Digital Commons Network^™

Exploring The Impact And Challenges Of Global Business Courses In Higher Education: Perspectives Of Teachers And Students, Maged Eid, Razan Baradhi, Laurent Yacoub, Nada Jabbour Al Maalouf

Arab Economic and Business Journal

This study evaluates the impact and challenges of the "Global Business Core" course, where students from various countries engage in online, synchronous discussions via videoconferencing to explore life-related topics and intercultural learning. By focusing on the perspectives of both students and instructors, this qualitative study offers an in-depth understanding of how global business education shapes participants' experiences. Data were collected through unstructured interviews with 15 students, 5 instructors across 6 countries, and the director of global academic initiatives. The data were manually processed using a coding process in line with thematic analysis, which involved identifying key patterns and themes from …

Synthesis And Characterization Of Water Soluble Thiosemicarbazone-Alkylthiocarbamate Ligands And Their Cu(Ii) Complexes, John J. Garvey Iv, Sanjit Karki, Haixun Guo, Levi J. Beverly, Craig A. Grapperhaus, Robert M. Buchanan

The Cardinal Edge

Thiosemicarbazone-alkylthiocarbamate N₂S₂ hybrid ligands are emerging as an important class of potential bioactive molecules that possess important pharmacokinetic properties. Resulting metal complexes have electronic properties that are composites of their homolog forms, bis-thiosemicarbazones and bis-alkylthiocarbamates, allowing for tuning redox potentials over a nearly 450 mV range. These versatile ligand frameworks possess remarkable antiproliferation activity against a broad range of solid tumors and low toxicity towards normal cells¹ indicating great promise for future drug development. Herein, we describe recent synthetic efforts to improve water solubility of thiosemicarbazone-alkylthiocarbamate hybrid ligand Cu(II) complexes. The parent 4-methyl-3-thiosemicarbazide half arm was …

Exploring The Relationship Between Digital Homework Adherence And Eating Disorder Symptoms, Melanie Mcdonough

The Cardinal Edge

Given the high mortality and relapse rates associated with anorexia nervosa, and the limited efficacy of existing treatments, especially those utilized (Peterson, et al., 2016), recent research has highlighted the potential of digital programs to address these barriers and enhance treatment engagement (Stewart, et al., 2021). Purpose: To investigate whether higher engagement throughout treatment is related to less eating disorder behaviors though a digital treatment program. Hypothesis: Participants with higher levels of engagement in treatment will report fewer eating disorder behaviors posttreatment. Methods: Participants (N = 10; Mage = 32.3, SD = 2.78) were diagnosed with active anorexia nervosa (50%), …

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 …

Characterizing Leaf Endophyte Composition In The Dune Grass Ammophila Breviligulata, Nabaa Q. Majeed, Nabaa Majeed, Connor Morozumi, Sarah Hobbs

The Cardinal Edge

Microorganisms living within plants play crucial roles in their health and function, yet these diverse communities that make up the plant microbiome remain poorly understood. The dune grass Ammophila breviligulata. is an ecosystem engineer which helps to build and stabilize dune ecosystems effectively acting as a buffer against storms to coastal communities. It is currently unknown whether the Ammophila microbiome plays a role in this plant species’ ability to transform dune ecosystems.. In this study, we assessed fungal diversity of endophytes—microbes living within plant tissues— in Ammophila leaves collected from Leelanau State Park, MI along the eastern shores of Lake …

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 …

Is Menstrual Equity Real In The U.S.?, Mariana Meneses, Eve Polley

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

A Novel Arsenic Methyltransferase Splice Variant Expressed In Human Keratinocytes, Caitlin H. Reynolds, Alexandra N. Nail, Miroslav Styblo, Peter Cable, J. Christopher States

The Cardinal Edge

Chronic inorganic arsenic (iAs) exposure from contaminated drinking water is a global issue that impacts over 220 million people worldwide. iAs is a Group 1 human carcinogen. Skin lesions, including skin cancer, are hallmarks of arsenic toxicity. Arsenic methyltransferase (AS3MT) is required for the biotransformation of iAs to monomethyl-As (MMA^V and MMA^III) and MMA to dimethyl-As (DMA^V and DMA^III), and the iAs:MMA:DMA ratio determines arsenic clearance and toxicity. Both trivalent MMA (MMA^III) and DMA (DMA^III) are exceedingly more toxic compared to iAs and may promote toxic and carcinogenic effects associated …

An Fmri Analysis Of The Subjective Experience Of Recent And Remote Autobiographical Memories, Ava G. Peruski, Brendan E. Depue

