Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium

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2019 Student Creative Arts and Research Symposium - Program
(2019) Symposium information and presentation abstracts
The Symposium Planning Committee is pleased to welcome you to the 2019 Annual Student Creative Arts & Research Symposium. Over the past years we have honored students, both artists and scholars, who have since gone on to fulfill the promise they first demonstrated at these Symposiums. These students have become researchers, teachers, artists, health care providers, and working professionals contributing to society and serving as positive role models as graduates of TWU. We are celebrating our 22nd year of meeting the following goals: Providing opportunities for all students to share their scholarly pursuits and build leadership and other professional skills, and celebrating student‐mentor achievements in a way that promotes a culture of scholarship and community at TWU. We continue to offer various venues for presentations including poster and platform sessions and virtual presentations. Thank you for joining us in this joyous celebration of a culture of scholarship at this, our 22nd Annual Symposium! 2019 Symposium Planning Committee  Chair: Don Edwards, Chair and Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science  Heidi Collins, Associate Director, Teaching and Learning with Technology  Diana Elrod, Director, Center for Student Research  Helen Everts, Assistant Professor, Nutrition and Food Sciences  Mark Hamner, Vice Provost for Institutional Research and Improvement; Associate Professor, Mathematics and Computer Science  DiAnna Hynds, Professor, Biology  Tracy Lindsay, Director of Operations, Research and Sponsored Programs  Meredith Maddox, Assistant Director, Residence Education  Sarah McMahan, Associate Professor, Teacher Education  Aimee Myers, Assistant Professor, Teacher Education  Elizabeth Restrepo, Associate Clinical Professor, Nursing  Shannon Scott, Chair and Professor, Psychology and Philosophy  Donna Scott Tilley, Vice Provost for Research; Professor, Nursing  Sumod Sebastian, Graduate Student Representative  Gary Washmon, Professor, Visual Arts
Active Learning Prioritization Exercise for Junior Nursing Students
(2020) Meddaugh, Natalie
In response to the need to promote higher-level critical thinking and evidence-based practice education, a prioritization exercise was created for a class of Junior-level nursing students. The exercise will reinforce content, concepts, & implications for nursing regarding fluids, electrolytes, and atrial-based gas (ABGs) results in patients. Active learning blended with traditional learning allows the students to learn necessary content while utilizing critical thinking skills to increase the retention of information. During the exercise, students will be challenged to assess the fluid and electrolyte status of patients and prioritize which patients are the sickest. The exercise will also reinforce content involving labs and medications needed to treat alterations in fluids & electrolytes.
Adolescent perfection driven distress
(2019) Peterson, Treisha; Dutton, Catherine L.
As rates of loneliness, anxiety, and depression continue to rise, it is imperative that family advocates, educators, and professionals are familiar with the breadth of perfectionism and the impact this has on emotional, mental, and physical well‐being in the family. With a primary focus on the growing and urgent need for awareness of adolescent perfection driven distress, this poster will discuss perfectionistic traits and the critical role that adolescent distress has on the social and emotional competencies and outcomes in families, schools, and communities. In addition, this poster will address the import of the identity gap and the role of perceived ought and ideal selves on perfection driven distress in the identity seeking adolescent. Additional conversation will address wellness and connection promoting strategies that foster hope by way of healthy striving, goals, pathways, and individual agency.
Analysis of Differing Issues Amongst Women Politicians
(2020) Bates, Cole
Women politicians run for office at a lower rate than their male counterparts, but when they run they are more successful. However, there seems to be a gender gap amongst the platforms that these politicians choose to focus on. This paper is an examination of those issues across both parties.
Black Immigrant Women and Mental Health Group Therapy
(2020) Abimbola, Deborah Olubunmi
Black immigrants constituted about 3.8 million population, with the majority migrating from Africa. Prior research has established that among African immigrants diagnosed with mental health disorders, African women were of the highest population; however, they are reluctant to seek professional help for mental health problems. This is due to their beliefs, stigma, poor access to treatment, lack of resources, and information about mental illness. African immigrant women find their coping strategies through religious leaders, traditional, and self-care means rather than clinical mental health treatment. Due to the significant amount of African women migrants in the United States, and their reluctance to seek professional treatment for mental health problems, this paper suggests that professional mental health group therapy be culturally competent to reduce healthcare disparities and improve access to mental health care among African immigrant women.
Changes in American Attitudes toward Intermarriages With Blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and Whites
(2020) Prost, Jonbita; Yang, Philip Q.
