Still Faces, Different Places: An Assessment of the Literature on the Face-to-Face Still Face Procedure for Cultural Congruence

Cultural understanding is a factor that impacts reliability of research results for observational studies. It is important to include participants of minority groups in research, as many people of color face disproportionate challenges in terms of healthcare access and resources. Within the context of mother-infant attachment, a technique known as the Face-to-Face Still Face procedure can be utilized to observe attachment styles and the bond between a parent and their infant. In order to combat subjectivity within the coding process for this Face-to-Face Still Face procedure, cultural congruence between the participants being observed in the study and the coding researchers qualifying behaviors should be considered. A literature search was conducted in which 12 articles, each utilizing coding to analyze mother-infant bonds, were reviewed to discover whether cultural congruence was reported or considered in the context of the coding process. None of the articles reviewed explicitly stated the cultural, racial, or ethnic backgrounds of the coding researchers. One article noted the nationalities of different members of the research team, with the nationalities of the research team and study participants matching. Another study noted that all the coding researchers were bilingual in the languages spoken by both groups of participants in the study. Details about the coding guidelines, educational background of the coding researchers, and the training process for coders was included in some articles. This review provides a starting point for further research into how a coding researcher’s personal background can influence the coding process, and therefore the reliability of results.https://scholarscompass.vcu.edu/uresposters/1486/thumbnail.jp

Aligning Practice with Principle: Institutionalizing Equitable Public Engagement in Hampton Roads

This plan assesses the Hampton Roads Planning District Commission (HRPDC) and Transportation Planning Organization’s (HRTPO) current engagement processes through internal document reviews, national best-practice benchmarking, and key staff interviews. Among thee identified strengths of sound procedural compliance and deep staff commitment and agility, findings revealed three critical gaps: (1) limited decision-traceability, (2) inconsistent process evaluation, and (3) persistent constraints collectively impacting their geographic reach and efficacy of their Community Advisory Committee. To address these gaps, the study delivers the Community Engagement Compass—a five-dimension checklist (accessibility, quality, inclusivity, transparency, adaptability) that standardizes best principles such as equity metrics, real-time evaluations, and multi-stage follow-up protocols into every engagement process. Complemented by targeted recommendations to diversify the Community Advisory Committee, embed sub-regional engagement liaisons, and launch a centralized digital engagement platform, the Community Engagement Compass gives HRPDC/HRTPO a practical process framework for continuous, transparent, and accountable public involvement. By aligning practice with principle, this plan translates the commitments made in the organizations’ joint Public Engagement Plan (2024) into concrete, operational standards, positioning HRPDC/HRTPO as the region’s beacon for equitable engagement

IN PRAISE OF DUST

A desire path is a physical manifestation of where a system has failed, but also where it has been refused, where a new path has been made. The wake exists in the post, it is not a singular, untethered event, but a subtle double entendre that lives in the post-death, but also in the pre-life—not a liminal limbo, but a superposition of dying and waking. This collection was assembled and composed over the course of two years as I navigated my practice, myself, and others. Present here are my thoughts, my experiences, and in many ways my beliefs. IN PRAISE OF DUST aims to generate a cosmology for my practice and work thus far. The form of this work, however, is neither art, per say, nor philosophy: it is study, it is practice, it is speculation

From trans health to vaccines: A theoretically driven model exploring factors related to susceptibility to medical misinformation

