Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of A Mind Body Program For Obese Knee Osteoarthritis Patients With Comorbid Depression, Cale A. Jacobs, Ryan A. Mace, Jonathan Greenberg, Paula J. Popok, Mira Reichman, Christian Lattermann, Jessica L. Burris, Eric A. Macklin, Ana-Maria Vranceanu

Orthopaedic Surgery and Sports Medicine Faculty Publications

Knee osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder in the U.S. and a leading cause of disability. Depression and obesity are highly comorbid among knee OA patients, and the combination of obesity and depression is associated with decreased physical activity, higher pain and disability, and more rapid cartilage degradation. Depression, obesity and OA exacerbate one another and share a common pathophysiology involving systemic inflammation and pro-inflammatory cytokines, reflecting a complex mind-body interaction. Current treatments for knee OA offer little to no benefit over placebo, and do not emphasize mind-body practices or physical activity to target the underlying pathophysiology. Mind-body …

An Ultrabroadband 3d Achromatic Metalens, Fatih Balli, Mansoor A. Sultan, Aytekin Ozdemir, J. Todd Hastings

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

We design and fabricate ultra-broadband achromatic metalenses operating from the visible into the short-wave infrared, 450–1700 nm, with diffraction-limited performance. A hybrid 3D architecture, which combines nanoholes with a phase plate, allows realization in low refractive index materials. As a result, two-photon lithography can be used for prototyping while molding can be used for mass production. Experimentally, a 0.27 numerical aperture (NA) metalens exhibits 60% average focusing efficiency and 6% maximum focal length error over the entire bandwidth. In addition, a 200 μm diameter, 0.04 NA metalens was used to demonstrate achromatic imaging over the same broad spectral range. These …

Bhlh Iridoid Synthesis 3 Is A Member Of A Bhlh Gene Cluster Regulating Terpenoid Indole Alkaloid Biosynthesis In Catharanthus Roseus, Sanjay Kumar Singh, Barunava Patra, Priyanka Paul, Yongliang Liu, Sitakanta Pattanaik, Ling Yuan

Kentucky Tobacco Research and Development Center Faculty Publications

Basic helix‐loop‐helix (bHLH) transcription factors (TFs) are key regulators of plant specialized metabolites, including terpenoid indole alkaloids (TIAs) in Catharanthus roseus. Two previously characterized subgroup‐IVa bHLH TFs, BIS1 (bHLH Iridoid Synthesis 1) and BIS2 regulate iridoid biosynthesis in the TIA pathway. We reanalyzed the recently updated C. roseus genome sequence and discovered that BIS1 and BIS2 are clustered on the same genomic scaffold with a previously uncharacterized bHLH gene, designated as BIS3. Only a few bHLH gene clusters have been studied to date. Comparative analysis of 49 genome sequences from different plant lineages revealed the presence of analogous …

Cancer Curriculum For Appalachian Kentucky Middle And High Schools, Lauren Hudson, Katherine Sharp, Chris Prichard, Melinda J. Ickes, Sahar Alameh, Nathan L. Vanderford

Journal of Appalachian Health

Background: Appalachian Kentucky faces the highest cancer incidence and mortality rates in the country due to poor health behaviors and lifestyle choices. These poor health behaviors are facilitated by a lack of cancer education. Youth represent a vulnerable population that could be greatly impacted by increased cancer education. Teachers have the power to facilitate this learning.

Purpose: This study examined the need for cancer education curriculum in Appalachian Kentucky middle and high schools from the perspective of educators.

Methods: An online survey was conducted with science and health teachers (n=21) in Appalachian Kentucky, consisting of questions that investigated existing cancer …

Mental Health And Psychosocial Functioning In Recently Separated U.S. Women Veterans: Trajectories And Bi-Directional Relationships, Karen A. Lawrence, Dawne Vogt, Adam Dugan, Shawn R. Nigam, Emily Slade, Brian N. Smith

Social Work Faculty Publications

Prior research on the relationship between veterans’ mental health and psychosocial functioning has primarily relied on male samples. Here, we investigated prospective longitudinal relationships between mental health and psychosocial functioning in 554 female Iraq and Afghanistan War veterans who were surveyed three times between two- and seven-years following separation from service. Mixed effects modeling revealed that increasing depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) severity predicted declines in work functioning. Increasing PTSD severity predicted declining parental functioning and worsening depression predicted a decline in relationship functioning. In turn, decreased work and intimate relationship functioning predicted increased PTSD and depression symptom severity …

