Political scientists have hypothesized that empathy can be a key tool towards reducing affective polarization by encouraging cross-party understanding, but studies have shown that empathy can intensify both positive or negative emotions towards political out-groups. I propose that diversity of news readership nuances the power of empathy to reduce overall affective polarization. However, my regression suggests that the interaction between empathy and news readership actually increases affective polarization.

Endocannabinoids regulate negative feedback neurotransmitters in PTSD fear-memory; whether phytocannabinoids modulate fear-memory is unconfirmed. We hypothesize Cannabis extracts containing the phytocannabiniod Cannabidiol reduce long-term fear-memory in mouse models and phytomolecules like cannabigerol, terpenes, and delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol improve Cannabidiol efficacy through “entourage” effects. Findings suggest specific phytomolecule interactions are critical for entourage effects to Cannabidiol reducing fear-memory. High terpene content was not beneficial. Phytocannabinoids may be potential PTSD treatment options but more studies are necessary.

The CD36 scavenger receptor is overexpressed in some cancers, but how this impacts tumor cell functions is not well understood. This project aims to explore how CD36 influences epithelial to mesenchymal transition and associated metastasis markers. Using a doxycycline-inducible system for overexpression of CD36 and examination of multiple markers of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition, we show that CD36 increases key markers of a mesenchymal phenotype.

Increased expression of the CD36 scavenger receptor has been correlated with poor prognosis in breast cancer patients, but the role of CD36 in cancer progression is not well understood. Using a doxycycline-inducible overexpression system, we find that CD36 promotes breast cancer cell migration and hallmarks of epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), which could enhance cancer metastasis. These findings suggest that CD36 overexpression enhances aggressive cancer cell features and could contribute to metastasis.

Microtubules are essential for long-distance transport in neurons. Local microtubule production by nucleation particularly concentrates at dendritic branch points. To investigate why nucleation machinery concentrates at branch points, we used an RNAi knockdown approach to knock down nervous wreck (Nwk), a membrane curvature-recognizing protein, from Drosophila neurons. Nervous wreck knockdown showed no significant concentration change in clathrin nor gamma-tubulin, two proteins involved in nucleation, suggesting that nervous wreck is not essential for either protein’s localization.

It is unknown how alterations in the binding region of a UTR affect the protein expression regulated by an sRNA. The marine bacterium V. fischeri is a squid symbiont capable of producing bioluminescence. The current hypothesis is that differences in the litR sRNA-UTR complex result in different binding affinity for the regulatory protein Qrr1, resulting in varying bioluminescence between strains. Investigating the effect of UTR alterations will lead to increased knowledge in post-transcriptional protein regulation.

College student drinking impacts academic success and planning. Positive self-efficacy has been associated with less negative drinking outcomes. Longitudinal associations were examined between self-efficacy, drinking, and academic consequences among college students during their first two semesters (N=2024; M(SD)age=18.18(.39); 56% female). First semester self-efficacy was associated with significantly less second semester drinking and academic consequences (p < .05). Drinking interventions that emphasize self-efficacy could reduce risky drinking behaviors and increase academic success among college students.

Programmed Cell Death-1 (PD-1) blockade inhibits the interaction between PD-1 and its receptors PD-L1/L2. PD-L1 blockade fails to address the engagement between PD-L2 and PD-1. Bispecific antibodies (BsAbs) provide dual ligand specificity, allowing blockade of PDL1/2. I compared the efficacy and specificity of BsAbs with clinical anti-PD-L1 antibodies, and their in vivo efficacy. PD-L1/L2 BsAbs promote ADCC activity against target cells expressing PDL1/2.  BsAbs possess higher in vivo efficacy in a mouse colon cancer model.

Research indicates that parents are crucial in influencing their teens’ drinking habits. A parent handbook was adapted into a phone application for high school students’ parents. The study examined preliminary engagement with the application among a national sample of parents (N=193, Mage=45.26; 116 female). Results indicate 67% of parents accessed the intervention and on average 57% interacted with different components of the application. Findings have implications for adapting online drinking parent-based interventions.

College student alcohol consumption is a major public health concern. Hispanic students have unique predictors of alcohol use due to different cultural environments. A scoping review of Hispanic college student drinking was conducted. Articles that met inclusion criteria (N=56) were synthesized with respect to unique predictors (e.g., acculturation, family, peer) and sex/ethnic differences. The review clarified drinking patterns that are unique to Hispanic students. Results will help inform future research and culturally tailored drinking interventions.  

This study examined whether there would be students who differ in frequency of media multitasking between preferred and non-preferred classes, and if any of these students differed in levels of trait impulsiveness and delay discounting. Students were compared on their freuqencies of media multitasking in preferred and non-preferred classes, delay discounting tasks, and trait impulsivity measures. Results suggests devaluation of future rewards is an underlying mechanism for resisting media multitasking in the classroom.