Medical misinformation represents a significant threat to both individual and public health. While some consequences of this form of misinformation are relatively benign, there can be serious consequences ranging from a decreased trust in healthcare systems to an increased likelihood of epidemic outbreak and death. One such consequence can be seen in the recent legislative actions taken regarding access to transgender healthcare in the United States. Gender affirming care has been shown to benefit the mental well-being of transgender youth and adults; however, the demonstrably false information that underlies these legislative efforts can and has yielded significant harm. But what leads individuals to being susceptible to this (or other) medical misinformation in the first place? Often perceived as political, limited work has explored the underlying factors that might yield increased susceptibility to medical misinformation. Some previous work on misinformation more generally has suggested two potential pathways that yield increased susceptibility to misinformation: superficial information processing and selective processing. While the superficial information processing account would suggest that individuals who are susceptible to misinformation are relying on intuition or gut feelings (i.e., heuristics), the selective processing account for susceptibility to misinformation suggests that individuals engage with misinformation in a way that relies on their previous biases and perspectives (i.e., motivated reasoning). Other work related to social learning has suggested that social influence may impact beliefs about both concepts and people – individuals may learn their beliefs from trusted social referents. Guided by these theories, study 1 collected data from a balanced sample of participants (N=270) identifying as either Democrat, Republican, or Independent which were used to develop a structural equation model (SEM) that simultaneously examined the impacts of motivated reasoning (via latent variables of resistance to systems change and situational antipathy), socially influenced beliefs, and heuristic reliance on susceptibility to medical misinformation about gender affirming healthcare. Overall, the model demonstrated good fit while indicating that motivated reasoning and socially influenced beliefs played significant roles in susceptibility to medical misinformation. Two follow-up tests noted that model fit benefited from the removal of the heuristic reliance variable, and that party affiliation did not impact model fit but did impact patterns of responding. These results suggest that the strongest predictors of susceptibility to medical misinformation about gender affirming healthcare were motivated reasoning and social influence regardless of party affiliation. Drawing upon these models, study 2 recruited a balanced sample of participants (N=506) who self-identified as Republicans, Democrats, and Independents to complete a similar questionnaire assessing susceptibility to misinformation about vaccines and abortion. Two SEMs were constructed to examine susceptibility to medical misinformation about abortion and vaccines. Both models demonstrated excellent fit and suggested that the two strongest predictors of each form of medical misinformation were motivated reasoning and social influence. Follow-up analyses suggested that, while heuristic reliance did not significantly yield increased susceptibility to medical misinformation, the removal of the variable examining heuristic reliance did not impact model fit. Further, both models demonstrated configural and metric invariance, suggesting that not only does model fit remain the same regardless of political affiliation but that the patterns of responding remain the same as well. Results from this study may enhance understanding of factors that yield increased susceptibility to medical misinformation and disinformation, while also providing insight into means by which these pathways might be disrupted

Existing in the Context: A Conjunctural Analysis of Kamala Harris Memes

Political memes have become a common way for people to express their political views online, helping politics reach young adults who weren’t previously interested. Consequently, politicians have begun sharing and creating memes themselves. The memeification of American politics has diminished debate about ideas, ideals, issues, and people’s vital interests, debasing voters by treating them not as citizens but as passive “consumers” and “spectators” of mediated politics. This paper helps make sense of this crisis, focusing on the example of former Vice President Kamala Harris. Vice President Kamala Harris\u27 memeified presidential campaign during the 2024 U.S. election targeted voters through a combination of social media posts on platforms like TikTok, Instagram, X, and Facebook. Along with her opponent, Donald Trump, each campaign’s social media account had its own distinct personality, with content and format curated to suit its target audience. This paper examines Kamala Harris memes to understand how they circulated and what impact they had. My inquiry comes in three distinct vignettes: the first political internet meme, the celebritization of politics, and the co-optation of Black joy under neoliberalism. Rooted in scholarship on internet memes, particularly political internet memes and scholarship on affect, this article employs conjunctural analysis to illuminate the broader socio-political conjuncture and the current and future roles that political memes may play

Beneath the Roots: Becoming native through mangrove teachings and wisdom

Beneath the Roots uses the wisdom of mangroves to investigate the naturalization of humans through science, spirituality, and storytelling. The seeds of Avicennia marina, the gray mangrove, drifted to Qatar at some point in history and took root, like so many other people here. The mangrove survives in a harsh saline environment through a unique salt excretion process. As a Qatar-born expat, I relate to this struggle to survive and nativize in a land that is both my own and foreign to me, in a cyclical conversation. I explore this nativization process through a ritual of salt extraction, creating botanical compositions, and returning the salt to its source, symbolizing how nativization is a reciprocal process where land and life are intertwined

THE EFFECT OF OPIOID USE AND TREATMENTS FOR OPIOID USE DISORDER ON NEUROCOGNITIVE AND NEUROINFLAMMATORY OUTCOMES IN THE CONTEXT OF HIV

