Digital Commons Network^™

Computational Modeling Of The Heat Treatment Of White Oak Bound For Spirit Maturation, Kate E. Mclarney-Popham

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Maturation of distilled spirits in white oak barrels is a long standing practice known to have great impact on spirit character. Much of this impact can be controlled by the thermal modification of the barrel, since thermal degradation of the wood determines what wood compounds are available to interact with the spirit during maturation. In this work, a computational model for the thermal degradation of wood was developed and, with flavor compound data from literature, was used to investigate the effect of heat treatment on lignin-derived flavor compounds. The computational model in this work accounted for three solid species, three …

The Optimization And Manufacturing Scale-Up Of Polymeric Membranes Using Eco-Friendly Solvents, David Lu

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

Polymeric membranes have become a prominent technology applied in water filtration due to the lower cost, energy input, and simpler manufacturing process relative to other separation technologies. However, the environmental impact of polymeric membrane fabrication remains a hindrance due to the use of hazardous solvents derived from fossil fuels (e.g., DMAc, NMP, DMF) that pose a risk to the environment and human health. Whereas recent studies have demonstrated the proof-of-concept of polymeric membrane derived from eco-friendly solvents, the next steps of optimizing and upscaling the production of these membranes remains understudied and a gap between lab-scale studies and the path …

Shifting The Paradigm: Empowering School Social Workers As Leaders In Family Engagement Policy And Practices In K-12 Education, Amber Onkst

DSW Capstone Projects

This capstone examined the school social worker’s role in family engagement in K–12 education. It consists of three products that collectively review the current literature, conceptualize a gap in practice, and provide a tangible application to school social work in Kentucky. The first product, the systematic literature review, critically examines literature related to the school social worker’s role in family engagement policy and practices to inform an understanding of increasing engagement at the macro level. A narrative review was conducted to assess common themes. There was substantially limited research regarding this topic, showcasing a knowledge gap. The literature primarily revealed …

Bacteria-Engineered Vesicles For Cancer Immunotherapy: From Immunomodulation In Vitro To Anti-Tumor Effects In Melanoma Models, Lan Li

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Bacterial vesicles hold immense potential in various biomedical fields. Among these, outer membrane vesicles (OMVs) produced by Gram-negative bacteria are the most extensively studied. While the exact mechanism of OMV production remains unclear, numerous environmental factors have been shown to influence both their yield and composition. In this study, we investigated the effect of three different antimicrobial families on OMV production by E. coli. Interestingly, antimicrobials within the same family did not provide the same effects on OMV yield, suggesting that OMV production may not directly correlate with the antimicrobial mechanism of action. OMVs have demonstrated tumor-inhibitory activity in multiple …

Effects Of A-Site Cation Structure And B-Site Metal On Optical And Electronic Properties Of 2d Ruddlesden-Popper Phase Tin-Based Hybrid Perovskites, Henry Pruett

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

Organic metal halide perovskites (HPs) are attractive materials for a variety of electronic applications due to their low cost, tunable band gaps, excellent charge transport properties, and high photoluminescence efficiency. As such, HPs are being investigated for use in solar cells, photodetectors, X-ray detectors, light emitting diodes, field effect transistors, lasers, resistive random-access memory, etc. Currently the most popular metal used in HPs is lead, but the use of lead comes with the potential for heavy metal exposure. Tin-based perovskites offer a less hazardous alternative, but their optoelectronic properties lag behind those of lead and less work has been done …

The Physiology Of Exercise, Rosie Lanphere

Open Educational Resources

The Physiology of Exercise (3rd Edition) is an essential resource for upper-level undergraduates studying exercise science. Written by Rosie Lanphere, PhD, CSCS, this text provides a clear and comprehensive exploration of how the human body responds and adapts to physical activity.

Covering metabolism, energy expenditure, and the integrated roles of the nervous, cardiovascular, endocrine, muscular, and respiratory systems, this edition reflects the latest research and practical applications in the field.

