Viral entry in a host cell is mediated by interacting viral fusion proteins and cell receptors. After entry, newly translated viral fusion proteins can end up on the surface of the infected cell. If the infected cell comes into contact with a cell expressing the associated receptor, the interaction can result in membrane fusion. The result of this fusion is a multi-nucleated cell, called a syncytium. Syncytia can cause an increase in severity and duration of an infection, as well as cause damage to the surrounding tissue. Syncytia formation is heavily dependent on spatial interactions and some models are not able to represent this component whatsoever. Agent-based models (ABMs) can accurately represent the temporal and spatial components of syncytia formation by simulating interactions between individual cells. We developed an ABM that can model syncytia formation for up to one million cells at a time. Implementing this model computationally, we have begun fitting to cell-cell fusion experimental data. This model allows us to get new spatial parameters that have never been looked into before. By investigating the spatial aspects, we will develop a better understanding of the role of syncytia during viral infections.

The lining of the human respiratory tract (HRT) has a layer of ciliated cells known as an epithelium. When exposed to virus, these cells actively push virus into mucous layers lining the epithelium and then funnel this mucous up and out of the human respiratory tract. This process is called mucociliary clearance (MCC) and is the first line of defense against a viral infection. We know that MCC plays a role in preventing respiratory infections, but we know little else. We hypothesize that, under the right conditions, MCC prevents infection by limiting the ability for virus to enter the lower respiratory tract. To test this, we constructed a compartmental model that uses a system of diffusion-driven partial differential equations to describe the virus propagation in the HRT as a travelling wave front with an advection term included to approximate MCC.  Our model shows that MCC can change the waveform of the virus propagation, and suggests that there exists a critical advection speed that prevents virus from entering the lower respiratory tract.

Indole derivatives are known to exhibit diverse luminescent behavior that is strongly affected by molecular structure and the surrounding environment. In this work, we investigate a series of regioisomeric indole-based compounds embedded in poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) films. By combining absorption and steady-state fluorescence measurements with room-temperature phosphorescence (RTP), fluorescence and phosphorescence anisotropy, and time-resolved emission decays under UV excitation, we examine how small changes in the position of substitution on the indole scaffold determine the luminescent properties of the studied compounds. Although structurally similar, the regioisomers exhibit distinct absorption and emission maxima, visibly different emission colors, and significantly varied excited-state lifetimes. Immobilization in the PVA matrix selectively enhances RTP for certain compounds, while others remain predominantly fluorescent, indicating a substitution-dependent balance between intersystem crossing and nonradiative decay pathways. Overall, the results indicate that even minor structural modifications in indole-based luminophores result in significant changes in their luminescent properties, and that regioisomerism can be used to control luminescent behavior in polymer matrices.

When stars form from collapsing gas clouds, about half of them form in pairs (binary systems). However, identifying which stars in the Milky Way and other nearby galaxies are binaries is difficult; even nearby two-star systems look like a single point of light. Due to the distances of even the most nearby galaxies, a method to reliably identify these binary systems is needed. We will apply the Binary Information from Open Clusters Using SEDs (BINOCS) code to aid in separating the light emitted from each star. Open clusters have known ages, distances, and metallicities, so we can apply these parameters to the stars in the clusters to determine their masses and fit to their spectral energy distributions (SEDs). The BINOCS method has successfully been applied to some open clusters; we want to identify which globular clusters and nearby dwarf galaxies the method can be applied to. In order to reach these more distant objects, we need to use deep space-based data. The data we explore in this work is from stars in ~200 cluster or galaxy targets observed by the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), and Spitzer Space Telescope. The fraction of binaries is a key factor in measuring the amount of dark matter in dwarf galaxies. One example system we plan to analyze is NGC 104, a globular cluster ~15 thousand light years away from Earth, with an age of ~13 billion years.

