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Sunrise On the Reaping: Teaching Appalachian History With The Hunger Games
No full textThe residents of the Appalachian region have long been mischaracterized as primitive hillbillies, a seeming smear campaign by an oppressive upper class bent on erasing a history of righteous rebellion, community, and dignity. Appalachia’s story is one of people banding together to demand and create a better world for themselves and their descendants, and this story is both reimagined and retold through a dystopian science fiction lens by Suzanne Collins’ in her trilogy The Hunger Games. The history of Kentucky’s Appalachia seems to walk hand in hand with the story of Panem’s District 12– Collins’ work can and should be used to teach Appalachian history, and has the power to dissolve stereotypes about that history and her citizens
The Wave Has Rolled Upon the Rock: The Viability of Pickett\u27s Charge
No full textThis paper examines the viability of the famous military action at the Battle of Gettysburg known as “Pickett’s Charge.” It argues that the charge was not a stratagem capable of success, based on the testimonies of men on the ground on both sides of the fight, such as General James Longstreet, Major Henry Livermore Abbott, and Brigadier General Richard Garnett, as well as articles on the subject from historians from reputable publications such as Smithsonian and Defense Horizons. The finding of this paper is that, barring a miracle for the charging Confederates, that the charge was a severe miscalculation that ought not to have been implemented. By highlighting this perspective, this paper contributes to the broader discussion of the Civil War and attempts to center the origin of this failed stratagem on General Robert E. Lee, who planned and ordered the charge, rather than convenient scapegoats who are not so lionized in the post-Civil War past
Singing (or Cursing) in the Rain: Gender Differences in Weather Preferences
No full textPrior research interprets women’s behavioral changes in response to weather as evidence of greater affective or biological sensitivity (e.g., Govind et al., 2020; Jiao et al., 2021; Schmidt et al., 2013). For example, Govind and colleagues (2020) found that when the weather is bad, women consume more hedonic goods/services (e.g., alcohol, the movies). However, this explanation may be overly reductive. Rather than stemming from emotional vulnerability, these findings may reflect differences in self-presentation demands between genders. Women, for instance, face greater social and cultural pressure to maintain certain appearance standards, which are directly influenced by environmental factors such as humidity, temperature, and precipitation. Poor weather conditions may thus constrain women’s ability to meet appearance-related norms, influencing their mood and behavioral choices—not because they are inherently more reactive or affective, but because the social costs of not maintaining appearance standards are higher. Conversely, men’s self-presentation norms are generally less tied to environmental appearance cues, and more tied to achievement cues, which may explain their apparent behavioral stability across weather conditions (Brown, et al., 1998; Haferkamp et. al, 2012). The current study was conducted to examine if weather affects observable behaviors of self-presentation in both genders differently.
The data was gathered via pencil/paper surveys given to participants in various places (e.g., library, classrooms, dining halls) at a midwestern public university. Participants (N=99; 59 females, 37 males, and 3 nonbinary) were simply asked if they would like to complete a brief survey. The participants ranged in age from 18 to 61 years (M=22.31 SD=8.95) and contained, students, faculty, and staff. The sample was predominately white (N=83)
Health on a Budget: The Challenge of DASH Diet Affordability for Low-Income Families
No full textHypertension rates in Kentucky are approximately nine percent higher than the nationally reported average, a paramount issue to its inhabitants. Doubly affecting low-income Kentuckians, hypertension rates raise seventeen percent when their yearly income is twenty-five thousand dollars versus if the amount was doubled. The federal poverty level for a family of four sits just above the lower end of the income spectrum, urging more conversation around Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) eligibility and allotments. However, SNAP eligibility is highly dependent on the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Thrifty Food Plan, a plan intentionally tailored to a family of four. Given the staggering rates of hypertension within the state, the evidence-based Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) eating plan serves to tackle the hypertensive trends, offering heart-healthy options centered around fruits, vegetables, and whole grains.