Designed with students in mind, each chapter includes learning objectives, key terms, and scholarly questions to reinforce understanding. Whether preparing for a career in exercise science or professional certification, this …

Trace Level Benzoylecgonine Detections In Equine Plasma/Serum – A Proposed Interim Plasma Level Regulatory “Cut-Off“, Andreas F. Lehner, Kimberly Brewer, Levent Dirikolu, Abelardo Morales Briceñod, Robert Holland, George Maylin, Clara Fenger, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Cocaine is a widely used human recreational substance routinely transferring at pharmacologically irrelevant trace level amounts to non-user humans and horses. Horses and humans rapidly demethylate cocaine to benzoylecgonine which is excreted in urine at concentrations approaching two thousand times higher than the corresponding plasma cocaine concentrations. In human workplace drug testing, these usually pharmacologically irrelevant trace level urinary detections of benzoylecgonine are handled by application of a 100 ng/ml urinary “cut-off“, as presented by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). In horse racing several American states have long used published urinary “cut-offs“ for benzoylecgonine of from …

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke Exposure And Sleep Disturbance In School-Aged Children In Appalachian Ohio, Ketrell Mcwhorter, Christine Kim, Timothy J. Hilbert, Danielle E. Mcbride, Anthony A. Mangino, Patrick J. Parsons, Kurunthachalam Kannan, Erin N. Haynes

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Introduction: Secondhand tobacco smoke (SHS) exposure remains a major public health concern for children and has been implicated in sleep disturbances through biological and behavioral mechanisms. Different methods of measuring SHS exposure have yielded inconsistent results. This study examined the relationship between SHS exposure and sleep among rural Appalachian 7–9-year-olds, utilizing three SHS measurements: natural log-transformed (ln) serum cotinine concentrations, dichotomized serum cotinine levels (≥0.05 vs. <0.05 ng/ml), and parent/caregiver report of ≥1 smoker in the home. We hypothesized SHS-exposed children would have a significantly higher prevalence of sleep disturbance—e.g., short sleep, frequent snoring, night awakenings—compared to unexposed, regardless of measurement method. Methods: We used data from the Marietta Community Actively Researching Exposure Study, a cohort of 404 children in Marietta and Cambridge, Ohio. Sleep disturbances were parent/caregiver-reported. Linear models were used for continuous outcomes to estimate beta coefficients; log-binomial models with generalized estimating equations (exchangeable correlation) were applied for dichotomized outcomes to estimate prevalence ratios (PR), each with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Results: Twenty-six percent of children had a parent/caregiver report of ≥1 sleep disturbance. There was a 35% increased prevalence of short sleep [PR = 1.35 (95%CI:1.02–1.80), p =.04] with each unit increase of ln serum cotinine levels, adjusting for age, sex, parent education, BMI percentile, and history of breathing difficulties in the past two years. Increasing ln serum cotinine levels were associated with a significant 5.5-min decrease in average sleep duration in age-adjusted models. Conclusions: Higher SHS exposure was associated with poorer sleep outcomes, with serum cotinine emerging as the only measure linked to short sleep, underscoring the importance of smoke-free environments, particularly in rural communities, and objective exposure assessment.

Effects Of Ethanol And Neuropeptide-Y Signaling On Neurogenic Markers In The Hippocampus, Cassidy Taylor Leibold

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

According to the National Survey of Drug Use and Health in 2023, 28.9 million people over the age of 12 in the United States meet criteria for an Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD). AUDs result in a range of both social and behavioral consequences, caused by damage to the central nervous system. The hippocampus is a brain structure that undergoes cellular changes in the presence of ethanol, thus causing structural and functional damage. Impairments in neurogenesis, or the production of new neurons, due to ethanol exposure result in decreased plasticity and consequently memory impairments. The mechanisms of these ethanol-induced decreases in …

Factors Of Willingness To Pay For Equine Veterinary Services, Olivia Gibson, Shuoli Zhao, C. Jill Stowe

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study estimates correlates of willingness-to-pay (WTP) for routine, elective, and urgent equine veterinary services in the United States. Through a nationwide online survey of US horse owners aged 18 and older, a payment card approach was utilized to elicit WTP for annual vaccinations, a lameness exam, and emergency colic surgery. Based on the results from an interval regression model, we found that financial capacity, income level, and the number of horses owned were significant predictors of WTP across all three service types. These findings have implications for equine veterinary practice management and client communication regarding treatment costs.

Responses To Tobacco Use Screening And Tobacco Cessation Assistance Offers Among Rural And Ubran Cancer Survivors At An Nci-Designated Comprehensive Cancer, Abigayle Feather

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Smoking after cancer diagnosis is associated with poor outcomes while smoking cessation can improve quality of life and promote survival. Although there are calls for equitable tobacco treatment delivery in cancer and other healthcare settings, disparities in tobacco-related disease burden persist. In the context of an outpatient cancer center’s population-based tobacco treatment program, this study examines the association between cancer survivors’ rural and Appalachian residence and 1) current tobacco use status, 2) decision to decline cessation assistance, and 3) reason for declining assistance. A cross-sectional, retrospective analysis was conducted using electronic health record data from 16,839 adults (64.04% female, 88.49% …

