Digital Commons Network^™

Federated Data Engineering And Learning For Edge Intelligence Systems, Afsaneh Mahanipour

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

The rapid proliferation of Internet of Things (IoT) devices and cyber–physical systems (CPS) in domains such as smart healthcare, intelligent transportation, and industrial automation has led to unprecedented volumes of heterogeneous data. While advances in deep learning and large-scale foundation models have enabled powerful data-driven decision making, their deployment in real-world distributed environments remains fundamentally constrained by limited computation, communication bandwidth, energy resources, and data privacy requirements. This dissertation addresses these challenges by developing novel federated learning frameworks and efficient federated data-processing pipelines that make large-scale artificial intelligence practical, scalable, and trustworthy in resource-constrained settings. This dissertation identifies data preprocessing …

Multi-Objective Optimization Of Energy Costs And Ev Battery Health In V2g Enabled Homes, Dzifa M. Hodey

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Electric vehicles (EVs) and rooftop solar photovoltaic (PV) systems are increasingly being integrated into residential settings, creating new opportunities for vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and vehicle-to-home (V2H) operations. In these systems, the EV battery functions as a controllable energy storage unit that can charge from the grid or PV and discharge energy to supply household load or export to the grid for a profit. By intelligently scheduling this bidirectional power exchange, households can reduce electricity costs and enhance PV utilization. Realizing these benefits requires optimization strategies that balance cost reduction with EV battery health preservation. However, existing V2G/V2H studies largely emphasize cost …

Toward Efficient And Scalable Scientific Data Management Through Quality-Oriented Data Compression, Pu Jiao

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Scientific simulations and instruments now produce data at rates that overwhelm the storage, memory, and network subsystems of modern high-performance computing (HPC) facilities. Error-bounded lossy compression reduces data movement costs while bounding reconstruction error, yet three barriers limit its adoption in mission-critical workflows: existing compressors cannot guarantee the accuracy of domain-specific quantities of interest (QoIs) derived from compressed data; compression-induced artifacts such as posterization, blocking, and interpolation banding erode user confidence in decompressed fields; and significant compressibility in the quantization index arrays of interpolation-based pipelines remains unexploited. This dissertation addresses all three barriers through four contributions, with the artifact barrier …

A Collection Of Mussels: Ancestors, More-Than-Human Relations, And The Transformation Of Shell-Bearing Places In The Green River Valley, Kentucky, Karen A. Stevens

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

For over a century, archaeological investigations in the Lower Ohio River Valley have provided extensive evidence of Indigenous Ancestors’ lifeways and practices. However, interpretations of shell-bearing sites have largely been shaped by Eurocentric and Western perspectives, often framing Indigenous actions as responses to environmental shifts rather than as expressions of dynamic social, spiritual, and ecological relationships. Within this historical context, explanations for the relatively abrupt decline of freshwater mollusk collection at the end of the Archaic Period (ca. 3000 cal yr BP) have primarily emphasized environmental change, particularly fluctuations in riverine conditions and resource availability. Yet, these explanations often overlook …

Maternal Opioid Use Disorder And Hepatitis C Infection In Pregnancy Reshape The Peripheral Immune Landscape At Term, Brianna M. Doratt, Heather E. True, Sheridan B. Wagner, Delphine C. Malherbe, Zachary M. Reynolds, Cynthia Cockerham, John O'Brien, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Background: Pregnancy requires precisely timed immune adaptations to maintain foetal tolerance while enabling timely initiation of labour, a process often conceptualised as the ‘immune clock’ of pregnancy. Disruption of this immune clock contributes to adverse obstetric outcomes. While maternal opioid use disorder (OUD) is a recognised risk factor for poor maternal and neonatal health, its impact on maternal immune landscape at delivery remains poorly understood.

Methods: We analysed peripheral blood collected from pregnant individuals with and without OUD at time of admission for delivery before the onset of active labour. We employed multiparameter flow cytometry, cytokine profiling, and single-cell-RNA sequencing …

Affordability And Serving Accuracy Of A Publicly Available Dash Meal Plan For Women Using Snap Benefits, Kendra Oonorasak, Mansura Shahad Bawa, Nadia Ayesha Sesay, Emma Smith, Taylor Emerson, Jayden Brewer, Brandi M. White

Health and Clinical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: This regional case study evaluated the affordability and serving accuracy of a publicly available one-week DASH meal plan for single-woman households using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in central Kentucky.

