Digital Commons Network^™

Primary Care Physician Trust: The Importance Of Early Medical Intervention For African American Children With Asthma, Harrish Ganesh

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Asthma is a prevalent condition characterized by an individual’s airway becoming inflamed, constricted, and leads to the formation of mucus and difficulty breathing. Nearly 27 million individuals are currently diagnosed with Asthma in the United States, and African Americans are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with asthma than Caucasians. This literature review analyzed multifaceted barriers that restrict African American asthmatic children from gaining consistent asthma treatment. Some of these barriers range from historical racial discrimination that leads to parental mistrust to financial and educational barriers that result in inconsistent pediatric care for asthmatic children. The combination of the above …

Collaborative Leadership For Research Investigating Stem Teacher Preparation Across Many Institutions, Dana P. Franz, Keith Hubbard, Devon Brenner

Journal of Mathematics and Science: Collaborative Explorations

This paper describes the creation of a collaborative research team investigating the impacts of education preparation on the recruitment and retention of science and mathematics teacher candidates in rural settings. Our collaborative research includes a core leadership team across 3 institutions and with collaboration across 14 total universities. We discuss the process from the inception through year two of this program, including the structure of leadership, communication techniques with the large group, and efforts to translate this research into scalable action. Using a framework for transdisciplinary research (Hall et al., 2012), we describe the processes and challenges that we encountered …

Green Tea Mouthwash And The Prevention Of Porphyromonas Gingivalis: Reducing The Risk Of Developing Alzheimer's Disease, Kaeli Luong

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Alzheimer’s disease causes 10% of all deaths in the United States, while severe periodontitis affects 10% of the population worldwide. Although seemingly unrelated, researchers exploring the connection between the two suggest that oral hygiene is necessary to decrease periodontitis that could possibly lead to Alzheimer’s disease. A notable oral pathogen, Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), has been identified in the connection between Alzheimer’s and periodontitis. In this study, green tea mouthwash is being analyzed to find out if the mouthwash can reduce the periodontitis mechanisms of P. gingivalis to reduce the risk of developing Alzheimer’s. Green tea mouthwash contains the catechins, …

Trauma In Weird Literature: Weird Experiences And Neuropsychiatric Conditions, Mijin Cho

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

This study aims to explore the element of trauma or shock in weird fiction using H. P. Lovecraft’s “The Colour out of Space” as the focal text. I am interested in the cognitive estrangement and body disfigurement following encounters with the weird, which in this case would be the meteorite’s Colour, on the characters experiencing it in the story, including the Gardners and Ammi. The goal is to investigate our reactions to being pushed past our thresholds as human beings using analysis of characters, diction, and rhetoric in weird fiction stories and non-fiction patient narratives to better understand how weird …

A Three-Dimensional In Vitro Model Of Disease That Improves Preclinical Research By Incorporating Genetic Diversity And Increasing Physiological Accuracy, Akash Jagdeesh

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Biomedical research is essential for the discovery of new medications and treatments, and is built upon the cooperation of preclinical (in vitro/vivo) research and clinical trials. However, 85% of treatments successful in vitro/vivo fail in clinical trials, suggesting that in vitro models are poor indicators of clinical success. The issue lies in conventional “two-dimensional” in vitro models containing genetically identical cells grown on a flat plate, which lack the variety of cell types and cooperation/structure found in real tissue. Moreover, 2D in vitro models do not simulate humans’ genotypic variability, which affects both pathophysiology and treatment effectiveness. In contrast, 3D …

Catecholamine Signaling In Ca1 Correlates With Novelty, Movement, And Sleep State, Meenakshi Kakani

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA) signaling in the hippocampus are important for normal learning and memory. Genetically-encoded fluorescent indicators of catecholamine binding allow for imaging real-time neurotransmitter dynamics. Previous microdialysis studies have found an increase in hippocampal catecholamines in response to novel environmental exposure or exercise. Since animals move in response to contextual novelty, it is unknown whether the changes in transmitter release are due to novelty or other changes in behavior or arousal. Outside of the hippocampus, arousal, novelty detection, reward, and sleep state are all related to catecholamine signaling. In this study, we use the fluorescent indicators GRAB-DA …