Multidimensional Health Outcomes In Lgbtq+ Older Adults In The United States: Individual And Community-Level Protective Factors, Emily P. Lapidus

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Despite a lifetime of systematic barriers, LGBTQ+ individuals age into late adulthood, likely due to various protective factors. Guided by the Iridescent Life Course Framework (ILCF; Fredriksen-Goldsen & Muraco, 2019), I analyzed unique protective factors at two levels: (1) individual psychological factors (i.e., resilience, identity management) and (2) community-level factors (i.e., LGBTQ+ community connectedness, social support). Health was operationalized as mental health, physical health, and health-promoting behaviors. The present study accounted for covariates (i.e., financial barriers to healthcare, felt subjective age discrepancy, lifetime discrimination). I hypothesized that both stronger individual and community factors would be associated with better physical and …

"We Talk About It At The Dinner Table": Parent Discussions Of Identity And Politics In Diverse Adoptive Families In The United States, Abigail L. Moore

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Parents discussing identity and politics with their diverse adolescents can be protective against experiences of political stress and negative outcomes (Anderson, 2023). Identity discrepancies between parents and adolescents may complicate these conversations (McCrimmon et al., 2024). However, this research often only focuses on only one identity (e.g., race or gender; Mendez, 2022). Because negative political climates affect multiple identities simultaneously (Kassing et al., 2021), the current study explores political conversations in diverse, adoptive family contexts with varying (un)shared identities. Through reflexive thematic analysis (Braun & Clarke, 2021), 7 major themes were developed. Results suggest that identity discrepancies may underlie a …

Associations Between Queer Parent Family Socialization And Adolescent Outcomes Among Diverse Lgbtq+ Parent Families In The U.S., Nita U. Kulkarni

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Queer parent family socialization refers to the way LGBTQ+ parents talk with their children about what it means to be queer in society, how to handle discrimination, and ways to have pride in their family’s identity. This construct has been linked with positive well-being outcomes in children, and this study used a strengths-based, mixed- methods framework informed by Minority Stress Theory and intersectionality to examine how queer parent family socialization related to several adolescent well-being outcomes, namely internalizing behaviors, social competence, and adaptive coping. Participants recruited across two projects were 191 queer parents with an adolescent and 114 adolescents with …

Weighted Family History Density Of Substance Use: Influence On Participant Substance Use Onset, Escalation, And Duration, Carleigh A. Litteral

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Substance use disorders impose a staggering toll on the United States (U.S.), straining healthcare systems, destabilizing communities, and profoundly impacting both individuals and families. Approximately one in six Americans aged 12 and older had a past-year substance use disorder in 2022 (Key Substance Use, 2022), and nearly one-third of adults experience a substance use disorder in their lifetime (Wu, 2010), contributing to an economic burden exceeding $400 billion annually (National Drug Threat Assessment, 2011). Family history of substance use disorders is a key predictor of vulnerability, with individuals who have affected relatives being 2–8 times more …

Interparental Conflict And Sibling Relationship Quality In Emerging Adulthood: An Emotional Security Perspective, Courtlyn A. Fields

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Sibling relationships are among the earliest lifelong relationships and have been found to be protective against family dysfunction and positive adjustment outcomes. Yet research on sibling relationships remains limited. The current study aims to expand understanding of sibling relationship quality in emerging adulthood through the application of Emotional Security Theory (EST). EST provides a framework for understanding how adult sibling relationships may be impacted by childhood experiences of destructive interparental conflict. A sample of 1222 undergraduates with siblings completed an online survey. Participants retrospectively reported on interparental conflict and emotional security in childhood, and reported on their current emotion regulation, …

Randomized Controlled Trial Of A Single-Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention For Suicidal Thoughts And Behaviors, Martina Fruhbauerova

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Suicide remains a critical public health concern, with increasing rates and millions experiencing suicidal ideation annually. Although evidence-based treatments exist, many are time-intensive, underutilized, and often inaccessible to high-risk individuals, especially those recently discharged from inpatient psychiatric care. Brief, scalable interventions targeting core psychological mechanisms implicated in suicidal thoughts and behaviors (STBs) are needed. This study evaluated a novel Single Session Mechanism-Focused Intervention (SSMFI) designed to reduce hopelessness and negative perceptions of social relatedness among adults hospitalized for STBs. In a randomized controlled trial (N = 38) conducted on two inpatient psychiatric units, participants were assigned to either the SSMFI …

Diet And Migration In The Prehistoric Populations In The Greater Nicoya Region Of Nicaragua, Ashley Nichols Whitten

Theses and Dissertations--Anthropology

The goal of this three-paper dissertation was to engage with the archaeological hypotheses of prehistoric migration from Mesoamerica into the Greater Nicoya Region of Nicaragua. To that aim, this dissertation contains a discussion on the current information supporting and refuting the migratory hypotheses. New data is also presented in the form of stable isotope analysis and bioarcheological analysis of dentition from prehistoric archaeological sites in Pacific Nicaragua.