Methods: For each food item in the one-week plan, total grocery costs and per-serving costs were calculated using January 2025 prices from two national grocery chains commonly patronized in an urban area in central Kentucky. Calculated costs were compared to the average weekly food cost for women aged 20–50 years in a single household based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Servings for food groups and categories were …

Feasibility Study Of A Screening Decision Tool For Allocating Adults Into Food Is Medicine Programs As An Effective Approach To Target Clinical And Dietary Outcomes Among Rural And Urban Adults, Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, Emily Dimond, Carolina Morales Serrano, Christa Mayfield, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Objective: Evaluate feasibility (primary), clinical, and cost outcomes (secondary) associated with the use of a screening decision tool for allocating rural and urban adults with hypertension into in a food is medicine (FIM) program.

Design: Participants were allocated to receive either medically tailored meals or grocery prescription (Rx), based on a user-centered designed screening decision tool. Medically tailored meals (MTM) provided 5 meals per week for 12 weeks. The grocery Rx program provided $100 each month for 3 months to purchase food consistent with guidelines for hypertension. Feasibility outcomes included engagement, dose, and program acceptability. Semi-structured interviews were completed with …

The Effects Of Systematic Instructional Interventions On Functional Communication, Vocational Independence, And Academic Performance For High School Students With Autism In A Self-Contained Special Education Setting, Sarah O. Shalash

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This project evaluated the effects of systematic instruction on functional communication, vocational independence, and functional mathematics for three high school students with autism in a self-contained special education classroom using three A–B single-case designs. Interventions included a system of least prompts for AAC requesting and vocational task completion and constant time delay for a functional timer-setting task. Student performance was measured as the percentage of independently completed responses across instructional sessions. Student T demonstrated meaningful improvement in independent AAC requesting and reached 75% independence in the final session. Student B demonstrated emerging improvement in timer-setting performance and reached 60% independence …

Bariatric Surgery Impacts Immune Cell Metabolism And Function Dependent On Metabolic Status, Samantha N. Hart

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Type 2 Diabetes (T2D), one of the top ten causes of death worldwide, is fueled by chronic inflammation. T2D is considered a metabolic disease, and there is a great push to target metabolic and associated inflammatory pathways to ameliorate the disease & its comorbidities i.e., obesity and cardiovascular disease. Thus far, clinical trials of anti-inflammatory drugs have had modest impacts on T2D and have not led to changes in clinical practice. This may in part be due to a gap in knowledge in the mechanism(s) driving obesity-associated chronic inflammation. I posit that metabolic abnormalities in immune cells in those with …

Innovative Strategies For Incorporating Clinical Experiences Into An Rn To Bsn Program, Angie Hensley, Jessica Rice, Brooke Kuns-Adkins

Nursing Faculty Publications

Curricula for Registered Nurse to Baccalaureate (RN to BSN) programs need to enhance nurse’s scope of practice, critical reasoning, and analytical skills. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how one RN to BSN program innovatively integrated clinical experiences into the curriculum.  Students enrolled in the RN to BSN program were required to complete 40 hours of an on-site practice experience that integrated classroom learning with direct clinical experiences incorporated into the Capstone course.

Elevated Temperatures Disrupt Wolbachia-Induced Feminisation And Reshape Microbial Community Dynamics Across Generations In A Spider Host, Virginija Mackevicius-Dubickaja, Jennifer A. White, Ellen E. Williams, Eyal Klement, Yuval Gottlieb, Matthew R. Doremus

Entomology Faculty Publications

Longitudinal microbial interactions within a host are challenging to study, leading to a focus on constructed microbial communities in vitro settings. Here, we take advantage of a naturally defined microbial community within a spider host to study how elevated temperatures influence microbial dynamics and phenotypes across host generations. The spider Mermessus fradeorum hosts up to five endosymbionts, including a Wolbachia strain, W1, which induces feminisation, causing genetic males to develop as phenotypic females, skewing sex ratios and promoting symbiont spread. Despite this, Wolbachia 1 persists at intermediate frequencies in wild populations. We hypothesised that elevated temperatures might reduce penetration of …

Variability In Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Gene Expression In Response To Increasing Concentrations Of Species-Specific Double-Stranded Rna, Kylie J. Bickler, Zachary Bragg, Flávia Pampolini, Bethany R. Kyre, Lynne K. Rieske

Entomology Faculty Publications

Sensitivity to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced gene silencing has been observed in multiple coleopterans. Initial work with mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, determined that specific ubiquitously expressed essential genes can cause mortality when silenced by carefully designed dsRNAs. However, current dsRNA production methods are not economically feasible for production at scale. Therefore, identifying the minimum efficacious dose is a critical step to deployment. To investigate the relationship between dsRNA dose and subsequent gene expression, adult mountain pine beetles were fed either a target or control dsRNA across a gradient of concentrations, including 2.5, 1.0, 0.25, and 0.025µg/µl, and relative gene …

