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    Efficacy of Ketamine in Reduction of Depression-Like Symptoms in D-Amphetamine Withdrawal

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    Numerous studies have indicated a commonality in symptoms between patients with depression and those with psychostimulant withdrawal. In addition, both conditions appear to act on similar neurobiological limbic structures such as the nucleus accumbens, hippocampus, amygdala, and prefrontal cortex, all of which are components of emotional processing and function. More studies have suggested a relationship between depression and decreased levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) in these structures. The administration of ketamine (an NMDA receptor antagonist) has recently been found to restore healthy BDNF levels and mitigate depressive symptoms in animal models. However, whether ketamine is an effective treatment for depressive symptoms stemming from psychostimulant withdrawal remains to be determined. This study aimed to analyze the efficacy of ketamine treatment in alleviating depression-like symptoms during d-amphetamine withdrawal via alterations in BDNF levels in the limbic structures. This was achieved by administering scheduled escalating doses of amphetamines to one cohort of rats and then suspending the treatment for four days to induce a withdrawal period. A separate cohort of rats was administered saline instead of amphetamines to establish a comparative control group. Following this, both cohorts were equally administered either ketamine or saline, and their performance in a forced swim stress test was evaluated to indicate the presence of depressive symptoms. Our data indicated that cohorts undergoing amphetamine withdrawals that received ketamine were significantly more active than other cohorts. In comparison, the cohort undergoing amphetamine withdrawal that received saline was consistently less active and more immobile than their counterparts. However, there was little significant difference between the saline pretreatment groups, regardless of successive ketamine treatment. While these data are not entirely conclusive about the severity of depressive symptoms from withdrawal and the caliber of relief provided by ketamine treatment, it is evident that specimens supplied with ketamine in withdrawal exhibited less depressive behaviors through their activity than did specimens that were not withdrawn

    Fashion as a Canvas

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    Whether it’s through subtle inspiration from patterns and color choice, replicating a style seen in artwork, or incorporating the exact image onto a piece of clothing, art and fashion influence each other in many ways. Since the beginning of time, the world of creative fields has had many overlaps. When haute couture was created in the 19th century, fashion and art had a pull and gravitated towards one another. From embroidery to bold prints, art has been a large source of inspiration for designers throughout history. Fashion and art share values, but present them in different artistic forms. This ultimately links them together, and these two forms of expression show the change in our societies over centuries. The fashion industry is a world of wonder and mystery, and a piece of it belongs to everyone. How we determine what is fashion is subjective to our own thoughts but continues to be influenced by our external sources, such as art. Dating back as early as the 17th century, humans continue to take inspiration from artists to create their designs. Fashion designers and artists can both learn from one another, and the acknowledgement of the skills it takes to create art, whether that be a painting or a garment, will sustain a valuable connection between both areas

    Repositioning High-Risk Hospital Patients to Prevent Pressure Injuries​

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    This project aims to develop both a digital and physical system to track patient repositioning in hospitals to prevent pressure injuries, a common issue for immobile patients. With 2.5 million hospital patients developing pressure injuries annually in the U.S., consistent repositioning every two hours is crucial to prevention. However, busy hospital environments often make this task challenging, leading to missed opportunities and increased incidences of pressure injuries. Current methods, which rely on manual tracking, are inefficient and contribute to the problem.  The proposed solution is an automated tracking system integrated with the hospital\u27s Electronic Health Records (EHR), which will alert nursing staff when repositioning is due and track patient repositioning history. The goal is to simplify the process, reduce pressure injuries, and lessen the burden on nursing staff. The project includes phases of planning, implementation, and evaluation, with a timeline of four months from development to hospital-wide implementation. This system aims to improve patient outcomes, nurse satisfaction, and overall hospital efficiency, with potential for broader adoption in other healthcare institutions

    Mindfulness U: Take It Outside

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    College is a major transitional period for students entering adulthood. It is found to be a stressful time as students work to adjust and balance responsibilities. To minimize negative outcomes later in life, mental health is a priority objective. The mental health crisis, specifically among students, has gained significant attention, sparking a search for meaningful ways to support their well-being. One valuable but often overlooked solution is encouraging students to spend time in natural environments. Research suggests there are mental and emotional benefits to engaging in nature. Also, learning about nature has the added benefit of raising awareness for our ecosystem, the climate, and sustainability. We implemented a plan to teach about nature and organize a communal outdoor event. These served as separate experiments to measure the benefits of learning about nature and the benefits of communal engagement in nature. Both events improved nature education and mental health. We were also interested in measuring different modes of learning and engaging. Some prefer theory, and others prefer the field, and comparing which Belmont students generally prefer might point to a good model of community engagement for Belmont in the future. Both events had significant attendance, and surveys proved both events significantly impacted mental health and education on nature. We also received feedback on what would’ve made these events more impactful, which gave insights into what students want from their experiences in nature

    Evaluating College Service-Learning: Change Agents (IRB – 1713).