The first paper titled “Prehistoric Foodways and Migration Hypotheses in the Greater Nicoya Region of Nicaragua” outlines the current available research concerning migration out of Mesoamerica into Pacific Nicaragua. The potential migration is …

Implementing And Evaluating A Pilot Interprofessional Training Program To Engage Health Care Teams In Cost Of Care Conversations, Jean Edward, Kimberly D. Northrip, Mary Kay Rayens, Julia Costich, Andrea Welker, Rachel O’Farrell, John A. D'Orazio

Nursing Faculty Publications

Introduction: This study evaluated the impact of Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance-Training – a pilot interprofessional training program to facilitate cost of care (CoC) conversations and address health-harming social determinants of health in a pediatric hematology–oncology clinic.

Methods: A pre–post study design was used to evaluate the impact of Financial and Insurance Navigation Assistance-Training on an interprofessional health care team's (clinicians, social workers, financial navigator, and legal advocates) knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to CoC conversations and screening, referring, and collaborating with interprofessional team members. Data were collected …

Championing Reproductive And Perinatal Health With The Recovery Community: Improving Access To Healthcare And Health Promotion Resources To Support Recovery, Hartley C. Feld, Alex Elswick, Jeremy Byard, Whitney Beckett, Amanda Fallin-Bennett

Nursing Faculty Publications

Peer recovery support services are instrumental in the promotion of long-term recovery primarily by focusing on building the recovery capital of people with substance use disorders. Women may have specific health-related needs that are not generally part of recovery support staff training. Our team co-created a model by training people with lived experience as coaches to promote the health of women with SUD during the critical period of their reproductive years when mortality from overdose risk is high and can be compounded by issues surrounding pregnancy. We explored the outcomes of a small pilot test of this model to promote …

Evaluating Potential Determinants Of Health System Implementation Of A Virtual Oncology Financial And Legal Navigation Intervention To Address Cancer-Related Financial Toxicity, Jean Edward, Haafsah Fariduddin, Mackenzie Caldwell, Lori P Eisele, Joanna Doran, Monica Bryant, John A. D'Orazio, Anne E. Ray, Kimberly D. Northrip

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background

Integration of comprehensive oncology financial and legal navigation (OFLN) programs within health systems are needed to address cancer-related financial toxicity, however, implementation challenges exist.

Objectives

The aim of this study was to assess contextual factors that may influence implementation of a virtual OFLN intervention within a pediatric and adolescent and young adult oncology clinic and to inform necessary modifications to the proposed implementation strategies, pathways, and workflows.

Methods

We conducted 18 key informant interviews with healthcare team members, patients and caregivers. Data collection and analysis were guided by the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research (CFIR) to provide a structured …

Challenges And Lessons Learned While Conducting A Diabetes Prevention Program Among Black Churches During The Covid-19 Pandemic, Erika R. Karle, Destiny Cozart, Bassema Abu Farsakh, Victor Afolayan, Treasure Ebikwo, Maranda Brooks, Lovoria B. Williams

Nursing Faculty Publications

We share our experiences conducting a 5-year randomized controlled diabetes prevention project among 20 Black churches in central Kentucky during the COVID-19 pandemic and offer strategies to inform future church-based interventions. Researchers have long recognized the potential to reach Black adults in church settings for health promotion interventions and have implemented trials within this socially rich setting. However, there is a dearth of literature that describes the challenges and lessons learned while conducting these trials. We describe the challenges we experienced and the strategies we used to overcome them to successfully conduct the trial. During the study, we maintained detailed …

Hpv Self-Sampling Promotion Among African American (Aa) And Sub-Saharan African (Sai) Immigrant Women: Adaptation And Usability Testing, Adebola Adegboyega, Gia Mudd-Martin, Nancy Schoenberg, Mark Dignan

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Cervical cancer (CC) rates have declined nationally but rates remain high in Black women with most cases occurring among unscreened and under-screened women. This paper describes the adaptation, acceptability, and useability of an education intervention, “Health is Wealth: A Cervical Health Intervention”, to promote cervical screening and reduce perceived barriers to CC screening among two subgroups of Black women: African American (AA) and sub-Saharan African immigrant (SAI) women.

