Ethnic/racial minorities often face challenges associated with adjusting to a dominant or new host country. These challenges, known as acculturative stress, include difficulties with behavioral, emotional, and social adaptations, and are linked to adverse outcomes. Understanding the degree to which, for whom, and in what contexts acculturative stress may affect mental health is important in designing culturally-informed interventions. Yet, there are several limitations in the current literature on acculturative stress. First, most studies focus on Latino or Asian ethnic groups or international students/cross-national migrants; it is unclear how acculturative stress is differentially associated with health across populations. Second, most studies have focused on mental health outcomes, whereas other important outcomes (academic, relationship) are neglected. Using records from a large-scale meta-analysis project, we conducted a scoping review of research on acculturative stress to characterize the heterogeneity across studies. We performed literature searches using keywords (e.g., “acculturative stress,” “bicultural stress”) in databases including PsycINFO, and identified 3746 relevant studies. Abstract and full-text screening yielded 681 published and unpublished articles eligible for quantitative analysis. Primary studies were included if they measured acculturation in the context of intercultural adaptation and migration, acculturative stress, and health, academic, and relationship outcomes. We coded and summarized sample characteristics of all articles (e.g., % immigrants, % female/woman, mean age). We will randomly select 50 articles that examine acculturative stress and its associations with mental health, academic, and/or relationship outcomes. We will review and present common outcome measures, instruments assessing acculturative stress, and conclusions. We expect the scoping review to indicate patterns, variability, and gaps in the acculturative stress literature. Results will inform future research on overlooked outcomes and understudied populations, and shed light on necessary basic scientific information (e.g., mediators, modifying conditions) that will support the development of culturally-informed interventions and policies.

This study seeks to explore the perspectives of Latine students at the University of Washington (UW) regarding racial representation within the institution. Do Latine students see their experiences and identities represented and reflected in university life? How do Latine students experience and perceive Latine representation (or lack thereof) in terms of the composition of faculty, student body, and community spaces at UW? This research project aims to uncover the realities, challenges, and promise of support and community on campus. Through interviews with Latine students, faculty, and staff, this inquiry will describe how students find support at UW and navigate their academic environment. To attain a comprehensive understanding, the research utilizes a combination of primary and secondary sources, incorporating interviews with Latine students, staff, and faculty at the UW to capture personalized and nuanced perspectives. By examining the lived experiences and perspectives of individuals directly affected, the study aims to thoroughly examine the complex dynamics at play. Exploring the lived experiences of Latine students, the study will contribute to the discourse on racial representation in academia and its impact on student well-being and academic success. The findings will inform discussions on how institutions can foster an inclusive environment that recognizes and supports the diverse backgrounds of all students. This research project has emerged from ongoing conversation and collaboration with the Washington State Commission on Hispanic Affairs members. This research project will inform the community report that the Commission is preparing.

The invasion of Indo-Pacific lionfish (Pterois volitans) throughout the western Atlantic, the Gulf of Mexico, and the Caribbean has led to declines in the biodiversity, biomass, and abundance of native coral reef fishes. These ecological consequences have been thoroughly documented in shallow zones of the reef; however, little is currently known about how lionfish interact with deep-reef ecosystems, and which native fish are the most vulnerable to predation. Deep-reefs may serve as refuges for lionfish, as they would avoid being speared by SCUBA divers in the top 30 meters. Thus, deep lionfish populations could potentially serve as a near-infinite source of replenishment for shallow populations. The microchemistry of calcium carbonate fish otoliths has emerged as a powerful tool in examining fish ecology, including their vertical movement. The elemental compositions of these “ear stones” reflect the chemistry of the water in the fish’s environment, ultimately providing insight into natal origin and dispersal events. I am analyzing the oxygen isotopic signatures in a sample of 10 lionfish otoliths collected across the entire depth range of reefs in Curaçao using micromilling and isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS). Specifically, variations in δ18O from the core to the rim of the otolith indicate changes in water temperature, and presumably depth, from settlement to adulthood. This approach provides insight into whether lionfish migrate between deep and shallow reefs throughout their lives or remain in their deep refuge, how frequent and long these migrations are, and ultimately whether they are susceptible to surface removal by spearfishing. Effective management plans will require a holistic understanding of this invasive predator’s vertical migration patterns and where they are on the reef at various life history stages, and a deepened understanding of the connectivity between deep and shallow populations can inform future research to control mesophotic populations.

