Modelling Virus-Mediated Cell-Cell Fusion using a Probabilistic Agent-Based Model

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Anthony Gerg Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovolny Physics & Astronomy

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 Impact of Interferon on the Antiviral Effects of Defective Interfering Particles

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Lucianne Gonzalez Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovonly Physics & Astronomy

Establishing the Role of Mucociliary Clearance for Lower Respiratory Tract Infections through a Compartmental Model

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Geoffrey Hennessy Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovolny Physics & Astronomy

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.

A mathematical model of influenza viral entry

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Ayur Madupur Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovonly Physics & Astronomy

Influenza virus causes periodic pandemics and thousands of deaths annually, but many of the details of the viral replication cycle are still poorly understood. This study develops a mathematical model of the dynamic transitions of a virus from the extracellular space through the initial intracellular replication processes. These stages include: binding, endocytosis, HA Acidification, Fusion, and Uncoating. Experimental data from the viral entry phases were fit to a system of differential equations, which represent the biological processes. The model parameters were estimated using optimization techniques that minimize the sum of squared residuals, thereby aligning model predictions with observations. An identifiability analysis was performed to see which parameters can be estimated with the given model and available data. We find that the model fits the experimental data well with identifiable parameters, allowing us to characterize the different stages of viral entry. The model can be used to compare different viral strains or treatment options, in addition to helping explain the kinetics of viral entry.

Vaccine optimization using a simplified epidemiological model

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Anvitha Pasam Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovonly Physics & Astronomy

Pandemics require quick decisions about how to distribute a limited number of vaccines, even when the disease is not fully understood and vaccine delivery is limited. We create a disease model that divides the population into groups based on how likely they are to be hospitalized and how likely they are to get infected, so we can test different group-based vaccination strategies. We compare vaccinating only one group, simple step-by-step priority policies that vaccinate groups for set time periods, and a sensitivity analysis to see which model factors most affect outcomes.

We find that vaccinating people who are both high-risk for hospitalization and highly likely to become infected leads to the biggest reductions in total hospitalized time and deaths, while vaccinating lower-risk groups gives little improvement in severe outcomes. A short step-by-step policy that quickly prioritizes high-risk groups can reduce infections and deaths within about 20 days. The sensitivity analysis shows that the death rate and the rate at which infected people move into hospitalization have the strongest influence on severe outcomes, showing that hospital and clinical processes matter a lot in addition to vaccination. Overall, these results support clear, practical, and easy-to-apply prioritization rules for reducing severe disease when vaccine supply is limited.

Protein Binding on Functionalized Charged Graphene Quantum Dots

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Himish Paul Physics & Astronomy Ugur Topkiran Physics & Astronomy Diya Vashani Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Anton Naumov Physics & Astronomy

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.

Characterizing the effect of CD388 prophylactic treatment

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Avir Sankara Physics & Astronomy Krish Penumarthi Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovolny Physics & Astronomy

The effect of cell-to-cell transmission on viral coinfections

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Sanjith Singaravelan Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovonly Physics & Astronomy

About one quarter of patients hospitalized with influenza-like illnesses are infected with more than one respiratory virus. Coinfections can lead to more serious outcomes for patients and are more complex to treat than infections with single viruses. Mathematical models can be used to help us understand the dynamics of viral coinfections and optimize treatment. Previous mathematical models of viral coinfections assume a cell-free transmission pathway with virus leaving one cell and traveling to nearby uninfected cells. However, viruses can also tunnel directly from one cell to another, which can affect how coinfecting viruses interact. This project analyzes a system of coupled ordinary differential equations that includes both cell-free and cell-to-cell transmission to better replicate actual viral spread. We measure coinfection duration for combinations of five common respiratory viruses as a function of the amount of cell-to-cell transmission. We find that coinfection duration depends nonlinearly on the cell-to-cell transmission rates, with differing patterns for different coinfecting viruses. This study highlights the importance of considering different transmission modes when modeling viral dynamics.

Precursor-Dependent Optical and Structural Properties of Eleven NIR-Emissive Graphene Quantum Dots for Bioimaging Applications

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Diya Vashani Physics & Astronomy Himish Paul Physics & Astronomy Ugur Topkiran Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Anton Naumov Physics & Astronomy

Characterization of oncolytic adenovirus ICVB-1042

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Lakshitha Vengadeswaran Physics & Astronomy
Advisor(s): Hana Dobrovolny Physics & Astronomy

Oncolytic adenoviruses are promising cancer therapies because they can selectively infect and destroy tumor cells, however their replication in cancer cells is sometimes limited leading to incomplete tumor suppression. Recently, researchers have started to modify viruses to enhance their replication in cancer cells. In this study, we use a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) to model tumor growth and compare viral treatment dynamics of a modified oncolytic adenovirus ICVB-1042 and a wild-type adenovirus type 5 (Wt Ad5). The model was fit to experimental allowing us to estimate important model parameters for both viruses: infection rate, infected cell death rate, rate of cell protection by the immune response, rate of cell resistance loss, viral production rate, and viral clearance rate. We found differences in the viral production rates and the clearance rates between the two viruses, providing insight into how genetic modifications have altered viral dynamics. These findings highlight how viral properties determine the effectiveness of oncolytic virus therapy.