Dissolution Or Restructuring? Fiscal Implications For Taxpayers In Special Tax Districts: A Case Study Of The Reedy Creek Improvement District, Tasha Huber

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Although extensive research has examined the creation and function of special tax districts in the U.S., little research has been done regarding the fiscal and governance implications of dissolution of these entities. This study examines the fiscal outcomes of dissolution versus restructuring special districts, using the former Reedy Creek Improvement District as the primary case study. Using a qualitative approach, the analysis compares restructuring and dissolution cases in California, Vermont, and Tennessee. Drawing on publicly available material such as financial documents, media coverage, and legislative records, this research evaluates impacts on taxpayer burden. Findings suggest that dissolving large, active special …

Ai Data Center Boom: An Analysis Of Economic And Legislative Impacts, Shelby Jackson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The United States is currently experiencing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center boom due to increased demand for generative AI following the launch of models such as ChatGPT. Data centers, particularly hyperscale data centers, have become a flashpoint due to environmental and public health concerns, along with rising utility costs. Although more than 70% of Americans do not want data centers in their community, state and local governments often offer tax incentives to attract data center development with the aim of job creation and tax revenue.

This study assessed whether the financial benefits that AI data centers may offer state …

Balancing Accountability And Efficiency: A Policy Review Of The City Of Toledo's Purchasing Contract Threshold, Jennifer L. Baskey

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Municipal procurement policies are intended to balance fiscal accountability with the efficient acquisition of goods and services necessary to support public operations. One of the primary mechanisms used to achieve this balance is the establishment of purchasing thresholds that determine when formal contracts are required. While these controls are essential for protecting public resources, procurement policies should also evolve to reflect changing economic conditions and contemporary public-sector management practices.

The City of Toledo currently requires formal contracts and legislative approval for purchases exceeding $10,000 pursuant to Toledo Municipal Code, Chapter 13, Section 228 (City of Toledo Municipal Code, 2026). This …

Allocation And Governance Of Opioid Response Funding In Rural Kentucky: A Case Study Of The Big Sandy Area Development District, Hayley M. Mccarty

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The opioid epidemic continues to present significant public health, economic, and administrative challenges throughout the United States, with rural Kentucky experiencing some of the nation's highest rates of opioid-related morbidity and mortality.

Effectively responding to this crisis requires not only adequate financial resources but also transparent governance, coordinated implementation, and accountability for how public funds are distributed.

This study examines the allocation, governance, and implementation of opioid response funding within the Big Sandy Area Development District (BSADD), a rural multi-county region in eastern Kentucky. Using a qualitative case study and policy analysis approach, the research evaluates four primary funding sources: …

Best Practices For Budgeting In Small Non-Profit Organizations: The Arts Commission Of Danville/Boyle County, Esther Rugerio

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Nonprofit arts organizations face unique financial management challenges due to limited staffing, restricted funding sources, and fluctuating revenue streams. This thesis examines the Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County located in Danville, KY. It identifies opportunities to strengthen financial oversight, accountability, and long-term sustainability. Using a qualitative research approach and document-based analysis, the study evaluated organizational budgets, governance documents, and nonprofit financial management best practices.

The findings revealed several areas for improvement, including reliance on line-item budgeting, recurring use of carry-forward funds, limited board financial oversight, fiscal sponsorship complexities, and a lack of formal financial policies. Recommendations include adopting a program-informed …

Should Kentucky Adopt A Formal Statewide Framework To Address The Local Fiscal Effects Of Tax-Exempt Public Universities On Host Communities?, Trina Shields, Catie Baumstark

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky’s public universities provide significant educational, economic, and workforce development benefits to the Commonwealth. However, because these institutions are exempt from local property taxes, questions arise about the fiscal effects on the communities that host them. While the benefits generated by universities extend beyond municipal boundaries, the fiscal effects of tax-exempt property are often concentrated within host communities. As universities expand their campuses and acquire additional property, local governments may face increased demands for public services without a corresponding increase in property tax revenue.