Improving Medication-Enhanced Psychotherapy Options For Ptsd: The Potential Of Oxytocin As A Treatment For Hypervigilance In Women With A History Of Childhood Sexual Abuse And Related Ptsd, Elianna Bavuso

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a notable public health concern, affecting a significant proportion of girls in high-income countries. A considerable number of CSA survivors develop Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) by adolescence, which is often considered to be a lifelong disorder with severe emotional and social consequences. Women with CSA-related PTSD display hypervigilance, which is characterized by significantly increased fear network activity and poor top-down control over the amygdala. This meta-analysis examines the potential of intranasal oxytocin (OT) as a treatment for hypervigilance symptoms in women with CSA-related PTSD. The evidence reviewed suggests that intranasal oxytocin can help normalize the …

Examining Effects Of Perceived Discrimination And Loneliness On Overall Health Outcomes In Black Americans, Apoorva Saravanan

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

On average, Black Americans suffer more from a wide range of diseases when compared to White Americans. The national mortality rate for Black Americans is also 24% higher than their White counterparts. Although there are multiple factors contributing to such disparities, one line of research provides strong evidence that negative health outcomes are more likely to occur in Black Americans who experience racial discrimination than those who experience no discrimination. A separate line of research also provides evidence that loneliness is a major health risk factor. In fact, prior research indicates that the experience of discrimination and loneliness are both …

Disability Accommodation And Improving Accessibility In Public Transportation, Alexander Burdette

AUCTUS: The Journal of Undergraduate Research and Creative Scholarship

This paper addresses the need for accessibility in public transportation from a disabled perspective, focusing on four key areas wherein states can enact meaningful change. These areas as specified are physical accessibility, which concerns the built and engineered environment of public transit and surrounding areas; informational accessibility, which concerns the availability and clarity of information passengers need to navigate transit; management accessibility, which refers to the way information processing is handled by transit agencies when exchanging information with transit users; and social accessibility, which deals with the interpersonal environment that public transit creates and facilitates. Specific areas of attention are …

East Marshall Street Well Project: Reparative Work And The Policy For Human Remains, Rome Kamarouthu

East Marshall Street Well Project Symposium Posters

This poster introduces the public to the history of medical exploitation tied to the East Marshall Street Well in the 19 th century, as well as the reparative efforts of the East Marshall Street Well Project, a partnership between VCU and a community group known as the Family Representative Council. It stresses that the Family Representative Council has called upon VCU to bury the remains found in the well, as well as to support research and memorialization efforts. The poster highlights the work of student fellows in fulfilling those recommendations, specifically in conducting and processing oral history interviews, and in …

Racial Disparities In Hpv Vaccine Uptake Among Adult Black And White Latinx Cisgender Men In The United States: Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System 2014-2022, Nixon R. Arauz, M.A., Dina T. Garcia, Ph.D., M.P.H., M.Ed.

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Latinx men are more likely to get human papillomavirus (HPV) and cancers caused by HPV compared non-Latinx whites. Despite a national vaccination rate of 59%, only 25% of adult Latinx men are vaccinated. Notably, Latinx individuals can belong to any race. Existing research often overlooks nuances like experiences with structural racism in healthcare settings when examining HPV vaccine uptake among Latinx individuals. This study addresses this gap by investigating HPV vaccination factors among Latinx adults, with a focus on racial disparities.

Methods: Using data from the 2014-2022 Behavioral Risk Factors Surveillance System, this study examined HPV vaccine uptake among …

Exploring Factors That Influence Prosthetic Attention In Upper And Lower Limb Prosthesis Users, Tanu Bhargava, Cody L. Mcdonald, Elizabeth G. Halsne, Brian J. Hafner, Benjamin J. Darter

Graduate Research Posters

Background: Prosthetic limbs often lack the innate control and sensory feedback capabilities of natural limbs, requiring more cognitive effort or attention during motor tasks. While a conceptual model of prosthetic attention exists for lower limb (LL) users, its applicability to upper limb (UL) remains unclear. This study aimed to explore how LL and UL users experience prosthetic attention, and explore factors that influence the existing model.