Smaller galaxies and old star clusters that have been devoured by our Galaxy, provide unique probes into the assembly history of the Milky Way. Previous studies have characterized these Galactic sub-structures using their kinematics and chemistry, but to fully understand these stellar populations, a record of when individual stars formed is required. To reconstruct this star formation history, we utilize the relationship between the ratio of the amount of carbon and nitrogen on the surface of a star and the age of that star. This [C/N]-Age relationship has been calibrated using both young and old star clusters by Spoo et al. (2022; 2025) allowing its use at a wide range of metallicities (-1.2 ≤ [Fe/H] ≤ +0.3 dex). We apply this “chemical clock” to the accreted sub-structures in order to measure the star formation history of each, so that we can better understand how the Milky Way formed and evolved using its accreted stellar populations.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have emerged in nanobiotechnology as useful tools for numerous biomedical applications, including non-invasive cellular imaging, drug delivery, and gene targeting. Several studies have shown the successful uptake of GQDs in healthy and cancerous cells. While some in vitro and in vivo studies highlight mechanisms underlying GQD internalization in cells, there is a gap in our understanding of GQD interactions with complex biological media, such as blood serum. Proteins in biofluid environments adsorb to the surface of nanoparticles such as carbon nanotubes, forming the “protein corona.” Graphene quantum dots have an abundance of charged surface functional groups, which are likely to interact with complementary charged regions in proteins. Herein, we investigate the interactions of individual proteins with negatively charged sodium citrate and reduced graphene oxide-derived GQDs, as well as positively charged nitrogen-doped GQDs. This study will advance our understanding of protein-GQD interactions in physiological environments, ultimately guiding the optimization of GQDs for biomedical applications.

A key proponent to galaxy evolution is the multiphase gas that surrounds and permeates the galactic disk. Studying this complex gas network allows us to better understand how it regulates the metallicity, structure, and star formation within a galaxy. Within the disk there are small dust grains called polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). These grains are effective tracers of cold molecular gas and H II regions, as well as production sites for molecular hydrogen which make PAHs excellent probes for studying star formation in galaxies. We use the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to study the infrared emission from PAHs throughout the disk of the giant low surface brightness galaxy Malin 1. Compared to high surface brightness galaxies, Malin 1 exhibits less structure and overall dust content. This is potentially hinting at a deficit of cold molecular gas, which is a necessary ingredient for star formation. By mapping out where the dust exists throughout the disk, we can trace areas of stellar formation and gain insight into the properties of this extreme galaxy.

Nanomaterial use continues to rise in biomedical applications, and the need for rapid, accurate, and non-invasive cytotoxicity measurements has become increasingly evident. Existing approaches for evaluating nanomaterial cytotoxicity are often indirect and typically depend on well-plate, salt-based fluorescence assays or complicated microscopy methods. To address these limitations, we introduce FluoAI, a two-stage neural network workflow that directly determines live/dead cells from the nanomaterial’s fluorescence, eliminating the need for additional labeling. The workflow uses two consecutive convolutional neural networks: Mask R-CNN first performs instance segmentation of individual cells from grayscale, single-channel fluorescence images, followed by a DenseNet-121 classifier that assigns alive or dead labels to each segmented cell, achieving performance values of up to 92.0%. In addition to viability classification, FluoAI also performs expert-level analyses of corrected total cell fluorescence (CTCF), mean fluorescence, and cell area, with results showing minimal to no significant differences compared with human measurements of Graphene Quantum Dot (GQD)- and fluorescein dye-treated model cells. Because the entire pipeline is automated, these quantitative fluorescence metrics are generated faster than manual analysis while maintaining comparable accuracy. Overall, this AI pipeline enables non-invasive cytotoxicity assessment and automated in vitro analysis using a conventional fluorescence microscopy setup. As its dataset continues to expand, FluoAI provides a strong foundation for reliable, high-throughput nano-cytotoxicity assays and automated data analysis, ultimately supporting the development of novel and safer nanomedicines.

Graphene quantum dots (GQDs) have gained interest within the bioimaging community due to their biocompatibility and their ability to exhibit near-infrared (NIR) fluorescence suitable for imaging and tracking within biological systems. Creating a simple and reproducible synthesis method for biocompatible NIR-fluorescent GQDs from a variety of precursors remains a critical task. Development of multiple NIR fluorescent GQD structures from a variety of precursors can facilitate their application in multiplex imaging, multianalyte sensing and combination therapy delivery. Herein, we demonstrate the synthesis of 11 distinct GQD structures capable of NIR fluorescence, achieved through a facile microwave-assisted bottom-up carbonization of 11 different materials: ascorbic acid, chitosan, citric acid - urea, dextran, glucose, glucosamine hydrochloride, hyaluronic acid, l-glutamic acid, polyethylene glycol (PEG), sodium cholate, or sodium citrate. All GQD structures exhibit substantial biocompatibility at concentrations up to 2 mg/mL. Internalization of GQDs is observed through their NIR fluorescence, allowing them to be successfully tracked in vitro in HEK-293 cells. This work provides a comprehensive study demonstrating how precursor selection enables versatile synthetic outcomes and NIR-emissive GQDs with distinct physical, chemical, and optical properties relevant to bioimaging. Expanding the precursor range democratizes the use of GQDs in biological applications by providing broader access to structures with tunable NIR emission and surface characteristics.