This study examines whether Kentucky should adopt a formal statewide framework to address the local fiscal …

Brief Report: Naloxone Decline Among African American Kentuckians, Rayven Peterson, Mona Goggins, Destin L. Mizelle, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Candice Hargons, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Background: Opioid-involved overdose fatalities among African Americans continue to rise. The current study examines African Americans who reported use of opioids in the past 6 months and declined overdose education and free naloxone.   Method: Eligible participants included African American Kentuckians who used opioids in the past 6 months and consented to a larger study examining their opioid use. This paper qualitatively explored their reasons for declining overdose education and naloxone using an adjusted and inductive application of structural tabular thematic analysis.   Results: Out of 588 participants, 70 (12%) declined naloxone: the most cited reason for declining naloxone was already possessing …

Effect Of Clinical Expertise On Efficacy Of Vocal Function Exercises In Individuals With Typical Voice, Maria H. Bane, Vrushali Angadi, Richard D. Andreatta, Joseph C. Stemple

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

Objectives/Hypothesis: To determine the effect of clinical expertise on efficacy of Vocal Function Exercises (VFEs) as measured by change in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained. The hypothesis was that clinical expertise would result in greater increases in percent of maximum phonation time goal attained.

Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.

Methods: A convenience sample of 19 individuals with typical voice was recruited in a university academic clinic setting. All participants completed baseline assessment and 17 completed all study procedures. Participants were randomized to receive VFEs from an expert voice clinician with more than 40 years’ experience (expert group (EG)) …

Anuran Occupancy Of Created Wetlands Within Reforested Legacy Surface Mines In Kentucky And West Virginia, Jillian C. Newman, Steve Price, Jacquelyn C. Guzy, Joshua Castle, John J. Cox, Jeffery L. Larkin, Christopher D. Barton

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Restoration of habitat is an important component of wildlife management. Surface coal mining has altered forest cover in the Central Appalachians, and most reclamation activities on previously mined lands result in non-native grasslands or shrub lands. The Forestry Reclamation Approach (FRA), which emphasizes non-native vegetation removal, soil decompaction, planting of native trees and shrubs, and, in some cases, wetland creation represents an alternative to grassland-based reclamation that may promote forest-associated wildlife on legacy surface mines. We used automated recording units to evaluate the response of anurans to created wetlands and the FRA in Kentucky and West Virginia, USA. We used …

Exploring Pathways To Persistence And Self-Efficacy Among Historically Underrepresented Community College Students: A Mixed Methods Action Research Study, Sharmy Rene Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Research indicates that postsecondary institutions have struggled to retain historically underrepresented college students. These students continue to experience lower levels of persistence and college self-efficacy compared to their peers (Monjaras-Gaytan & Sánchez, 2023).

This dissertation is a mixed methods action research study that identified the academic challenges historically underrepresented college students face. This study focused on diagnosing the problem, engaging in multiple Reconnaissance phases, and using those findings to plan a contextually responsive intervention.

Findings indicate that historically underrepresented college students may benefit from enhanced academic support, stronger advising relationships, and greater opportunities to build peer connections. The findings of …

Microglial Apoe Across Alzheimer’S Disease-Relevant Pathologies, Georgia Nolt

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

APOE exists as three common alleles (APOE2, APOE3, APOE4) that encode their corresponding protein isoforms (apoE2, apoE3, apoE4). Despite differing by only one or two single-amino acid substitutions, each APOE allele confers a distinct AD risk profile with APOE4 increasing risk by 28% and APOE2 decreasing risk by 14% compared to the most commonly expressed APOE3 allele. While traditionally considered “neutral,” APOE3 still accounts for ~36% of AD cases while APOE4 contributes ~57%, indicating that the majority of AD cases would not occur in the absence of the APOE3 and APOE4 alleles. Microglia, the resident phagocytic immune cells …

Developing A Multidisciplinary Pediatric Cancer Predisposition Service At A Mid-Sized Children’S Hospital, Amanda M. Harrington, John August D'Orazio

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Roughly one in ten children and young adults diagnosed with cancer has an underlying genetic variant that may explain his/her malignancy. It is critical to identify patients with cancer predisposition syndromes (CPSs) to provide personalized cancer treatment, surveillance, counseling, psychosocial support, and in some cases, risk-reducing interventions to maximize long-term outcomes. Over the past five years, we developed a comprehensive pediatric CPS program at our institution. We engaged our institutional adult cancer center for clinical cancer genetic counseling services and needed research shared resource facilities. We also initiated a clinical study called “Project Inherited Cancer Risk” (PICR) to identify pediatric …

Bureaucratic Responsiveness In Times Of Crisis, Anna Gunderson, Maggie Macdonald

Political Science Faculty Publications

In 2020, American cities experienced mass protest after fatal police violence against Black Americans. Did police address these protests differently after the murder of George Floyd or the protests in their communities? Did that response vary depending on the racial or ideological makeup of their constituents? We link policing protests and Facebook posts from about 4,000 American police departments to investigate differences in agency responses to protest. Departments posted more about protest after Floyd's death, especially in those communities that also had a policing protest. Republican cities were less likely to post about protests, but racial demographics are not associated …

