Digital Commons Network^™

Transfer Learning-Enhanced Transformer For Virtual Sensing Applications In Resistance Spot Welding, Ethan York

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Resistance spot welding is a crucial manufacturing process used across a wide range of industries for permanently joining metal components. Characterized by its applications in the automotive industry, resistance spot welding is valued for its speed, efficiency, and relatively low cost to set up and maintain. The process involves running a pulse of electrical current through two metal sheets to liquify the material and create a permanent bond. The process complexity necessitates precise control over various parameters to ensure acceptable results, emphasizing the importance of quality control. Because there are no low-cost and non-invasive techniques to inspect welds, strategies utilizing …

Mechanochemical Synthesis Of Halide Perovskite Microcrystals, Xuan Huang

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

Halide perovskites have emerged as a promising class of materials for various optoelectronic applications, including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), solar cells, photodetectors, and lasers, owing to their exceptional photophysical properties and ease of synthesis. Lead-based halide perovskites, despite their success, raise concerns regarding environmental toxicity, necessitating the exploration of lead-free alternatives. This thesis explores the synthesis and characterization of lead-free halide perovskites, focusing on tin-based variants, using a mechanochemical approach, which eliminates the use of toxic solvents and offers a sustainable synthesis route.

By employing a solventless mechanochemical method, lead-free tin-based halide perovskite microcrystals were successfully synthesized. This approach not only …

High-Fidelity Coupling For Studies Of Ablative Materials At Hypersonic Conditions, Aleksander Zibitsker

Theses and Dissertations--Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering

The development of accurate models and robust numerical tools for simulating ablative thermal protection materials (TPMs) in hypersonic flows is crucial for advancing atmospheric entry and hypersonic technologies. Traditional methods for simulating ablative materials often rely on heavy assumptions, such as equal heat and mass transfer coefficients and chemical equilibrium in the boundary layer, leading to conservative thermal protection system (TPS) designs and insufficient accuracy for certain in-flight ablation phenomena.

This work presents a high-fidelity and versatile coupled framework between hypersonic flow and material response solvers. The flow domain is modeled with an innovative overset CHAMPS NBS-Cart solver, which features …

A Hyphenated Career: Sustainable Pathways For Dancers, Rebecca A. Ferrell

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

Despite the rich cultural and artistic contributions of dancers, there exists a pressing need to comprehensively address the challenges and complexities surrounding the sustainability of careers in dance due to underemployment, underpayment, data undercounting and physical strain. This dissertation research aims to understand occupational trajectories that build a sustainable career for dancers. Through a historical examination of the professionalization of dance and an investigation of current career opportunities, this study investigates the growing support systems for dancers, the influence of occupational identity, and the workplace environments needed to sustain a dance career.

Occupational identity theory, motivation-hygiene theory, and transaction cost …

Three Contemporary Prosecution Case Studies And The Challenges Affecting The Indian Arts And Crafts Act, Tiffini Bowers

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

The Indian Arts and Crafts Act (IACA) is America’s only federal arts policy. This study explores the IACA and the challenges contemporary prosecution cases identify for arts stakeholders, along with the implementation and effectiveness since the 2010 Act, to understand better the social and public policy implications and challenges for arts stakeholders. A qualitative study using multiple legal case studies, document analysis, and semi-structured interviews, along with an elite theory theoretical framework, anchors the research. Findings support existing research by indicating the main challenge is the definition and complexity of Indian identity; additional significant findings that contribute to future policy …

Music For The People: Comparing Public Funding Models For Popular Music In Atlanta, Glasgow, And Toronto, Heather Mcdonald

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

This dissertation explores the complex landscape of public funding policies for popular music across three cities: Atlanta, Glasgow, and Toronto. Through comparative case studies and qualitative research methods, this work explores the varying approaches each city takes towards funding popular music, including the social, economic, and political environments in which these funding policies have developed.

