores 1. Dr. Christopher Ehrhardt (Professor, Forensic Science) 2. Kathleen Lehmann* 3. Wanyan Cai Thebacterial species Bacillus cereus is a harmful pathogen that causes severe food poisoning and is closely related to the bioterrorism agent, Bacillus anthracis. Because B. cereus is widely distributed in natural soil environments, it can be difficult to determine whether its presence in food products is incidental or due to illegal activity. The purpose of this study was to develop forensic signatures for B. cereus cells that grew in a soil environment to differentiate from those that were cultured in a laboratory. Two strains of B. cereus were 32

selected (T-strain and 14579). The Cerillo™ Microplate Reader was utilized to analyze the growth dynamics of cells in various types of liquid media. To simulate a soil environment, a broth containing solubilized organic compoundsfromsoil and animal manure was created (‘SESOM-H’). This was compared to two types of laboratory media, Casein Acid Digest (CAD) and Schaeffer media. For germination in soil, a 3-D printed growth chamber was used. In these chambers, agar plugs were inoculated with B. cereus and were placed directly into a soil matrix. The morphologies of these cells were observed, and trace elemental profiling was performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. Results showed significant physical and chemical differences between cells that were grown in a simulated-natural environment and cells that were cultured in laboratory conditions. B. cereus T-strain cells that grew in SESOM-HshowedslowergrowththancellsinCADorSchaeffer.Strain 14579 displayed minimal growth under these conditions. This variation has the potential to be used to determine the ecological origin of Bacillus cells recovered during a forensic investigation. 74. Natural Mummification: From Past to Present 1. Isabella Alpire-Roca 2. Dr. Bernard Means. (Professor, Anthropology) For thousands of years, mummification has occurred on every continent in all kinds of forms, whether through artificial or natural means. The type of mummification being discussed today is natural mummification, which comesinmanyforms.Naturalmummificationcanoccurthroughdesiccation, freezing, anaerobic, chemical, and volcanic ash mummification. Of the types of natural mummification, we will be going more in-depth with examples of the desiccation type of mummification. There are examples of desiccation in many different regions, most famously known are the mummies found in the Andean mountains like Momia Juanita of Peru, whowasagirlthatwasthoughttohavebeensacrificed in a religious ritual in the Inca Empire. While the most famous examples of desiccation mummification are from ancient times, it is still seen today in everyday life. OneofthemodelsscannedbytheVirtualCuration Lab is of a mummified opossum that underwent natural mummification when it died in a cold, dry garage. 75. East Marshall Street Well Project: Memorialization and Policy for Human Remains 1. Rome Kamarouthu* 2. Dr. Christine Cynn (Professor, Gender, Sexuality and Women's Studies) 3. Dr. Maggie Goddard(Professor, Public Humanities Lab) TheEastMarshall Street Well was used by VCU medical staff during the 1800s to improperly dispose of unethically sourced, primarily African American, cadavers. The East Marshall Street Well (EMSW) Project allows university faculty, students, and community members to collaborate and design the appropriate study, memorialization, and reburial of the individuals found in the well. Health Humanities Lab fellows are recording, transcribing, and editing audio for interviews in the East Marshall Street Well Oral History project in collaboration with historian Ana Edwards. They also developed eight initiatives based on the recommendations of the Family Representative Council (FRC). One of these initiatives is the Policy for Human Remains, based on the call to develop formal guidelines for appropriate university actions, including community engagement, in the event of future discovery of human skeletal remains or material culture. Currently, fellows are reading relevant policies from VCU, the Code of Virginia, and the Department of Historic Resources to support the writing and revision of a proposed policy. They collaborate with community and university stakeholders to recommend university actions that are legally compliant and center community engagement. 33

76. Thinking About Past, Present, and Future 1. Ashanti Allen* 2. Claire Vu* 3.Devin Cordell* 4.Delani Warner* 5. Stephanie Barrientos (PhD student, Psychology) 6. Isabella Di Lauro (PhD student, Psychology) 7. Dr. Jeffrey Green (Professor, Psychology) This study investigates the relationship between nostalgia, gratitude, and individual differences in self-consciousness and nostalgia proneness. Our primary aim is to explore whether nostalgia can evoke feelings of gratitude, and if this association is moderated by levels of self-consciousness and nostalgia proneness. The study uses a between groups design in which participants are randomly assigned to one of two conditions. Condition A requires participants to Google search personally nostalgic song lyrics and report levels of gratitude and nostalgia. Condition B requires participants to view the nostalgic lyrics identified by those in GroupA,andthenreportfeelings of gratitude and subsequent nostalgia. Finally, measures of self-consciousness and nostalgia proneness are assessed. We hypothesize that individuals who experience more nostalgia will report higher levels of gratitude. Furthermore, we believe that the relationship between nostalgia and gratitude will be strengthened by higher levels of self-consciousness and nostalgia proneness, indicating a more pronounced effect of nostalgia on gratitude among individuals with increased attention to the covert aspects of the self and a greater predisposition towards nostalgic experiences. This research contributes to the understanding of how nostalgia relates to other positive emotions, particularly gratitude, and elucidates the role of individual differences in shaping this relationship. Insights gained from this study could inform interventions aimed at enhancing gratitude and well-being by leveraging the power of nostalgic experiences, especially amongindividuals high in self-consciousness and nostalgia proneness. 77. TheHuntfortheContentsofMysteryVietnameseMedicine 1. Kiara Brown*, 2. Meredith Buckmire*, 3. Dr. Michelle Peace (Professor, Forensic Science) Dầuphongisatraditional, Vietnamese herbal ointment that has been used in my family for many generations to heal cuts, bruising, or scar tissue. Growing up, it sat in our medicine cabinet alongside Neosporin and Advil in a repackaged jar with a handwritten label. The recipe has been long lost due to the Vietnamese war, diaspora and the unexpected death of my grandmother’s great uncle 70 years ago. He was considered the village healer. The purpose of this project was to learn more about this ointment, both historically and chemically. My family’s former involvement in community healing was investigated and samples of the ointment were submitted to the Laboratory of Forensic Toxicology Research in the Department of Forensic Science for analysis. After interviewing several family members, the ointment was recreated. The starting materials and final product were also submitted for analysis and compared to the original ointment. Many chemicals were similar between the newointment and the ancient ointment. This project demonstrated the importance of combining art, story-telling, and science to provide deeper understanding of my family, history, and a medicine used by communities for hundreds of years. 78. Uncovering the Hidden History of The Black Tuberculosis Hospital at Pine Camp in Richmond,Virginia 1. Cyrus Rosoiu* 2. Dr. Amy Rector (Director, School of World Studies) 3. Dr. Christopher Stevenson (Professor, School of World Studies) 4. Marie Vergamini (PhD Student, Life Sciences) Thehistory of healthcare institutions in the United States is often incomplete, with marginalized communities and their experiences frequently overlooked. In Richmond, Virginia, the narrative surrounding the Black Tuberculosis Hospital at Pine Camp stands as evidence to this historical oversight. Our ongoing project aims to 34

shed light on this obscured chapter of medical history, employing an interdisciplinary approach that combines archival research with the forthcoming excavation of the hospital site. Central to our investigation is a comprehensive examination of archival documents from the Claude Moore Health Sciences Library, including newspaper articles and official records from both the city of Richmond and relevant State bodies, particular health departments. Through analysis, we aim to piece together the multifaceted story of the hospital, exploring the lives of those who worked within its walls and the patients who sought treatment there. Ourproject seeks to construct a more nuanced understanding of the hospital's significance within the context of healthcare provision for Black communities in the region. While our current focus lies in historical investigation, our project lays the groundwork for future archaeological endeavors, including VCU students and students from Cultural Roots Homeschool Co-operative. In presenting our findings, we aim to foster dialogue and reflection, advocating for a more comprehensive and equitable approach to the study of medical history. Ultimately, our project emphasizes the importance of recognizing and preserving the legacies of marginalized communities, ensuring that their contributions and struggles are not left in obscurity. 79. Risk Factors Associated with Developing Substance Abuse Disorders for Adolescents in SecondorLastChanceAlternativeSchools 1. Jaylynn Floyd* 2. Dr. Jamie Cage (Professor, Social Work) 3. Dr. Amy Adkins (Professor, Human Genetics) 4. Dr. Karen Chartier (Professor, Social Work ) Research suggests that adolescents who attend second or last-chance alternative schools may have a higher risk of developing a substance abuse disorder in comparison to students who attend traditional schools. However, research is less clear on factors that contribute to the substance abuse of this youth population. This literature review aims to address this gap by examining what specific risk factors put students in alternative school education systems at a higher risk of developing substance abuse disorders. A literature search of peer-reviewed studies published between January 1, 2014, and January 1, 2024, was conducted using 18 databases within EBSCO(e.g.,Educational Research Complete, Psychology and Behavioral Sciences Collection, Psycinfo). Search terms included an alternative education string (e.g., “alternative education” OR “alternative school”), a disciplinary string (e.g., “last chance” OR “second chance”), and a substance use string (e.g., substance use OR substance abuse). The search resulted in 202 articles after the removal of duplicates. One independent researcher coded citations for inclusion criteria. Articles were included if they focused on students in second or last-chance alternative schools, explored substance use outcomes, included adolescents in the sample, were written in English, and were conducted in the US.Results suggest Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, peer/environmental influences, physical environment/location of the alternative school (), and sexual activity, can act as a risk factor for students to develop substance abuse disorders. Importantly, the literature suggests that treatments such as anger managementandtrauma-informed interventions may be effective in addressing drug use. To combat this substance use disparity with adolescents enrolled in alternative schools, administrators should provide students with better access to mental health resources and interventions to help mitigate the risk factors associated with substance abuse. 35