Targeted therapies offer dramatic improvements in progression free survival (PFS) for some patients. However, most patients eventually fail targeted therapy due to the emergence of drug resistance. The major genetic mechanisms of this acquired resistance are point mutations and copy number amplifications of the target gene, or amplifications of a potent, off-target oncogene that bypasses the target oncogene. Using physical parameters acquired in previous studies, our simulation shows a tradeoff between these evolutionary trajectories.

This mixed-method study explored what coping strategies older adults used during the pandemic and if they experience loneliness and social isolation. The sample included 49 older adults. The quantitative portion consisted of online surveys. The qualitative consisted of semi-structured interviews. In my poster I will present the main results from both sections. The findings highlight how resilient older adults were in coping with social distance and Covid-19 preventive measures.

Biofilm is a viscous film formed by bacteria composed of an extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) that attaches to surfaces. Bacteria communicate through quorum sensing, which creates adaptability. EPS contains enzymes that allow biofilm to be used in bioremediation. Atrazine is a harmful herbicide that was used nationally in the 1980’s. Pseudomas sp. strain ADP has been discovered to degrade atrazine. Studying biofilm behavior in changing conditions is important to furthering research on it’s bioremediation use.

The purpose of this study was to explore gender/racial differences in various health behaviors and health outcomes in college students, before and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants self-reported demographics, various health behaviors, and health outcomes. Multiple independent sample t-tests were used to understand the differences of these behaviors/outcomes by gender (male/female) and race/ethnicity (white/non-white). Results suggested that there were significant differences among demographics and behaviors/outcomes. University health officials should tailor health interventions to demographics.

Prior research has not adequately identified variations in nostalgia valence across cultures. In my study, I will recruit participants from collectivistic and individualistic cultures, create a baseline condition, and follow it with an experimental condition in which they write about a nostalgia experience, and rate their emotions along two unipolar valence dimensions using the Evaluative Space Model. My expected findings include a higher negative valence when experiencing nostalgia in collectivistic cultures compared to individualistic cultures.

Various health behaviors have been shown to influence productivity. The purpose of this study was to investigate what health behaviors predicted productivity amongst diverse students. Students self-reported demographics, physical activity, sleep, alcohol consumption, and academic productivity. Linear regression models were utilized to identify significant predictors of productivity. Results suggested that various health behaviors significantly (p<0.05) predicted academic productivity differently among demographics. University health behavior interventions should be tailored towards specific demographics populations.

The existing literature on rural-urban migration focuses on economic factors and migrant populations residing in urban areas. While the non-economic determinants and the rural end are paid with limited attention. This qualitative research conducted in Jincheng Village, Jiangsu Province, China aims to fill this literature gap by interviewing "left-behind" rural households who choose not to migrate out. This research reveals the important roles of sociocultural and environmental factors in rural-urban migration decision-making.

The College of Earth and Mineral Sciences (EMS) offered an abridged version of our pre-semester program, Total Engagement with Earth and Mineral Sciences (TEEMS), for EMS students who matriculated SU2020-SP2021. This entering cohort was offered a virtual program in August 2020 and then invited to a one-day, in-person event (TEEMS 2.0) in fall 2021. Program assessment revealed ways TEEMS 2.0 could be improved along with areas for further study related to the TEEMS program.

We measured empathy and anxiety levels in relation to prosocial behaviors involving COVID-19, such as masking and distancing. We expected that participants with higher empathy and stress/anxiety levels will be more likely adhere to COVID-19 protocols of masking and distancing. In addition, participants who have had COVID-19 and/or who have loved ones who have had it will report higher prosocial behaviors and increased levels of memory loss and stress/anxiety levels.  

The Inuit of Canada's Nunavut Territory experience significant barriers to healthy food accessibility at rates far above the national average. This is attributed to loss of cultural knowledge, limited economic opportunities, and a harsh climate that is undergoing changes. Fortunately, there are many opportunities for development that promote Inuit culture, sustainable economic growth and reduced dependence on southern imports.

The present study examines how Dutch native language listeners (L1) with English as their second language (L2) comprehend English sentences produced in Dutch-accented English, Southern-American English, Chinese-accented English, and unmarked American English. These sentences were presented in noisy and in quiet conditions, as previous studies suggest that noisy environments can exacerbate one’s difficulty in comprehending unfamiliar accents. So far, 25 Dutch-English bilingual listeners have completed the experiment, and findings will be available shortly and presented.

This randomized pre-test and post-test control group study investigates the impact of social media use on severity of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

4 participants assessed severity of OCD and reduced time (experimental group only) spent on social media for 14 days.

Analyzing with a paired-samples T test; Preliminary results suggest that social media use does not have an impact on symptoms of OCD. The findings can be used to manage social media use and OCD symptoms.

PIP5K is a critical enzyme that is involved in the generation of PIP2 – a component critical to HGF-stimulated epithelial cell migration and integrin recycling. The PIP5K gene has various isozymes that include PIP5KA, PIP5KB, and PIP5KC. In hopes of determining which of these isozymes is most responsible for the synthesis of PIP2 during migration, I performed a series of gene knockouts and assays and tested the impact on integrin recycling and cellular migration.