Methods: In this paper, we describe the process of adapting the Health is Wealth intervention using the Barrera and Castro adaptation framework. The iterative adaptation process included formative focus groups (n …

How To Eat Right And Why We Ask That Question, Heather N. Carpenter

Theses and Dissertations--Gender and Women's Studies

What does it mean to “eat right?” The notion is, of course, culturally, historically, nationally, politically, ethnically, and class determined. For the purposes of this project, however, I am particularly interested in changing notions of what it means to “eat right” within the post-World War II to the early new millennium American context, as such notions are represented within the prescriptions of popular culture. I turn to popular culture because this is the commons of the hegemonic call to “normalcy”—this is where we all learn to imitate, aspire, or rebel against a generic American consumer-self in conformity with the biases, …

Relevance And Reciprocity: Fostering Meaningful Inquiry In The Social Studies Classroom, Christy Cartner

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This dissertation investigates the factors contributing to students' perceptions of meaningful inquiry. After using the C3 Framework and designing instruction using the Inquiry Design Model for a decade, I wanted to better understand the students' experience to fine-tune how I implement inquiry in the classroom.

Article 1 was written for Social Education and describes the year of IDM blueprints that I designed to loop the concept of equality through units spanning the social studies disciplines of sociology, history, civics, geography, and economics. Through designing and facilitating these inquiries, I discovered my problem of practice, which was how to better engage …

International School Leaders’ Lived Experiences Of Crises And Perceptions Of Trust, Shary L. Marshall

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

International school leaders worldwide have navigated their schools through a variety of crises. Their unique lived experiences offer insights into the role of trust in leadership, particularly during times of crisis.

This qualitative study employed a phenomenological approach to explore the lived experiences of 12 experienced international school leaders. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Using the theoretical lenses of authentic leadership, sensemaking, loose coupling, and crisis leadership, this study illuminates the central role of trust in leading schools through crises.

Three significant themes emerged from the analysis. First, trust is foundational to leadership and is built through intentional, transparent …

Leadership Vision For Technology Use Post Covid-19, David J. Lucian

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The integration of 1:1 devices in K–12 education has been widely debated for over two decades, yet few studies have addressed the rapid implementation that occurred post–COVID-19. This study examined a K–8 school in an urban Title I district that, prior to the pandemic, lacked the funding and infrastructure for a 1:1 model. Federal relief funding enabled a swift transition to virtual learning, catalyzing long-term shifts toward 21st-century instructional practices. Using a Mixed-Methods Action Research (MMAR) design, this study explored teacher experiences, challenges, and support needs during the transition. Data collection included interviews with middle school teachers and an analysis …

Increasing Daily Living Independence Using Video Modeling In Middle School Students With Intellectual Disability, Pamela J. Sullivan

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

This study used a multiple probe across participants design to (a) evaluate the use of a mobile device (i.e., iPad) for video modeling to increase functional daily living skills and (b) evaluate the use of system of least prompts to teach students to self-instruct. In baseline, the classroom teacher asked participants to start their tasks and collected performance data. In the technology training condition, the teacher implemented a system of least prompts procedure to teach participants to initiate use of the iPad, navigate to a training video model, pause/play videos of training tasks, and perform the modeled training tasks. After …

The Role Of Cooperative Extension In Community Development: A Study Of Success Stories And Leadership Practices, George Grant

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

The Cooperative Extension System (CES) plays a vital role in community education and development across the United States. CES agents and specialists work directly with community members to identify needs, mobilize existing assets, and empower action. Despite the overlap in the fields of CES and community development, few studies have systematically analyzed the specific practices used by extension personnel who act as facilitators of change within communities. To address this gap in knowledge, a qualitative study was conducted using directed content analysis of CES success stories published through the University of Kentucky to identify practices used among two integral positions …

A Survey Study Of Professional Competencies For Resident Directors: Perspectives From Resident Directors And Supervisors, Lauren Doerner

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Resident directors (RDs) play a critical role in the success of residence life programs on college campuses. However, there is limited research on the professional competencies necessary for success in this role. This study explores the relationship between the ACPA and NASPA professional competencies RDs and their supervisors identify as most critical for RD success. In this study, RDs and their supervisors ranked key competencies, assessed RDs' mastery of these competencies, and RDs identified how they acquired them. Using a survey research design, quantitative data were collected from RDs and their supervisors at Research I institutions in the southeastern United …