Emory Campus-wide Research Symposium Wednesday, April 20 - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Undergraduate Research Programs Symposium Thursday, April 21 - 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM
Dobbs University Center Coca-Cola Commons Prizes provided by
@EMORY POINT
Emory&Wide&Symposium& & PRESENTER&NAME& Albert'Amran' Maria'Berce' Sydney'Berger' Juan''Caceres' Sarah'Cassel' Sophie'Cemaj' Jeffrey'Chen' Sung'Hoon'Cho' Scott'Clanton' Hannah'Conway' Cameron'Coppala' Ayman'Elmasri' Katie'Grams' Ziad'Jowhar' Samantha''Keng' Kiana'Khosravian' Julie'Youkyung'Kim' Zixuan'(Armstrong)' Li' Xinyu'Liu' Josephine'Liwang' Aneel'Maini' Julia'Yu' Emily'Moore' Valerie'Morrill' Samoni'Nag'
TITLE&OF&PRESENTATION& The'Impact'of'High5Fat'Diet5Induced'Inflammation'on'CNS'Immune'Traffic' Early'Postnatal'T35Induced'Cardiomyocyte'Replication'' Autosomal'Gene'Regulation'by'Dosage'Compensation' Impact'of'the'addition'of'a'signal'sequence'to'deliver'a'multi5stage'vaccine'against' Plasmodium'vivax'using'a'recombinant'simian'adenovirus'vector'and'a' heterologous'prime5boost'immunization'regimen' Use'of'Inclusive'Pronouns'by'Children'with'ASD' Synthesis,'Characterization,'and'Catalytic'Oxidation'Studies'of'First5Row'Copper' and'Cobalt'Complexes'Supported'by'Redox5Active'Ligands' Prosocial'Effects'of'MDMA'on'Socially5Housed'Squirrel'Monkeys' Molecular'cloning'of'mCherry'into'eGFP5Vpr5pMM310'plasmid' Selective'optical'stimulation'of'sensory'neurons'does'not'regenerate'motor'axons' Behind'the'Lens'of'the'Civil'Rights'Movement:'The'Power'of'Photography'for'Both' Revealing'and'Concealing'History'' Making'heads'or'tails'of'idiom'processing:'Semantic'transparency,'syntactic' flexibility,'and'the'lexical'representation'of'idioms'' Role'of'the'Dopamine'4'Receptor'in'Ocular'Development'and'Myopia' Susceptibility' Planting'the'Seeds'of'Sustainability' SUMOylation'Regulates'Steady5State'Levels'of'Base'Excision'Repair'Protein,'Ntg1' Model'Minority'Awakenings:'Vincent'Chin,'Asian'America's'Emmett'Till' Characterizing'a'novel'transgenic'mouse'model'to'investigate'α5synuclein' dependent'intestinal'pathology'involved'in'Parkinson’s'Disease' Growth,'Agency,'and'Coherence'in'Narratives'of'Self5Defining'Memories'and' Relations'to'Psychological'Well5Being' Doner'Kebab:'Symbol'of'German'Multiculturalism'in'the'Turkish'Immigration' Question'' Rumination'in'Trauma'Narratives:'Gendered'Implications' The'role'of'protein'kinase'C'alpha'in'the'AVP5induced'phosphorylation'of'AQP2'in' mice'and'rats.' Treatment'of'Severe'Aortic'Stenosis'in'Patients'With'End5Stage'Renal'Disease'on' Dialysis' Determining'the'Role'of'Mutant'PABPN1'in'Alternative'Polyadenylation' "Strange'Histories":'A'Cultural'History'of'the'Legend'of'Lost'Confederate'Gold'in' Washington,'Georgia' Pricing'of'Atlanta’s'Local'Food' Location'and'Featural'Cue'Integration'in'Early'Childhood'
Melis'Odabas5 Geldiay'
Effects'of'GABAergic'agonist'temazepam'on'methamphetamine'self5 administration'and'methamphetamine5induced'dopamine'neurochemistry'in' rhesus'monkeys' Rebecca'Pankove' Sounds'of'the'Diaspora:'Preservation'of'a'Sephardic'Identity'through'Judeo5 Spanish'Folk'Songs' Yash'Patel' Immunometabolism'Effects'on'Neutrophil'Function' Juan'Jose'Pinto' Sustainable'Beekeeping'' Jose''Ponce' Andean'Lupine'the'next'generation'of'Superfoods' Ashwathi' Investigating'the'efficacy'of'various'adjuvants'in'enhancing'anti5tumor'immunity' Puravankara'Menon' generated'by'Tumor'Membrane'Vesicle'(TMV)'vaccines'in'murine'breast'cancer' model'TUBO':'A'Project'Proposal' Ashwathi' Are'Men'and'Women'Portrayed'Differently'in'Obituaries?:'A'Keyword'List'Analysis' Puravankara'Menon' William'Reis' Inhibition'of'PDE7'in'the'Proximal'Tubule'Reduces'Immune'Responses'Leading'to' Chronic'Allograft'Nephropathy' Hannah''Schwartz'' Infertility'if'Flies'with'Galactosemia'' Joan'Shang' Generation'of'Isogenic'Human'Induced'Pluripotent'Stem'Cell'Lines'to''Model' Amyotrophic'Lateral'Sclerosis' Michelle'Tsai' Inbreeding'and'Parasite'Susceptibility'of'Monarch'Butterflies' Ugochi/Catherine' A'Norovirus'Concentration'Protocol'for'Environmental'Samples' Uzoigwe/Wei' Amy'Wang' Impact'of'expressing'magnetosome'membrane'associated'genes' Heather'Wang' The'Acquisition'of'Mental'State'Verbs'in'English5'and'Chinese5Speaking'Children' Sarah'Wang' Syllabic'Complexity'and'Speech'Errors'in'Children' Jasmine'Williams' NADPH'Oxidases'Mediate'Zinc'Deficiency5Induced'Upregulation'of'the'Sodium' Chloride'Cotransporter' Matthew'Wu' Vulnerability'of'VMAT25deficient'Mice'to'Parkinson’s5like'Degeneration'Following' Exposure'to'H1N1'Seasonal'Influenza'Virus' Ziqi'Wu' Indole'and'its'impact'on'immune'system'of'C.elegans' Thomas'Xia' L1'C.'elegans'demonstrate'preferential'chemotaxis'towards'Lactobacillus' rhamnosus'GG'(LGG)' Junyan'Xia' Investigation'of'the'influence'of'endosymbiont'Burkholderia'on'the'immunity'of' Anasa'tristis' Li'Yun' Expression'of'Membrane'Progesterone'Receptor'Alpha'in'Human'Benigh'Prostatic' hyperplasia'Is'Associated'with'Pre5Surgical'Treatment'of'Finasteride' Youyun'Zheng' Screening'of'anti5cancer'drug'based'on'the'tumor'specific'interaction'between' p110ι5E545K'and'IRS1' '
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Research&Partners&Symposium& ' PRESENTER&NAME& Kiran'Ali'
TITLE&OF&PRESENTATION& The'Relationship'of'a'Novel'Tennis'Stroke'Efficiency'Rating'and'Injury'Risk'in' Competitive'Tennis'Players' Reilly'Allison' A'Split5Luciferase'Assay'to'Quantify'the'Assembly'of'mRNA5protein'complexes' Ryan'Ashiqueali' A'Social'Paradigm'for'Auditory'Learning'in'Mice' Omer'Ashmaig' Reversing'the'Effects'of'Epilepsy'on'Rats'Using'Stimulation'Parameters'on'the' Hippocampus' Margaret'Avera' Islamic'Political'Philosophy' Jordan''Baker5Tealer' Pre5Emptive'Piracy'' Joshua'Batista' Early'Attenuation'of'Multiple'Sclerosis'with'DC5Infused'Hydrogel' Chris'Batterman' Viral'vectors'as'a'possible'treatment'for'the'underlying'causes'of'anxiety5related' diseases' Talia'Bernhard' Unmet'Mental'Health'Needs'Among'Cancer'Survivors'in'Georgia' Rachel'Brenner' Invalidation'and'Adolescent'Self5Harm' Ashley'Brown' Using'Plain'Language'Pamphlets'to'Improve'Patient'Understanding'' Varsha'Chiruvella' Novel'Optogenetic'Approach'to'Controlling'Neuronal'Activity'in'Rats' Nowrin'Chowdhury' The'effects'of'a'modified'virus'(MVA'B13R)'on'delaying'cell'death'in'HeLa'cells'' Katherine'Cooper' Systems'of'Sizing'in'American'Fashion:'A'Cultural'Historical'Approach' Christella' Optimizing'Ideal'Conditions'for'the'Formation'of'Amyloid'Templates' Dhammaputri' Jose'Ruben'Diaz' The'Middle'Class'Mexican'experience:'A'case'study'of'discrimination'in'Atlanta''' Vasquez' Andy'Dong' Impact'of'Mitral'Regurgitation'Severity'on'Outcomes'for'Heart'Failure'Patients' Rachel'DuVivier' Externally'and'Self5Rated'Fine'Motor'Skill'Performance'in'Parkinson'Disease:' Before'and'After'Adapted'Tango' Grace'Essien' High'Fat'High'Fructose'Diet'as'a'Model'of'Peripheral'Inflammation' Mekleet'Faltamo' Pediatric'Visitation'Policies:'Current'Practice'and'Opinions' Alana'Ferreira' Acquisition'and'utilization'of'healthcare'information'in'the'era'of'social'media' Cassandra'Fierro' Identifying'topological'specificity'of'plasticity'induction'by'PAS' Olivia'Fogel' Productivity'and'Network'Allocation'Decisions:'Effect'of'Gender' Jennifer'Fundora' Assessing'Vehicle'Emissions'and'Fuel'Quality'Standards'Globally' Nicholas'Green' HIV515induced'microRNAs'Regulate'ALOX5'Expression'and'Pulmonary' Hypertension' Jakayla'Hart' What’s'bad?:'Children’s'rankings'of'transgressions'across'cultures' Abigail'Hensley' The'Neutralization'of'HCV'through'SRB51'Antibodies' Nancy'Holbrook' Acquisition'of'gut'microbial'community'in'monarch'butterflies' Jocelyn'Hong' Let's'Talk'About'It:'The'Gendered'Racialization'of'Sexual'Violence' Christina'Hughley' Investigation'of'Molecular'Mimicry'in'Mice'Inoculated'with'Listeria'
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Anaïs'Hussung' Kenny'Igarza' AshleyAnne'James' Hang'Jiang' Sereena'Jivraj' Lina'Jowhar' Schnawaz'Khan' Umar'Khan' Sajal'Kulhari' Karen'Lou' Kino'Maravillas' Roshan'Modi' Almas'Myrzatay' Amelia'Nahum' Leah'Neiman' Varoon'Pazhyanur' Carolyn'Perry' Jacob'Potts' Emma'Jost5Price' Amanda'Ramirez' Lydia'Rautman' Alexa'Rendon' Kristine' Rosenberger' Ujjwal'Sahni' Branca'Sanchez' Marina'Stephens' Xu'Wang' Rohan'Yarlagadda' Kimberly'Zaldana' Xiancong'Zhang' Xiaoting'Zhang'
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Descriptive'and'Substantive'Representation'in'African5American'State'Legislators' Exposure'to'hexabromocyclododecane'alters'the'expression'of'Parkinson’s' Disease5related'proteins.'' 'Assessment'of'Recovery'from'Geriatric'Ankle'Fracture'Using'The'Life'Space' Mobility'Questionnaire' Chinese'grammar'vs'English'grammar'in'Universal'Dependency' Evaluation'of'effectiveness'of'neural'progenitor'stem'cell'therapy'in'Huntington’s' mouse'model'using'quantitative'gait'analysis' Sporulation'Regulation'Pathway'in'C.'Difficile'' Investigation'of'Head'and'Neck'Squamous'Cell'Carcinoma'cell'lines'for'the'role'of' p53'' Creating'a'multivariable'reinforcement'learning'model'for'the'behavior'of'C.' elegans' Distinct'Behavioral'Patterns'in'Response'to'CS+and'CS5'During'Differential'Fear' Conditioning'in'Rats' The'African'American'Dream:'Evolution,'Variation'and'Obstacles' Symbiont'Density'in'Megacopta'Cribaria' Fibromuscular'Dysplasia' Promises,'Commitment,'and'Conflict:'An'Experimental'Test'of'Productive' Efficiency'with'Informal'Contract'Enforcement' Visualizing'Characteristics'of'Counties'in'the'Slave'South' Was'the'Nike'of'Samothrace'Covered?'Crucial'Evidence'Just'“Lion”'Around' Whatcha'Watching?'Cable'News'Network'Coverage'of'Human'Rights' 'Do'People'Become'More'Racist'During'Recessions?' Do'Nuclear'Treaties'Stop'the'Spread'of'Nuclear'Weapons?' The'Death'of'G.B.'Falda'and'the'Dangers'of'Etching'in'the'17th'Century' Evaluation'of'Experimental'Anti5cryptosporidial'Drugs'in'Mice' Predicting'a'Characteristic'Profile'for'Primate5Associated'Zoonoses' The'Emotional'Aspects'of'Episodic'Memory:'Transcription'of'Brief'Episodic' Memory'while'in'fMRI'Scanner' Socioeconomic'Status,'Family'Background'and'Health'Behaviors'in'College' Students' Direct'reprogramming'of'mesenchymal'stem'cells'to'endothelial'cells'by'ETV2' Assimilation'or'Acculturation?'How'Immigrant'Social'Class'in'Mexico'is'Linked'to' Their'Social'Mobility'Strategies'in'the'U.S.' Water'in'the'Sanctuary'of'the'Great'Gods' The'effect'of'stress'on'loss'of'heterozygosity'in'Candida'albicans' Developing'Novel'Treatment'for'Pulmonary'Hypertension' The'effects'of'antibiotics'on'the'P.'vulgaris'HigBA'toxin5antitoxin'system' Role'of'Vascular'Dysfunction'in'Alzheimer's'Disease' Investigate'and'Compare'Chemical'Compositions'in'Ginkgo'Biloba'Products''
Jingru'Zhao' Samuel'Zinga'
Changes'in'Protein'Expression'and'its'Effect'on'Pulmonary'Hypertension' Pathogenesis'' Probing'the'Reaction'of'Methylamine'and'Ozone'for'the'Study'of'Prebiotic' Molecules'
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& Oral&Presentations& & PRESENTER&NAME& Hannah'Rose' Blakeley' Gabriela'Guefen' Meghan'Hickey' Abigail'Holst' Wilson'Hunt' Daniel'Kikuchi' Trinity'Kronk' Timothy'Libecap' Margaret'Martinez' Samoni'Nag' Alexandra''Nutaitis' Lokita'Rajan' Grace'Swaim' Lauren'Taylor' Ansley'Unterberger' Dalila'Vazquez' Herrera' Stephanie'Wahab' '
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TITLE&OF&PRESENTATION& Online'Exhibition'of'Works'by'Belgian'Symbolist'Printmaker'FŽlicien'Rops'(18335 1898)' Effective'Treatments'and'Pain'in'Juvenile'Idiopathic'Arthritis' Can'pupillometry'dissociate'fear'and'disgust?'Trypophobia'as'a'test'case.'' Chinese'Propaganda'Posters'in'MaoÕs'Patriotic'Health'Movements:'From'Four' Pests'to'SARS' Southern'Perceptions'of'Risk'Factors'of'Type'II'Diabetes' Exploring'the'mechanism'by'which'Poldip2'enhances'oxidative'DNA'damage'' ÊRole'of'Interleukin56''and'Interleukin56'Receptor'Alpha'Within'the'Distal' Nephron:'Transactivation'of'the'Mineralocorticoid'Receptor.' Stereological'Analysis'of'Prefrontal'GABAergic'Interneurons'following'Neonatal' Hippocampal'Lesion'in'Rhesus'monkeys' Is'there'a'relationship'between'synesthesia'and'crossmodal'correspondences?' ''Location'and'Featural'Cue'Integration'in'Early'Childhood' Diet'may'be'a'Modifiable'Risk'Factor'for'Cognitive'Decline'in'African'Americans' and'Caucasians'at'High'Risk'for'Developing'AlzheimerÕs'Disease:'A'Pilot'Study'of' the'Southern'and'Prudent'Diets.'' Are'there'two'types'of'auditory'imagers?' Lithium'Treatment'Ameliorates'Acute'Kidney'Injury'by'Inducing'Anti5Apoptotic' Factors' Individual'imagery'preferences'predict'speed'of'bistable'figure'perception' Psychopathy'and'Pride:'Implications'for'Antisocial'and'Prosocial'Behaviors' From'Yucuquimi'to'the'United'States:'translating'medicine'through'intercultural' communication' The'Origins'of'Scene'Processing'
Albert&Amran& The'Impact'of'High5Fat'Diet5Induced'Inflammation'on'CNS'Immune'Traffic' Albert'Y.'Amran,'Kathryn'P.'MacPherson,'and'Malú'G.'Tansey,'PhD.'Emory'University'
&
Chronic'inflammation'in'the'periphery'is'strongly'associated'with'the'development'of'age5related' neurodegenerative'diseases'such'as'Alzheimer’s'and'Parkinson’s'Disease.'Consumption'of'high5calorie'diets' over'time'has'been'shown'to'generate'both'a'peripheral'as'well'as'a'CNS'inflammatory'response.'Over' time,'high5calorie'diet5induced'inflammation'could'mimic'the'conditions'found'in'neurodegenerative' disease.'This'finding'is'particularly'relevant'in'the'case'of'individuals'affected'by'metabolic'disorders,'whom' are'also'at'a'higher'risk'for'the'development'of'Alzheimer’s'Disease.'Inflamed'brains'contain'elevated' amounts'of'peripheral'immune'cells,'which'have'also'been'implicated'as'potential'agents'for'the'escalation' of'the'inflammation'in'the'CNS.'To'examine'the'impact'of'high5fat'high5fructose'(HFHF)'diets'on'peripheral' immune'infiltration'of'the'CNS,'we'used'reporter'mice'in'which'red'fluorescent'protein'(RFP)'was'knocked' into'the'Ccr2'locus.'CCR2'is'an'essential'protein'for'traffic'of'peripheral'innate'immune'cells'into'the'brain.' Hemizygous'(CCR2/RFP)'mice'with'a'single'copy'of'Ccr2'and'one'copy'of'RFP'driven'by'the'same'gene' promoter'and'homozygous'(RFP/RFP)'mice'devoid'of'all'CCR2'protein'will'enable'us'to'track'and' quantitatively'compare'populations'of'trafficking'monocytes'in'brain'between'genotypes'using'flow' cytometry'and'immunohistology.'Completion'of'these'studies'will'directly'establish'the'role'of'CCR2'in'diet5 induced'neuro5inflammation'mediated'by'infiltration'of'peripheral'immune'cells'into'the'CNS.'''
& & Maria&Berce&
Early&Postnatal&T3.Induced&Cardiomyocyte&Replication&& Maria'Berce,'Nawazish'Naqvi'PhD,'Ahsan'Husain'PhD,'Lin'Tan'PhD''
&
Thyroid'hormone'(T3)5mediated'cardiomyocyte'replication'increases'the'cardiomyocyte'population'during' preadolescence'(Naqvi'et'al.,'Cell'2014).'Here,'we'study'the'molecular'mechanism'of'T35mediated' activation'of'the'cell'cycle'in'early'postnatal'cardiomyocytes.'We'hypothesized'that'T35mediated'H2O2' production'induces'mitogenic'IGF51'signaling'leading'to'cell'cycle'activation'in'cardiomyocytes.'In'order'to' determine'whether'T35mediated'H2O2'production'by'cardiomyocytes'is'due'to'increased'oxidative' phosphorylation,'we'examined'differences'in'gene'expression'in'T35treated'and'non'T35treated' cardiomyocytes.'We'found'that'T3'significantly'increases'the'expression'of'IGF51'as'well'genes'involved'in' the'electron'transport'chain'activity.'These'findings'support'our'hypothesis'that'T3'mediated'increase'in' H2O2'activates'the'mitogenic'IGF51'pathway'leading'to'the'proliferation'of'cardiac'muscle'cells.'In'mice,' cardiomyocytes'become'binuclear'by'postnatal'day'7'(P7).'Binuclear'cardiomyocytes'are'considered' terminally'differentiated.'Terminal'differentiation'is'the'loss'of'ability'to'divide.'However,'our'results' suggest'cardiomyocytes'proliferate'beyond'the'neonatal'period'when'the'cardiomyocyte'population'is' mostly'binuclear.'Our'findings'suggest'that'T3'is'a'mitogen'for'cardiomyocytes.'Here'we'examined'whether' T3'induces'binuclear'post5neonatal'cardiomyocytes'to'reenter'the'cell'cycle'by'EdU'labelling.'Mice'injected' T3'at'P7'showed'a'55fold'increase'in'cell'cycle'activity'compared'to'vehicle'treated'controls.'We'conclude' that'T3'functions'as'a'cardiomyocyte'mitogen'in'early'postnatal'cardiomyocytes'through'H2O2/IGF51' signaling.'These'preclinical'studies'suggesting'thyroid'hormone'as'a'mitogen'have'therapeutic'implications' for'congenital'and'acquired'heart'diseases.''''
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Sydney&Berger' Autosomal&Gene&Regulation&by&Dosage&Compensation& Sydney'Berger''Jordan'Rowley,'PhD'Emory'University'''Victor'Corces,'PhD'Emory'University''
&
Sex'chromosome'expression'is'regulated'by'a'process'called'dosage'compensation'in'many'eukaryotic' organisms.'Dosage'compensation'is'a'mechanism'by'which'males'and'females'can'obtain'equal'expression' of'sex'chromosomes'despite'having'differing'numbers'of'that'chromosome.'In'mammals'long'non5coding' RNA'(lncRNA)'directs'histone'modification'to'silence'one'of'the'X'chromosomes'in'females;'similarly,'D.' melanogaster'uses'lncRNA'to'control'histone'modifications,'however'dosage'compensation'occurs'in'males' to'increase'the'expression'of'the'X'chromosome'roughly'two5fold.'The'lncRNA,'ROX2,'is'located'on'many' sites'on'the'X'chromosome'to'promote'up'regulation'of'gene'expression'via'a'mechanism'involving'histone' hyperacetylation.'These'ROX2'target'sites,'although'distinct'sites'along'the'X'chromosome,'have'been' found'to'be'located'in'close'three5dimensional'proximity'to'the'ROX2'gene,'such'that'ROX2'genomic' targets'interact'with'the'site'of'ROX2'synthesis.'Interestingly,'ROX2'was'found'to'also'target'discrete' locations'on'autosomal'chromosomes'in'D.'melanogaster.'We'propose'that'these'ROX2'targets'on' autosomal'chromosomes'are'also'interacting'with'those'on'the'X'chromosome.'By'using'FISH,'we'aim'to' demonstrate''
& & Juan&Caceres&
Impact&of&the&addition&of&a&signal&sequence&to&deliver&a&multi.stage&vaccine&against&Plasmodium&vivax& using&a&recombinant&simian&adenovirus&vector&and&a&heterologous&prime.boost&immunization®imen& Juan'Caceres1,'Monica'Cabrera5Mora2,'Jairo'Fonseca2,'Igor'Dimitriev3,'David'Curiel3,'and'Alberto' Moreno2'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences1,'Emory'Vaccine'Center,'Yerkes'National'Primate'Research' Center2,'Washington'University'in'St.'Louis,'School'of'Medicine3''
&
Plasmodium'infections'still'pose'a'serious'threat'to'public'health'worldwide.'Although'many'vaccines'have' been'developed,'none'have'been'able'to'provide'a'balanced'immune'response.'The'difficulty'in'making'an' effective'vaccine'can'be'explained'by'the'complexity'of'the'host5parasite'interaction,'as'the'parasite' expresses'several'antigens'during'its'life'cycle.'As'a'result,'it'is'imperative'to'develop'vaccines'that'target' antigens'from'multiple'stages'of'the'parasite.'We'conducted'a'proof5of'concept'study'to'test'the'effect'of' the'inclusion'of'a'signal'sequence'for'protein'secretion'on'the'immunogenicity'of'a'multistage'malaria' vaccine'that'we'had'previously'tested,'which'was'delivered'as'a'transgene'in'a'Simian'Adenoviral'vector' (SAd36).'This'transgene'included'the'sequences'of'two'highly'immunogenic'P.vivax'chimeric'recombinant' proteins'previously'developed'by'our'group:'PvRMC5CSP,'which'targets'the'pre5erythrocytic'antigen' circumsporozoite'protein'(CSP)'and'PvRMC5MSP1,'which'targets'the'erythrocytic'stage'antigen'merozoite' surface'protein'1'(MSP51).'Furthermore,'we'used'a'heterologous'Adenoviral'prime5'Protein'boost' immunization'regimen'that'we'had'developed'in'previous'studies.'Our'results'indicate'that'mice' immunized'with'the'adenoviral'vector'that'included'the'signal'sequence'exhibit'significantly'higher' antibody'titers'after'priming'and'significantly'higher'levels'of'IgG2a'when'compared'to'mice'immunized' with'the'adenoviral'vector'lacking'the'signal'sequence.'These'results'confirm'our'hypothesis'that'the' addition'of'a'signal'sequence'improves'immunogenicity'of'our'vaccine'regimen,'making'it'a'promising' candidate'for'further'examination'and'development.'
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Sarah&Cassel' Use&of&Inclusive&Pronouns&by&Children&with&ASD& Sarah'Cassel,'Emory'University'
&
Research'has'found'that'Theory'of'Mind'and'language'development'play'significant'roles'in'children’s' language'outputs.''The'current'study'aims'to'determine'two'different'aspects'of'speech'from'children'with' an'Autism'Spectrum'Disorder'(ASD):'if'the'use'of'non5inclusive'pronouns'is'more'frequent'in'speech'than' inclusive'pronouns;'and'whether'the'use'of'inclusive'pronouns'in'a'child’s'language'differs'between' children'with'ASD'and'typically'developing,'or'TD,'children.''Using'the'Nadig'corpora'(Nadig,'2008),'we' calculated'the'frequency'of'commonly'occurring'inclusive'pronouns'(“we”,'“us”,'“our”)'across'children'with' ASD'and'a'control'group'of'TD'children'matched'for'MLU.''Results'show'that'children'with'ASD'use' generally'fewer'inclusive'pronouns'than'TD'children.''These'finding'suggest'that'the'types'of'pronouns' used'by'children'with'ASD,'as'well'as'the'frequency'of'the'types'used'(tokens),'differ'from'those'used'by'TD' children,'and'that'general'language'use'may'differ'along'with'the'development'or'lack'of'Theory'of'Mind.'
& & Sophie&Cemaj&
Synthesis,&Characterization,&and&Catalytic&Oxidation&Studies&of&First.Row&Copper&and&Cobalt&Complexes& Supported&by&Redox.Active&Ligands& Carli'Kovel,'Emory'University,'Jessica'Elinburg,'Emory'University,'Omar'Villanueva,'Emory'University,'John' Bacsa,'Emory'University,'Cora'MacBeth,'PhD'Emory'University,''
&
The'ability'to'selectively'oxidize'organic'substrates'represents'a'major'goal'of'current'chemical'research,' from'transforming'petrochemical'feedstock'into'industrially'utile'chemicals'to'functionalizing'molecules'for' pharmaceutical'pursuits.''Although'great'strides'have'been'made'in'this'field'with'the'use'of'second'and' third5row'transition'metal'catalysts,'these'metals'are'environmentally'scarce'and'economically'costly.'In' biology,'metalloenzymes'with'active'sites'incorporating'first5row'transition'metals,'such'as'galactose' oxidase'often'catalyze'selective'oxidation'reactions'using'environmentally'abundant'dioxygen'as'a'terminal' oxidant.'Inspired'by'model'enzyme'systems'and'green'chemistry,'this'project'reports'on'the'preparation' and'characterization'of'cobalt'and'copper'complexes'supported'by'redox5active'ligands.'The'project'further' explores'the'reactivity'profiles'of'the'complexes'with'dioxygen'and'a'variety'of'organic'substrates.'Through' the'success'of'this'project,'the'selective'oxidation'of'organic'substrates'could'be'greatly'reduced'in'price' while'becoming'an'environmentally'friendly'alternative'to'previous'reactions.'
& & & & & & & &
8
Jeffrey&Chen& Prosocial&Effects&of&MDMA&on&Socially.Housed&Squirrel&Monkeys& Jeffrey'Chen,'Emory'University'Elizabeth'Pitts,'Emory'University'Leonard'Howell,'Emory'University'
&
Since'MDMA'was'first'synthesized'in'1970,'it'has'been'commonly'used'as'a'recreational'psychostimulant' drug,'Ecstasy.'However,'recent'clinical'trials'indicate'that'MDMA'decreases'symptoms'of'post5traumatic' stress'disorder'(PTSD)'in'treatment'resistant'patients.'The'social'effects'of'MDMA'are'thought'to'be' important'in'its'therapeutic'efficacy'for'PTSD.'This'particular'study'researched'the'affiliative'social' behaviors'and'vocalizations'in'squirrel'monkeys'when'treated'with'MDMA.'This'study'is'the'first'of'its'kind' on'non5human'primates.'The'current'study'examined'whether'individual'enantiomers'of'MDMA'would' induce'similar'prosocial'behaviors'in'squirrel'monkeys'as'the'racemic'mixture.'This'study'used'four'group5 housed'squirrel'monkeys.'The'subjects'were'then'treated'with'the'same'dose'of'racemic,'S(+)'or'R(5)' MDMA'and'videotaped'for'one'hour.'The'monkeys'were'scored'in'a'randomized'order'for'five5minute' intervals,'which'each'monkey'scored'for'15'minutes'in'the'60'minute'interval.'The'behaviors'scored'were' huddling,'locomotion,'self5grooming,'and'residual.'Both'the'S(+)'and'R(5)'isomers'and'racemic'MDMA' induced'an'increase'in'affiliative'social'behaviors'(i.e.'huddling).'S(+),'R(5)'and'racemic'MDMA'induced' comparable'amounts'of'huddling'behavior,'49%,'70%,'and'60%,'respectively.'Future'directions'for'this' study'are'to'understand'what'mechanisms'underlie'MDMA5induced'social'behavior.'