Through document reviews and interviews with key stakeholders, the dissertation highlights the differences in how public funding for popular music is approached in Glasgow, Atlanta, and Toronto and the broader context of how these policies were created. Using Multiple Streams Approach, the Five Streams Confluence …

Orchestra Community Engagement: Factors Of Environmental Impact, Travis Newton

Theses and Dissertations--Arts Administration

The symphony orchestra industry in the United States was founded with the goal of serving the elite, but these orchestras are organized as not-for-profit organizations and are currently mandated to benefit the community more broadly. Professional symphony orchestras in the United States are beginning to address this disconnect between their elite-oriented origins and the more modern federal mandate of community-oriented service in a variety of ways, including through community engagement programming. There are a number of items that remain unknown, including the impact that environmental factors have on orchestras’ community-oriented work, and what “community engagement” means to orchestras.

The purpose …

Repolarizing Tumor-Associated Macrophages In Ovarian Cancer: A Novel Immunotherapeutic Approach, David Schweer

Theses and Dissertations--Clinical and Translational Science

Ovarian cancer, recognized for its high lethality and resistance to conventional immunotherapies, mandates innovative strategies to confront its intricate challenges. The tumor microenvironment (TME), orchestrated by tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), assumes a pivotal role in disease progression, rendering TAMs an appealing therapeutic target. This study endeavors to explore the prospect of repolarizing TAMs from a protumor M2 phenotype to an antitumor M1 state, employing M1 macrophage-derived vesicles (MEVs) as a groundbreaking immunotherapeutic approach.

The primary objective is to investigate the capacity of M1 MEVs to repolarize M2 macrophages in vitro towards an anti-tumor M1-like phenotype. By inducing human macrophages to adopt …

Advancing Dysphagia Screening: A Comparison Of Patient-Reported Outcome Measures And Bolus-Driven Screenings In Aspiration Prediction, Arica Amie Rusco

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

It is known that dysphagia impacts an individual’s health and quality of life. Due to this, early identification of dysphagia is crucial. There are many different dysphagia screening tools with no consensus. This study aimed to compare the two most frequently used dysphagia screenings, a patient-reported outcome measure (PROM), the EAT-10, and bolus-driven swallow screening, the Yale Swallow Protocol, to determine if one tool is superior in aspiration prediction on a videofluoroscopic swallow study (VFSS). This study also aimed to discover the best cutoff score on the EAT-10 for aspiration prediction. A total of 66 participants were recruited after physician …

The Effects Of Exercise-Based Voice Therapy On Swallowing Outcomes: A Pilot Study Framework, Jenna F. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Communication Sciences and Disorders

In a 2019 study analyzing dysphonic patients in relation to coexisting dysphagia, approximately 11.8% of clients receiving treatment for voice disorders reported difficulty swallowing. However, the literature exploring the use of voice exercises to improve swallow function is limited to a small amount of voice treatment approaches, which does not reflect the wide range of evidence-based treatment approaches that may be prescribed for treatment of one’s voice complaints. This project proposes a descriptive study that would identify if completion of prescribed voice therapy exercises has implications on swallowing function in clients with co-occurring voice and swallow impairments. A pilot study …

The Critical Need For Early Language Access For Deaf And Hard Of Hearing Children, Kinya D. Embry-Wright

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

According to the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA), speech-language pathologists (SLPs) are referred to as the experts of communication (ASHA, n.d.) utilizing their specialized training, extensive education, and clinical expertise to work with individuals across the lifespan with a variety of different speech and language delays, disorders, and deficits. However, when working with deaf or hard of hearing (DHH) children, there is often precedent given to speech and listening (M. L. Hall et al., 2019). For example, ASHA only recently updated their DHH portal to include American Sign Language (ASL), though they still list it on some webpages as an Augmentative …

Exploration Of Burn Survivors’ Experiences With Nutrition During The Rehabilitation Phase Of Burn Injury Recovery: A Qualitative Study, Alyaa M. Zagzoog

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Approximately 500,000 people in the United States are affected by a burn injury and seek care every year. With medical innovation, however, the burn injury survival rate has increased to 97% in the United States. Burn survivors undergo two phases of recovery: acute and rehabilitation.With advances in burn treatment and care, the focus has shifted from the expectation of survival to improving outcomes. Nutritional care, including assessment and education, plays a major role in burn survivors’ wellness, facilitating wound healing and promoting recovery, but nutritional guidelines and polices appear limited during the rehabilitation phase,with literature suggesting nutritional assessment has historically …