Hormonal birth control, nutrient deficiencies, and women’s well-being

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Emily Rose Benefield Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology

Widespread use of hormonal birth control (HBC) calls for a deeper understanding of its systemic side effects. Emerging research suggests HBC may deplete essential micronutrients (Palmery et al., 2013), including B vitamins, magnesium, and zinc, which serve as critical cofactors for neurotransmitter synthesis and energy regulation (Muscaritoli, 2021). These deficiencies are hypothesized to interfere with physiological systems, leading to mood instability, chronic fatigue, and functional somatic symptoms that can significantly impair daily functioning (Kennedy, 2016). This study addresses a virtual literature gap regarding the efficacy of targeted, non-pharmacological interventions for these issues. Utilizing a longitudinal, double-blind design, we investigated whether taking a daily supplement for 28 days, designed to combat nutritional deficiencies in HBC users, increases happiness levels, decreases mood instability, increases energy, and improves digestive health. By identifying safe interventions to mitigate these symptoms, this research contributes to personalized health strategies and improved well-being for women. Data are forthcoming.

Parenting Behaviors and Depressive Symptoms in Autistic Adolescents: The Moderating Role of RSA Reactivity

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Mary Bubb Psychology Brooke Blakeney Psychology Naomi Ekas Psychology Abbie Heidenreich Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology

Structured Retrieval Practice (SRP) Intervention For Learning Medication Side-Effects Across the Lifespan

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Corinne Getzendanner Psychology Ariana Elsden Psychology
Advisor(s): Uma Tauber Psychology

The ability to recall information through associations plays a crucial role across the lifespan, and is particularly important in learning health-related information. However, substantial evidence has revealed age-related declines in paired-associate learning, which involves remembering a connection between two items (Naveh-Benjamin et al., 2007). Older adults (defined here as aged 60+) often take multiple prescription medications, many of which can pose significant health risks when combined with other drugs or substances (Qato et al., 2008). Age-related memory loss can make remembering those connections more difficult. Research in the science of learning has shown that retrieval practice can significantly enhance long-term memory compared to passive strategies like rereading (Agarwal et al., 2021). As such, improving older adults’ ability to remember drug interactions through the use of retrieval practice represents a meaningful and practical goal.

To examine whether retrieval practice can improve associative memory for drug interactions, we presented both young and older adult participants with 8 fictitious medications (e.g. Floragin) and an associated interaction and outcome (diarrhea when used with alcohol). All participants studied the drugs with their corresponding substance interaction and side effects. Each participant completed 5 study blocks, with participants in the restudy condition simply rereading each medication, while those in the structured retrieval practice (SRP) condition took a practice test with immediate feedback. All participants were given an immediate test and asked to recall the interacting substance and outcome when given the medication name. Two days later, participants from both conditions completed an identical delayed test.

We hypothesized that those in the SRP condition will successfully recall more medication-interaction and outcome pairs than the restudy condition, even after the 2-day delay. We also hypothesized that the younger adults will display better recall than the older adults. Interim analyses revealed that participants who engaged in SRP demonstrated better recall compared to those in the restudy condition, regardless of age group. Critically, this outcome reveals that retrieval practice is an effective strategy for learning medication interactions. Data collection for the older adult sample is ongoing, so the lack of interaction between condition and age group should be considered preliminary

Multi-Informant Discrepancies of Mental Health in Autistic Adolescents

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Abbie Heidenreich Psychology Naomi Ekas Psychology Lexi McGinnes Psychology Trey McKamey Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology

Academic Satisfaction and Internalizing Symptoms in College Students: The Moderating Role of Helicopter Parenting

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Riley Lewis Psychology Naomi Ekas Psychology Abbie Heidenreich Psychology Kaitlin Hinch Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology

Perceptions and Experiences of ADHD in Higher Education

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Ava McConnell Psychology
Advisor(s): Michelle Chen Psychology

Parental Attachment and Emotional Intelligence in Law Enforcement Officers

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Sydnee Moody Psychology Kayla Rabb Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology

Associations between Autism Symptom Severity and Parent Relationship Quality in Parents of Autistic Children

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Emily Ozawa Psychology Naomi Ekas Psychology Ramzi Quintanilla Psychology Whitney Sullivan Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology

Faculty Perceptions of ADHD In Higher Education

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Sarah Pelinger Psychology
Advisor(s): Michelle Chen Psychology