This is the first comparative study of changes in the American public’s attitudes toward intermarriages with blacks, Asians, Hispanics, and whites. We tested our hypotheses using nationally representative samples from GSS 2000-2016. Our trend analyses reveal that, since 2000, approximately 70 percent or more of Americans have either strongly favored or favored, or held a neutral stand on, intermarriages with blacks, Asians, and Hispanics, but strong favor toward intermarriage with whites has declined. Our regression analyses show that, either including or excluding control variables, American attitudes have become generally more supportive of intermarriages with blacks, Asians, and Hispanics but less favorable toward intermarriage with whites in the twenty-first century, especially since 2008 and in the case of intermarriage with Hispanics since 2010. The results suggest that as American society becomes more diverse and educated, intermarriages, especially with racial or ethnic minorities, have gained wide acceptance, most likely reaching the point of no return.
Changes in oral microbiome that affect human health
(2020) Nguyen, Justin
The human oral cavity is home to a wide variety of unique microorganisms. Studies have shown that the human oral microbiome has a direct correlation to human health. The inhabitants of the human oral flora coexist together in order to ward off unwanted external factors. Even though the oral microbiome also has great adaptability and fluctuality to external and internal stimulus, there are physical and chemical changes that can cause a disruption in the oral microbiome which can lead to several oral diseases. The relationship between the microorganisms within the human oral flora and the host yields significant data on the wellness of oral health. This research will be focused on the human oral microbiome and its impact on oral health. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Laura Hanson)
Creation of an Unfolding High-Fidelity Simulation: Increasing Critical Thinking Skills in Nursing Students
(2020) Pennington, Hannah
Clinically-based high-fidelity simulation scenarios challenge nursing students and contribute to the development of critical thinking skills, which are necessary for the safe management of patient care and clinical decision making. In the wake of limited clinical site spots for students, simulation offers students the ability to practice skills as well as work through their thought processes in a safe environment with faculty assistance nearby if needed. This project outlines the development of a high-fidelity acute asthma exacerbation simulation scenario, including an implementation guide, evaluation checklists, and a debriefing guide, constructed to help determine the impact of an unfolding simulation on critical thinking skills in nursing students. To optimize realism, interprofessional collaborative efforts were carried out to include registered nurses, a pharmacist, and a physician in the scenario development and review. The next steps involve piloting the simulation with faculty and students before progressing the project to a research study. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Cecilia Elaine Wilson)
A creative hands on approach to teaching nutrition chronic diseases
(2019) Lopez-Neyman, Stephanie M.
A health disparity population, typically the poor and minority subgroups, experience a significantly higher incidence and prevalence of nutrition chronic diseases. The purpose of my project engages adults to take charge of their health for the prevention of nutrition chronic diseases. I hypothesize that a hands‐on curriculum teaches low‐literate, low‐income adults the underlying mechanism(s) contributing to nutrition chronic diseases. An additional hypothesis is that social cognitive theory using the construct of self‐efficacy supports prevention, promotion or treatment of nutrition chronic diseases. My project is deliverable by way of a 9‐week curriculum (e.g., Gases to Chronic Disease, Atoms, Carbohydrate, and Obesity) at any physical location. The developed curriculum shows in the short‐term nudges towards the prevention of heart disease (e.g., olive oil use instead of lard). My project provides a solution to lessen the gap in health disparities. Elimination of health disparities saves billions on direct health care expenditures.
Deaf/Hard-of-hearing Individuals in the Court System
(2020) Watson-Love, Teyara; Watson-Love, Keyara
Individuals who are Deaf/HH often face many barriers when they enter the criminal justice system. These barriers can occur at all stages of the legal process, including arrest, interrogation, courtroom hearings, trails, acquittal, probation, incarceration, and parole. This results from the denial of the proper communication modalities to interact with CJS officials, as few attempts are made to solve this language barrier. One of the most common impediments involves the right to effective counsel. Deaf/HH individuals may not be properly Mirandized, be able to contact a lawyer, or have a similar level of communication with their attorney as persons without a hearing impairment. When Deaf/HH individuals are not provided equal access in the criminal justice system, then justice has not been served. This project examines lawyers and legal services for Deaf/HH individuals, the courts, justice, and evolving court polices.
Decreasing Falls in Older Adults: Is Tai Chi a Solution?
