Research Symposium

BIO

I am a sophomore and expect to graduate in May 2025. I am a pre-med student majoring in psychology and minoring in chemistry. My goals after graduating from FSU are getting into medical school and doing my residency in psychiatry. I am interested in research concerning psychology and neuroscience.

Webcams and Attention in the Online Classroom

Abstract

During the 2019 pandemic we saw a major change in education. To keep everyone safe, schools and universities shifted from in-classroom teaching to an online virtual classroom experience. Eventually the use of virtual learning became more normalized and its use is now more prevalent and mainstream than ever before. The way in which courses are being taught changed drastically, and so have the way students learn. The use of webcams was implemented to bring a more immersive approach to try and emulate face-to-face classes as much as possible and now it is widely used in online classes. But how did this method of virtual schooling with webcams affect the students? The ‘Webcams and Attention in the Online Classroom’ study looks into how webcams affect students' attention and engagement. This is part of a broader study that looks into the relationship between a student and the webcam and how it could affect their attention to class, assimilation to a new setting with different norms, and privacy concerns, among other things. It also looks into the difference between these when the choice of turning their webcams on or off is given. The study will use full text reviews, surveys, and interviews to explore and understand how the use of webcams encourage or discourage the students to learn in an online setting.

Keywords: education, online, learning, synchronous, webcams

BIO

Hey! I'm a senior at Florida State University majoring in Psychology. Currently, my goals are to

ASSOCIATIONS BETWEEN DAILY PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND COGNITIVE FUNCTIONING: EVIDENCE FROM STIMULUS- AND RESPONSE-LOCKED EVENT RELATED POTENTIALS

Abstract

There is extensive research linking physical activity to better cognitive outcomes such as improved executive functioning and memory related to increases in exercise. Alternatively, there is less consistent evidence demonstrating that higher levels of sedentary behaviors are associated to worse cognitive functioning. Furthermore, our understanding of the exact neural mechanisms underlying these modulations in cognitive functioning related to exercise or sedentary activity remains quite elusive. Therefore, the current study examined the association between average daily exercise time and daily sedentary time with neural measures of attention allocation. More specifically, a total of 145 undergraduate students (age = 19.01, SD = 1.25, 63% female) completed self-report measures of time spent completing exercise and sedentary activities in the past week. These participants then completed a computerized speeded response task (i.e., flanker task) while EEG recorded to elicit the stimulus-locked P300 component and the response-locked error positivity (Pe) component. At the zero-order, individuals exhibiting higher P300, and higher Pe amplitude reported exercising more daily. There were no significant associations between these neural components and amount of sedentary behavior. Furthermore, when placed into a model as simultaneous predictors of daily exercise, neither P300 nor Pe amplitude emerged as a unique predictor suggesting that both of these neural components are explaining overlapping variance in regard to time spent exercising. In sum, these results suggest that daily exercise is more distinctly associated with cognitive processes related to attention.

Keywords: Exercise, cognition, depression, attention, ERP

BIO

I am a second-year undergraduate student in the Honors Medical Scholar Program. I enjoy applying scientific knowledge to direct patient care and hope to continue this interdisciplinary approach when pursuing a medical career.

Changes in Experimental Pain Sensitivity from Using Home-Based Remotely Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis

Abstract

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) involves a directed low-amplitude electrical current to affect the activity of the motor cortex and supraorbital region in the brain. Increasing ranges of literature support that mindfulness-based meditation (MBM) assists in providing analgesia-like effects for pain. In this study, 30 subjects with chronic osteoarthritis (OA) knee pain aged 50 to 85 years utilized self-administered tDCS and performed meditative exercises to treat their pain symptoms. Combining MBM and tDCS has rarely been studied, despite knee OA being the most prevalent joint disease. On every weekday for two weeks (10 days), subjects remotely participated in 20-minute sessions of tDCS at a constant current intensity to the motor cortex and supraorbital regions along with MBM exercises. Researchers measured the subjects' heat, pain, and pressure tolerances using a visual analog scale, pain questionnaires, quantitative sensory testing, and current stimulation devices for 3 days within 10 days, in addition to their pain symptoms. Pain levels and OA symptoms were measured using a Numeric Rating Scale and the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index. The results indicated improvement in osteoarthritis pain symptoms and sleep quality, no effect on anxiety or depression, and no adverse effects caused by tDCS. Self-administered tDCS monitored remotely was found to be successful with older patients. tDCS combined with MBM decreased results on the Numeric Rating Scale and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index.