Even after the advent of antiretroviral therapy, over 40% of people with HIV (PWH) experience cognitive impairment due to HIV-induced neuroinflammation. Illicit opioid dependence exacerbates HIV neuropathology. Treating opioid use disorder (OUD) in PWH improves HIV outcomes (e.g., viral load, mortality). However, the two main treatments for OUD, buprenorphine and methadone, are also opioids and it is unknown how they affect neurocognitive or neuroinflammatory outcomes in the context of HIV. Secondary analyses were used to assess the effect of cumulative opioid use on cognitive outcomes, the effect of comorbidity burden on OUD treatment initiation and retention, and compare the effect of buprenorphine versus methadone on cognitive outcomes in PWH. A 29-marker flow cytometry panel was used to profile and compare immune response in the brain of an EcoHIV mouse model treated with either buprenorphine or methadone. We found that greater cumulative opioid use was associated with worse cognitive outcomes regardless of HIV status. Additionally, PWH who used opioids had worse cognitive outcomes than people without HIV who used opioids. Greater comorbidity burden decreased likelihood of OUD treatment initiation. Furthermore, PWH treated with buprenorphine were less likely to develop a diagnosis of dementia than those treated with methadone. Differences were also seen in neuroimmune response in EcoHIV mice treated with either buprenorphine or methadone. In summary, limiting cumulative opioid exposure, increasing access to OUD treatment, and considering the neurocognitive and neuroinflammatory consequence of treatments for OUD are important when providing care to PWH and OUD

A Retrospective Study of the Accuracy of Implant Placement comparing Partial and Fully Guided Surgery in an Academic Setting

Background Ideal three-dimensional (3D) implant positioning increases the likelihood of achieving optimal prosthetic contours and maintaining peri-implant tissues health, thereby reducing the risk of biological and technical complications. Fully guided implant surgery (FGS) has been shown to be more accurate than partially guided implant surgery (PGS);however, clinical outcome data comparing PGS and FGS in an academic setting remains limited. Aim To investigate the accuracy of implant placement when static computer aided implant surgery (sCAIS) PGS and FGS are utilized in an academic setting and analyze the factors that may influence implant deviations. Furthermore, as part of a pilot study, we investigated residents and predoctoral dental students about their perception of the implant digital workflow at VCU. Materials & Methods This study is a retrospective observational study in which data from patients treated with dental implants at VCU, School of Dentistry (SOD) Graduate Periodontics Clinic was collected. All patients were treated with sCAIS and implant deviations were measured through the superimposition of digital models in a dedicated planning software. The mean global, horizontal, depth and angular deviations between the virtually planned and actual implant position were analyzed by a blinded calibrated examiner. Secondary factors that can influence implant deviation from planned positions were also evaluated: operator experience, history of grafting, alveolar ridge characteristics, cortical plate engagement, existing adjacent restorations and guide support (bilaterally or free end). A digital survey was distributed to predoctoral students and periodontics residents using Research Electronic Data Capture (REDCap) tools. The null hypothesis of the study is that there are no differences between PGS and FGS sCAIS for implant final position compared to planned position. Results Data from 31 patients was available for evaluation. 14 implants were placed via PGS and 17 implants through FGS. Global apical deviation and horizontal apical deviations demonstrated a statistically significant association with the guide technique used (p-value=0.0284, 0.00725, respectively). The PGS method was associated with a significantly larger global apical deviation, by an average of 0.61mm (1.86 vs 1.25 mm; 95% CI: 0.07, 1.15). PGS was also associated with a significantly larger horizontal apical deviation, by an average of 0.77mm (1.49 vs 0.73 mm; 95% CI: 0.22, 1.31). Although the remaining metrics did not demonstrate a significant difference between the two guide techniques, the average of each was larger for the PGS method than the FGS. Implants placed at molar vs premolar sites (p = 0.0079) and implants with a 5mm width vs 4mm width (p = 0.0384) were associated with a significantly larger horizontal apical deviation. Horizontal coronal deviation was significantly associated with the number of adjacent teeth with a crown (p-value=0.0127) and the bone type at the crest (p-value=0.0450). Thirty-five predoctoral students and 16 surgical residents responded as having participated in VCU’s implant digital workflow. On average, predoctoral students found navigating the software (7.0/10) to be the most difficult part of the process, while residents reported difficulty with communication between providers (6.7/10). Most residents believed that FGS will give them greater accuracy in implant placement than free-handed surgery (81.3% of responses) and most (81.3%) believe they will use FGS protocols 1-75% of the time. Write-in suggestions (6) included wanting more support and training with the implant planning software. Conclusions Fully guided sCAIS can improve implant placement accuracy as compared to partially guided sCAIS especially at the apical positioning. Other factors like molar sites, wider implants, adjacent crowns and crestal bone type can also significantly affect implant placement accuracy. Predoctoral students at VCU struggle with the implant planning software and want additional training. Residents struggle with communication between providers but most believe sCAIS will improve their implant placement accuracy and plan on using guided protocols at least some of the time in their clinical practice