The Cardinal Edge

Autobiographical memory plays a crucial role in shaping one’s identity and maintaining one’s sense of continuity from past to present. This study strove to deepen the understanding of the neural correlates underlying individual subjective experience of autobiographical memory. We recruited twenty healthy adult participants, who were asked to generate memory cues for both objects and locations from their present and early life (recent/remote). Participants were subsequently shown these cues and asked to recall the associated memory while in an fMRI scanner. Participants were finally asked to rate the memories on various subjective categories (i.e. arousal, frequency, importance, vividness)(behavioral ratings). Our …

Human Population Density Effects On American Robins Telomeres., Sarah G. Holland

The Cardinal Edge

Telomeres are repeated sequences of DNA that act as caps at the end of chromosomes. Telomeres aid in cell division and shorten each time a cell divides. Stress reactions in the body may lead to accelerated telomere shortening; therefore, examining telomere length may give insight into current and past stress trends within an organism. In this research, we seek to investigate a possible correlation between human population density and stress reactions in birds. To do this, we obtained blood samples from American robins (Turdus migratorius) in areas of varying population density, and through DNA extractions and telomere assays, we …

Exploratory Learning Improves Conceptual Knowledge And Can Eliminate Underrepresented Student Achievement Gaps In Physics, Caroline Wilson

The Cardinal Edge

Exploratory learning introduces students to a novel problem before they receive instruction about the procedures and concepts. Active learning has sometimes been found to support underrepresented (UR) students in STEM. As a form of active learning, exploratory learning may also have this benefit for UR students. In this study, we looked at how exploratory learning can improve conceptual understanding and reduce the achievement gap between UR students and non-UR students in an undergraduate physics course. We randomly assigned students (N=185) into two groups: instruct first (n=89) or explore-first (n=96). In instruct-first, students listened to …

Exploring The Relationship Between Digital Homework Adherence And Eating Disorder Symptoms., Melanie D. Mcdonough

The Cardinal Edge

Given the high mortality and relapse rates associated with anorexia nervosa, and the limited efficacy of existing treatments, especially those utilized (Peterson, et al., 2016), recent research has highlighted the potential of digital programs to address these barriers and enhance treatment engagement (Stewart, et al., 2021). Purpose: To investigate whether higher engagement throughout treatment is related to less eating disorder behaviors though a digital treatment program. Hypothesis: Participants with higher levels of engagement in treatment will report fewer eating disorder behaviors posttreatment. Methods: Participants (N = 10; Mage = 32.3, SD = 2.78) were diagnosed with active anorexia nervosa (50%), …

Increased Neuroinflammation And Compromised Blood Brain Barrier In A Mouse Model Of Autism, Amani S. Ikram, Rekha Jagadapillai, Idil Tuncali, Gregory N. Barnes, Evelyne Gozal

The Cardinal Edge

No abstract provided.

Developing Racial Centrality: Examining Impacts Of Neighborhood-Level Racial Composition, Malyah A. Spencer, Shequanna Belizaire, Yara Mekawi

The Cardinal Edge

Racial identity among Black Americans has been a topic of psychological study in the United States for decades (Sellers et al., 1997, Sellers & Shelton, 2003, Chin et al., 2023). However, there is not ample research on what factors are associated with racial identity. In the literature on racial identity, there is some evidence that the racial composition of a neighborhood may impact racial identity development (Banks, 1984, Franklin-Jackson et al., 2007, Hurd et al., 2013, Deangelis, 2022) however, few studies have attempted to examine this relationship across a broader national sample with a focus specifically on racial centrality. Racial …

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

Dendrochronological Dating Of The Duncan Tavern, Paris, Kentucky, Usa, Delaney Ballard, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

Duncan Tavern is a historical structure located at 323 High Street in Paris, Kentucky in Bourbon County. The structure currently serves as the headquarters for the Kentucky Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (KSDAR). KSDAR maintains that Duncan Tavern was originally built in the mid-1790s; the land was purchased in 1792 by Joseph Duncan, a civilian armorer in the Revolutionary War. Although Duncan Tavern has been listed on the National Register of Historical Places since 1973, a dendrochronological study of this structure was requested to quantitatively examine the legitimacy of archival and anecdotal claims about the construction history. …

An Analysis Of Active Galactic Nuclei In Diverse Galactic Environments, Divya A. Patel, Clayton Robertson, Dr. Benne Holwerda

The Cardinal Edge

This study examines the active galactic nuclei (AGNs), where the active supermassive black holes reside. Using the Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey data, the main goal is to search three regions of space—filament, tendril, and void space—for AGNs. Active black holes are notorious for their violent activities through space, as they intensely spew out amounts of matter. Such behavior can be observed using the Baldwin-Philips-Terlevich (BPT) diagrams, which use ratios of emission lines to understand the astrophysical characteristics of various objects. To enhance the precision of the BPT diagrams, there was a focus on the red part of the …