& & Sung&Hoon&Cho&
Molecular&cloning&of&mCherry&into&eGFP.Vpr.pMM310&plasmid& Sung'Hoon'Cho,'Emory'University' Single5virus'tracking'is'a'unique'technique'that'utilizes'fluorescence'materials'to'observe'the'activity'of'an' individual'virus'particle'or'viral'components'in'living'cells.'A'first'step'towards'developing'a'fluorescent' virus'is'to'label'the'viral'component'(protein'or'lipids)'with'sufficient'amounts'of'fluorescent'probes.' Fluorescent'labeling'of'the'viral'components'is'achieved'either'by'chemical'labeling'strategies'or'by'the' direct'fusion'of'fluorescent'proteins'to'the'viral'components.'An'advantage'of'fluorescent'protein'fusions' to'viral'component'is'that'they'enable'the'in5vivo'monitoring'of'the'various'stages'of'the'viral'life'cycle.'The' DNA'sequence'of'the'fluorescent'protein'must'be'inserted'into'the'plasmid'encoding'target'viral'protein'in' a'sequential'manner'(either'N5terminal'or'C5terminal'fusion'proteins).'The'labeling'process'happens'during' the'viral'protein'expression.'Using'these'techniques'researchers'have'elucidated'various'events'in'HIV51'life' cycle'by'quantitative'microscopy'based'assays.'The'aim'of'my'project'is'to'develop'a'new'fluorescent' marker'that'can'be'used'to'detect'fused'eGFP5Vpr'HIV51'complexes'from'those'that'reside'in'endosomes.' To'accomplish'this'goal,'we'have'designed'and'engineered'a'recombinant'fusion'protein'by'successfully' inserting'mCherry5pc'into'eGFP5Vpr5pMM310'plasmid'
& & & & & &
9
Scott& Clanton& Selective&optical&stimulation&of&sensory&neurons&does¨enerate&motor&axons& Scott'Clanton,'P.'Jill'Ward,'Arthur'English'
&
Injuries'to'the'peripheral'nervous'system'(PNS)'is'common,'however'functional'recovery'without' intervention'is'rare'and'usually'incomplete.'The'English'lab'has'previously'shown'that'by'stimulating' injured'neurons'and'increasing'their'activity,'axon'grown'and'functional'recovery'is'enhanced.'Until' recently,'axons'were'typically'stimulated'with'either'increased'exercise'or'the'addition'of'electric'current.' New'methods'allow'for'stimulation'of'axons'through'optical'methods,'by'shining'a'light'on'an'axon'that' expresses'a'light5sensitive'ion'channel,'in'this'case'Channelrhodopsin'(ChR).'Using'modern'gene'splicing' technology,'we'can'control'where'and'to'what'degree'this'ion'channel'is'expressed.'In'this'study,'ChR' expression'was'limited'to'the'sensory'neurons'to'create'a'method'of'stimulation'that'stimulated'only' sensory'axons'while'avoiding'motor'axons.'9'mice'had'their'left'and'right'sciatic'nerve'severed,'and'the' right'side'was'stimulated'using'laser'optics.'After'4'weeks,'the'stimulated'side'of'the'mouse'was'shown'to' have'a'much'higher'degree'of'regeneration'in'the'sensory'neurons,'while'the'motoneurons'showed'no' enhanced'recovery.'Beyond'this,'only'the'sensory'neurons'that'expressed'ChR'showed'enhanced' regeneration,'whereas'the'ChR5'sensory'axons'did'not'show'enhanced'regeneration.'From'this,'we' conclude'that'unstimulated'axons'do'not'show'enhanced'regeneration'due'to'stimulation'of'the'axons'in' the'proximity,'and'only'those'directly'stimulated'experience'enhanced'regeneration.'
& & Hannah&Conway&
Behind&the&Lens&of&the&Civil&Rights&Movement:&The&Power&of&Photography&for&Both&Revealing&and& Concealing&History&& Hannah'Conway'
&
"Behind'the'Lens'of'the'Civil'Rights'Movement:'The'Power'of'Photography'for'Both'Revealing'and' Concealing'History"'by'Hannah'Conway'explores'the'way'the'most'iconic'and'familiarized'photos'of'the' Civil'Rights'Movement'offer'only'a'reductive'reality'of'history'by'their'tendency'to'reinforce'a'simplistic' narrative,'and'subsequently'deny'true'historic'complexity.'In'order'to'substantiate'this'argument,'the' paper'begins'with'an'account'from'renowned'civil'rights'photographer,'Charles'Moore,'and'goes'on'to' analyze'various'photographs'from'1955'to'present'day,'ultimately'exploring'the'ways'in'which'a'complex' history'is'made'too'simple'when'it's'captured'with'a'shutter.'While'still'acknowledging'the'indisputable' power'of'photography'as'an'art'form,'this'paper'urges'the'reader'to'become'a'more'diligent'student'and' viewer'of'art'by'shedding'light'on'the'complex'relationship'among'information,'representation,'and' historical'truth.'''
& & & & & &
10
Cameron&Coppala& Making&heads&or&tails&of&idiom&processing:&Semantic&transparency,&syntactic&flexibility,&and&the&lexical& representation&of&idioms&& Adam'Cameron'Coppala,'Emory'University'Marjorie'Pak,'PhD,'Emory'University'
&
Idioms'are'conventionalized,'non5compositional'phrases'with'idiomatic'meanings'different'from'their' literal'meanings.'Idioms'differ'in'both'their'degree'of'semantic'transparency'and'syntactic'flexibility,'two' properties'which'have'previously'been'assumed'to'affect'the'lexical'status'of'idioms'in'the'mind.'This'thesis' examines'how'these'two'properties'influence'idiom'processing'and'draws'conclusions'about'the'status'of' idioms'in'the'lexicon'based'on'these'findings.'Through'a'replication'of'a'survey'by'Gibbs'&'Nayak'(1989)' while'controlling'for'methodological'concerns'in'the'original'study,'support'was'found'for'the'Idiom' Decomposition'Hypothesis,'which'states'that'speakers'have'shared'intuitions'about'idioms’'semantic' transparency,'and'that'more'transparent'idioms'tend'to'be'more'syntactically'flexible.'Next,'processing' was'examined'via'lexical'decision'task,'a'paradigm'that'had'not'yet'been'applied'to'idiom'comprehension.' Results'showed'that'in'general,'when'an'idiom'is'encountered,'the'literal'meaning'of'each'individual'word' is'accessed,'and'then'the'figurative'meaning'is'accessed'shortly'after'this'compositional'meaning'is' computed.'Further,'these'results'did'not'seem'to'differ'systematically'when'comparing'transparent,' opaque,'flexible,'or'inflexible'idioms,'suggesting'that'these'properties'have'minimal'influence'on' processing'method.'Implications'for'the'lexical'status'of'idioms'in'the'mind'are'discussed.'Finally,'idiom' frequency'is'examined'as'a'potential'variable'of'interest,'and'directions'for'future'study'are'suggested.'
& & Ayman&Elmasri&
Role&of&the&Dopamine&4&Receptor&in&Ocular&Development&and&Myopia&Susceptibility& Ayman'Elmasri,'Michael'Bergen,'Erica'Landis,'Ranjay'Chakraborty'PhD,'Machelle'Pardue'PhD'
&
Purpose:'The'neuromodulator'dopamine'(DA)'has'been'implicated'in'the'prevention'of'excessive'ocular' elongation'and'myopia'in'various'animal'models.'A'previous'study'explored''the'retina5specific'knockout'of' DA'in'mice'using'tyrosine'hydroxylase,'and'demonstrated'that'the'mice'without'retinal'DA'had'steeper,' thinner'corneas,'shorter'axial'lengths,'and'more'myopic'refractions,'supporting'the'hypothesis'that'DA'is'a' stop'signal'for'refractive'development.'DA'acts'on'a'five'different'dopamine'receptors'in'the'retina.'This' study'utilized'retina5specific'dopamine'D4'receptor'knockout'mice'to'investigate'the'role'of'the'dopamine' D4'receptor'in'refractive'development'and'susceptibility'to'experimental'myopia.'''Methods:' Measurements'of'refractive'error,'corneal'curvature,'and'ocular'biometrics'were'obtained'as'a'function'of' age'for'both'untreated'(refractive'development,'RD)'and'form'deprived'(FD)'groups'of'retina5specific' dopamine'receptor'D4'knockout'(D4KO)'and'control'(ctrl)'mice.'Retinas'from'each'group'will'be'analyzed' by'High'Performance'Liquid'Chromatography'(HPLC)'for'levels'of'DA'and'its'primary'metabolite,''3,45 dihydroxyphenylacetic'acid'(DOPAC).'''Results:'Under'normal'visual'conditions,'D4KO'mice'did'not'show' significantly'larger'myopic'shifts'than'controls'in'the'FD'paradigm,'along'with'no'significance'in'the'RD' paradigm'between'D4KO'and'controls.'The'DA'HPLC'data'has'not'been'analyzed'yet.'''Conclusions:'The' results'support'the'hypothesis'that'the'retina5specific'dopamine'D4'receptor'is'not'directly'implicated'in' neither'refractive'development'nor'myopic'susceptibility.'
&
11
& Katie&Grams& Planting&the&Seeds&of&Sustainability& Katie'Grams'
&
Sustainability'is'a'trans5generational'issue'by'nature.'Therefore,'rearing'children'should'be'a'priority'for' pioneers'and'leaders'of'sustainability.'Because'the'Brundtland'Report'of'1987'defines'sustainability'as' meeting'the'needs'of'the'present'without'hindering'future'generations'from'meeting'their'own'needs,'it'is' crucial'to'raise'upcoming'generations'to'be'a'people'who'are'concerned'with'the'welfare'of'our'planet'as' well'as'the'welfare'of'communities'across'the'globe.'Therefore,'it'is'necessary'to'research'the'ways'that' sustainability'can'be'effectively'transmitted'and'communicated'to'children.'One'avenue'of'sustainability' curriculum'in'schools'that'is'currently'being'explored'is'school'gardens.'Through'a'literature'review'and' case'study'conducted'at'the'Burgess5Peterson'Academy'School'Garden'Cafe,'my'research'explores'the' topic'of'food'sustainability'curriculum'in'order'to'understand'its'impact'on'students.'In'doing'so,'we'can' better'understand'the'role'of'education'in'shaping'a'student's'values,'and'thus,'can'make'more'informed' decisions'to'invest'in'a'robust'and'comprehensive'food'sustainability'curriculum'in'schools.'From'my' research,'I'have'found'that'school'gardens'introduce'students'to'concepts'within'the'field'of'sustainability' early'on'in'life'by'creating'a'greater'connection'with'their'food'and'therefore'with'the'earth;'the' interdisciplinary'nature'of'school'gardens'prepares'students'for'a'future'in'which'sustainability'has' increased'salience'in'society.'
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
12
Jakayla&Hart& What’s&bad?:&Children’s&rankings&of&transgressions&across&cultures& Jakayla'Hart'and'Philippe'Rochat,'PhD'Emory'University,'Department'of'Psychology' '' Previous'work'on'code5switching'(i.e.,'cultural'adaptation)'has'focused'on'the'anthropological,'sociological,' and'psychological'consequences'of'sociolinguistic'code5switching.'However,'there'is'little'work'exploring' moral'code5switching'or'adaptation'of'ideas'of'right'and'wrong'depending'on'cultural'context.'In'this'study,' I'aim'to'1)'examine'rankings'of'transgressions'across'cultures'(Ni5Vanuatu,'US'White,'and'US'Black)'and'2)' explore'the'phenomenon'of'moral'code5switching'by'gauging'the'influence'of'context'(home,'school,'and' church)'on'rankings'of'transgressions'within'cultures.'Across'cultures'and'independent'of'either'age'or' context,'children'show'remarkable'consistency'in'their'rankings,'except'for'disobedience.'The'results'are' interpreted'as'a'demonstration'of'universal'moral'concerns'expressed'from'an'early'age.'The'single' difference'is'interpreted'in'relation'to'the'highly'contrasted'cultures'of'US'and'Vanuatu.''
& & Ziad&Jowhar&
SUMOylation&Regulates&Steady.State&Levels&of&Base&Excision&Repair&Protein,&Ntg1& Ziad'M.'Jowhar1,2,'Annie'J.'McPherson1,3,'Dan'Swartzlander1,'Kristin'L.'Limpose1,4,''Paul'W.' Doetsch1,5,6,7'and'Anita'H.'Corbett1,5'1Department'of'Biochemistry,'2Initiative'in'Maximizing'Student' Development,'3Graduate'Program'in'Genetics'and'Molecular'Biology,'4Graduate'Program'in'Cancer' Biology,'5Winship'Cancer'Institute,'6Department'of'Radiation'Oncology,'7Department'of'Hematology'and' Medical'Oncology.''Emory'University'School'of'Medicine,'Atlanta,'GA'30322''
&
Oxidative'DNA'damage'in'response'to'normal'cellular'events'e.g.'mitochondrial'respiration,'present'a' major'threat'to'genome'integrity.'Base'Excision'Repair'(BER),'is'the'major'repair'pathway'of'oxidative'DNA' damage,'but'its'regulatory'mechanisms'are'unknown.'Our'studies'have'addressed'this'gap'by'focusing'on' Saccharomyces'cerevisiae'Ntg1,'a'BER'protein'that'recognizes'and'excises'oxidized'base'lesions.'Our' preliminary'data'show'that'Ntg1'and'human'ortholong'NTHL1'can'be'post5translationally'modified'by' SUMOylation,'suggesting'regulation'via'post5translational'modification.'To'investigate'the'functional' consequences'of'Ntg1'SUMOylation,'we'created'a'non5SUMOylatable'Ntg1'variant'(ntg1ΔSUMO).'Our' studies'suggest'that'ntg1ΔSUMO'is'less'stable'than'wildtype'Ntg1.'Based'on'this'result,'we'hypothesize' SUMOylation'of'Ntg1'is'required'to'maintain'the'steady5state'protein'levels.'Using'a'protein'stability'assay' to'determine'the'half5life'of'Ntg1,'we'analyzed'Ntg1'and'ntg1ΔSUMO'in'both'wildtype'cells'and'cells'that' contain'a'defective'form'of'the'proteasome,'which'is'required'for'the'rapid'degradation'of'protein' substrates'of'the'ubiquitin–proteasome'pathway.'Using'the'translation'inhibitor,'cycloheximide,'we' isolated'protein'turnover'from'production'and'measure'protein'half5life.'Our'study'suggests'SUMOylation' is'critical'in'modulating'Ntg1'stability.'As'the'human'NTHL1'gene,'which'encodes'the'human'ortholog'of' Ntg1,'has'been'identified'as'mutated'or'altered'in'human'cancer,'these'experiments'could'reveal'one' mode'of''regulation'critical'to'the'proper'function'of'the'initial'step'in'the'BER'pathway.'Understanding'the' regulation'of'Ntg1'provides'a'new'mode'of'regulation'for'DNA'repair.''
& & &
13
Samantha&Keng& Model&Minority&Awakenings:&Vincent&Chin,&Asian&America's&Emmett&Till& Samantha'Keng'
&
This'paper'details'how'the'racially5motivated'murder'of'Vincent'Chin,'a'Chinese5American'man,'in'1982' ignited'a'new'Asian'American'consciousness.'By'framing'Chin's'killing'in'relation'to'the'1955'lynching'of' Emmett'Till,'this'paper'highlights'how'the'American'justice'system'5'which'acquitted'the'murderers'of'both' Till'and'Chin'5'has'continuously'failed'people'of'color.'I'argue'that'after'the'Civil'Rights'Movement,'racism' only'became'more'underhanded,'not'less'pervasive.'Specifically,'racism'inflicts'wounds'on'separate'racial' groups'through'different'but'linked'oppressions.'Chin's'death'revealed'that'the'"model'minority"'myth'5'a' construct'undergirding'white'supremacy'by'coloring'Asian'Americans'as'successful'yet'docile'5'provided'no' defense'against'racial'violence.'For'Asian'Americans,'the'brutality'of'Chin's'murder'and'the'injustice'that' followed'galvanized'fierce'mobilization.'Ultimately,'this'paper'concludes'that'the'Chin'case'cast'doubt'on' the'narrative'of'progress'and'equality'in'a'"post5racial"'era.''
& & Kiana&Khosravian&
Characterizing&a&novel&transgenic&mouse&model&to&investigate&ι.synuclein&dependent&intestinal&pathology' involved'in'Parkinson’s'Disease' Kiana'P'Khosravian,'Madelyn'C'Houser,'Laura'M'Butkovich,'Malu'G'Tansey'PhD,'Emory'University'
&
Parkinson’s'disease'(PD)'is'characterized'by'the'degeneration'of'dopaminergic'neurons.'This'degeneration' is'thought'to'be'caused'by'aggregated'alpha5synuclein'found'in'Lewy'bodies'in'the'locus'coeruleus,' substantia'nigra,'and'other'brain'regions.'Studies'have'shown'that'alpha5synuclein'aggregates'can'be'found' in'the'gastrointestinal'system'of'PD'patients'before'motor'symptoms'begin,'suggesting'there'could'be'a' link'between'synuclein'aggregation'in'the'gut'and'the'brain'in'PD.'Currently'there'is'not'an'accurate'mouse' model'that'could'be'used'to'study'how'aggregated'alpha5synuclein'in'the'gut'may'contribute'to'alpha5 synuclein'aggregation'in'the'brain.'Most'models'address'and'focus'on'certain'features'of'the'disease'but'do' not'recapitulate'all'aspects'of'the'disease,'and'few'include'gut'pathology.'We'have'developed'a'new' mouse'model'to'investigate'the'role'of'alpha5synuclein'aggregation'in'degeneration'of'the'noradrenergic' system'in'PD'and'its'relationship'to'dopaminergic'neurodegeneration.'In'this'transgenic'mouse'model,' neurons'express'human'alpha5synuclein'under'the'control'of'the'dopamine'beta5hydroxylase'(DBH)' promoter.'We'expect'to'see'human'alpha5synuclein'expression,'phosphorylation'and'aggregation,'not'only' in'the'LC'of'the'transgenic'mouse'model,'but'also'in'the'noradrenergic'terminals'of'the'gut.'We'predict'that' aggregated'human''alpha5synuclein'in'the'gut'will'lead'to'intestinal'inflammation,'which'may'promote' propagation'of'alpha5synuclein'from'the'gut'to'the'central'nervous'system.'
& & & & & &
14
Julie&Youkyung&Kim& Growth,&Agency,&and&Coherence&in&Narratives&of&Self.Defining&Memories&and&Relations&to&Psychological& Well.Being& Julie'Youkyung'Kim'&'Robyn'Fivush,'Ph.D.,'Department'of'Psychology'Emory'University'
&
Both'personal'growth'and'agency'are'closely'related'to'one’s'sense'of'psychological'well5being;'the'ability' to'give'a'coherent'narrative'of'an'important,'self5defining'experience'while'conveying'a'sense'of'growth' and'agency'may'suggest,'as'well'as'predict,'one’s'psychological'well5being.'The'current'study'examines' narrative'expressions'of'growth,'agency,'and'thematic'coherence'in'narratives'of'self5defining'memories' and'their'concurrent'and'longitudinal'relations'to'psychological'well5being,'using'a'broad'array'of'well5 being'measures.'It'also'explores'consistencies'in'narrating'growth,'agency,'and'thematic'coherence'over' one'year'and'over'self5defining'memories.'Seventy5four'participants'narrated'one'self5defining'memory'at' session'one'and'the'same'self5defining'memory'as'well'as'a'new'self5defining'memory'one'year'later'at' session'two,'at'which'well5being'measures'were'taken.'All'narratives'were'coded'for'growth,'agency,'and' coherence.'Agency'and'growth'were'highly'correlated'within'all'narratives.'Females'were'consistent'in' narrating'growth'and'agency'over'time'and'over'both'self5defining'memories,'whereas'males'were' consistent'in'narrating'growth'and'coherence'over'time,'but'not'across'different'self5defining'memories.' Positive'associations'were'found'between'growth'at'session'two'and'well5being'for'both'genders'and' between'agency'at'session'one'and'two'and'well5being'for'females'only.'No'associations'were'found' between'coherence'and'well5being.'Differing'strength'of'each'narrative'dimensions'in'predicting'one’s' psychological'well5being'are'discussed'in'light'of'gender'differences.''
& & Zixuan&(Armstrong)&Li&
Doner'Kebab:'Symbol'of'German'Multiculturalism'in'the'Turkish'Immigration'Question'' Zixuan'(Armstrong)'Li'
&
This'paper'studies'the'development'of'Doner'Kebab'as'a'Turkish'food'business'in'postwar'Germany.' Following'the'economic'miracle,'the'West'German'recruitment'program'in'the'late'1950s'and'1960s' attracted'guest'workers.'Many'of''them'came'from'Turkey.'The'recruitment'ban'and'economic'crisis'in' 1973,'however,'forced'some'Turkish'families'to'become'self5employed'in'ethnic'gastronomy'jobs.'With'this' prosperous'business,'economic'status'of'Turkish'immigrants'enhanced'through'the'1980s'and'1990s,'but' the'success'of'the'most'popular'snack'food'in'postwar'Germany'could'not'gloss'over'the'problems'of' Turkish'immigration.'The'rejection'of'Turkish'and'Muslim'culture'was'present'throughout'postwar'German' History.'This'paper'attempts'to'depict'the'history'of'Doner'Kebab'and'to'situate'it'into'the'broader'history' of'Turkish'immigration'in'Germany.'Turkish'ethnic'food'business'is'a'small'but'significant'field'that'requires' further'research.''
& & & & &
15
Xinyu&Liu& Rumination&in&Trauma&Narratives:&Gendered&Implications& Xinyu'Liu,'Robyn'Fivush,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Objective:'Rumination'is'closely'linked'to'both'PTSD'and'depression'in'previous'research,'but'mostly' examined'as'a'general'response'style.'To'study'rumination'in'the'context'of'specific'traumatic'event,'we' developed'a'new'measure'of'rumination'that'captures'the'overall'ruminative'pattern'exhibited'in'a'specific' trauma'narrative,'and'examined'relations'between'narrative'rumination'and'well5being'by'gender.'' Method:'224'undergraduate'students'completed'narratives'of'traumatic'event'and'wellbeing'measures.' Narratives'were'coded'for'rumination'and'cognitive'processing.'Results:'Females'exhibited'more'narrative' rumination'and'higher'levels'of'depression'and'PTSD'than'males.'But'only'males’'narrative'rumination' positively'relate'to'PTSD'and'depression'symptoms.'Moderating'effect'of'narrative'cognitive'processing' explained'why'the'relation'was'absent'for'females.'When'females'engaged'in'high'cognitive'processing,' narrative'rumination'did'not'relate'to'more'PTSD'symptoms.'Conclusions:'The'new'coding'scheme'extends' previous'research'on'rumination'and'wellbeing.'Narrative'rumination'has'very'different'implications'for' females'and'for'males.'Distinguishing'different'types'of'rumination'in'narrative'is'meaningful.'
& & Josephine&Liwang&
The&role&of&protein&kinase&C&alpha&in&the&AVP.induced&phosphorylation&of&AQP2&in&mice&and&rats.& Josephine'Liwang,'Janet'D.'Klein,'PhD'Emory'University,'Jeff'M.'Sands,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
The'goal'of'this'project'is'to'investigate'whether'or'not'the'presence'of'protein'kinase'C'alpha'(PKCα)'plays' a'role'in'the'AVP5induced'phosphorylation'of'aquaporin52'(AQP2),'a'renal'protein'necessary'for'the' reabsorption'of'water'from'urine,'in'mice.'PKCα'has'been'shown'to'regulate'urea'transporter'activity'but' its'specific'role'in'the'pathway'regulation'of'AQP2'is'unclear.'So,'we'decided'to'observe'the' phosphorylation'activity'of'AQP2'in'wild5type'mice'and'protein'kinase'C'alpha'knockout'(PKAα5KO)'mice' with'Western'blot'analyses.'The'results'obtained'from'the'PKCα5KO'mice'were'then'verified'using'chemical' inhibition'of'PKC'in'a'rat'model'to'compare'and'contrast'genetically'modified'mice'versus'chemically' inhibited'rats.'The'results'show'that'PKC'plays'an'important'role'in'phosphorylating'AQP2.'In'the'absence' of'PKCα,'the'mice'were'unable'to'concentrate'urine'correctly,'resulting'in'reduced'urine'osmolality'and' higher'urine'output.'This'model'correlates'to'individuals'diagnosed'with'nephrogenic'diabetes'insipidus' (NDI),'a'form'of'diabetes'caused'by'an'inability'of'the'kidneys'to'respond'to'AVP,'which'leads'to'a' decreased'ability'to'concentrate'urine.'To'extend'this'study,'we'are'currently'testing'the'effect'of' hypertonicity'on'water'permeability'through'PKC'and'AMPK'regulatory'pathways'in'another'project.'We' hypothesize'that'PKC'and'AMPK'work'together'in'an'additive'manner'to'properly'concentrate'urine.' Discovering'the'outcome'will'help'us'to'better'understand'the'regulation'of'AQP2'and'how'urine' concentration'defects'occur.'
& & & & &
16
Aneel&Maini& Treatment&of&Severe&Aortic&Stenosis&in&Patients&With&End.Stage&Renal&Disease&on&Dialysis& Jose'Francisco'Condado'Contreras,'Aneel'Maini,'Vinod'Thourani,'Chandan'Devireddy,'Bradley'Leshnower,' Kreton'Mavromatis,'Eric'Sarin,'James'Stewart,'Robert'Guyton,'Jessica'Forcillo,'Ateet'Patel,'Amy'Simone,' Patricia'Keegan,'Peter'Block,'Vasilis'Babaliaros''Emory'University'
&
Background:'Current'treatment'for'patients'with'end5stage'renal'disease'(ESRD)'and'severe'aortic'stenosis' (AS)'include'balloon'aortic'valvuloplasty'(BAV),'surgical'(SAVR)'or'transcatheter'(TAVR)'aortic'valve' replacement.'Parathyroid'hormone'(PTH)'levels'are'associated'with'increased'mortality'in'dialysis'patients' undergoing'valve'surgery'but'the'correlation'has'not'been'explored'in'patients'undergoing'cardiac'valve' operations.'We'aim'to'compare'these'three'treatments'via'PTH'levels.''Methods:'A'retrospective'review'of' patients'with'ESRD'undergoing'treatment'for'severe'AS'between'07/2007'and'06/2015'was'performed.'All' patients'were'classified'based'on'treatment:'BAV,'TAVR,'or'SAVR.'Baseline'characteristics'and'305day' outcomes'were'compared'among'groups.'A'15year'survival'analysis'was'performed'adjusting'for'a'STS' predictive'mortality'score.''Results:'Of'88'patients,'25'(28.4%)'underwent'BAV,'32'(36.4%)'TAVR,'and'31' (35.2%)'SAVR.'Patients'in'the'SAVR'group,'when'compared'to'the'BAV'or'TAVR'patients,'were'younger'(63' vs.'71'vs.'71'years,'p=0.001),'and'had'less'prior'stroke'(3.2%'vs.'12.0%'vs.'31.3%,'p=0.008).'All'patients' were'high'risk,'but'there'was'a'statistical'trend'to'lower'STS'scores'in'the'SAVR'group'(9.4%'vs.'13.5%'vs.' 13.5%,'p=0.07).'BAV'treated'patients'had'an'increased'15year'mortality'than'those'treated'with'TAVR'or' SAVR'(87.0%'vs.'40.9%'vs.'40.0%,'p=0.001),'even'after'adjusting'for'STS'score.''Conclusions:'Patients'with' ESRD'and'severe'AS'have'a'similar'and'higher'survival'with'TAVR'or'SAVR'when'compared'to'BAV.'Data'on' PTH'levels'in'this'population'is'still'being'gathered.'
& & Emily&Moore&
"Strange&Histories":&A&Cultural&History&of&the&Legend&of&Lost&Confederate&Gold&in&Washington,&Georgia& Emily'Moore'
&
The'legend'of'lost'Confederate'gold'in'Washington,'Georgia'has'persisted'since'it'was'stolen'on'the'night'of' May'24th,'1865.'The'story'lives'on'in'personal'diaries,'town'tourism'materials,'treasure'tale'folklore,' treasure'hunting'manuals,'conspiracy'theories,'and'family'memory.'This'thesis'seeks'to'examine'how'and' why'the'robbery'is'understood'as'a'meaningful'event.'In'the'aforementioned'sources,'the'gold'robbery'has' been'construed'as'a'reminder'of'bitter'defeat,'a'charming'feature'of'a'small'Southern'town,'a'captivating' treasure'tale,'an'artifact'waiting'to'be'found,'proof'of'the'Confederacy’s'imminent'return,'and'a'source'of' pride'for'a'prominent'black'family.'Collective'memory'of'the'gold'and'its'disappearance'is'ultimately' intertwined'with'memory'of'the'Civil'War,'and'the'nostalgia,'emotion,'and'identity'involved'in'creating' remembrance.'The'gold'–'both'the'idea'of'it'and'its'physical'existence'–'represents'a'diverse'array'of'ideas' of'what'it'means'to'not'only'preserve,'but'also'perpetuate'the'history'of'the'Civil'War.''