80. TheEffect of Acetaldehyde on Alcohol Induced Peripheral Neuropathy (AIPN) 1. Zain Akbar 2.Lauren Moncayo* (PhD student, Physiology) 3. Aron Lichtman (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Alcohol-induced peripheral neuropathy (AIPN) remains a challenging condition, characterized by debilitating somatosensory symptoms. neurotoxic effects whose underlying mechanisms elude complete understanding Ddespite extensive research, the underlying mechanisms underlying AIPN elude complete understanding efforts. One potential mechanism mechanism implicated in AIPN is the metabolism of intricate process of EtOHethanol to acetaldehydemetabolism within the human body. EtOH Upon ingestion, alcohol is metabolized by alcohol dehydrogenase undergoes a series of reactions culminating in the conversion of ethanol into acetaldehyde, a highly reactive compound notorious for its carcinogenic properties. Acetaldehyde is immediately and rapidly metabolized by aldehyde dehydrogenases (i.e., ALDH2) into acetate. It is unknown whether acetaldehyde contributes to mechanisms underlying AIPN. This study delves into the intricate relationship between acetaldehyde and AIPN., We eexplored the impact ofxploring how elevated ALDH2 pharmacological inhibition levels of acetaldehydeon the development and may exacerbate the progression of AIPNinmiceneuropathy. We hypothesized pharmacological inhibition of ALDH2 would exacerbate the development of AIPN through increased levels of acetaldehyde during EtOH intake. Mice were given Leveraging an experimental approach, we administered ethanol liquid diets solutions at concentrations of 2.5% and 5%tomice (0, 2.5 or 5% EtOH) over several weeks. During the first two weeks of EtOH consumption, mice were administered , supplementing their diet with aan ALDH2 inhibitor, CVT10216 (20 mg/kg; i.p.), to modulate acetaldehyde levels. Mice were for the development of AIPN related behavioral changes, such as, locomotor Mice subjected to the 2.5% ethanol solution were dissected after two weeks for tissue collection, while others remained on the regimen for a full four weeks for behavioral assessment. Behavioral assays encompassed locomotor activity, nestingg behavior , and, mechanical and cold sensitivity. sensitivity testing using von Frey filaments, providing comprehensive insights into the impact of acetaldehyde on neuropathic progression. Our findings revealed that inhibition of ALDH2 exacerbated the sensitivity development of mechanical and cold sensitivity. without compromising locomotor function. Additionally, ALDH2 inhibition exacerbated chronic EtOH-induced nesting deficits but did not impact without compromising locomotor activity function. In summary, increasedFurthermore, prolonged exposure to increased acetaldehyde levels significantly worsened AIPN development in mice. These results underscore the pivotal role of acetaldehyde in AIPN pathogenesis and pave the way for further investigations into its multifaceted involvement in this condition. Future studies will continue to elucidate the nuanced interplay between acetaldehyde and various facets of AIPN,guiding the development of targeted therapeutic interventions. 81. ChangesinConfidenceandSenseofBelonging:InsightsfromaWhitewaterRafting Expedition on the Usumacinta River 1. Laurel Dent*, Andrew Parent (Assistant Director, Outdoor Adventure Program), James Vonesh (Professor, Environmental Studies) Thebacterial species Bacillus cereus is a harmful pathogen that causes severe food poisoning and is closely related to the bioterrorism agent, Bacillus anthracis. Because B. cereus is widely distributed in natural soil environments, it can be difficult to determine whether its presence in food products is incidental or due to illegal activity. The purpose of this study was to develop forensic signatures for B. cereus cells that grew in a soil environment to differentiate from those that were cultured in a laboratory. Two strains of B. cereus were selected (T-strain and 14579). The Cerillo™ Microplate Reader was utilized to analyze the growth dynamics of cells in various types of liquid media. To simulate a soil environment, a broth containing solubilized organic 36

compoundsfromsoil and animal manure was created (‘SESOM-H’). This was compared to two types of laboratory media, Casein Acid Digest (CAD) and Schaeffer media. For germination in soil, a 3-D printed growth chamber was used. In these chambers, agar plugs were inoculated with B. cereus and were placed directly into a soil matrix. The morphologies of these cells were observed, and trace elemental profiling was performed using Inductively Coupled Plasma- Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES) analysis. Results showed significant physical and chemical differences between cells that were grown in a simulated-natural environment and cells that were cultured in laboratory conditions. B. cereus T-strain cells that grew in SESOM-HshowedslowergrowththancellsinCADorSchaeffer.Strain 14579 displayed minimal growth under these conditions. This variation has the potential to be used to determine the ecological origin of Bacillus cells recovered during a forensic investigation. 82. TheEffect of Seating Locations on Academic Performance Among Various Reported Ethnicities in a Undergraduate Biology Core Course 1. Jumana Meri* 2. Samreen Manj* 3. Dr. Tricia Smith* (Professor, Biology) Minority students are underrepresented in STEM due to frequent obstacles they face, such as lack of representation within their field of study, limited early access to STEM related opportunities in highschool, and difficulty in University STEM courses. In an effort to support all students effectively, we are studying how various factors impact academic performance, including ethnicity. This is an active area of research and we are also looking at it in the context of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU), which is a diverse institution. This study focuses on participants enrolled in an upper-level, core Biology course, Cellular and Molecular Biology (BIOL 300) during the Fall 2022 semester at VCU. Study participants provided informed consent per IBRprotocol IRB# HM20013611. The lecture hall was divided into four bins, students were allowed to choose which bin to sit in each day. The bins reflected whether the students sat in front or back of the lecture hall as well as whether or not they used electronics. Sign-In sheets were passed around at the beginning of class to record student attendance in bins. Grade data from Fall 2022 Exam 3 was collected and compared to the seating pattern choices and reported ethnicity data collected from the sign-in sheets and REDCap surveys. We analyzed reported ethnicities and Exam3scores.Wefurthercomparedexamscoresusingseating choice. All study methods were approved and carried out in accordance with the VCU Institutional Review Board. 83. I wish that it – the working out- was emphasized at the beginning”: Breast Cancer Survivors’ Evaluation of Heart Health Information Provided During Treatment 1. America Vijil- Lemus* 2. Ashley Turner 3. Sara Gómez-Trillos 3. Paulette Omeaku 4. Imani Carter 5. Dr. Arnethea Sutton (Professor, Health Sciences) Introduction: Breast cancer treatments, such as anthracycline chemotherapies, have high implications for cancer-therapy related cardiac dysfunction (CTRCD). Previous studies have shown that protective behaviors and lifestyle modifications (e.g., exercise, may mitigate the cardiotoxic effects of these treatments. However, the extent to which survivors receive and implement this information is unclear. The purpose of this study was to analyze patient recall of heart-health protective guidance provided during their treatment and assess their overall knowledge and understanding of this information. Methods:WomenwererecruitedfromVCUMasseyComprehensiveCancerCenter.Participantswerebreast cancer survivors who received anthracyclines and/or trastuzumab for breast cancer. Women completed one semi-structured interview about their knowledge and interpretation of heart health information and experiences 37

receiving cardiotoxic treatment. All interviews were recorded, transcribed, and independently coded by two individuals; final codes were applied after a consensus vote. Dedoose was used for data coding and analysis. Results: The analysis included sixteen survivors (50% Black, 50% White) with a median age at diagnosis of 52.60 years. Seven women had no recollection of protective heart health information provided to them during their cancer treatment; four of those women were Black. Seven women recalled receiving protective heart health information which consisted of information on healthy nutrition and exercise. The women who were able to recall heart health information stated their providers discussed examples of foods to incorporate into their diet and received guidance on where to find additional information about a healthy diet and exercise. Four women stated they received written resources, such as pamphlets, that discussed diet and exercise. One noteworthy observation regarding written information distribution is that two women recalled receiving information resources, but claimed they did not read or do further research on the topic. Of the women who were able to recall receiving protective heart health information, five were White, and two were Black. Fourteen women (87.50%) claimed they implemented health behaviors following a discussion with their clinical provider. Conclusion: Findings suggest that provider communication about heart health may not be effective, particularly for Black survivors. Tailored health interventions designated for breast cancer patients with high implications for CTRCD could help educate and provide the needed support these patients need to implement protective behaviors following their treatment. 84. Characterizing sociodemographics, mental health, substance use, and smoking behavior amongBlack/AfricanAmericanpeoplewhosmokecigarettes 1. Angela S Giji* 2. Tsion Mulugeta* 3. Mary H. Bridgman 4. Sofia J Gomez 5. Alison J. Patev 6. Dr. Cristina B. Hood (Professor, Psychology) 6. Eric C. Donny 7. Dr. Pebbles Fagan (Professor, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products) 8. Dr. Shawn C.T. Jones (Professor, Psychology) 9. Dr. Joshua M. Langberg (Professor, Psychology) 10. Dr. Andrew J Barnes (Professor, Center for the Study of Tobacco Products) 11. Dr. Caroline O. Cobb(Professor, Psychology) Introduction: African American/Black people have been a target of predatory advertising leading to high rates of menthol cigarette (MC) smoking. MC use is associated with greater nicotine dependence and difficulty quitting. Given these challenges and the proposed federal ban on MC, there is a critical need to address cessation among African American/Black people who smoke MC. Characterizing sociodemographics, substance use, mental health status, smoking behaviors and their association with cigarette smoking intensity can help inform cessation interventions. Methods. African American/Black people who smoked cigarettes daily (N=136) were recruited to participate in a trial that aimed to evaluate how electronic nicotine delivery system flavor availability impacts tobacco use and related outcomes. Baseline measures of sociodemographics, cannabis/alcohol use, mental health conditions, cigarette smoking intensity (cigarettes smoked per day [CPD]), and other smoking behaviors were collected. Descriptive and bivariate analyses were performed (IBM SPSS V29, p0.05). Conclusions. Findings suggest that smoking intensity was similar across several indicators of sociodemographics, substance use, mental health, and smoking behaviors which is consistent with some prior 38