Mitigating Risks For Dementia In Apoe4 Mice: Efficacy Of Prebiotic Inulin, Probiotics, And Fecal Microbiota Transplants, Ya-Hsuan Chang

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Apolipoprotein E4 allele (APOE4) carriers show early metabolic changes, heightening the genetic risk of late-onset Alzheimer's Disease (AD), characterized by amyloid-β and tau tangle plaques and neurodegeneration. Its development is influenced by age, environment, and genetics, with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) often preceding AD, providing a crucial window for early intervention. Factors in AD progression include sex differences and gut microbiome imbalances, with women disproportionately affected and APOE4 carriers showing early metabolic and cognitive changes. This study explores the potential of prebiotic inulin, probiotic Bifidobacterium animalis, and fecal microbiota transplants (FMT) from healthy donors to mitigate AD …

The Delineation Of Platelet Pathology In Cardiometabolic Disease, Chi Peng

Theses and Dissertations--Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences

Obesity is a multifactorial disease with many comorbidities leading to multiorgan dysfunction. Current studies point towards dysregulation of platelet signaling as a driver for increased risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke. The exact mechanisms remain elusive due to the complex interplay of factors involved, warranting the need to further understand how platelets are affected. Our preliminary data evaluating changes in platelet and coagulation parameters from bariatric patients showed that obesity did not affect platelet count or clotting time as demonstrated in INR values. However, female patients had increased bleeding events before surgery that were decreased after surgery. Due to limitations …

Characterization Of Bowel Dysfunction After Spinal Cord Injury In Mice, Olivia Wireman

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Most individuals who suffer a spinal cord injury (SCI) will experience some form of bowel dysfunction. Trauma to the spinal cord can result in severe constipation and/or incontinence, otherwise known as neurogenic bowel. Constipation requires extensive bowel routines typically involving the help of another person. Still, many living with SCI are hospitalized due to bowel complications such as fecal impaction. While neurogenic bowel has been well characterized in the clinic, pre-clinical models of neurogenic bowel after SCI are still in development. Most pre-clinical studies in bowel dysfunction after SCI are published in rat models. Studies existing in mice, to our …

Maternal-Adolescent Communication About Sex And Risky Sexual Behaviors: A Cross-Cultural Comparison Of Czech, Spanish, And Taiwanese Youth, Mckinley Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This present study aimed to test the relationship between perceived maternal-adolescent communication about sex and risky sexual behaviors, while also considering the links between perceived maternal-adolescent closeness and maternal-adolescent conflict with risky sexual behaviors, across three culturally distinct countries, namely the Czech Republic (N=878, mean age of 17.93), Spain (N =1024, mean age of 18.79), and Taiwan (N =1443, mean age of 16.48). Samples of adolescents from each country were used and statistical analyses were conducted to test the hypothesized relationships. Based on path analysis carried out on each sample, the results revealed that Czech adolescents reported the highest levels …

Links Between Perceived Mother-Adolescent And Father-Adolescent Conflict And Low Self-Control: A Cross-National Comparative Study, Tory Thomas

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The influence of parent-adolescent relationships and adolescent adjustment have been well-documented. Self-control has emerged as a key probabilistic construct in understanding adjustment, well-being, and life success. The present study tests the links between adolescent perceptions of maternal and paternal conflict and self-control. In addition, to understand the extent to which cultural developmental context impacts these associations, the study will employ a cross-cultural comparative lens to test whether cultural context moderates these links. Self-report data were collected from N = 4,924 adolescents (Mage = 16.97 years, 54.08% female) across four countries (China, Czech Republic, Turkey, and the United States). In by …

Nutrient Profile Assessment Of A Meal Program Impact On Older Adults' Diet Quality And Food Security Status, Millicent Yaa Gyasiwaa Ms

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The rise in food insecurity globally has ignited institutions and organizations to implement policies and programs to reduce the burden on vulnerable people including older adults and people living in underserved areas. Though programs such as congregate, home-delivered meals, and pantries have been initiated to contribute to reducing food insecurity the nutrient content of these meals including recovered meals and their effect on food security status, food quality, and health has not been widely studied. The current study, Meals on Wings (MOW), assessed the nutrient profile of the free meals offered 4 times per week for 3 months, from May …