Keywords: brain, osteoarthritis, pain

BIO

My name is Faith Hicks. I'm from Raleigh, North Carolina, and I'm a senior majoring in Psychology with a minor in child development. I am currently working on a DIS in the Martin Memory Lab, and am very interested in human memory and cognitive psychology.

The Neural Basis of Face Recognition in Older Adults

Abstract

The ability to recognize a personally familiar face, such as a loved one, is a cognitive function used in everyday life. However, adults diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) experience an impairment of this ability, which contributes to the negative impact AD has on quality of life. Here, we use functional magnetic resonance imaging to characterize differences in neural activity related to face recognition in older adults with and without indications of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), a clinical precursor to AD. More specifically, we examine differences in brain activity evoked by recognition of personally familiar faces, experimentally familiar faces of strangers, and novel faces of strangers. Participants used a digital camera to capture standardized images of people with whom they are personally familiar (i.e., spouses, children, close friends). Experimentally familiar faces were learned in a series of lab-based encoding tasks. All participants were asked to discriminate between the three categories of faces (personally familiar, experimentally familiar, and novel) during functional neuroimaging. We will use a pattern-based similarity analysis to quantify representational change among recognition signals for the different faces. We anticipate that recognition in cognitively healthy older adults will be characterized by brain activity that reliably differentiates between each stimulus category, whereas people with MCI will show a restricted representational space such that faces from all categories evoke similar activity patterns. If obtained, this difference between cognitively healthy aging adults and those with MCI would help us to determine a key neural system impacted during AD progression.

Keywords: fMRI study, facial recognition, human memory

BIO

I am a Tallahassee native currently completing my second year at FSU. My research interests include data and computer science. Once I graduate, I plan on attending graduate school, then working in actuarial science and insurance.

Enhancing the Feedback Experience for Instructors and Students.

Abstract

One of the hardest tasks of an instructor is to provide high quality timely feedback about student writing. This is particularly true in writing about a technical subject, where students may have problems with either the technical content or expressing their ideas through language, figures and tables. In addition, if the instructor uses a grader or teaching assistant to provide feedback, they need to train those graders to provide feedback that is consistent with the instructor’s feedback.

In this project, we are creating a feedback system. This system consists of a database of feedback elements, which can be grouped into palettes for specific assignments. The system would then act as a plug-in to a word processor that allows a grader to select text and associate feedback elements with the text. An interchange format will allow instructors to share feedback elements, and eventually, computer-assisted feedback will allow the word processor to identify possible areas of feedback. Feedback elements can be tied to rubrics, to provide automatic grading that can be verified by the instructor. Therefore, the purpose of this project is to enhance the feedback experience for instructors, their teaching assistants, and students.

Keywords: Feedback Palette, High-quality timely Feedback, Evidence-Centered Classroom Assessment, Rubric associated notes, measuring student performance

BIO

Hello! My name is Melody Ramos and I am majoring in civil engineering. I am an active member of ASCE and will be competing in the 2023 Southeast Student Symposium. I am also on the FSU Colorguard team and perform/travel with the football team. With my degree, I hope to go into structural engineering and possibly bridge design.

Simulation-based Heavy Equipment Planning for Building Mass Rescue Operation​

Abstract

The success of mass rescue operations, such as in the aftermath of a building collapse, requires effective use of limited resources to search for more people on time constraints and expedite the debris removal process. However, the two major processes of the rescue operation, debris removal and survival search, have different objectives (i.e., removal of debris and search for survivors, respectively) but share resources, such as excavators and trucks, thereby making resource planning for mass rescue operations challenging. We propose a novel approach to optimize heavy equipment planning for mass rescue operations through discrete event simulation (DES). Debris collection and survivor search operations are simulated as two distinctive processes that share the input of excavators and trucks. One key challenge in developing a simulation model of the rescue operation is the lack of productivity data for each process. To overcome this issue, small-scale experiments were conducted in which students operate 1:14 scale heavy equipment for debris removal and rescue operations, while their productivity for each operation is recorded. The measured productivity data from the small-scale experiments are used in the developed simulation model in order to identify bottleneck resources within these two processes. The use of equipment is planned in a way that addresses such resource bottlenecks and thus expedites the overall mass rescue operation. Our findings have important implications for enhancing the efficiency and effectiveness of rescue operations in the aftermath of a disaster.​
​
​

Keywords: Engineering, Simulation, Debris, Rescue

BIO

A second-year biological science student with hopes to go to medical school.