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 …

Comparing Climate Growth Of Oak And Tulip Poplar Species In Bernheim Forest, Kentucky, Usa Using Dendrochronological Methods, Jacob G. Brown, Jordan Sharp, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

Jordan Sharp and Jacob Brown

Department of Geographical and Environmental Sciences, University of Louisville

Title: Comparing Climate Growth of Oak and Tulip Poplar Species in Bernheim Forest, Kentucky, USA using Dendrochronological Methods

Abstract:

With climate change, the state of Kentucky is expected to face increases in hydrological variability and extremes. To understand more about future projections, past climatic conditions can be analyzed with proxy-based data sources. Tree-rings provide annual to sub-annual resolution that can be used for proxy-based climate reconstructions. Kentucky, however, lacks tree-ring data and this leaves the state understudied from a high temporal and spatial resolution paleo perspective. …

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 …

Investigating Drought Response And Paleoclimate Potential Of A New Network Of White Oak Chronologies In Western Kentucky, Usa, Audrey J. Heichelbech, Megan Gibson, Maegen Rochner

The Cardinal Edge

In Kentucky, historic and paleo-climate data are limited, and current understanding of long-term climate change in the state relies on instrumental data spanning only 1895-present. Proxy data are necessary to extend the temporal and spatial span of climate information. One potential proxy source for Kentucky is tree ring data, but currently, only four such datasets are publicly available on the International Tree Ring Data Bank (ITRDB). Archaeological and archival timber sources may help to fill in this gap. In the 1940s, Florence Hawley-Ellis, the first woman dendrochronologist, collected samples of white oak (Quercus alba L.) from four counties in western …

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 …

Studying Organic Chemistry Students’ Scientific Modeling Practices Through A Semi-Structured Interview, Daniel Mays, Morgan Balabanoff

The Cardinal Edge

Many areas of natural science deal with unobservable phenomena. Scientists develop and use models to make sense of these aspects of nature. Chemistry is certainly no exception – in fact, given the molecular nature of chemical interactions, the modern understanding of chemistry is largely based on well-established scientific models. Because models are so important in chemistry, understanding how students develop and use models in the learning process stands to offer key insights into how to better teach chemistry. This project is focused on exploring how students of organic chemistry develop and use scientific models to predict the outcome of reactions. …

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 …

Investigating Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi-Cover Crop Interactions To Improve Sustainable Agricultural Practices, Isabel M. Zanartu, Connor Morozumi, Natalie Christian

The Cardinal Edge

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) are fungal species that form beneficial relationships with plants. AMFs are known to help crops acquire important nutrients like nitrogen and phosphorus in the soil, and in return the plants provide carbon to the fungi. At least 80% of all plants partner with AMFs including staple crops such as rice, corn, wheat and soybeans. With so many plants likely relying on AMFs, current farming practices such as planting in monocultures and fallow overwintering may limit these relationships. On top of this, climate change challenges the reliability of these practices in the future. One sustainable agricultural practice …

Serving The Voiceless: Investigating Local Organizations For Immigrant Empowerment, Aliyah Whitfield, Kiya Demps, Chance Brown, Daniel Kabithe, Acia Diallo

The Cardinal Edge

This research project delves into the landscape of community organizations that serve the immigrant population in Louisville, Kentucky, focusing on 6 key entities: La Casita Center, Kentucky Refugee Ministries, Catholic Charities of Louisville, English Conversation Club, Backside Learning Center, and American Community Center. Through a combination of interviews, phone calls and research, the study discovered the roles, missions, and offered services by each organization. Through these methods, the study identified some of the critical needs within the immigrant community and examined how these organizations address them. Not only did the finding highlight the importance of services provided, but it also …

Low Concentrations Of Hexavalent Chromium In Drinking Water Induce Alzheimer’S Disease Neuropathology: Using A Toxic Aging Coin Approach To Assess Hexavalent Chromium Neurotoxicity, Liam Buchanan, Samuel Vielee, Spencer Roof, Haiyan Lu, Jamie L Young, Idoia Meaza Isusi, Aggie Williams, Joseph Kouokam, Sandra Wise, Luping Guo, Jun Cai, John Wise, John P. Wise Jr.

The Cardinal Edge

Introduction: We are currently facing an aging crisis, as 20% of the U.S. population will be geriatric (65+) by 2030. This growing geriatric population will result in increasing prevalence of age-related diseases, coinciding with increasingly prevalent environmental pollution. Environmental pollution is a ubiquitous health threat that affects people at all ages and contributes to aging pathology. However, geriatric individuals are likely more susceptible to the negative health effects from environmental pollution. The distinct effects of environmental pollutants across age groups are currently understudied. We use a Toxic Aging Coin approach to investigate: 1) how age impacts toxicity (heads), …