Psychological stress interacts with the immune system to increase inflammation, a physiological response involving the body’s defense against pathogens, which can promote biological and behavioral changes related to depression. However, research is needed to better understand factors that contribute to the inflammation–depression pathway. One such factor is repetitive thinking, defined as recurrent and intrusive thoughts about negative, positive, or neutral content (e.g., rumination, defined by negative thoughts focused on potential loss or failure, or worry, defined by thoughts of future danger). Higher rumination is related to greater inflammatory activity under acute stress conditions; however, the relationship between worry and inflammatory reactivity to stress is less clear. Further, there is limited literature demonstrating how reflection, defined as neutral or positive repetitive thinking, is associated with inflammatory activity under stress. Additionally, while past findings have focused on how trait-based personality characteristics related to repetitive thinking are associated with inflammatory reactivity under stress, the research on state-based repetitive thinking and inflammatory reactivity following an acute stressor is less clear. The purpose of the proposed study is to examine how state-based momentary changes in repetitive thinking under acute stress are related to inflammatory activity. To investigate the proposed study, 150 undergraduate participants will be randomly assigned to complete a laboratory-based stress induction or control task. Participants in the stress induction group will complete the Trier Social Stress Test, and the control task will approximate the physical demands of the stress induction without prompting social-evaluative threat. State-based repetitive thinking will be collected with self-report measures obtained before, during, and after the stress/control task. We will obtain whole blood samples from participants before the stress/control task and 55 minutes after the initiation of the task. Blood will be processed for serum, which will then be assayed for the inflammatory proteins - interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, C-reactive protein, and tumor necrosis factor-α. Multiple regression analyses will be conducted to test our hypotheses that (1) higher state-based repetitive negative thinking (i.e., rumination and worry) will increase following exposure to an acute stressor in comparison to those in the control task (2) higher state-based repetitive negative thinking will predict greater inflammatory reactivity under stress, and (3) higher state-based reflection will predict lower inflammatory reactivity under stress. Findings from this study may prompt future research to examine how other types of stressors impact the relationship between repetitive thought and inflammation.

Humans produce complex and learned behaviors like speech, playing musical instruments, and sports through exceptional motor abilities. These learned actions need specific motor planning and preparation. Researchers use songbirds in part because they produce a stereotyped motor sequence whenever they engage in singing behavior. Further, Zebra Finches learn their song through vocal production learning, similar to human speech acquisition; they mimic their adult male tutor's song and reproduce a similar version in adulthood. This motor learning process leads to the generation and execution of a highly skilled and stereotyped motor program production. Before the song, Zebra finches sing a sequence of introductory notes that are short-duration, non-stereotyped sounds. Previous work has speculated that these introductory notes are a form of motor preparation, but an experimental test of this hypothesis has not been conducted. This study casually examines the role of introductory notes as a motor preparation phase to help transition to executing the main song motor sequence. To distinguish motor preparation from song execution, we reasoned that presenting an external stimulus would delay preparation. We used air pressure recordings to identify introductory notes and triggered white-noise playback during their performance in twelve birds. We found that any white-noise playback, regardless of amplitude (e.g., high and low) or duration (e.g., short and long), led to abnormal pauses or breath holding before song execution, which is considered an interruption of introductory notes. Whereas low amplitude with short and long durations has ended with interruption in introductory notes, it does not cause termination or interruption of the syllables of the motif when white-noise playback is triggered in the motif part of the song, which is considered the continuation of the motif’s syllables. Moreover, high amplitude with short and long duration causes more termination or interruption of the motif’s syllables when the white-noise playback is triggered in the motif part of the song. However, another important subject in the most stereotyped part of the song (motif) regarding its termination or continuation by white-noise playback is the specific location of the triggered playback within the motif, that is which syllable of which motif of the song is targeted by the playback. Our findings suggest that, in addition to introductory notes, which are flexible and modifiable by external stimuli and are consistent with the hypothesis that they function as a preparatory motor gesture for the upcoming stereotyped song, high-amplitude white-noise stimuli, when triggered on the last syllables of the second or final motif of the bout, can cause termination in the execution of the song pattern in zebra finches.
Understanding motor planning can provide insight into neurological, behavioral, speech, and motor disorders that are characterized by deficits in neuromuscular preparation.