ROSENSTRASSE PROTEST: FINDING THE ARYAN WIVES WHO FOUGHT FOR THEIR JEWISH HUSBANDS

Abstract

During Nazi Germany, it was common for Jewish men to marry Aryan women, this is called intermarriage and saved the men from being taken by the government and sent to concentration camps. On February 27, 1943 the Nazis became impatient and kidnapped 1,700-1,800 Jewish men and placed them in the Jewish Community Center. When their wives realized where they were, they began a protest, now called the Rosenstrasse protest, until their husbands were finally released on March 6, 1943. There were approximately 6,000 women who protested. Information about Nazi Germany is well known to the public, however, information about the Rosesntrasse protest is not. With this, our research primarily focuses on finding the women protestors’ and spreading awareness about the injustices their families faced.

Keywords: Genealogy, Rosenstrasse, civil courage

BIO

Hello Everyone! My name is Noelle Foster and I'm from Long Island, NY. I joined the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program with the hopes of gaining research experience and exploring different passions. With the goal of building and inclusive society, I have worked under Dr. Rose Skepple to understand the foundations required to create an equitable educational environment. From a young age, I recognized disparities across the education community among me and my peers. The resource differential is an evident hinderance. Here, I was given the change to highlight the important measures for improving the quality of student education, while also growing my own foundation to advocate for positive change in the future!

The Impact of Low Socioeconomic Status on the Quality of Education

Abstract

According to the American Psychological Association, low socioeconomic status (or low SES) defines a reduced access to resources as compared to higher class backgrounds and is commonly associated with poor education, unemployment, and correlated negative outcomes. Relatively, an achievement gap exists between high and low-income students. This deficit is attributed to a lack of financial and educational resources, familial and psychosocial factors, and equity variables existing beyond the classroom. The research presented will use these attributions to measure the impact of originating from a low SES background on the quality of education. This is necessary for drawing attention to the achievement gap and recognizing the need for equitable education. While there are variables that impact low-SES students differently, such as levels of parental engagement, the school system plays a larger role. There has been prior research into the roles of impactful education factors. Among these, the most pivotal scholastic engagements stem from teacher quality and available resources and programs. Given this, a case study was conducted on three low-income university students to identify what factors aided in their post-secondary educational success as university students.

Keywords: achievement gap, education, socioeconomic status

BIO

Hello, my name is Madison Kessler, and I am a second year student here at FSU! I am majoring in International Affairs with an interest in Economics. I was born in Indiana but raised in Ocala, Florida for most of my life. My hobbies include reading, going on walks, and finding new thrift stores. When I leave FSU, I hope to secure a job in the field of homeland security or just in Washington DC in general.

A Protest to Remember

Abstract

Protest and civil disobedience is not remembered when it comes to looking back at German culture and identity during World War II and the Holocaust. There were very few instances of it remembered in written history that explain how some Germans fought back against the Nazi regime, but there are some historians who have dedicated their time to researching cases such as the Rosenstrasse Protest of 1943. The Rosenstrasse Protest was a fight back against the Nazis who incarcerated 2,000 Jewish men, which was led by their German, non-Jewish spouses. This is significant in retrospective because it showed that the German, or “Aryan,” identity was not a shared ideology of all German nationals. This project as well looks at why protest was not very common during the Third Reich, which can be concluded to heavy censorship in this era as the regime did not want to appear weak to its citizens and the world. It is important to remember protests like the Rosenstrasse Protest because it is a way to remember that not all German identity at the time was centered around persecuting Jews.