This study aims to determine if a low-income family of four can afford to follow the DASH eating plan for one-week based on the USDA’s Thrifty Food Plan budget. Utilizing an accredited DASH menu and an online cost calculation platform, we hypothesize that a low-income household of four would not be able to afford the DASH plan, although these individuals would statistically benefit from it the most. The results of this study are believed to have several clinical, public health, and policy implications for the Commonwealth and beyond
Neither Excellent Nor Inclusive: Understanding Food Insecurity At The University of Louisville
No full textExisting literature has shown a rise in food insecurity among university students. As defined by the USDA, food insecurity is a social and economic condition of limited or uncertain access to nutritional or adequate food. Previous surveys have shown that ⅙ of Kentuckians and ⅕ of Kentucky children experience food insecurity. This figure is even higher among college students nationwide, with 47% of students experiencing food insecurity at the average 4-year public institution. A 2021 survey conducted with University of Louisville students showed that 51% experienced food insecurity, higher than the national average. Using the university’s stated institutional values of excellence and inclusivity as a framework, this study examines the causes of food insecurity among students at the University of Louisville and its effects on their lived experiences. I found that the system through which the University of Louisville gives students access to food is deeply flawed, leading to a negative impact on the eating habits of students. This, I argue, represents an abject failure of the university to live up to its stated values of excellence and inclusion. Similar to existing studies, the flaws of the campus food system has led to unnecessary hunger and lower academic performance in the student body. Additionally, those who experience food insecurity typically have displayed an erosion of pride and trust in the University of Louisville as an institution, resenting the admin for the lack of response to hardships. I conducted 20 ethnographic interviews with food insecure students and staff involved in the food system, as well as participant observation in the campus pantry. The poster will include applied policy recommendations for the University to reduce food insecurity
Mobility task shows rescue of scotopic vision in a swine model for autosomal dominant Retinitis Pigmentosa after treatment with the meganuclease Rho 1-2
No full textPurpose : Retinitis pigmentosa (RP) is the most common form of inherited retinal disease with ~1:5000 people affected worldwide. The substitution of Proline to Histidine (P23H) at position 23 in the rhodopsin protein is the most common form of adRP in North America. We have shown that treating a transgenic P23H human RHO pig model of adRP (TgP23H hRHO) with a gene-editing meganuclease Rho 1-2, recovers rod structure and restores rod function. We ran WT, Rho1-2 treated and untreated TgP23H hRHO (Tg) pigs through an obstacle course to quantify visually guided mobility under light- and dark-adapted conditions using motion analysis software.
Methods : Rho 1-2 packaged in AAV5 with a GRK1 promoter was subretinally injected into one or both eyes of neonatal Tg pigs. After ~10 months, we tested visually guided behavior by running pigs through an obstacle course. Pigs were trained binocularly under light-adapted conditions. Pigs were food deprived (16hrs) and tested monocularly under light (150 lux) or dark (10 lux) conditions (30 mins dark adaptation). At the end of each run, pigs received a food reward. Barrier location was randomized between trials. Videos were recorded with an infrared handheld camera that moved along with the pig (outside of the course). From the videos, positions of the pig’s front feet relative to obstacles were estimated using Kinovea motion analysis software. Data were plotted using SmartDraw charting software. Foot positions were imported into R and evaluated using its trajr package functions.
Results : Under conditions that require rod function, Rho 1-2 treated Tg eyes led to significantly fewer collisions (~33%), shorter path length (~40%) and overall duration (~67%) in the run compared to untreated Tg eyes. The Tg pig’s path through the obstacle course using the treated eye was less tortuous, compared to untreated Tg. In 1 Tg pig only one eye was treated and the visually guided behavior using its treated eye was better compared to its untreated eye.
Conclusions : We developed an analytical tool that uses raw videos to quantitatively analyze foot position in large animals that quantifies maze mobility. Mobility mediated by Rho 1-2 treatment in TgP23H hRHO eyes was significantly improved under rod mediated conditions. These results extend Rho 1-2 mediated improvements shown in retinal rod function and structure in TgP23H hRHO pigs
Performance of Eight Lettuce Cultivars in a Water Culture System
Full text linkLettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) is one of the most well-known vegetables in the world. About 27 million tons of lettuce were produced in the world in 2022 and global demand for lettuce is increasing steadily, driven by the importance of fiber consumption. Lettuce can be grown in multiple media, including hydroponic systems in a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) system. Growing lettuce in hydroponic systems is an alternative to lettuce production optimization. Since little information is available about lettuce cultivar trials in hydroponic systems, a research project was developed and executed to study the ability of different types of lettuce cultivars in a hydroponic system and to assess the effect of light, humidity, and temperature on the yield. The experiment was conducted in 2024 in the Department of Agricultural Science lab at Morehead State University. Eight lettuce cultivars including, Romaine type (Vivian, Outredgeous, Paris Island, Amadeous, and Salvius), butter type (Bibb), loose-leaf type (Bowl), and oakleaf type (Emerald) were evaluated for their seed viability and planted directly on rock wools (Rockwool Starter Plugs) in 2-inch Garden Net Pot in hydroponic containers (77×52×36 cm, 102 L). The commercial aquarium pumps constantly aerated the nutrient solution. Plants were fertilized with all-purpose Plant Food, and the Standard Hydroponic solution controlled the pH. The TDS and EC were also monitored. Artificial light was provided by a mix of different lights (µmol/m2 /s), including LEC, LED, and Fluorescent, for 16 hours daily under different temperatures (°C) and humidity (%). Biological control products were used for pest and disease control. The lettuce was harvested after 60 days, and the fresh and dry yields were weighed and then calculated. Dried leaves were ground and sent for analysis
