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Evaluating The Safety Of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors And Combination Therapies In The Management Of Brain Metastases: A Comprehensive Review, Vivek Mishra, Tulika Ranjan, Arun Maharaj, Manmeet Ahluwalia

All Publications

No abstract provided.

Greenspace Variation And Its Effect On Telomere Length In The American Robin Dna, Valentina Rodriguez-Munoz, Elise Mittlestat, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Green spaces is a crucial component of our environment, and a contributor to relieving stress in human and wildlife health. Stress is one of the causing factors for a shorter lifespan in humans and other animals by directly accelerating the shortening length of the telomeres in our DNA. In this study we investigated to what extent urban vegetation explain telomere length in the American Robins Turdus migratorius living in the Louisville area. Specifically, we predicted that lower amount of vegetation will be associated with shorter telomeres. We caught the birds using mist nets, we collected blood samples, extracted DNA, and …

The Impact Of Air Pollution On The Cardiovascular System In American Robins: No2 Levels' And Ultrafine Particulate Levels' Correlation To The Ratio Of Immature To Mature Erythrocytes, Lauren A. Stine, Mikus Abolins-Abols

The Cardinal Edge

Abstract

Humans and animals, especially in an urban environment, are constantly ingesting air pollution. Since the industrial lifestyle is preferred or simply mandatory for many, the exact impacts of concentrated air pollution ingestion, especially on the cardiovascular system, needs to be unambiguous. It has already been seen that high levels of exposure to air pollution are correlated with increased rates of anemia in humans (Honda et al., 2017), (Morales-Ancajima et al., 2019), (Elbarbary et al., 2020), (Mehta et al., 2021). Further data indicates that air pollution ingestion may even directly cause some detrimental pro-inflammatory and oxidant-inducing effects on the cardiovascular …

Effects Of Sex, Cadmium, And High-Fat Diet On Accumulation Of Essential Metals In Mouse Kidneys., Justin Y. Xu, Adam Gaweda, Michelle Barati, Micheal Merchant, Jun Cai, Lu Cai, Madhavi J. Rane

The Cardinal Edge

Effects of cadmium and obesity on accumulation of essential metals in mouse kidney were evaluated. Starting in utero and continuing until 24 weeks postweaning, male/female mice were exposed to cadmium (0, 0.5, or 5 ppm) and were fed on Normal Diet (ND)/High-Fat Diet (HFD) post weaning. ICP-MS analysis was performed to evaluate cadmium and essential metals absorbed in the kidneys of aforementioned mice. Metals data obtained was analyzed using MANOVA with multiple comparisons (Bonferroni correction with p

Old Vs. New: An Experiment On The Efficacy Of Complexity-Focused Reproductive Biology Lectures For Undergraduate Biology Students, Ive N. Muse, Shraddha Patel, Linda Fuselier

The Cardinal Edge

Old vs. New: An Experiment on the Efficacy of Complexity-focused Reproductive Biology Lectures for Undergraduate Biology Students

Muse, Ive N.; Patel, Shraddha; Fuselier, Linda

Abstract

Undergraduate reproductive biology courses are traditionally taught in a reductive manner, prioritizing a binary understanding of sex which oversimplifies reproductive behaviors and reproductive system development across diverse taxa. Although this binary approach to lessons on reproduction is intended to benefit students in learning foundational human reproductive concepts, it does not teach the most recent research in reproductive biology, which identifies reproductive variation as the norm. The current study designed and implemented a lesson on reproductive …

Using Rangewide Distribution Maps To Understand Tick Species Occurrence In Louisville, Ky, Ilham H. Al Amayreh, Mallory Harmel, Rachel Pigg

The Cardinal Edge

Ticks, though intriguing, come with inherent risks due to the diseases they carry, such as Lyme disease, or the allergies they cause, such as Alpha Gal syndrome. Understanding the distribution of ticks and the diseases they harbor is vital for effective prevention strategies. Among the most prevalent tick species in Louisville, KY are the Lonestar tick (Amblyomma americanum) and the deer tick (Ixodes scapularis); however, the Lonestar tick is much more prevalent than any other tick species. We expanded our study to the continental scale to investigate why Lonestar ticks were so abundant in Louisville. We downloaded research-grade citizen science …

A Scaly Science: Using Citizen Science To Predict Where Snakes Are Found In Louisville, Sarah E. Bridges, Mallory Harmel, Rachel Pigg