In recent years, there has been growing interest among women regarding menstrual cycle-based approaches to women’s health and fitness. While previous research has found that hormonal fluctuations across the menstrual cycle influence various parts of women’s physiology (e.g., Eiling et al., 2007; Lim et al., 2024; Rizor et al., 2024), no prior research has examined outcomes associated with “syncing” one’s lifestyle, specifically their exercise routine, to their hormonal state. Therefore, the present research examined the effects of using a cycle-based approach to exercise on women’s levels of happiness, quality of life, body image, and health satisfaction. 1091 naturally cycling women who were current users of the cycle-based wellness application, 28, filled out a survey asking about usage of menstrual cycle-based approaches to exercise. Participants then reported their levels of happiness, quality of life, health satisfaction, and body image. Results revealed that individuals who worked out in sync with their cycle over the last three months reported higher levels of happiness, positive body image, and health and fitness than those who did not workout in sync with their cycle. The results of the present research provide evidence to suggest that working out in sync with one’s menstrual cycle may improve one’s mental and physical health. These results expand upon past research on women’s physiological changes across the menstrual cycle and suggest that women may benefit from tailoring their exercise routine to their menstrual cycle phases.

51% of Americans report having a parasocial relationship, but research on how parasocial relationships form still remain ambivalent, with theories of loneliness and social isolation centering the conversation. With the rise of AI and increased social media use, parasocial relationships are all the more ubiquitous. In this study, feelings of existential isolation and parasocial relationship strength and intensity were measured alongside carryover effects on well-being outcomes such as self-esteem and depression. In a sample size of 101 undergraduate students across Texas Christian University and the University of Florida, a Pearson correlation coefficient was calculated to evaluate the relationship between existential isolation and parasocial relationship strength. There was a significant relationship between feelings of existentially isolated and how strong their bonds were with parasocial figures, r(101) = -.47, p = <.001.

Food insecurity affects more than 6 million households with children in the U.S., the majority of which are insecure without hunger, and is associated with significant negative health outcomes, such as impaired immune function, anxiety/eating disorders, malnutrition, and delayed language acquisition. Given the increased control allowed by animal model work, an ideal study design to answer this question would expose mice to a food source that is truly unpredictable and of poor nutritional value for an extended period and assess their behavior for any significant changes. However, most of the prior work has either not been able to make a truly unpredictable food source or utilized a food source that is both unpredictable and less-than-healthy, thus limiting the generalizability of their findings. To address these limitations, the present study aimed to ensure that the rodent's food source was truly unpredictable by randomly assigning periods of limited food access across each week of the study. At weaning, male and female C57BL/6J mice were either given ad libitum food access or were food insecure, where their otherwise full food-hopper would be reduced to 25% of their baseline consumption three randomly selected nights each week until the following morning. Additionally, mice were also randomly assigned to be fed either a control chow or a “typical American diet” (TAD) chow. At 6.5 months, the mice underwent a battery of behavioral tests, including the open field test, elevated-zero maze, y-maze, and novel object location task, to assess anxiety-like behavior and spatial memory capabilities. Early analysis indicates that mice fed the TAD and were insecurely fed displayed more anxiety-like behavior and impaired spatial memory capabilities compared to the securely fed mice and those fed control chow. Taken together, this study demonstrates the combined impact of being exposed to both a nutritionally poor food source and having an unreliable food source, further illustrating the significant and deleterious nature of experiencing food insecurity.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the 6th leading cause of death the United States of America, affecting more than six million Americans aged 65 years and older. In the absence of disease-modifying therapies, identification and modification of lifestyle-related risk factors remain critical strategies for mitigating AD incidence and progression. Dietary pattern represents a particularly salient and modifiable determinant of risk. Preclinical and epidemiological evidence consistently demonstrates that Western-style dietary patterns—characterized by high intake of saturated fats and refined carbohydrates—are associated with cognitive impairment and increased amyloid-β accumulation within the hippocampus, a region essential for learning and memory. In contrast, plant-forward dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet have been linked to preserved cognitive function and reduced AD risk.

Despite this evidence, a major limitation in the literature is the reliance on rodent models fed exaggerated Western diets providing 40–60% of total kcal from fat, which do not accurately reflect typical human consumption patterns. Furthermore, experimental Mediterranean diets often isolate one or two nutritional components rather than modeling the full dietary pattern. To address these gaps, we developed a translationally relevant rodent model incorporating three dietary conditions: a diet that mimics the typical American diet (TAD), a macronutrient-matched Mediterranean diet (MD), and a standard rodent chow control diet. C57BL/6J mice were weaned onto one of the three diets at postnatal day 21 and maintained for six months. Behavioral assessments include the open field test, elevated zero maze, and object-location memory task. We hypothesize that, relative to MD-fed and chow-fed controls, TAD-fed mice will exhibit reduced locomotor and exploratory activity, heightened anxiety-like behavior, and impaired spatial memory performance. These anticipated findings would suggest that dietary pattern—independent of extreme macronutrient manipulation—significantly influences affective and cognitive outcomes, underscoring the translational importance of modeling realistic dietary exposures in AD risk research.