Acting On Routine Outcome Monitoring, Virginia Courtney

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

This thesis explores the application of an Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) informed approach in achieving clients’ therapeutic objectives via systematically tracking client progress over the therapy process. The study utilized the Marriage and Family Therapy Practice Research Network (MFT-PRN), a specific tool that aids the tracking of therapy progress, to gather relevant client data. The data consisted of therapy progress for 27 individuals the author worked with, 1,001 individuals from the Individual Relational and Finance Therapy Clinic, and 4,424 individuals from the MFT-PRN-Network. Upon collecting this data, progress trajectories were generated using Microsoft Excel to compare the author’s clients’ …

Division Of Labor And Relationship Satisfaction: Examining The Mediating Role Of Self Esteem, Ellen Keith

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

As a result of feminist movements, rejections of gender roles, and changing economic conditions, profound changes have occurred within the structure of American families. This study delves into the intricate dynamics of divisions of household labor (DoL), self-esteem, and relationship satisfaction within the context of contemporary relationships. Drawing on data from the Panel Analysis of Intimate Relationships and Family Dynamics (Pairfam), this study tested five hypotheses, and investigates how perceptions of fairness in DoL tasks influence self-esteem and relationship satisfaction. Significant associations were found between reported share of DoL and indicated fairness of DoL, indicated fairness of DoL and relationship …

Examining Anxious Attachment And Its Effects On Sexual Behaviors In Adulthood, Justin Graham

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The current study aimed to investigate the relationship between anxious attachment and adult sexual behaviors. The study utilized pairfam, a nationally representative German sample, as a secondary data set for its quantitative analysis. Participants responded to two anxious attachment scales and questions regarding sexual desire, sexual confidence, and age at first sexual experiences. Analyzing data from 5561 individuals, averaging 29.27 years old, a path analysis was conducted to assess variable effects. Findings indicate that higher anxious attachment correlates with reduced sexual confidence and earlier onset of sexual intercourse. Future studies should investigate additional attachment scales and include a more diverse …

The Relationships Between Maternal And Paternal Inconsistent Parenting And Cyberbullying Victimization, Anxiety And Depressive Symptoms Among Adolescents, Lynn Maamari

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The present research investigated the associations between maternal and paternal inconsistent parenting and cyberbullying victimization, anxiety, and depression. It also tested the extent to which these relationships were moderated by sex. It was expected that inconsistent maternal and paternal parenting would be positively associated with cyberbullying victimization, anxiety, and depressive symptoms. It was also expected that the links between maternal and paternal inconsistent parenting and cyberbullying victimization, anxiety as well as depression symptoms would not be moderated by sex. Data were collected from 500 14–18-year-old Czech teenagers, with a mean age of 14.4 years; 54% of the participants were female. …

Examining The Feasibility Of Implementing Farm To School Programs In Rural Kentucky Schools: Barriers And Successes Of Initiating Programming As Identified Through Teacher’S Observations, Christina Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Farm to School (FTS) programs provide experiential learning opportunities to children that have the potential to shape eating patterns and, in turn, improve health and learning outcomes. Participation in FTS programs in Kentucky is growing. However, programming varies widely across schools, and few have an edible school garden. This study examined the feasibility of establishing an edible school garden while incorporating FTS programming by evaluating teachers' observations and experiences. Six rural Kentucky schools were selected to receive a $5,000 grant to initiate an edible school garden and incorporate FTS programming. A Qualtrics survey measured six categories regarding implementation. The results …

Influencers Of Fidelity In Implementation Of Go Napsacc At Selected Early Childhood Education Centers In Kentucky, Adeyimika Desmennu

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

Several lifestyle interventions have been explored to ameliorate obesity and most associated non-communicable diseases in children attending early childhood education settings (ECE). Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) program has been implemented nationally to improve dietary intake and physical activities among children in ECE settings. However, a large proportion of ECE centers do not complete the five-step process that leads to change. This project, thus, aims to identify contextual factors that facilitate and/or impede the fidelity in implementation of Go NAPSACC.

