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The effect of the cold pressor test on arterial wave reflection amplitude and timing in young healthy adults
(East Carolina University, May 2025) Buckner, Janae
Sympathoexcitatory stimuli, such as the cold pressor test (CPT), increase vascular resistance and brachial blood pressure. Cardiovascular responses to the CPT can predict cardiovascular risk. Previous research has demonstrated that surrogate measures of wave reflection (augmentation index) are increased during the CPT. However, this measure does not differentiate the effect of wave reflection amplitude and return time of the reflected wave. The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that the CPT would increase the amplitude of the backward pressure wave and result in an earlier return of wave reflection. Methods: Twelve non-obese, non-hypertensive, healthy adults between the ages 18 – 40 years participated. For the CPT, participants submerged their hand in ice water for three minutes. Brachial blood pressure and arterial pressure waves were measured via applanation tonometry at baseline and during the last minute of the CPT. Wave separation analysis was performed to determine the maximal amplitude of forward and backward pressure waves as well as the reflected wave transit time. Reflection magnitude was calculated as ratio of backward relative to forward pressure wave amplitude. Results: In agreement with previous research, there was a significant increase in aortic systolic and diastolic blood pressure, as well as augmentation index (all, p<0.05). The novel finding was that despite
no changes in the forward pressure wave amplitude (28.16.8 vs. 28.19.4 mmHg, p=0.997), there was a significant increase in the backward pressure wave amplitude (10.82.7 vs. 12.85.4 mmHg, p=0.043) as well as reflection magnitude (386 vs. 455%, p=0.001). Lastly, there was a trend for a shortened reflected wave transit time (332.465 vs. 28860.1 ms, p=0.02). Conclusion: A sympathoexcitatory stimuli (i.e. CPT) in young healthy adults increased the amplitude of the backward pressure wave and tended to lead to an earlier arrival of wave reflections to the heart.
Association Between Sleep, Cognitions about Sleep, and Executive Functioning in a College Student Sample: The Moderating Role of Dysfunctional Beliefs
(East Carolina University, July 2025) Schneider, Kate
Sleep is essential for mental and physical health. However, as pursuing college begets new opportunities for independent living, social activities, and work/school responsibilities, undergraduate students frequently experience disruptions in sleep patterns, leading to a sleep deficit. Previous research has highlighted the negative impact of sleep deficits on daily functioning and academic performance. However, there is limited research examining how dysfunctional beliefs about sleep might influence the relationship between sleep and executive functioning. Harvey's Cognitive Model of Insomnia elucidates how dysfunctional sleep cognitions can significantly contribute to the development and maintenance of sleep difficulties through their instigation of unhelpful sleep-related behaviors (i.e. clock watching, catastrophizing, etc.). Therefore, this study aimed to address the existing gap in the literature by examining how negative sleep cognitions might moderate the relationship between sleep quantity/quality and executive functioning college students. Further, although executive functioning is often regarded as one comprehensive domain, literature has shown that it can be divided into three distinct components: inhibition (one's ability to resist automatic impulses), working memory (one's ability to hold and manipulation information in one's mind), and cognitive flexibility (one's ability to switch between different tasks and adapt to changing rules/situations). Upon studying these different components, research has shown that each component is impacted by sleep in a unique way. With this in mind, the present study aimed to expand prior literature by conducting exploratory analysis on the impact of sleep quality/quantity and dysfunctional sleep cognitions on the three components of executive functioning. Further, exploratory moderation analyses were run to assess the impact of dysfunctional sleep cognitions on the relationship between sleep and the three distinct facets of executive functioning. In accordance with the literature, it was hypothesized that both sleep duration and sleep quality would be positively correlated with executive functioning abilities. It was also hypothesized that dysfunctional sleep beliefs would moderate the relationship between sleep duration/quality and executive functioning. The hypotheses were partially supported. The results revealed no significant associations between sleep duration or insomnia severity and objective executive functioning. However, both sleep duration and insomnia severity were significantly correlated with subjective executive functioning. In moderation analyses, dysfunctional sleep beliefs did not significantly affect objective executive functioning or moderate the relationship between insomnia severity and subjective executive functioning. However, these beliefs did moderate the relationship between sleep duration and subjective executive functioning; this pattern remained consistent across the facets of inhibition, cognitive flexibility, and working memory. Regarding specific predictors, sleep duration was found to influence overall subjective executive functioning, but not any of the specific executive functioning facets, suggesting that other factors may have a stronger influence on the individual components. In fact, the primary factor found to exert its effect over these three components was dysfunctional beliefs about sleep. However, this predictor effect, as well as any moderation effect, diminished when insomnia severity was included in the model, which may indicate that insomnia severity accounts for much of the variance attributed to dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Insomnia severity itself had a strong impact on perceived executive functioning, and when dissected, on the facets of inhibitory control and cognitive flexibility. However, insomnia severity did not significantly predict working memory scores, which may suggest that working memory may be more resistant to the effects of sleep disturbances and dysfunctional sleep beliefs. Clinical implications of these results are discussed, and future directions of this research are encouraged in order to continue growing the literature regarding the complex relationship between these variables.
