Digital Commons Network^™

Answering Big Questions With Big Data: Using Analytics Across The Research Ecosystem, Ann Beynon

Research Analytics Summit 2024

The research landscape continues to shift and evolve. With challenges around research integrity and security growing, research leaders must rely on the highest quality data to make confident decisions. Universities and funders need to understand the societal impact of research investments in addition to the scholarly impact. Has research helped to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals? What are the emerging research areas that will lead to commercial innovations and sustainability advancements? We will discuss how quantitative data from Web of Science and InCites can help research stakeholders understand these big questions and inform their strategic research decisions.

A Data Driven Approach To Research Enterprise Growth And Infrastructure Design, Marisa Zuskar, Gabby Labayen

Research Analytics Summit 2024

As proposal, subaward, award, and agreement volumes continue to grow at your institution, how can you strategize to support the size of your research infrastructure? How can you justify the expansion of your teams and talent? How do you adjust roles and workload to align with the growing portfolio? What technology considerations should you make to track this?

This session will cover how to leverage data to make effective business decisions regarding resource needs and allocation methodology to meet growing demands, starting with your internal data and then looking externally. We will cover strategies for using data analytics to efficiently …

The Semiotics Of Smell: Gender, Materiality, And The Language Of Fragrances, Kathryn Copeland

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Fragrances have long been used in a variety of cultures to communicate or articulate perceptions of different types of people or personae (Classen, Howes, & Synnott; 1994); however, the meanings “articulated” by fragrances have rarely been studied through the analytical frameworks of indexicality, enregisterment, and materiality (Eckert, 2008; Johnstone, 2016; Miller, 2005; Silverstein, 2003).

To do this, I first conducted a quantitative corpus analysis of user-generated reviews of popular perfumes on the fragrance database Fragrantica to identify differences in how reviewers of “men’s” fragrances and “women’s” fragrances describe their experience with the fragrances, and what these patterns indicate about how …

Looking Back: Put A Reading Bathtub In The Library, Reinette F. Jones

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

Book lovers may remember when old school librarians warned children not to read library books while in the bathtub. Today those memories are in juxtaposition with the new National Read in the Bathtub Day on February 9th. The unanswered question is when exactly this special day became a thing. While the reference librarians search for a definitive answer, there is a companion question. Who came up with the fun idea to place a reading bathtub in the children’s library? A reading bathtub is just that, a bathtub in the public area of the library, an upholstered piece of library furniture …

Ductus Exemplo: A Model Municipal Executive Order On Food Waste Reduction, Linda Breggin, Darby Hoover, Jessica Sugarman

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Managing Hazardous Waste Pharmaceuticals In Healthcare: A Perplexing Prescription, Garrison Rosser

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

A Space Age Stuck In The Past: Should Cold War Treaties Dictate Modern Space Law?, Justin Potter

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Pollution Discrimination: The Epa’S Utilization Of Title Vi Of The Civil Rights Act To Bring Justice To Overburdened African American Communities, Lindsay Bates

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Speaking For The States: A Response To The Proposal Of Subnational Forest Federalization, Joseph White

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Digital Footprints: Freedom On The Move At The University Of Kentucky, Vanessa Holden, Reinette F. Jones, Jennifer A. Bartlett, Kopana Terry

Library Presentations

During the late 18th through the mid-19th centuries, the Commonwealth of Kentucky saw significant movement of self-emancipated people seeking freedom from bondage. Often referred to as “runaways” or “fugitive slaves,” in historical texts, self-emancipated people defined freedom in many ways. These migrations were widely documented in newspaper advertisements known as fugitive slave advertisements and runaway ads in local newspapers published throughout the state. Access to these materials (often buried in databases or on microform) has been problematic at best. Enter the Self Emancipated and Enslaved People in Kentucky (SEEK) Project, a partnership between faculty in the University of Kentucky Libraries …

Breaking The Silence: A Mixed Methods Study On Opioid Education, Overdose Risks, And Treatment Education Among College Students, Anita Silwal

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

The opioid crisis is a national public health emergency in the United States. Opioid education, naloxone training, and medication for opioid use disorder treatment (MOUD) are evidence-based practices to mitigate opioid overdose. The opioid crisis is affecting people of all ages, including college students. Research indicates the gap in research among college students on how they perceive this public health emergency and how it is affecting them; thus, this dissertation aims to address the gap by examining college students' knowledge, attitude, and behavioral intentions toward opioid education, naloxone training, and referral to MOUD to those struggling with opioid addiction. The …