Improving Caregiver Education about Dementia Through the Science of Learning

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Michala Pollard Psychology
Advisor(s): Uma Tauber Psychology

Improving Caregiver Education about Dementia Through the Science of Learning
Michala Pollard, Emma Goffard, Ariana Elsden, Lesca Hadley, & Uma Tauber
Most (83%) of the care provided to people living with dementia (PLwD) is provided by informal caregivers such as family members or friends who are not paid for their assistance. Informal caregivers’ 18 billion hours of care is valued at $339.5 billion for 2022 alone (Alzheimer’s Association, 2024). Caregivers for PLwD often assist with complex medical tasks and manage challenging emotional and behavioral symptoms of dementia with limited formal training (e.g., Fortinsky & Hathaway, 1990; Penrod & Dellasega, 1998; Ringer et al., 2020). As the demand for caregiving increases, it is critical to understand how caregivers can best learn and retain essential information for managing ADRD care.
The goal of is project is to establish methods to improve caregiver education about the behavioral and psychological symptoms (BPSD) of dementia. Specifically, our educational intervention incorporates principles from the science of learning for structuring retrieval practice to optimize learning (e.g., Agarwal et al., 2021; Sumowski et al., 2010; Tse et al., 2010; Woods et al., 2021). We compared the structured retrieval practice intervention against an active control comparison to determine the degree to which structured retrieval practice enhances caregivers’ long-term retention of dementia care information.
Caregivers of PLwD were recruited from the community and underwent an online survey screening and video or in-person screening prior to study enrollment. Caregivers learned 4 modules on emotion and mood symptoms of dementia – agitation, irritation, apathy, and depression – via the learning intervention or active control (rereading). Caregivers took an immediate test of their knowledge approximately 10 minutes after study and after a 2-day delay. Our novel intervention significantly increased caregivers’ knowledge immediately, and their knowledge was maintained 2 days later at a significantly higher rate relative to the active control comparison.

Examining Support & Perceived Necessity of Trauma-Informed Care in Human Service Sectors

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Kayla Rabb Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology

Caught in the Middle: Exploring the Nature of Situationships

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Grace Rickey Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology

Situationships represent an increasingly common form of romantic involvement, with nearly 40 percent of Americans and half of young adults ages 18 to 34 reporting having been in one (YouGov, 2024). Although these relationships resemble traditional dating in terms of emotional connection, sexual involvement, and shared time, they lack labels, commitment, and clearly defined expectations (Langlais et al., 2024). Despite their prevalence, situationships remain understudied. Therefore, the present study investigated whether power dynamics and gender influence investment strategies in situationships. To investigate this, heterosexual men and women ages 18 to 32 were recruited through Prolific, and participants who reported being in a situationship were assigned into one of four conditions: woman in control, woman not in control, man in control, or man not in control. 400 eligible respondents (100 per condition) completed measures of mate retention behaviors and situationship investment. It was hypothesized that situationships controlled by women, compared to those controlled by men, would involve male partners engaging in more resource display and greater expressions of love and care, whereas situationships controlled by men would involve the female partners engaging in more appearance enhancement and sexual behaviors as investment strategies. Data are forthcoming.

The association between environmental threat cues and women's mating strategies

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Stephen Roberts Psychology Melissa Brillhart Psychology
Advisor(s): Sarah Hill Psychology

During ancestral times, while women focused on child-rearing, they relied on their male mates to protect their family. Nowadays, women can protect their families themselves by employing strategies like using a home security system or owning a firearm. However, modern women continue to form long-term relationships with men to reduce the risk of encountering harm (Wilson & Mesnick, 1997). Crucially, men will not provide investment without getting something in return. One resource that men value that women can provide in exchange for investment is granting men sexual access (Baumeister & Vohs, 2004). Therefore, given that women continue to use men as a protective resource and men will accept sexual access in exchange, we should find that women in dangerous environments are more sexually open. This study aims to examine the impact of dangerous environments on women’s sexual strategies. Importantly, no previous research has focused on this. Overall, I predict that women who are primed with dangerous environment cues, compared to women who are primed with a control condition, will show higher levels of sexual openness. By gaining more knowledge about how dangerous environments can influence women’s mating strategies, we can better understand how evolutionary mechanisms continue to influence women’s sexual behaviors. Data are forthcoming.

The Impact of Helicopter Parenting and Emerging Adults' Perceptions of Parental Conflict on their Romantic Relationships: The Mediating Role of Adult Attachment

Type: Graduate
Author(s): Whitney Sullivan Psychology Ava Burton Psychology Jasmine Durrant Psychology
Advisor(s): Naomi Ekas Psychology

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.

• The Link Between Natural Mentoring and Resiliency in the Face of Adverse Experiences and Insecure Attachment

Type: Undergraduate
Author(s): Jessie Swartz Psychology Lillyan Shelley Psychology
Advisor(s): Danica Knight Psychology