The goal of the present study was to compare the effects of two presentation formats when teaching Icelandic words through computer-assisted instruction: In the high-density constructed response condition, the participant was shown a word in Icelandic and asked to type the Icelandic word in every trial. In the pair-test condition, most trials simply presented the Icelandic word paired with a word in English and typing was required only in intermittent probe trials. Ten undergraduate students will participate in the study. Five Icelandic words are assigned to each condition. The assignment of stimuli to conditions is counterbalanced across participants. Pre and post-tests included translation trials, in which the participants were either presented with an Icelandic word and asked to give its equivalent in English, or vice versa. Preliminary data suggest similar acquisition curves in both conditions.

Cannabidiol (CBD) has been found to have anxiolytic effects on behavior when injected (Blessing et al, 2015). In Experiment 1, we investigated whether we could replicate these findings in rats using acute voluntary oral consumption of non-pharmaceutical grade CBD oil at 60mg/kg in Long-Evans rats, with a control group consuming coconut oil (COC). A test was given two hours after consumption to observe any anxiolytic effect of CBD using an elevated plus maze. It was hypothesized that CBD rats would spend more time in the open arms of the elevated plus maze than the control group; however, results revealed that there was no difference between groups. Experiment 2 utilized Fischer rats as subjects to observe the difference in anxiolytic behaviors of TgF344-AD and wild-type (WT) rats and determine if our previous test apparatus was a sufficient measure of anxiety. Previous research has found that AD rats spent less time in the open arms of an elevated plus maze than WT counterparts (Pentkowski et al., 2018). There was no significant difference between the WT and AD rats; however, there was a significant difference between the Fischer rats (WT and AD) and Long-Evans rats (CBD and COC) with the Long-Evans rats spending more time in the open arms than the Fischer rats. Results will be discussed regarding possible factors for finding similar behavior across rats.

Development of the Opioid-Treatment Linkage Model Resource Guide to Strengthen Parole Officers’ Role in Promoting Linkage to Community Services for Individuals Involved in the Justice System

Brooke Preston, Jennifer Becan, PhD, Jennifer Lux, PhD, Chelsea Wood, MPH, Amanda L. Wiese, MS, Kevin Knight, PhD

As funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse, the Justice Community Opioid Innovation Network (JCOIN) seeks to improve health outcomes for individuals who are at risk for using opioids upon release from correctional facilities. Specifically, JCOIN aims to increase linkage and receipt of community substance use and medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) treatment within 18 communities across Texas, New Mexico, and Illinois. This system-level initiative will leverage and facilitate cooperation between community corrections staff and community-based treatment providers by providing training on innovative and best practices and service provider lists. Specifically, the Opioid-Treatment Linkage Model (O-TLM) Resource Guide is being designed to help provide parole officers knowledge of the Behavioral Health Services Cascade, which outlines the process of screening, assessment, and referral to health providers, and the treatment that clients undergo. The O-TLM Resource Guide includes information on evidence-based practices and resources that will aid parole officers in more effectively guiding their clients through each step of the services cascade. Additionally, local community provider lists and maps are being created to increase parole officers’ awareness of screening, assessment, and treatment facilities within their community. The list includes a comprehensive catalogue of providers, the services they offer, and their contact information. These guides will hopefully make it easier for parole officers to more actively link clients to community substance use and MOUD services that match the specific client needs.

Past research has shown that merely thinking about an attitude object can result in self-generated attitude polarization (Tesser, 1978). The current study examined the effects of a specific type of thought—extrapolating traits about proponents and opponents of a social issue—on participants’ post-manipulation attitudes. Participants completed an online survey in which they either extrapolated traits about people who support or oppose legalized abortions, or listed synonyms of experimenter-provided personality traits. Participants who extrapolated reported more positive attitudes towards those who agreed and more negative attitudes toward those who disagreed with the participant’s position on abortion than participants who wrote synonyms. Additionally, extremity of extrapolated traits predicted more positive (negative) post-manipulation attitudes towards those who agreed (disagreed) with the participant’s position on abortion. Our findings extended past research on mere thought by offering new insights into a specific thought strategy that can lead to attitude polarization.