The Cardinal Edge

Researching snakes in Jefferson County, Kentucky is important to help wildlife managers conserve snake species while also mitigating human-wildlife conflict. Using citizen science data, we can determine where snakes have been seen in the past, and then use that data to predict venomous and nonvenomous presence throughout the county and how their mode of transportation impacts snake presence. We compiled research-grade citizen science data from two websites: iDigBio and iNaturalist. Each species was then classified by their mode of transportation (terrestrial, aquatic, fossorial) and as either venomous or nonvenomous. We created a preliminary species distribution model using BioClim data to …

North American Sucker Fish Diets In The Face Of Ecological Challenges (Catostomidae), Anesa Hozdic, Matthew Kolmann

The Cardinal Edge

Basic biological information, like fecundity, age at maturity, habitat occupation and range size, are critically important for conserving species under threat. However, funding for this sort of research is limited, especially for aquatic vertebrates like fishes, which have restricted ranges and are under threat from changes in land-use and watershed alteration. The suckers (Family Catostomidae) are freshwater fishes native to North America (and one species from China). Most species are presumed to be detritivorous, that is, feed on decaying plant and animal matter; however, the diet diversity of this family has never been analyzed at an evolutionary scale. Suckers are …

Investigating Factors Influencing Science Student Retention, Hayley Benson, Morgan Balabanoff

The Cardinal Edge

Retention in and across STEM degrees has been a significant problem across institutions. By the time students have reached their third year, the University of Louisville has lost over 50% of the students who entered as first-year students.

The main objective of this study is to investigate variables such as sense of belonging, student’s mindset, and science identity and their relationship with retention in STEM degrees. While many studies have identified gaps among student groups across these variables, few studies have generated solutions to address these gaps. Further, the proposed solutions are often from the viewpoint of researchers and upper …

The Anti-Diabetic Drug Metformin Disrupts Feeding And Sleeping Behaviors In Drosophila Melanogaster, Lucas Fitzgerald

The Cardinal Edge

Dimethylbiguanide, also known as metformin, is the single most prescribed oral treatment for non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, or type 2 diabetes, in western countries. The primary mechanism of action that metformin acts through is the activation of AMP kinase, an important regulator of energy homeostasis. While the anti-diabetic effects of metformin are well documented, its effects on feeding and sleeping behaviors are not well characterized. Using the model organism Drosophila melanogaster, the mean daily quantity of food consumed was measured and compared between groups treated with several dosages of metformin. Feeding interactions such as meal frequency and length were …

Cumin Seed Extracts Can Affect The Expression Of P53 In Triple Negative Breast Cancer, Krista A. Wheeler, Jared L. Scott, David Schultz

The Cardinal Edge

Breast cancer is the second leading cause of death amoung women after heart disease. One of the deadliest types of breast cancer, triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), is resistant to many chemotherapy drugs. Chemotherapeutics that can inhibit TNBC growth are needed to combat this form of cancer. Historically, natural compounds found in plants have been studied for their effectiveness at limiting cancer cell growth while also reducing negative side effects due to lower toxicity to healthy cells. Many chemotherapeutics have serious side effects that can result in reduced treatment compliance, often leading to the recurrence of more aggressive and recalcitrant …

Restoring History: Evaluating The Rehydration Potential Of Fish Specimens From A Forgotten Ichthyology Collection, Joseph Donohue, Matthew Kolmann, Emmy Delekta

The Cardinal Edge

Natural history collections are invaluable resources that document the record of Earth’s biodiversity. Such collections house physical specimens that can often be used in research and education (e.g., teaching tools for classes and public outreach events). The William Clay Ichthyology Collection at the University of Louisville contains thousands of fish specimens collected over the past century from locations in and around Kentucky, North America, Central and South America, and even Lake Malawi in Africa. Despite the incredible assortment of specimens present, this collection fell into disarray as departmental interests shifted over the last twenty-five years. This led to the desiccation …

Assessing The Bioactivity Of Salvia Phytochemicals Against Breast Cancers, Allison C. Portaro, Jared L. Scott, David J. Schultz

The Cardinal Edge

Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers diagnosed in adults, with 2.3 million new cases worldwide in 2020. Plants have been used in traditional medicine and are a potential source of pharmaceuticals. One example is the large Lamiaceae (mint) family. The Salvia genus, commonly known as the sages, is the largest genus in Lamiaceae with almost 900 known species. Different species of salvia are found in parts of the US, and some have a history in traditional medicine to treat cancers and other ailments. Preliminary research on three salvia species (S. lyrata, S. lyrata var. Purple …

How Medical Students Address Mental Health During Standardized Patient Interactions, Bhoomi S. Shah, Laura Weingartner, Emily J. Noonan

The Cardinal Edge

How Medical Students Address Mental Health during Standardized Patient Interactions

Bhoomi Shah B.S. Candidate; Emily J Noonan, PhD, MA; Laura A. Weingartner, PhD, MS

BACKGROUND:

As mental health needs are increasingly recognized around the world, it has become an increasingly important topic within medical education to ensure that medical professionals are well-prepared to address these concerns and provide adequate mental health care to patients. Our research examines the language that medical students used to assess and address mental health concerns during clinical skills training.