Methods: Twenty five UL users and thirty LL users with at or above wrist or ankle-level limb loss participated. Focus groups (FG), guided by open-ended questions, delved into user’s lived experiences with prosthetic attention. …

Career And Technical Education: Historical Insights, Current Impacts, And Policy Implications, Meleah Ellison, David B. Naff, Phelton Moss, Jenna Lenhardt, Morgan Meadowes, Jonathan Staylor, Latonja Y. Wright, Luke Parker, Andy Bristow, Kelsey Pacer, Samantha Hope, Shelby Garofalo, Singith Nawagamuwage Perera, Georgia Youngquest, Rachel Hale, Sharrie Merritte

MERC Publications

This research and policy brief from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) summarizes recent peer reviewed literature, publicly available trend data, and policies at the federal, state, and school division level related to Career and Technical Education (CTE) courses. It explores the following questions:

1. What are the purposes of CTE courses?
/="/">2. What are the trends in CTE participation and how does this vary by student and school demographics?
/="/">3. What are the impacts or benefits of CTE?
/="/">4. What are evidence-based practices and innovative programs related to CTE?
/="/">5. What are policies guiding the …

Actionable Advocacy Journalism: Embracing Bias And Empowering Audiences With Calls To Action, Megan T. Schiffres

Richard T. Robertson School of Communication Student Scholarship

This thesis outlines the principles of actionable advocacy journalism, a new theoretical framework designed to empower audiences to take action in their communities. This framework proposes an update of journalistic ethics including the elimination of objectivity and demonstrates the positive impact of biased journalism on improving audience trust and strengthening community ties. It explores the historical roots of advocacy in journalism, examines the factors that led to the journalistic philosophy of objectivity, and explains its fundamental flaws. This thesis also outlines strategies for transforming news into a practical resource. These strategies combine the principles of solutions journalism with evidence-based persuasion …

Pk-12 Faculty And Staff Capacity To Support Student Mental Health, Chin-Chih Chen, David B. Naff, Xun Liu, Jennifer Murphy, Margaret Wallace, Sunny Shin, Kade Goldin, Shenita Williams, Caleb Armwood, Riley Jenkins, Marlene Gooding

MERC Publications

This report from the Metropolitan Educational Research Consortium (MERC) depicts findings from a regional survey of PK-12 faculty and staff exploring their professional capacity to meet the mental health needs of their students. Based on responses from approximately 1,000 educators in the MERC region, there were six dimensions of capacity: mental health knowledge, mental health training and confidence, multi-tiered systems of support, positive mental health culture, supportive policies and practices, and responsibility and impact. Findings in the report include position comparisons along these six dimensions as well as an exploration of how capacity varies by school size and demographic composition. …

Variability In Perceptions Of Complementary Health Approaches Among Graduate Student Trainees, Delaney C. Bilodeau

Theses and Dissertations

Complementary Health Approaches (CHAs) encompass a diverse range of practices which are often used both independently and alongside conventional medical treatments. Understanding how graduate students training in different fields perceive CHAs is important because these professional trainees will go on to occupy roles as healthcare practitioners, researchers, policy makers, and consumers. This study used sequential rank agreement methods (Ekstrøm, Gerds, & Jensen, 2019) to investigate variations in perceptions of CHAs in a sample of graduate students (N = 416) from 140 possible training programs. Ratings of CHA familiarity, perceptions of CHA legitimacy, and willingness to recommend CHAs were compared …

Humans Are Dust, Chelsea Nanfelt Rowe

Theses and Dissertations

I probe how objects act as intermediaries between people. These explorations reflect on the delicate navigation that happens when we intertwine our lives with others. My curiosities lie in the fuzzy aura of human life that encircles materials. Do our materials possess life or do we imbue and inject the materials in our world with personalities reflective of ourselves? My motivation for this project is to highlight the stories infused in and witnessed by things we surround ourselves with and use daily.

Exploring Factors Influencing The Adoption Of Ai Tools In Auditing: A Mixed-Methods Study, Fahad Alsudairi

Theses and Dissertations

Artificial Intelligence's (AI) rise has created value for organizations and society, prompting scholars to study its spread across many areas. However, the impact of AI adoption on governmental organizations still needs to be explored. Governmental entities face unique challenges distinct from private organizations, and existing research often focuses on the perspectives of AI experts or senior management, neglecting the insights of lower-level employees who will use the system daily.

