North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
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New Farmers of America Association
No full textGraveyard with \u27Johnson\u27 on the archway.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/photos/2006/thumbnail.jp
New Farmers of America Association
No full textFour young women on a porch with a pure quinine for malaria prevention sign behind them.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/photos/2008/thumbnail.jp
Exploring Black Women’s Perceptions of the Body Positivity Movement
No full textThe Body Positivity movement was created to encourage self-acceptance and inclusivity across all body types, encouraging individuals to embrace their bodies regardless of shape, size, color, gender, or ability. Black women, in particular, have been drawn to this movement, often through the influence of celebrities. The overall study aimed to understand how social media influences and contributes to health behaviors of African American Gen Z women. This current presentation aims to understand Black women’s perceptions of the Body Positivity movement. Participants included 35 African American women, ages 18 to 25, attending a historically Black university. Interviews examined participants’ recognition of body positivity posts, demographics of the creators behind these posts, and the impact of these posts on Black Gen Z women. While most participants were aware of the Body Positivity movement, many noted that its creators are not always Black women, contradicting the movement’s commitment to inclusivity and reducing its impact on their demographic. Participants also questioned the underlying messages conveyed in these posts. The findings highlight a lack of representation of Black women within the Body Positivity movement, raising questions about its continued relevance among Black Gen Z women. A limitation of this presentation is the sample size, as all participants were from a singular HBCU. Future research should include Black women from multiple HBCUs and predominantly white institutions to explore varying experiences. Overall, these findings suggest a need for more inclusive representation and meaningful engagement within the Body Positivity movement.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/1030/thumbnail.jp
Crisis Communication Role in Influencing Student Perceptions of Safety on Campus
No full textCrisis communication plays a crucial role in shaping student perceptions of safety. Universities across the nation have leveraged new digital communications to alert students in times of emergency, but there are persistent concerns about the timeliness and clarity of these messages, and discrepancies in crime reports. Previous research suggests that delayed and cryptic messages stimulate anxiety, while clear and timely communications foster trust. Building on previous research, we propose a study that inspects the influence of campus safety communication, especially the frequency, channel, and clarity of messages, on students’ perception of safety on North Carolina A&T’s campus. By using archival data, we will examine the number of emergency alerts sent each month and the reported crimes on campus to study how closely they align. Next, we will conduct a survey among A&T students to gauge their engagement with campus safety communication, whether digital or in-person, their perceptions of safety on campus, and their levels of trust in the university. Through this approach, we hope to discover whether more frequent messages through various channels correlates with heightened levels of trust and perceived levels of safety. Our findings from this research will offer new insights for the best practices for emergency and crisis communications and increasing student trust in our university’s safety measures. Our results will provide practical guidance for designing strategies for improving safety communication to cultivate an informed and secure student body.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/1029/thumbnail.jp
Investigating the Role of Moringa oleifera in NF-kB Inhibition in T Cells
No full textNuclear Factor of kappa B (NF-κB) is implicated in many diseases and is a target for therapeutic interventions. Many anti-inflammatory pharmacological drugs are derived from plants. Moringa oleifera or the “miracle tree” has health benefits. Moringa extracts have been shown to inhibit inflammatory responses in macrophages through a mechanism involving NF-κB. Moringa also impacts T cell function, but whether it inhibits NF-κB activation in T cells is unknown. Our lab is interested in characterizing the impact of Moringa oleifera on T cells. To specifically investigate the impact of Moringa on NF-κB activation in T cells, we will culture Jurkat E6.1 T cells [5x10 6 cells/ml] in complete RPMI pre-treated with ethanolic Moringa extracts (MOE) [0%, 0.5%, 1%, 2.5%, and 5% w/v] for 1 hour. Cells will be stimulated with anti-CD3 and CD28 [1 mg/ml] for 15, 30, and 60 min. Nuclear and cytosolic extracts will be assayed by Western blotting to assess NF-κB activation. Data from this study will contribute to gaps in knowledge related to how Moringa impacts the function of T cells, key component of the adaptive immune responses; ultimately contributing to the growing knowledge of how Moringa oleifera serves as a promising therapeutic alternative.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/1025/thumbnail.jp
Targeting Injured Cardiomyocytes with RNA Sensors
No full textCardiovascular diseases remain a leading cause of mortality due to cardiomyocytes\u27 inability to proliferate and regenerate after injury. Current therapies that broadly express regenerative factors in the heart are ineffective. However, targeted expression of these factors to the injury can induce cardiomyocyte proliferation. Our research introduces an innovative technique that can deliver regenerative factors directly to the injured myocardium using a biomarker uniquely expressed by injured cardiomyocytes, Natriuretic Peptide B (Nppb). Our research utilizes the CellREADR system, an ADAR-based RNA sensor that detects Nppb expression and induces translation of regenerative cardiac factors. The overall goal of this study was to identify the most efficient sensor. In the unamplified construct, all transfected cells express BFP (blue fluorescent protein). When Nppb mRNA is present, it binds to the sensor and recruits the ADAR enzyme, allowing RNA editing and GFP (green fluorescent protein) translation. The amplified construct incorporates a tetracycline-controlled transcriptional activation system to enhance GFP expression. HEK293T cells were transfected with these constructs and Nppb coding sequence, then sensor efficiency and specificity were assessed by counting GFP+ cells in experimental and control groups. The unamplified sensor successfully detected Nppb with minimal background activity. However, the amplified sensor showed unintended GFP expression in negative controls, indicating non-specific expression. Optimization efforts are underway to refine specificity by incorporating additional upstream regulatory elements. Our findings demonstrate the potential of RNA sensors in targeting injured cardiomyocytes, contributing to gene-based strategies for cardiac regeneration and repair.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/1009/thumbnail.jp