Keywords: Rosenstrasse, Resistance, World War 2, The Holocaust

BIO

Tyson is a senior graduating in the Summer of 2023 and plans to apply to medical school. After participating in UROP last spring, he enrolled in Directed Individual Study, joining the JFadool lab, to continue his research on zebrafish UV cone opsin.

Isolating Mutant Alleles of opn1sw1 in Zebrafish

Abstract

Zebrafish (Danio rerio) have become a popular model organism for genetic and anatomical studies of the visual system due to their short reproductive cycle, low maintenance, and highly conserved genetic and anatomical characteristics across vertebrates. For example, the gene which encodes the cone opsin protein opn1sw1 (short-wave sensitive 1) in zebrafish, which facilitates UV vision, is orthologous to the gene which encodes the protein for blue-sensitive vision in humans.
Zelinka et al (2018) used CRISPR/Cas-9 to target rho. The resulting mutations represent novel models of photoreceptor degeneration in zebrafish. How these mutations cause cell degeneration is unknown. The goal of this research is to use the same approach to generate novel mutations at the opn1sw1 locus which are similar to those in rho which cause degeneration and to establish models for cone degeneration in zebrafish.
CRISPR/Cas9 was used for gene targeting of the opn1sw1 locus. Guide RNAs and Cas-9 protein were obtained from IDT. Injected animals were reared to adults. Injected fish were mated and the resulting F1 fish were genotyped for mutant alleles. F1 offspring carrying novel alleles were outcrossed with wild-type fish revealing 4 distinct mutant alleles. F1 carrier fish with the same alleles were inbred to bring the allele to homozygosity. Our working hypothesis is that a homozygous mutant will display photoreceptor dysfunction or cell death. These novel phenotypes can be used as a model for future research into the effects of the mutations that cause photoreceptor degeneration.

Keywords: Genetic, vision, transgenic, opsin, neurobiology

BIO

Hi! I am currently a Senior here at Florida State University. I transferred in Spring of 2022 after obtaining my Associates of Arts from Seminole State College. My area of focus is history with World War II and the Holocaust studies being my main concentration. The reason I chose to study history was due to an elementary school project that sparked my interest which continues till today. While I do not have a set plan for my future education I am interested in continuing through graduate school.

Ungentlemanly Warfare: Historical Research on Women Spies of the Special Operations Executive

Abstract

The Special Operations Executive (SOE) during World War II was an organization rooted in espionage and sabotage that worked against the Axis powers. This organization played a large role in the defeat of the Axis powers during the war, and many of the agents in the SOE were recognized for their brave efforts. There were many female agents who worked for the SOE, and in this project we specifically look at those involved in the F Section (French section). Many of them have gone without recognition for their valiant work during the war due to their sex. The project focuses on bringing light to these women’s duties during the war and the role they played in aiding the Allies. We are focused on doing research to prove the hypothesis that these women did play a part in the war and should be recognized as successful agents just as their male counterparts were. Furthermore, some of these women should not only be recognized for their war efforts, but for the human rights atrocities that were committed against them in concentration camps because of their agent status. These women were tortured and sometimes even killed for being loyal to the Allied Forces and deserve recognition for all that they did for the war effort, which is the driving purpose of this research project.

Keywords: Espionage, Gender, SOE

BIO

Hometown: Cincinnati, Ohio.
Research Interests: I plan to pursue more psychological studies in the future. I plan to participate in DIS and complete an Honors in the Major project.
Career Goals: My goal is to be a clinical therapist for adolescents.

Dante Today: Gustave Doré Illustrations in Modern Music

Abstract

This study is an archive of modern renditions of Dante Alighieri and his Divine Comedy. It hosts many examples of modern media reiterating the famous words written over 700 years ago. The work on Dante Today allows a look into the impact the Divine Comedy has had across all forms of media. The postings are each categorized by topic and then further tagged by their thematic characteristics. Then, they are posted to the site where viewers can search for Dante in contemporary culture to draw their own ideas and conclusions. One particular rendition of the poem is the artist Gustave Doré’s illustrations, which since their creation in the 19th century have become almost synonymous with the poem itself. These illustrations, alongside the poem, have made their way into a plethora of modern cultures. They are especially prevalent in the music industry with Doré’s drawings being used in countless instances as album covers and art while the Dantean themes are being worked into the titles, lyrics, or even feelings of the music. This study contributed its research by showing examples of how one singular piece of work, the Divine Comedy, can now influence so much media around the entire world over 700 years after publication.