Dravet Syndrome (DS) is a severe form of childhood onset epilepsy occurring in about 1 out of 16,000 births. The disease is characterized by treatment-resistant seizures, ataxia (or loss of muscle coordination), developmental delay, cognitive impairment, and increased rate of premature mortality mostly due to sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). DS is predominantly caused by a heterozygous loss-of-function mutation in the SCN1A gene, which codes for the pore-forming alpha subunit of the NaV1.1 voltage-gated sodium channel. Our lab has previously shown that selectively introducing these mutations into neurons expressing the neurotransmitter GABA, specifically GABAergic interneurons of the forebrain, is sufficient to cause DS phenotypes in mice. In this study, we investigated whether an SCN1A gene replacement therapy precisely targeted to this interneuronal population can rescue epilepsy and SUDEP. Our lab, in collaboration with the Allen Institute, has developed a novel dual SCN1A-intein-AAV with forebrain GABAergic interneuron targeting capability using a Dlx56-based enhancer. Mice treated with this vector at postnatal day (P) 0 via intracerebroventricular injection were monitored for spontaneous mortality up to P70 and tested for susceptibility to thermally induced seizures. All untreated mice (n=31/31) died by postnatal week 6. In addition, 86.5% (n=13/15) of them exhibited thermally induced myoclonic seizures (MCS) and 100% (n=15/15) of them showed generalized tonic clonic seizures (GTCS). In striking contrast, none of the treated mice died (n=9/9, p=3.3e-14, Fisher’s exact test) nor exhibited MCS (n=0/9, p=7.1e-4, Fisher’s exact test) or GTCS (n=0/9, p=1.1e-5, Fisher’s exact test). These findings suggest that precision therapy targeting the very site of disease etiology can completely protect against epilepsy and related mortality in DS.

Alcohol and other substance use are associated with a range of negative physical, mental, and social consequences including blackouts, unintended injuries, involvement in interpersonal violence, and other health problems. Young adults in college are particularly at risk for alcohol and other substance use. While existing research on reduction interventions often emphasized individual responsibilities of those that engage in alcohol and substance use, peer interventions remain an overlooked approach to harm reduction. Bystander interventions have been shown to be effective in preventing and reducing the harm of sexual assaults among college students. However, there is less empirical attention on applying bystander interventions to reduce the negative consequences of substance use. An important first step of understanding how to incorporate bystander interventions to address substance use is to have a reliable and valid measure assessing these behaviors. This study aims to develop and examine the psychometric properties of a new bystander behavior scale specific to substance use. Data came from a large multi-site survey study with 930 college students (Mage = 19.39, 69.6% female, 58.1% White). I will conduct exploratory factor analysis to extract underlying factors that best explain the observed correlations between the items. Next, I will examine convergent and discriminant validity of the scale scores by correlating them with established instruments such as Drinking Refusal Self-Efficacy Questionnaire and Personal Assessment of Responsible Drinker Identity. Individuals who score higher on the bystander behaviors measure are expected to score higher on self-efficacy in resisting alcohol and be more likely to identify as responsible drinkers. Results will provide initial validation data for the bystander behaviors measure and can be used in future research and intervention implementation that address substance use among college students.