Introduction: Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that is characterized by restricted and repetitive patterns of behaviors, interests, and activities and differences in reciprocal social communication abilities (APA, 2013). Prior research emphasizes the importance of including multiple informants when collecting data on child psychopathology (De Los Reyes, 2011). For example, results of a study conducted by Baumgarter et al., (2020) suggested large informant discrepancies between adolescents and their parents regarding the child’s mental health. However, there is a lack of research examining informant discrepancies between autistic adolescents and their parents. Therefore, the current study examined informant discrepancies between dyads (mother-father, mother-child, father-child) in a sample of autistic adolescents regarding adolescent mental health.

Methods: Participants included 117 autistic adolescents between the age of 10 and 17 years old. Both parents and the adolescent completed a series of questionnaires related to the adolescent’s mental health. Parents completed questionnaires regarding their child’s symptoms of depression and anxiety. Adolescents completed self-report measures of their own depressive and anxiety symptoms.

Results: A series of t-tests were conducted in order to examine whether there were discrepancies in ratings of depressive and anxiety symptoms between parents and their child. For each mental health outcome, a series of three t-tests were conducted including, mother versus father report, mother versus child report, and father versus child report. For depressive symptoms, all t-tests were non-significant (p > .05) suggesting that mothers, fathers, and their children agree in the rating of the adolescent’s depressive symptoms. However, for anxiety symptoms, there was a significant difference between both mother versus father report, t(117) = 3.30, p < .001, as well as father versus child report t(115) = -4.18, p < .001. These results revealed that mothers and adolescents are reporting higher anxiety symptoms than fathers. In addition, there was no difference between mother and child report of anxiety symptoms (p > .05), suggesting that mothers and adolescents agree in the rating of the adolescent’s anxiety symptoms.

Discussion: Overall, the results of the current study suggest that the family generally agrees on the rating of the child’s depressive symptoms, however, there are discrepancies in the rating of the child’s anxiety symptoms with fathers reporting less anxiety symptoms as compared to the mother and adolescent report. These discrepancies highlight the importance of including multiple informants when examining child psychopathology. Future research should consider possible predictors (i.e., symptom severity, child gender, parent mental health) of these discrepancies.

As global populations age, equitable representation of older adults in digital technologies has become a psychological and ethical concern. AI increasingly shapes perceptions of social roles, yet may reinforce ageist stereotypes through biased training data (Stypińska, 2022). Developmental psychology emphasizes that aging involves growth and adaptability rather than decline (Donizzetti et al., 2024), yet technologies often position youth as the default. This study investigates how popular AI systems portray age across common social identities (e.g., leader, doctor, genius).
Five AI tools were examined: three text-based (ChatGPT, Gemini, Snapchat My AI) and two image-generating (Meta AI, Leonardo AI). Consistent prompts were provided across tools, with follow-up questions asked when age was not volunteered. Responses were coded into five categories: Child (0–12), Teen (13–17), Young Adult (18–35), Middle-Aged Adult (36–59), and Older Adult (60+). Across 36 responses, most individuals were categorized as young adults (33%) or middle-aged adults (36%). Only one response (3%) depicted an older adult alone, and five (14%) included older adults solely as secondary family figures. No AI tool portrayed older adults as leaders, doctors, or geniuses. Additionally, 69% of responses required follow-up questioning to determine age, suggesting AI tools rarely volunteer this information.
These findings indicate that generative AI defaults to younger and middle-aged adults, rarely representing older individuals in roles of competence or authority. This reflects and potentially reinforces societal ageism. Future research should examine interventions to diversify AI training data and explore how age-related bias shapes user perceptions of aging.

There is an ever-increasing push for trauma-informed practices to be integrated into human service sectors and systems of care (e.g., criminal justice, education, healthcare). Trauma is a well-documented public health concern, leading many systems to revise their approach to care to emphasize a trauma-informed lens of “what has happened to you” as opposed to “what is wrong you” with those they are serving. As service providers in these systems of care are charged with integrating trauma-informed care (TIC) into their everyday practices, further research is needed to examine those factors contributing to successful TIC implementation, including whether service providers see the value in TIC. The presented study serves as a pilot, addressing this gap by exploring beliefs about the necessity for and feasibility of implementing TIC. The presented study looks to sample 175 undergraduate students majoring or minoring in human service professions (e.g. social work, healthcare, education, criminal justice). The study will employ a pre-post two-group experimental design, in which participants will read vignettes depicting individuals seeking care from a human service sector, followed by questions about the appropriateness of the interactions. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the control group (which will receive unrelated educational information) or the exposure group (which will receive educational information about trauma-informed practices) before reevaluating the vignettes again. Pre-and post-test measures will assess changes in beliefs regarding the necessity and feasibility of TIC as a function of group assignment (treatment vs. control). Thus, the presented study looks to document beliefs about the perceived necessity and feasibility of using TIC in human service systems and to explore whether these perceptions change after exposure to TIC education in future service providers.