Keywords: Dante, Inferno, Music, Culture, Art

BIO

My name is Avery Arunakul, and I am from Marianna, FL. As a freshman here at Florida State University I am pursuing a dual degree in exercise physiology and psychology. My goal is to attend medical school in four years with the hopes of specializing in dermatology. I chose to participate in a research project outside of my majors to explore my other interest, such as helping animals. The time I spent at Florida State University’s Coastal and Marine Laboratory has allowed me to broaden my horizons while participating in hands-on fieldwork. It has also granted me the opportunity to learn more about the marine life within Apalachicola Bay and the care that goes into restoring the dwindling populations.

The Effect of low salinity on Juvenile Bay Scallops (Argopecten irradians)

Abstract

This project aims to identify how salinity affects juvenile bay scallops to further understand how increased rainfall and runoff could affect their survival and behavior. As we spawn and raise scallops inside a hatchery with the intention of releasing them into the wild, it is important to investigate environmental factors that play a role in the survival of scallop offspring. One of these influences, salinity, determines the density of seawater and controls the movement of currents. Salinity is the quality of saline, dissolved into a body of water. Scallops are marine animals that thrive in high salinity areas, this is crucial as they cannot fully close their shells and regulate fresh water. Remaining partially open also allows the scallops to use their byssal threads and foot to climb their habitat and evade predators. To test the salinity tolerance of the hatchery-born spat, four trials were run on 120 spat by placing them into four different containers each containing different levels of salinity. The stick, climb, and death rates of the scallops in each solution were recorded. The lower salinity treatments resulted in reduced use of juvenile bay scallops’ foot and byssal threads. The result of a decrease in climbing and sticking for scallops suggests the spat remaining closed for longer periods of time in the lower salinity solutions. This would make the scallops more susceptible to predators in the wild if they are unable to climb as a way of escaping by hiding on seagrass blades or macroalgae.

Keywords: biology, scallops, restoration, marine, salinity

BIO

My name is Jehanne Caudell, I am from Tampa, Florida. and I am a current sophomore at Florida State University. I am majoring in philosophy and am planning on attending law school after I graduate. My project consisted of coding interviews with incarcerated men, determining frequent patterns and themes regarding fatherhood. Because of my future career goals, this project stood out to me. Learning about the motivations and expectations of these men specifically regarding their roles as fathers is an important perspective for me to understand, especially going into a career in law. This research is important for possible reform, and the emphasis on how much support systems have on incarcerated men who must be integrated into society post-release.

Paternal Incarceration: Motivations and Co-Parenting

Abstract

There is a complex relationship between incarcerated fathers, their children, their larger family networks, and substance abuse. Understanding this relationship and the potential negative impact of paternal incarceration is of critical importance during the era of mass incarceration and in the wake of multiple drug epidemics. The concept of fatherhood shifts due to many factors brought on by incarceration, substance abuse, communication, and contact barriers. Motivations for staying abstinent from drugs, rebuilding a life, and repairing relationships are all informed by fatherhood, demonstrating the importance of the father-child relationship (Swanson, 2013). Eighty-eight incarcerated men were interviewed while in prison, 51 were interviewed again post-prison release. The transcripts were coded in the software NVivo to determine the overarching themes and repeating patterns related to fatherhood and parenting present in the lives of these incarcerated men. Some significant themes include communication during incarceration, challenges of the parent role, reconnection with the child(ren) post-release, and children as a vehicle of motivation. In addition, one of the most significant challenges found among incarcerated and reentering fathers is gatekeeping, which occurs when the mother bars the child from reconnecting with their father (Pajarita, 2019). These themes will be used to further analyze the connections between substance abuse, fatherhood, and incarceration, specifically in the motivations for reentry and desistance. The implications this has will be important for possible reform of the prison system as well as the formation of better support systems to allow for incarcerated men to regain their footing in society post-release.