Leigh Syndrome (LS) is a neurodegenerative disease due to the dysfunction of mitochondria. It usually begins in infancy and its incidence is around 1 in 40,000 individuals. Children with LS experience a progressive decline in their cognitive and motor functions often accompanied by severe treatment-resistant epileptic seizures. Mutations in Ndufs4, the gene that encodes a subunit of mitochondrial complex have been linked to LS. Mice carrying Ndufs4 recapitulate several key characteristic clinical manifestations of LS. Using these mouse models, our lab has demonstrated that GABAergic interneurons play an important role in the pathophysiology of LS. Mice with Ndufs4 knockouts (KO) restricted to GABAergic neurons located across all brain regions exhibit seizures. However, seizures in epilepsy patients and animal models typically originate from forebrain structures. Therefore, in this project, we examined whether the inactivation of Ndufs4 in GABAergic neurons of the forebrain alone is sufficient to cause seizures in mice. Homozygotes floxed Ndfus4 mice were crossed with Dlx56Cre+ or Gly2TCre+ mice to KO the gene specifically in interneurons of the forebrain or brainstem. We hypothesized that only mice with KO in the former region will exhibit seizures. Conditional KO mice from these two lines were tested for thermal seizure susceptibility. Surprisingly, both Dlx56creKO and Gly2TCre KO mice exhibited thermally induced myoclonic and generalized tonic clinic seizures. These findings indicate that GABAergic interneurons regions outside of the forebrain are critically involved in the pathogenesis of epilepsy in LS.

Dark matter is a theoretical form of matter that doesn’t interact with light or conventional matter despite its large expected abundance in our universe. One potential candidate for dark matter, predicted in models, is weakly-interacting long-lived particles (LLP). The ForwArd Search ExpeRiment (FASER), located in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN, uses detectors to search for LLP produced in proton-proton collisions. Upon hitting the detectors, particles generate electronic hit signals that are used to reconstruct the decay products of LLPs. Analyzing these tracks may offer insights into the properties and characteristics of LLP. The FASER detector is made of four tracking stations: 1, 2, 3, and interface tracker, each comprising of three layers with eight Semiconductor Tracker modules in each layer. Due to the imprecise installation of these tracking stations, misalignment occurs preventing accurate track reconstruction. To address this issue, I aim to execute an iterative local Chi-square alignment test to determine alignment parameters for each station individually and collectively using previously collected FASER data. I hypothesize that modules will have improved residual values and sensitivity after alignment.

Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is an immune protein which binds lipopolysaccharide (LPS) present on the outer membrane of Gram-negative bacteria and activates the innate immune response. In mice, an mRNA splice variant composed of only the extracellular domain of TLR4 was shown to encode a soluble product (sTLR4) capable of inhibiting inflammatory response to LPS. sTLR4 has been recovered from human saliva and demonstrated to dampen the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines by macrophages. Prior work showed that TLR4 was also present in endometrial glands, uterine tube epithelia and endocervical glands. However, there are no published studies exploring the presence or role of sTLR4 in lower genital tract secretions. We tested primary female genital epithelial cells’ supernatants as well as human endocervical cytobrush and vaginal swab samples for the presence of sTLR4 by using a chemiluminescent immunoassay. We found sTLR4 in cervicovaginal secretions, with increased concentration of sTLR4 present in participants with endocervical ectopy and in those sampled during the proliferative phase of the menstrual cycle. Supernatants from endocervical cell lines possessed higher levels of sTLR4 than those derived from ectocervical or vaginal cells. sTLR4 concentration was not correlated with the presence of bacterial vaginosis, age, the concentration of common vaginal Gram-negative bacteria or with genetic variation in the TLR4 locus. By western blotting, we demonstrated that sTLR4 is composed of a ~100 kDa polypeptide, corresponding to the entire TLR4 ectodomain. In a reporter monocytic cell line, we showed dose-dependent inhibition of the LPS/Interferon-regulatory factor (IRF) pathway when LPS was preincubated with endocervical cells’ supernatants. These results point to an unappreciated form of innate immune regulation in the cervicovaginal niche, which could potentially open new avenues for understanding inflammatory disorders such as cervicitis and pelvic inflammatory disease.