Growing evidence suggests that diet plays an important role in the development and progression of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease. Dietary patterns can influence metabolic health, inflammation, and gut physiology, which in turn may affect brain function. Alterations in lipid metabolism, adipose tissue structure, and intestinal integrity have been linked to systemic physiological changes associated with neurodegenerative disease risk.
The present study examined how different dietary patterns influence peripheral tissues involved in metabolic and gastrointestinal regulation. C57BL/6J mouse were exposed to three diets representing distinct nutritional profiles: a Mediterranean diet, a Typical American diet, and a Standard laboratory diet used as a control condition. To evaluate potential systemic effects of these diets, the study focused on a set of peripheral tissue markers associated with metabolic and intestinal function. Following dietary exposure, morphological changes were evaluated in selected tissues using histological analysis.
Diet exposure produced notable differences across the tissues examined depending on the diet. In the liver, animals exposed to the high-fat Typical American diet showed increased hepatic lipid droplet accumulation, indicating greater fat deposition within hepatocytes. Such changes may reflect alterations in lipid metabolism and metabolic regulation. In white adipose tissue, adipocytes displayed increased cell size, suggesting adipocyte hypertrophy commonly associated with metabolic stress.
Alterations were also observed in the gastrointestinal system. In the small intestine, mice showed reduced villi length and a lower number of goblet cells. These structures are essential for nutrient absorption and mucosal protection, and their reduction may indicate changes in intestinal barrier function. Because intestinal health is closely linked to brain function through the gut–brain axis, these alterations may have broader implications for neurological health.
Together, these findings suggest that dietary patterns can induce structural changes in peripheral tissues involved in metabolism and intestinal physiology. Although these markers represent only a subset of the many factors associated with neurodegenerative disease, they provide measurable indicators of systemic changes that may contribute to processes related to Alzheimer’s disease risk.

The term helicopter parenting (i.e., parents’ over-involvement in the lives of their child) has been used to describe parents who exercise increased involvement and control over their child and is mostly regarded as developmentally inappropriate for emerging adults (Kouros et al., 2017; Padilla-Walker & Nelson, 2012). The association between helicopter parenting and poorer relationship satisfaction in college students has recently been observed (Jiao et al., 2024). Interparental conflict has been associated with poor relationship quality in emerging adults (Parade et al., 2012; Singh & Thomas, 2023). In addition, studies have indicated that interparental conflict and helicopter parenting predict negative attachment characteristics in children (Laurent et al., 2008; Miller et al., 2024). The goal of the current study was to examine the associations between helicopter parenting, interparental conflict, and parenting warmth on college students’ relationship satisfaction. An additional goal of the current study was to examine the extent to which negative attachment-related behaviors (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) explain these associations.

Participants included 413 undergraduate students in a romantic relationship who were enrolled in psychology courses across two private universities in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Students completed a series of questionnaires through an online survey platform in exchange for course credit. Measures used for the current study included the Consolidated Helicopter Parenting Scale (CHPS; Schiffrin et al., 2019), the Conflict Properties subscale of the Children's Perception of the Interparental Conflict Scale (CPIC; Grych et al., 1992), the Parental Bonding Instrument (PBI; Parker et al., 1979), the Experiences in Close Relationships (ECR; Miller et al., 2024), and the Couples Satisfaction index (CSI; Funk & Rogge, 2007).

A structural regression model was conducted using structural equation modeling (SEM) in MPlus (Muthén & Muthén, 2017) to examine the associations between relationship satisfaction and parenting behaviors as well as interparental conflict mediated by level of attachment-related anxiety and avoidance. Significant negative associations were observed between relationship satisfaction and conflict properties (b = -.09 (SE = .05), p = .050), and level of attachment-related anxiety (b = -.19 (SE = .05), p ≤ .001) and avoidance (b = -.49 (SE = .04), p ≤ .001). Direct associations between relationship satisfaction and helicopter parenting as well as parental warmth were non-significant (ps ≥ .206). Significant positive associations were observed between attachment-related anxiety and helicopter parenting (b = .33 (SE = .05), p ≤ .001) and conflict properties (b = .17 (SE = .05), p = .001). Helicopter parenting was positively associated with attachment-related avoidance (b = .19 (SE = .05), p ≤ .001). All other effects were non-significant, ps ≥ .119.