workamongthispopulation. Responses to the proposed MC ban highlight areas for future research, including maximizing post-ban cessation. 85. Interpreting Dreamscapes: A Comparative Longitudinal Analysis 1. Muniba Saleheen* 2. Tulsi Patel* 3. An Truong* 4. Ash Berkman* 5. Ian Almond* 6. Dr. Richard Bargdill (Professor, Psychology) This study delves into a detailed examination of the dreams of one individual using content analysis, which is a systematic approach that counts various objects and actions that occur within the dream narratives. This particular project utilizes the principles of autoethnography, positioning the principal investigator (PI) as both the participant and the researcher. Autoethnography promotes scientific rigor by using a qualitative methodology (i.e., Content Analysis) and integrating the researcher's reflective observations. The dissemination of findings enhances the academic discourse on dream analysis. Thecoreofthis research is a comparative longitudinal study that examines the evolving nature of dream content across different decades of life, such as 20s, 30s, 40s, and 50s of the principal investigator. Each dream is evaluated according to established and emerging items found within six researcher chosen categories: objects, emotions, settings, complexes, people, and actions. These categorizations will help discern patterns and themes that emerge over time, offering insights into the psychological and emotional undercurrents that characterize each decade of life. Toensure the reliability of the content analysis, the study incorporates a test-retest methodology, wherein independent coders assess the dream narratives at two different points in time. This process evaluates the consistency and accuracy of the coders' interpretations, thereby bolstering the validity of the findings. In summary, this research aims to provide a unique contribution to the field of dream studies and the understanding of human consciousness by shedding light on the intricate tapestry of dream content through a methodologically rigorous, participant-centered approach. 86. Structural Determinants of AAV-2 Rep40 Oligomerization during ATPase and DNA Translocation 1. Sasi Valiveti* 2. Muniba Saleheen* 3. Dr. Carlos Escalante (Professor, Physiology and Biophysics) TheAdeno-associated virus type 2 (AAV-2) is a highly promising candidate for human gene therapy due to its efficient and safe gene delivery capabilities. The Rep40 protein is a crucial component in the AAV-2 life cycle, responsible for DNA packaging, which is attributed to its helicase activity. This study aims to shed light on the oligomerization of Rep40, a vital process for its functionality but not yet fully understood. The research will employ several biochemical techniques including crosslinking and Venus trap fluorescent fusion proteins to determine the molecular mechanisms of Rep40 oligomerization during ATP hydrolysis and DNA translocation. Thestudy's results are expected to provide valuable insights into the intricacies of the AAV packaging mechanism, potentially paving the way for novel therapeutic strategies against AAV infections and related diseases. 87. RomanLegionaryTechnologyandStrategy 1. Sean Butler* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) I intend to research unique and advanced Roman military weaponry. The Romans sped the usage of combat artillery. For example, the ballista (ballistae in Latin) was a giant siege crossbow that would shoot a large, 39

arrow-type spear at the enemy. Weapons, such as the ballista, allowed for the massive amount of conquest and expansion accomplished by the Romans. The Romans also developed technologies to conduct siege warfare. Oneoftheseadvances was towers with heavy suspended battering rams known as “arietes”. My research will reveal more unique warfare advances and technologies. I will incorporate Roman battle strategies, such as shield walls and formations within the poster presentation. I will also include a 3D-printed Roman legionary madefromresinwearingcomplete combat equipment. The 3D-printed element will be part of my end-of-semester exhibit project as well. I will create an informative poster documenting a Roman soldier, his essential combat gear, some unique weapons he would’ve used/seen, and formations he would have taken part in. 88. Virtual Reconstruction of Facial Features on Fragmented Artifacts 1. Amanda Cecilia Marietti* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Virtual reconstruction of facial features on fragmented artifacts is an emerging topic at the intersection of archaeology, anthropology, and computer science. This research aims to utilize advanced digital technologies to reconstruct the missing pieces of fragmented artifacts depicting facial features such as statues and pottery. Researchers can utilize 3D scanning and computer-aided design (CAD) technologies to generate virtual models of artifacts and digitally repair missing components. This process involves thorough analysis of the existing features, historical context, and comparative data to inform the procedure for reconstruction accurately. Furthermore, advances in facial recognition and machine learning algorithms help to produce realistic facial reconstructions based on anthropological principles and artistic conventions. Virtual reconstruction of facial characteristics on fragmented artifacts provides significant insights into ancient cultures, artistic techniques, and individual identities of the past. It allows researchers to envision and interpret the characteristics of historical figures and regular people of past societies, resulting in a better understanding of their lives, beliefs, and societal structures. Moreover, these reconstructed relics function as instructional tools, allowing people to interact with history in an immersive and a tactile way. As technology advances, virtual reconstruction techniques offer to improve the ability to discover and have a more complex understanding of life in the past. 89. Parasocial relationships in variety live streaming: How it can affect attitudes and buying intention toward sponsors 1. Megan Burroughs* 2. Deborah DiazGranados (Professor, School of Medicine) Online streaming and video platforms have become a popular form of entertainment as opposed to traditional media like movies and TV shows. Similar to traditional media, viewers often relate to and form one-sided relationships with actors/creators, known as parasocial relationships. Actors and creators can then leverage that relationship to advertise and market products to their audience. The primary objective of this study was to understand if perceived credibility and loyalty towards a streamer fuel parasocial relationships and how perceived credibility and parasocial relationships with an online live streamer influence attitude towards a sponsored brand and purchasing intention. It was predicted that there will be a positive relationship between participants who have high parasocial relationships and buying intention of promoted products; that there will be a positive relationship between streamer credibility and both parasocial relationships and attitudes towards brands endorsed; that parasocial relationships will have a positive effect on streamer loyalty, which will have a positive effect on brand attitude. 227 participants were given a pre-survey to screen for those who actively watch live streamed content on sites like Youtube and Twitch, participants that do not were excluded. The included participants were given access to a full survey on Qualtrics which asked their thoughts on measures on 40

streamer loyalty, credibility, parasocial relationships, and brand attitude. While answering survey questions the participants were asked to think about a streamer that they actively watch. It was found that streamer credibility and streamer loyalty were significantly, largely correlated to parasocial relationships, r(225) = .642, p < .001, r(225) = .696, p < .001, respectively. Parasocial relationships and streamer loyalty were both significantly, largely correlated with brand attitude, r(223) = .537, p < .001, r(.512) = p < .001, respectively. Finally, brand attitude was significantly, largely correlated with buying intention, r(218) = .657, p < .001. 90. “Savages! Savages! Barely even human!”: Pocahontas, Jesus, and Colonial Narratives 1. Ethan August Ek* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Myposterwill be about the narrative surrounding Pocahontas. We all know her name and we vaguely know whoshewasandwhatshedid,mostofthisknowledgecomingfromthemediawithmovieslikeDisney's1995 “Pocahontas”. The story of Pocahontas is just that, a story. We must allow ourselves to examine this narrative weall know, and understand the implications of that narrative in the real world. Pocahontas was a real Powhatan Womanliving in the early seventeenth century, she was born as Matoaka. Her life intersected with the Jamestown settlement, which the artifacts presented in the poster are associated with. In the poster I want to present the world Pocahontas lived in and the realities of that changing world. I then want to transition into the next big stage in her life, her conversion. Pocahontas converted to christianity in 1614 alongside her marriage to John Rolfe, when she became Rebecca Rolfe. This aspect of her life is glossed over in many contemporary stories surrounding her and has been used to justify native conversion in our country and abroad. This event was one of the single most important events in world history. It represents the changing of an era into a new age of colonization and imperialization, it is worth mentioning that she was not the first native convert but certainly the most famous. 91. Unveiling Barriers: The Academic Journey of Black Students at Predominantly White Institutions 1. Ashley Burks* 2. Dr. Clyde Ledbetter (Professor, African American Studies) This research, conducted by Ashley Burks, a student majoring in Psychology & African American Studies, was introduced by Dr. Clyde Ledbetter, a professor in African American Studies. It examines the unique challenges faced by Black students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). Focusing on their academic journey and experiences within the educational system, the study draws upon findings from McDougaletal.'s research and personal observations to highlight systemic barriers rooted in racism and implicit biases that hinder Black students' access to resources, representation, and support at PWIs. Through qualitative analysis, this research explores the significance of community and belonging for Black students, emphasizing the role of diverse initiatives and support systems in mitigating these challenges. The findings underscore the importance of addressing systemic inequities within PWIs to create a more inclusive and supportive educational environment for all students. 92. Doopioidreceptors play a role in ketamine’s adverse behavioral effects? 1. Kathleen Russo* 2. Sethu Lingineni 3. Sruthi Venkatesan 4. Fan Zhang (Graduate Student, Psychology) 5. Dr. Katherine Nicholson (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic and analgesic which is also approved as a rapid acting antidepressant, although the mechanism for this latter effect is not clear. In addition to its therapeutic effects, ketamine has a 41