METHODS:

We observed standardized patient interactions with 85 medical students from the University of Louisville School …

The Effect Of Prenatal Vape Exposure On Liver Gene Expression In Weanling Mice, Mindy Yin, Selma Podbicanin, Bella Fieger, Nina Pauig, Katelyn Chism, Lucas Georges, Isaiah Burciaga, Cynthia Corbitt, Rachel Neal

The Cardinal Edge

The use of E-cigarettes is a fairly recent phenomenon. Vaping is thought of as the “healthier” alternative to smoking cigarettes, yet we know little about the developmental toxicity of commercially available vaping products. The Barker Hypothesis (or the Developmental Basis of Adult Disease Hypothesis) proposes that developmental nutrient restriction or toxicant exposure increases the risk of diseases later in life such as cardiovascular disease, fatty liver, and metabolic diseases. In this study, adult female C57Bl/6 mice were exposed to Vuse™ Alto Golden Tobacco pods (5% nicotine) 4 days before mating and throughout gestation (GD19) for 1 hour/day each day. Offspring …

The Role Of Adhd As A Risk Factor In Alzheimer's Disease, Evelyn Fulmer

The Cardinal Edge

In recent years, the prevalence of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) has increased significantly. While these disorders initially seem unrelated, ADHD and AD pose similarities that indicate a more involved relationship between them. To understand this relationship, this review delves into the current research proposing ADHD as a potential risk factor in the development of Alzheimer's disease, examining genetic predispositions, shared risk factors, and affected mechanistic pathways that influence the aging process.

The Relationship Between Protein Synthesis And Aging, Christopher A. Jackel

The Cardinal Edge

Aging is a complex process influenced by various cellular mechanisms, with several distinctive features associated with its progression. Among the hallmarks of aging is the loss of proteostasis, or disruption in the balance of proteins within the cell. Recent research has made significant strides in unraveling the intricate relationship between proteostasis and aging. Notably, studies have demonstrated that decreased protein synthesis can extend the healthspan of organisms. Moreover, inhibition of mechanistic target of rapamycin (mTOR) complex 1 has been shown to selectively reduce the lifespan limiting proteins while promoting autophagy, thereby extending organismal lifespan. Thus, this paper aims to review …

The Impact Of Chronic Stress On The Aging Process, Toriana Alfieri

The Cardinal Edge

Chronic stress can be characterized as a prolonged stressor that negatively impacts one’s life and has been associated with a variety of adverse health outcomes, including cardiovascular disease and immune system suppression. Given that chronic stress undeniably impacts health as a whole, it is reasonable to assume that it may also affect the aging process. The purpose of this literature review is to investigate the impact of chronic stress on the aging process with a specific focus on the 12 hallmarks of aging: genomic instability, telomere attrition, epigenetic alterations, loss of proteostasis, disabled macroautophagy, deregulated nutrient-sensing, mitochondrial dysfunction, cellular senescence, …

Anti-Aging Properties Of Cosmetics, Anna Lipinski

The Cardinal Edge

It is well established that external factors, specifically UV exposure, are among the highest contributors to the biological aging of the skin. Prolonged exposure may disrupt skin cell homeostasis through shifts in proteostasis, accumulation of reactive oxidative species, premature cellular senescence, and inflammatory pathways. Cosmetic companies have responded to this by producing products marketed as "youthful" and "anti-aging" by including specific compounds into formulas to combat skin aging. This review discusses the specific mechanisms of anti-aging formulas, including polyphenols as senotherapeutic agents and L-ascorbic acid as an anti-inflammatory compound, in resisting the biological aging of the skin.

A Hopeful Overview On Aging, Rafael Demarco

The Cardinal Edge

N/A

Sdf-1Α Mediates Primary Tumor Escape In Glioblastoma Through Activation Of Mesenchymal Transitions, Charles T. Froman-Glover

The Cardinal Edge

Glioblastoma (GBM), a highly aggressive primary brain tumor originating in glial cells, poses a significant challenge due to its rapid growth and invasive nature within healthy brain tissue.