Peak Reduction And Long Term Load Forecasting For Large Residential Communities Including Smart Homes With Energy Storage, Huangjie Gong, Vandana Rallabandi, Michael L. Mcintyre, Eklas Hossain, Dan M. Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Domestic load profiles in the residential sectors are being modified with the adoption of smart home management systems and solar generation. In addition, houses with rooftop PV behave like local generators, contributing to the growth of the penetration of PV energy. Hence, the demand for power is declining day by day. However, the increasing PV penetration causes technical challenges for the power system, such as the “duck curve”. This can be addressed through home energy management (HEM) techniques including peak shaving, load shifting with smart home devices. In this regard, electric water heaters (EWH), with high thermal mass and being …

The Association Of Circulating Amylin With Β-Amyloid In Familial Alzheimer's Disease, Han Gia Ly, Nirmal Verma, Savita Sharma, Deepak Kotiya, Sanda Despa, Erin L. Abner, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory A. Jicha, Donna M. Wilcock, Larry B. Goldstein, Rita Guerreiro, José Brás, Angela J. Hanson, Suzanne Craft, Andrew J. Murray, Geert Jan Biessels, Claire Troakes, Henrik Zetterberg, John Hardy, Tammaryn Lashley, Alzheimer’S Disease Exome Sequencing Group, Florin Despa

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction

This study assessed the hypothesis that circulating human amylin (amyloid‐forming) cross‐seeds with amyloid beta (Aβ) in early Alzheimer's disease (AD).

Methods

Evidence of amylin‐AD pathology interaction was tested in brains of 31 familial AD mutation carriers and 20 cognitively unaffected individuals, in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) (98 diseased and 117 control samples) and in genetic databases. For functional testing, we genetically manipulated amylin secretion in APP/PS1 and non‐APP/PS1 rats.

Results

Amylin‐Aβ cross‐seeding was identified in AD brains. High CSF amylin levels were associated with decreased CSF Aβ42 concentrations. AD risk and amylin gene are not correlated. Suppressed amylin secretion protected …

Impact Of Patient Load On The Quality Of Electronic Medical Record Documentation, Aasems Jacob, Rishi Raj, Sayee Alagusundaramoorthy, Jing Wei, Jianrong Wu, Margaret Eng

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Objective:

American College of Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) recommends ongoing care of 10 patients per resident however its implication is unclear. We hypothesized EMR quality to vary based on patient load and call status.

Methods:

We conducted a double-blind, single-center, retrospective observational study between 2017 and 2019 to investigate the quality and accuracy of resident documentation using the Responsible Electronic Documentation (RED) Checklist, a validated scoring system.

Results:

A total of 234 independent charts were analyzed and 80 met scoring criteria. Average patients per residents was 4, 9.1, 7.2, and 5.5 on “call” day (D0), “post-call” day (D1), “mid-call” day …

New Mechanism Insight For The Hydrogenation Of Co/Co2 Gas Mixtures To Hydrocarbons Over Iron-Based Catalyst, Sandeep Badoga, Michela Martinelli, Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani, Young Koh, Wilson D. Shafer

Center for Applied Energy Research Faculty and Staff Publications

Iron-based catalysts are the most suitable candidates for converting CO₂ or CO₂-rich syngas to hydrocarbons. However, several issues about the mechanism of CO₂ hydrogenation are still unclear. In this work, we investigated the performance of an iron-based catalyst with H₂/CO₂, H₂/CO/N₂ and H₂/CO/¹³CO₂/N₂ gas mixtures at the same process conditions (T = 270°C, P = 175 psi and SV = 3 NL/h/g_cat). The CO₂ hydrogenation rate was much lower than that observed for CO hydrogenation. ¹³CO_{2 …}

The Impact Of A Wide-Spread Insect Outbreak And Subsequent Timber Harvesting On Forested Rangelands, Matthew D. Braun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Bundles And Hotspots Of Multiple Ecosystem Services For Optimized Land Management In Kentucky, United States, Yang Bai, Thomas O. Ochuodho, Jian Yang, Domena A. Agyeman