Chemical communication is the oldest and most widespread form of communication across the tree of life, and markedly present among lizards. However, the drivers of chemical profile variations in this group remain for the most part uninvestigated. In South American lizards of the Tropiduridae family, semiochemicals are produced by epidermal gland organs called α-glands, exclusively found on the ventral side of male individuals of at least 40 species from four genera. The chemicals produced by these glands are hypothesized to interact with their environments in different ways since chemical species are naturally reactive and tend towards their lowest energetic state. Thus, the intrinsic properties of a semiochemical impact its survival and efficacy for communication. Given the diverse ecology and broad geographical distribution of tropidurids, we investigated whether variation in the chemical composition of α-gland secretions correlates with temperature, humidity, and habitat openness. We performed liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LCMS) to obtain the metabolomes of three different sample types. We sampled male skin containing the α-glands, undifferentiated male skin, and female skin. Environmental and chemical property data were extracted from online databases, literature, and field observations. Preliminary tests were done by making Venn diagrams comparing the metabolomes of each sample type. These revealed differences in metabolite compositions, notably between males and females as well as between glandular and undifferentiated skin. From the metabolomes of α-glands, we expect to see chemical species with properties that confer greater survival given the specificities of the environment. For example, given a lizard from a hot and humid environment, we expect the metabolome of the α-glands to contain higher molecular weight species with less functional group complexity. Understanding how environmental parameters drive the chemical composition of α-glands is expected to provide a deeper understanding of the evolutionary history of chemical signaling in terrestrial vertebrates.

The drug resistance in tuberculosis (TB) is a rising concern for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease. Being able to detect the presence of drug resistance accurately and rapidly in the patient strain is essential for improving individual treatment outcomes and reducing further transmission of resistant strains, which are more costly and difficult to treat than drug-susceptible strains. However, the current methods come in short in point-of-care (POC) settings, due to problems such as long processing time, high complexity, and necessity for specialized personnel/equipment. Oligonucleotide ligation assay (OLA) provides a high sensitivity and specificity against TB drug resistance, and here, I have developed a novel lateral flow test (LFT) device that incorporates OLA into it, which have shown comparable specificity and sensitivity against traditional protocol of OLA in lab setting followed by LFT. Moreover, the simplicity of the design enables further incorporation of other techniques such as isothermal DNA amplification, for a compact, one-step TB drug resistance diagnostic device for low-resource environment. 

Lizards in the family Tropiduridae have ventral epidermal gland organs that are involved in chemical signaling and whose secretory mechanism is entirely unknown. This is because, like other epidermal generation glands, 'alpha-glands' lack a pore through which their secretion can be exerted. Chemical signaling is a valuable aspect of tropidurid lizards' social and ecological interactions, and some have been observed territorially scraping their alpha-glands against the substrate. This process has been hypothesized to facilitate the release of chemical signals via abrasion. To investigate this abrasion hypothesis, we analyzed 74 skin samples from 27 tropidurid species, using light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The SEM revealed incredible surface variability in epidermal glands, providing morphological insight. We found that the exposed glandular mass of each gland scale rests atop the oberhautchen layer of the skin's subjacent generation, which indicates that the secretion of chemicals involves exposing a mostly solid glandular material on the outside of the scales. Histological sectioning of gland scales revealed morphological consistency, indicating that the same secretory mechanism is shared across the tropidurid phylogeny. Imaging of histology samples also revealed that the shedding process which exposes the glandular material may be facilitated by the clear layer, found directly above the glandular mass during development. Characterization of morphological patterns in the formatted SEM images and comparison with histological data should provide evidence for or against taxon-specific or ecology-specific alpha-gland structures, and further support the idea of chemical secretion requiring epidermal exposal of glandular material. Investigations of the morphology and functional mechanism of this unique organ provide insight into the behavior and evolution of tropidurid lizards and shed light on factors influencing the evolution of chemical signaling in terrestrial organisms. 