numberofuse-limiting effects including sedation, dissociation and abuse potential. Ketamine acts on many different sites in the brain which may contribute to both its therapeutic effects and its side effects. One particular mechanismofinterest is its action on mu-opioid receptors. Ketamine weakly binds to these receptors, the same receptors at which opioid drugs such as morphine and fentanyl bind. The objective of this study was to determine if ketamine’s activity at these mu-opioid receptors contributed to the adverse effects of ketamine. Reward-related behavior was measured in chronically catheterized rats using a self-administration procedure in which lever pressing behavior was reinforced by intravenous infusions of 0.3 mg/kg ketamine. The behavioral disrupting (eg. sedation and dissociation) effects of ketamine were measured in a separate group of rats using a food-maintained operant procedure in which lever pressing behavior was reinforced by delivery of a 45-mg sucrose pellet. Once behavior was stable in each procedure, rats were pre-treated with the opioid receptor antagonist naltrexone (NTX) in an attempt to reverse the effects of ketamine in each behavior. Pretreatment with NTXhadnosignificant effect on self-administration behavior, indicating that ketamine’s reward pathway does not depend on activity at opioid receptors. Rats in the food-maintained behavior group demonstrated a dose-dependent decrease in food intake following ketamine administration, indicating behavioral disruption for food reward by ketamine, which may be due to its dissociative or sedative effects. Pretreatment with NTX did not reverse the effects of ketamine in food-maintained behavior, further suggesting that ketamine’s adverse effects are not due to mu-opioid receptor activation. 93. ThreadsofTrust:MappingBlackWomen'sPathwaystoTrustinSourcesofHealth Information 1. Tania Kendrick* 2. Ashley Turner 3. Dr. Arnethea L. Sutton (Professor, Kinesiology and Health Sciences and Massey Cancer Center) Introduction: Despite advances in medical research and healthcare, disparities persist in research participation amongtheBlackcommunity,limiting the generalizability and impact of research findings. Medical mistrust remains a contributor to this disparity; however, studies are lacking in understanding nuances of mistrust in sources that provide health or research related information. The purpose of this study was to assess Black women’strust in sources that provide healthcare or research information and to identify factors associated with their trust. Methods:Thisis a secondary analysis of a study investigating the association between social determinants of health and Black survivors' attitudes about clinical trials. Study participants were recruited from VCU Massey Comprehensive Cancer Center. Eligibility criteria included identifying as Black, 18 years of age or older, and diagnosed with breast or gynecological cancer. Following informed consent, participants completed one survey. Theoutcomesofinterest were women’s levels of trust in healthcare information from seven sources (e.g., pharmaceutical companies). Independent variables of interest included demographic and social determinants of health-related variables such as age, education, household income, racial discrimination in healthcare, and social support. SPSS assessed bivariate associations (e.g., Pearson correlations). Results: Of 124 women, the mean age was 53.24 (standard deviation = 11.1). A majority of women were unmarried (54.8%), had an annual household income of at least $50,000 (79.8%), and reported experiencing sometypeofhealthcare discrimination (64.5%). Of the seven sources, women reported the most trust in university hospitals (mean = 3.37) and the least trust in friends, family and community leaders (mean = 2.11) (range = 0 - 4). Annual household income was significantly associated with trust in people who run research studies (p = 0.021), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (p = 0.011), and family, friends and community leaders (p = 0.036). Cancer stage was significantly associated with trust in a local clinic or hospital (p = 0.042). There was a significant positive correlation between social support and trust in NIH and in university hospitals. There were no significant associations observed for pharmaceutical companies or for doctors/healthcare providers. 42

Conclusion: The findings underscore the critical role of social determinants, such as income and social support, in shaping Black women’s trust in information provided by healthcare and research entities. Future interventions are needed to inform targeted strategies for enhancing trustworthiness in healthcare and research settings and to enhance social support amongst Black women cancer survivors. 94. HowCigaretteButtLeachateaffectstheSurvival and Reproduction of Physa acuta 1. Jennoa Fleming*, 2. Dr. James Vonesh (Professor, Environmental Studies) Snails are often used as bioindicators for toxin levels in their environments due to their sensitivity to certain toxins, as well as their ability to hold toxins within their tissue. Along the James River in Richmond, Virginia, rock pools are mesocosm-like environments that hold organisms that are introduced and disturbed through flooding events. Since these rock pools are in an area with high human traffic, they come into contact with various forms of litter directly, with a common prevalence of cigarette butts. When cigarette butts are deposited in aquatic environments, their toxins leach into the water to create cigarette butt leachate (CBL). Previous studies have shown that even minimal amounts of CBL cause increased mortality and behavioral effects in aquatic organisms. Bladder snails, (Physa acuta), were chosen for this study due to their sensitivity for toxins and their high reproductive rates. This study builds upon previous research in this study system to quantify the lethal concentration of CBL for Physa snails, and how the presence of crayfish predators may affect the exposure of CBL toxicity. In the current study we looked at how a sublethal concentration of CBL affected the reproductive success of Physa snails. Specifically, we measured egg production and egg survival to hatching for adult Physa snails in CBL-free and 0.125 CBL/L treatments over two weeks. It was found that this concentration of CBL had no significant effect on snail mortality and reproduction. Future studies will expand on the range of concentrations to determine if higher concentrations have a more prominent effect. The aim of this research is to add knowledge to how the toxicity of cigarette butts affect organisms, specifically in aquatic communities. 95. KeepitSimple?Effects of Color and Age on Product Packaging 1. Saamiya Mohammed* 2. Alexander Robinson* 3. Dr. Jodie Ferguson 4. Dr. Mayoor Mohan (Professors, Marketing-School of Business) Packaging has always played a pivotal role in consumer decision-making. Specifically, the color of the visual elements within product packaging has garnered significant attention for its potential to influence consumer perceptions and behaviors. Indeed, color is believed to have emotional and psychological associations across various cultural and societal contexts—and it is within reason to assume that it can influence how individuals perceive and select products in the marketplace. This study examines the influence of packaging color and consumer age on perceptions of overall product quality. Given that product packaging is a critical factor in consumer decision-making, it is essential for marketers to understand the psychological impact of color and its interaction with demographic variables. Our research aims to identify significant differences in perceived quality between monochromatic (black and white) packaging labels versus colored packaging labels and how these perceptions vary across different age groups. Leveraging semiotics and existing literature on color psychology, we hypothesize that products with colored packaging will be perceived as higher quality than those with grayscale packaging and that this effect will be moderated by the age of the consumer, with younger and older consumers showing differing sensitivities to color used in packaging. To test these hypotheses, we will conduct a scenario-based experiment using visual stimuli representing moisturizing lotion labels in black and white, colored, and multi-color formats, with a sample of 200 adults. This research not only seeks to enrich the 43