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Ecosystem services are benefits that the natural environment provides to support human well-being. A thorough understanding and assessment of these services are critical to maintain ecosystem services flow through sustainable land management to optimize bundles of ecosystem services provision. Maximizing one particular ecosystem service may lead to reduction in another. Therefore, identifying ecosystem services tradeoffs and synergies is key in addressing this challenge. However, the identification of multiple ecosystem services tradeoffs and synergies is still limited. A previous study failed to effectively capture the spatial interaction among ecosystem services as it was limited by “space-to-time” substitution method used because of …

Effects Of Website Interactivity On Skin Cancer-Related Intentions And User Experience: Factorial Randomized Experiment, Zhaomeng Niu, Jessica Fitts Willoughby, Elliot J. Coups, Jerod L. Stapleton

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Digital media technologies provide users with the ability to interact with content and to receive information based on their preferences and engagement.

OBJECTIVE: We used skin cancer and sun protection as a health topic to explore how modality interactivity, interface tools that afford users greater activity, resulting in greater depth and breadth of mentally representing and experiencing mediated content, and message interactivity, the extent to which the system allows users to exchange messages back and forth on health websites, influenced users' attitudes, knowledge, behavioral intentions, and experience.

METHODS: We employed a 2×2 (modality interactivity: high vs low; message interactivity: …

Abnormal Nutritive Sucking As An Indicator Of Neonatal Brain Injury, Sabrina Shandley, Gilson J. Capilouto, Eleonora Tamilia, David M. Riley, Yvette R. Johnson, Christos Papadelis

Communication Sciences and Disorders Faculty Publications

A term neonate is born with the ability to suck; this neuronal network is already formed and functional by 28 weeks gestational age and continues to evolve into adulthood. Because of the necessity of acquiring nutrition, the complexity of the neuronal network needed to suck, and neuroplasticity in infancy, the skill of sucking has the unique ability to give insight into areas of the brain that may be damaged either during or before birth. Interpretation of the behaviors during sucking shows promise in guiding therapies and how to potentially repair the damage early in life, when neuroplasticity is high. Sucking …

Encephalopathy And Complex Hyperkinesia In A Patient With Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 Infection, Wenyang Li, Elif Pinar Coskun, Rolando Berger, John T. Slevin, L. Creed Pettigrew

Neurology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Integration Of Small Holder Crop‐Forage‐Livestock Systems In South East Asia--An Eastern Indonesian Case Study, Neil D. Macleod, Shaun Lisson, Cam Mcdonald, Jeff P. Corfield, Rachmat Rahman, Ketut Puspadi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

No abstract provided.

Two Separate Worlds, One Shared Goal: An Exploration Of Special Collections Catalogers' Reporting Lines And Institutional Organization, Colleen W. Barrett, Whitney A. Buccicone, Joseph J. Shankweiler

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This chapter seeks to better understand and quantify some of the challenges current special collections catalogers face through conducting and analyzing the authors' recent survey of special collections catalogers primarily working in American cultural heritage institutions. While these findings are neither simple nor straightforward, it is possible to suggest some preliminary solutions. Overarching trends and challenges included communication between departments, security of valuable materials versus workspace locations, and priority setting.

Improving Evidence-Based Grouping Of Transitional Care Strategies In Hospital Implementation Using Statistical Tools And Expert Review, Jing Li, Gaixin Du, Jessica Miller Clouser, Arnold J. Stromberg, Glen Mays, Joann Sorra, Jane Brock, Terry Davis, Suzanne Mitchell, Huong Q. Nguyen, Mark V. Williams

Center for Health Services Research Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: As health systems transition to value-based care, improving transitional care (TC) remains a priority. Hospitals implementing evidence-based TC models often adapt them to local contexts. However, limited research has evaluated which groups of TC strategies, or transitional care activities, commonly implemented by hospitals correspond with improved patient outcomes. In order to identify TC strategy groups for evaluation, we applied a data-driven approach informed by literature review and expert opinion.