Spatial skills are crucial for understanding and navigating the physical world around us. Previous research indicates spatial development begins in infancy, with sex differences present early on. These skills are predictors of later STEM achievement, highlighting the importance of nurturing them from a young age. Our study explores the impact of spatial language and play style on infants’ spatial development. We replicated a change detection mental rotation task for infants using an eye-tracker (N = 115, 47 girls, M age = 11.21 months). As infants preferentially look at novel stimuli, we recorded looking time as a measure of recognition of a change in stimulus. Additionally, we observed parent-infant dyads during play, and parents completed a survey on their infant's play, language, and motor skills. We hypothesized that parents would use more spatial language during spatial play than non-spatial play. We were also interested in whether play and language use varied by child sex. Infants showed no preference for the novel stimulus in the mental rotation task, suggesting it might not effectively measure mental rotation in infancy. Parent-infant dyads varied in engagement with the spatial toy, and no significant sex differences emerged from these measures. Due to the null findings in our change detection task, we will be designing and testing a new task for measuring mental rotation ability in infancy. Furthermore, we will also conduct analyses on the relationship between individual differences in spatial language and play to explore how these factors impact the development of spatial abilities. These findings provide insights to better support spatial development in early life.

Discipline and disciplining have been a set of processes wielded throughout history to order, control, and extract. These processes have served as efficient colonial tools and have been so intimately indicative of the way institutions wield and disseminate power that in 1976, French philosopher Michael Foucault theorized as a new form of power: disciplinary power. In my research, I explore the concept of discipline as it exists in the collegiate system, through the perspectives of Foucault's 'Discipline and Punish' and la Paperson’s 'A Third University is Possible,' while drawing inspiration from Niccolò Machiavelli's 'The Prince' to shape writing style. Rooted in the field of critical university studies and motivated by personal reflections, this project takes the form of a "how-to" guide for cultivating a docile body and aims to explore the limits and potentials of discipline within the context of STEM education at the University of Washington. As part of my methodological approach, I incorporate and analyze various university spaces’ contributions to the overall built environment and campus power structure(s). I ask what it takes for place to become space, or more simply put, how the various disciplinary bodies that inhabit space shape or alter its meaning, and vice versa. I present this project as part of an active effort to critique the colonially and penally adjacent power structures upon which many universities are built. While my research and reflections remain focused on the University of Washington, they may serve as a case study for most of modern Western academia. Through this work, I hope to advance the push towards decolonial and interdisciplinary futures within STEM and academia, at large.

An important and universal aspect of cancer cells is the ability to proliferate rapidly. Rapid proliferation imposes specific metabolic demands which are often targeted for cancer therapies, and yet these demands are not well understood. A crucial aspect of cell metabolism is from the Tricarboxylic Acid (TCA) cycle. The TCA cycle is amphibolic, both catabolic and anabolic, and disruptions in the cycle are implicated in the onset and progression of various human cancers. Succinate Dehydrogenase (SDH) and Fumarate Hydratase (FH) are two TCA cycle enzymes that are tumor suppressors, proteins that when lost contribute to the malignant phenotype. In the TCA cycle, SDH catalyzes the conversion of succinate to fumarate, and FH catalyzes the subsequent step of fumarate to malate. Due to this proximity, one may predict SDH and FH mutations would have similar metabolic effects. However, this prediction, surprisingly, does not hold true. Paradoxically, loss of SDH generally impairs cell proliferation by disrupting synthesis of the amino acid Aspartate, a crucial output of mitochondrial respiration. Our lab recently discovered that SDH-deficient cancer cells adapt to overcome this metabolic deficiency by downregulating Complex I of the Electron Transport Chain (ETC). By downregulating Complex I, SDH-null cells increase the capacity of alternative aspartate synthesis pathways aside from the usual TCA cycle dependent pathway to enable faster proliferation. For SDH-null cells, treatment of a Complex I inhibitor improves proliferation for reasons discussed above. However, when FH-null cells are treated with the same Complex I inhibitor, there is a decrease in proliferation rate. It is not well understood why this difference exists, but characterizing it can provide insights on the roles of these enzymes and could inform better treatments for SDH and FH linked cancers.