Historically women and minorities have been underrepresented in the STEM field. What about individuals who identify as minority women? Their representation in the STEM field is even less than that of White women or minority men. How do we change this phenomenon and increase diversity in the STEM field? This is the question many leaders face every day when trying to increase diversity in their STEM oriented companies, college programs, and departments. Previous research has shown that enrichment programs that help “bridge the gap” between the majority and minority in the STEM field can be beneficial to minority individuals' pursuing a career in this area. (Brown et al., 2020). One aspect that contributes to the pursuance and retention of minority individuals in the STEM field is mentorship. The goal of this study is to evaluate the impact of mentorship on female minority high school students that wish to pursue a career in the STEM field. This topic is important to examine because it can help contribute to data on how to diversify the STEM field by targeting students in high school who wish to pursue STEM degrees in college. The mentorship program in this study helps prepare students to pursue STEM degrees in college by pairing them with a mentor who is currently a minority female in college pursuing a STEM degree and addressing topics such as college applications, resume building, mental health, time management, and navigating STEM classes in college. A series of pre-, during-, and post- surveys were administered via Qualtrics during the mentor program in the 2021/2022 academic school year. The surveys assessed participants' attitudes and feelings toward college, their knowledge and understanding of essential things needed to complete a college application, and if they were able to foster a meaningful relationship with their mentor.

The purpose of the present study was to extend previous studies in our lab that evaluated the stability of classes of stimuli that were learned through Equivalence-based instruction (EBI) and Complete Instruction (CI) procedures. Sixty undergraduate students received training to establish three stimulus classes with four members in each class. The students were randomly assigned to two groups: EBI – in which they received training for some of the relations – and CI – that targeted all possible relations between the members of each class. After undergoing training and equivalence test (Phase 1), participants received contingency reorganization training (Phase 2). In the reorganization phase, new relations between stimuli were established as correct. Stability was evaluated in an immediate contingency-reversal post-test. Overall, there was no statistical difference between EBI and CI groups. Participants made more errors in trials that tested derived changed relations than in trials that tested derived unchanged relations between stimuli.

Examining Parental Alcohol Use, Gender, and Peer Relationships as Predictors of Substance Use Severity
Vinisha Inaganti, Brooke Preston, Kha Hoai Bao Vu, Addison Williams

In the United States, issues with substance use among adolescents has grown in its prevalence, and past research has shown a continuity in substance use amongst children with substance involved parents. In adolescence, young men tend to report higher rates of alcohol use when compared to young women. As such, we were interested in examining gender as a moderating factor on the relationship between parental alcohol use and substance use severity. Amazon’s MTurk was used to recruit 185 participants with a history of substance use to complete a series of surveys. Participants reported parental alcohol use during childhood and involvement with pro-social peers. Results revealed gender did not moderate the relationship between parental substance use and respondents’ self-reported substance use. However, there were strong correlations among substance use severity, parental alcohol use, and involvement with pro-social peers. Specifically, respondents who were the child of a mother who experienced problems with alcohol were 3.12 time more likely to have a severe SUD. This effect was not observed when paternal alcohol use was examined as a predictor of substance use severity (p = .651). Respondents involved with pro-social peers are less likely to have a severe substance use disorder (p < .001). Together, children whose mothers struggled with alcohol use were more likely to develop a severe substance use disorder. In contrast, having a father who struggled with alcohol use did not affect respondents’ involvement with substance use. Furthermore, having a peer support system reduces subsequent substance use, regardless of parental alcohol use.

Antibiotic resistance has been increasing rapidly; however, the amount of new and effective antibiotics is declining. One area of growing interest is the use of metal nanoparticles because they are relatively easy to make and can be synthesized into different shapes, sizes, and with various chemical properties. In particular, zinc oxide nanoparticles have shown to be effective against various bacterial strains; however, the mechanism that zinc oxide utilizes to exhibit its antimicrobial activity is still unknown. It is also not clear what properties of zinc oxide such as size or proximity to bacterial cells are critical for its antimicrobial activity. In order to gain a better understanding of the mechanism behind zinc oxide’s antimicrobial activity, we tested Staphylococcus aureus with various zinc oxide particles under different conditions. Specifically, we looked at whether particle size, contact with bacterial cells, and media type influenced antimicrobial activity. Our results suggest that particle size does not influence zinc oxide activity, but media type significantly impacts antimicrobial activity. Physical contact, although more effective, is not absolutely required to see inhibition of bacterial growth. Understanding the mechanisms that zinc oxide utilizes may guide design for future particles that will improve their effectiveness.