& & & & &
17
Valerie&Morrill& Pricing&of&Atlanta’s&Local&Food& Valerie'Morrill,'Hilary'King,'Peggy'Barlett' ' Atlanta'consumers'are'often'unsure'of'the'differences'in'price'between'produce'sold'at'grocery'stores'and' at'farmer’s'markets,'as'well'as'the'reasons'behind'those'differences.'This'study'aims'to'explore'the'prices' of'and'factors'affecting'prices'of'local'food'in'Atlanta.'9'farm'owners'and'2'directors'of'alternative'models' of'food'production'in'Atlanta'were'interviewed'about'how'they'price'their'products'and'run'their' businesses.'Produce'prices'at'two'farmer’s'markets'and'two'grocery'stores'in'DeKalb'county'were'also' recorded'every'two'weeks'through'February'and'March'2016'to'compare'their'prices.'It'was'determined' that'9/10'produce'items'tracked'were'consistently'more'expensive'at'the'farmer’s'markets.'Interviews' reflected'that'the'current'infrastructure'of'Atlanta’s'local'food'system'limits'their'market,'forcing'farmers' to'employ'creative'solutions'to'price'their'products'and'turn'a'profit.'Infrastructure'problems'include' limitations'to'selling'direct'to'consumers,'a'market'that'only'applies'to'a'specific'type'of'consumer,'and'to' using'expensive'labor.'Strategies'employed'by'farmers'to'make'a'profit'include'ensuring'prices'stay'high,' diversifying'and'extending'their'season.'Global'Growers'and'The'Common'Market'Georgia'are'alternative' models'that'solve'some'of'Atlanta’s'infrastructure'problems'by'increasing'the'market'size,'allowing'them'to' charge'lower'prices'than'at'farmer’s'markets.'In'order'for'local'food'to'expand'and'more'effectively' compete'with'industrial'food,'Atlanta’s'local'food'infrastructure'needs'to'change'to'support'local'farmers' accessing'larger'and'more'diverse'markets.' ' '
Melis&OdabasSGeldiay&
Effects&of&GABAergic&agonist&temazepam&on&methamphetamine&self.administration&and& methamphetamine.induced&dopamine&neurochemistry&in&rhesus&monkeys& Melis'Odabas5Geldiay,'Yerkes'National'Primate'Research'Center,'Emory'University,'Lais'F.'Berro,'Yerkes' National'Primate'Research'Center,'Emory'University,'Dr.'Monica'L.'Andersen,'Yerkes'National'Primate' Research'Center,'Emory'University,'Dr.'Leonard'L.'Howell,'Yerkes'National'Primate'Research'Center,'Emory' University'
&
Drug'abuse'is'a'global'public'health'problem.'Dopamine'is'the'main'neurotransmitter'involved'in'drug' addiction'because'all'drugs'of'abuse'increase'dopamine'levels'in'the'nucleus'accumbens.'Several'studies' have'suggested'that'the'GABAergic'system'is'involved'in'drug'abuse'mainly'through'mechanisms'that' depend'on'dopamine'neurotransmission.'We'investigated'the'effects'of'a'GABA'agonist'benzodiazepine,' temazepam,'on'methamphetamine'(Meth)'self5administration'and'Meth5induced'dopamine'overflow'in' the'nucleus'accumbens'using'in'vivo'microdialysis'in'monkeys'with'an'extended'history'of'Meth'self5 administration.'For'the'microdialysis'experiments,'three'adult'rhesus'macaques'were'given'either'a'vehicle' or'a'3'mg/kg'temazepam'pre5treatment'followed'by'a'1mg/kg'Meth'injection'and'dopamine' concentrations'were'evaluated.'We'then'investigated'the'self5administration'(SA)'response'rates'after' several'different'doses'of'temazepam'were'given'prior'to'Meth'SA'maintenance.'Five'adult'rhesus'monkeys' were'given'three'different'doses'of'temazepam'(0.3,'1,'and'3'mg/kg)'in'a'randomized'order'prior'to'Meth' SA'sessions'on'separate'days.'Monkeys'self5administered'Meth'(0.03'mg/kg/injection)'during'15hour'daily' sessions.'Our'results'showed'that'3mg/kg'temazepam'was'effective'in'inhibiting'Meth5induced'dopamine' overflow'in'the'nucleus'accumbens.''At'the'dose'of'3'mg/kg,'but'not'at'lower'doses,'temazepam'also'
18
attenuated'Meth'self5administration.'These'data'provide'evidence'that'the'GABAergic'system'plays'an' important'role'in'substance'abuse'through'mechanisms'that'involve'the'dopaminergic'neurotransmission.'
& Rebecca&Pankove&
Sounds&of&the&Diaspora:&Preservation&of&a&Sephardic&Identity&through&Judeo.Spanish&Folk&Songs& Rebecca'Pankove'and'Hazel'Gold'Ph.D,'Emory'College'of'Arts'&'Sciences'
&
Spanish'Jews'were'forced'from'their'homes'and'scattered'across'the'world.'Despite'several'centuries'of' exile'and'persecution,'Spanish'Jews,'also'known'as'the'Sephardim'managed'to'maintain'their'rich'culture' through'oral'tradition,'particularly'through'Judeo5Spanish'folk'songs.'They'began'as'performers,'juglares,' to'entertain'Muslim'and'Christian'monarchs.'Eventually,'the'Sephardim'would'incorporate'the'Arabic'and' Spanish'melodies'around'them'into'their'individual'artistic'endeavors,'a'practice'that'continued'well'after' their'expulsion'in'1492.'Throughout'the'Mediterranean'region,'the'Sephardim'fused'the'local'musical' traditions'with'their'folk'songs,'unifying'two'radically'different'cultures.'For'hundreds'of'years,'this'musical' reconciliation'would'preserve'their'Sephardic'heritage.'However,'modern'technology'represents'a'new' obstacle'that'the'Sephardim'must'overcome'in'order'to'sustain'their'unique'multicultural'identity'in' contemporary'society.'Nevertheless,'the'centuries'long'oral'preservation'of'Judeo5Spanish'folk'songs,' beginning'in'medieval'Spain'and'extending'throughout'the'Sephardic'Diaspora,'reflects'the'strong'impetus' of'the'Sephardic'Jews'to'maintain'cultural'ties'to'their'lost'homeland.'However,'the'music'that'connects' the'Sephardim'to'Spain'is'not'purely'of'Spanish'origin'but'rather'a'conglomeration'of'melodies,' instruments,'and'lyrics'that'represent'their'unique'and'multicultural'heritage.'
& & Yash&Patel&
Immunometabolism&Effects&on&Neutrophil&Function& Yash'Patel,'Osric'Forrest,'Rabin'Tirouvanziam'PhD''
&
Previous'studies'on'intracellular'metabolism'in'dendritic'cells'and'macrophages'have'provided'new'insights' on'the'functioning'of'these'critical'controllers'of'innate'and'adaptive'immunity.'Both'cells'undergo'very' profound'metabolic'reprogramming'events'in'response'to'environmental'cues.'Such'has'been'observed'in' Neutrophils'as'well,'however'the'specificity'of'the'pathways'and'alike'are'still'not'completely'understood.' This'specific'study'uses'a'seahorse'assay'to'understand'implications'of'metabolic'reprogramming'that'takes' place'in'response'to'critical'changes'in'the'environment'specifically'in'relation'to'the'reprogramming'of' events'downstream'of'ligation'of'pattern'recognition'receptors'and'cytokine'receptors.'Thus,'we'are' exploring'the'metabolic'changes'void'and'unrelated'to'oxygen'or'nutrient'availability,'but'rather'due'to'cell' signaling'or'antigens.'The'seahorse'assay'is'used'to'measure'oxidative'phosphorylation'and'extracellular' acidification'rate'in'order'to'observe'changes'based'on'various'activators'and'inhibitors'used'in'vitro.'Our' data'showed'a'significant'increase'in'oxidative'phosphorylation'when'induced'with'Phorbol'Myristate' Acetate'(PMA)'which'helps'us'conclude'an'increase'in'NADPH'oxidase'function.'This'also'primarily'proves' that'there'is'a'metabolic'reprogramming'event'that'occurs'in'neutrophils.'These'findings'aim'to'provide' new'prospects'for'therapeutic'manipulation'in'inflammatory'diseases.'''
& &
19
Juan&Jose&Pinto& Sustainable&Beekeeping&& Juan'Jose'Pinto'' ' Society'is'at'a'point'where'change'is'a'necessity,'there'is'some'much'turmoil'worldwide'that'we'should' promote'adjustments'to'the'way'we'live'our'lives.'This'project'takes'a'look'at'a'compact'but'important' issue,'the'apiculture'industry.'Since'1990,'factors'such'as'pesticide'use,'parasites/pathogens'and'climate' change'have'been'critical'to'the'decrease'of'honeybee'colonies.'Shifting'onto'ecological'farming'seems'to' be'something'impossible'for'most'producers,'but'it'is'something'that'has'to'be'done.'This'project'takes'a' specific'focus'on'Ecuador,'a'country'where'the'presence'of'apiculture'is'not'strong'but'the'biodiversity' available'gives'the'opportunity'for'growth.'The'lack'of'development'of'the'apiculture'industry'in'Ecuador'is' due'to'many'factors'such'as'the'lack'of'support'from'the'government,'a'fragile'structure'of'beekeepers'and' environmental'issues'such'as'forest'fires.'Due'to'the'very'small'supply'of'the'product,'40%'of'all'the'honey' sold'in'Ecuador'is'adulterated.'For'instance,'various'companies'have'introduced'the'product'as'being'pure' honey,'but'actually'they'carry'corn'glucose'in'their'composition.'By'creating'an'in'depth'research'of'the' industry'the'project'consists'on'creating'a'business'plan'in'order'to'partner'up'with'food'company' (Pronaca),'and'to'start'creating'our'own'sustainable'beehives'in'the'Andes'Region'of'Ecuador.''
& & Jose&Ponce&
Andean&Lupine&the&next&generation&of&Superfoods& Jose'Antonio'Ponce''
&
The'purpose'of'this'research'project'is'to'analyze,'evaluate'and'design'a'single'or'set'of'nutritional'products' derived'from'the'Ecuadorian'Andean'Lupine.'There'are'studies'and'experts'in'the'food'industry'that'say' this'grain'is'the'new'super'food,'overcoming'the'properties'of'soy,'quinoa,'chia,'amongst'others.'Therefore,' the'problem'that'I'am'trying'to'solve'is'to'determine'the'real'properties'of'this'product,'discover'its' positive'traits'as'well'as'its'negative'ones'and'finally'evaluate'the'feasibility'to'produce'nutritional' alimentary'products'from'it.''''
& & & & & & & & & & & &
20
& Ashwathi&Puravankara&Menon& Investigating&the&efficacy&of&various&adjuvants&in&enhancing&anti.tumor&immunity&generated&by&Tumor' Membrane'Vesicle'(TMV)'vaccines'in'murine'breast'cancer'model'TUBO':'A'Project'Proposal' Ashwathi'P'Menon'
& One'of'the'challenges'faced'in'inducing'long'lasting'and'potent'immune'responses'in'prophylactic'and' therapeutic'vaccination'therapies'is'the'mitigated'immunogenicity'of'the'vaccine'itself.'Thus,'adjuvants,' non5specific'stimulants'of'the'immune'system,'are'added'to'vaccines'to'make'them'more'immunogenic' and'efficacious.'In'our'lab,'we'will'model'cancer'in'vivo'by'inoculating'Balb/c'mice'with'murine'breast' cancer'cell'line'TUBO'which'expresses'rat'Neu/'HER2'protein,'to'induce'tumors'in'immunocompetent'mice.' Mice'bearing'TUBO'tumors'will'be'administered'with'our'cancer'vaccine'5TUBO'tumor'membrane'vesicles' (TMVs)'5'with'or'without'various'adjuvants'(such'as'Alum,'Imiquimod,'CpG'etc.)'before'(prophylatically)'or' after'(therapeutically)'tumor'challenge.'TUBO'cell'membrane'vesicle'vaccines'serve'as'the'vehicle'for' tumor'associated'antigen'(rat'Her52)'delivery'to'APCs'such'as'macrophages'and'dendritic'cells'which'will' induce'a'cell'mediated'and'or/'humoral'anti5TUBO'tumor'response'in'cancer'yielding'mice.'The'anti5tumor' immune'response'induced'by'vaccination'will'then'be'studied'by'recording'tumor'growth'and'regression' rates,'mouse'survival'rates,'monitoring'antibody'and'cytokine'profiles'using'FACS'and'ELISA,'and' quantifying'and'characterizing'adaptive'immune'cell'populations'using'ELISPOT,'T'cell'Proliferations'Assays' and'T'cell'Cytotoxicity'assays.'The'differential'responses'will'be'compared'and'quantified'using'statistical' methods'to'find'relevant'adjuvants'that'increase'immunogenicity'of'our'TMV'vaccines.'This'study'will'be' instrumental'in'increasing'the'success'of'immunotherapeutic'vaccines'that'are'used'to'control'and'curb'the' progression'of'cancerous'diseases.'
& & Ashwathi&Puravankara&Menon&
Are&Men&and&Women&Portrayed&Differently&in&Obituaries?:&A&Keyword&List&Analysis& Ashwathi'P'Menon'and'Kelsey'Klosterman''
&
Research'Question:'Do'obituaries'use'different'language'to'speak'about'men'versus'women?''This'study' was'conducted'in'order'to'more'closely'examine'the'differences'between'the'representation'of'the'male' and'female'genders'in'writing.'Specifically,'the'experiment'looks'at'the'keywords'found'in'male'and'female' obituaries.'The'study'uses'its'analyses'to'look'at'the'way'that'humans'are'gendered'and'the'ways'in'which' this'gendering'is'used'to'describe'individuals.'The'study'will'look'at'the'mentioning'of'traits'such'as'the' individuals’'relationships'and'careers'and'how'these'categories'are'distributed'within'and'between'the'two' genders.''The'keyness'of'career5related'terms'was'significantly'higher'in'the'male'obituaries'than'the' female'obituaries;'this'mirrors'the'results'found'in'Ogletree’s'experiment'in'which'a'greater'emphasis'was' put'on'male'careers'rather'than'female'careers.''Through'the'analysis'of'keywords'in'male'and'female' obituaries,'the'conclusion'can'be'made'that'women'and'men'are'portrayed'differently'in'terms'of'their' career'and'personality'traits.''However,'this'does'not'seem'to'be'the'case'in'reference'to'their'education'or' interpersonal'relationships.''This'study'allows'the'analysis'of'the'way'gender'is'perceived'in'society'and' suggests'that'obituaries'play'a'rather'prominent'role.''''
&
21
William&Reis& Inhibition&of&PDE7&in&the&Proximal&Tubule&Reduces&Immune&Responses&Leading&to&Chronic&Allograft& Nephropathy& William'Reis,'Mitsi'Blount'PhD.'
&
Chronic'allograft'nephropathy'(CAN)'is'the'leading'cause'of'kidney'transplant'failures'after'one'year'in'the' recipient.'CAN'is'the'consequence'of'prolonged'injury'and'inflammation'within'the'allograft,'which'results' in'part'from'the'presence'of'certain'chemokines'and'cytokines.'This'study'looked'to'see'if'the'PDE7' inhibitor'BRL'50481'could'reduce'harmful'chemokine'and'cytokine'expression'and'thus'cure'CAN'or' prolong'the'life'of'the'kidney'allograft.'TNF5α'was'used'stimulate'the'inflammation'similar'to'that'found'in' CAN'in'a'human'proximal'tubule'cell'culture'model.'Using'quantitative'real'time5PCR'analysis,'this'study' has'so'far'suggested'that'BRL'50481'successfully'inhibits'the'harmful'expression'of'inflammatory'cytokines' CCL2,'CCL5,'IL1β,'IL6,'IL12'β'and'IL18'in'a'cell5based'model'of'CAN.'
& & Hannah&Schwartz&
Infertility&if&Flies&with&Galactosemia&& Judith'Fridovich5Keil,'PhD'Jenna'Daezner,'PhD'
&
Classic'Galactosemia'(CG)'is'an'autosomal5recessive'metabolic'disorder'that'prevents'proper'metabolism'of' galactose'and'results'from'impairment'of'the'gene'GALT.'CG'occurs'in'about'1/60,000'births'and'affected' newborns'appear'mostly'normal.'After'exposure'to'milk'(which'contains'galactose),'acute'symptoms'begin' to'intensify.'Although'the'majority'of'the'severe'symptoms'can'be'treated,'many'patients'still'suffer'from' other'complications.'About'80%'of'women'with'the'disease'suffer'from'premature'or'primary'ovarian' insufficiency'(POI).'POI'causes'early'menopause,'late'puberty,'and'commonly'infertility.'Using'Drosophila' melanogaster'as'a'model'organism,'we'have'set'out'to'determine'the'cause'of'infertility'problems'in' humans.'By'isolating'DNA'from'fly'embryos'and'running'a'PCR'reaction'with'specific'primers,'we'can'then' run'a'gel'to'see'if'bands'appear.'We'have'been'working'on'a'technique'in'which'we'can'isolate'enough' DNA'from'the'fly'embryos,'as'they'are'very'small.'The'goal'of'my'experiment'is'to'see'if'mutant'flies'(AP2,' with'Galactosemia)'are'being'fertilized.'If'this'is'the'case,'by'looking'at'the'bands'on'the'gel,'about'50%'of' the'flies'should'have'a'Y'chromosome'i.e.'they'have'been'fertilized.'This'would'tell'us'that'there'is' something'else'causing'infertility'in'these'flies,'perhaps'something'relating'to'glycosylation'or'something' interrupting'a'pathway.''
& & & & & & & & &
22
Joan&Shang& Generation&of&Isogenic&Human&Induced&Pluripotent&Stem&Cell&Lines&to&&Model&Amyotrophic&Lateral& Sclerosis& Joan'Shang,'Zachary'Mceachin,'Wilfried'Rossoll,'PhD'Emory'University''
&
Amyotrophic'lateral'sclerosis'(ALS)'is'a'neurodegenerative'disease'that'disrupts'functionality'of'upper'and' lower'motor'neurons'resulting'in'devastating'physiological'consequences:'muscular'atrophy'and' weakness'.'Life'expectancy'of'an'individual'diagnosed'with'the'disease'is'typically'255'years.'Around'5510%' of'ALS'cases'are'familial;'they'arise'as'a'result'of'inherited'mutations'that'are'associated'with'the'disease.' Most'ALS'cases'can'be'linked'to'a'GGGGCC'hexanucleotide'repeat'expansion'in'C9ORF72,'a'non5coding' region'on'chromosome.'Since'it'is'unclear'how'this'gene'mediates'development'and'maintenance'of'this' disease,'we''aim'to'elucidate''the'effects'of'C9ORF72'on'the'pathogenesis''of'ALS.''In'this'study,' we''deepen'our'understanding'of'genetic'defects'by'using'CRISPR'5associated'nuclease'Cas9'to'generate' isogenic'induced'pluripotent'stem'cell'(iPSC)'lines'to'model'ALS.'Implementing'this'technology'in' mammalian'cells'allows'the'introduction'of'specific'breaks'in'double5stranded'DNA,'using'a'guide'RNA,' enabling'precise'genetic'editing'and'programing.'By'examining'the'phenotypic'changes'between'the' isogenic'lines,'we''explore'the'effects'of'C9ORF72'mutations'on'motor'neuron'development'to'gain'insight' into'the'pathogenic'processes'of'ALS'.'''''
& & Michelle&Tsai&
Inbreeding&and&Parasite&Susceptibility&of&Monarch&Butterflies& Michelle'Tsai,'Andrew'Mongue'and'Jacobus'de'Roode,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Inbreeding'depression'can'occur'due'to'increased'frequencies'of'deleterious'or'nonfunctioning'alleles.'In' smaller'populations,'inbreeding'becomes'more'frequent'due'to'reduced'mate'choice.'This'topic'is'of' interest'to'the'study'on'monarch'butterflies'(Danaus'plexippus)'because'their'overwintering'population' continues'to'decrease'annually.'We'previously'found'inbreeding'depression'in'monarch'butterflies'in' regard'to'decreased'egg'viability'and'increased'premature'mortality.'The'negative'effects'of'inbreeding'in' monarchs'may'be'exacerbated'by'concomitant'infection'with'their'natural'protozoan'parasite'Ophryocystis' elektroskirrha'(OE).'We'hypothesized'that'Eastern'migratory'monarchs'will'decrease'resistance'and' tolerance'of'monarch'butterflies'to'their'parasites.'We'established'ten'inbred'and'ten'outbred'monarch' lines'using'unrelated'Eastern'migratory'lineages.'Following'standard'protocol,'at'least'twenty'caterpillars'of' each'lineage'were'inoculated'with'OE'spores.'Although'inbreeding'reduced'lifespan'of'monarch'butterflies' in'general,'it'did'not'affect'resistance'or'tolerance'to'the'parasite.'Inbreeding'becomes'more'likely'as'the' Eastern'migratory'monarch'butterfly'population'continues'to'shrink'each'year,'but'our'results'indicate'that' increased'prevalence'of'OE'infection'may'not'negatively'impact'the'population'further.'
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Amy&Wang& Impact&of&expressing&magnetosome&membrane&associated&genes& Amy'Wang'Dr.'InKi'Cho,'PhD'Emory'University''Dr.'Anthony'Chan,'PhD'Emory'University'''
&
Regenerative'medicine'such'as'stem'cell'therapy'holds'a'lot'of'promise'for'the'future'in'terms'of'replacing' damaged'and'degenerated'cells.'The'ability'to'track'implanted'cells'is'vital'in'order'to'have'a'better' understanding'of'the'conditions'of'the'implanted'cell'and'their'correlation'to'clinical'outcomes.'Currently' there'are'only'direct'methods.'The'biggest'limitation,'however,'is'the'dilution'of'the'contrasting'agent'after' cell'division,'which'does'not'allow'for'tracking'longitudinally.'Magnetic'resonance'imaging'(MRI)'is'used'to' visualize'soft'tissue'that'can'also'be'utilized'to'track'stem'cells'in'vivo.'MagA'is'an'iron'transporter'involved' in'the'formation'of'magnetosomes'in'magneotactic'bacteria'that'has'been'shown'to'increase'the'contrast' of'the'MR'image.'Other'magnestome'membrane'genes,'Mm13'and'Mm16,'also'have'the'potential'to' increase'the'contrast'of'the'MR'image'if'co5expressed'with'MagA.'Under'a'doxycycline5inducible'system,' cell'growth'as'a'measurement'for'the'cytotoxicity'needs'to'first'be'tested'to'see'if'it'can'potentially'be'a' viable'MRI'reporter'gene.'Results'show'that'after'a'certain'time'point'under'a'doxycycline5inducible' system,'the'cell'proliferation'rate'of'Mm16'is'affected'but'the'proliferation'rate'of'Mm13'is'unaffected.'
& & Heather&Wang&
The&Acquisition&of&Mental&State&Verbs&in&English.&and&Chinese.Speaking&Children& Heather'Wang'&'Yifan'Zhu,'Emory'University''
&
This'study'examines'the'effects'of'the'input'of'mental'state'verbs'on'their'acquisition'in'205month'and'365 month5old'Mandarin'and'English5speaking'children.'Mental'state'verbs'such'as'think,'know,'want'and'can' seem'to'pose'difficulties'in'children'across'languages.'The'complications'relating'to'the'acquisition'of'these' verbs'can'be'attributed'to'the'development'of'the'theory'of'mind'that'does'not'occur'until'the'age'of'three' in'most'children,'which'causes'the'meanings'of'these'verbs'to'be'difficult'to'grasp.'However,'there'are' factors'that'may'promote'the'acquisition'of'these'verbs,'notably'the'input'frequency'of'mental'state'verbs.' Due'to'the'prevalence'of'mental'state'verbs'in'Mandarin'than'in'English,'we'examined'two'CHILDES' corpora,'the'East'Asian'Corpus'(Zhou)'and'the'North'American'Corpus'(New'England),'and'calculated'the' frequency'of'mother’s'input'and'child’s'output'for'mental'state'verbs'for'both'Mandarin'and'English5 speaking'205month'and'36'month5old'children.'The'results'indicate'that'both'205month5old'and'325month5 old'Mandarin5speaking'children'have'not'only'a'higher'input'frequency,'but'also'a'higher'output'frequency' of'mental'state'verbs'compared'to'English5speaking'children.'A'comparison'between'the'two'language' groups'indicates'a'direct'correlation'between'mother’s'input'and'child’s'output.'Therefore,'the'results' demonstrate'that'the'theory'of'mind'cannot'account'for'the'delay'of'mental'state'verb'acquisition,'but' rather'indicate'the'important'role'that'input'frequency'plays'in'verb'acquisition.'
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24
Sarah&Wang& Syllabic&Complexity&and&Speech&Errors&in&Children& Sarah'Wang,'BA'Emory'University'
&
This'paper'examines'the'effect'of'syllabic'complexity'on'speech'errors'produced'by'children.'Previous' studies'have'shown'that'syllabic'complexity'may'influence'both'the'frequency'and'direction'of'error'in' children'and'aphasic'patients.'Complexity'is'typically'measured'according'to'the'consonant5vowel'template' of'a'word,'as'well'as'its'sonority'profile.'The'current'study'performs'a'consonant5vowel'template'analysis'of' children’s'speech'errors'alongside'a'sonority'analysis.'Data'has'been'collected'from'several'children'in'the' online'Davis'corpus,'ranging'from'ages'0;7'to'3;0.'The'complexity'of'each'word'is'assessed'using'the' standards'outlined'in'Romani'&'Galluzzi'(2005),'and'the'relation'between'complexity'and'accuracy'has' been'measured'using'a'regression'analysis,'as'well'as'complexity'and'direction'of'error.'It'was'found'that' accuracy'decreases'with'higher'syllabic'complexity,'and'subjects'tend'to'make'errors'that'simplify'the' original'word.'The'findings'of'this'study'provide'further'evidence'for'the'significance'of'syllabic'complexity' and'the'Sonority'Hypothesis,'and'broaden'the'knowledge'base'involving'the'phonological'coding'of'speech' errors'in'children.'
& & Ugochi&Uzoigwe&&&Catherine&Wei&
A&Norovirus&Concentration&Protocol&for&Environmental&Samples& Ugochi'Uzoigwe'&'Catherine'Wei,'Emory'University;'Philip'Collender,'Michelle'Ward,'Emily'Cason,'Faith' Bartz,'Anna'Fabiszewski'de'Aceituno,'Rollins'School'of'Public'Health;'Santos'Garcia,'PhD'Universidad' Autónoma'de'Nuevo'León;'Lee5Ann'Jaykus,'PhD'North'Carolina'State'University;'Juan'Leon,'PhD'Rollins' School'of'Public'Health'
&
Between'1998'and'2008,'over'700'outbreaks'and'27,000'illnesses'resulted'from'virus5contaminated' produce'where'the'most'commonly'implicated'virus'was'norovirus'(NoV)'(Gould'et'al.,'2013).'Since'there'is' no'universally5accepted'NoV'detection'method,'there'is'a'need'to'develop'a'concentration'method'to' determine'NoV'prevalence'in'a'number'of'environments.'In'order'to'address'this'need,'a'series'of' experiments'were'performed'to'optimize'the'concentration'of'virus'from'multiple'rinsates.'For'low' turbidity'rinsates'(<100'ntu),'9'combinations'of'polyethylene'glycol'(PEG,'10518%)'and'bovine'serum' albumin'(BSA,'054%)'were'tested'for'maximum'viral'recovery.'Additionally,'a'secondary'PEG'concentration' was'added'to'increase'effective'sample'volume.'Finally,'all'concentrated'samples'were'extracted'and' analyzed'by'RT5qPCR.'With'regards'to'NoV'recovery,'less'than'12%'PEG'and'less'than'1%'BSA'with'a' secondary'concentration'were'the'most'effective.'This'novel'viral'concentration'protocol'makes'important' advancements'for'the'future'of'environmental'viral'detection.'The'value'of'this'procedure'is'its'ability'to' detect'low'but'harmful'levels'of'NoV'contamination'on'produce,'which'can'be'used'to'improve'our' understanding'of'viral'prevalence.'A'greater'understanding'of'NoV'prevalence'will'allow'for'the' development'of'more'effective'control'measures'in'order'to'prevent'future'outbreaks.'
& & & &
25
Jasmine&Williams& NADPH&Oxidases&Mediate&Zinc&Deficiency.Induced&Upregulation&of&the&Sodium&Chloride&Cotransporter& Jasmine'M.'Williams,'Robert'S.'Hoover,'Clintoria'R.'Williams'Division'of'Renal'Medicine,'Emory'University' School'of'Medicine'&'Atlanta'VA'Medical'Center'
&
It'is'known'that'Zn2+'deficiency'(ZnD)'contributes'to'hypertension.'However,'the'mechanism'by'which'this' happens'remains'unknown.'The'sodium'chloride'cotransporter'(NCC)'plays'a'role'in'sodium'regulation'and' subsequently'blood'pressure'homeostasis.'Our'lab'recently'showed'that'NCC'expression'is'increased'with' ZnD,'suggesting'a'new'mechanism'by'which'ZnD'contributes'to'hypertension.'Oxidative'stress'is'implicated' in'the'damaging'effects'of'ZnD.'Our'lab'has'also'shown'that'NADPH'oxidase5derived'reactive'oxygen' species'are'involved'in'ZnD5induced'oxidative'stress.'Based'on'this'finding,'we'tested'the'hypothesis'that' NADPH'oxidases'mediate'ZnD5induced'NCC'upregulation.'To'determine'if'NADPH'oxidases'are'involved'in' ZnD5induced'NCC'upregulation,'mouse'Distal'Convoluted'Tubular'kidney'cells'were'treated'with'N,N,N',N'5 tetrakis(25pyridylmethyl)ethylenediamine'(TPEN),'a'zinc'chelator,'to'induce'ZnD,'±'diphenyleneiodonium' (DPI),'a'general'NADPH'oxidase'inhibitor.'NCC'mRNA'and'protein'expressions'were'analyzed'via'qRT5PCR' and'Western'Blot,'respectively.'The'resulting'data'show'that'in'the'presence'of'ZnD'there'is'an' upregulation'in'NCC'expression'and'also'that'ZnD'increased'NCC'expression'can'be'prevented'with'DPI.' These'findings'indicate'that'NADPH'oxidases'are'involved'in'ZnD5induced'NCC'upregulation,'highlighting' that'NADPH'oxidases'could'be'a'potential'mechanism'by'which'ZnD'contributes'to'hypertension.''
& & Matthew&Wu&
Vulnerability&of&VMAT2.deficient&Mice&to&Parkinson’s.like&Degeneration&Following&Exposure&to&H1N1& Seasonal&Influenza&Virus& Matthew'J.'Wu1,'Brianna'Harris2,'Elizabeth'M.'Kline3,'Dimitrious'Koutsonano,'MD4,'Malú'G.'Tansey,'PhD3' Emory'University,'Neuroscience'and'Behavioral'Biology1,'Spellman'College2,'Department'of'Physiology,' Emory'University'School'of'Medicine3,' Department'of'Microbiology'and'Immunology,'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine4'''
&
Clinical'and'animal'studies'have'suggested'that'environmental'and'genetic'factors'can'converge'to'increase' risk'for'Parkinson’s'disease'(PD).'Previous'work'demonstrated'that'deficient'levels'of'vesicular'monoamine' 'transporter'2'(VMAT2),'which'transports'dopamine'(DA)'from'the'cytosol'into'vesicles,'alters'DA' homeostasis'and'creates'oxidative'stress'in'DA'neurons'and'renders'them'vulnerable'to'PD5like' neurodegeneration.'Viral'infection'with'a'highly'virulent'strain'of'influenza'(H5N1)'can'also'promote' central'nervous'system'(CNS)'damage'through'neuroinflammation.'Ad'hoc'analysis'suggests'that'even' seasonal'influenza'(H1N1)'infection'is'highly'correlated'with'neurological'conditions'like'encephalitis'(1918' flu'pandemic)'and'impacts'dopaminergic'neuron'development'in'the'substantia'nigra'pars'compacta' (SNpc),'an'area'with'marked'degeneration'in'PD.'We'propose'inflammation'from'intranasal'H1N1'infection' causes'neuroinflammation'in'mice,'contributing'to'nigral'dopaminergic'loss.'To'this'end,'we'used'a'mouse' model'to'study'inflammatory'pathogenesis'and'nigral'dopaminergic'loss.'Mice'(VMAT2Lo'and'WT)'were' given'intranasal'exposure'to'the'influenza'virus'(swH1N1'A/California/07/09).'We'then'used'unbiased'cell' counting'(stereology)'to'quantify'DA'neuron'loss'in'the'SNpc.'