This thesis is a comparative case study using secondary data to compare, and contrast reported …

Assessing Endophyte Frequency Distributions And The Effect Of Epichloë Brachyelytri In The Chemotypic And Genotypic Diversity Of Brachyelytrum Erectum, Rachel Ann Sneed

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Seed-transmissible epichloid fungal endophytes are best known for their roles as defensive mutualists in cool-season grasses. Historically, the discovery of fungal endophytes was driven by investigations of plant toxicity to livestock, followed by extensive study of their alkaloids and protection against insects and nematodes. Epichloae can produce four classes of alkaloids: ergot alkaloids, lolines (saturated aminopyrrolizidines), indole–diterpenes, and peramine. It is increasingly evident that these hereditary symbionts have much more diverse chemical profiles both in individual populations and between them. To this end, differences in chemotypic profiles of these symbionts may translate to different evolutionary and environmental advantages across plant …

Communicating Climate Change: Adaptive Silviculture In Central Appalachian Kentucky, Logan Baker

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Climate change communication is an emerging field that requires a multidisciplinary understanding of both climate and social science. Communicating with underrepresented woodland owners about climate change, specifically climate change adaptation in forestry applications, necessitates appropriately adjusted approaches. In Central Appalachian Kentucky, outreach with underrepresented woodland owners on forest adaptation topics has not been examined in depth. The recent establishment of an Adaptive Silviculture for Climate Change research site in the University of Kentucky’s Robinson Forest has created an opportunity to generate regionally specific climate adaptation information for Appalachian Kentucky forests. It is imperative to investigate how best to approach communicating …

Manrrs Advisors And Their Perceptions Of Their Mentor Strategies, Dallas L. Cooks

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences, also known as MANRRS, is an organization with chapters nationwide. Their main focus is to provide professional development, academic advancement, and networking to those in agriculture and related sciences. This research focuses on the advisors of MANRRS chapters across the country and at various institutions. Advisors were asked a series of questions through a Qualtrics survey about their mentor strategies with their students. Chapter Advisors were asked demographic, Likert Scale, and questions based on their personal MANRRS experience. As a result of the data, five research questions were answered. Chapter Advisors and …

"We Are The Mycelium" Exploring Mutual Aid Networks And Food System Resilience In Eastern Kentucky, Lindsey A. Windland

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

The effects of climate change are predicted to have a widespread impact on numerous aspects of the U.S. food system. Industrialization and consolidation within the U.S. food system have decreased the food system’s capacity for adaptation to external stressors. In recent years local food systems have demonstrated a potential for adaptation during and after disasters. More research is needed to better understand local food systems and their adaptative innovations, as a better understanding of these innovations is important for developing local food systems with strong adaptative capacities. This exploratory study examines how the local food systems of Eastern Kentucky pivoted …

Evaluating The Caring Cards Program And Its Effect On Mental Health Indicators Among A Self-Defined Agricultural Group In Rural Kentucky, Katrina Clontz

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Suicide is currently the 11^th leading cause of death in the Unites States (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, 2024), and is especially high among the farming and agricultural population (Kennedy et al., 2021; Klingelschmidt et al., 2022; Monteith et al., 2020). Additionally, mental health access and outcomes are worse among this population, partially due to the inaccessibility of care in rural areas (Taylor, 2019). Communication among caring individuals is thought to be an effective suicide prevention strategy (Long, 2023; Ross & Bassilos, 2019). The Caring Cards program was developed as a way to facilitate mental health communications among a …

Autism In Agricultural Education: A Case Study Of An Adolescent With Autism Spectrum Disorder And Their Parent On Career And Technical Education, Grace Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a unique and often misunderstood diagnosis. Little is known about the experiences of adolescents with ASD. As students with ASD graduate high school, many are under- and unemployed. Career and technical education (CTE) in U.S. schools is intended to prepare all students for careers post-secondary. Agricultural education is one of the predominate career clusters within CTE. This qualitative single case study sought to create a platform for both a student and their parent to share their experiences in agricultural education and CTE. Participants were an adolescent with ASD who had taken at least one year …