Science is rapidly evolving, yet its advances do not enter classrooms at the same rate. Systems Education Experiences (SEE) is a program in the Baliga Lab at the Institute for Systems Biology (ISB) that accelerates the transfer of scientific knowledge and practices to classrooms. One active area of Baliga Lab research is elucidating the level of resilience organisms have, when faced with complex environmental changes. My role is to design laboratory experiments that investigate this with the model organism Halobacterium salinarum (Halo) and to connect this to broader rules governing natural systems for use in high school classrooms. My first experiment probes the resiliency of Halo with the introduction of a combination of stressors (salt and hydrogen peroxide) and its recovery after population collapse. The second measures the long term phenotypic changes in the population. I wanted to see if after being exposed to a new environment if there was an advantage to having gas vesicles and if it is an irreversible trait that allows Halo to be resilient across a variety of environmental conditions. This relates to broadly applicable rules governing resilience across many systems. This project serves as a model for how all organisms respond to stress. Combinations of stressors in human lives can make us less resilient. However, strategies to quickly prepare, respond, and react can improve outcomes for individuals and the overall population. This project connects to a goal of K-12 science education which is to not just teach academic concepts but to equip students with knowledge that can be applied to all parts of life. Our knowledge on the mechanisms that control how organisms respond to stress is extremely limited. By understanding the biological stress response we can promote resilience in the earth's most vulnerable systems in the wake of climate change.

Leigh syndrome (LS) is the most common form of mitochondrial disease in children. It affects 1 in every 40,000 births and its clinical manifestations include ataxia, seizures, failure to thrive and premature death. Genetic mutations in more than 75 different genes have been associated with LS. Among them is NDUFS4, the gene that codes for a subunit of the protein complex I of the mitochondria. Mice carrying a whole-body knockout (KO) of this gene greatly model this illness; they recapitulate multiple phenotypes of LS in patients. Prior studies in the lab have shown that the KO of Ndufs4 in GABAergic neurons, not in excitatory neurons, across all brain regions, reproduce the epilepsy phenotype seen in the global KO mice. Surprisingly, new KO mice with Ndufs4 inactivation restricted to GABAergic neurons of the brainstem and cerebellum interneurons, mediated by GlycineT2Cre, also have epilepsy. In this study, we sought to uncover the brain regions that house neurons involved in seizure activity in these mice. Brain regions experiencing neuronal hyperactivity during seizures in this new model of LS were examined. A thermal seizure was induced in the Ndufs4 GlycineT2Cre KO mice. For control condition, mice were exposed to a sham experiment. Forty-five minutes after the seizures or sham procedure, the mice were anaesthetized, and their brains were fixed and harvested. Brain slices were prepared and stained with a c-Fos antibody and finally imaged on the confocal microscope. Interestingly, high c-Fos immunoactivity was observed in the cerebellum alone and not in forebrain brain regions generally known to be involved in seizure generation. These findings indicate the participation of the cerebellum in seizure generation in Leigh syndrome epilepsy. In future studies we plan to increase the sample size and confirm the results with statistical methods.