CB_ Haviland Thesis - Ink and Inclusion - Grad School Submission
(East Carolina University, May 2025) Haviland, Molly Nicole
This thesis examines appearance-based hiring bias, focusing on the role of tattoos in influencing perceptions of job applicants. Specifically, it explores how age differences between participant (perceivers) and applicants (targets) affect evaluations of respect, liking, and person-environment fit, particularly in relation to perceptions of tattoos. Grounded in stigma theories and person-environment fit theories, this research aims to uncover whether tattoos, as a visible characteristic, exacerbate biases in hiring decisions and how these biases vary across age demographics. To test these relationships, a survey-based method will employ vignettes describing hypothetical job candidates, manipulating the presence or absence of tattoos and the age of the candidates to examine whether tattoo perceptions vary across different age groups. Results revealed that tattooed applicants were perceived as having significantly lower person-environment fit but unexpectedly higher liking, with no significant effect on respect. Age did not consistently moderate these relationships, though an interaction emerged for liking. Perceptions of workplace deviance and bias against younger individuals negatively influenced all outcome variables. A three-way interaction among tattoo presence, participant age, and applicant age did not significantly predict perceptions, though participant age influenced evaluations of older, non-tattooed applicants.
Investigating the Role of pH-sensing G Protein-Coupled Receptors GPR4 and GPR132 in Colorectal Cancer: Multi-Statistical, Survival, and Structural Analysis Approach
(East Carolina University, May 2025) Ochoa, Carlos Andres
Colorectal adenocarcinoma (COAD) is one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Understanding the molecular mechanisms that contribute to cancer progression is a critical step for identifying therapeutic targets to combat COAD. GPR4 and GPR132, which are pH sensing G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), have recently emerged as a point of interest and linked to tumor progression, tumor microenvironment, and molecular signaling pathways. However, despite this, the roles these GPCRs play are still not fully understood. This study investigates the clinical and structural relevance of GPR4 and GPR132 in COAD through gene expression, survival, and structural analyses.
Gene expression and clinical data were collected from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and analyzed using various statistical and survival methods. Statistical tests and survival models revealed an increase in GPR4 expression and that higher stages were significantly associated with worsening patient survival outcomes, which suggests GPR4 to be a potential biomarker and therapeutic target. In contrast GPR132 showed a limited amount of clinical significance and was hindered by a lack of comprehensive clinical data. Additionally, AlphaFold and APBS were used to model wildtype and mutation GPR4 structures and electrostatic potential (ESP) maps across different pH levels. While electrostatic differences were inconclusive and need further in-depth investigation, structural comparisons discovered notable spatial changes between the transmembrane domain that contains position 115 and two other transmembrane domains. Overall, this study highlights prognostic potential in COAD and provides preliminary insights into how mutations may influence its structure and function.
NOT JUMPING ON THE BANDWAGON: OLDER WORKERS’ PERCEPTIONS OF INJUSTICE IN AI IN SELECTION PROCESSES
(East Carolina University, May 2025) Ruiz, Justin Raynor
Technological advances are revolutionizing the world of work, with their integration into the workplace on the rise. Artificial intelligence (AI) exemplifies this trend as its adoption in organizational operations grows. However, its use in HR processes, particularly in selection, has prompted researchers to explore how workers perceive AI and its impact on procedural justice and organizational attractiveness. Often seen as a “black box,” AI’s opaque decision-making can potentially create perceptions of unfairness and unattractiveness. These perceptions may vary across social groups, particularly age, as older workers are often more critical of technology implementation due to their contextual experiences. To date, no research has examined how workers of different ages perceive AI usage in selection. Given that older and younger workers may view procedural justice differently, this study explores the moderating role of age in perceptions of AI in selection and its influence on intentions to apply. By merging research on aging, AI in the workplace, procedural justice, and organizational attractiveness, the study can better identify how AI impacts perceptions of the organization. Theoretically, this study is the first to consider age perceptions in relation to perceptions of AI usage in selection. In the practice realm, this study aims to inform organizations of best practices when selecting older employees to avoid issues such as adverse impact.