Findings of the current study indicate that helicopter parenting behaviors increase negative attachment-related behaviors (i.e., anxiety and avoidance) in college students, which, in turn, decreases their relationship satisfaction with their current romantic partner. Interparental conflict negatively impacts college students’ relationship satisfaction. Parental warmth does not impact college students’ attachment-related behaviors or their relationship satisfaction. A strength of the current study is a large sample size well-powered for conducted analyses. Limitations include use of self-report measures and a non-representative sample as most participants were White females. Future research should examine these associations over time as well as include the use of observational measures. Clinicians working with college students with helicopter parenting and interparental conflict experiences should implement interventions designed to strengthen positive attachment-related behaviors.

Eighty percent of Americans feel like they "never have enough time." This phenomenon is referred to as time scarcity, or the feeling that we do not have enough time to do all that we want. According to Self Determination Theory, people need to feel like they can act in accordance to their values (autonomy), are able to master their environment (competence), and connect with others (relatedness) in order to thrive. It is hypothesized that when time feels restricted, our sense of autonomy,  competence, and relatedness is reduced. This study examines how time scarcity affects our meaning in life through the mediation of basic psychological needs. Two-hundred and thirty-six participants completed an online survey about time scarcity, time affluence, basic psychological needs, and meaning in life. Parallel mediation analyses reveal that time scarcity reduces autonomy and competence, which in turn reduces meaning if life, while time affluences increases autonomy and competence, which in turn increases meaning in life.

Emerging adulthood is a critical developmental period marked by increased independence, elevated social stress, and heightened susceptibility to mental health challenges. While digital device use is deeply embedded in their daily lives, its dynamic relationship with physiological functioning and mental health remains scare. Traditional retrospective self-reports cannot capture the objective, real-time, and complicate interactions between these factors. With the Ecological Momentary Assessment (EMA) and passive sensing techniques, we can overcome these obstacles and reveal the interactions between these factors in daily life.
This prospective, observational study aims to investigate the associations between phone use, physiological functioning, and mental health wellbeing among college students. Specifically, we aim to: 1) identify smartphone usage and physiological functions associated with between-person differences in mental health symptoms; 2) evaluate concurrent associations between individuals’ smartphone usage, physiological functions, and mental health symptoms; and 3) evaluate the time-lagged, mediating pathways of physiological functions (sleep duration and HRV) between smartphone use and next-day mental health symptoms.
We propose the recruitment of 100 undergraduate students aged 18-22 for a 28-day intensive longitudinal study. At baseline, participants will complete demographics survey and a series of assessments regarding their mental health. After the study takes place as physiological function (e.g., blood pressure, HRV, sleep quality, etc.) will be continuously measured via wearable devices Garmin Vivoactive Smartwatch. Digital behavior will also be measured via AWARE framework app installed and activated in the background of participants’ smartphones to passively record screen time and app use patterns. EMA will be provided 3 times a day (9am, 1pm, 6pm) to capture participants’ daily mental health. At the end of the 28-day period, a post-study assessment will re-administer mental health measures to evaluate change over time.
We anticipate specific digital and physiological patterns in distinguishing individuals' symptoms. First, at the between-person level, higher average daily screen time and greater evening smartphone use will be associated with elevated depressive and anxiety symptoms, while better physiological functioning, such as higher HRV and sleep quality, will be associated with alleviated depressive and anxiety symptoms. Second, at the within-person, concurrent level, days characterized by increased smartphone use and lower HRV will associate with higher stress and negative affect. Third we hypothesize a significant time-lagged mediation that elevated social media use will predict HRV and disrupted sleep, which in turn will prospectively predict (acute stress, negative affect, and depressive level) the following day.
Such findings will inform the development of scalable, data-driven models for early risk detection and support the creation of just-in-time intervention strategies to improve mental health outcomes for college students.