(2020) George, Melissa; Chrostowski, Susan
As the population ages, there is a growing need to identify initiatives to increase quality of life while also reducing the number of healthcare dollars spent. Per the Centers for Disease Control, falls in the older adult population are both debilitating and costly, thus methods to reduce falls and the risk of falls have been researched including the practice of tai chi. The purpose of this project was to complete a literature review of randomized control trials, systematic reviews, and meta analyses to discover if the practice of tai chi decreases the risk or fear of falling in the older adult population. Results of the review demonstrated that tai chi does provides protective benefits within this population. Due to the cost-effectiveness of tai chi and its protective nature, it is believed that its practice will lead to increased mobility in this population in the years to come. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Susan Chrostowski)
Developing mastery: Building a tool for tracking progress on professional competencies in the MLS program
(2019) O'Neill, Ashley; Perryman, Carol L.
Over the course of their enrollment in a new grant‐funded scholarship program (Transforming Libraries into Community Anchors in Rural Texas, or TLCART), 20 carefully selected students in small, rural Texas communities will earn library degrees at the TWU School of Library and Information Studies (TWU SLIS) while learning to become facilitators and partners of community change. To support their self‐assessment through the program, and encourage individual ownership of career growth, we created a professional competencies tracker based on the American Library Association Competencies. Students are asked to self‐evaluate, identifying areas of desired development, at the conclusion of each semester in the two‐year program. In the process, each will take responsibility for their future as lifelong learners, identifying specific needs and methods for development. This pilot effort is being tested with the TLCART cohort to assess its usability for the overall Master’s program in Library Science.
Development and application of an occupational well being inventory
(2019) McClure, Rachel
Introduction: The theory of Occupational Wellbeing (OWB; Doble & Santha, 2008) outlines pleasure, renewal, accomplishment, affirmation, coherence, companionship, and agency as needs which contribute to occupational wellbeing. Methods: We designed a three part study to: 1) develop and establish validity for an Occupational Wellbeing Inventory (OWBI), 2) use the OWBI to determine the impact of leisure activity on occupational wellbeing among college students, and 3) determine the impact of craft kits on the occupational wellbeing of service members. Results: Preliminary analysis of surveys in phase two (n = 72) offered promising results. Significant positive correlations existed among all subscale and all loaded on a single factor which we identified as occupational wellbeing. Results are pending regarding phase three data. Conclusions: The OWBI has good construct validity. Data collection for the impact of craft kits on the occupational wellbeing of military service members is underway.
Does testosterone regulate germ cell population in testes? QPCR has an answer.
(2019) Ikeler, Jordan; Talapatra, Arpita; Mills, Nathaniel
Testosterone production by Leydig cells is important for the proper development of testes and maintenance of spermatogenesis. Treatment with ethylene dimethane sulfonate (EDS) destroys the Leydig cells and ablates production of testosterone. Genes that are specific to specific cell types in testis are being investigated to determine the impact of testosterone loss on the expression of genes including HSD3b2 (Leydig cells), SHBG and FSH receptor (Sertoli cell), CD9 (spermatogonia), and TNP1 (spermatids). Gel electrophoresis and reverse transcription, polymerase chain reaction were used to analyze the RNA isolated from 7‐day or 10‐ day post‐EDS treated rat testes. We anticipate that specific cell markers may be used to assess the effect of presence and absence of testosterone on both the somatic cells and germ cells present in the testes. We are searching for gene markers that could be used to determine germ cell population changes using qPCR. (Faculty Sponsor: Dr. Nathaniel Mills) Supported by TWU Center for Student Research.
The effect of UVB on chromatin condensation in different cell lines
(2019) Vo, Anh; Roy, Rituparna Sinha; Bergel, Michael
Previous studies in our lab have shown that UV radiation causes chromatin compaction in the nucleus. This study evaluated the UVB-induced DNA condensation and how it varies among different cell lines. We examined on human cervical carcinoma HeLa S3 cells, ionizing radiation sensitive and resistant cells,MOC1 and MOC2 respectively.Currently,it is unclear why malignant cells in some cancer patients develop resistance to radiation given to them as therapy. Our findings will be critical in enhancing the understanding of DNA compaction,cell viability, and further contribute to the prevention and treatment of cancer.
Effect of whey protein metabolites on insulin signaling in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)
(2019) Sebastian, Lily; Rao, Manisha; Patterson, Desiree; Zumbro, Emily; Kaiser, Kayleigh; Dixon, Morgan; McAdams, Dreanna; Broughton, K. Shane; LeMieux, Monique J.