Keywords: criminology, substance use, parenting

BIO

Hi everyone, My name is Alex Rakita. I am a sophomore biology major at Florida State University. I grew up in Tampa, Florida, and have been interested in science from a young age. When I got to FSU, I knew I wanted to get involved in applied lab research and through UROP I was able to do this. Currently, I am working on research on Sargassum Algae degradation and what biological factors affect the rates at which they degrade. Algae, especially in Florida, is becoming a devastating issue recently, and with our efforts and many more, I hope that our community works towards a better scientific solution.

Experimental Investigation of the Degradation of the Nuisance Algae Sargassum Buried in Beach Sands Ventilated by Tidal Pumping

Abstract

Vast amounts of the macroalgae Sargassum washing onto Florida beaches have become a major problem as they emit toxic waste that negatively affects not only the ecosystem but the local and tourist civilians. The goal of his study was to quantify degradation rates of Sargassum that was embedded in silicate and carbonate beach sands. We tested the hypothesis that the degradation of the buried algae is accelerated through tidal gas exchange. The natural tidal pumping mechanism was recreated in a lab setting with the tidal water table oscillations in the sand pumping air into and out of the sediment. CO2 production and O2 consumption caused by Sargassum degradation in the sands was contrasted with the respective gas dynamics in beach sand with embedded algae but without tidal pumping. The results emphasize that the beach sands are natural biocatalytic filers that promote aerobic microbial decomposition processes. The decomposition rates determined here can be used by coastal managers for the planning of cleanup activities.

Keywords: algae, degradation, tidal pumping, Sargassum, beach breathing

BIO

Hi, my name is Elona Berisha. I'm from West Palm Beach, Florida. I am a second-year student at Florida State University majoring in Biomathematics. I am on the pre-medical track with aspirations of becoming a pediatrician.

Statistical Modeling on Cell Encapsulation

Abstract

The encapsulation of a single target cell in a micro-fluidic droplet through a droplet generation system is a biomedical engineering technology that contributes to a variety of medical practices and research. Cell encapsulation is a mechanism to keep cells viable as a potential tool for the treatment of human illnesses, such as cancer, diabetes, and Parkinson's disease. The number of cells per droplet is a key design parameter in research studies which follows a Poisson distribution due to the inherent randomness of cell flow in micro-channels. The statistical modeling of this process is a way to understand the cell population in a droplet and optimize the probability of having single target cells per micro-droplet. A statistical analysis using Poisson distribution and a hydrodynamical theoretical model to estimate the droplet size based on fluid and flow properties were used to aid in studying the cell population per droplet. Our model can predict the distribution of cells per droplet based on fluid and flow physical parameters, micro-channel geometry, and cell count per volume. This information can help biomedical researchers design their cell encapsulation experiments by tailoring the relevant parameters to optimize their desired cell population in a droplet.

Keywords: Statistics, Cell Encapsulation

BIO

Hello, my name is Heesu Seo! I am from Tallahassee and am a 1st-year studying history. I hope to eventually go to grad school and become a professor.

Women, Wealth and Property: Montpellier, 1760s-1780s

Abstract

The role of women in Ancien Régime France is generally assumed to be one relegated to servitude, unable to participate in broader society without the permission of a male guardian or husband.

However, Roman law governed the cultural practices of southern France, which allowed for more liberal policies regarding female ownership of land compared to the customary law that dominated Parisian gender politics. This project aims to dispel claims that women exercised little to no socio political rights in Ancien Régime France. Instead, through the analysis of tax records and property sales in Languedoc between 1760-1790, the extent of female impact in the region will be quantified, demonstrating the vast rights women exercised.

This project pulled a random sample of property sales in Languedoc from a larger pool of records, and calculated the average profits women versus men were making in property sales. Another facet of the project analyzed tax registers from the city of Montpellier from 1789-90. To find the prevalence of women who paid taxes, every woman on the register was recorded, along with her social and marital status and amount of tax paid.

Overall, our research revealed that the average sum value of property sales between men to women versus women to men was around 200 livres greater for the latter. On the tax register, we discovered around 19% of the names listed on the roll were women, composed of a variety of social and marital statuses.

Keywords: Women, Gender, France, Law, Equality

BIO

I am from Miami, Florida and a sophomore at FSU. Some of my research interests include STEM education, mental health issues among immigrant communities, and the prevention of worker burnout. In the future I am looking forward to exploring new research topics and having more experiences in the field.