&
26
Ziqi&Wu& Indole&and&its&impact&on&immune&system&of&C.elegans& Ziqi'Wu,'Student'of'Emory'College,'Daniel'Kalman'&'Robert'Sonowal,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Indole,'a'molecule'which'may'play'a'significant'role'in'curing'infectious'disease'and'facilitating'immune' response'will'be'studied.'In'order'to'survive'an'infection'such'as'tuberculosis,'the'body'must'endure' damage'from'both'the'pathogen'and'the'immune'response'to'it,'a'phenomenon'called'“damage' tolerance”. However,'the'concept'of'damage'tolerance'is'not'restricted'to'infections.'It'can'be'applied'to'other' immune'diseases'as'well.'The'severity'of'autoimmune'disease'depends'not'only'on'the'magnitude'of' immune'response'but'also'on'the'susceptibility'of'target'tissues'to'the'damage'caused'by'that'response.' 'The'commensal'microbiota'is'increasingly'becoming'recognized'for'its'role'in'exacerbating'or'limiting' human'disease,'including'that'caused'by'pathogen'infection'and'inflammation;'therefore,'in'the'future,'the' question'of'whether'the'microbiota'can'determine'how'much'damage'we'can'tolerate'will'be'studied.' Using'the'nematode'Caenorhabditis'elegans'as'a'“biosensor,”'indole'and'several'metabolic'derivatives' were'identified'as'factors'secreted'by'many'bacteria,'including'the'commensal'microbiota,'which'may' serve'this'function.'Brief'exposure'to'indoles'activates'a'signaling'pathway'in'C.'elegans'that'regulates'both' innate'immunity'and'longevity.'Once'activated,'the'animals'enter'a'“dauer5like”'state'in'which'they' become'resistant'to'a'variety'of'stressors,'a'process'called'“conditioning.”'Several'lines'of'evidence'such'as' gene'screen'and'RNAseq'suggests'that'a'key'mechanism'in'the'protective'response'in'the'maintenance' and/or'repair'of'epithelial'barrier'integrity,'particularly'in'the'intestinal'tract.'
& & Thomas&Xia&
L1&C.&elegans&demonstrate&preferential&chemotaxis&towards&Lactobacillus&rhamnosus&GG&(LGG)& Thomas'Y.'Xia,'Ashfaq'A.'Alam'Ph.D.,'Hiroshi'Qadota'Ph.D.,'Guy'M'Benian,'M.D.,'Andrew'S.'Neish'M.D.'
&
Probiotics'are'microorganisms'that'are'proposed'to'provide'a'variety'of'health'benefits'when'consumed.' However,'investigations'into'the'topic'are'still'in'the'early'phases.'Some'of'the'potential'benefits'of' probiotics'may'include'prevention'of'gut'colonization'by'pathogenic'microorganisms,'maintenance'of'an' eubiotic'natural'microbiota,'and'strengthening'of'a'host’s'immune'system.'In'clinical'settings,'probiotics' have'aided'in'the'treatment'of'acute'diarrhea'and'infectious/idiopathic'gut'inflammation'through' modulation'of'the'host’s'immune'system.'Lactobacillus'rhamnosus'GG'(LGG)'is'a'particular'strain'of' Lactobacillus'commonly'employed'as'a'probiotic,'yet'its'mechanism'of'action'remains'unknown.' Caenorhabditis'elegans'is'a'very'attractive'model'host'for'host5bacterial'interaction'research'as'the' nematode'both'directly'consumes'bacteria'and'can'be'controlled'to'a'significant'degree'due'its'inherent' biological'tractability.'Using'C.'elegans'as'a'model'organism,'here'we'show'that'newly5hatched,'L1'phase' larvae'of'C.'elegans'demonstrates'a'preferential'chemotaxis'response'towards'LGG'in'comparison'to'E.'coli.' However,'the'fully'matured,'adult'C.'elegans'do'not'show'the'same'preference'towards'LGG.'The' difference'may'be'due'to'the'differential'gene'expression'of'GPCR'receptors'that'perceive'and'sense' microbial'population'and'their'byproducts.'Further'investigations'into'the'comparative'gene'expression' analysis'of'the'L1'larval'phase'of'C.'elegans'and'the'adult'C.'elegans'may'reveal'a'mechanistic'view'of'our' findings.''
27
Junyan&Xia' Investigation&of&the&influence&of&endosymbiont&Burkholderia&on&the&immunity&of&Anasa&tristis& Junyan'Xia,'Tarik'Acevedo,'Nicole'Gerardo'
&
Symbiosis'arises'when'two'organisms'from'different'species'form'long5term'relationships.'Symbiotic' microbes'can'benefit'their'hosts'in'numerous'ways,'including'providing'nutrients'and'protecting'against' parasites.'Specifically,'association'with'a'microbial'symbiont'can'increase'resistance'to'foreign'microbes' entering'the'hosts'either'by'directly'killing'those'invaders'or'by'changing'the'host'immune'response'to' increase'resistance.'However,'host'immune'responses'towards'invading'microbes'could'also'be'weaker'if' such'responses'could'potentially'kill'beneficial'symbionts.'Endosymbiotic'Burkholderia'sp'play'an'important' role'for'the'squash'bug'(Anasa'tristis).'These'bacteria'increase'host'survival'and'decrease'development' time.'We'carried'out'preliminary'experiments'to'test'how'and'in'what'way'the'presence'of'Burkholderia' strain'sq4a'in'bacteria5storing'midgut'crypts'alters'A.'tristis's'reaction'towards'the'subsequent'introduction' of'the'bacteria'through'injection.'Symbiont'positive'and'symbiont'negative'A.'tristis'were'injected'with' Burkholderia'strain'sq4a,'and'were'sacrificed'at'05hour'or'245hour'time'points'to'measure'bacterial' clearance.'Preliminary'experiments'show'that,'after'24'hours,'symbiont'positive'A.'tristis'show'weaker' bacteria'clearance'than'symbiont'negative'A.'tristis.'It'is'possible'that'the'presence'of'the'symbiont' Burkholderia'may'cause'A.'tristis'to'down5regulate'its'immunity'against'the'bacteria.'Nevertheless,'more' replicates'are'needed'in'order'to'further'investigate'the'influence'of'endosymbiotic'Burkholderia'upon' A.tristis’'response'towards'foreign'bacteria.'
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
28
Li&Yun& Expression&of&Membrane&Progesterone&Receptor&Alpha&in&Human&Benigh&Prostatic&hyperplasia&Is& Associated&with&Pre.Surgical&Treatment&of&Finasteride& Yun'Li,'Md'Morehouse'School'of'Medicine,'Shaojin'You,'MD,'PhD'Emory'university,'Qing'Song,'MD,'PhD' Morehouse'School'of'Medicine'
&
Benign'prostatic'hyperplasia'(BPH)'is'the'most'common'disease'in'men'and'5α5Reductase'(5AR)'inhibitors' (finasteride)'remains'a'main'therapeutic'tool'in'management'of'this'disease.'Recent'evidence'supported'a' role'of'progesterone'(P4)'in'controlling'the'growth'of'BPH'through'the'nuclear'progesterone'receptor'(PR).' However,'the'presence'and'role'of'membrane'progesterone'receptor'alpha'(mPRα)'in'BPH'is'basically' unknown.'The'expression'of'mPRα'and'other'relevant'proteins'(i.e.'5AR5II,'PSA)'in'BPH'tissues'was'studied' and'the'levels'of'these'protein'expression'were'evaluated'semi5quantitatively'and'quantitatively,'and'then' correlated'to'the'patients’'clinical'data,'such'as'age,'maximal'urine'volume'(MUV),'ultrasound'measured' prostate'volume,'serum'PSA'levels,'international'prostate'symptom'score'(I5PSS),'and'treatment'of' finasteride.'We'first'demonstrated'the'expression'of'mPRα'protein'in'the'paraffin'embedded'BPH'and' prostate'cancer'tissues'and'then'confirmed'the'findings'using'the'fresh'BPH'tissues'at'both'mRNA'and' protein'levels.'In'both'fresh'and'paraffin'embedded'tissues,'the'levels'of'mPRα'protein'expression'were' significantly'higher'in'patients'with'finasteride'treatment'prior'to'surgical'resection'as'compared'to'those' without'finasteride'treatment.'Our'results'indicated'that'the'treatment'of'finasteride'may'up5regulate'the' expression'of'mPRα'in'BPH,'even'though'the'mechanisms'of'this'action'remain'unknown.'Further'study'is' essential'to'fully'understand'the'role'of'the'membrane'receptor'associated'signaling'transduction'pathway' in'BPH'pathogenesis'and'based'on'that,'novel'therapeutic'strategy'may'be'developed.''
& & Youyun&Zheng'
Screening&of&anti.cancer&drug&based&on&the&tumor&specific&interaction&between&p110α.E545K&and&IRS1& Youyun'Zheng'Haian'Fu,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Re5wired'protein5protein'interaction'(PPI)'is'a'hallmark'of'cancer,'which'is'basically'due'to'certain' mutations'of'key'genes.'Mechanisms'such'as'interference'of'binding,'excessive'affinity'are'all'common' causes'of're5wired'PPI.'One'such'mutation'is'the'hotspot'mutation'E545K'on'the'PI3KCA'oncogene,'which' leads'to'a'constitutive'interaction'with'the'insulin'receptor'substrate'1'(IRS1),'is'critical'for'PI3KCA5driven' tumorigenesis'in'breast'and'ovarian'cancers.'In'this'project,'we'intend'to'optimize'the'binding'assay'for' High'Throughput'Screening'in'order'to'discover'the'molecular'inhibitors'involved'in'the'PI3KCAE545K5IRS1' interaction,'which'are'potential'lead'to'anti5cancer'drugs'targeted'specifically'for'breast'and'ovarian'cancer' patients'with'this'particular'mutation.'''
&
29
Research&Partners&Program& & Kiran&Ali& The&Relationship&of&a&Novel&Tennis&Stroke&Efficiency&Rating&and&Injury&Risk&in&Competitive&Tennis&Players& Kiran'Ali,'Neeru'Jayanthi,'Stefanie'Soelling,'Patricia'Bush'' ' Background:'There'is'a'known'risk'of'injury'amongst'young'tennis'athletes'relating'to'volume'of'training' and'history'of'injury.'Athletes'who'practice'one'sport'have'an'independent'risk'for'injury,'overuse'injury,' and'serious'overuse'injury.'With'this'observational'study,'which'is'the'first'of'its'kind'regarding'tennis,' injury'based'on'stroke'mechanics'can'be'reduced'by'numerically'analyzing'strokes'and'correlating'this' number,'which'is'a'novel'tool'called'the'Stroke'Efficiency'Rating'(SER),'with'overall'performance'and'injury' risks.'Methods:'Study'design:''A'series'of'220'tennis'players'ages'12523'who'participate'in'organized,' competitive'tennis'were'recruited.''These'players'were'given'a'baseline'survey'and'then'asked'to' participate'in'a'video'stroke'analysis.'Six'months'and'one'year'later,'athletes'are'followed'up'with'surveys' that'ask'about'pain'and'performance.'''Results:''Because'the'most'common'areas'of'injuries'were'the' lower'back,'shoulder,'wrist,'and'elbow,'these'areas'were'monitored'closely'during'the'video'stroke'analysis' and'the'surveys'asked'specific'questions'regarding'pain'in'these'specific'areas.''Conclusions:''Once'the' relationship'of'stroke'biomechanics'and'injury'risks'is'established,'then'using'an'SER'may'be'able'to'identify' and'therefore'reduce'injury'risk.'This'is'important'because'it'can'be'used'is'to'help'athletes'perform'well' and'maintain'their'health.' '
& Reilly&Allison& Relationship&of&mRNA&Binding&Proteins&IMP1&and&位N22&with&SMN&as&Determined&through&a&Split. Luciferase&Assay& Reilly'Allison,'Emory'University,'Wilfried'Rossoll,'PhD,'Gary'Bassell,'PhD' ' mRBPs'(mRNA5binding'proteins)'are'being'tested'for'their'relationship'with'SMN'(survival'of'motor'neuron)' protein'and'their'roles'in'mRNA'transport'and'stability.'This'experiment'tested'the'relationship'between' two'mRBPs,'IMP1'and'位N22,'in'a'split5luciferase'assay,'to'determine'if'they'spatially'overlap'between' multiple'florescent'labels'with'SMN.'This'relationship'would'allow'researchers'to'determine'specific' defects'in'mRNA5protein'assembly'within'spinal'muscular'atrophy'(SMA).'Initial'findings'suggested'this' relationship'was'similar'to'that'of'IMP1'and'HuD,'through'reproducibility'proved'difficult.'Further'research' is'needed'to'confirm'initial'findings'and'to'test'the'applicability'to'human'cells.'' '
& & & & & & &
30
Ryan&Ashiqueali& A&Social&Paradigm&for&Auditory&Learning&in&Mice& Robert'Liu,'PhD'Stanford'Alex'Dunlap'BS,'San'Jose'State'University' ' Oxytocin,'an'important'hormone,'is'released'by'the'pituitary'gland'during'certain'social'interactions'and' behaviors.'It'has'been'experimentally'determined'that'oxytocin'in'the'left'auditory'cortex'enhances'and' improves'social'cognition'of'“acoustic'social'stimuli�'in'female'mice'(Froemke,'2015).'This'conclusion,' however,'is'based'on'a'behavior'that'may'have'non5auditory,'multi5modal'influences.'This'experiment,' seeks'to'establish'a'paradigm,'in'which'we'can'measure'performance'for'a'purely'auditory'task,'involving' naive'female'mice'correctly'retrieving'mice'pups'on'a'T5maze.'As'it'is'unknown'whether'mice'can'perform' this'task,'we'primarily'seek'to'analyze'their'ability'to'learn'under'this'paradigm,'before'conducting' prospective'research,'in'which'mice'injected'intraperitoneally'with'either'oxytocin'or'saline'(control)'can'be' evaluated'for'this'behavior.'For'this'experiment,'a'T5maze'will'be'used,'in'which'a'target'sound,'designed' by'the'experimenter,'will'be'randomly'played'on'either'side.'Naive'mice'that'correctly'approach'the'sound' will'retrieve'the'pup'as'a'reward.'Three'measurements'will'be'used'to'analyze'learning'of'this'behavior:' correctness,'latency,'and'proportion.'For'prospective'research,'we'conclude'that'the'best'measure'will'be' the'proportion'of'the'population'that'met'our'criterion'for'having'learned.'A'significant'change'in'this' proportion,'will'suggest'that'oxytocin'enhances'learning'ability'associated'with'this'behavior.' '
& Omer&Ashmaig& Reversing&the&Effects&of&Epilepsy&on&Rats&Using&Stimulation&Parameters&on&the&Hippocampus& Omer'Ashmaig,'Mark'Connolly,'Syed'Zaidi,'Robert'Gross,'MD/PhD'Emory'University'
&
Brain'cells'communicate'through'electrical'impulses.'When'these'signals'misfire,'a'disturbance'can'occur' that'results'in'chemical'changes'that'can'cause'certain'symptoms'such'as'loss'of'consciousness.'This'is' known'as'epilepsy.'Previous'experiments'have'shown'that'delivering'an'electrical'stimulation'to'the'brain' decreases'seizure'frequency.'The'exact'stimulation'parameters'(voltage,'frequency,'etc.)'to'accomplish'this' are'still'being'debated.'Another'important'question'to'ask'is'as'to'whether'seizures'can'cause'damage'in' brain'function,'especially'when'dealing'with'a'developing'mind.''By'using'a'process'known'as'kindling,'we' induced'seizures'in'rats'through'the'use'of'repeated'electrical'stimulation.'Many'studies'of'kindling'has' been'shown'to'result'in'behavioral'effects'as'well.'These'studies'suggest'that'kindling'one'area'of'the'brain' mirrors'the'effect'of'induced'damage'to'the'same'area,'resulting'in'negative'consequential'behavioral' effects.'By'using'a'memory'test'known'as'the'novel'object'recognition'test'(NOR),'we'can'quantify'the' effectiveness'of'the'stimulation'parameters.'The'analysis'of'this'data'has'shown'that'there'is'a'decrease'in' memory'of'the'rats'after'kindling.'However,'were'able'to'reverse'the'kindling'effects'by'delivering'certain' stimulation'parameters'to'the'CA1'and'CA3'regions'of'the'hippocampus.'Understanding'how'these' underlying'neuronal'structures'can'be'rewired'will'lead'to'better'understanding'of'other' neurodegenerative'diseases'as'well.''
& & & &
31
Margaret&Avera& Islamic&Political&Philosophy& Judd'Owen,'PhD'Emory'University.'
&
Islamic'theology'and'political'philosophy'are'closely'tied,'originating'with'the'Prophet'Muhammad'who'was' considered'to'have'ultimate'religious'and'political'authority'over'Muslims.''The'rulers'who'succeeded' Muhammad'were'known'as'the'Caliph,'and'had'political'authority'bestowed'upon'them'by'the'Muslim' community'after'they'undertook'a'public'vow'to'uphold'the'religious'principles'of'Islam.''From'review'of' secondary'sources'on'Islamic'political'history,'we'note'that'there'is'a'discernable'pattern'between'the' religious'principles'upheld'by'the'Caliph'and'the'theology'of'political'rule.''Influence'from'other'cultures' and'religions'was'passed'to'Islamic'rulers'as'they'conquered'vast'amounts'of'territory,'specifically'regions' previously'ruled'by'Byzantines.''We'hypothesized'that'the'Islamic'Caliph’s'religious'authority'effected'the' theology'and'philosophy'practiced'by'Islamic'scholars.''The'basis'of'this'hypothesis'comes'from'the' theology'and'philosophy'practiced'during'the'time'of'the'Abbasid'Caliphate'(75051258),'noting'a' correlation'between'a'high'degree'of'religious'freedom'and'rise'of'rationalist'philosophical'practices.'We' work'to'understand'the'factors'which'had'influence'on'religious'principles,'hypothesizing'that'political' environment,'elite'involvement,'and'group'competition'for'the'seat'of'the'Caliphate'effected'the' prominence'of'the'theological'principles'purported'by'the'Caliph.''These'theological'ruling'principles' influenced'Islamic'political'philosophy,'and'it'is'my'contention'that'the'religious'principles'espoused'by'the' Caliphs'explain'the'widely'differing'philosophical'views.'
& & Jordan&BakerSTealer&
Pre.Emptive&Piracy&& Jordan'Baker5Tealer,'Emory'University.'Shomu'Banerjee,'PhD'Emory'University.'
&
It'is'well5known'that'under'duopolistic'price'competition'when'the'firms’'choice'variables'are'strategic' complements,'it'is'more'advantageous'to'be'a'follower'than'a'leader.'If'this'is'true'in'the'context'of'music' and'DVD'piracy,'why'then'would'a'pirate'pre5empt'an'original'producer'by'launching'its'product'first?'I' consider'a'simple'model'of'piracy'where'a'pirate'chooses'both'the'price'and'the'quality'of'the'copied' product'to'address'this'question.'' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
32
Joshua&Batista& Early&Attenuation&of&Multiple&Sclerosis&with&DC.Infused&Hydrogel& Joshua'Batista,'Emory'University'Nicholas'Beskid,'Georgia'Institute'of'Technology'Julia'Babensee,'PhD,' Georgia'Institute'of'Technology'Aline'Thomas,'PhD','Georgia'Institute'of'Technology'Brian'Evavold,'PhD,' Emory'University'
&
Autoimmune'disease'affects'a'large'percentage'of'Americans,'and,'as'of'now,'no'cure'exists.' Immunosuppressive'treatments'are'somewhat'effective,'but'often'leave'an'individual’s'immune'system' defenseless'to'a'host'of'other'diseases.'Hydrogels,'which'are'multifunction'biomaterials'that'act'as'a' delivery'system'of'cells,'have'shown'to'be'useful'in'treating'more'directly.'Going'from'broad' immunosuppression'to'specific,'we'have'shown'that'implanting'a'hydrogel5infused'with'patient'derived,' immunosuppressive'dendritic'cells'into'the'cervical'lymph'node'is'effective'in'attenuating'one'autoimmune' disease,'multiple'sclerosis,'or'experimental'autoimmune'encephalomyelitis'(EAE)'in'the'mouse'model.''We' would'like'to'further'support'the'effectiveness'of'the'hydrogel5DC'design,'and'assess'the'following:'the' time'it'takes'for'attenuation'to'occur,'and'the'immune'response'at'this'point'through'analysis'of'immune' cells.'Hydrogels'with'(experimental'group)'or'without'(control'group)'DCs'were'implanted'into'the'cervical' lymph'nodes'of'mice'with'EAE.'Results'are'still'pending,'but'we'predict'that'the'hydrogel+DC'will'be' effective'in'earlier'attenuation'of'EAE,'and'that'there'will'be'a'distinctive'immune'response'in'the'brain,' spinal'card,'and'lymph'nodes'shown'by'DC'change'in'phenotype'and'the'change'in'expression'of'several' key'immune'cells,'like'cd11b+'and'cd11c+'cells.'So'far'it'seems'results'will'further'support'the'method'of'' implanting'DCs'that'are'cultured'to'be'immunosuppressive'in'vitro;'the'next'step'will'be'to'determine'if' making'the'DCs'immunosuppressive'in'vivo'is'an'effective'method.''
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
33
Chris&Batterman& Viral&vectors&as&a&possible&treatment&for&the&underlying&causes&of&anxiety.related&diseases& Chris'Batterman;'AurĂŠlie'Menigoz,'Ph.D.'Yerkes'National'Primate'Research'Center;'Aravind'Asokan,'Ph.D.' University'of'North'Carolina'at'Chapel'Hill;'Donald'G.'Rainnie,'Ph.D.'Yerkes'National'Primate'Research' Center' ' Fear'and'anxiety'related'disorders'are'among'the'most'common'mental'disorders,'affecting'4'out'of'15' people'throughout'the'world.'While'current'treatments'for'such'disorders'have'shown'moderate'success'in' easing'the'lives'of'those'affected,'they'do'little'to'remedy'the'underlying'pathological'basis'for'impaired' responses'to'socio5stimuli.'Current'therapeutic'approaches'work'by'exciting'or'inhibiting'certain' neurotransmitter'pathways'in'hopes'of'altering'behavior.'However,'these'treatments'are'only'mildly' effective'and'present'severe'side'effects'due'to'their'lack'of'specificity.'This'study'explores'the'feasibility'of' using'adeno5associated'viruses'as'therapeutic'vectors'(AAVs)'with'the'hopes'of'delivering'corrective'genes' to'the'specific'neuronal'population'in'regions'associated'with'fear'and'anxiety.'Limiting'the'spread'of'the' AAVs'to'only'certain'cell'types'and'the'brain'regions'most'closely'related'with'fearful'and'anxious' responses,'such'as'the'basolateral'amygdala'(BLA),'could'allow'treatments'to'target'the'underlying' pathological'causes'without'causing'unnecessary'side'effects.'In'this'study'we'determined'the'cell'specific' targeting'ability,'as'well'as'the'transport'properties'and'transduction'rates'of'chimeric'new'strains'of'AAVs' in'the'adult'rat'brain,'by'using'BLA'injections'and'immunohistochemistry'methods.'This'will'help'to'assess' the'potential'of'these'vectors'as'vehicles'for'delivering'therapeutic'agents'to'specific'neurons.''AAV' serotypes'that'are'successful'in'terms'of'transduction'rate'and'cell'targeting'specificity'will'be'used'in' future'studies'as'potential'delivery'agents'for'treatments'for'disorders'such'as'depression'and'anxiety.'' ' '
Talia&Bernhard&
Unmet&Mental&Health&Needs&Among&Cancer&Survivors&in&Georgia& Talia'Bernhard'Cam'Escoffery'PhD,'MPH,'CHES'
&
For'the'14,500,000'cancer'survivors'in'the'United'States,'mental'health'concerns'comprise'a'significant' portion'of'the'struggle'they'face'after'undergoing'treatment.'Healthcare'providers'may'be'unsuccessful'in' their'attempt'to'address'individuals’'unmet'needs,'or'may'lack'the'necessary'services'entirely.'To'better' understand'Georgia’s'state'of'affairs,'the'Georgia'Comprehensive'Cancer'Control'Plan'201452019' administered'a'cross'sectional'survey'from'September'to'December'2014'to'all'cancer'survivors'in'the'state' of'Georgia.'The'main'purpose'of'this'research'was'to'analyze'this'previously'collected'data.'Specifically,'the' goal'was'to'gauge'mental'health'status,'which'was'a'smaller'portion'of'the'survey'that'also'assessed' practical,'physical'and'religious'needs.'The'mental'health'needs'of'roughly'730'individuals'were'examined' closely,'which'will'guide'future'revamping'of'support'services'and'resources'for'cancer'survivors.' Descriptive'statistics'were'run'in'Statistical'Package'for'the'Social'Sciences'(SPSS)'version'23'to'explore' most'common'needs'and'highest'areas'of'distress'for'survivors.'The'main'findings'illustrate'almost'half'of' the'surveyed'cancer'survivors'in'Georgia'felt'moderate,'large,'or'extreme'distress'regarding'their'fear'of' cancer'coming'back'and'the'changed'dynamics'regarding'their'relationships'with'family'members,'along' with'high'levels'of'distress'pertaining'to'other'concerns.'These'results'support'the'current'knowledge'that' health'services'to'address'mental'health'needs'during'cancer'survivorship'need'significant'revitalization.''
&
34
Rachel&Brenner& Invalidation&and&Adolescent&Self.Harm& Rachel'Brenner,'undergraduate'Meaghan'McCallum,'PhD'candidate'
&
Borderline'Personality'Disorder'(BPD)'poses'a'significant'health'risk'as'it'is'difficult'to'treat,'damages' interpersonal'relationships,'and'substantially'increases'one’s'risk'for'suicide.'The'most'widely5supported' theory'for'the'development'of'BPD'is'Linehan’s'Biosocial'Theory,'which'suggests'that'etiological'factors' such'as'personality,'biological'predisposition'to'emotion'dysregulation,'and'environment'affect'the' trajectory'of'the'disease.'Self5injury'is'a'strong'predictor'for'the'disorder'that'typically'arises'during' adolescence,'and'research'suggests'that'adolescents'are'more'responsive'to'treatment'than'adults.'Little' empirical'research'exists'regarding'the'presence'and'influence'of'parental'invalidation'on'adolescents'at' risk'for'BPD.'To'address'this'knowledge'gap,'we'examine'the'presence'and'nature'of'parental'invalidation' during'face5to5face'interactions'between'adolescent'girls'and'their'mothers.'Our'approach'is'an' experiment'in'which'healthy'and'high5risk'adolescent'females'and'their'mothers'have'two'discussions:'one' about'planning'an'enjoyable'activity'and'one'about'a'problem'that'they'disagree'on.'Discussions'are'video5 recorded'and'coded'for'behavioral'elements'such'as'affect,'parental'invalidation,'and'emotional'support.' We'are'still'in'the'process'of'data'collection.'For'participants'who'engage'in'self5injury,'we'expect'to'see' higher'levels'of'parental'invalidation'during'conversations'when'compared'to'healthy'controls'
& & Ashley&Brown&
Using&Plain&Language&Pamphlets&to&Improve&Patient&Understanding&& Dr.'Kristie'Greene,'MD'Emory'University'Dr.'Chidimma'Eto,'MD'Emory'University'Ashley'Brown,'Emory' University'
&
The'purpose'of'this'study'is'to'determine'if'the'use'of'plain'language'pamphlets'can'effectively'educate'and' improve'a'patient’s'understanding'of'pelvic'organ'prolapse.'This'study'will'address'the'knowledge'gap' between'POP'patients'educated'with'plain'language'pamphlets'and'those'who'do'not'receive'a'pamphlet.'' Providing'information'about'pelvic'organ'prolapse'through'plain'language'pamphlets'will'increase'patient' understanding'and'improve'communication'between'patients'and'their'doctors.''In'this'randomized'trial' conducted'at'Emory'University'Hospital,'women'will'be'evaluated'on'their'understanding'of'pelvic'organ' prolapse'treatment'after'they'are'given'plain'language'pamphlets'describing'their'treatment'options.'Half' of'the'group'is'provided'with'a'pamphlet'before'they'are'given'questionnaires'to'assess'their' understanding'of'pelvic'organ'prolapse,'while'the'other'half'of'the'group'is'not'given'any'information' before'completing'the'questionnaires.'''We'expect'to'see'higher'scores'on'the'questionnaires'from'the' women'who'are'given'a'plain'language'pamphlet'on'pelvic'organ'prolapse'before'taking'the'questionnaire' as'opposed'to'the'women'not'given'the'plain'language'pamphlet.''These'findings'can'be'used'in'every'field' of'medicine'that'requires'a'patient's'understanding'in'order'to'make'informed'medical'decisions.'The' results'from'this'study'do'not'apply'to'just'pelvic'medicine.''
& & & &
35
Varsha&Chiruvella& Novel&Optogenetic&Approach&to&Controlling&Neuronal&Activity&in&Rats& Varsha'Chiruvella,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences,'Department'of'Neurology'Ken'Berglund,'Department' of'Neurology,'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'Dr.'Robert'Gross,'MD'PhD,'Department'of'Neurology,' Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'
&
Epilepsy,'along'with'seizure'disorders,'is'the'4th'most'common'neurological'disease'and'as'of'2013'has' affected'5.1'million'children'and'adults'in'the'US.'The'purpose'of'this'research'is'to'discover'the' mechanisms'of'this'neurological'disease'in'vitro.'We'specifically'wanted'to'see'how'epileptic'seizures'can' be'controlled'through'optogenetics,'which'is'the'complete'non5electrical'manipulation'and'monitoring'of' brain'activity'using'specialized'proteins''and''artificial'light.'Through'biomolecular'subcloning'techniques,' our'optogenetic'approach'engineered'and'used'luminopsin'proteins,'clomeleon'fusion'fluorescent' proteins,'and'GCaMP'calcium'indicator'protein.'Furthermore,'the'end'goal'of'this'research'is'find'and' engineer'a'pathway'to'treat'and'potentially'cure'epilepsy'in'humans.'