This study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing the intention to adopt AI tools within a governmental auditing bureau in Saudi Arabia. To the best of our knowledge, no previous study has …

Investigation Of Brain Function And Structural Development As Risk Factors Of Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors, Yi Zhou

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Identifying risk factors for suicidal thoughts and behaviors, especially causal ones, will be imperative to improving screening and treatment interventions. To identify replicable brain-based risk factors, there is increasing evidence indicating the need for large sample sizes, in the hundreds to thousands, in order to achieve a sufficient level of statistical power to detect them. Furthermore, longitudinal studies of brain and behavioral factors will be essential to understanding how suicide develops, especially the transition from suicide ideation to attempt. While experimental studies may not be feasible or ethical, genetically informed methods for testing evidence for causation are an alternative …

Transitions In Patterns Of Substance Use During Early Adolescence: Bidirectional Associations With Externalizing Behaviors, Courtney B. Dunn

Theses and Dissertations

Early adolescents who engage in polysubstance use, defined as the use of three or more different substances, are at particularly high risk of future substance use disorders and adverse psychosocial outcomes. However, little is known about the development of substance use patterns during early adolescence, particularly among youth living in urban settings. Although theory and research suggest that youth with greater externalizing behaviors (e.g., aggression, delinquent behavior) may be more likely to escalate to polysubstance use at an early age, few studies have examined bidirectional relations between externalizing symptoms and polysubstance use. The goal of this study was to (a) …

Prosthetic Attention In Upper Limb Loss: User Experiences, Clinical Perceptions, And Developing Candidate Items, Tanu Bhargava

Theses and Dissertations

The human hand is a powerful tool essential for performing a range of tasks from simple to complex, and it plays a crucial role in social interactions and environmental engagement. Upper limb (UL) loss disrupts these functions and significantly impacts daily life. Prosthetic devices can partially restore these abilities and improve quality of life, but they lack the intuitive control and sensory feedback of natural hands. Consequently, operating a UL prosthesis requires substantial attentional demands, a factor that potentially contributes to high rates of device dissatisfaction and disuse. For UL prosthesis users, managing attentional resources is critical to efficiently controlling …

Functional Family Therapy: A Multi-Year Statewide Program Evaluation, Natalie Finn

Theses and Dissertations

Functional Family Therapy (FFT) is a family-based treatment program for youth with externalizing behavior problems, often involved in juvenile justice and child welfare systems. FFT is an evidence-based program and has been implemented across many states, including the state of Virginia. Objective. The present study performed a program evaluation and observational study of the implementation and sustainment of FFT in Virginia, during the first five years of implementation. Method. Participants included all youth who participated in FFT in Virginia between October 2017 and June 2022. Secondary data analysis was conducted using data entered by therapists and supervisors into the FFT …

Sphingosine Kinase 2 Depletion Dysregulates Hepatic Redox Metabolism And Enhances Inflammation In Early Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatohepatitis (Mash), Kaitlyn Georgene Jackson

Theses and Dissertations

Metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) currently affects one in three people worldwide; its prevalence is growing alongside other cardiometabolic disorders. Aberrations to redox and sphingolipid metabolism contribute to MASLD pathologic progression. Sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) is an active lipid, meaning that S1P participates in biochemical processes within the cell. S1P is generated by two distinct isoenzymes, sphingosine kinase (SphK)1 and SphK2. The localization of the SphK enzyme dictates S1P function. While cytosolic SphK1-generated S1P is well-characterized, nuclear and mitochondrial SphK2-generated S1P is less known. Moreover, SphK2 depletion effects on cellular redox processes and inflammation are not well-defined.

This study defines the …

Trait Mindfulness And Political Polarization: Investigating Neural Responses And Emotional Orientations, Elif Z. Celik

Theses and Dissertations

The rapid escalation of political polarization has led to increased social distancing, aggressive partisan behavior, and discriminatory attitudes among Democrats and Republicans. Prior research has indicated that mindfulness is associated with increased compassion, reduced prejudice, and diminished aggression toward out-group members. This thesis investigates the relationship between trait mindfulness and political polarization by examining neural responses and emotional orientations in individuals with varying levels of mindfulness. This research measured brain activity using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) while participants viewed emotionally charged political videos and neutral content. The primary hypothesis suggested that individuals with high trait mindfulness would exhibit left-lateralized prefrontal …