Examining Cultural Sensitivity for Mindfulness Meditations for Chinese American Adolescents

Abstract

The rise of Asian hate has exacerbated already existing distress among Chinese American Adolescents (CAA). Research has demonstrated the positive impact of mindfulness meditation on adolescents. However, there exists a gap in research surrounding cultural sensitivity and mindfulness meditations in CAA. Cultivating a culturally sensitive meditation (either brief meditation or long meditation), means facilitating specific cultural, linguistic, and developmental characteristics within the meditation. By examining cultural sensitivity in CAA we hope to strengthen mindfulness meditation for CAA as well as apply new ways to further define cultural sensitivity for other cultural groups. We surveyed 20 CAA ages 14-18 from the Boston area and Florida panhandle and encompassed different socioeconomic backgrounds. Participants were asked to review a series of mindful meditation videos (What is Mindfulness, Hello Breath: Listen, 3-Minute Breathing Space, Feel Calm and Relaxed, Experience Mindfulness) and were asked questions pertaining to cultural sensitivity, age-appropriate content, colors, music, and narration. Results indicated a mostly positive response from the CAA participants in the categories of culturally sensitive content, colors, narration, and music. There was a slightly negative response within some of the videos surrounding age-appropriate content as well as characters. Reviewers were given an opportunity to suggest improvements to each video, which were used to better refine cultural sensitivity within the context of this study. The results of the study are being used to develop the RRE (Relax, Reflect, Empower) app. This mobile application will help combat stress and depression amongst CAA.

Keywords: 'Mindfulness Meditations' 'Cultural Sensitivity' 'Chinese-American Adolescents'

BIO

I am a sophomore majoring in biochemistry on a pre-med track. I am very passionate about neuroscience and biochemistry and am always eager to learn more, especially by getting involved in research.

Understanding the Molecular Impacts of Sleep Deprivation in Mus Musculus

Abstract

Sleep deprivation is a widespread health issue that has adverse effects on neurobehavioral and cognitive functions. This is an increasing problem in all facets of society as there is a growing tendency to prioritize work and education over health. Sleeplessness accounts for an increased risk of developing metabolic, cardiac, and neurodegenerative diseases along with other health problems throughout the body. The hippocampus, frontal cortex, and cerebellum are regions of the brain that are particularly susceptible to alterations in gene regulation. What makes these brain regions of particular interest under the conditions of sleep deprivation are the hippocampus’ regulation of spatial memory, the cerebellum’s control of motor functions, and the alteration of neural networks in the frontal cortex. Sleep deprivation results in changes in gene expression as well as post-transcriptional impacts leading to changes in protein expression. Of particular interest is the long-term effects of sleep deprivation with an increased risk of neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias. Our research seeks to investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on the Tau protein, a neuropathological hallmark for Alzheimer’s Disease. In order to model the effects of sleep deprivation on our target regions of the brain, Mus musculus were sleep deprived with a particular emphasis on preventing micro-sleeps and their brains were then extracted for molecular analysis. The hippocampus, cerebellum, and frontal cortex tissue samples were fractionated and quantified using western blots to gain insight into the different levels of protein expression due to sleep deprivation.

Keywords: Sleep deprivation, neurology, mouse, brain, molecular

BIO

My name is Taylor and I am from Saint Petersburg, Florida. I am currently a sophomore majoring in Public health with a minor in chemistry. I plan on attending medical school after I graduate and specializing in oncology. I have always been interested in research related to cancer as I have had a family member who has passed away from cancer. In my free time, I like to read, workout, and hangout with friends and family.

Lentivirus Transduction on MIA PaCa-2 Cells

Abstract

Lentivirus transduction is a set of protocols used to implement a desired gene into one's cells of interest. Lentivirus system is composed of two methods known as transfection and transduction. In the case of this project, transfection and transduction were used to introduce the LMNA gene into MIA PaCa-2 cells. This was completed as a method of validation of our CRISPRa/i system in the cells. Comprehending these various protocols along with others and why they are used is essential in understanding other methods used in a laboratory. These techniques also allow us to alter gene expression and study our genes of interest.

Keywords: Lentivirus, Cancer, CRISPR