& & Nowrin&Chowdhury&
The&effects&of&a&modified&virus&(MVA&B13R)&on&delaying&cell&death&in&HeLa&cells&& Nowrin'Chowdhury,'Emory'University,'SIRE'Lynette'Chea,'Emory'University,'Emory'Vaccine'Center'Rama' Amara,'PhD,'Emory'University,'Emory'Vaccine'Center''
&
HIV'incidence'has'been'stagnant'for'decades,'and'the'search'for'a'vaccine'has'been'hindered'by'many' factors.'Many'of'the'vaccines'use'the'modified'vaccinia'virus'Ankara'(MVA)'as'a'vector,'as'DNA'from'other' viruses'can'be'easily'integrated'into'the'genome'of'this'virus'for'the'immune'system'to'recognize.'Clinical' trials'using'the'MVA'vector'as'a'vaccine'delivery'system'for'HIV'have'shown'T'cell'(immune'cell)'reponses' in'only'39551%'of'patients1.'One'issue'with'these'vaccines'is'the'early'cell'death,'or'apoptosis,'that'occurs' in'infected'cells,'creating'insufficient'time'for'the'immune'system'to'react'effectively.'Apoptosis'occurs' through'a'pathway'called'the'caspase5mediated'apoptotic'pathway,'which'include'activation'of'the'enzyme' caspase'8'through'activation'of'caspase'3.'Here'we'investigate'whether'MVA'with'the'active'B13R'gene,' which'is'known'to'inhibit'the'activity'of'caspase'3'in'the'apoptosis'pathway,'could'delay'apoptosis.'The' effects'of'having'the'active'gene'were'studied'using'cells'treated'with'an'apoptosis'causing'agent'and'by' recording'the'death'of'cells'at'24'hour'time'points'over'the'course'of'five'days.'The'results'were'analyzed' using'flow'cytometry'to'measure'the'amount'of'MVA'and'the'amount'of'caspase'3'activity.'In'the'future,' the'ability'of'MVA'B13R'to'delay'apoptosis'could'lead'to'the'creation'of'more'effective'vaccines'for' infections'such'as'HIV,'as'this'could'allow'more'time'for'the'recruitment'of'immune'cells.'
& & & & & & &
36
Katherine&Cooper& Systems&of&Sizing&in&American&Fashion:&A&Cultural&Historical&Approach& Katherine'Cooper'and'Peter'Brown,'PHD'Emory'University'
&
In'1919,'anthropologist'Alfred'Kroeber'Published'a'study'examining'the'patterns'of'civilization'as'seen' through'changes'in'fashion.'He'was'able'to'establish'that'while'fashion'is'constantly'changing,'as'like' society,'the'pivotal'points'of'cultural'shifts'are'more'difficult'to'determine.'This'study'examined'the'impact' of'such'changes'in'American'fashion'and'their'influence'on'the'American'cultural'standard'of'beauty.'An' idealized'beauty'standard'for'the'1940s'through'the'1950s'was'established'by'measuring'waists'and'hips'of' models'on'the'covers'of'American'Vogue'Magazine.'These'measurements'were'then'uses'to'formulate' waist'to'hip'ratios'that'represent'the'ideal'standard'of'beauty'for'the'given'years.'This'study'is'able'to'show' that'there'is'a'shift'towards'favoring'narrow'bodies'compare'to'bodies'with'a'more'hourglass'or'rounded' shape.'This'study'also'examined'the'relationship'between'standard'of'beauty'and'the'growing'obesity' trend.'Preliminary'results'suggest'that'there'is'a'negative'relationship'between'the'standard'of'beauty'and' the'secular'trend'of'obesity.'This'shows'that'while'obesity'is'increasing'amongst'the'American'population,' the'standard'of'beauty'is'favoring'thinner'bodies.'Overall,'these'results'align'with'Kroeber’s' characterization'of'the'gradual'change'in'society'standards.'By'taking'a'historical'approach,'it'is'possible'to' examine'how'changes'have'occurred'and'to'analyze'the'emergence'of'differences'in'beauty'standards.'The' way'that'society'approaches'beauty'standards'can'effect'how'individuals'see'themselves'and'others'within' a'culture.''
& & Christella&Dhammaputri&
Optimizing&Ideal&Conditions&for&the&Formation&of&Amyloid&Templates& Christella'Dhammaputri'&'Allisandra'Rha,'Emory'University'
&
For'decades,'hydrogel'matrices'have'been'made'using'different'materials,'from'biological'polymers'found' in'algae'to'polypeptide5DNA'conjugates.''Hydrogel'has'been'used'mainly'in'3D'bioprinting'because'of'its' biodegradable'and'flexible5yet5firm'nature.'The'present'study'explores'the'possibility'of'hydrogel'creation' using'an'amyloid'template.'''We'used'azide5modified'DNA'and'conjugated'it'with'an'alkyne5modified' peptide'(ELVIIAG)'using'a'copper5catalyzed'click'reaction.'Once'formed,'we'let'the'conjugate'co5assemble' with'free'peptides'(KLVIIAG)'to'promote'amyloid'assembly.''In'order'to'assess'the'possibility'of'forming' hydrogel'using'an'amyloid'template,'we'must'find'the'ideal'concentration'of'the'conjugates.''To'confirm' the'concentration'of'the'conjugates,'we'used'UV'spectroscopy,'and'to'confirm'the'structure'of'the'sample' over'time,'we'used'TEM.''After'72'hours,'the'sample'seemed'to'form'very'little'fibers,'though'at'1'week,' we'found'networks'of'fibers'formed'by'the'co5assembly,'which'gives'a'very'promising'prospect'for'the' amyloid'template'formation.'
& & & & &
37
Jose&Ruben&Diaz&Vasquez& The&Middle&Class&Mexican&experience:&A&case&study&of&discrimination&in&Atlanta&&& Irene'Browne,'Associate'Professor'Emory'University'Branca'Sanchez,'Undergraduate'SIRE'Partner'Emory' University' ' In'a'time'of'increased'immigration'to'the'United'States,'the'dichotomy'between'black'and'white'is' challenged'by'the'rise'of'a'racial'middle'which'consists'predominantly'of'Latinos.'This'evokes'a're5 structuring'of'institutional'racial'systems'that'shape'the'experience'of'individuals'in'this'category.'The' South'has'been'growing'as'a'location'for'immigrants'from'the'“racial'middle,”'especially'Mexican' immigrants.'Many'studies'have'examined'the'experiences'of'low'and'working'class'Mexican'immigrants,' but'the'experiences'of'the'Mexican'middle'class'have'largely'been'overlooked.'Of'upmost'interest,'how' does'this'group'experience'discrimination?'How,'if'at'all,'does'their'middle'class'status'shield'them'from' the'discrimination'they'experience,'and'how'does'that'discrimination'manifest'itself?'Through'in5depth' interviews,'our'preliminary'findings'suggest'that'middle'class'Mexican'immigrant'parents'perceive'racism' and'discrimination'in'ways'that'closely'follow'the'hypothesis'posed'in'a'book'called'the'Racial'Middle'by' Eileen'O’Brien.'That'is,'subjects'use'minimization'strategies'when'talking'about'discrimination.'Moreover,' they'do'not'recognize'the'subtle'expressions'of'today’s'racist'ideology,'remaining'fixed'to'the'more'overt' manifestation'known'prior'to'and'during'the'Civil'Rights'Movement.'Our'study'is'distinguished'in'that'our' respondents'are'monoracial'Latinos,'in'contrast'to'those'in'the'Racial'Middle'who'had'multiracial'identities.' Furthermore,'this'understanding'will'inform'future'policies'aimed'to'improve'the'living'conditions'of'this' group'of'people.''' ' '
Andy&Dong&
Impact&of&Mitral&Regurgitation&Severity&on&Outcomes&for&Heart&Failure&Patients& Jose'F.'Condado,'MD,'MS1;'Andy'Dong1;'Aneel'Maini1;'Peter'C.'Block,'MD1;'Salim'S.'Hayek,'MD1;'Vinod'H.' Thourani,'MD2;'Arshed'Quyyumi,'MD1;'Vasilis'Babaliaros,'MD1.'Department'of'Cardiology1'and' Cardiothoracic'Surgery2.'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine,'Atlanta,'Georgia.' '
&
The'most'common'valvular'heart'disease'in'the'U.S.'is'mitral'regurgitation'(MR)'(1).'Functional'MR,'in' particular,'is'a'contentious'area'of'study'because'the'best'course'of'treatment'is'still'unclear'in'patients' with'congestive'heart'failure'(CHF)'(2).'Though'previous'studies'have'associated'worse'health'outcomes' with'CHF'patients'with'MR'(3,'4),'limited'data'exist'to'explain'the'true'prevalence'and'prognosis'of'MR'in' those'with'CHF.'This'study'sets'out'to'determine'the'prevalence'and'progression'of'MR'severity'in'CHF' populations,'and'whether'the'severity'of'MR'has'any'impact'on'the'outcomes'of'CHF'patients.'A' retrospective'cohort'study'was'performed'using'patient'echocardiography'histories.'Patients'with'heart' failure'and'MR'were'split'into'groups'of'none,'mild,'and'moderate'or'greater'MR.'Current'results'show'that' CHF'patients'have'worse'MR'severity'compared'to'the'reported'prevalence'in'the'general'population'and' also'that'greater'severity'of'MR'in'CHF'patients'are'associated'with'worse'survival'outcomes.'Future'work' is'aimed'to'determine'the'impact'of'MR'severity'with'other'outcomes'and'valvular'diseases.'This'ongoing' study'may'provide'insight'in'patient'prognosis'and'can'aid'in'management'methods'and'treatment' decisions'of'future'patients'with'the'same'conditions.'Risks'of'intervention'can'also'be'better'assessed'in' the'wake'of'new'cardiovascular'surgical'technology.'
38
Rachel&DuVivier' Externally&and&Self.Rated&Fine&Motor&Skill&Performance&in&Parkinson&Disease:&Before&and&After&Adapted& Tango& Rachel'DuVivier,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences'Ariel'Hart,'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'5' Division'of'General'Medicine'and'Geriatrics,'Emory'University'Center'for'Health'in'Aging''Ariyana'Bozzorg,' Atlanta'VA'Center'for'Visual'and'Neurocognitive'Rehabilitation''Madeleine'E.'Hackney'PhD,'Emory' University'School'of'Medicine'5'Division'of'General'Medicine'and'Geriatrics,'Emory'University'Center'for' Health'in'Aging'&'Atlanta'VA'Center'for'Visual'&'Neurocognitive'Rehabilitation''
&
As'a'result'of'impaired'mobility,'people'with'Parkinson’s'Disease'(PD)'experience'falls'which'lead'to' withdrawal'from'activities,'low'self5esteem'and'poor'mood.'Exercise'plays'a'vital'role'for'these'patients'in' order'to'maintain'cognition,'balance,'and'gait.'Reduced'upper'extremity'function'and'fine'motor'skills'are'a' common'consequence'of'PD.'Even'mild'hand'tremors'cause'difficulties'with'everyday'tasks.'Maintaining' balance'and'gait'are'positive'gross'motor'skill'effects'of'exercise,'but'little'is'known'about'the'effects'of' movement'programs'on'fine'motor'skill'performance.'We'evaluated'whether'fine'motor'tasks,'such'as' dressing'oneself,'daily'hygiene,'eating'and'handwriting,'improve'though'rehabilitative'adapted'tango.'In' our'study,'60'people'with'PD'were'randomly'assigned'to'20,'1.5h'education'classes'(Education,'n=22)'or' adapted'tango'in'the'leading'(Leader,'n=20)'or'following'(Follower,'n=18)'role.'(Upon'completion'of'the'20' assigned'classes,'Leader,'n=16,'Follower,'n=17'and'Education,'n=12)'Before'and'after'classes,'participants' were'assessed'with'the'UPDRS5II'and'5III'and'the'self5rated'PDQ39'with'measures'of'fine'motor'skill.'Two'2' X'2'MANOVA’s'determined'differences'between'groups'(Education'vs.'Leader'and'Education'vs.'Follower)' as'a'result'of'time.'Eating'tasks,'personal'hygiene,'penmanship,'hand'movements,'tying'laces,'the'UPDRS5III' motor'score'and'PDQ539'summary'index'scores'significantly'improved'for'both'tango'and'education' groups.'The'follower'group'may'have'improved'more.'Participation'in'dance'or'education'classes'led'to'fine' motor'skill'improvements'in'this'cohort.'More'research'is'necessary.'
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
39
Grace&Essien& High&Fat&High&Fructose&Diet&as&a&Model&of&Peripheral&Inflammation& Grace'E.'Essien,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences'Kathryn'P.'MacPherson,'Emory'School'of'Medicine' Albert'Y.'Amran,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences'Malu'G.'Tansey,'Emory'School'of'Medicine'
&
Neurodegenerative'diseases,'such'as'Alzheimer’s'disease'(AD),'are'associated'with'chronic'peripheral' inflammation'as'well'as'neuroinflammation.'AD'is'also'increasingly'becoming'associated'with'diets'high'in' saturated'fat'and'simple'sugars.'Conditions'associated'with'high'fat'diets,'such'as'diabetes'and'metabolic' syndrome,'increase'risk'for'AD.'To'investigate'how'high'fat'diet'modulates'the'inflammatory'environment,' we'assessed'immune'cells'population'changes'over'the'course'of'diet'manipulation.'In'order'to'observe' levels'of'specific'immune'cell'populations,'peripheral'blood'mononuclear'cells'(PBMCs)'were'collected' from'mice'on'both'the'high'fat'and'control'diets'at'baseline,'week'2,'and'week'5.'We'also'assessed'changes' in'immune'cell'population'in'PBMCs'between'male'and'female'mice.'PBMCs'were'isolated'from'whole' blood'and'stained'with'antigens'conjugated'with'fluorophores,'which'serve'as'markers'for'each'specific' population'of'immune'cells'in'the'PBMCs.'Lastly,'through'flow'cytometry,'we'classified'subcategories'of' PBMCs'through'detection'of'positive'levels'of'fluorophores.'These'fluorophores'helped'us'identify'antigens' (such'as'CD45,'CD3,'and'CD11b,'Ly6C,'MHCII,'etc.)'on'immune'cells.'Understanding'how'the'high'fat'diet' impacts'populations'of'immune'cells'within'PBMCs'will'allow'us'to'elucidate'how'peripheral'inflammation' impacts'the'brain.'
& & Mekleet&Faltamo&
Pediatric&Visitation&Policies:&Current&Practice&and&Opinions& Mekleet'Faltamo'&'Andrea'L.'Shane,'MD,'MPH'Emory'University'Alice'Pong,'MD','University'of'California5 San'Diego''Susan'E.'Beekman,'RN,'MPH'&'Philip'M.'Polgreen,'MD'University'of'Iowa''
&
Abstract'not'available'at'this'time.''
& & & & & & & & & & & & & &
40
Alana&Ferreira& Acquisition&and&utilization&of&healthcare&information&in&the&era&of&social&media& Alana'Ferreira,'Emory'University'Dr.'Shri'Deshpande,'Children's'Hospital'of'Atlanta'
&
Unfortunately,'one'of'the'main'challenges'that'professionals'in'the'health'field'face'is'communicating'with' patients.'The'gap'in'information'flow'between'these'two'groups'prevents'doctors'from'identifying'and' examining'how'patients'acquire'and'utilize'medical'information'and'the'way'in'which'this'information' affects'treatment.'By'administering'questionnaires'to'patients'and'families'of'patients'with'heart' conditions'at'the'Children’s'Hospital'of'Atlanta'we'gathered'data'surrounding'how'patients'interact'with'all' the'available'sources'of'information'that'they'are'exposed'to'including'the'internet'and'doctors.' This'research'aims'to'investigate'how'patients'acquire'health'related'information'in'the'era'of'social'media' and'how'they'use'that'information.'The'purpose'of'this'project'is'to'help'doctors'understand'the'most' effective'method'of'communicating'with'their'patients'and'to'better'comprehend'the'needs'of'the'patients' regarding'information'use.'Preliminary'results'suggest'that'patients'utilize'the'information'from'doctors'vs.' internet'differently.'Specifically,'data'suggests'that'they'trust'doctors'for'factual'information'but'turn'to' social'media'for'emotional'support'or'anecdotal'information'from'individuals'with'similar'experiences.' These'results'could'highlight'flaws'in'the'way'these'two'groups'interact'and'the'potential'danger'or'benefit' that'comes'from'how'patients'are'currently'seeking'and'using'information.'These'findings'could'help' identify'a'more'universally'accessible'and'accurate'resource'to'enable'doctors'and'patients'to' communicate'with'each'other'in'order'to'improve'health'treatments.' ' '
Cassandra&Fierro&
Identifying&topological&specificity&of&plasticity&induction&by&PAS& Cassandra'Fierro,'Emory'University,'Whitney'Grey,'PT,'DPT'Emory'University,'Alex'Chen'&'Arsh'Momin,' Georgia'Institute'of'Technology,'Michael'Borich,'DPT,'Ph.D'Emory'University''
&
Stroke'is'an'increasingly'prevalent'concern,'now'being'the'leading'cause'of'long5term'adult'disability'in'the' U.S'(Mozaffarian'et'al.,'2015).'Rehabilitation'therapies'aid'recovery'after'stroke'but'more'than'half'of'all' stroke'survivors'remain'with'significant'permanent'disability.'One'promising'supplement'to'current' treatments'is'paired'associative'stimulation'(PAS),'which'uses'non5invasive'brain'stimulation'coupled'with' peripheral'electrical'stimulation.'PAS'may'be'able'to'induce'neural'plasticity'in'the'brain'of'people'afflicted' with'chronic'stroke'to'improve'motor'recovery.'Our'study'uses'transcranial'magnetic'stimulation'(TMS)'of' the'motor'cortex'to'evoke'a'response'from'the'abductor'pollicis'brevis'(APB)'muscle'in'the'palm'to'assess' PAS5related'plasticity.'Previous'studies'with'PAS'have'used'the'first'dorsal'interosseous'(FDI)'muscle'near' the'index'finger'as'a'control'muscle'since'it'is'not'supplied'by'the'median'nerve.'The'FDI'muscle'is'used'as'a' baseline'for'analyzing'changes'in'motor'evoked'responses'seen'in'the'APB'muscle,'which'is'supplied'by'the' median'nerve.'However,'the'extent'to'which'the'effect'of'PAS'is'localized'is'unclear.'By'analyzing'responses' from'the'FDI'muscle'during'PAS,'comparisons'between'APB'and'FDI'responses'indicate'whether'or'not'PAS' has'emanating'effects'that'extend'further'than'the'targeted'muscle.'Preliminary'observations'suggest'that' PAS'effects'are'localized'to'a'specified'target'muscle'based'on'the'lack'of'significant'response'changes'after' PAS.'Knowing'the'range'of'effects'of'PAS'can'be'valuable'in'specifying'its'use'for'rehabilitation.''
&
41
& Olivia&Fogel& Productivity&and&Network&Allocation&Decisions:&Effect&of&Gender& Olivia'Fogel,'Emory'University'&'Jill'Perry5Smith,'PhD,'Goizueta'Business'School,'Emory'University'
&
It'is'commonly'agreed'that'women'in'Science,'Technology,'Engineering,'and'Math'(STEM)'fields'have' poorer'quality'networks'as'compared'to'men.'In'the'current'study,'we'questioned'whether'productivity' aids'in'network'allocation'decisions,'and'to'what'extent,'for'men'and'women.'Using'archival'data'from'a' chemical'company,'the'results'of'a'prior'study'revealed'that'women’s'productivity'is'more'strongly'related' to'access'to'high'status'associates'than'men’s.'In'a'follow5up'study,'we'recruited'working'adults'to' participate'in'an'experiment.'We'manipulated'performance,'the'employee’s'gender,'and'the'composition' of'the'employee’s'department.'We'hypothesized'that'employee'performance'would'have'a'greater'effect' on'assignment'to'groups'with'high'status'associates'for'women'compared'with'men,'but'this'effect'would' only'be'seen'when'women'worked'in'departments'with'a'low'proportion'of'women.'
& & Jennifer&Fundora&
Assessing&Vehicle&Emissions&and&Fuel&Quality&Standards&Globally& Jennifer'Fundora,'Emory'University''Eri'Saikawa,'PhD,'Emory'University''
&
The'conventional'wisdom'is'that'the'stringency'of'vehicle'emissions'and'fuel'quality'standards'should' match'with'one'another'in'order'to'effectively'regulate'tailpipe'emissions.'Due'to'economic'competition,' we'also'expect'to'find'developing'countries'lagging'behind'in'environmental'regulations.'However,'we'find' that'countries'adopt'vehicle'emissions'and'fuel'quality'standards'in'an'ad5hoc'manner'and'in'many'cases' they'do'not'match'with'one'another.'Furthermore,'certain'low5income'countries,'such'as'Nepal,'adopt'a' more'stringent'standard'earlier'than'a'high5income'country,'such'as'Saudi'Arabia.'To'date,'no'scholars'have' included'the'analysis'of'standards'adoption'for'both'emissions'and'fuel'quality'together'to'assess'why' countries'adopt'these'two'standards'in'the'way'they'do.'In'this'study,'we'fill'that'gap'and'analyze'both' emissions'and'fuel'quality.'The'amount'of'privately5used'is'increasing'at'an'unprecedented'and' unsustainable'rate,'further'impinging'on'air'quality'in'metropolitan'areas'around'the'world.'This'is' important'information'for'lobbyists'and'environmental'advocacy'groups'to'have'in'order'to'advocate'for' more'stringent'vehicle'emissions'and'fuel'quality'standards.''
& & & & & & & & & &
42
Nicholas&Green& HIV.1.inducedµRNAs&Regulate&ALOX5&Expression&and&Pulmonary&Hypertension& Nicholas'Green,'Bum5Yong'Kang,'PhD'Emory'University,'Roy'Sutliff,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Pulmonary'hypertension'(PH)'is'a'progressive'disease'characterized'by'elevations'in'pulmonary'arterial' pressure'and'vascular'resistance,'leading'to'high'mortality'and'morbidity.'Patients'living'with'human' immunodeficiency'virus'(HIV51)'have'an'increased'susceptibility'to'develop'PH.'Previous'research' demonstrated'that'55Lipoxygenase'(ALOX5)'is'a'potential'mediator'in'HIV5induced'PH.'While'ALOX5'has' been'shown'to'promote'pulmonary'vasoconstriction'and'endothelial'cell'proliferation,'the'link'between' HIV51'and'ALOX5'is'unknown.'ALOX5'expression'can'be'regulated'post5transcriptionally'by'microRNAs' (miRNAs'or'miRs),'small'noncoding'RNAs'that'negatively'regulate'gene'expression.'We'hypothesize'that' HIV515triggered'miRNAs'regulate'ALOX5'expression,'leading'to'PH.'A'bioinformatics'approach'utilizing' multiple'prediction'algorithms'identified'miR57,'miR529a,'and'miR5193a'as'potential'regulators'of'ALOX5.' To'examine'the'effects'of'HIV51'on'these'miRs,'total'RNA'and'miRNA'was'isolated'from'lungs'from'wild' type'and'HIV51'transgenic'(HIV51'TG)'mice.'Complementary'DNA'was'synthesized'from'the'isolated'RNA,' and'then'quantitative'real5time'polymerase'chain'reaction'(qRT5PCR)'was'performed.'Western'blot'analysis' was'performed'to'examine'ALOX5'levels'in'HIV51'TG'mice'compared'to'wildtype'mice.'Our'results'showed' that'the'HIV51'TG'mice'had'decreased'levels'of'miR57,'miR529a,'and'miR5193a,'as'well'as'increased'ALOX5' levels.'These'results'indicate'that'HIV51'downregulates'miR57,'miR529a,'and'miR5193a,'and'that'the' decreased'levels'of'these'miRNAs'likely'increase'ALOX5'levels.'These'results'support'our'hypothesis'that' HIV51'affects'miRNAs'that'target'ALOX5'and'thus'upregulates'ALOX5,'which'may'increase'PH'susceptibility.''
& & Abigail&Hensley&
The&Neutralization&of&HCV&through&SRB.1&Antibodies& Abigail'Hensley,'Emory'University,'Arash'Grakoui,'PhD'Emory'University,'Elizabeth'Elrod,'Emory'University,' Aryn'Price,'Emory'University,'Patrick'Speck,'Emory'University''
&
Across'the'globe,'millions'are'infected'with'the'Hepatitis'C'Virus.'This'pathogen'is'bloodbourne'and'affects' the'liver,'potentially'leading'to'fibrosis'and'cirrhosis.'The'virus'is'the'leading'cause'of'liver'cancer'in'the' world'today.'A'potential'way'to'stop'HCV'is'through'its'transmission'to'other'cells'after'infection.'HCV' enters'a'cell'by'binding'to'surface'proteins,'including'SRB51'which'is'usually'intended'for'lipid'transport.' However,'antibodies'can'be'made'through'the'production'of'hybridomas'that'are'specific'for'SRB51,'and' block'its'binding'site,'preventing'HCV'from'entering'the'cell.'Making'these'antibodies'involves'careful' screening'of'antibodies'harvested'from'mouse'B5cells'after'they'have'been'exposed'to'SRB51.'Then'these' antibodies'can'be'used'to'neutralize'the'virus,'preventing'the'spread'of'infection'by'blocking'the'virus’' entry'into'liver'cells.'This'poster'investigates'neutralizing'HCV'through'the'blockage'of'the'SRB51'protein.'
& & & & &
43
& Nancy&Holbrook& Acquisition&of&gutµbial&community&in&monarch&butterflies& Nancy'Holbrook,'Emory'University,'Erica'Harris,'PhD'candidate'(graduate'student),'Emory'University,'Nicole' Gerardo,'PhD'Emory'University.'
& The'study'of'microbial'communities'has'gained'popularity'in'recent'years'due'to'implications'that'microbes' play'various'roles'in'contributing'to'human'health.'The'mechanisms'by'which'microbial'communities'are' acquired'are'of'particular'interest'due'to'the'important'roles'that'these'microbes'play'across'different' animal'species.'To'determine'the'source'of'acquisition'of'the'gut'microbial'community'in'monarch' butterflies'(Danaus'plexippus),'we'tested'two'major'possible'sources'of'acquisition'of'the'monarch' microbial'community:'monarch'eggs'and'milkweed'plants.'Bacteria'were'cultured'from'egg'surfaces'and' interiors'and'the'surface'and'interior'of'two'milkweed'plant'species'leaves.'The'milkweed'plants'(Asclepias' incarnata'and'A.'curassavica)'differ'in'medicinal'properties'that,'when'at'high'levels,'increase'monarch' caterpillar'disease'resistance'to'a'natural'protozoan'parasite.'If'caterpillars'acquire'their'gut'microbial' community'via'vertical'transmission,'we'expect'the'presence'of'microbes'associated'with'the'monarch'gut' on'or'inside'the'egg,'while'horizontal'transmission'of'the'gut'microbial'community'should'be'indicated'by' monarch'gut'microbes'present'in'the'milkweed'plant'environment,'likely'on'or'inside'the'leaves.'We'used' DNA'extraction,'PCR'amplification,'and'sequencing'to'determine'the'identity'of'cultivated'microbes'and' compared'our'samples'with'cultivable'and'uncultivable'microbes'found'within'the'gut'of'monarch' caterpillars'in'previous'experiments.'''
& & Jocelyn&Hong&
Let's&Talk&About&It:&The&Gendered&Racialization&of&Sexual&Violence& Jocelyn'Hong,'Emory'University,'Erika'Hall,'PhD'Emory'University's'Goizueta'Business'School'
&
Previous'research'on'sexual'violence'indicates'that'bias'exists'in'perceptions'of'survivors’'believability'as' well'as'perpetrators’'culpability'based'on'survivor’s'race,'gender,'and'attractiveness.'Research'also' indicates'that'one’s'race'is'gendered'and'this'affects'their'perceived'level'of'attractiveness.'We' hypothesize'that'this'will'impact'perceptions'and'outcomes'of'sexual'assault'cases.'Our'study'investigates' how'sexual'assault'victims’'gender'congruence'(e.g.'feminine'race,'feminine'gender)'may'result'in'a'higher' level'of'believability'and'higher'level'of'guilt'assigned'and'higher'level'of'punitive'action'assigned'to'their' perpetrator.'We'also'examined'how'sexual'assault'survivors'who'are'androgynous'(e.g.'masculine'race,' feminine'gender),'may'experience'lower'levels'of'believability,'higher'levels'of'survivor'culpability,'and' lower'levels'of'guilt'and'punitive'action'assigned'to'their'perpetrator.'We'used'a'Princeton'Trilogy'Design'in' Study'1,'which'typically'uses'word'association'tasks'to'observe'the'racialization'of'traits,'to'examine'the' genderization'of'the'categories'“sexual'assault'victim”'and'“sexual'assault'survivor.”'For'Study'2,'we'use'an' online'scenario'survey'to'assess'our'main'hypothesis'that'the'genderization'of'race'would'lead'to' differential'outcomes'in'a'sexual'assault'case'depending'on'how'the'survivor’s'race,'femininity,'and' attractiveness'co5varied.'These'studies''results'will'contribute'to'the'literature'as'most'previous'work' towards'sexual'assault'advocacy'is'a'one5size5fits5all'model'that'does'not'take'into'account'racial'biases' and'how'the'genderization'of'race'contributes'to'differential'outcomes'of'sexual'assault'cases.''
44
Christina&Hughley& Investigation&of&Molecular&Mimicry&in&Mice&Inoculated&with&Listeria& Christina'Hughley,'Jennifer'Cosby,'Brian'Evavold'
&
Experimental'Autoimmune'Encephalomyelitis'(EAE)'is'a'disease'that'acts'as'an'animal'model'for'Multiple' Sclerosis''(MS),'an'autoimmune'disorder'characterized'by'the'demyelination'of'neurons'in'the'central' nervous'system'(CNS).'The'demyelination'occurs'when'cells'of'the'immune'system'attack'the'self'CNS' tissue.'It'is'hypothesized'that'contracting'certain'infections'can'trigger'autoimmunity'or'increase'the' severity'of'an'established'disease.'This'occurs'by'a'process'called'molecular'mimicry,'the'theory'that'self' and'foreign'antigens'are'similar'enough'to'cause'T'cells'to'activate'and'initiate'an'attack'against'self5cells'' which'eventually'leads'to'demyelination.'This'project'studies'the'MOG5specific'T'cell'response'after'a'series' of'infections'with'Listeria'monocytogenes'(Lm)'containing'this'myelin'epitope'in'an'attempt'to'prove'that' molecular'mimicry'can'occur'in'nature.'Primary'results'contradict'this'theory,'as'mice'inoculated'with'Lm' have'minimal'MOG5specific'T'cell'responses'and'no'incidence'of'EAE;'however,'other'infection'strategies' are'currently'being'explored'to'determine'if'a'molecular'mimic'can'break'tolerance'to'myelin'antigens.'
& & Ana誰s&Hussung&
Descriptive&and&Substantive&Representation&in&African.American&State&Legislators& Ana誰s'Hussung,'Irene'Browne'PhD,'and'Beth'Reingold,'PhD,'Emory'University'
&
We'analyze'voting'records'for'state'legislators'to'determine'the'effects'of'legislator'district'racial' composition'(to'measure'the'representative'aspect'of'legislators''roles)'and'legislator'race'(to'measure'the' effect'of'legislators''individual'identities)'on'voting'patterns.''