academic dialogue on consumer behavior and marketing strategies but also provides practical insights for enhancing brand differentiation and engagement through strategic color selection in product packaging. By exploring the nuanced interplay between color preferences and age demographics, our study offers a roadmap for a more tailored and effective approach to packaging design, catering to the diverse preferences of the consumer market. 96. Theinfluence of perceived discrimination on aortic hemodynamics in young Black adults 1. Leila Griffin* 2. Jeremy Via (PhD student, Exercise Physiology), Jill Reid (PhD student, Exercise Physiology/ Professor, Biology), Summer Simulcik (PhD Student, Exercise Physiology), Zion Segars, Miranda Turley, Cole Bramble, Austin Robinson (Professor, Exercise Physiology, Indiana University), Nao Hagiwara (Professor, Psychology, University of Virginia), Arnethea Sutton (Professor, Exercise Physiology), R. Lee Franco (Professor, Exercise Physiology) Introduction: Black adults in the United States face disproportionate rates of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk factors and mortality compared to other racial or ethnic groups, possibly due to chronic stress from racial discrimination. Previous research suggests that Black adults exhibit greater aortic stiffness than white adults, but little is known about the impact of perceived racial discrimination on aortic hemodynamics in young adults. Purpose/Hypothesis: This study aimed to examine whether perceived racial discrimination is associated with adverse aortic hemodynamics in young Black adults. Methods: Eighteen Black adults aged 18-25 (n= 24, 42% female) participated in this study. Central pressure waveforms were obtained from radial artery readings, and aortic hemodynamic parameters were measured after a fasting period and rest. Participants also completed a discrimination questionnaire. Partial correlations, controlling for peak oxygen consumption (VO2 peak), were used to analyze the relationship between perceived racial discrimination and aortic hemodynamics. Results: Group-level discrimination was positively correlated with increased aortic augmentation pressure (AP), augmentation index (AIx), and AIx normalized to a heart rate of 75 bpm (AIx75), indicating greater left ventricular systolic load. However, personal-level discrimination did not show significant associations with aortic hemodynamics. Higher VO2 peak was associated with a delayed return of the reflected wave to the heart (Tr) and lower AIx75. Conclusion: These findings suggest that young Black adults experiencing higher group-level discrimination may have elevated left ventricular systolic afterload in the aorta. Further research on coping strategies and fitness effects to improve central hemodynamics in this population is warranted. 97. TheImpactofPregnancyInducedHypertensiononPost-PartumDepression 1. Krisha Patel* 2. Sylvia Rozario (Professor, Kinesiology and Health Sciences) Objectives: This literature review aims to study the link between pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and postpartum depression (PPD). Both conditions pose significant risks to maternal and newborn health, with PIH being defined as elevated blood pressure after the 20th week of pregnancy and PPD being defined as a serious mental health issue characterized by an extended period of emotional disturbance during the postpartum period. Byidentifying shared risk factors and potential relationship between PPD and PIH, this review aims to synthesize the extant literature and provide a theoretical foundation for the proposed study investigating the possible relationship between PIH and PPD. Study Design: This is a literature review consisting of 20 previously published peer-reviewed research articles. Methods:Toidentify relevant articles exploring the potential relationship between PPD and PIH, a systematic literature review search was conducted. The search was limited to articles published after the year 2000, including databases like PubMed and Google Scholar. Articles with full-text accessibility and those that have statistically significant results pertaining to PPD and PIH met the inclusion criteria. For articles released before 44

the year 2000, studies without full-text access and research without statistically significant results were among the exclusion criteria. Screening of titles and abstracts was conducted to identify eligible studies, followed by full-text review for the final section. Selected articles were reviewed, and applicable information was extracted from each primary study. Finally, the extracted information was summarized. Results: The literature review identified several risk factors associated with PIH. Maternal age greater than 35 years, being overweight or obese, a history of PIH in previous pregnancies, and pre-existing chronic hypertension were all identified as major risk factors for developing PIH in the current pregnancy. Furthermore, a family history of hypertension, lower level of education, and vitamin A deficiency have been linked to an increased risk to PIH. The average prevalence rate of PIH among women in the U.S. was determined to be 5.7%. PPD was found to be influenced by various risk factors, including a history of depression, lack of family support, previous stressful life events, and lower income. Maternal age, delivery via cesarean section, multiparity, and lower education levels were also identified as contributing factors. The average prevalence rate of PPD in the U.S. women was found to be 21.1% in this literature review. Conclusion: This literature review emphasizes how crucial it is to study how PIH and PPD are related. Given the significant impact of both conditions on maternal and neonatal health, it is important to prioritize prevention and intervention efforts. Comprehensive prenatal care, including early identification and management of PIH, is essential to optimize outcomes for both mothers and infants. Continued research into the relationship of PPD and PIH is needed to prevent the adverse effects associated with PIH and improve postpartum health for mothers and newborns and to better guide targeted interventions. 98. Describing Black Children with Internalizing Symptoms Presenting to an Integrated PrimaryCare 1. Violet Monet* 2. Jaylynn Floyd 3. CeshMaerie Cummings 4. Sydney E. Padget (PhD student, Psychology) 5. MarayaO.Clark(PhDstudent,Psychology) & Dr. Heather A. Jones (Professor, Psychology) There has been a rise in Black youth reporting internalizing problems (Clendinen & Kertes, 2022). Whenappropriate care is inaccessible to Black individuals, increased hopelessness and emotional problems occur (Woodward et al., 2013). Integrated primary care represents a viable solution to providing mental health care to underserved families. This study aims to characterize the Black youth who were referred to an integrated primary care clinic with internalizing concerns to determine who uses the clinic and what services were provided at intake. Participants included 102 Black youth presenting to a southeastern integrated primary care clinic with a primary presenting problem of depression, anxiety, stress, grief, or trauma. This study was a secondary data analysis of a larger study on outcomes from the clinic. Variables of interest for the current study were patient demographics, the services received at intake, and parent-reported youth mental health. MostBlackyouthpresenting with an internalizing concern were adolescent-aged and low-income (Mage=13.42, SDage=4.70, 73.5% on Medicaid). At intake, most youth received an introduction to services (97.1%), psychoeducation (72.5%), supportive counseling (73.5%), or a risk assessment (31.4%). On the Pediatric Symptoms Checklist-17, parents reported sub-clinical mean scores for externalizing problems (M=4.76, SD=3.42) and attention problems (M=5.53, SD=2.47), and clinical mean scores for internalizing problems (M=5.90, SD=2.54). This study describes Black youth referred to integrated care for internalizing symptoms. Most youth did not have comorbid externalizing or attention symptoms, per parental report, but many had severe enough internalizing concerns to warrant a risk assessment. The results of this study are critical for researchers to better understand the patient population of Black youth with internalizing concerns and for clinicians to better tailor interventions for this population. 45

99. Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act: A Black Mother’s Nightmare 1. Doryan Slack* 2. Dr. Sarah-Jane Brubaker (Professor, L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs) Themostessential pillar of being a parent is ensuring the safety and wellbeing of their child. Afterall, a baby is not born with an automatic understanding of life skills. As a society, we like to think that every parent believes in the ideology that our children come first. Despite this widely shared principle among parents, this is not the case for all parental guardians. Child abuse and neglect exist and for that reason, government’s create safety nets to help children who are in need of intervention. Countries like the United States spend $214 million dollars on programs like the Child Abuse Prevention Act and $34.1 billion annually on the United States foster care system (Congressional Research Services, 2023). For a conglomerate of programs and systems that gets billions poured into it annually, why is it constantly ridiculed for being vastly ineffective? How can a system that was created and promotes itself as the solution to enhance the wellbeing of children in need, was also potentially born to create the demise of an entire race of people? This paper will discuss the systemic issues within the Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act and Child Protective Services, along with their lack of effectiveness and detrimental effects on Black American families. 100. Maymont:GeospatialAnalysisofTreesinUrbanParks 1. Emily Sharp* 2. Rebecca Hoover* 3. Dr. Catherine Viverette 4. Dr. Jennifer Ciminielli (Professors, Environmental Studies) Thepurpose of this study is to collaborate with community partners to conduct a comprehensive tree inventory in urban parks to assess the ecological value and ecosystem services they provide. The Maymont Foundation has maintained a database of their woody species for many years and has teamed up with VCU Life Sciences to continue the ongoing collection and field validation necessary to create a thorough tree inventory for the park's maintenance. In addition to developing a field app, our team employs various field methods to measure key characteristics of the woody species data such as DBH, canopy cover, etc. Following rigorous quality control and field verification, we conducted a comprehensive iTree analysis, which enabled us to fully understand the trees at the MaymontFoundation. iTree is a valuable tool also used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide thorough, peer-reviewed estimates of tree benefits. The findings of this research offer Maymont a foundation of ecological data and geospatial reference highlighting the significance of the trees donated by the Dooleys and their numerous ecological and health-related benefits to the Greater Richmond Area. Given the onset of climate change and global warming, the Urban Heat Island effect can impact not only the physical health of residents but also their mental and emotional well-being. Studies and research have shown that the urban tree canopy contributes to reduced stress, improved social cohesion, decreased asthma, and lower high blood pressure, while also fostering a sense of community and enhancing urban culture. Overall, maintaining a tree inventory enables urban planners and foresters to comprehend the ecological benefits of trees moreeffectively! 46