Insights From And Future Directions For A Nationwide Science And Engineering Education Collaboration In Stratospheric Ballooning, Beth A. Covitt, Angela C. Des Jardins, Erick P. Agrimson, Jason T. Ash, Sean C.C. Bailey, Katelyn A. Barber, Mike J. Bastidas, Edgar A. Bering, Matthew T. Bernards, Anthony Choi, Nicholas B. Conklin, Jacqueline K.Q. Do, Montana Etten-Bohm, William F. Finney, James A. Flaten, Jeffrey M. Freedman, Rachel H. Humphrey, Eric P. Kelsey, Hunmin Kim, Christopher L. Lee, Wookwon Lee, Jared W. Marquis, Justin R. Minder, Jani M. Pallis, David J. Pawlowski, Chong Qiu, Joanna H. Rivers, Jason A. Ruszkowski, Jillian B. Schmidt, Thomas G. Sharp, Paul E. Slaboch, Suzanne W. Smith

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The Nationwide Eclipse Ballooning Project (NEBP) engaged 53 teams of students from across the United States to fly experiments on high-altitude balloons for the 2023 annular and 2024 total solar eclipses. By many measures, NEBP was a successful project. However, the teams did encounter challenges. To better understand what could be improved for similar future projects, this study engaged project partners in examining strengths, challenges, and recommendations across four topics: project structure, education and research approach, broadening participation, and funding. Analysis of the topics was completed through written comments followed by remote focus group discussions. The project director and evaluator …

The Impact Of A Kentucky Nutrition Education Program Social Marketing Campaign On Resident Health, Trinity Elizabeth Foster

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Poor diet quality and physical inactivity are common health issues in the United States. To remedy these issues among low-income households, the United States Department of Agriculture created the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education Program (SNAP-Ed), which promoted healthy eating and physically active lifestyles through multiple avenues. The social marketing approach of SNAP-Ed uses marketing strategies to relay information to the public. In Kentucky, a statewide billboard campaign was launched in 2018 encouraging residents to focus on nutrition and physical activity. This study investigates the impact of that campaign on health outcomes in counties throughout the state. Using billboard location …

How Does Residing In A Battleground State Explain Republican Elites Election-Denial Rhetoric On Social Media?, Caedmon P. Brewer

Theses and Dissertations--Political Science

After the 2020 election the U.S. democratic process was challenged by Republican challengers many of which were office holders including the president. Many of these criticisms were shared and perpetuated in online spaces What encourages elites to post on social media about election denialism? This paper attempts to partially answer the question by performing an analysis on Facebook posts made by 1,154 congressional candidates between 2023 and 2024 using a dictionary search method to flag posts for election denialism. I propose a theory that suggests the combination of political, financial, and media attention given to battleground states encourages candidates in …

Resilience Shields And Grit Intensifies Subjective Cognitive Decline In Middle‐To‐Older Aged Black Americans, Sunkanmi Folorunsho, Maria Clark, Obinna Odo, Yolanda L. Jackson, Candidus C. Nwakasi, Darlingtina K. Esiaka

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Background: There is growing interest on the relationship between psychosocial factors and cognitive health trajectories in adulthood. While grit and resilience have been shown to influence health outcomes, their differential effects on subjective cognitive decline (SCD) in Black American adults remain understudied. The purpose of this study is to help fill this gap.

Methods: The study utilized a cross-sectional research design. Black American participants (N = 242; Mean age = 44.32) responded to a survey assessing SCD, grit, resilience, and sociodemographic factors. Linear regression analysis was performed to test the associations between grit and resilience and SCD, and to …

Artificial Intelligence In Biomedical Team Science: Perceptions, Practices, And Training Needs, Emily Slade, Kelsey N. Karnik, Caitline Phan, Megan E. Hall, Yana Feygin, Kristen J. Mcquerry

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Artificial intelligence (AI) is increasingly used in biomedical research, yet limited empirical work has described how researchers use AI tools on collaborative research teams and how they view their role within team-based research. This study examines researchers’ experience with and attitudes toward AI use in collaborative research environments.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered to 178 investigators engaged in collaborative research at the University of Kentucky. Questions assessed AI use across research and communication tasks, team-related decision-making practices, perceived benefits and concerns, and preferences for training and frameworks.

Results: Thirty-nine participants responded (22%). AI use was heterogeneous: 26% had …