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that is projected to affect almost 14 million American adults by the year 2050. While the prevalence of this detrimental disease is rapidly increasing in the United States, researchers have established the key pathologies connected to AD, including the development of extracellular, amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques, and intracellular, hyperphosphorylated, neurofibrillary tau tangles. Overall, AD engenders general atrophy of the brain and damage to key brain regions including the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, the main brain region responsible for the neural mechanisms of learning and memory. AD pathologies develop in these regions, which commonly results in neuronal death. The presence of AD pathologies, such as Aβ, activates microglial cells in the brain. Glial cells are the most common brain cells that provide support to neurons. Microglia specifically serve as resident immune cells in the brain, clearing cellular debris, such as dead neurons. Therefore, microglia play a key role in the progression of several neurodegenerative diseases. The activation of microglial cells results in an increased secretion of effector proteins, known as pro-inflammatory cytokines. These are released when inflammatory agents, such as Aβ, are present in the brain. Microglial cells commonly produce pro-inflammatory cytokines, such as TNF-α. Although microglial activation is advantageous at first, continual activation of microglial cells results in a constant inflammatory state. Chronic inflammation can lead to detrimental tissue damage that plays a vital role in neurodegeneration. Another key AD pathology, oxidative stress, is connected to chronic inflammation. Oxidative stress develops when the antioxidant system is unbalanced, resulting in the accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). The presence of inflammatory agents and ROS have the potential to activate microglial cells. Accordingly, our lab utilizes microglial cells to study the harmful effects of inflammation on the brain. Dr. Kayla Green’s lab in the TCU Chemistry Department has successfully created compounds that act as potent antioxidants, L2 and L4. We collaborate with Dr. Green’s lab to research the possible rescue effects of L2 and L4 against inflammation in immortalized, BV2 microglial cells. In our lab’s previous research, we have demonstrated that both L2 and L4 have the capacity to rescue BV2 cells and increase cell survival during oxidative stress. Moreover, the main purpose of the current experiment is to further study the effects of these compounds against key AD pathologies, to understand their therapeutic potential against inflammation in vitro. In the current experiments, we utilized lipopolysaccharide (LPS), an element from the cell wall of gram-negative bacteria, to induce an inflammatory response in BV2 cells. First, we determined several timepoints and concentrations in which LPS treatment successfully induced the secretion of TNF-alpha. Next, we pre-treated cells with the compound, L4, for one hour prior to LPS treatment, to study the possible rescue effects of the drug against pro-inflammatory cytokine production. We are currently determining which concentration of L4 is the most therapeutic against pro-inflammatory cytokine production in BV2 cells.

Mercury (Hg) is found in the environment in excess of historic baselines throughout the globe because of widespread atmospheric emissions of inorganic mercury (IHg) from anthropogenic sources such as coal-fired power plants and artisanal gold mines. In aquatic ecosystems, Ihg deposited from the atmosphere is converted by bacteria to methylmercury (MeHg), a bioavailable neurotoxin that adversely affects the health of vertebrates including humans and wildlife. Because IHg deposition varies across the landscape, it is necessary to monitor MeHg levels in aquatic food webs of individual waterbodies. This is a challenge because there are millions of river miles and lakes in the U.S. Shoreline spiders that feed on MeHg-contaminated emergent aquatic insects have been proposed as sentinel species to monitor MeHg contamination. Sentinel species are species which serve to map the bioavailable fraction of pollution in an ecosystem by retaining the pollutants in their tissue. The objective of this study was to test the hypothesis that shoreline spiders can be used as sentinels to evaluate MeHg contamination of river food webs. Our study focused on the Clear and West forks of the Trinity River. A pilot study in 2016 indicated the two forks have different levels of MeHg contamination. From June to August 2019, we collected over 1000 long-jawed orb weaver spiders (Tetragnathidae) along the shorelines of the two forks of the river. Spiders were preserved in 95% ethanol and sorted by leg length into different size categories. Mercury was analyzed using direct Hg analysis. Concentrations of Hg in spiders increased with spider size and was higher in the Clear Fork than the West Fork. A follow up study confirmed that fish in the Clear Fork had higher concentrations of MeHg than in the West Fork. This is one of the first studies to demonstrate that shoreline spiders can be used as sentinels of MeHg contamination in river ecosystems.