101. ExaminingHealthRiskBehaviorsAmongAdolescentsfromImmigrantFamilies: Exploring the Moderating Role of Socio-Demographic Characteristics 1. Emily Sharp* 2. Rebecca Hoover* 3. Dr. Catherine Viverette 4. Dr. Jennifer Ciminielli (Professors, Environmental Studies) Thepurpose of this study is to collaborate with community partners to conduct a comprehensive tree inventory in urban parks to assess the ecological value and ecosystem services they provide. The Maymont Foundation has maintained a database of their woody species for many years and has teamed up with VCU Life Sciences to continue the ongoing collection and field validation necessary to create a thorough tree inventory for the park’s maintenance. In addition to developing a field app, our team employs various field methods to measure key characteristics of the woody species data such as DBH, canopy cover, etc. Following rigorous quality control and field verification, we conducted a comprehensive iTree analysis, which enabled us to fully understand the trees at the MaymontFoundation. iTree is a valuable tool also used by the U.S. Department of Agriculture to provide thorough, peer-reviewed estimates of tree benefits. The findings of this research offer Maymont a foundation of ecological data and geospatial reference highlighting the significance of the trees donated by the Dooleys and their numerous ecological and health-related benefits to the Greater Richmond Area. Given the onset of climate change and global warming, the Urban Heat Island effect can impact not only the physical health of residents but also their mental and emotional well-being. Studies and research have shown that the urban tree canopy contributes to reduced stress, improved social cohesion, decreased asthma, and lower high blood pressure, while also fostering a sense of community and enhancing urban culture. Overall, maintaining a tree inventory enables urban planners and foresters to comprehend the ecological benefits of trees moreeffectively! 102. Theeffect of schedule of reinforcement and ketamine on food maintained behavior in rats 1. Sethu Lingineni* 2. Kathleen Russo 3. Sruthi Venkatesan 4. Fan Zhang (Graduate Student, Psychology) 5. Katherine Nicholson (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Ketamine is a dissociative anesthetic approved for use as a rapid-acting antidepressant. Additionally, ketamine is being investigated as a treatment for a variety of neuropsychiatric disorders. Unfortunately, adverse effects, including sedation and abuse potential, limit its clinical use. Therefore, identifying doses that cause side effects is important. This study investigated the behavioral effects of ketamine on food-maintained operant behavior in rats. Ketamine testing was performed after we first characterized the behavioral “cost” of food pellets in our operant procedure. The goal was to determine ketamine doses that would produce behavior disruption as a measure of its sedative and dissociative effects. Male Long Evans rats were run in 1-h daily behavioral sessions using standard 2-lever operant chambers. Initially, pressing the left lever simultaneously (fixed ratio 1; FR1) delivered one 45-mg sucrose pellet. Subsequently, we determined the number of pellets earned under different FRvalues(2, 3 and 5). Tests with different doses of ketamine or saline administered before the session were done under FR5. All rats learned to press the lever reliably for food pellet delivery. As the FR increased from 1 to 5, the total numberofpellets earned decreased significantly from an average of ~110 to ~75. Ketamine administration produced a dose-dependent decrease in pellets earned with 30 mg/kg ketamine, causing a significant decrease in response. The dose of ketamine that significantly disrupted food intake was not much higher than the dose typically associated with producing anti-depressant effects in rat models (10 mg/kg). Using this procedure to measure behavioral disruption, we will test the ability of other drugs to decrease ketamine’s adverse effects in order to identify a potentially better treatment approach. 47

103. Thinking about College Reunions 1. Mazie Ammon* 2. Paige Bennard* 3. Greta Kraszula* 4. Emily Vance* 5. Dr. Jeffery Green (Professor, Psychology) Affective forecasting involves predicting one’s emotional state in future situations. Though individuals are typically good at predicting whether events in their life will be positive or negative, they tend to overestimate both the intensity and duration of these emotions. Previous research on affective forecasting has typically focused on between-subject differences, studying how people generally anticipate vs. experience dichotomous events such as getting a raise or not. This study takes a different approach by using a within-person design to explore how individuals forecast and experience emotions in a complex social setting: a reunion, where they mayunderestimate the nostalgic power of place. We conducted a survey among 267 college alumni who graduated between 1982 and 2014, examining their pre- and post-reunion expectations compared to their actual experiences. Additionally, we investigated the factors that influence reunion attendance. We expected and found that a stronger identification with the university communityasapositive college experience would predict higher levels of past reunion attendance and increased interest in future reunions. Additionally, we hypothesized that individuals with more reunion attendance would make more accurate forecasts, and that they would be less likely to overestimate positive emotions and underestimate negative emotions. While past attendance did not significantly affect emotional forecast accuracy overall, participants generally underestimated gratitude and overestimated awkwardness less with each additional reunion attended. Furthermore, participants with more past reunions attended showed increased accuracy in predicting their comfort level with talking to old friends. Lastly, we observed that anticipatory nostalgia, defined as "missing what has not yet been lost" and measured by the degree to which individuals engaged in moment-savoring behaviors at the reunion, was associated with increased feelings of self-continuity and gratitude when reflecting on reunion experiences. This effect held true even after accounting for individual differences in nostalgia proneness and concurrent feelings of nostalgia. 104. Spatio-temporal mapping of colonic motility in Irinotecan treated mice 1. Zayd Rehman* 2. Hekmat Salloum 3. Stanley Cheatham. 4. Dr. Hamid. I Akbarali (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Irinotecan, a topoisomerase I inhibitor, is a widely used chemotherapeutic agent. However the gastrointestinal side effects, such as diarrhea and mucositis can be severe and dose limiting. Diarrhea produced by irinotecan treatment may present as either secretory or motility driven. Changes in intestinal tissue contractility can impact digestive function, and nutrient absorption, and contribute to gastrointestinal disorders. In order to investigate whether irinotecan induced diarrhea was motility driven in nature, male ICR mice were subjected to daily injections of irinotecan (75 mg/kg, i.p.) for four consecutive days, followed by a two-day observation period. Themotility of their colons was tested by using the Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM), a system that records colonic migrating motor complexes (CMMCs) peristalsis in tissues through spatial-temporal graphs. Colons from irinotecan and vehicle-treated ICR mice were dissected, cleansed, filled with Krebs solution, and placed in a perfusion chamber. Baseline video recordings were obtained in the presence of Krebs for 30 minutes. Following the baseline recordings, tissues were perfused with 1μM acetylcholine and contractile responses were recorded by video. Spatio-temporal maps were generated using GIMM software and CMMCs were determined as complete contractions from proximal to distal end. Preliminary findings suggest that acetylcholine significantly enhances CMMCs in both irinotecan and vehicle-treated colonic tissues. 48

105. EverydayDiscrimination, Subjective Well-being, Mental Health Engagement, and Trust in Institutions: Associations for Black Emerging Adults 1. Sosna Marshet* 2. Dr. Shawn Jones (Professor, Psychology) Recent research (e.g., English et al., 2020) has demonstrated the deleterious impact that daily experiences with racial discrimination has on the mental health of Black adolescents and emerging adults. At the same time, these sameexperiences may discourage Black youth from seeking mental health services. Additionally, racism in its multiple forms, including in the midst of the syndemic that includes COVID-19 and racial reckonings (e.g., Chaeetal., 2021) has the potential to erode the goodwill that these Black young people have in institutions ostensibly meant to hold their best interests. Considering the potential interrelationships among these factors, the current study sought to investigate the potential associations that everyday experiences of racism have with subjective well-being, mental health engagement, and trust in institutions. Data come from a larger study examining the relationship between multiple experiences with racism and their impact on mental health. The analytic sample included 200 Black/African American respondents aged 18 to 25 (73.5% female, 23% male, 3.5%transgender or non-identified). Everyday experiences of racism were measured using Williams et al.’s (1997) Everyday Discrimination Scale, while subjective well-being was measured using Kessler et al.’s (2002) Psychological Distress Scale. Lastly, trust in multiple institutions was measured using items from the Pew Research Center. Results of zero-order bivariate Pearson correlations revealed significant associations among the study variables. Specifically, we found a significant negative correlation between everyday racism and subjective well-being r(171) = -.38 , p < .001. As for mental health engagement, everyday racism was significantly negatively correlated to the seeking professional help for their emotional problem r(162) = -.20, p =.011, and positively correlated to the belief that those who do not get professional help get better without it r(169) = -.23, p = .003. Additionally, everyday racism was negatively correlated with trust in institutions (i.e., federal and local government and law enforcement) to do the right thing r(169) = -.16, p = .042 as well as trust in institutions to provide accurate child vaccine information r(169) = -.15, p = .049. These findings highlight the necessity for continued efforts to address racism and its influence on the mental well-being of Black emerging adults, ensuring accessible and desired mental health services. 106. Developing a Food Safety Inspection Plan for a Mutual Aid Community Fridge Project in aCollege Setting 1. Sara Spence 2. Karli Kubrik 3. Dr. John Jones (Professor, Environmental Studies) With the growing popularity of community fridges as a sustainable solution to food insecurity and waste, ensuring the safety of stored food becomes paramount. This research investigates food safety within campus communityfridges. These fridges are to be placed on Virginia Commonwealth University’s (VCU) Monroe Park Campus (MPC) under the directive of the Little Ram Pantry (LRP) that are currently in place. The LRP works to mitigate food insecurity on campus through canned and dry goods. The development of this system aims to identify potential risks, develop effective mitigation strategies, and promote awareness. It will act as an extension of the LRP program with refrigerated goods. In creating this data collection plan, resources from the organizations ServSafe and Feed More were utilized. This research used a quantitative data collection process to ensure best food safety practices for this pilot intervention. The quantitative analysis involves monitoring temperature fluctuations, examining storage conditions, and evaluating the food products. This research developed the beginnings of comprehensive guidelines to enhance food safety practices within campus communityfridges initiative. Practical testing during the 2024-2025 school year will provide an opportunity for revision and improvement. That more refined approach can aid in exploring the importance of responsibility 49