METHODS: Based on a review of evidence-based TC models and the literature, focus groups with patients and family caregivers identifying what matters most to them during care transitions, and expert …

Sex Differences And Psychological Stress: Responses To The Covid-19 Pandemic In China, Shiyan Yan, Rui Xu, Terry D. Stratton, Voyko Kavcic, Dan Luo, Fengsu Hou, Fengying Bi, Rong Jiao, Kangxing Song, Yang Jiang

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: About 83,000 COVID-19 patients were confirmed in China up to May 2020. Amid the well-documented threats to physical health, the effects of this public health crisis - and the varied efforts to contain its spread - have altered individuals' "normal" daily functioning. These impacts on social, psychological, and emotional well-being remain relatively unexplored - in particular, the ways in which Chinese men and women experience and respond to potential behavioral stressors. Our study investigated sex differences in psychological stress, emotional reactions, and behavioral responses to COVID-19 and related threats among Chinese residents.

METHODS: In late February (2020), an anonymous …

Intragenic Dna Methylation Regulates Insect Gene Expression And Reproduction Through The Mbd/Tip60 Complex, Guanfeng Xu, Hao Lyu, Yangqin Yi, Yuling Peng, Qili Feng, Qisheng Song, Chengcheng Gong, Xuezhen Peng, Subba Reddy Palli, Sichun Zheng

Entomology Faculty Publications

DNA methylation is an important epigenetic modification. However, the regulations and functions of insect intragenic DNA methylation remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that a regulatory mechanism involving intragenic DNA methylation controls ovarian and embryonic developmental processes in Bombyx mori. In B. mori, DNA methylation is found near the transcription start site (TSS) of ovarian genes. By promoter activity analysis, we observed that 5′ UTR methylation enhances gene expression. Moreover, methyl-DNA-binding domain protein 2/3 (MBD2/3) binds to the intragenic methyl-CpG fragment and recruits acetyltransferase Tip60 to promote histone H3K27 acetylation and gene expression. Additionally, genome-wide analyses showed that the peak …

Modes Of Transmission Of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome-Coronavirus-2 (Sars-Cov-2) And Factors Influencing On The Airborne Transmission: A Review, Mahdieh Delikhoon, Marcelo I. Guzman, Ramin Nabizadeh, Abbas Norouzian Baghani

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The multiple modes of SARS-CoV-2 transmission including airborne, droplet, contact, and fecal–oral transmissions that cause coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) contribute to a public threat to the lives of people worldwide. Herein, different databases are reviewed to evaluate modes of transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and study the effects of negative pressure ventilation, air conditioning system, and related protection approaches of this virus. Droplet transmission was commonly reported to occur in particles with diameter >5 µm that can quickly settle gravitationally on surfaces (1–2 m). Instead, fine and ultrafine particles (airborne transmission) can stay suspended for an extended period of time (≥2 h) …

Electrical Double Layer In Nanopores For Detection And Identification Of Molecules And Submolecular Units, Guigen Zhang, Samuel Bearden

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Patents

Systems for detecting analytes in electrical double layer nanopore devices and methods of use are provided.

Excess Extracellular K+ Causes Inner Hair Cell Ribbon Synapse Degeneration, Hong-Bo Zhao, Yan Zhu, Li-Man Liu

Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications

Inner hair cell (IHC) ribbon synapses are the first synapse in the auditory system and can be degenerated by noise and aging, thereby leading to hidden hearing loss (HHL) and other hearing disorders. However, the mechanism underlying this cochlear synaptopathy remains unclear. Here, we report that elevation of extracellular K⁺, which is a consequence of noise exposure, could cause IHC ribbon synapse degeneration and swelling. Like intensity dependence in noise-induced cochlear synaptopathy, the K⁺-induced degeneration was dose-dependent, and could be attenuated by BK channel blockers. However, application of glutamate receptor (GluR) agonists caused ribbon swelling but …

Vehicle-Life Interaction In Fog-Enabled Smart Connected And Autonomous Vehicles, Bushra Feroz, Amjad Mehmood, Hafsa Maryam, Sherali Zeadally, Carsten Maple, Munam Ali Shah

Information Science Faculty Publications

Traffic accidents have become a major issue for researchers, academia, government and vehicle manufacturers over the last few years. Many accidents and emergency situations frequently occur on the road. Unfortunately, accidents lead to health injuries, destruction of some infrastructure, bad traffic flow, and more importantly these events cause deaths of hundreds of thousands of people due to not getting treatment in time. Thus, we need to develop an efficient and smart emergency system to ensure the timely arrival of an ambulance service to the place of the accident in order to provide timely medical help to those injured. In addition, …

The Glass Is Half Full But Contaminated: An Analysis Of The United States’ Financial Investment In The Drinking Water Infrastructure System, Maya Marshall