& & & & & & & & & & & & & & & & &
45
Kenny&Igarza& Exposure&to&hexabromocyclododecane&alters&the&expression&of&Parkinson’s&Disease.related&proteins.&& Kenny'Igarza,'Emory'University''Kristen'Stout,'PhD'Candidate,'Emory'University'Amy'Dunn,'PhD'Candidate,' Emory'University'Michael'Caudle,'PhD,'Emory'University''Gary'Miller,'PhD,'Emory'University''
&
Parkinson’s'Disease'(PD),'a'leading'neurodegenerative'disease,'causes'symptoms'such'as'rigidity,'slowness' of'movement,'and'resting'tremors.'Parkinson’s'Disease'is'characterized'by'the'selective'degeneration'of' nigrostriatal'dopamine'neurons.''Although'the'understanding'of'Parkinson’s'Disease’s'pathogenesis' remains'relatively'unknown,'one'leading'hypothesis'about'such'is'the'disruption'of'vesicular'dopamine' storage'and'packaging.''Dopamine'is'packaged'into'vesicles'by'the'vesicular'monoamine'transporter'2' (VMAT2).'This'storage'system'prepares'the'neuron'for'stimulated'release.'It'also'protects'the'neuron'by' limiting'the'accumulation'of'cytosolic'dopamine,'which'is'rapidly'oxidized'to'reactive'substrates'when'not' appropriately'packaged.'Several'environmental'toxicants'associated'with'PD'act'by'interfering'with' vesicular'dopamine'storage.'The'flame'retardant'1,2,5,6,9,105hexabromocyclododecane'(HBCDD)'causes' dopaminergic'neurotoxicity.''In'this'research'we'assess'the'compound’s'ability'to'inhibit'vesicular' dopamine'storage.''Additionally,'we'investigate'potential'alterations'in'the'expression'of'the'synaptic' vesicular'glycoprotein'2C'(SV2C),'a'protein'disrupted'in'Parkinson’s'Disease,'in'mice'chronically'treated' with'HBCDD.''Finally,'we'examine'neuroimflammation'in'treated'and'control'animals.''These'findings'may' ameliorate'our'understanding'about'how'environmental'exposure'to'toxicants'contributes'to'PD' pathogenesis.'
& & AshleyAnne&James&
Assessment&of&Recovery&from&Geriatric&Ankle&Fracture&Using&The&Life&Space&Mobility&Questionnaire& AshleyAnne'James,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences,''Jason'Bariteau,'MD'Upstate'Medical'University,'' Patricia'Bush,'M.S,'Emory'University'
&
An'increase'in'mobility'of'patients'with'ankle'fractures'has'correlated'to'a'decrease'in'mortality.'Hence,'the' Life'Space'Mobility'Questionnaire'(LSQ)'is'a'survey'that'quantifies'how'physically'active'an'individual'is'in' her'daily'life.'The'purpose'of'this'study'is'to'determine'whether'LSQ'is'the'best'tool'for'assessing'operative' and'non5operative'geriatric'patients'with'ankle'fractures'during'the'rehabilitation'process'compared'to' other'assessment'tools'including'the'VAS'(Visual'Analog'Pain'Scale),'SF536,'and'PROMIS'Physical'Function' tests.'This'test'also'aims'to'determine'whether'operative'or'non5operative'treatment'is'most'effective'in' the'rehabilitation'by'helping'doctors'to'identify'specific'differences'in'the'treatment'of'operative'and'non5 operative'elderly'patients.'This'study'will'follow'patients'who'have'granted'consent'for'one'year'once'they' have'started'either'operative'or'non5operative'treatment.''At'six'weeks,'three'months,'and'twelve'months' of'treatment,'each'patient'will'be'administered'the'LSQ,'SF536,'VAS,'and'PROMIS'Physical'Function'tests.' After'analyzing'the'how'well'the'LSQ'works'in'the'assessment'of'geriatric'patients'with'ankle'fractures,' orthopedic'doctors'will'be'able'to'determine'which'test'works'best'in'the'assessment'of'geriatric'patients' with'ankle'fractures.''We'predict'the'results'of'this'study'will'support'the'hypothesis'that'the'LSQ'is'the' most'accurate'and'informative'tool'in'the'rehabilitation'process'of'geriatric'patients'with'ankle'fractures' and'also'that'operative'intervention'will'allow'for'patients'to'return'to'their'former'physical'state'sooner' than'non5operative'intervention.'
46
Hang& Jiang& Chinese&grammar&vs&English&grammar&in&Universal&Dependency& Hang'Jiang'&'Jinho'Choi'PhD'Department'of'Mathematics'and'Computer'Science,'Emory'University'
&
This'project'explores'how'Chinese'would'comply'with'UD'(Universal'Dependency)'structure,'which'is'well' developed'for'47'languages'and'dialects,'by'comparing'English'and'Chinese'examples.'By'transcribing' representative'English'examples'from'the'official'UD'website,'we'translate'them'into'Chinese'and'try'to' find'corresponding'Chinese'dependency'relation.'We'categorize'those'examples'into'three'types:'common' examples,'English'distinctive'examples,'and'Chinese'distinctive'examples.'Finally,'it'is'found'that'mostly' Chinese'structures'have'corresponding'UD'relation.'This'research'will'help'people'who'read'this'not'only' understand'how'Chinese'UD'and'English'UD'are'different'but'also'develop'Chinese'UD'guideline'as'a' further'exploration.''' ' '
Sereena&Jivraj&
Evaluation&of&effectiveness&of&neural&progenitor&stem&cell&therapy&in&Huntington’s&mouse&model&using& quantitative&gait&analysis& Sereena'Jivraj,'Shoeb'Lalani,'Carissa'E.'Hunter,'Sarah'Ye,'In'Ki'Cho,'Anthony'W.S.'Chan''
&
Huntington’s'Disease'(HD)'is'a'dominantly'inherited'monogenetic'disorder'characterized'by'motor'and' cognitive'dysfunctions.'The'pathogenesis'of'HD'is'caused'by'CAG'repeat'expansion'in'the'Huntingtin'(HTT)' gene,'which'codes'for'the'huntingtin'protein'(HTT).'The'accumulation'of'mutant'HTT'(mHTT)'leads'to' neurodegeneration'in'the'brain'specifically'in'striatal'neurons'but'is'later'extended'to'the'whole'brain.'The' objective'of'this'study'was'to'evaluate'the'efficacy'of'treating'HD'using'stem'cell'replacement'therapy'with' neural'progenitor'cells'(NPCs).'NPC'is'a'feasible'option'because'unlike'embryonic'stem'cells'(ESCs),'NPCs'do' not'result'in'teratomas.'In'this'study,'wild5type'(WT)'NPCs'and'HD5NPCs'were'transplanted'into'the' striatum'of'WT'and'HD'mice.'HD'cells'expressing'small5hairpin'RNA'(shRNA)'against'mHTT'were'also' transplanted.'The'effectiveness'of'the'stem'cell'replacement'therapy'was'evaluated'by'gait'analysis' because'progressive'development'of'HD'leads'to'motor'defects'shown'in'abnormal'gait.'The'improvement' of'motor'coordination'was'determined'by'various'stride'measurements:'front'stride'length,'hind'stride' length,'front'base'width,'hind'base'width,'and'overlap.'Of'the'data'we'have'analyzed'thus'far,'there'was'a' clear'difference'between'WT'and'HD'mice.'However,'further'analysis'of'data'with'additional'time'points' are'warranted.'This'study'demonstrated'that'gait'analysis'can'be'used'to'evaluate'the'efficacy'of'stem'cell' replacement'therapy'for'treating'HD.'Cell'replacement'therapy'can'be'a'valuable'option'for'treating'HD'in' the'future,'but'further'research'is'needed.''
& &
& & & & & & 47
Lina&Jowhar& Sporulation&Regulation&Pathway&in&C.&Difficile&& Lina'Jowhar,'Emily'Woods,'and'S.'M.'McBride'
&
Clostridium&difficile'is'a'Gram5positive'pathogen'that'forms'endospores.'Because'it'can'persist'as'spores,'C.& difficile'often'infects'patients'exposed'to'the'spores'in'hospitals.'Due'to'its'extreme'sensitivity'to'oxygen,'C.& difficile'uses'sporulation'to'survive'in'the'form'of'dormant'endospores,'allowing'C.&difficile'to'exist'outside' of'the'gastrointestinal'tract'of'the'host.'The'pathway'that'leads'to'sporulation'is'therefore'extremely' important'for'C.&difficile'to'transmit'between'hosts.'The'main'purpose'of'this'study'is'to'examine'the' pathway'that'controls'C.&difficile'sporulation,'which'is'currently'not'well'understood.'CD1579'is'a'gene'that' encodes'for'a'protein'that'has'homology'to'histidine'kinases'involved'in'sporulation'in'Bacillus&subtilis.'We' hypothesize'CD1579'is'a'gene'involved'in'the'process'of'sporulation.'In'order'to'test'this'hypothesis,'we' will'knock'out'CD1579'and'study'the'effects'of'this'mutation'on'sporulation.'We'will'compare'how'the' mutant'sporulates'to'how'the'wild5type'strain'sporulates.'Through'these'comparisons,'we'will'be'able'to' determine'the'effect'CD1579'has'on'the'sporulation'pathway'of'C.&difficile.&
& & Schnawaz&Khan&
Investigation'of'Head'and'Neck'Squamous'Cell'Carcinoma'cell'lines'for'the'role'of'p53'' Schnawaz'Khan,'Emory'University,'ARM'Ruhul'Amin,'PhD,'Nagoya'University'School'of'Medicine,'Abu'Syed' Md'Anisuzzaman,'PhD,'University'of'Fukui,'Dongsheng'Wang,'PhD,'Peking'University'''
&
Squamous'cell'carcinoma'is'one'of'the'most'common'types'of'cancers'found'in'head'and'neck'squamous' cell'carcinoma.'In'humans,'the'Cal27'cell'line'has'been'suggested'to'be'most'responsible'for'the'formation' of'squamous'cell'carcinoma.'Using'the'Lipofectamine'2000,'we'transfected'shp53'and'sh5GFP'in'three'Head' and'Neck'Squamous'Cell'Carcinoma'cell'(HNSCC)'cell'lines,'such'as'Cal27,'SCC47,'and'SCC2.'After'72'hours' of'transfection,'the'cells'were'made'lysate.'Then,'we'conducted'a'western'blot'analysis'using'Cal27sh5GFP,' Cal27shp53,'SCC47sh5GFP,'SCC47shp53,'SCC2sh5GFP'and'SCC2shp53'cell'lysate.'Our'western'blot'data' suggests'that'the'Cal27'cell'line'knocked'down'shp53'more'efficiently'than'that'of'any'other'cell'line' tested.'Therefore,'these'results'supported'our'hypothesis'by'showing'that'Cal27'cell'lines'knocked'down'by' shp53'more'than'any'other'cell'line.'Future'directions'include'overexpression'and'transfection'of'other' DNA'in'the'Cal27'cell'line'with'or'without'p53'to'determine'the'role'of'p53'in'the'head'and'neck'squamous' cell'carcinoma.''''
& & & & & & & & &
48
Umar&Khan& Creating&a&multivariable&reinforcement&learning&model&for&the&behavior&of&C.&elegans& Umar'Khan'and'Ilya'Nemenman'PhD'Emory'University'' ' A'reinforcement'learning'model'seeks'to'study'and'explain'patterns'in'the'outcome'of'decision'making' processes'employed'by'animals'on'a'daily'basis.'Traditionally,'reinforcement'learning'models'describe'the' mechanisms'which'lead'to'an'animal'having'a'“preference�'for'a'specific'decision,'and'how'that'preference' changes'over'time'in'response'to'the'outcomes'of'previous'decisions.'This'research'seeks'to'create'such'a' model'to'describe'decisions'of'the'nematode'C.'elegans.'Specifically,'recent'work'shows'that'C.'elegans' raised'under'varying'temperature'conditions'exhibited'a'temperature'preference'which'changed'direction' with'time'in'a'nonmonotonic'relationship.'This'kind'of'drastic'change'in'preference'can'not'be' demonstrated'in'a'reinforcement'learning'model'that'depends'on'only'one'preference'variable.'Thus'the' goal'of'this'research'is'to'solve'this'problem'by'creating'a'computational'model'of'reinforcement5behavior' which'has'more'than'one'preference'variable.'''' ' '
Sajal&Kulhari&
Distinct&Behavioral&Patterns&in&Response&to&CS+and&CS.&During&Differential&Fear&Conditioning&in&Rats& Sajal'Kulhari,'Jeffrey'Hsu,'Teresa'E.'Madsen,'PhD,'Donald'Rainnie,'PhD'Emory'University' ' Mood'and'anxiety'disorders'are'associated'with'dysfunctions'of'emotional'processing'and'regulation'within' the'brain’s'corticolimbic'circuit,'a'neural'pathway'which'includes'basolateral'amygdala'(BLA),'hippocampus' (HPC),'prelimbic'cortex'(PrL),'and'infralimbic'cortex'(IL).'A'disruption'along'this'circuit'creates'a' hypersensitivity'to'threat'which'is'central'to'mood'and'anxiety'disorders.'The'current'study'focuses'on'the' oscillatory'interactions'between'multiple'corticolimbic'structures'and'seeks'to'understand'their' interdependent'roles'in'the'fear'learning'process.'Seven'individually'housed,'male,'Harlan'Sprague5Dawley' rats'at'8510'weeks'of'age'were'placed'on'restrictive'diet'and'trained'to'nose'poke'for'a'food'pellet'in'an' average'random'interval'of'30'or'60'seconds.'Rats'then'underwent'surgery'and'were'implanted'with'325 channel'arrays'targeting'the'BLA,'ventral'HPC,'PrL'and'IL'.'7'days'post'surgery,'differential'fear'conditioning' began'where'the'rats'were'presented'with'repeat'tones'at'one'pitch'(CS5)'and'pairings'of'a'tone'at'another' pitch'(CS+)'and'a'mild'foot'shock'(US).'Following'fear'conditioning,'in'vivo'electrophysiological'recording' techniques'captured'neuronal'spikes'and'local'field'potentials'within'these'structures'throughout' habituation,'acquisition,'recall,'and'extinction'of'the'fear'memory.'We'found'that'during'fear'expression,' rats'respond'to'both'CS+'and'CS5,'but'showed'higher'behavior'suppression'ratio'to'CS+.'Rats'also' extinguished'fear'to'CS5'faster'than'CS+.'The'future'direction'of'this'experiment'is'to'analyze'the'neural' data'and'correlate'behavioral'data'with'neural'oscillation'and'spikes'measurements.' ' ' ' '
& & &
49
Karen&Lou& The&African&American&Dream:&Evolution,&Variation&and&Obstacles& Karen'Lou' ' The'plight'of'the'African'American'community'has'historically'been'and'still'remains'extremely'different' from'that'of'the'White'American'society.'The'recent'murders'of'Michael'Brown'Jr.'in'Ferguson'and'Tamir' Rice'in'Cleveland'and'the'national'response'to'such'tragedies'call'attention'to'the'rift'separating'African' Americans'from'White'Society.''Most'African'Americans'were'enslaved'for'over'two'centuries'and'after' having'no'basic'human'rights,'continued'to'be'discriminated'against'by'the'American'education'and' criminal'justice'systems'for'decades'after.'After'struggling'to'economically'assimilate'into'mainstream' society,'African'Americans'have'attempted'to'build'their'own'definition'of'the'American'Dream.''My' research'seeks'to'understand'what'the'African'American'Dream'is'and'how'it'has'changed'in'the'past' century.'Does'it'mean'the'same'thing'to'all'African'Americans'or'does'it'vary?'What'are'the'obstacles'to' achieving'it?'In'my'project,'I'studied'the'evolution'of'the'African'American'perception'of'this'Dream' through'literature'and'research'journals'published'within'the'past'century.'I'found'it'insufficient'to' conclude'that'the'African'American'Dream'can'be'prescriptively'bound'by'one'definition.'Though'some' components'of'the'Dream'remains'constant,'most'elements'underwent'drastic'changes.'The'Dream'has' evolved'with'time'and'continuously'varies'based'on'geography,'gender,'and'socioeconomic'class.'It'is'a' complex'contradiction'of'itself,'yet'despite'its'contradictions'and'variations,'it'serves'as'a'source'of' unification'for'the'African'American'community.' ' '
Kino&Maravillas&
Symbiont&Density&in&Megacopta&Cribaria& Kino'Maravillas,'Emory'University'Erika'Diaz'Almeyda,'PhD.,'Pennsylvania'State'University'Nicole'Gerardo,' PhD.,'University'of'Texas'at'Austin' ' Megacopta'cribaria'is'an'invasive'bug'species'from'Asia'that'houses'itself'on'two'host'plants:'soybeans' (Glycine'max)'and'kudzu'vines'(Pueraria'lobata).'Various'biotic'and'abiotic'factors'contribute'to'their' survival,'but'one'particular'area'of'interest'is'their'symbiotic'relationship'with''Candidatus'Ishikawaella' capsulata','a'proteobacteria'that'appears'to'provide'essential'lacking'nutrients'in'the'bugs’'diet'(Hosokawa' et'al.,'2008,'Nikoh'et'al.,'2011).'A'scarce'amount'of'this'bacteria'has'been'found'to'cause'abnormal' coloration,'increased'mortality,'and'lagging'development'in'bugs'(Hosokawa'et'al.,'2007a).'In'this'study,' the'host5symbiont'relationship'between'Megacopta'reared'on'soy'and'Megacopta'reared'on'kudzu'is' analyzed.'The'host'plant'that'produces'the'greatest'symbiont'density'in'the'bugs'is'determined'through' genomic'sequencing.' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
50
Roshan&Modi& Fibromuscular&Dysplasia& Roshan'Modi,'Emory'University,'Bryan'Wells,'MD'Emory'University'
&
Fibromuscular'dysplasia'(FMD)'is'a'non5inflammatory,'non5atherosclerotic'vascular'disease'that'occurs' primarily'in'young'to'middle5aged'females.'Characterized'as'a'pathological'disease,'FMD'predominantly' affects'the'renal'and'internal'carotid'arteries,'but'has'been'observed'in'almost'every'major'artery'in'the' body.'As'pathogenesis'is'not'well'understood,'it'is'essential'to'consider'FMD'in'individuals'presenting'with' rapid'onset'hypertension'and'those'unresponsive'to'antihypertensive'medication'therapy.''''FMD'patients' were'identified'primarily'through'the'use'of'angiogram'in'which'the'characteristic'“string'of'beads�' manifestation'of'the'renal'or'carotid'arteries'was'generally'observed.'Once'identified,'FMD'patients'were' consented'and'entered'into'the'U.S.'registry'for'Fibromuscular'Dysplasia.'Clinical'features,'vascular'events,' and'presenting'symptoms'were'examined'in'these'patients.''Although'FMD'presents'in'a'multitude'of' forms'at'various'locations,'it'is'a'relatively'rare'disease'and'offers'challenges'in'diagnosis.'Of'the'first'447' FMD'patients'entered'in'the'U.S.'registry,'91%'are'women,'and'the'mean'age'of'women'affected'is'51.9' years'with'a'range'of'5583'years.'The'results'further'indicate'that'a'majority'of'FMD'diagnoses'occur'in' middle5aged'women'with'history'of'hypertension,'dissection,'or'aneurysm.'Many'women'also'presented' with'nonspecific'symptoms,'making'diagnosis'more'difficult.'''
& & & Amelia&Nahum&
Visualizing&Characteristics&of&Counties&in&the&Slave&South& Andrew'Francis5Tan,'Emory'University,'and'Amelia'Nahum'
&
How'did'slavery'in'the'United'States'impact'African5Americans'after'they'were'freed?'Though'there'are' countless'personal'accounts'about'the'conditions'of'slavery,'there'is'not'yet'a'way'to'easily'see'how' widespread'the'effects'of'slavery'were.'In'this'project,'we'visualize'the'conditions'of'the'Slave'South'in' 1860'and'the'outcomes'of'African5Americans'in'1870.'Using'census'data'at'the'county'level,'we'created'a' series'of'maps'by'overlaying'1860'conditions'such'as'agriculture'and'household'characteristics'and'1870' outcomes'such'as'education'and'property'ownership.'The'visuals'indicate'that'the'parts'of'the'South'that' had'a'higher'cotton'production'and'higher'concentration'of'slaves'in'1860'were'also'the'parts'where' African5Americans'tended'to'have'worse'socioeconomic'outcomes'in'1870.'Contrarily,'whites'fared' consistently'well'in'a'number'of'dimensions'across'all'parts'of'the'South.'
& & & & & & & &
51
Leah&Neiman& Was&the&Nike&of&Samothrace&Covered?&Crucial&Evidence&Just&“Lion”&Around& Leah'Neiman,'Emory'University,'Dr.'Bonna'Wescoat,'Emory'University'
&
The'Greek'island'of'Samothrace'in'the'northern'Aegean'Sea,'is'home'to'the'mystery'cult'in'the'Sanctuary'of' the'Great'Gods.'Religious'activities'peaked'between'the'7th'century'BCE'through'the'4th'century'CE.'The' significance'of'this'cult'in'the'ancient'world'is'attested'by'the'continuous'investment'in'the'site,'evidenced' by'architectural'and'sculptural'dedications.'The'most'famous'of'these'dedications'is'the'Nike'or'Winged' Victory,'a'beautiful'sculpture'of'the'winged'goddess'alighting'on'the'prow'of'a'ship,'which'now'stands'in' the'Louvre'Museum.'She'looked'out'over'the'sanctuary'from'her'post'atop'the'Western'Hill,'making'her'a' focal'point'of'the'sanctuary.'Understanding'how'she'was'displayed'to'ancient'pilgrims'plays'a'crucial'role'in' reconstructing'the'site'and'the'initiates’'experiences.'The'main'goal'of'this'research'is'to'determine' whether'the'statue'stood'in'an'open'peribolos'or'a'roofed'building.'The'fragmentary'remains'of'a'plaster' lion’s'head'may'be'the'best'evidence'to'address'this'question.'The'lion’s'head'appears'to'have'been'a' waterspout'attached'to'a'Peloponnesian'style'sima,'an'atypical'but'not'unprecedented'element'in'the' sanctuary.'A'sima'necessarily'proves'the'existence'of'a'roof.'However,'plaster'is'an'unlikely'material'for'a' functioning'water'spout.'Plaster'moldings'are'more'characteristic'of'the'Roman'period'than'of'the' Hellenistic,'raising'the'possibility'that'this'may'be'a'Roman'repair'to'the'building.'
& & Varoon&Pazhyanur&
Whatcha&Watching?&Cable&News&Network&Coverage&of&Human&Rights& Varoom'Pazhyanur,'Emory'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences,'David'Davis'III,'PhD'Department'of'Political' Science'Emory'University,'Baekkwan'Park,'PhD'Michigan'State'University,'Amanda'Murdie,'PhD' Department'of'Political'Science'University'of'Missouri' ' Human'Rights'Organizations'(HROs)'have'been'instrumental'in'exposing'nations'that'violate'human'rights.' While'much'research'has'explored'the'effects'of'HROs'in'changing'actions'of'rights5abusing'nations,'very' little'is'known'about'which'abuses'attract'media'attention'and'why'media'organizations'cover'certain' reports'while'ignoring'others.'We'analyze'media'coverage'across'CNN,'Fox,'and'MSNBC'to'explore' differences'in'1)'types'of'human'rights'violations'reported'(e,g..'torture'vs.'police'brutality),'2)'states'in' which'the'abuses'occur'(e.g.,'USA'vs.'Sudan),''3)'specific'HROs'cited'(e.g.,'Amnesty'International'vs.' International'Committee'of'the'Red'Cross),'and'4)'the'extent'to'which'networks'cover'human'rights5' related'content.'A'machine'learning'process'coded'transcripts'of'network'content'from'200052014.''Our' results'indicate'great'similarity'on'which'countries'are'subject'to'media'attention'across'the'three' networks.'However,'there'is'quite'a'bit'of'difference'across'the'networks'concerning'how'much'attention' they'pay'to'human'rights'overall,'which'specific'human'rights'issues'they'cover,'and'to'which'HROs'they' pay'attention.''Because'the'manner'in'which'the'media'relays'information'from'reports'by'HROs'to'their' audiences'shapes'public'opinion'and'influences'the'degree'to'which'HROs'can'mobilize'international' support'for'the'defense'of'human'rights,'it'is'valuable'to'understand'what'drives'media'coverage.'' Knowledge'of'the'tendencies'of'network'coverage'may'help'HROs'to'determine'which'issues'will'be'most' impactful'in'the'press,'and'consequently,'which'cases'upon'which'to'focus'limited'attention.' '
52
Carolyn&Perry& Do&People&Become&More&Racist&During&Recessions?& Carolyn'Perry,'Emory'University,'Emily'Bianchi,'PhD'Goizueta'Business'School' Aim:'To'discover'if'significant'data'exists'to'show'that'macroeconomic'trends'such'as'recessions'influence' interracial'relations.'Specifically,'in'the'arena'of'traffic'stops'and'searches,'do'police'officers'show' increased'racism'during'years'of'economic'recession?''There'was'a'period'when'it'was'believed'that'racial' hate'crimes'and'economic'recession'were'linked.'Studies'such'as'Hovland'&'Sears'(1940)'showed'that' lynching'in'the'United'States'South'had'a'statistical'relationship'with'economic'downturn.'But'subsequent' studies'such'as'those'by'Green,'Glaser'and'Rich'(1998)'have'shown'flaws'in'study'design'and'logic'of'this' initial'research.'It'is'now'believed'that'there'is'little'or'no'relationship'between'hate'crimes'and'recessions.' However,'there'is'limited'research'in'this'area'on'indicators'that'are'subtler'than'hate'crimes.'' Rodenheffer,'Hill,'and'Lord'(2012)'have'shown'that'resource'scarcity'causes'people'to'see'biracial'people' as'more'black.'This'study'may'mean'that'during'times'of'economic'downturn,'people'become'more'racist' in'small5scale'interracial'relationships.'One'possible'indicator'of'this'phenomenon'is'traffic'stops.'We' focused'on'traffic'stop'data'from'Illinois,'Texas,'and'Maryland'to'see'if'stops,'searches,'or'citations'showed' changes'over'the'Great'Recession.'Here,'we'show'that'over'recessions,'everyone'is'less'likely'to'get' stopped.'Blacks'are'less'likely'to'get'searched,'but'they'are'more'likely'to'get'cited.''''
& & Jacob&Potts&
Do&Nuclear&Treaties&Stop&the&Spread&of&Nuclear&Weapons?& Jacob'Potts'and'Shawn'Ramirez' ' Nuclear'treaties'provide'the'international'community'ways'to'prevent'the'spread'of'nuclear'weapons' beyond'those'who'have'already'obtained'nuclear'weapons.'However,'recent'literature'has'questioned'the' effectiveness'of'these'treaties'on'preventing'the'spread'of'nuclear'weapons.'Is'this'is'a'fair'assessment'of' nuclear'treaties?'Additionally,'do'these'treaties'prevent'countries'from'assisting'others'in'obtaining'nuclear' weapons?'Seventeen'treaties'were'examined'and'their'success'was'determined'by'whether'the'country' succeeded'in'obtaining'nuclear'weapons'after'the'signing'of'the'treaty.'We'found'that'while'nuclear' treaties'do'decrease'the'likelihood'of'a'country'obtaining'nuclear'weapons,'it'actually'increases'the'chance' of'a'country'receiving'assistance'in'their'attempts'to'manufacture'weapons'on'their'own.'This'directly' challenges'the'notion'of'the'ineffectiveness'of'nuclear'treaties'and'provides'evidence'that'the'continuation' of'the'use'of'nuclear'treaties'is'a'valid'means'of'attempting'to'stop'the'spread'of'nuclear'weapons.'This' also'means'that'states'that'may'provide'nuclear'assistance'must'be'monitored'for'violating'the'goal'of' preventing'the'spread'of'nuclear'weapons'when'treaties'are'being'considered.' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
53
Emma&JostSPrice& The&Death&of&G.B.&Falda&and&the&Dangers&of&Etching&in&the&17th&Century& Emma'Jost5Price'
&
Can'art'be'harmful?'Etching'is'an'art'form'established'in'the'16th'century'in'Antwerp,'Germany.'It'involves' etching,'an'acid'bath,'and'the'printing'process.'The'main'chemicals'involved'in'etching'at'that'time'were' Carbon'Black,'Nitric'Acid,'Asphaltum,'and'Hydrochloric'Acid.'These'chemicals'now'have'been'found'to'be' linked'to'various'types'of'cancers.'The'etching'process'was'especially'dangerous'at'this'time'because'of'the' unsafe'handling'and'processing'of'these'chemicals.''This'project'seeks'to'link'the'death'of'the'17th'century' etcher'Giovanni'Battista'Falda'to'his'livelihood.'The'research’s'goal'is'to'connect'the'health'effects'of' etching'with'the'untimely'deaths'of'etchers'in'the'16th517th'century,'focusing'primarily'on'the'case'of' Falda.'Through'the'use'of'literature'from'various'databases'and'libraries'and'intensive'data'collection,'the' preliminary'findings'show'that'the'health'effects'of'etching'line'up'with'the'cause'of'death'of'Falda.'Some' of'the'chemicals'used'in'etching'have'been'linked'to'cancer'and'G.B.'Falda'died'of'a'cancer5like'disease' called'a'schirrus.'I'have'also'found'that'some'of'his'contemporaries'died'from'mysterious'diseases'that' could'have'been'cancer.'Through'these'findings'I'have'found'a'link'between'disease'and'etching.'' '
Amanda&Ramirez& Evaluation&of&Experimental&Anti.cryptosporidial&Drugs&in&Mice& Amanda'Ramirez,'Nina'McNair,'Jan'Mead,'Emory'University' Cryptosporidiun'parvum'is'a'parasite'known'to'cause'the'diarrheal'illness,'cryptosporidiosis.'C.'parvum'can' infected'both'immunocompetent'and'immunosuppressed'individuals,'but'is'oftern'more'severe'in'the' latter'population.'One'of'C.'parvum’s'most'unique'features'is'its'ability'to'resist'disinfections,'particular' levels'of'chlorine'used'in'drinking'water.'The'resistance'of'this'parasite'to'disinfection'can'lead'to'large' outbreaks'in'highly'populated'areas'such'as'recreational'swimming'pools'and'can'also'be'a'problem'in' failed'water'treatment'facilities.'Currently,'there'are'no'vaccines'and'limited'drugs'to'treat'infection.' Identification'of'drugs'to'treat'infection'would'be'beneficial,'especially'in'immunocompromised'individuals.' In'this'lab'we'evaluated'the'efficacy'of'experimental'drugs'in'an'acute'mouse'model'of'cryptosporidiosis.'In' comparison'to'our'infected,'untreated'control,'our'results'indicated'that'the'experimental'drug'JM_53'was' most'efficient'with'an'81%'inhibition'on'day'6'of'post'infection'(DPI)'and'DPI7'with'92%'inhibition.'The' drugs'tested'will'be'further'evaluated'for'toxicity'to'determine'if'their'components'are'both'safe'and' effective.'' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
54
Lydia&Rautman& Predicting&a&Characteristic&Profile&for&Primate.Associated&Zoonoses& Lydia'Rautman,'Department'of'Environmental'Sciences,'Emory'University;'Ria'Ghai,'Odum'School'of' Ecology,'University'of'Georgia;'Charles'Nunn,'Duke'Global'Health'Institute,'Duke'University;'Thomas' Gillespie,'Department'of'Environmental'Sciences,'Rollins'School'of'Public'Health,'Emory'University'
&
Zoonotic'pathogens'(i.e.,'pathogens'that'can'be'transmitted'between'animals'and'people)'pose'a'challenge' to'public'health'because'they'can'“hide”'in'multiple'species,'making'them'difficult'to'control.'Given'their' close'phylogenetic'relationship'with'people,'non5human'primates'are'known'to'be'a'source'of'a' disproportionate'number'of'human'zoonoses.'This'research'creates'a'“characteristic'profile”'of'zoonoses' between'non5human'primates'(NHPs)'and'humans.'This'profile'identifies'traits'of'both'pathogen'and'hosts' that'increase'the'likelihood'of'non5human'primates'and'people'sharing'pathogens.''To'determine'zoonotic' potential,'I'used'the'Global'Mammal'Parasite'Database'(GMPD),'a'repository'of'all'published'parasites'in' wild'primates,'and'cross5checked'the'potential'of'these'pathogens'to'occur'in'humans'using'a'database'of' all'known'human'pathogens'(the'online'GIDEON'infectious'diseases'database)'and'subsequent'PubMed' searches.'Each'parasite'was'coded'to'determine'(1)'whether'or'not'the'pathogen'was'zoonotic,'and'if'so,' (2)'to'what'degree'it'was'zoonotic.'Of'the'827'listed'pathogens,'500'were'coded'for'data'analysis.'R'studio' was'used'for'analysis'of'frequencies'and'pathogen'type'distribution.'Basic'analysis'of'the'coding'found'that' zoonoses'rates'were'highest'among'bacteria'and'viruses'and'near'zero'among'fungi.'Data'trends'highlight' the'greater'potential'of'the'tropics'for'zoonotic'transmission'and'for'pathogens'infecting'Old'World' primates'compared'to'New'World'monkeys.'Creation'of'a'characteristic'profile'of'zoonotic'pathogens'will' facilitate'more'accurate'forecasting'of'pathogen'types'most'likely'to'emerge'in'human'populations.''