Mysid shrimp (Americamysis bahia) have been utilized in routine marine toxicity assessments for decades. While mysids are a well-established model, there a key gaps in understanding how chemical exposure impacts their endocrine systems. Crustacean growth occurs through molting (i.e., shedding old exoskeleton), a process regulated by hormones, primarily ecdysteroids. Ecdysteroids are a class of steroid hormones that share similar chemical structures to vertebrate hormones (i.e., 17β-estradiol and testosterone), which have been suggested to disrupt molting in some invertebrates. Through powerful tools, like transcriptomics, potential genetic biomarkers may be identified following chemical exposure. These biomarkers could provide the basis for future research aimed at screening endocrine disrupting compounds using invertebrate models. The objectives of this work were to 1) assess whether known vertebrate endocrine disruptors (e.g., 17β-estradiol and trenbolone) would induce alterations in molting and growth and, 2) compare gene expression profiles between vertebrate endocrine disruptors and a model ecdysteroid (i.e., ponasterone A) using transcriptomic analysis. Ponasterone A induced predictable alterations in mass, molting, and ecdysteroid-related gene expression, reinforcing both the use of this compound as a positive control and these endpoints for assessing invertebrate endocrine disruptors. Vertebrate endocrine disruptors induced varied responses in the endpoints assessed, but neither acted in a manner comparable to ponasterone A. Future work may investigate the potential for differentially expressed genes identified in the transcriptomic analysis for screening of invertebrate endocrine disruptors.

Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of concurrent cardiometabolic risk factors, including increased waist circumference, hypertension, elevated triglyceride level, reduced high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol level, and hyperglycemia. The key pathophysiology of MetS is insulin resistance, resulting in a disruption of glucose and lipid metabolism in the liver and adipose tissue, which increases the risk of type II diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. The development of insulin resistance and related conditions is multifaceted, but risk can be mitigated with lifestyle modifications, including improved nutrition. In the US, a typical American diet (TAD) is full of highly processed foods high in saturated fats and refined sugars and is associated with increased insulin resistance and obesity risk. In contrast, adherence to a plant-based Mediterranean diet (MD) rich in unsaturated fats, fiber, and non-refined carbohydrates has been found to reduce disease risk. Despite the contrasting nutritional compositions, the average macronutrient distributions of these two human diet styles are similar (approximately 50% kcal carbohydrates, 15% kcal protein, and 35% kcal fat). Due to the comparable macronutrient ratios but contrasting nutritional composition, direct comparative analysis could uncover metabolic and cellular differences relating to their associated health outcomes.

There are few rodent studies in the literature that directly compare a TAD and MD. Further, studies often utilize a high-fat diet, consisting of 40-60% kcal fat, or individual nutrient supplements, such as olive oil, rather than comprehensive diet models. To address these limitations, our lab developed comprehensive, macronutrient-matched TAD and MD models that more closely mimic human diets in the U.S. and Mediterranean, respectively. A previous study in our lab found that six months of TAD consumption resulted in elevated body weight, increased inflammation, and excess hepatic lipid deposition, in comparison to the MD. Our current study looked to further characterize MetS under this diet model, specifically investigating obesity, insulin resistance, and dyslipidemia markers. Male and female C57BL/6J mice consumed either the TAD or MD from the age of 4 to 7 months. We found that after three months on diet, there were elevations in hepatic steatosis and serum cholesterol levels in both males and females on the TAD. However, other findings suggested early signs of insulin resistance in TAD males, but not females. Future studies will investigate MetS after 6 months on diet to better elucidate insulin resistance development and potential sex differences.

BRCA1 protects genomic stability by signaling for the homologous recombination pathway, DNA repair, and transcriptional regulation. A pathogenic mutation in the BRCA1 region causes a higher predisposition to the development of breast and ovarian cancer. Our lab is exploring the different enzymatic functions of BRCA1 by looking at its role in histone ubiquitylation, leading to transcriptional regulation of certain parts of the genome. Join us to see our plan for connecting molecular mechanisms of a large, multi-functional gene to the phenotype of an organism. A homolog of BRCA1 is conserved in C. elegans as BRC-1. We propose that mononucleosome ubiquitylation is a key mechanism contributing to the cellular functions of BRC-1. Understanding the significance of mononucleosome ubiquitylation in BRC-1 with C. elegans gives insight into the mechanisms of genetic variations in BRCA1 and further expands C. elegans’ function as a model organism. We have generated a C. elegans mutant with two point mutations that alter the ability of BRC-1 protein to interact with the nucleosome and ubiquitinate histone H2A while retaining all other functions. We hypothesize this mutation increases DNA damage accumulation and disrupts transcriptional regulation to establish nucleosome ubiquitylation as a necessary precursor for these, but likely not all, BRC-1 functions. We compare three strains of C. elegans (wildtype, brc-1 knockout, and our mononucleosome ubiquitylation-deficient mutant) in different conditions designed to induce cellular stress or DNA damage accumulation. We find that BRC-1 nucleosome ubiquitylation contributes to embryonic survival under standard conditions as well as DNA damage-inducing conditions. We also share preliminary results regarding the role of nucleosome ubiquitylation in transcription regulation and reactive oxygen species generation. Our findings further the understanding of the many enzymatic functions of the large BRCA1 gene.