Functional Analysis of a Bacteriophage Gene Product with Cytotoxic Effects on Mycobacterium smegmatis
No full textAntibiotic resistance is a critical global health challenge, with the UN estimating that drug-resistant infection deaths will surpass cancer deaths by 2050. Bacteriophages offer a potential alternative to traditional antibiotics, which are becoming increasingly ineffective due to resistance. MooMoo is a mycobacteriophage that is genetically distinct from all known phages, exhibiting \u3c35% DNA similarity to phage genomes in Genbank. Bioinformatic analysis identified several MooMoo genes, including MooMoo gene 51 (MM51), as having no known function. MM51 was later shown to be extremely toxic to M. smegmatis. Using a bacterial two-hybrid assay, this project aimed to characterize MM51 by identifying interactions between the phage and host proteins, revealing mechanisms of MM51’s toxicity. Identifying the host-interacting partner could lead to the development of a new therapeutic. The MM51 gene sequence was previously cloned into the pExTra shuttle vector via isothermal assembly. After confirming the protein\u27s toxicity to host cells, the gene was subcloned into the p2Hα two-hybrid vector and transformed into chemically competent E. coli cells. After clone verification, the two-hybrid assay was performed. A positive interaction was detected by blue colony color in the presence of the antibiotic carbenicillin. Clones that produced a positive interaction were sequenced to identify the host gene. Six out of sixteen clones produced positive interactions, but each clone contained a different host gene fragment. These results suggest that MM51 has multiple interacting partners
Exploring Neuronal Activity and Perineuronal Nets in Prenatal Opioid-Exposed Offspring.
No full textOn average, 7% of babies are exposed to opioids during the prenatal period and this exposure can impact brain and behavioral function. Opioids induce an inflammatory response in microglia, the immune cells of the brain. Microglia can interact with cellular structures called perineuronal nets (PNNs), which are specialized extracellular matrix structures responsible for synaptic stabilization in the adult brain that typically encapsulate parvalbumin cells, a class of inhibitory neurons. It is possible that opioid exposure may affect brain development by altering PNNs, supported by our previous observation of increased PNNs in the amygdala of female opioid exposed offspring. This study aims to investigate cellular activity levels alongside PNNs and parvalbumin neurons in adolescent opioid-exposed offspring, expecting changes in number of PNNs, and a decline in neural activity levels in the morphine (MO) group. Throughout pregnancy and lactation, female mice were given either morphine (MO, n = 12), buprenorphine (BUP, n = 8) or saline unexposed (SAL, n = 10). Brain tissue from the prefrontal cortex and amygdala was collected from male and female offspring at postnatal day 60. We labeled cFos to evaluate neural activity after the social interaction test, alongside markers for PNNs and parvalbumin neurons. Using ImageJ, there were no differences in cFos, PNNs or parvalbumin neurons in the brain regions in the males. Ongoing data collection aims to examine sex differences in neural activity by completing analyses in female offspring, but this suggests that prenatal opioid exposure may not directly impact PNNs activity in the male offspring. We also plan to incorporate more advanced imaging analysis methods using newly acquired Imaris software
A Data-Driven Analysis of Trends in the Artificial Intelligence Job Market
No full textArtificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly transforming industries, driving significant demand for skilled professionals to design, develop, and deploy advanced AI systems. Understanding the current AI job market is critical for job seekers, employers, and educators aiming to align their efforts with market demands.
To provide a comprehensive overview of the current AI job landscape, this study analyzes job postings to extract actionable insights. Specifically, to understand the current AI job landscape, first, this study collected all AI job listings posted on Indeed.com between September and December 2024. Then rigorous data preprocessing was applied to the collected raw AI job data getting 2,000 unique AI job posts. Later, detailed data analysis is conducted on the collected data focusing on a few key aspects, including salary distributions, geographic trends, required skills, and educational qualifications. Some key insights revealed after the data analysis step, for example, the leading companies in terms of job postings were Apple, Google, and Microsoft, with the highest-paying company being OpenAI with senior roles having average salary of $267,000; health and dental insurance emerged as the top two benefits offered across AI jobs; essential job skills consistently included machine learning, natural language processing, and data analytics, with most positions being full-time; prominent roles included Data Scientist, Generative AI Engineer, Machine Learning Engineer, Research Scientist, and Prompt Engineer.
Then, the text mining technique was leveraged in this work to identify key themes in job descriptions, providing valuable insights into role requirements and skill expectations