Leveraging Technology For Safer Roads For Vulnerable Road Users In South Africa, Ntombifuthi Ngobeni, Busisiwe Marole, Koketso Bosilong, Hlulani Nkuna

Kentucky Transportation Center Presentations

This research aims to enhance road safety, particularly for Vulnerable Road Users (VRUs) such as pedestrians and cyclists, through the use of both cutting-edge technologies and consideration of conventional engineering methods and solutions. The study focuses on innovative solutions related to the road environment and their impact on VRU safety, piloted at selected sites in South Africa. The research investigates the use of technologies such as video cameras, video analysis software, artificial intelligence and machine learning to conduct route risk assessments. These assessments inform the selection and implementation of effective safety measures tailored to enhance VRU safety. By understanding the …

Considerations And Applications Of Environmental Dna In Biodiversity Studies, Sarah Tomke

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling—the detection of species through genetic material shed into the environment—has become an efficient and reliable method for biodiversity assessments. The method has grown in popularity due to its non-invasive and non-destructive nature, and has revolutionized monitoring efforts for rare, elusive, and cryptic species for which traditional sampling approaches are often costly and ineffective. Hundreds of studies have utilized this technique to study species occupancy, delineate distributions, and assess relative community composition. Although eDNA sampling is an effective strategy for many conservation and ecological studies, recently, light has been shed on some of its potential drawbacks and …

Africa’S Overlooked Top Predator: Towards A Better Understanding Of Martial Eagle Feeding Ecology In The Maasai Mara, Kenya, Richard Stratton Hatfield, Allison G. Davis, Ralph Buij, John J. Cox, Shiv Kapila, Lemein Parmuntoro, Simon Thomsett, Munir Z. Virani, Peter Njoroge, Frank Van Langevelde

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Raptors exert top-down influences on ecosystems via their effects on prey population dynamics and community composition. Most raptors are sympatric with other predators, thus complicating our understanding of their relative influence in these systems. Estimates of kill rates and prey biomass recycling have been used as predation metrics that allow quantitative comparison among species and assessment of the relative role of single species within complex food webs. Few studies have produced findings of kill rates or prey biomass recycling for raptors. We used a supervised machine learning algorithm to behaviourally classify high resolution accelerometer informed GPS locations of tagged adult …

Biodegradable Nanoparticles Targeting Circulating Immune Cells Reduce Central And Peripheral Sensitization To Alleviate Neuropathic Pain Following Spinal Cord Injury., Michael N. Saunders, Kate V. Griffin, Irina Kalashnikova, Daniel Kolpek, Dominique R. Smith, Eiji Saito, Brian J. Cummings, Aileen J. Anderson, Lonnie D. Shea, Jonghyuck Park

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Neuropathic pain is a critical source of comorbidity following spinal cord injury (SCI) that can be exacerbated by immune-mediated pathologies in the central and peripheral nervous systems. In this article, we investigate whether drug-free, biodegradable, poly(lactide- co -glycolide) (PLG) nanoparticle treatment mitigates the development of post-SCI neuropathic pain in female mice. Our results show that acute treatment with PLG nanoparticles following thoracic SCI significantly reduces tactile and cold hypersensitivity scores in a durable fashion. Nanoparticles primarily reduce peripheral immune-mediated mechanisms of neuropathic pain, including neuropathic pain-associated gene transcript frequency, transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 nociceptor expression, and MCP-1 (CCL2) chemokine …

13 C-Stable Isotope Resolved Metabolomics Uncovers Dynamic Biochemical Landscape Of Gut Microbiome-Host Organ Communications In Mice, Xia Xiao, Yixuan Zhou, Xinwei Li, Jing Jin, Jerika Durham, Zifan Ye, Yipeng Wang, Bernhard Hennig, Pan Deng

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

ackground Gut microbiome metabolites are important modulators of host health and disease. However, the overall metabolic potential of the gut microbiome and interactions with the host organs have been underexplored. Results Using stable isotope resolved metabolomics (SIRM) in mice orally gavaged with 13 C-inulin (a tracer), we first observed dynamic enrichment of 13 C-metabolites in cecum contents in the amino acids and short-chain fatty acid metabolism pathways. 13 C labeled metabolites were subsequently profiled comparatively in plasma, liver, brain, and skeletal muscle collected at 6, 12, and 24 h after the tracer administration. Organ-specific and time-dependent 13 C metabolite enrichments …

A Cooperative Study Assessing The Effects Of A Second Iron Injection Administered Before Weaning On Growth Performance, Hematological Status, And Tissue Mineral Concentrations Of Nursery Pigs*, Tyler Chevalier, O. Adeola, S. D. Carter, C. R. Dove, M. J. Estienne, C. L. Levesque, C. V. Maxwell, T. Tsai, Merlin D. Lindemann

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Objective: A study involving 7 experiment stations evaluated the effects of a second iron injection administered before weaning on growth and hematological measures of pigs.