The purpose of this project was to examine the impact of whey protein (WP) ingestion on insulin sensitivity in women with and without polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Women with PCOS tend to have insulin resistance (IR), characterized by disrupted cell insulin binding resulting in reduced cellular glucose uptake. This faulty insulin response leads to high blood glucose levels. PCOS and non-PCOS women were administered oral glucose tests (OGTT) on Day 0 (baseline), Day 1 (start of WP treatment) and Day 7 (post-initiation of WP intake). Plasma insulin and glucose were measured. No significant difference in glucose responses for Day 0 and 1 was observed. Contrasting Day 0 to Day 1, insulin levels between the PCOS and non-PCOS women were significantly higher at 30 min after the start of WP treatment in the PCOS group and after 15 min and 90 min in the non-PCOS group. At Day 7, Non-PCOS insulin spiked at 15 min where PCOS women had a bimodal insulin response with peaks at 30 and 120 min. To further understand changes in insulin in PCOS vs. non-PCOS women before and after WP treatment, differentiated 3T3-L1 mouse adipocytes were treated with the human plasma collected during OGTTs for 48 hrs with media and cells were collected for protein and gene expression analysis. GLUT-4 expression was higher with 7th day plasma incubation in the non-PCOS women compared to Day 0 and to the PCOS woman at any time point. All GLUT-4 levels were elevated above the positive control cultures. While preliminary data identified minimal effects of whey protein supplementation on IR in PCOS women, acute WP treatment reduced peak glucose responses by enhancing insulin release in women with and without PCOS following glucose load.
Effects of mindfulness and experiential avoidance on stroop task response time
(2019) Burditt, J.M.; Guillen-Espinosa, A.J.; Pham, H.T.; Phipps, D.D.N.
This study aims to examine the potential effects of mindfulness and experiential avoidance on stroop tasks. Mindfulness is the conscious awareness of nonjudgmental processing of the internal and external stimuli while experiential avoidance is the attempt to ignore negative processing of internal stimuli (e.g., contradicting sentences, trauma, procrastination, etc.). The stroop effect, as defined in the literature, is the idea of task‐irrelevant automatic processing, which takes place before task‐relevant processing (e.g., reading words before its color). Participants in this study include 82 students from a cognitive psychology course at a public university in the south. All participants completed demographic questionnaires and several other measures online pertaining to the aforementioned focus. Data on levels of mindfulness and experiential avoidance were first collected, after which participants were then asked to complete the stroop effect tasks. Data analysis will be conducted in SPSS, and results, discussion, and conclusion will follow.
Efficient deaf-police contact
(2019) Watson-Love, Keyara; Watson-Love, Teyara
Individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing often encounter communication difficulties, and this can make them particularly vulnerable in the case of a police stop. There are examples of tragic misunderstandings, including fatalities, due largely to a lack of police training. Encountering an officer is often charged with anxiety and uncertainty, and there is potential for an officer to react without understanding. This project examines evolving police policies, reviews existing training for officers on the topic of deafness, and considers strategies to raise awareness and understanding for both the Deaf community and police officers.
Establishing C. elegans as a model to study the function of vitamin A metabolism
(2020) Joseph, Pamela; Everts, Helen; Gumienny, Tina
Retinoids (vitamin A) are critical for cell development, maintaining a healthy immune system, regulating energy metabolism, and eyesight in mammals. In addition, abnormal levels contribute to obesity and cancer. While vitamin A plays these many roles, what is not well known is the impact of individual vitamin A metabolism genes at the cellular and tissue level. We discovered that the roundworm C. elegans may be an excellent model organism for this investigation because many genes are conserved. The results indicate that we have distinguished potential retinoid metabolism genes in these nematodes, some of which share phenotypes with their mammalian homologs. These genes include cellular retinol-binding proteins, retinol dehydrogenases, retinal dehydrogenase, cellular retinoic acid-binding proteins, and retinoic acid receptors. However, many of these genes in C. elegans and mammals have no known mutant traits. Future research in C. elegans will define the physiological relevance of altered and normal Vitamin A metabolism.
Executive function interventions for students with autism spectrum disorders
(2018) McDaniel, Lisa Koenig
Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) may also have deficits in their Executive Function (EF) abilities. These deficits can manifest in problem behaviors that can disrupt learning (Freeman, Locke, Rotherman-Fuller, & Mandell, 2017). Teachers could consider interventions that address behavior concerns within the classroom.

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