and awareness in this realm of study. This research contributes to the success of community fridges as a positive force for safely reducing food waste and promoting food security within educational institutions and beyond. 107. Colonial Cocktails — 18th-Century Drinking Culture in Colonial America 1. Kieran Snavely 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Theprofound intertwinement between humans and spirituous beverages extends far back into millennia, designating itself today as the most widely consumed psychoactive agent worldwide and a fundamental form of embodied material culture from various economic, political, and cultural perspectives. 18th-century Colonial America presents an intriguing case on the role of alcohol within a society. An exploration of the dynamics surrounding alcohol consumption within 18th-century Colonial America presents a multifaceted study of the complex interplay between alcohol consumption and sociocultural norms, economic factors, and political endeavors. By 1790, the average annual consumption of ethanol per drinking-age individual amounted to approximately twenty-two liters, more than double the per capita consumption of ethanol at 8.52 liters in 2021, as indicated within a series of annual reports produced by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). This research project aspires to investigate the conditions and cultural context of Colonial America contributing to this stark disparity of alcohol consumption, examining the role of alcohol within colonial society in comparison to alcohol’s enduring influence on the present day. 108. ReshapingBiocompatible Electronics: Development of Flexible, Stretchable E-Skins through Advanced Additive Manufacturing and Finite Element Analysis 1. Daniel Rhoades* 2. Phillip Glass 3. Andy Shar 4. Dr. Daeha Joung (Professor, Physics) In this study, we address the critical challenges of biocompatibility and flexibility in conventional electronics by developing flexible, stretchable topical biomedical devices, known as e-skins. Our approach deviates from traditional rigid electronics, utilizing a custom Gantry-based 3D printer and novel substrates to craft devices that transcend the limitations of standard printed circuit board (PCB) manufacturing. Discrete surface mount components often face delamination issues in flexible electronics; however, our lab's innovative use of materials and extrusion-based additive manufacturing techniques allows for the exploration of unique designs and material applications. Significantly, we have formulated a conductive, stretchable composite material comprising silicone and carbon nanotubes, enhancing device flexibility and stretchability. This advancement, combined with finite element analysis (FEA) simulations, enables meticulous structural and behavioral predictions, reducing reliance on physical prototypes. FEA's ability to dissect complex structures into manageable segments has proven invaluable in assessing variables such as board thickness, topology, and material properties like Young’s Modulusandviscosity. Ourfindings indicate that a board thickness of 1mm, when synergized with optimal topology and Young’s Modulus, best balances device strength and unobtrusiveness. A mesh topology, in particular, promotes flexibility and movement, reducing stress on connection points and mitigating delamination risks. This research signifies a shift in electronics design, introducing a rapid, customizable method for producing biocompatible, flexible circuit boards, ultimately advancing the practical applications of e-skins and flexible electronics. 50

109. TheEffect of Income on Healthcare 1. Marcus Wilson* 2. Dr. Tara Stamm (Professor, Sociology) Income inequality and access to healthcare are major social concerns that affect both individual well-being and society cohesiveness. Using data from the Survey of Household Finances and Health, this study will investigate the link between income inequality and access to healthcare services in 1,000 homes from various socioeconomic backgrounds. The Gini coefficient is used to quantify income inequality, whereas access to healthcare is examined using variables such as health insurance coverage, frequency of healthcare visits, and use of preventative treatments. The statistical research, performed using SPSS, included correlation analysis to investigate the relationship between income inequality and healthcare access while adjusting for demographic and socioeconomic variables. The results show a substantial negative association between income disparity and healthcare access, implying that greater levels of income inequality are associated with reduced access to healthcare services among individuals in lower socioeconomic strata. These results underscore the importance of addressing income disparities as a crucial determinant of equitable healthcare access and advocate for policy interventions aimed at reducing income inequality to improve health outcomes and promote social justice in our society.. Research consistently shows that lower income individuals face greater challenges in accessing quality healthcare services, leading to poorer health outcomes. Limited income restricts access to health insurance, preventive care, and timely treatments, exacerbating health disparities. Furthermore, socioeconomic factors like education level and neighborhood environment influence health behaviors and exposure to health risks. This creates a cycle where low-income individuals are more likely to experience chronic diseases, mental health issues, and shorter lifespans. Addressing income inequality alone is insufficient; systemic changes are needed to ensure equitable access to healthcare services and address the root causes of health disparities. Scientific inquiry into these issues informs policies and interventions aimed at reducing healthcare inequality and promoting better health outcomes for all socioeconomic groups. 110. Evaluation of seeding and culture protocols on the proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells on electrospun PCL scaffolds 1. Alina Zaidi *, 2. Carlos Blank (PhD student, Mechanical Engineering), 3. Dr. Joao Soares (Professor, Department Mechanical and Nuclear Engineering) Introduction: Engineered Tissue Vascular Grafts (ETVGs) with robust engineered tissue in their luminal surface could help induce the recruitment of endothelial cells and facilitate their integration with host tissue. Recreating an environment that ensures proper nutrient transfer for cell proliferation has been a challenge in the development of ETVGs with static seeding methods. To understand how vascular smooth cell seeding affects tissue formation in electrospun PCL scaffolds, we have investigated how several parameters of our seeding and dynamically stimulated culture protocols affect cell viability, growth, and their integration through the thickness of the scaffolds over several periods of culture time. Methods:Samplesofscaffolds made of electrospun PCL were seeded with rat vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC)andsplitinto two groups (static and dynamic) to investigate the effect of mechanical stimulation during cell culture. Scaffolds of the dynamic group were cultured with the CellScale MCT6 bioreactor and subjected to cyclic uniaxial stretch. Simultaneously, the static group was seeded with VSMC and incubated for the same period of days without mechanical stimulation. Following the collection of dynamic and static samples after 3, 7, and 14 days, cell proliferation was assessed with image-based methods of scanning electron microscopy, histology, and immunofluorescence procedures. Results: Results from initial testing of cell proliferation on PCL scaffolds demonstrated positive growth initially with cell penetration into the scaffold, however, cell growth into the scaffold would decrease with increasing incubation periods (7 and 14 days). Greater fragmentation of the cell layer and changes in expression of α-SMA 51

from IF analysis validate this reduction in cell proliferation on the scaffolds over time. Furthermore, we observed changes in cell-layer fragmentation and penetration over greater periods of stretch compared to static samples lacking MCT6’s mechanical stretch. Conclusion: Dynamic stretch during culture promoted increased cell proliferation in the engineered tissue constructs. Efficient seeding and culture protocols employed on scaffolds with and without mechanical stretch provide insights that can be translated into our ongoing experiments with tubular scaffolds for ETVGs. Future workincludes continuing dynamic and static group experimentation to obtain additional data on differences in cell behavior during culture in environments with dynamic stimuli. 111. Characterization of Guinea Pig Cytomegalovirus Protein GP99 Expression Kinetics, Localization, and Destabilization by Fusion to a Protein Destabilization Domain 1. Rhea Tammireddi* 2. Dr. Michael McVoy (Professor, Pediatrics) Humancytomegalovirus (HCMV)isadouble-stranded DNAvirus that is a member of the Herpesviridae family. This infectious virus presents a major concern for immunocompromised patients, transplant patients, and neonates infected vertically by their mothers. Currently, there are no available vaccines against HCMV. However, guinea pig cytomegalovirus (GPCMV) contains a similar genome to HCMV and provides a useful animal model for understanding the pathogenesis of the virus. To determine a potential vaccine, it is necessary to identify different genes within the genome that could potentially modulate viral growth. This study focused on GP99, a GPCMV-encoded protein that is thought to possess similar characteristics to its human homolog, including late kinetics of gene expression and restricted localization to the virion assembly compartment (VAC), a large perinuclear organelle formed of remodeled Golgi where the final stages of HCMV virion morphogenesis occur. This study modified the GPCMV virus to encode GP99 with a destabilization domain (GP99-DD) that is thought to inhibit viral growth. Growth curves, titrations, and western blots characterized GP99-DD as a virus that inhibits growth. However, when the virus was treated with Shield-1, a molecule that stabilizes the destabilization domain, GP99-DD viral growth increased. Similarly, viral cultures treated with Shield-1 and HPMPC,aDNApolymeraseinhibitor,virtually inhibited the GP99-DD virus, confirming that GP99 has late gene expressions like its human homolog. 112. Spatio-temporal recordings of the mouse pyloric sphincter 1. Sofia Haider* 2. Zayd Rehman* 3. Dr. Karan H. Muchhala (Postdoctoral Fellow) 4. Dr. Hamid. I Akbarali (Professor, Pharmacology and Toxicology) Thebasal contraction properties of the pyloric sphincter are important for maintaining gastric emptying. In this study, we used spatio-temporal mapping to evaluate contractile responses to the cholinergic agonist, carbachol on the pyloric sphincter. Mice were euthanized and the stomach and duodenum were dissected as one piece, cleansed with Krebs solution, and placed in a video recording chamber. Muscle contractility was measured via a video of a transilluminated stomach-pyloric sphincter-duodenum preparation using the Gastrointestinal Motility Monitor (GIMM). Video recordings were conducted in 10 min bins and spatio-temporal maps were generated by GIMMsoftware.Perfusion with carbachol (1 mM) resulted in significant contractions that propagated through the stomach. However, contractions were not observed in the pyloric sphincter but peristaltic contractions were observed in the duodenum. The relaxant agent, sodium nitroprusside (1 uM) did not affect basal tone in either the stomach, pyloric sphincter, or duodenum. While the experiment provided insights into gastrointestinal motility, particularly in response to pharmacological stimuli, further investigations, such as evaluating pressure changes within the sphincter region, 52