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    This study examines five evidence-based service-learning instructional standards and their impact on students’ motivation to serve. We predict that early service-learning exposure fosters long-term community engagement and leadership. Meta-analyses (Celio et al., 2011; Conway et al., 2009; Yorio et al., 2012) identified five (5) best practices for running service-learning courses: 1.Greater autonomy in choosing service-learning partners (Est. d = .67) enhances satisfaction and critical thinking (Est. d = .28). 2.Reflection improves outcomes—individual reflections boost empathy (Est. d = .67) & group reflections enhance social awareness (Est. d = .45). 3.Rigorous academic evaluations (Est. d = .78) are more effective than self-evaluations (Est. d = .36). 4.Aligning student learning objectives with course content improves engagement and success. 5.Strong community partnerships yield reciprocal benefits. The rest of my talk will focus on how my nonprofit Jumbled Dreams works to combat issues, help volunteers, and inspire others to make a change

    Integrating Disciplines: Uniting Allopathic and Osteopathic Medicine

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    Allopathic (MD) and osteopathic (DO) medicine represent two distinct but convergent pathways in healthcare. Historically, each maintained separate accreditation systems for their residency programs, leading to variations in training standards and limited collaboration. The year 2020 marked the transition to a unified graduate medical education system which has led to the integration of the two disciplines and collaboration between allopathic and osteopathic physicians. Allopathic education has roots in evidence based medicine and interventions, advanced diagnostics, and specialized interventions. In contrast, osteopathic education emphasizes a holistic philosophy that acknowledges the interdependence of the body system and the body’s ability to heal itself. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) is a technique that is taught in DO schools that focuses on using a hands-on therapy to treat musculoskeletal conditions and other conditions. Through a comprehensive literature review and examination of recent changes in medical training, this presentation explores how the unified graduate accreditation system facilitates interdisciplinary dialogue and fosters a more inclusive learning environment. By comparing curriculums, medical training, philosophical ideas, and undergraduate medical accreditation, the analysis highlights both the similarities and differences that shape how MDs and DOs approach patient care. The unified system encourages shared residency experiences, promoting professional development and reducing perceived gaps between allopathic and osteopathic practitioners. As MD and DO students train side by side, they gain a deeper appreciation for each other’s strengths, leading to more comprehensive and patient-focused treatments.With the integration of graduate medical education, this presentation examines and argues that integration of Undergraduate Medical Education (UME) will help advance the field of medicine and create a collaborative atmosphere between the two disciplines. In today’s evolving healthcare landscape, collaborative efforts between MDs and DOs have the potential to advance integrative care models, streamline patient management, and address diverse patient populations more effectively. Combined efforts enhance knowledge sharing, optimize resources, and improve effectiveness. This presentation argues that the integration between these two pathways will foster innovation and ensure that patients benefit from a broad range of treatment options. By understanding their shared origins and perspectives, educators, policymakers, and future medical professionals can build an environment that enriches patient care and strengthens the healthcare system

    Culturing Change: Tracking Probiotics in Yogurt Over Time

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    Detecting AI-Generated Phishing Attacks Targeting IoMT Devices in Healthcare Using Machine Learning

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    With the increasing integration of IoMT devices in healthcare, AI-generated phishing attacks pose significant cybersecurity threats. This study explores the use of machine learning techniques, including Random Forest, K-Means Clustering, CNN, and LSTM to detect phishing attempts based on network traffic features.By leveraging these anomaly detection methods, we can effectively identify patterns in network traffic that indicate potential phishing attacks. Clustering techniques are used to categorize anomalies into distinct phishing attack behaviors, while deep learning models analyze sequential network data to enhance detection accuracy. Our approach compares traditional anomaly detection methods against advanced deep learning techniques, analyzing feature importance to determine the most relevant network indicators of phishing activity. The research seeks to develop an AI-driven Intrusion Detection System (IDS) capable of recognizing phishing attempts in real time and triggering alerts, thereby enhancing cybersecurity in IoT-driven healthcare environments

    Youth Golf Program Retention

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    This study investigates the declining retention rates of students in First Tee of Tennessee, a non-profit organization dedicated to teaching golf while fostering character development in children ages 4-18. First Tee, established by the World Golf Foundation in 1997, has provided golf and life skills education to over 300,000 young people nationwide. In Tennessee, the program is managed by the Tennessee Golf Foundation (TGF) and operates across five regions: Chattanooga, Knoxville, Memphis, Nashville, and the Tri-Cities. Despite its positive impact, program administrators have noted a significant retention challenge—student participation decreases by 50% each season. To understand the causes behind this decline, semi-structured interviews were conducted with parents of current and former First Tee students, along with participant surveys measuring indicators of personal growth and enjoyment. The research aimed to identify key factors influencing retention and provide insights for program improvement. Initial results indicate overwhelmingly positive feedback by parents with children currently in the First Tee program. The parents interviewed were adamant about the high quality of the coaches and the positive development of the students in the program. By analyzing trends across First Tee’s Tennessee regions, this study provides data-driven recommendations to enhance retention and ensure continued engagement in golf and character education for youth statewide

    Family Drama: Unpacking Your Communication Style in Relation to Authority Figures

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    An important aspect of our personality is how we communicate. Our expressiveness and communication skills drive our interactions and interpersonal experiences. Previous research has found that a family’s usage of transparent communication and expression influences the children’s future behavior and attitude in terms of leadership and sociability (Huang, 1999).There is additional research that found that one’s communication with authority figures, such as teachers and physicians, is impacted by how the authority figure communicates with them (Drury, 2003; Frymier & Houser, 2000; Kiesler & Auerbach, 2003). Our study examined the correlations between familial expressiveness, authority figure communication skills, and one’s dominance. The questionnaires used were the Family Expressiveness Questionnaire (FEQ), Authority Figure Communication Style Questionnaire (AFCSQ), and Dominant-Submissive Subscale of the Interpersonal Circumplex. The data from the questionnaires was analyzed using Pearson correlation. The results of this study found that there is a positive correlation between all constructs examined. Therefore, higher scores on the FEQ correlated with higher scores on the AFCSQ and higher levels of dominance. Knowledge of how upbringing impacts one’s communication style furthers our understanding of how the development of personality impacts interaction and interpersonal relationships. A transparent and expressive upbringing is correlated with how the child’s interacts with authority figures, which also correlated with future occupational and relationship success

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