& & Alexa&Rendon&
The&Emotional&Aspects&of&Episodic&Memory:&Transcription&of&Brief&Episodic&Memory&while&in&fMRI&Scanner& Alexa'Rendon,'Charles'Ferris,'Cory'Inman,'Stephan'Hamann'Emory'University,'Andrew'James,'University'of' Arkansas'for'Medical'Sciences' ' The'neuroimaging'study'examined'the'neural'correlates'of'episodic'memory'and'the'transcription'of'brief' autobiographical'memories'while'in'the'scanner.'Emotional'aspects'of'episodic'memory'were'of'particular' interest'while'silently'recalling'and'narrating'autobiographical'memories.'The'six'participants'viewed'novel' cue'words'in'the'scanner'and'were'asked'to'recall'an'autobiographical'memory.'Immediately'after'the' participants'rated'valence'and'reliving'of'the'memory.'Prior'to'scanning,'participants'filled'the'Positive'and' Negative'Affect'Scale'(PANAS)'and'the'Vividness'of'Visual'Imagery'Questionnaire'(VVIQ).'The'VVIQ'and' PANAS'were'compared'to'participant'self'reported'reliving'and'valence'ratings.'The'findings'show'that' individuals'with'higher'visual'imagery'rated'their'average'memories'as'having'more'positive'valence,'and' those'with'higher'imagery'capabilities'experience'vivid'positive'memories.'This'may'be'due'to'participants' freely'selecting'and'recalling'an'autobiographical'memory.' '
& & 55
Kristine&Rosenberger& Socioeconomic&Status,&Family&Background&and&Health&Behaviors&in&College&Students& Kristine'Rosenberger,'Emory'University,'Leslie'Munoz'Johnson,'MPH'Emory'University,'Jill'Welkley,'PhD' Emory'University' Socioeconomic'status'in'childhood'is'correlated'with'health'in'adulthood.'There'is'a'documented' association'between'increased'physical'activity'and'positive'mental,'social'and'emotional'health'outcomes.' However,'there'are'few'studies'examining'the'interaction'of'other'aspects'of'health.'Surveys'such'as'the' Behavioral'Risk'Factor'Surveillance'System'view'health'mainly'in'terms'of'avoidance'behaviors'and'do'not' include'measures'of'holistic'health.'This'study'aims'to'examine'the'extent'to'which'socioeconomic'status' and'family'structure'impact'health'behaviors'and'definitions'in'college'students.'A'convenience'of'53' undergraduate'students'was'obtained'from'Emory'University.'Participants'were'asked'to'provide' demographic'information,'answer'questions'about'their'immediate'family'and'rate'the'extent'to'which' they'practiced'various'health'behaviors'and'provide'personal'definitions'of'health.'A'positive'correlation' was'present'between'all'pillars'of'health.'It'was'found'that'individuals'with'married'parents'reported' significantly'higher'scores'for'emotional'and'overall'health'than'did'their'peers'with'divorced'parents.'In' addition,'those'with'a'reported'household'income'between'$25,000'and'$50,000'had'significantly'lower' health'rankings'across'the'pillars'of'health.'These'result'suggest'that'health'interventions'should'target' should'target'multiple'sources'and'that'an'individual's'health'status'in'college'is'influenced'familial'factors.''' ' '
Ujjwal&Sahni& Direct'reprogramming'of'mesenchymal'stem'cells'to'endothelial'cells'by'ETV2' Ujjwal'Sahni,'Emory'College'of'Arts'&'Sciences'and'Dr.'Sang5Ho'Lee,'Ph.D.,'Research'Associate,'Yoon'Lab,' Division'of'Cardiology,'Emory'University,'School'of'Medicine.'
&
The'main'purpose'of'my'project'was'to'examine'whether'mesenchymal'stem'cells'(MSCs)'can'be'directly' reprogrammed'to'endothelial'cells'(ECs)'by'ETS'transcription'factor'ETV2.'In'order'to'do'so,'the'relative' expression'of'endothelial'cell'characteristics'was'examined'in'ETV2'transduced'mesenchymal'stem'cells.' This'molecular'analysis'was'done'through'qRT5PCR.'Cultured'mesenchymal'stem'cells'were'transduced' with'either'ETV2'or'an'empty'virus'(negative'control),'their'RNA'was'extracted'and'synthesized'into' complimentary'DNA,'following'which'qRT5PCR'was'carried'out'to'analyse'the'expression'of'specific'genes' of'endothelial'cells.'Results'indicated'that'endothelial'cell'specific'genes'were'expressed'in'ETV2' transduced'mesenchymal'cells'and'not'in'the'control'mesenchymal'stem'cells.'Therefore,'it'seems'that' ETV2'can'directly'reprogram'mesenchymal'stem'cells'to'endothelial'cells.'Further'molecular'analysis'and' functional'analysis'needs'to'be'carried'out'in'order'to'further'corroborate'the'results'of'this'experiment.' This'can'be'done'with'the'help'of'flow'cytometry,'immunocytochemistry'and'immunohistochemistry.'If' mesenchymal'stem'cells'can'be'successfully'reprogrammed'to'functional'endothelial'cells,'these' endothelial'cells'can'then'be'used'to'repair'damaged'blood'vessels.' Hence,'the'project'has'long'term'benefits'in'the'field'of'cardiovascular'medicine.'
& &
56
Branca&Sanchez& Assimilation&or&Acculturation?&How&Immigrant&Social&Class&in&Mexico&is&Linked&to&Their&Social&Mobility& Strategies&in&the&U.S.& Branca'Sanchez.'Prof.'Irene'Browne,'PhD'Dept.'Of'Sociology,'Emory'University.'Ruben'Diaz'Vasquez.'Prof.'' Belisa'Gonzalez,'Dept.'of'Sociology,'Ithaca'College.'Katharine'Tatum,'Dept.'of'Sociology,'Emory'University.'
&
Scholars'debate'over'whether'Latino'immigrants'are'experiencing'assimilation'and'are'adopting'the' customs,'language'and'values'of'U.S.'society,'or'they'are'experiencing'acculturation'and'are'retaining' customs,'language'and'values'from'their'country'of'origin.'These'two'contrary'phenomena'explain'the'way' in'which'immigrants'adapt'in'a'new'society'and'culture'and'how'they'negotiate'their'race,'ethnic,'and'class' identities'in'a'new'context.'Understanding'how'and'why'Latino'immigrants'integrate'into'a'new'society'is' important'for'assessing'our'society'and'is a'useful too'necessary to'develop'policies'that'may'enhance' marginalized'communities'for'the'better. In'order'to'better asses this'phenomenon'I'will'present'research' results'on'the'relationship'between'Mexican'immigrants’'socioeconomic'status'before'arriving'to'the'U.S.' and'the'acculturation'type'(dissonant,'constant,'or'selective)'they'experience. The'data'are'based'on' interviews'with'middle'class respondents'living'in'Atlanta'in'order'to'analyze'this'information. I'attempted' to'identify'the'acculturation'type'based'on'three'elements:'language'predominantly'spoken'by'the' children,'language'spoken'by'the'parents,'and'the'activities'or'relationships'the'family was' involved in. Overall'I'found'that'the'majority'of'families'did'in'experience'selective'acculturation and'a' child'was'more'likely'to'demonstrate'characteristics'of'selective'acculturation if'they/their'parents'came' from Mexican middle'or upper'middle class'as'opposed'to'working'class'and'poor. These'findings'may'serve' as useful references'to address'other'research'questions especially'those'that'relate'acculturation,'social' mobility'and'attaining'the highly'publicized'“American'Dream.”' ' '
Marina&Stephens& Water&in&the&Sanctuary&of&the&Great&Gods& Marina'Stephens'and'Bonna'Wescoat,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
The'remains'of'the'Sanctuary'of'the'Great'Gods'are'located'in'Samothrace,'Greece.'The'site'consists'of' many'different'structures'that'were'once'used'for'worship'and'housing'travelers.'In'the'southwestern' region'of'the'site,'multiple'pieces'of'water'pipes'have'been'found,'but'it'is'unclear'how'they'are'connected.' The'purpose'of'this'project'is'to'analyze'the'remains'of'pipes'in'the'southwestern'region'of'the'sanctuary' to'understand'how'the'natural'and'artificial'flow'of'water'served'the'sanctuary.'''
& & & & & &
57
Xu&Wang& The&effect&of&stress&on&loss&of&heterozygosity&in&Candida&albicans& Meleah'Hickman,'Professor'Emory'University,'Bernabe'Beccera,'Xu(Mimi)'Wang,'Senior'Emory'University,''
&
Genetic'diversity'is'often'generated'during'adaptation'to'stress'and'lead'to'natural'selection.'Candida' albicans,'the'most'prevalent'pathogen'of'humans,'is'a'mostly'heterozygous'diploid'that'undergoes'random' loss'of'heterozygosity(LOH)'events.'In'this'paper,'we'tested'the'hypothesis'that'stress'conditions'increase' loss'of'heterozygosity'frequency'in'C.'albicans'and'the'location'of'the'marker'and'size'of'chromosome'may' also'have'an'effect.'We'showed'that'LOH'rates'are'elevated'during'exposure'to'ampicillin'and'fluconazole.' However,'the'effect'size'of'the'chromosome'and'location'of'the'marker'relative'to'the'centromere'on' frequency'of'LOH'is'still'unknown.'Therefore,'C.'albicans'generates'increased'amounts'of'genetic'diversity' in'response'to'a'range'of'stress'conditions.'
& & Rohan&Yarlagadda&
Developing&Novel&Treatment&for&Pulmonary&Hypertension& Rohan'Yarlagadda,''Brandy'Wade'PhD'Emory'University,''Roy'Sutliff,'Michael'Hart,'MD'Emory'University''
&
Pulmonary'hypertension'(PH)'entails'high'blood'pressure'in'the'lungs,'caused'by'the'narrowing'or'blockage' of'the'pulmonary'arteries'and'capillaries.'PH'is'characterized'by'vascular'remodeling'that'is'in'part'due'to' increased'cell'proliferation.'This'increases'resistance'to'blood'flow'to'the'lungs'and'increases'the'pressure' in'the'right'ventricle'of'the'heart.'Over'time'this'weakens'the'heart'and'leads'to'heart'failure.'PH'is'a'fatal' and'progressive'disease'currently'under'investigation'in'an'effort'to'determine'effective'treatments.' Current'treatments'include'long5term'oxygen'therapy'and'vasodilators.'However,'these'treatments'are' often'expensive,'and'have'undesirable'side'effects.'Therefore,'our'research'focuses'on'identifying'more' effective'and'efficient'treatments'for'PH.'Since'other'labs'have'determined'that'increased'Rho'Kinase' (ROCK)'activity'contributes'to'increases'vasoconstriction'and'proliferation'in'PH,'we'tested'the'effects'of'a' novel'ROCK'Inhibitor'(AN153805'Anacor'Pharmaceuticals)'on'ROCK'activity.'Mice'exposed'to'normoxia' (21%'O2)'or'hypoxia'(10%'O2)'for'3'weeks'to'induce'PH.'Animals'were'simultaneously'administered'an'oral' dose'of'either'AN15380'(30mg/kg)'or'the'AN15380'diluent'daily.'At'the'end'of'3'weeks'the'mice'were' euthanized'and'lung'tissue'was'tested'for'ROCK'activity.'We'hypothesize'that'the'compound'will'result'in' lower'ROCK'activity.'If'so,'this'may'provide'a'new'pathway'to'determine'a'more'effective'treatment'to'help' counter'the'vasoconstriction'and'proliferation'caused'characteristic'of'PH.'
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Julia&Yu& Determining&the&Role&of&Mutant&PABPN1&in&Alternative&Polyadenylation& Julia'Yu,'Emory'University'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences,'Katherine'E.'Vest,'PhD'Emory'University'School'of' Medicine'Department'of'Pharmacology,'Brittany'L.'Phillips,'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine' Department'of'Pharmacology,'Ayan'Banerjee,'MD,'PhD'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'Department' of'Biochemistry,'Grace'K.'Pavlath,'PhD'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'Department'of'Pharmacology,' Anita'H.'Corbett,'PhD'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine'Department'of'Biochemistry'
&
Oculopharyngeal'muscular'dystrophy'(OPMD)'is'a'late'onset'disorder'that'affects'specific'skeletal'muscles' in'humans.'This'disorder'is'caused'by'a'dominant'mutation'in'the'gene'that'expresses'polyadenylate5 binding'nuclear'protein'1'(PABPN1)'that'causes'an'alanine'expansion'in'the'N5terminus.'PABPN1'plays'a' role'in'multiple'steps'of'RNA'processing'including'polyadenylation'and'alternative'polyadenylation'and' cleavage.'Alternative'polyadenylation'and'cleavage'affects'the'length'of'3’'untranslated'region'(3’UTR)'by' directing'the'polyadenylation'machinery'to'bind'at'the'weaker'polyadenylation'signal.'As'a'result,'the' length'of'the'3’UTR'changes.'Because'the'3'UTR'contains'binding'sites'for'regulatory'proteins'and'micro' RNAs,'alternative'polyadenylation'and'cleavage'can'affect'regulation'of'mRNA'stability,'localization,'and' translation.'In'previous'studies,'it'was'observed'that'overexpression'of'mutant'PABPN1'resulted'in'3’UTR' shortening.'In'this'study,'a'candidate5based'approach'was'used'to'study'RNA'processing'in'a'novel'mouse' model'of'OPMD.'The'newly'developed'OPMD'mouse'expresses'native'levels'of'mutant'PABPN1'in'all' tissues,'more'closely'mirroring'human'OPMD'patients.'Previously,'the'most'commonly'used'transgenic' mouse'models'overexpressed'mutant'PABPN1'in'muscles'only.'Quantitative'reverse'transcription' polymerase'chain'reaction'was'used'to'detect'changes'in'alternative'polyadenylation'in'our'OPMD'mouse' model.'Candidate'genes'were'selected'based'on'previously'published'data'sets'showing'PABPN1' involvement'in'alternative'polyadenylation'(APA).'Results'showed'changes'in'APA'in'OPMD'animals'that' could'affect'translation,'localization,'or'stability'of'candidate'genes.'These'changes'in'APA'may'underlie'the' pathology'observed'in'OPMD.&
& & & & & & & & & & & & & 59
Kimberly&Zaldana& The&effects&of&antibiotics&on&the&P.&vulgaris&HigBA&toxin.antitoxin&system& Kimberly'S.'Zaldana,'Ryan'Dikdan,'and'Christine'M.'Dunham'
&
Combating'urinary'tract'infections'and'cystic'fibrosis'complications'is'challenging'because'antibiotics'are' not'always'an'effective'treatment.'Bacteria'have'evolved'different'mechanisms'to'survive'stressful' environments'such'as'extreme'temperatures,'nutrient'starvation,'and'the'presence'of'antibiotics.'This' study'aims'to'elucidate'the'mechanism'responsible'for'bacterial'persistence,'an'antibiotic5tolerant'state.' Bacteria'enter'a'persister'state'to'survive'stressful'conditions'by'downregulating'certain'essential' functions.'One'of'the'better'characterized'factors'in'facilitating'persistence'is'the'toxin5antitoxin'(TA)' system.'Toxin5antitoxin'systems'are'a'pair'of'genes'in'the'same'operon'that'autoregulate'their'own' expression.'The'toxin'protein'inhibits'cell'growth'via'several'means,'and'the'antitoxin,'when'bound'to'the' toxin,'prevents'this'inhibition.'The'toxin5antitoxin'system'of'focus'in'this'study'is'the'P.'vulgaris'HigBA' system,'where'HigA'is'the'antitoxin'and'HigB'is'the'toxin.'The'goal'of'this'study'is'to'assess'how'different' stresses'regulate'the'higBA'operon.'The'readout'of'our'assay'is'the'production'of'β5galatosidase'that'is' fused'to'higBA.'As'expected,'the'antibiotics'affected'the'growth'of'the'culture,'but'there'was'no'significant' difference'detected'in'the'rate'of'HigBA'autoregulation'as'a'result'of'antibiotic'treatment.'This'is'contrast' to'other'well5studied'toxin5antitoxin'systems'RelEB'and'YoeB5YefM'suggesting'an'alternative'mode'of' activation'in'response'to'stress.'Understanding'these'mechanisms'would'help'combat'persister'cells'found' in'urinary'tract'infections'and'cystic'fibrosis'bacterial'infections.' '
& Xiancong&Zhang& Role&of&Vascular&Dysfunction&in&Alzheimer's&Disease& Roy'Sutliff,'PhD'Emory'University,'Xiancong'Zhang' ' Alzheimer’s'disease'is'characterized'by'a'state'of'reduced'cerebral'blood'flow,'which'may'partly'be' secondary'to'cerebral'artery'vascular'dysfunction.'Recent'studies'show'that'vascular'dysfunction'may' precede'Alzheimer’s'disease.'However,'the'role'of'vascular'dysfunction'in'the'cognitive'decline'has'not' been'well'studied.'Two'models'were'evaluated'to'examine'the'effects'of'AD'on'vascular'function.'The'first' model'characterizes'the'effects'of'brain'homogenates'from'patients'with'or'without'tauopathies'on' vascular'function'using'isolated'rat'aorta'segments'incubated'with'homogenates'following'maximal' relaxation.'The'second'model'determines'if'vascular'dysfunction'precedes'cognitive'defects'using'a'rat' Alzheimer’s'disease'model'(Tg'F344AD)'by'studying'vascular'function'at'12'months'and'24'months'of'age.' Aortas'were'isometrically'mounted'and'vascular'function'was'assessed'by'examining'contractile'responses' to'KCl'and'phenylephrine'and'relaxation'responses'to'methacholine'and'sodium'nitroprusside.''Preliminary' data'from'the'wild'type'rats'suggest'that'the'tauopathies'negatively'affect'vascular'relaxation.'Preliminary' data'from'15year5old'and'25year5old'rats'suggests'that'the'aortas'from'older'AD'rats'generate'less'force'in' response'to'phenylephrine,'compared'to'wild'type'rats'and'that'the'older'AD'rats'develop'endothelial' dysfunction.'These'results'help'to'define'the'relationship'between'AD'and'vascular'dysfunction'and'provide' unique'models'to'further'understand'AD5associated'vascular'disease.'''' '
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Xiaoting&Zhang& Investigate&and&Compare&Chemical&Compositions&in&Ginkgo&Biloba&Products&& Xiaoting'Zhang'Xinyi''Hunag'Cassandra'Quave,'PhD'Emory'University'James'T'Lyles,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Ginkgo'biloba'is'a'well5known'medicinal'plant'used'in'Traditional'Chinese'Medicine.'The'earliest'use'was' the'external'application'of'ginkgo'leaves'for'the'treatment'for'freckles.'According'to'historical'record'in'the' Chinese'Materia'Medica'(Ben'cao'gan'mu),'ginkgo'seeds'aid'in'blood'circulation'and'lung'diseases'such'as' asthma'and'coughs.'As'ginkgo'was'introduced'to'Western'countries,'the'leaves'were'used'for'enhancing' mental'acuity'and'promoting'peripheral'circulation.'Previous'studies'have'investigated'the'dried'leaf' extract'composition;'showing'the'leaves'contained'22%'to'27%'flavonol'glycosides,'5%'to'7%'terpene' trilactones,'and'<'5'ppm'ginkgolic'acids.''This'research'focuses'on'comparing'the'differences'in'chemical' compositions'among'different'parts'of'the'trees,'between'ethanol'extracts'and'water'extracts'and'between' the'different'genders.'For'this'research,'leaves,'seeds'and'branches'were'collected,'extracted'by'ethanol' and'water,'and'tested'by'High'Performance'Liquid'Chromatography'(HPLC)'and'Thin'Layer'Chromatography' (TLC).'Purchased'chemical'compounds'were'used'for'comparison'(ginkgolides'A'and'B,'biloblide,'and' flavonoids:'quercetin,'isorhamnetin,'rutin'and'kaempferol).'Overall,'ethanol'is'a'more'effective'solvent'for' extracting'chemical'compounds'from'leaves'and'branches.'It'was'shown'that'the'gender'differences'of' ginkgo'are'not'significant'in'terms'of'their'chemical'compositions.'Results'showed'that'seeds'contained' ginkgolide'B'and'seed'coats'contained'ginkgolic'acid.'The'branches'showed'the'most'diversity'in'chemical' composition.'This'research'provides'insight'on'extraction'methodology'and'plant'tissue'selection'to' develop'potential'drugs'most'effectively.'' '
& Jingru&&Zhao& Changes&in&Protein&Expression&and&its&Effect&on&Pulmonary&Hypertension&Pathogenesis&& Jingru'Zhao,'Emory'University,'Brandy'Wade'&'Roy'L.'Sutliff,'Emory'University/Atlanta'VA'
&
Pulmonary'Hypertension'(PH)'is'a'condition'characterized'by'increased'pressure'in'the'arteries'that'supply' blood'to'the'lungs,'caused'by'constriction'and/or'the'thickening'of'the'walls'of'these'arteries'due'to' cellular'proliferation.'The'ubiquitin'proteasome'system'marks'proteins'and'degrades'them.'The'proteins' Fhl1,'G'protein,'and'Hspa8'play'an'integral'role'in'cellular'proliferation'and'have'shown'different'levels'of' ubiquintination'in'Hypoxic'vs.'Normoxic'cells.'We'examined'the'levels'ubiquitination'of'these'three' proteins'in'hypoxic'and'normoxic'cell'samples'in'vivo'and'in'vitro.'Human'Pulmonary'Artery'Endothelial' Cells'(HPAEC)'and'Smooth'Muscle'Cells'(HPASMC)'were'exposed'to'hypoxia'(1%)'for'72'hours,'and'mice' were'subjected'to'3'weeks'of'hypoxia'(10%'O2).'Some'of'the'HPASMC'and'lung'samples'from'mice'were' treated'with'ubiquitinated'protein'capture'kit.'Western'blotting'was'used'to'analyze'the'changes'in' ubiquintination'of'the'proteins'of'interest.'We'expected'Fhl1'and'Hspa8'to'demonstrate'an'increase'in' ubiquitination'while'the'G'protein'to'have'a'decrease.'Preliminary'results'confirms'our'expectations'and' that'the''expression'and'activity'of'these'three'proteins'may'contribute'increased'pulmonary'vascular'cell' proliferation'thereby'contributing'to'PH'pathogenesis.'By'studying'the'involvement'of'the'ubiquitin' proteasome'system'in'hypoxic'conditions,'we'can'identify'new'pathways'that'regulate'proliferation'in' Group'3'PH'and'develop'preventative'treatment'for'the'disease.'
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Samuel&Zinga& Probing&the&Reaction&of&Methylamine&and&Ozone&for&the&Study&of&Prebiotic&Molecules& Samuel'Zinga'Morgan'McCabe,''Carson'Powers'Brian'Hays,'PhD'Susanna'Widicus'Weaver,'PhD'Emory' University'
&
In'order'to'understand'the'processes'that'brought'the'building'blocks'of'life'to'Earth,'it'is'necessary'to' study'the'reactions'between'molecules'that'have'been'detected'in'space.'Glycine'is'a'molecule'of' particular'importance'because'it'is'the'simplest'amino'acid,'but'it'also'has'yet'to'be'confirmed'in'space.' Aminomethanol'(HOCH2NH2)'is'a'proposed'precursor'molecule'to'glycine'and'could'expedite'the'search,' but'it'has'yet'to'be'detected.'The'insertion'of'O(1D),'the'electronically'excited'form'of'atomic'oxygen,'into' a'carbon5hydrogen'bond'of'the'methylamine'(CH3NH2)'molecule'has'been'predicted'to'form' aminomethanol.'Experimental'data'for'this'pathway'have'already'been'collected,'but'the'detection'of' aminomethanol'cannot'be'verified'without'first'measuring'the'background'reaction'of'ozone'and' methylamine.'This'project'aims'to'isolate'the'reaction'between'the'two'molecules'and'study'it'more'in' depth.'We'predict'that'by'collecting'data'for'the'ozone'and'methylamine'reaction,'we'will'be'able'to' subtract'absorption'peaks'from'the'original'data'and'confirm'the'detection'of'aminomethanol.'''
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Oral&Presentations& & Hannah&Rose&Blakeley& Online&Exhibition&of&Works&by&Belgian&Symbolist&Printmaker&Felicien&Rops&(1833.1898)& Hannah'Rose'Blakeley,'BA'Emory'University'
&
In'2013'Emory'University’s'Michael'C.'Carlos'Museum'received'a'collection'of'approximately'160'works'by' Félicien'Rops'(183351898),'a'nineteenth5century'Belgian'Symbolist'printmaker.'The'collection,'donated'to' the'Carlos'by'the'Stuart'A.'Rose'Library,'represents'many'facets'of'Rops’s'oeuvre,'from'early'prints' exploring'his'working5class'sensibilities'to'satirical'journalism'and'book'frontispieces.'It'provides'examples' of'the'artist’s'consistent'experimentation'with'the'printmaking'medium'and'displays'his'mastery'of'a' variety'of'printmaking'techniques.'Because'works'on'paper'are'fragile,'most'can'be'exhibited'for'no'more' than'three'months'at'a'time,'so'in'order'to'reach'a'wider'audience'than'sporadic'on5site'exhibitions'can' target,'I'am'working'with'the'Carlos'Museum'and'Emory’s'Center'for'Digital'Scholarship'to'create'an'online' exhibition'of'the'Rops'materials,'to'be'published'in'May'2016.'' ' The'online'exhibition—created'using'the'open5source'web'publishing'platform'Omeka—will'provide' background'on'Rops'as'an'artist,'the'Carlos’s'collection'of'his'works,'and'my'research'experiences,'which' have'included'a'SIRE5funded'trip'to'museums,'libraries,'and'archives'in'France'and'Belgium.'The'exhibition' will'also'highlight'themes'in'Rops’s'work,'such'as'his'fascination'with'the'processes'of'artistic'creation'and' his'situation'within'pictorial'and'iconographical'traditions'stretching'back'to'the'Old'Masters'and'to' Antiquity.'Through'this'exhibition'I'hope'to'begin'to'advance'my'career'goals'of'increasing'the'public’s' intellectual'and'material'access'to'art.' '''
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63
Gabriela&Guefen' Effective&Treatments&and&Pain&in&Juvenile&Idiopathic&Arthritis& Gabriela'Guefen'College'of'Arts'and'Sciences,'Emory'University,'Lori'Ponder'Children’s'Healthcare'of' Atlanta,'Kirsten'Jenkins'Children’s'Healthcare'of'Atlanta,'Sampath'Prahalad,'MD'Children’s'Healthcare'of' Atlanta'Emory'University'School'of'Medicine''
&
Objective.'To'characterize'the'side'effects'and'barriers'patients'encounter'from'medications'and'whether' these'factors'change'the'way'a'patient'feels'about'their'medication'using'a'questionnaire'administered'to' patients'at'Children’s'Healthcare'of'Atlanta.''Introduction.''Juvenile'Idiopathic'Arthritis'(JIA)'is'a'chronic' autoimmune'disease'causing'pain'and'inflammation.''It'can'be'controlled'with'medication'including'a' biologic'response'modifier'involved'in'TNF'inhibition'(Enbrel,'Humira)'or'a'non5biologic'disease'modifying' agent'(methotrexate).'''Methods.'Eligibility'for'inclusion'includes'a'diagnosis'of'JIA,'report'of'current'or' prior'use'of'Enbrel,'Humira,'and/or'methotrexate,'and'enrollment'in'the'Southeastern'Registry'of' Childhood'Arthritis.''Results.'Of'the'71'patients'to'complete'the'questionnaire,'69'report'current'or'prior' methotrexate'use,'13'report'current'or'prior'Enbrel'use,'and'24'report'current'or'prior'Humira'use.''No' barriers'were'reported'in'37539%'of'patients'before'or'while'taking'methotrexate,'46554%'of'patients' before'or'while'taking'Enbrel,'and'25538%'of'patients'before'or'while'taking'Humira.''For'patients'who' reported'barriers'prior'to'or'while'taking'their'medication,'fear'of'needles,'side'effects,'and/or'long5term' effects'was'reported'by'15538%'of'patients.''For'methotrexate,'46%'of'patients'reported'nausea/vomiting.'' For'Humira'and'Enbrel,'38554%'of'patients'reported'an'injection'site'reaction.'''''Conclusion.'Patients' expressed'fear'as'their'main'concern'with'starting'medication.''Approximately'12517%'of'patients'stopped' medication'due'to'side'effects.''Patients'experienced'the'most'side'effects'on'methotrexate'and'27%' retrospectively'wish'that'they'had'started'an'anti5TNF'drug'earlier.''''
& ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
64
Meghan&Hickey& Can&pupillometry&dissociate&fear&and&disgust?&Trypophobia&as&a&test&case.&& Meghan'Hickey'
&
Anxiety'in'response'to'objects'with'a'cluster'of'holes'has'come'to'be'known'as'trypophobia.'Recent' research'suggests'that'such'objects'share'low5level'visual'properties'with'evolutionarily'threatening'stimuli,' namely'snakes'and'spiders'(Cole'&'Wilkins,'2013).'The'current'consensus'is'that,'like'snakes'and'spiders,' the'discomfort'associated'with'holes'is'rooted'in'fear.'However,'self5reports'from'individuals'with' trypophobia'suggest'that'this'anxiety'may'instead'reflect'a'disgust'reaction.'Yet,'fear'and'disgust'are' difficult'to'disambiguate'behaviorally'because'both'involve'an'avoidance'response'(Woody'&'Teachman,' 2000).'In'the'current'study,'we'used'pupillometry'to'test'whether'trypophobia'is'rooted'in'fear'or'disgust.' We'predicted'that'if'trypophobic'stimuli'elicited'fear,'then'they'should'invoke'a'sympathetic'response,' which'is'associated'with'pupil'dilation;'alternatively,'if'trypophobic'stimuli'elicited'disgust,'then'they'should' invoke'a'parasympathetic'response,'which'is'associated'with'pupil'constriction'(Granholm'&'Steinhauer,' 2004).'To'dissociate'fear'and'disgust,'in'a'first'experiment'participants'passively'viewed'a'slideshow'of' trypophobic,'neutral,'and'threatening'images.'Next'to'control'for'the'effect'of'spatial'frequency,'in'a' second'experiment'participants'viewed'a'slide'show'of'trypophobic'images,'threatening'images,'and' images'with'low5level'visual'details'similar'to'holes.'Pupillary'responses'across'the'image'categories'were' compared'for'each'experiment.'In'experiments'1'and'2,'we'found'that'holes'elicited'significantly'more' pupil'constriction'than'threatening'images,'suggesting'that'the'two'are'dissociable'and'trypophobia'may'be' rooted'in'disgust.''
& & ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
65
Abigail&Holst& Chinese&Propaganda&Posters&in&Mao’s&Patriotic&Health&Movements:&From&Four&Pests&to&SARS& Abigail'Holst'
&
Chinese'propaganda'posters'from'the'Mao'era'(1949576)'serve'as'a'window'into'the'politics'of'public' health'and'the'history'of'medicine.'Throughout'the'20th'century,'propaganda'posters'functioned'as' powerful'tools'to'explain'ideological'and'scientific'concepts'to'a'largely'illiterate'population'in'mainland' China.'In'1958,'Mao'Zedong'launched'the'“four'pests”'campaign,'a'hygiene'campaign'that'mobilized'the' masses'to'exterminate'the'country’s'“four'evils:”'rats,'flies,'mosquitoes,'and'sparrows.'The'campaign'was' one'of'China’s'first'“Patriotic'Health'Movements”'that'took'place'during'the'Great'Leap'Forward'(1958562),' when'propaganda'poster'production'reached'its'heyday.'While'there'is'extensive'literature'on'printed' materials'from'the'Cultural'Revolution'(1966576),'there'is'a'dearth'of'scholarship'on'propaganda'from'the' “four'pests”'campaign.'In'my'research,'I'analyzed'the'visual,'rhetorical,'and'ideological'elements'in' propaganda'posters'from'the'“four'pests”'campaign.'I'also'identified'the'continuities'and'discontinuities'in' these'elements'in'propaganda'posters'used'prior'to'and'following'the'“four'pests”'campaign'(i.e.,'the'1952' Anti5Germ'Warfare'Incident,'Barefoot'Doctors'Programme,'and'2003'SARS'outbreak).'To'this'end,'I' developed'three'schema'to'highlight'the'posters’'salient'characteristics:'Chinese'New'Year'prints'(nianhua),' the'militarization'of'pest'control'and'disease'prevention,'and'children'and'women'as'political'messengers.' My'findings'indicate'that'these'posters'not'only'disseminated'health5related'information,'but'also' channelled'political,'nationalistic,'and'militaristic'rhetoric,'ideology,'and'imagery'to'assemble'the'masses' and'promote'sociopolitical'change.'
& & Wilson&Hunt&
Southern&Perceptions&of&Risk&Factors&of&Type&II&Diabetes& Wilson'Hunt,'Alex'Wein'MD/PhD,'Jennifer'Sarrett'PhD'Emory'University' ' The'southeastern'region'of'the'United'States'has'been'previously'identified'as'the'Diabetes'Belt.'Therefore,' it'was'important'to'assess'possible'discrepancies'in'knowledge'for'risk'factors'or'behaviors'contributing'to' Type'II'Diabetes.'The'Diabetes'Knowledge'Test'(DKT)'had'been'used'in'previous'populations'as'an' inexpensive'survey'to'assess'understanding'of'diabetes.'This'survey'was'administered'in'different'religious' institutions'in'northeast'Georgia'to'compare'scores'to'previous'literature.'The'results'suggested'that'there' was'no'significant'correlation'between'age,'gender,'income,'education,'or'self5reported'score'on'calculated' scores'of'DKT.'Future'studies'will'conduct'the'survey'in'a'greater'area'in'order'to'assess'a'more' representative'population.'This'data'may'help'to'identify'certain'misconceptions'of'contributing'factors'of' Type'II'diabetes.'''
& & & & & &
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Daniel&Kikuchi& Exploring&the&mechanism&by&which&Poldip2&enhances&oxidative&DNA&damage&& Daniel'S.'Kikuchi*,'Lauren'P.'Huff*,'Kathy'K.'Griendling*'*School'of'Medicine,'Division'of'Cardiology'
&
In'the'vasculature,'reactive'oxygen'species'(ROS)'play'a'vital'role'in'regulating'cardiovascular'function.'An' imbalance'in'the'redox'state,'however,'can'result'in'ROS5mediated'damage'to'macromolecules,'including' DNA.'NADPH'oxidases'(Noxes)'are'membrane5bound'enzymes'that'generate'ROS.'Nox4,'a'dominant' homolog'in'vascular'smooth'muscle'cells'(VSMCs),'preferentially'generates'hydrogen'peroxide'(H2O2).'Our' lab'has'found'that'Polymerase'delta5interacting'protein'2'(Poldip2)'interacts'with'Nox4'and'enhances'its' activity.'We'have'observed'both'Poldip2'and'Nox4'in'the'nucleus;'however,'it'is'unknown'if'these'proteins' promote'DNA'damage.'In'order'to'investigate'the'role'of'Poldip2'on'DNA'damage'I'first'attempted'to' validate'apurinic/apyrimidinic'endonuclease51'(Ape1)'as'a'marker'for'oxidative'DNA'damage.'It'has' previously'been'reported'that'Ape1'expression'is'induced'by'oxidative'DNA'damage.'In'mouse'aortic' smooth'muscle'cells'(MASMs),'however,'I'found'by'western'blot'that'Ape1'expression'is'decreased'upon' H2O2'treatment.'I'identified'85oxoguanine'(85oxoG),'a'DNA'lesion'produced'by'the'oxidation'of'guanine,'as' a'possible'marker.'I'validated'85oxoG'as'a'marker'of'oxidative'DNA'damage'using'immunofluorescence' microscopy'to'compare'85oxoG'foci'in'MASMs'Âą'H2O2'treatment.'Using'85oxoG'as'a'marker,'I'found'that' wild5type'MASMs'have'more'DNA'damage'than'Poldip2'heterozygous'MASMs'upon'H2O2'treatment,' suggesting'that'Poldip2'enhances'DNA'damage.'We'plan'to'further'investigate'how'Poldip2'enhances'DNA' damage,'as'DNA'damage'is'known'to'play'a'role'in'the'pathophysiology'of'cardiovascular'disease.'''
& ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' '
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Trinity&Kronk& Role&of&Interleukin.6&&and&Interleukin.6&Receptor&Alpha&Within&the&Distal&Nephron:&Transactivation&of&the& Mineralocorticoid&Receptor.& Trinity'A.'Kronk1,2,'Franziska'Theilig3,'Otor'Al5Khalili2,'Rickta'Mallick1,'Douglas'C.'Eaton2,'Robert'S.' Hoover1,2,4,'Brandi'M.'Wynne1,2'''1'Department'of'Medicine,'Renal'Division;'2'Department'of'Physiology,' Emory'University,'Atlanta,'GA;'3'Department'of'Medicine,'University'of'Fribourg,'Fribourg,'Switzerland;'4' Research'Service,'Atlanta'Veteran’s'Administration'Medical'Center,'Decatur,'GA''
&
'Hypertension'is'a'multifactorial'disease,'characterized'by'excessive'sodium'reabsorption'and'blood'volume' as'well'as'increased'vascular'resistance.'Research'demonstrates'an'emergent'link'between'hypertension' and'inflammation,'with'the'inflammatory'system'now'an'accepted'modulator'of'systemic'hypertension.' Interleukin56'(IL56)'is'a'pleiotropic'cytokine,'produced'by'many'lymphoid'and'non5lymphoid'cells'that' regulate'immune'responses.'Current'research'suggests'that'IL56'may'contribute'to'hypertension,'and'has' been'shown'in'both'patient'populations'and'animal'models.'Aldosterone'is'the'primary'steroid'hormone,' which'activates'the'mineralocorticoid'receptor'(MR),'leading'to'activation'of'the'NaCl'co5transporter'(NCC),' increasing'distal'tubular'sodium'reabsorption.'Interestingly,'many'hypertensive'patients'do'not'have' indices'of'aldosterone'excess,'suggesting'another'factor'is'needed'to'stimulate'NCC.''I'then'hypothesize' there'is'a'link'between'cytokines'and'the'MR,'with'IL56'transactivating'the'receptor'via'a'present'and' functional'IL56'receptor'alpha'(IL56R_)'within'the'aldosterone5sensitive'distal'nephron.''''''To'investigate'the' presence'of'IL56R_'we'performed'immunofluorescence'staining'in'whole'murine'cortex'and'murine'distal' convoluted'tubule'cells.'We'confirmed'the'ability'to'physiologically'modulate'the'expression'of'the' receptor'using'PCR'and'western'blot'and'also'confirmed'reactive'oxygen'species'generation'via'IL56.'We' then'examined'the'ability'of'IL56'to'transactivate'the'MR'by'investigating'nuclear'translocation'of'the'MR' and'subsequent'downstream'activation'of'the'mineralocorticoid'response'element'via'a'luciferase' promoter'system.''Our'data'demonstrate'that'IL56'is'capable'of'inducing'MR'activation'via'IL56R_,' suggesting'a'novel'role'for'cytokine5mediated'MR'transactivation.'
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Timothy&Libecap& Stereological&Analysis&of&Prefrontal&GABAergic&Interneurons&following&Neonatal&Hippocampal&Lesion&in& Rhesus&monkeys& T.J.'Libecap,'Austin'Howley,'Joselyne'Bachevalier'PhD'Emory'University'&'Yerkes,'Hillary'Rodman'PhD,' Emory'University''
&
GABA'is'the'primary'inhibitory'neurotransmitter'in'the'mammalian'brain.'Under'normal'working' circumstances,'GABA'plays'a'fundamental'role'in'the'dorsolateral'prefrontal'cortex'(dlPFC).'In'particular,' the'parvalbumin'class'of'GABA'interneurons'is'involved'in'sustaining'the'normal'neuron'signaling'that' maintains'proper'functionality.'The'dlPFC'is'a'brain'region'responsible'for'executive'functioning'and' undergoes'a'protracted'development.'Further,'the'hippocampus'is'a'region'in'the'medial'temporal'lobe' that'develops'early'in'life'and'has'been'implicated'in'the'development'of'the'dlPFC'as'a'result'of'their' synaptic'connections.'In'our'study,'we'used'tissue'harvested'from'four'control'and'four'experimental'adult' rhesus'monkeys'that'sustained'bilateral'neonatal'hippocampal'lesions'of'varying'degree'in'order'to'better' understand'the'role'of'the'hippocampus'in'the'development'of'the'dlPFC.'Specifically,'we'analyzed'the' relative'density'of'parvalbumin5immunoreactive'GABAergic'interneurons'in'Brodmann'Area'46d'of'lesioned' (Neo5H)'and'non5lesioned'monkeys'(Neo5C).'We'found'a'significantly'higher'density'of'parvalbumin5 positive'neurons'within'the'dlPFC'of'the'Neo5H'monkeys'relative'to'the'Neo5C'monkeys,'both'between'the' left'hemispheres'of'the'two'groups'and'across'the'groups'when'both'hemispheres'were'considered' together.'These'results'were'confirmed'by'estimations'of'total'PV5positive'neuron'populations'in'area'46d.' Our'results'are'consistent'with'functional'connectivity'and'behavioral'data'taken'from'the'same'monkeys.' These'findings'have'implications'for'how'early'life'lesions'of'the'hippocampus'may'affect'vulnerable' structures'and'disrupt'cognitive'processing.''
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Margaret&Martinez& Is&there&a&relationship&between&synesthesia&and&crossmodal&correspondences?& Margaret'Martinez1,'Simon'Lacey1,'Kelly'McCormick3'&'K.'Sathian1,2,3,4''Departments'of'Neurology1,' Rehabilitation'Medicine2'&'Psychology3,'Emory'University,'Atlanta,'GA,'USA'&'Rehabilitation'R&D'Center' of'Excellence4,'Atlanta'VAMC,'Decatur,'GA,'USA'''
&
Synesthesia'is'a'neurological'phenomenon'in'which'stimulation'of'one'sensory'or'cognitive'pathway'leads' to'automatic,'involuntary'experiences'in'a'second'sensory'or'cognitive'pathway.'The'most'common'form'is' grapheme5color.'This'involves'an'individual'experiencing'or'seeing'a'specific'color'consistently'when'seeing' a'letter.'Currently,'little'is'known'regarding'the'development'of'synesthesia.'We'theorize'that'synesthesia' is'related'to'the'strength'of'crossmodal'correspondences.'Crossmodal'correspondence'is'the'tendency'of'a' stimulus'in'one'modality'to'be'linked'with'a'seemingly'unrelated'stimulus'in'another'modality.'An'example' of'this'is'people'associating'high'pitch'with'high'visual'elevation.'As'synesthesia'also'involves'associations' between'two'modalities'but'is'less'common'than'standard'crossmodal'correspondence,'we'theorize'that' synesthetes'are'more'sensitive'to'crossmodal'correspondences'than'the'average'person.'To'test'this,'35' participants'took'a'behavioral'test'and'a'synesthesia'battery.'The'behavioral'test,'known'as'an'Implicit' Association'Test,'was'designed'to'test'the'strength'of'crossmodal'correspondences.'This'data,'in'the'form' of'a'congruency'effect,'was'compared'between'those'who'were'classified'by'synesthete'or'non5 synesthetes'via'the'synesthesia'battery.'It'was'found'that'synesthetes'had'larger'congruency'effects'for' one'set'of'stimuli'(word5shape).'This'may'indicate'that'synesthetes'are'more'sensitive'to'crossmodal' correspondences'than'the'general'population.''
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Samoni&Nag& Location&and&Featural&Cue&Integration&in&Early&Childhood& Samoni'Nag5'Emory'University,'Vladislav'Ayzenberg5'Emory'University'Stella'F.'Lourenco,'PhD5'Emory' University' ' From'an'early'age,'children'have'the'ability'to'classify'both'the'location'(e.g.,'distance,'direction;' Newcombe,'Huttenlocher,'&'Learmonth,'1999)'and'featural'(e.g.,'color,'pattern;'Wilcox,'1999)'properties' of'an'object.'However,'it'remains'unclear'how'humans'come'to'use'these'cues'when'both'are'available'for' object'recognition.'Do'humans'primarily'rely'on'one'cue'type'or'do'they'use'a'combination'of'both?' Research'has'shown'that'in'infancy,'location'is'a'more'privileged'source'of'information'than'features' (Needham'&'Kaufman,'1997).'When'both'cues'are'available,'infants'rely'on'featural'cues'only'when' location'is'ambiguous'(Needham'&'Kaufman,'1997).'This'suggests'that'early'in'development,'location'may' be'a'more'reliable'source'of'information'for'reasoning'about'objects.'Although'infants'rely'more'on' location'when'reasoning'about'objects,'there'is'a'qualitative'shift'in'behavior'by'toddlerhood'in'which' featural'cues'are'favored'(Haun,'Call,'Ja'nzen'&'Levinson,'2006).'This'finding'begs'the'question'of'why'cue' weighting'changes'across'development.'The'current'study'examines'how'toddlers'weight'and'encode' multiple'cues'and'examines'the'factors'that'support'cue'weighting.'Toddlers'were'trained'to'find'an'object' that'has'both'location'and'feature'properties.'We'measured'whether'both'cues'were'encoded' simultaneously'and'which'cue'they'favored'when'the'two'were'put'in'conflict.'We'administered'tests'of' spatial'thinking'and'language'to'understand'how'these'abilities'influence'weighting.'This'study'has' important'implications'for'understanding'how'children'combine'multiple'sources'of'information.'
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Alexandra&Nutaitis& Diet&may&be&a&Modifiable&Risk&Factor&for&Cognitive&Decline&in&African&Americans&and&Caucasians&at&High& Risk&for&Developing&Alzheimer’s&Disease:&A&Pilot&Study&of&the&Southern&and&Prudent&Diets.&& Alexandra'Nutaitis'1,'Felicia'Goldstein'1'PhD,'Veronique'King'1,'Katrina'Kelliebrew'1,'Salman'Sher'MD'2,' Whitney'Wharton'PhD'1''1'Emory'University:'Departments'of'Neurology'(1)'and'Cardiology'(2),'Atlanta,'GA''
&
Importance:'African'Americans'are'64%'more'likely'to'develop'Alzheimer’s'disease'than'Caucasians,'though' the'reason'for'this'difference'is'not'clear.'Investigating'dietary'patterns'as'a'modifiable'risk'factor' applicable'to'African'Americans'and'Caucasians'has'the'potential'to'reduce'their'risk'of'developing' Alzheimer’s'disease.'''Objective:'To'determine'the'influence'of'the'Southern'dietary'pattern'and'the' prudent'dietary'pattern'on'cognitive'performance'in'individuals'at'high'risk'for'developing'Alzheimer’s' disease'due'to'age,'parental'history'of'AD,'and'race.''Design/Setting:'Observational'pilot'study.'' Participants:'66'cognitively'normal,'healthy,'African'American'and'Caucasian'individuals'aged'46577'years' with'a'parental'history'of'Alzheimer’s'disease.''Main'Outcome'and'Measure:'Food'Frequency' questionnaire,'comprehensive'vascular'risk'assessments,'and'cognitive'assessments.''Results:'Caucasians' performed'significantly'better'on'3'of'the'8'cognitive'assessments,'the'remaining'5'cognitive'assessments' did'not'display'any'significant'racial'differences.'We'report'a'correlation'between'foods'characteristic'of' the'Southern'diet'and'worse'cognitive'performance'in'African'Americans.'Individuals'who'reported'diets' that'aligned'with'the'prudent'dietary'pattern'performed'better'on'cognitive'testing'than'those'who'did'not' align'with'the'prudent'dietary'pattern.''Conclusion'and'Relevance:'Dietary'patterns'are'modifiable'and' current'research'suggests'that'even'late'life'dietary'pattern'modification'can'result'in'favorable'health' outcomes.'It'is'possible'that'the'increased'prevalence'of'Alzheimer’s'disease'in'African'Americans'could'be' lessened'through'diet'modification.'''
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72
Lokita&Rajan& Are&there&two&types&of&auditory&imagers?& Lokita'J.'Rajan1,'Simon'Lacey1'&'K.'Sathian1,2,3''Departments'of'1Neurology,'2Rehabilitation'Medicine'&' 3Psychology'
&
Visual'mental'imagery'can'be'subdivided'into'individual'preferences'for'either'object'or'spatial'imagery.' Object'imagers'integrate'surface'properties'of'objects,'like'color'and'texture,'with'structural'properties,' like'shape.'Spatial'imagers'primarily'focus'on'the'structural'properties,'like'shape,'and'pay'less'attention'to' surface'properties.'These'object5spatial'imagery'preferences'also'occur'in'haptic'imagery'(i.e.'derived'from' active'touch).'Here,'we'investigated'whether'there'are'equivalent'preferences'in'auditory'imagery.'We' created'125tone'stereo'sequences'in'which'the'tones'varied'in'loudness'and'space,'i.e.'whether'they' occurred'in'the'left'or'right'channel.'We'hypothesized'that'auditory'spatial'imagers'would'be'able'to' discriminate'structural'properties'(spatial'pattern'of'the'tones'across'left'and'right'ears)'across'a'change'in' a'surface'property'(loudness'pattern)'while'auditory'object'imagers'would'not.'Conversely,'auditory'object' imagers'would'be'able'to'discriminate'loudness'patterns'over'changes'in'space'while'spatial'imagers'would' not.'Participants'performed'these'tasks'and'also'completed'the'Object5Spatial'Imagery'&'Verbal' Questionnaire'(OSIVQ)'and'the'Montreal'Battery'for'Evaluation'of'Amusia'(MBEA)'and'a'Pitch'Perception' test.'Preliminary'results'fit'the'expected'pattern'and'suggest'that'there'may'indeed'be'two'types'of' auditory'imagery'equivalent'to'those'shown'for'vision'and'touch.'Object'imagers,'as'measured'by'the' difference'between'OSIVQ'object'and'spatial'imagery'scores,'were'impaired'at'discriminating'spatial' patterns'if'the'loudness'pattern'changed'but'were'unimpaired'at'discriminating'loudness'patterns'across'a' change'in'the'spatial'pattern.'
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Grace&Swaim& Lithium&Treatment&Ameliorates&Acute&Kidney&Injury&by&Inducing&Anti.Apoptotic&Factors& Grace'L.'Swaim,'Emory'University,'John'H.'Ward,'Emory'University,'Nathaniel'J.'Himmel,'Emory'University,' Ashwin'Shukla,'Emory'University,'Mitsi'Blount,'PhD'Emory'University'
&
Acute'kidney'injury'(AKI)'is'a'potentially'life5threatening'condition'during'which'kidney'function'suddenly' declines.'If'the'kidney'can'repair'the'renal'tubular'epithelia'damaged'by'AKI,'the'risk'of'developing'future' chronic'kidney'disease'is'decreased.''Cellular'recovery'from'AKI'is'regulated'by'multiple'signaling'pathways' that'are'not'fully'explored,'and'lithium,'a'common'mood'stabilizer,'activates'many'of'those'same' pathways.''Recently,'short5term'administration'of'lithium'following'AKI'was'shown'to'be'renal'protective,' but'long'term'lithium'treatment'can'cause'kidney'damage'as'well.'Therefore,'the'importance'of'identifying' the'lithium5targeted'pathway'that'treats'AKI'becomes'imperative'to'prevent'any'harmful'side'effects' unforeseen'in'previously'reported'studies.'In'order'to'investigate'the'potential'renal'protective'effect'of' lithium'treatment,'we'measured'the'activity'and'expression'of'several'protein'kinases'involved'in'the' Wnt/B5catenin'signaling'pathway,'such'as'Akt,'ERK,'and'p38.'We'hypothesize'that'lithium'improves'patient' conditions'in'AKI'through'Akt/ERK'activation'of'the'downstream'target'MMP59,'which'releases'the' antiapoptotic'soluble'stem'cell'factor'(sSCF).'We'intend'to'perform'qPCR'on'cDNA'derived'from'hypoxic,' AKI5modeling,'human'kidney'2'(HK52)'cells'with'primers'for'these'targets.'Additionally,'we'will'also'perform' western'blots'on'HK52'lysates'for'these'proteins'and'gelatin'zymographs'to'test'for'MMP59'activity.'Current' research'is'still'ongoing,'but'our'most'recent'results'indicate'that'treating'hypoxic'HK52'cells'with'lithium' does'not'increase'MMP59'activity.'
& & Lauren&Taylor&
Individual&imagery&preferences&predict&speed&of&bistable&figure&perception& Lauren'C.'Taylor1,'Simon'Lacey1&'K.'Sathian1,2,3,4'''Departments'of'Neurology1,'Rehabilitation'Medicine2' &'Psychology3,'Emory'University,'Atlanta,'GA,'USA;'4Rehabilitation'R&D'Center'for'Visual'and' Neurocognitive'Rehabilitation,''Atlanta'VAMC,'Decatur,'GA,'USA.''10' ' Recent'studies'suggested'that'individual'differences'in'bistable'figure'perception'are'related'to'creativity,' but'noted'that'science'students'saw'the'alternative'interpretations'of'a'bistable'figure'faster'and'more' often'than'arts'students.'Preferences'for'arts'vs.'sciences'are'strongly'associated'with'individual' preferences'for'object'vs.'spatial'visual'imagery'respectively.'Here'we'demonstrate'a'strong'relationship' between'bistable'figure'perception'and'imagery'preference.'Spatial'imagers'were'faster'to'see'the'first' figure'reversal'than'object'imagers'and'individual'imagery'preference'predicted'response'times'5'increasing' with'greater'preference'for'object'imagery'and'decreasing'with'greater'preference'for'spatial'imagery.'We' did'not'find'any'relationship'between'bistable'figure'perception'and'creativity'measures.'These'findings' suggest'a'new,'theoretically'motivated'framework'for'individual'differences'in'bistable'figure'perception' that'can'be'accommodated'within'the'current'model'of'bistable'figure'perception.'
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Ansley&Unterberger& Psychopathy&and&Pride:&Implications&for&Antisocial&and&Prosocial&Behaviors& Ansley'Unterberger,'Emory'University,'Ashley'Watts,'Emory'University,'Scott'Lilienfeld,'PhD,'Emory' University'
&
Although'many'psychopathic'individuals'commit'antisocial'acts,'others'may'channel'their'traits'into'largely' positive'avenues,'such'as'leadership'and'heroism.'Like'all'psychopaths,'some'individuals'sometimes'termed' Ă’successful'psychopaths,Ă“'possess'deficiencies'in'guilt.'Unlike'unsuccessful'psychopaths,'however,'they' typically'learn'to'inhibit'deviant'and'violent'impulses.'Because'they'are'lacking'in'guilt,'I'propose'an' alternative'emotion,'namely'pride,'may'help'explain'these'behavioral'differences.'Recently,'studies'suggest' that'pride'encompasses'two'facets:'authentic'and'hubristic.'The'former'relates'to'genuine,'earned'self5 worth,'the'latter'to'unwarranted'narcissism.'I'hypothesized'that'among'psychopathic'individuals'with'high' fearless'dominance'levels'(a)'authentic'pride'would'serve'as'a'protective'factor'by'tamping'down'risk'for' antisocial'and'criminal'behaviors'and'by'boosting'prosocial'behaviors'such'as'leadership'and'heroism,'(b)' hubristic'pride'would'augment'risk'for'antisocial'and'criminal'behavior'and'diminish'the'likelihood'of' adaptive'behavior,'and'(c)'positive'parenting,'namely'consistent'positive'reinforcement,'would'promote' prosocial'tendencies.''I'tested'my'hypotheses'by'administering'an'online'questionnaire'composed'of' numerous'personality'measures.'Bivariate'correlation'analysis'revealed'significant'differential'links' between'psychopathy'components,'the'two'core'pride'facets,'and'positive'parenting.'Despite'scattered' significant'moderation'findings,'the'results'were'mixed'and'inconsistent,'which'raises'the'possibility'that' some'or'even'all'of'the'positive'findings'reflected'Type'1'errors.'However,'many'interaction'terms' accounted'for'1%'or'more'additional'variance.''Although'too'small'to'inform'policy,'these'results'may'point' to'important'theoretical'implications'and'warrant'further'exploration.'''
& & Dalila&Vazquez&Herrera&
From&Yucuquimi&to&the&United&States:&translating&medicine&through&intercultural&communication& Karen'Stolley,'PhD'Emory'University'Dalila'Vazquez'Herrera,'Undergraduate'student,'Emory'University'
& Researchers,'such'as'Dr.'Rita'Charon,'have'emphasized'the'importance'of'effective'communication' between'patients'and'their'doctors'though'effective'interactions.'When'culture'and'language'differences' are'involved,'the'effectiveness'in'these'interactions'become'more'complicated'and'are'important'to'be' addressed.'This'project'focuses'on'the'Mixtec'community'in'Yucuquimi'de'Ocampo,'an'indigenous'Mexican' group'in'the'state'of'Oaxaca.'The'field'research'part'of'this'project'involved'interviewing'local'healers'as' well'as'clinicians'in'the'town'to'gasp'how'their'relationships'with'their'patients'work.'This'project'seeks'to' educate'about'the'Mixtec'community'as'well'as'bring'awareness'to'the'challenge'they'face'when'seeking' healthcare'both'in'Mexico'and'in'the'United'States.''''
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Stephanie&Wahab& The&Origins&of&Scene&Processing& Stephanie'Wahab,'Frederik'S.'Kamps,'Daniel'D.'Dilks'
&
Humans'recognize'a'scene'or'place'in'a'fraction'of'a'second'and'almost'simultaneously'navigate'that'scene' flawlessly'and'effortlessly.'This'remarkable'ability'is'thought'to'rely'on'three'distinct'brain'regions'that'are' selectively'involved'in'recognizing'scenes;'objects.'These'regions'include'the'occipital'place'area'(OPA)' (Dilks'et'al.,'2013),'the'retrosplenial'complex'(RSC)'(Maguire,'2001),'and'the'parahippocampal'place'area' (PPA)'(Epstein'and'Kanwisher,'1998).'While'each'of'these'regions'show'clear'scene'selectivity,'responding' two'to'four'times'more'strongly'to'images'of'scenes'than'images'of'objects'or'faces,'the'precise'role'each' region'plays'in'scene'processing'is'still'unclear,'and'the'subject'of'ongoing'debate.'
& & & & & & &
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