Current treatments involve surgical resection, chemotherapy, and radiation. These treatments alone are not enough to cure this disease, and a better understanding of the mechanics of the tumor's micro-environment is imperative to furthering the field of cancer research. This research focuses on understanding the tumor microenvironment's impact, specifically investigating the role of stromal cell-derived factor 1 (SDF-1) mechanics on GBM aggressiveness. SDF-1 is known to facilitate disease progression by facilitating chemotaxis toward …

Resilience And Evolution: The Transformative Impact Of The Black Death On Women’S Roles In Medieval England, Kaylee N. Vitato

The Cardinal Edge

"Resilience and Evolution: The Transformative Impact of the Black Death on Women’s Roles in Medieval England" delves into the nuanced effects of the Black Death on gender dynamics in medieval England. While there were positive shifts in attitudes toward women's roles, persistent challenges, such as unequal employment conditions, lower wages compared to men, and negative household stereotypes, endured. The research examines alterations in labor markets, inheritance norms, property laws, and domestic dynamics to uncover the multifaceted impact of the Black Death on the evolution of women's roles. Despite emerging opportunities for women in previously male-dominated spheres, the analysis also reveals …

Can Men Be Feminists?, Abigail M Stanger

The Cardinal Edge

At the emergence of the feminist movements of the mid-nineteenth century, women advocated for and eventually gained the right to make their voices heard in the political arena. As feminism has evolved to campaign for social, economic, and further political equality among genders, the question of who can be a feminist remains a topic of debate. This presentation will first attempt to define feminism historically and in the modern sense, then ponder the evolving definition of a man in relation to their potential role or lack thereof in the modern feminist movement.

Louisville’S Roots In Pollution: A Battle Against Environmental Injustice, Harshith Gontla, Sireen Khader, Rianna Pais, Swetha S. Nathan

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Cambodian American Parents Perspectives And Knowledge Of Special Education Supports For Their Children With Disabilities, Robai N. Werunga, Minjeong Kim, Rocio Rosales

Journal of Southeast Asian American Education and Advancement

Knowledge of the special education process has been found to enhance parental involvement with collateral effects of positive school outcomes for students with disabilities. Although research on immigrant families with children with disabilities has increased in recent years, there is limited research specific to Southeast Asian American (SEAA) families, and that of Cambodian American families, in particular. In this study authors examined the perspectives and knowledge of Cambodian American parents regarding disabilities, special education services and supports provided to their children with disabilities, and the extent to which these perspectives and their knowledge impacted their level of engagement in their …

Vol. 9, No. 4, Glen Goodknight

Mythprint

Mythprint is the monthly bulletin of the Mythopoeic Society, a nonprofit educational organization devoted to the study, discussion, and enjoyment of myth and fantasy literature, especially the works of J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. Lewis, and Charles Williams. To promote these interests, the Society publishes three magazines, maintains a World Wide Web site, and sponsors the annual Mythopoeic Conference and awards for fiction and scholarship, as well as local and written discussion groups.

Complete Issue - Vol. 86, No. 3 And 4

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

Book Reviews, William S. Belko, Kenneth V. Anthony, Toby Glenn Bates, Jeffery B. Howell, Kristy Wittman Howell, Brianna Otero, Charles J. Pellegrin, Ryan P. Semmes

Journal of Mississippi History

Reviews of:

Old Southwest to Old South: Mississippi, 1798-1840 By Mike Bunn and Clay Williams (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2023.

William Barksdale, CSA: A Biography of the United States Congressman and Confederate Brigadier General Changed Everything. By John Douglas Ashton (Jefferson, N.C.: McFarland & Company, Inc. Publishers, 2021.

A Hound Dog Tale: Big Mama, Elvis, and the Song that Changed Everything. By Ben Wynne. (Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 2024.

Outliving the White Lie: A Southerner’s Historical, Genealogical, and Personal Journey. By James Wiggins. (Jackson: University Press of Mississippi, 2024.

Degrees of Equality: Abolitionist Colleges …

"A Hard Place To Be Well": Soldiers' Health And The Environment During The Vicksburg Campaign, Lindsay Rae Smith Privette

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

“My Pregnant Man Story”: “Bloodchild” As A Means Of Discussing Reproductive Rights, Ashley Lear

Feminist Pedagogy

Restrictions on reproductive health education in Florida have resulted in misinformation and taboos that could be addressed through parallels in science fiction. As Paweł Frelik, University of Warsaw Professor of American Studies, reminds us, science fiction is a “cultural discourse,” in which “fantastic figures such as aliens, clones, and cyborgs are allegories of race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, able-bodiedness, and other dimensions of individual subjectivity.” Octavia Butler’s short story “Bloodchild” (1995) will be used in this activity to discuss reproductive rights with students in the wake of so many legal challenges to those same rights. Butler, inspired by her own fears …