Materials and Methods: Pigs (n = 514) were given an iron injection (100–200 mg) on the first day of life. Piglets were then allotted to pairs of similar-weight, samesex siblings 3 to 5 d before weaning (on d 18–24) with one piglet from each pair receiving a second iron injection. All pigs received common station-specific postweaning diets. Data were subjected to ANOVA with the model containing the terms treatment, station, pair within station, and treatment …

Industrial Hemp Production And Potential Risks In Kentucky, Hoyeon Jeong

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Since the Agricultural Improvement Act of 2014 and 2018 legalized Industrial Hemp (Cannabis Sativa. L), interest in grain, fiber, and floral hemp production has seen growing pains. As an emerging crop, there is a research gap in the impact of weather and agronomic conditions on hemp production including THC (Delta 9 Tetrahydrocannabinol) and pollen drift as risks in hemp cultivation. The first essay aims to measure the impact of weather and agronomic factors on hemp grain, fiber, and floral yields in Kentucky using a yield-weather model with information on field locations. The results show that heat conditions during the growing …

Safety Evaluation Of 2+1 Roadway Design, Kenneth R. Agent, Jeff Jasper

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

An assessment and analysis of the safety of 2+1 roads introduced in 2013 and later.

Strategic Nutritional Interventions With Probiotics And Their Relationship To Performance, Feeding Behavior, And Reticulorumen Environment In Cows And Calves Under Subacute Ruminal Acidosis Risk, Gustavo Mazon Correa Alves

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Subacute ruminal acidosis (SARA) is a digestive disorder in ruminants characterized by extended periods of low reticulorumen pH. This digestive disorder is commonly observed in ruminants fed diets with elevated proportions of non-fibrous carbohydrates. This disorder has been vastly studied in adult dairy cattle and has been associated with losses in milk production, changes in feeding behavior, damage to the gastrointestinal tract, and premature culling. Although vastly studied in adult cattle, there is limited research on the effects of SARA in calves. SARA might be prevented by modifying the reticulorumen environment with probiotic supplements containing lactateutilizing bacteria such as Megasphaera …

Identifying Public Perceptions Towards Precision Dairy Technology Use, Brad Kelly

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

To remain sustainable, the dairy industry must demonstrate commitment to addressing concerns from the public, such as sustainability and animal welfare. Precision dairy technologies (PDT) are a potential solution to ameliorate this issue, but public perceptions towards PDT are currently underinvestigated. This thesis aims to describe public perceptions towards PDT. Specifically, the objectives are to 1) describe baseline perceptions of the U.S. public towards PDT, 2) determine the effects of framing information about human-animal bond, data transparency, and animal welfare on PDT perceptions, and 3) evaluate how demographic characteristics mediate these perceptions. An online survey was used to measure baseline …

Fowl Play And Lame Ducks: How A Three-Headed Circuit Split Confuses Century-Old Migratory Bird Protections, Omer Arain

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Three Essays On Environmental Risk And Policy, Samuel Owens

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This dissertation comprises three essays that investigate different facets of environmental hazards and their implications for policy and governance. While each essay examines a different topic area, they are all linked by examining how entities respond to incentives at the intersection of environmental risk and public policy. Each chapter informs a distinct literature within environmental policy and utilizes different methodologies to examine largely unexplored research questions.

In the first essay, I examine how individuals respond to the low-visibility, long-term environmental risk presented by radon. I employ radon zone data from the Kentucky Geological Survey and home information from Zillow to …

Astrocyte Ca2+ In The Dorsal Striatum Suppresses Neuronal Activity To Oppose Cue-Induced Reinstatement Of Cocaine Seeking, Navid S. Tavakoli, Samantha G. Malone, Tanner L. Anderson, Ryson E. Neeley, Artin Asadipooya, Michael T. Bardo, Pavel I. Ortinski