The Role Of Hdac6 In Periodontal Inflammation, Hannah S. Lohner

Theses and Dissertations

Periodontal disease is a polymicrobial infection-induced chronic inflammatory disease and results in irreversible tissue damage and bone loss. While bacteria play a large role in the initiation of this disease, excessive and prolonged inflammatory immune responses are fundamental for its progression, making host directed therapy (HDT) a possible and potentially valuable treatment. Histone Deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) is an enzyme that removes acetyl groups from both histone and non-histone proteins, giving it a potential role in regulating inflammation initiated by pathogenic oral bacteria. Previous studies indicated that HDACs act as a bivalent regulator in inflammatory responses; however, the role that HDAC6 …

“You Are Not Obligated To Complete The Work, But Neither Are You Free To Desist From It.” Richmond Jews In Social Activism Post Civil Rights, Tracy S. Herman

Theses and Dissertations

For centuries, the Jewish people have faced expulsions, pogroms, massacres, and Propaganda. that runs so deep it would be like staring into an abyss. This oppression has motivated Jewish activists worldwide to fight back not only on behalf of the Jewish community but for many areas of perceived need. Jewish involvement in social activism in the U.S. has been particularly recognized by scholars of the labor and Civil Rights movements. This thesis is based on eighteen oral history interviews focused on social activism in Richmond, Virginia since the Civil Rights era. The author conducted these interviews in 2021, 2023, and …

Plk1 Overexpression Drives Tumorigenesis In A Prostate Cancer Mouse Model, Emile Kachouh

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men worldwide, and the development of resistance to existing treatments necessitates the exploration of new therapeutic strategies, including combination therapies. This study investigates the role of Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1), located on chromosome 16p12.2, as an oncogene in prostate cancer. We generated a transgenic mouse model with prostate-specific overexpression of PLK1 to closely mimic human prostate cancer progression. Quantitative PCR (qPCR) analysis was employed to characterize the molecular profile of PLK1, revealing its implication in multiple pathways. To further elucidate the functional consequences of PLK1 overexpression, we confirmed phenotypic progression …

The Effect Of Local Anesthesia When Used In Dental Restorative Cases Under General Anesthesia On Control Of Postoperative Comfort, Elizabeth S. Kleefisch Dds

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose:

To determine the effect of local anesthesia on postoperative comfort in patients undergoing dental care under general anesthesia.

Methods:

This study was modeled as a double-blinded randomized control trial. Patients included healthy children under the age of 6 years scheduled for restorative dental treatment under general anesthesia (GA). Patient behavior was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using the Faces, Legs, Activity, Cry and Consolability (FLACC) or other pain score and postoperatively using the Parent’s Postoperative Pain Measure (PPPM). Intraoperatively, participants followed a standardized general anesthesia protocol and were given either local anesthetic (LA) infiltration using 2% Lidocaine 1:100,000 Epinephrine by …

Developing And Testing A Model Of Discrimination, Internalized Oppression, Mental Health, And Suicidality In Disabled Transgender And Gender Non-Binary (Tgnb) Individuals, Stephanie L. Cull

Theses and Dissertations

Transgender and gender nonbinary (TGNB) individuals experience high rates of discrimination and microaggressions that can lead to internalized cisgenderism and adverse mental health outcomes such as depression, anxiety, and suicidality. Individuals with disabilities similarly experience high rates of discrimination and microaggressions that can lead to internalized ableism and increased adverse mental health outcomes. Although both of these populations have been researched separately, very little extant research has explored the intersections of disabled and TGNB identities. The purpose of this study was to explore a hypothesized pathway leading from microaggressions through internalized oppression and mental health to suicidal ideation within a …

An Examination Of Hiring Practices And Employee Retention Today Compared With Pre-Pandemic Characteristics In Orthodontics, Logan Passey

Theses and Dissertations

Purpose: Evaluate current hiring practices and employee retention characteristics in orthodontic private practices.

Methods: Orthodontists (n=1000) were surveyed regarding their hiring methods and outcomes. Responses were summarized with descriptive statistics. Chi-square tests were used to compare hiring practices and perceptions. Nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis tests were utilized in analysis of retention thresholds.

Results: Survey response rate was 7.2% (72 responses). When comparing thresholds previous to, and after the COVID-19 pandemic, there was an increase in open clinical positions compared with non-clinical and managerial positions (p=.0008). 68% of orthodontists reported a decrease in qualified applications for clinical positions compared with non-clinical and managerial …