Bacteriophage MS2 phage-like particles (PLPs) are artificially constructed viral-like particles. The similarity of the particle to a virus allows the particles to be used as a control system for molecular detection and drug delivery systems. The capsid is made up of single chain coat protein dimers (SCCPD) and a singular maturase, and is able to package mRNA within the protein coat due to the dimerization of coat proteins spontaneously forming the capsid structure in the presence of a packaging signal. In addition, the PLPs also have the ability to display what is being packaged on the surface. Currently, it has been shown that PLPs are able to be purified via His-tag affinity, due to fusion of the His-tag onto the SCCPDs. However, if a peptide is displayed at the SCCPD site, the His-tag must be attached elsewhere on the PLP to ensure the PLP can be purified. To address this, I designed a new PLP by plasmid engineering via site-directed mutagenesis to display a peptide on AB-loops within the SCCPD, whilst packaging the corresponding mRNA within the capsid. I purified the PLP via a His-tag attached to the maturase protein. To verify correct particle formation, I ran SDS-PAGE to observe the density of bands corresponding to SCCPD and maturase. I designed a reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and carried out a nuclease protection assay to verify mRNA packaging. Preliminary data of SDS-PAGE has shown the particle has successfully purified, and is correctly forming due to the observed maturase to SCCPD band density ratio on the gel meeting the expected ratio.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS) is the most prevalent reproductive condition in pre-menopausal women, impacting around 5-10% of women in the U.S., despite being underdiagnosed. Previous research has linked a higher free androgen index with cardiovascular risk factors in women with various forms of ovarian dysfunction. Given that elevated androgen levels are a criterion for PCOS diagnosis, understanding the potential association between total testosterone and cardiometabolic risk factors in women with PCOS, specifically, is crucial. This cross-sectional study investigates the relationship between total testosterone levels and cardiometabolic risk factors among women diagnosed with PCOS. Limited research exists on endocrine and cardiometabolic health in PCOS patients, prompting our inquiry. Data for this study was extracted from women with PCOS who attended the University of Washington Endocrinology Clinical and Diabetes Institute. Blood samples underwent analysis for biomarkers including total testosterone, glucose metabolism, and lipid levels. Linear models, both adjusted and unadjusted, were applied to assess correlations between total testosterone levels and the aforementioned biomarkers. Insights into the impact of total testosterone on insulin resistance and lipid levels could offer better insights into how women with PCOS can better manage their health. Preliminary findings indicate a limited correlation between total testosterone and cardiometabolic risk factors, contradicting previous studies. Further analysis, including controlling for factors such as oral contraceptive use, will be done to bring greater clarity to these results. This study aims to bridge gaps in our understanding of the mechanisms by which PCOS can affect the health of women. It also seeks to address the underfunding and underrecognition of research in diseases that primarily affect women. Future research in this domain must be done to investigate biomolecular pathways on how testosterone could potentially affect cardiometabolic health.

Burnout presents a significant challenge for mental health clinicians, affecting not only their well-being and turnover rate but also the quality of care provided to clients. Moreover, studies have shown that clinicians working in community settings face more burnout compared to those in private practice. Among the factors that have been implicated in clinicians’ burnout are the level of education, limited experience and training opportunities, individual variables, and demographic factors. In this study, I examined how clinicians’ reported competencies in core cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) skills for treating anxiety, depression, trauma, and behavioral concerns are associated with their experiences of burnout. I further evaluated whether the relationship between competencies in core CBT+ skills and experiences of burnout is moderated by CBT+ training. The study draws on a diverse sample of 200+ community mental health clinicians who took part in Washington State’s CBT+ training initiative. I employed t-test and multiple regression models to analyze the data. Based on these analyses, there are anticipated insights of uncovering clinician experiences in how clinicians’ level of CBT skills and professional training experiences intersect with burnout. Findings are expected to inform targeted interventions aimed at reducing burnout and enhancing clinician retention across the workforce.