are warranted to fully understand the dynamics of pyloric sphincter function and its potential modulation by different agents. 113. GroundStoneToolsandFoodProcessing 1. Nargis Abdul-Aziz 2. Dr. Bernard Means. (Professor, Anthropology) Groundstone tools are an often neglected artifact in archeology. Therefore, I thought analyzing them further could lead to some interesting things. My research topic is examining how groundstone tools were used in food processing. As well as looking at the specifics of the material of the groundstone tool and if specific stone materials were preferred for processing specific foods. Food processing with ground tools marked a significant advancement in lithic technology. It represented a shift from simple stone tools to ones made for specific tasks. Theposter will also discuss my proposed methodology for residue analysis on the tools to see what was processed in them, and the material of the stone. This analysis will help me make a potential connection between the raw materials and the processed foods. In addition, this research will overall form a connection between lithic technology and food processing to give us more insight into what went on in the past. 114. TheFightforFarmlandintheCanaryIslands,Spain 1. Taylor Michaels* 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) There are walls and structures built from rocks all across the Canary Islands, Spain. The walls were used specifically for pastoral and agricultural farming. Mapping the walls can also lead to how the towns were built. TheCanaryIslands were colonized by Spain in the late 1400s. Farming on these islands have been led by what was leading the Spanish economy. Many of its exports have included wine and cochineal dye. However, pastoral and agricultural farming have historically created the bulk of the land management. The islands are created from underwater volcanoes, so a lot of the soil is not great for farming. Finding out where pastoral and agricultural farming was most prevalent on the islands can attest to how humans adapt their landscape in harsh and seemingly impossible conditions. These areas are indicated by where walls created from rocks are most prevalent. The walls form different pathways, enclosures, and terraces. The walls have also been expanded on over time. Some walls may abut another wall, be continuous in its path, or intertwine with another wall. By mapping the walls, it can show how people expanded their societies and changed their landscape to adapt to new needs. 115. Investigating the effects of pneumolysin on Naegleria fowleri viability 1. Gibson Archer-Tang* 2. Dr. Melissa Jamerson (Professor, Medical Laboratory Sciences) Objective: Naegleria fowleri are free-living pathogenic amoebae that cause primary amebic encephalitis (PAM), a rapidly fatal disease of the central nervous system with an extremely high mortality rate of 97% (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, n.d.).The current treatment includes amphotericin B, rifampin, fluconazole, miltefosine, dexamethasone, and azithromycin (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 2022), however even when these drugs are given early on in the infection treatment is often ineffective. Due to the high mortality rate and the current lack of effective treatments, finding factors that affect the viability of N. fowleri is essential for investigating ways to improve the outcomes for patients that develop PAM. Methods:TheN.fowleri(ATCC30894)strainwasgrownat37°CinOxoidmediuminaT75tissueculture flask. Amoeba were removed from the tissue culture flask, then counted via a hemocytometer before being plated in a 96 well plate. Each well contained 1 x 10 4 amoeba/100uL. The epithelial control cells were also 53

counted via hemocytometer and plated in a 96 well plate. Each well contained 1 x 10 4 epithelial cells/100uL. After plating 2ug, 4ug, and 8ug of pneumolysin was added to 1 row of wells and incubated for 24 hours, before assessing viability. Viability assays were run in quadruplicate and occurred once every three days for eight weeks. After the incubation period, methylene blue was added to both the control and test groups, before observing for any change in color. Methylene blue stains dead cells, allowing for visualization of the percent dead of amoeba. Four fields were looked at and the percent amoeba dead were averaged from all fields viewed (16 fields total per concentration). After three weeks of the study, the minimum concentration of pneumolysin wasincreased to 4ug, while the maximum concentration of pneumolysin was increased to 16ug, as no decrease in amoeba viability was observed in any viability assay. Results: The assays ran revealed that Naegleria fowleri appears to have no susceptibility to pneumolysin. This indicates that a different virulence factor of Streptococcus pneumoniae is responsible for the susceptibility of naegleria fowleri when the two are incubated together. However, the control epithelial cells when incubated with the pneumolysin only resulted in 40% cell death, indicating the pneumolysin may not have been fully activated. Reasons for this may have been Improper storage during transportation, inactivation due to the incubation temperature, and inactivation due to bacterial contamination. Conclusions: While nothing definitive can be drawn since the pneumolysin was inactivated, it's unlikely that pneumolysin is a contributing factor to Naegleria fowleri’s increased cell death when incubated with Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, further investigation is warranted as the control cells demonstrated that the pneumolysin wasn't working properly. 116. TheimpactsofCOVID19ondruguseamongapopulationofincarceratedpersons 1. Arial Alston 2. Maya Kertache 3. Dr. Amy K Cook (Professor, Criminal Justice) 4. Dr. Nancy A Morris (Professor, Criminal Justice) TheCOVID19pandemicwasanunexpectedcrisisformanyandledtoastayathomeorderthatforcedmany into quarantine in order to prevent the spread of the deadly virus. Factors such as limited access to support services, increased stressors, and disruptions in social networks have contributed to heightened substance use amongvulnerable populations. Potentially, this led to an increase in drug overdoses in populations that already needed help with their drug use. Using a cross-sectional study of 77 incarcerated individuals, our research examines the impact of self-reported data regarding the impact of COVID on drug use and drug overdose. Our analyses will include descriptive statistics examining drug use and drug overdose. We conclude with policy recommendations. 117. Technology and Humanity: Exploring World War I Weapons Through an Archaeological andAnthropological Lense 1. Maxwell Thompson 2. Dr. Bernard Means (Professor, Anthropology) Themainfocusofthisresearch topic is to talk about the World War I weapons that were used in WWI that were then banned due to their severity. WWI not only caused mass destruction and deaths, but it is also one of the biggest culture changing events for everyone around the world. WWI was the catalyst for many changing dynamics all around the world, the collapse of empires, advancements in technology, and significant cultural change globally. This study’s goal is to investigate the findings of these weapons that have been recovered, and use these to provide valuable insights into how the world changed post WWI, and how the experience of warfare had such a massive impact on society culturally. 54

118. TheTypesofDrugsUsedandMethodsofDrugIngestionAmongInmates 1. Morgan Long* 2. Brianna Cordova* 3. Payton Woodson* 4. Amy Cook (Professor, Criminal Justice) In the United States, drug use affects 70.3 million individuals per year (SAMHSA, 2022). Notably, an estimated 58%ofincarcerated adults meet the criteria to have a substance use disorder (SAMHSA, 2022). According to the CDC, the number of reported fatal overdoses for 2023 was 105,303. Using a sample of 77 incarcerated persons enrolled in a substance use treatment program at a local jail, our study aims to identify drug use patterns and ingestion methods among inmates prior to incarceration. We conclude with recommendations for policymakers to develop interventions to address substance misuse, prevent overdose, and identify the substances leading to fatal overdose. 119. Representation of Black Girls in the Media and how it relates to mental health and their treatment in society 1. Sanaa Banks (Interdisciplinary Studies with a focus on Sports & Health Management) 2. Dr. Grace D. Gipson (Professor, African American Studies) Former First Lady Michelle Obama once said, “Women and girls can do whatever they want. There is no limit to what we as women can accomplish.” This research dissects the correlation between media representation of Black girls and women and its negative and positive impacts on mental health outcomes. Using an intersectional approach, this study expands on multiple ways in which the media perpetuates harmful stereotypes and tropes of Black women and girls. This is done by highlighting the effects of misrepresentation in media and how it amplifies negative mental health repercussions. Some of these outcomes include low self-esteem, heightened anxiety, and the internalization of biases. Furthermore, the study emphasizes the importance of cultivating inclusive narratives that authentically portray the many lived experiences and accomplishments of Black girls and women. Overall, this project’s goal is to advocate for the creation of more spaces that take the initiative of breaking societal barriers, while expanding opportunities for Black girls and women. By breaking the many limiting perceptions and implementing a space of empowerment, Black girls are motivated to pursue fields and enter spaces traditionally inaccessible to them. With these changes to be more inclusive, companies can benefit from the unique perspectives and talents of Black women to strive for innovation. In conclusion, this research proposes the importances of integrating these insights into diversity and inclusion, and why we must create spaces that celebrate and amplify the voices of Black girls and women to encourage a culture of belonging and equity. Ultimately, this research seeks to push forth better mental health outcomes, while advancing societal progress that is a more inclusive and equitable future for our Black youth. 120. ModelingSynergistic Effects of Integrin and TGF-β Signaling 1. Oscar Muendel* 2. Eric Millin (Professor, Kinetic Imaging) For millennia, artists have made their mark by entering chaotic unknowns and presenting the resultant scars as images or sound. Through story, performance, or otherwise, humans order the world around them to better understand its uncertainty. Casar’s Fanasty is a story that’s creation is the subject of this project, both the art, and the artist, Oscar Muendel. Creation, and to an extent reflection and thought, are humanity’s curse; it all boils down to our primal need to hold on to that which no longer exists in order to pretend that we do. Creation, the Human Condition, and Casar’s Fanasty explores observation, reflection, existence, and art to 55

uncover why is it that humans create, and examines the resulting art piece, Casar’s Fanasty, and how its content relates to its creation. 56