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Isolating Price Promotions: The Influence Of Promotional Timing On Promotion Redemption, Daniel Sheehan, Koert Van Ittersum

Marketing & Supply Chain Faculty Publications

This research investigates how the timing of the promotional encounter, whether consumers encounter a promotion in isolation or at the moment of choice alongside other products, influences how consumers evaluate and redeem a promotional offer. Three studies demonstrate that isolated promotions for premium brands are more effective than traditional shelf promotions in persuading consumers to purchase the promoted product as these promotions alter how consumers evaluate and justify purchasing the promoted products. Specifically, isolated promotions lead consumers to focus relatively less on the price of the promoted product compared to its quality. This reduced focus on price assuages the negative …

A Methodology For Autonomous Roof Bolt Installation Using Industrial Robotics, Anastasia Xenaki

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

The mining sector is currently in the stage of adopting more automation, and with it, robotics. Autonomous bolting in underground environments remains a hot topic for the mining industry. Roof bolter operators are exposed to hazardous conditions due to their proximity to the unsupported roof, loose bolts, and heavy spinning mass. Prolonged exposure to the risk inevitably leads to accidents and injuries.

The current thesis presents the development of a robotic assembly capable of carrying out the entire sequence of roof bolting operations in full and partial autonomous sensor-driven rock bolting operations to achieve a high-impact health and safety intervention …

Using Landslide-Inventory Mapping For A Combined Bagged-Trees And Logistic-Regression Approach To Determining Landslide Susceptibility In Eastern Kentucky, Usa, Matthew M. Crawford, Jason M. Dortch, Hudson J. Koch, Ashton A. Killen, Junfeng Zhu, Yichuan Zhu, Lindsey Sebastian Bryson, William C. Haneburg

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

High-resolution LiDAR-derived datasets from a 1.5 m digital elevation model and a detailed landslide inventory (n ≥ 1000) for Magoffin County, Kentucky, USA were used to develop a combined machine-learning and statistical approach to improve geomorphic-based landslide-susceptibility mapping.

An initial dataset of 36 variables was compiled to investigate the connection between slope morphology and landslide occurrence. Bagged trees, a machine-learning random-forest classifier, was used to evaluate the geomorphic variables, and 12 were identified as important: standard deviation of plan curvature, standard deviation of elevation, sum of plan curvature, minimum slope, mean plan curvature, range of elevation, sum of roughness, …

Language Contact And Covert Prominence In The Sḥerēt-Jibbāli Language Of Oman, Jarred Brewster

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

This thesis reports on a phonetic production study, the results of which support the existence of a complex word-prosodic system for the Sḥerēt-Jibbāli language of Dhofar, Oman. In the language, stress seems to co-occur in some lexical items with a high tone. In the discussion, a mechanism for the emergence of this system is proposed as the reflex of a typological feature held in common with the related language, Soqotri, and as justification for an Eastern Modern South Arabian subgroup consisting of Sḥerēt-Jibbāli and Soqotri.

Analysis Of Graded Sensorimotor Rhythms For Brain-Computer Interface Applications, Chase Allen Haddix

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

The emerging field of neural engineering is tasked with applying engineering principles towards understanding neuroscience. A by-product of such a venture has been the development of a class of assistive devices known as brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) which link brain activity to actions performed by external devices. One application of this technology is in the rehabilitative sector for individuals with neuromuscular diseases and disorders. Despite tremendous efforts in the last few decades, a reliable signal that reflects fine motor control has yet to be adequately investigated. This gap in knowledge has limited the potential of BCIs to restore movement and communication. …

Patient Engagement In Patient Portals In Appalachia Versus Surrounding Us Census Regions: An Analysis Of Hints (Health Information National Trends Survey) Data, 2017 - 2020, Heather Lea Tudor

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

OBJECTIVE: Those living in the Appalachian regions face more significant healthcare disparities than those in the US. Patient portals can decrease disparities and increase health outcomes and health literacy. The purpose of this study was to determine if those living in the Appalachian region were offered access to and used their patient portals differently than the surrounding US Census region. Additionally, we aimed to determine if there was a difference in reported reasons for non-use of patient portals.

METHODS: This was a descriptive study using data from the National Cancer Institute’s Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) data (2017-2020) to …