Current research on substance use suggests a positive correlation between emotion dysregulation and cannabis misuse or cannabis use disorders (CUD). This study aims to identify which specific facets of emotion dysregulation increase CUD symptom severity. While previous studies using the Difficulties in Emotion Regulation Scale (DERS) have linked overall composite scores of emotion dysregulation to CUD, there is a gap in the understanding of how individual DERS subscales relate to CUD, which limits our ability to develop targeted interventions. Young adults (N=68, Mage=23.7 years, SD=3.05, 54.4% female, 63.2% White) who reported using cannabis 2-3x/week or more in the past month completed measures of emotion dysregulation (DERS) and CUD (Cannabis Use Disorder Identification Test; CUDIT). To test associations between the 6 DERS subscales and CUDIT total score, we will first conduct bivariate correlations. If significant associations are found, we will conduct a multiple linear regression model to test which subscales best predict CUDIT total score. We hypothesize a moderate-to-strong correlation between the DERS and CUDIT scores, with Nonacceptance and Impulse control demonstrating stronger correlations. We also hypothesize that Nonacceptance and Impulse control subscales will most strongly predict CUDIT total scores. Results from the present study could help identify which of the emotion dysregulation subtypes should be targeted in future prevention and intervention efforts for young adults. If these findings are supported, additional efforts may want to teach skills to increase acceptance of emotional responses and improve impulse control. The proposed study is an important step in the treatment of cannabis misuse and CUDs as we will be able to narrow our aim toward isolated treatments to improve the livelihood of those involved.

Adolescents increasingly use digital technology. However, there might be variability in how important adolescents perceive their interactions with media and technology 1) to bridge online and offline experiences, 2) to go outside one’s identity or offline environment and 3) for social connection. This study aims to validate the Spanish version of the Adolescent Digital Technology Interactions and Importance Scale (ADTI), originally developed for US adolescents, with a sample of Peruvian adolescents. In addition, we investigated developmental and gender differences in these subscales. A total of 1,425 Peruvian adolescents (10 - 17 years, Mage = 13.2; 52% female) completed the ADTI remotely via Qualtrics in April 2020, a few weeks after adolescents had started remote schooling. I ran descriptive statistics and linear regressions to test for age and gender differences. Factor 1 (bridging online and offline experiences) was the highest ranked M = 15.1 (5), followed by Factor 2 (going outside one’s identity or offline environment), M = 14.2 (4.6). Factor 3 (social connection) was the lowest ranked M = 12.6 (4.5). Age was significantly correlated with Factor 1 and Factor 3 indicating that older adolescents endorsed higher levels of importance of technology for bridging online and offline environments as well as social connection. There was no significant age difference for Factor 2. We investigated gender differences. Girls had significantly higher levels for Factor 1 compared to boys Mgirls = 15.4 (4.7); Mboys = 14.7 (5.2) and for Factor 3 Mgirls = 13.4 (4.6); Mboys = 11.9 (4.3). There were no significant gender differences for Factor 2. This work can lead to better understanding of the role that technology plays in the lives of adolescents, and to implementation of safer practices in media and technology.

Adolescence is a critical stage of development, a time in which social relations are pivotal to feelings of connectedness, belongingness, and wellbeing. Amidst the rise in usage of widespread social media platforms, adolescents have begun to seek out online-only friendships (OOFs), prompting our lab to explore the prevalence and quality of these social connections. We first gathered data from adolescents (n = 5756, ages 10-18) in Peru in 2020, during the COVID-19 lockdown. In 2023, we repeated and refined our prior analyses after gathering data from adolescents in Bolivia (n = 1071) and Uruguay (n = 647). We administered a Qualtrics survey asking participants to self-report on the number and perceived quality of OOFs and IPFs (in-person friendships), using the Network of Relationships Inventory (Furman and Buhmester, 1985). I served as a Research Assistant (RA) for the interACT Lab. I reviewed the literature on online friendships, performed data cleanup, and assisted on statistical analyses of our data. Given the lack of prior research on the topic, our lab sought to explore the quality of online friendships in order to provide a foundation for future investigations. Currently, our lab is analyzing the quality of IPFs vs. OOFs on the basis of self-reported levels of support, closeness, trust, and similar-interests. 79.8% of adolescents in our sample have OOFs. In addition, preliminary findings indicate that IPFs have more negative qualities than OOFs, and that OOFs have more negative qualities than IPFs . This work is important because not only does it examine adolescent technology usage in regard to social connectivity, but it also presents findings from the Global South, which is often underrepresented in psychology research. Our findings provide an understanding of the benefits and downsides of engaging in online-only friendships for adolescents in South America, a region that is too often underrepresented in psychology research.