Expression Analysis of Floral Symmetry Candidate Genes in Browallia speciosa

Stamen structure and development is one of the deciding factors for an angiosperm’s pollination syndrome. The Solanaceae hold particular interest in understanding pollination and stamen relationships due to their development of bilateral symmetry (zygomorphy), and visitation by a variety of pollinators. Previous studies have implied that floral symmetries of the Solanaceae are not solely determined by CYC2-like genes, particularly regarding the zygomorphic corolla. This is unusual, as CYC2-like genes and their homologs have been found to control the floral symmetry in a majority of studied angiosperms, especially in core eudicots. Browallia speciosa Hook. is a particularly interesting organism due to its three different types of stamens, whose structures aid a unique pollination process. This project aims to investigate the molecular basis for the development of different floral organs and bilateral symmetry of B. speciosa. To achieve this, RNA-seq data was analyzed to explore differential gene expression across 5 different floral organs of B. speciosa, and the candidate genes that are likely responsible for its symmetry and floral organ development were identified. Analysis of Browallia speciosa’s de novo transcriptome revealed differential expression of TCP-like transcription factors, along with ANT-like, BOP-like, JAG-like, PAN-like, RBE-like, and ARGOS-like genes. Along with this, gene ontology enrichment analyses highlighted fruit ripening, lipid metabolism, and secondary metabolite synthesis pathways as promising novel avenues for understanding floral symmetry and reproduction. In the future, these results may serve as the basis for functional and molecular studies to confirm the functions of these master genes, and to investigate their downstream regulations. As the molecular comprehension of floral symmetry and pollination expands, we are able to make more informed decisions regarding the stewardship of consequential crops and plants

Preferred Habitat for Coastal Shrub Establishment Across a Barrier Island Landscape

Barrier islands occur along the Eastern Coast of North America and buffer mainland coasts from major oceanic storms. Landscape characteristics and vegetation profiles of these islands are constantly changing in response to varying environmental drivers, especially salinity, shoreline erosion and accretion. Relationships between shrubs and other native flora can affect the island landscapes and resiliencies against storms. Hog island is a barrier island along the Eastern Shore of Virginia and is within the Virginia Coast Reserve NSF funded Long-Term Ecological Research (VCR/LTER) site. As such, Hog Island has a well-documented history of changes in landscapes and ecosystems. Northern and southern portions of Hog Island differ, with the northern part, low elevation marsh and grassy swales transition to shrub thickets while the southern portion has been primarily grassland habitat. Over the last 20 years, shrubs, Morella cerifera and Baccharis halimifolia, have been encroaching towards the southern part of the island. These species are dispersed by birds and wind, respectively, and mostly in a random fashion. This study is quantifying the spatial variations in environmental variables for Hog Island to both characterize habitat where seedlings and smaller shrubs currently exist. These variables include distance to shoreline, elevation, depth to groundwater, soil salinity, and vegetation profiles of each area. Where shrubs are currently established, location in relation to the ocean and dunes was an important factor in the success of shrub seedling survival. As shrubs encroach into the southern grasslands and densities increase, that region may shift to a community dominated by woody species, potentially leading to changes in landscape structure. The knowledge gained 8 from this study will be used by scientists at the VCR/LTER to help understand the long term effects of shrub encroachment on barrier islands