Psychology Faculty Publications

Recent literature supports a prominent role for astrocytes in regulation of drug-seeking behaviors. The dorsal striatum, specifically, is known to play a role in reward processing with neuronal activity that can be influenced by astrocyte Ca2+. However, the manner in which Ca2+ in dorsal striatum astrocytes impacts neuronal signaling after exposure to self-administered cocaine remains unclear. We addressed this question following over-expression of the Ca2+ extrusion pump, hPMCA2w/b, in dorsal striatum astrocytes and the Ca2+ indicator, GCaMP6f, in dorsal striatum neurons of rats that were trained to self-administer cocaine. Following extinction of cocaine-seeking behavior, the rats over-expressing hMPCA2w/b showed a …

Elucidating The Role Of Fatty Acid Synthase In Apc-Driven Colorectal Cancer, Courtney O. Kelson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Globally, colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths. Currently, there is a growing incidence rate for individuals aged 20-49 years. Genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of this cancer. Early detection of CRC allows for the most effective treatment option in which surgical resection of the primary tumor occurs along with adjuvant chemotherapy. This therapeutic approach contributes to 5-year survival rate of 91%. However, surgical procedures and chemotherapy struggles against metastatic and relapsed CRC resulting in 5-year survival rate of 14%. Inefficacious treatments for relapsed and metastatic diseases emphasizes the need for more …

Project Final Report Watershed Center Of Excellence, Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute

KWRRI Research Reports

With the goal of providing a structured foundational background for watershed management to Kentucky’s watershed coordinators and other water quality professionals, the Kentucky Water Resources Research Institute developed the Kentucky Watershed Academy, a six-module series of core training content. The modules address the following subject areas:

• Module 1: The Clean Water Act & Related Water Quality Laws

• Module 2: Water Quality Basics

• Module 3: Dealing with Data

• Module 4: Land Use Impacts & Related Best Management Practices

• Module 5: Likely Partners

• Module 6: Effective Communications

As a result of this project, a total of …

Acquired Treatment Resistance In Prostate Cancer Via The Production Of Radiation Derived Extracellular Vesicles Containing Mitochondrial Proteins, Caitlin Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Radiation treatment (RT) is one of the most commonly administered treatments for prostate cancer (PCa) patients, yet the recurrence of tumors after RT remains one of the significant challenges in the eradication of PCa. In addition to induction of DNA damage, ROS production, and cell death, we found that RT promotes Extracellular vesicle (EV) production in PCa cells, at least in part, through H₂O₂ production (Miller CE et al., Antioxidants 2022, PMID 36358489). Since we observed EV production upon RT, EVs and their contents could play a role(s) in cancer survival after RT. By using flow cytometry …

Understanding The Mechanism Of Ferroptosis Susceptibility Variation In Colorectal Cancer, Aziza Alshahrani

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the second leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Despite the use of chemotherapeutic agents, CRCs remains to be difficult to cure at least partially due to their intrinsic and/or acquired resistance to cell death inducers. Ferroptosis is a form of regulated cell death that caused by the accumulation of lipid peroxides. Studies have shown that dysregulation of ferroptotic pathways is associated with the development of resistance to various cancer treatment. Glutathione peroxidase 4 (GPX4) is a known target for inducing ferroptosis due to its critical role in detoxifying lipid hydroperoxides, and ferroptosis suppressor protein (FSP1) also …

Porcupine’S Role In The Enhancement Of Enzalutamide Efficacy In Drug Resistant Prostate Cancer, Katelyn Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Androgen receptor (AR) signaling continues to participate as a vital component of castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). Subsequently, this has led to the development of Androgen Signaling Inhibitors (ASI), specifically Enzalutamide (ENZ), which is a direct inhibitor of AR, to clinically manage CRPC. Inevitably, ENZ treatment only provides improvement for approximately two months before advancing to an incurable form, ENZ-resistant CRPC. With PCa ranking as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in USA males, there is an urgency and necessity for the discovery and development of novel therapeutic approaches for CRPC. Wnt signaling has been extensively documented in its involvement …

Therapeutic Approaches And Novel Mechansims In Cancer Progression, Kendall Simpson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains the most diagnosed cancer among men in the United States. There are various therapeutic routes that are implored to combat this fatal disease, and our work aims to increase the options made available to PCa patients. A combination treatment of Enzalutamide (Enz), an FDA approved drug for castration-resistant PCa patients, and Metformin, an FDA approved drug for type 2 diabetes, was utilized to enhance the efficacy of Enz in Enz-resistant PCa, both in vitro and in vivo. Thymic Lymphoma is one of the most common malignancies that can occur in various tissues and organs. Genomic stability …