Black EpiSTEMologies: Advancing Racial Equity for Black Students in STEM
No full textIn the current climate of increasing anti-Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) policies, the educational landscape for Black students, particularly in STEM fields, faces significant threats. This research, grounded in qualitative data from focus groups with 75 Black undergraduate STEM students provides insights into how Black students persist despite systemic barriers within STEM spaces. To analyze the experiences of Black undergraduate STEM students, we employed a latent, inductive thematic analysis to uncover systemic barriers embedded in their narratives. Grounded in a theoretical framework that centers Black epistemologies, Intersectionality, BlackCrit, and Afrocentric and Diasporic thinking, our work challenges reductive approaches to understanding Black student experiences. These frameworks affirm the value of Black ways of knowing and being, providing a foundation for addressing systemic inequities and fostering the imagination, ingenuity, and inspired inquiry needed in Black education spaces. Our findings reveal that Black students navigate oppressive policies by drawing strength from critical support networks, a sense of belonging, family, purpose, and faith. These factors serve as counter-narratives to deficit-oriented discourses, highlighting the resilience and agency of Black students in STEM. Using our theoretical framework, we interpret these findings to emphasize the importance of creating Black Education Spaces that affirm Black identities and provide the cultural, emotional, and intellectual support necessary for Black students to thrive. This study not only informs our understanding of Black STEM students’ persistence but also guides the development of strategies to support Black students in K-12 and beyond.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/honorscollegesymposium25/1004/thumbnail.jp
New Farmers of America Association
No full textParade with floats pulled by mules in front of Carnegie Hall Library at Tuskegee Institute, Tuskegee, Alabama. (now Tuskegee University)https://digital.library.ncat.edu/photos/2023/thumbnail.jp
Development and characterization of plant-based surimi: A sustainable protein source for next-generation seafood
No full textThe growing demand for sustainable protein sources has led to advancements in plant-based seafood alternatives, particularly surimi. This study developed and characterized plant-based surimi (PBS) using soy, pea, and mung bean protein isolates combined with konjac glucomannan and oleogel. Seven formulations were analyzed for their physicochemical, textural, rheological, and morphological properties. Pea protein-based surimi (PBS2) exhibited the highest hardness (3781.11 g) and chewiness (2106.37 g), attributed to its compact microstructure and strong gel network. In contrast, PBS6 (mung bean and pea protein) had the lowest hardness (1319.60 g) and chewiness (564.82 g), indicating weak protein cross-linking and an unstable gel structure. Differential scanning calorimetry showed that PBS7 (soy-pea-mung bean blend) had the highest thermal stability (denaturation at 150.56°C), suggesting enhanced protein interactions and gelation properties. Scanning electron microscopy revealed significant microstructural variations, with PBS2 forming a compact fibrous network similar to traditional fish-based surimi, whereas mung bean-based formulations displayed porous, discontinuous matrices. The findings highlight the impact of protein selection and blending strategies on PBS functionality. This study demonstrates that optimizing protein composition and processing conditions can lead to high-quality plant- based surimi, offering manufacturers a viable alternative to conventional seafood product.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/gradresearchsymposium25/1132/thumbnail.jp
A Microphysiological Model for Investigating Aβ-Induced Microvascular Dysfunction and Immunotherapeutic Impact
No full textAnti-amyloid immunotherapies represent a promising avenue for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment by targeting amyloid-beta (Aβ); however, their administration is associated with adverse cerebrovascular effects, including ARIA-E/H (edema/hemorrhage) and Cerebral Amyloid Angiopathy (CAA). Despite growing evidence implicating Aβ in microvascular pathology, the mechanisms governing its impact on the neurovascular unit remain unknown. This study employs a microfluidic-based Familial Alzheimer’s Disease-Brain Microphysiological System (FAD- BMPS) to elucidate Aβ-mediated blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption, vascular amyloid deposition, and inflammatory cascades. Our findings indicate that Aβ compromises endothelial integrity by destabilizing tight junctions, increasing BBB permeability. While promoting the secretion of tight junction and adhesion proteins. Elevated Aβ concentrations correlate with an upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines and chemokines, including, TNF-α, and MMP-9. To further investigate the therapeutic implications, this model will assess the impact of inflammatory function on BBB stability and ARIA-related pathologies. We propose that such interventions modulate endothelial function, exacerbating vascular permeability and inflammatory responses, ultimately contributing to ARIA pathogenesis. The FAD-BMPS offers a platform for dissecting Aβ-induced vascular pathology and evaluating therapeutic interventions, granting mechanistic insights into CAA and ARIA.https://digital.library.ncat.edu/gradresearchsymposium25/1135/thumbnail.jp