Digital Commons Network^™

Structured Attention For Image Analysis, Xin Xing

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Attention mechanism, an approach to maintain the local and global features over the input, is the crucial element of the Transformer. This dissertation explores structured attention for image analysis, proposing attention-based methods for multi-label learning and Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) diagnosis.
For the multi-label learning task, I present two works under the Vision Transformer (ViT) framework. The first work focuses on supervised learning of multi-label classification. I address the problems of the multi-label classification and propose a model named AssocFormer, which adopts the association module to access the objects’ association relationship to improve the model performance. The second work addresses the …

Hard-Hearted Scrolls: A Noninvasive Method For Reading The Herculaneum Papyri, Stephen Parsons

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

The Herculaneum scrolls were buried and carbonized by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in A.D. 79 and represent the only classical library discovered in situ. Charred by the heat of the eruption, the scrolls are extremely fragile. Since their discovery two centuries ago, some scrolls have been physically opened, leading to some textual recovery but also widespread damage. Many other scrolls remain in rolled form, with unknown contents. More recently, various noninvasive methods have been attempted to reveal the hidden contents of these scrolls using advanced imaging. Unfortunately, their complex internal structure and lack of clear ink contrast has prevented …

Deep Learning-Based Intrusion Detection Methods For Computer Networks And Privacy-Preserving Authentication Method For Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks, Ayesha Dina

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

The incidence of computer network intrusions has significantly increased over the last decade, partially attributed to a thriving underground cyber-crime economy and the widespread availability of advanced tools for launching such attacks. To counter these attacks, researchers in both academia and industry have turned to machine learning (ML) techniques to develop Intrusion Detection Systems (IDSes) for computer networks. However, many of the datasets use to train ML classifiers for detecting intrusions are not balanced, with some classes having fewer samples than others. This can result in ML classifiers producing suboptimal results. In this dissertation, we address this issue and present …

Maternal Obesity Blunts Antimicrobial Responses In Fetal Monocytes, Suhas Sureshchandra, Brianna M. Doratt, Norma Mendza, Oleg Varlamov, Monica Rincon, Nicole E. Marshall, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Maternal pre-pregnancy (pregravid) obesity is associated with adverse outcomes for both mother and offspring. Amongst the complications for the offspring is increased susceptibility and severity of neonatal infections necessitating admission to the intensive care unit, notably bacterial sepsis and enterocolitis. Previous studies have reported aberrant responses to LPS and polyclonal stimulation by umbilical cord blood monocytes that were mediated by alterations in the epigenome. In this study, we show that pregravid obesity dysregulates umbilical cord blood monocyte responses to bacterial and viral pathogens. Specifically, interferon-stimulated gene expression and inflammatory responses to respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) and E. coli were significantly …

Platelet Glycogenolysis Is Important For Energy Production And Function, Kanakanagavalli Shravani Prakhya, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Daniёlle M. Coenen, Linda Omali, Joshua Lykins, Smita Joshi, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar, Qing Jun Wang, Patrick G. Sullivan, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Although the presence of glycogen in platelets was established in the 1960s, its importance to specific functions (i.e., activation, secretion, aggregation, and clot contraction) remains unclear. Patients with glycogen storage disease often present with increased bleeding and glycogen phosphorylase (GP) inhibitors, when used as treatments for diabetes, induce bleeding in preclinical studies suggesting some role for this form of glucose in hemostasis. In the present work, we examined how glycogen mobilization affects platelet function using GP inhibitors (CP316819 and CP91149) and a battery of ex vivo assays. Blocking GP activity increased glycogen levels in resting and thrombin-activated platelets and inhibited …

Macrophage Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Reduces Atherosclerosis By Increasing Peroxisome Proliferator-Activated Receptor Α And Fundamentally Changing Lipid Metabolism, Duoyao Cao, Zakir Khan, Xiaomo Li, Suguru Saito, Ellen A. Bernstein, Aaron R. Victor, Faizan Ahmed, Aoi O. Hoshi, Luciana C. Veiras, Tomohiro Shibata, Mingtian Che, Lei Cai, Michifumi Yamashita, Ryan E. Temel, Jorge F. Giani, Daniel J. Luthringer, Ajit S. Divakaruni, Derick Okwan-Duodu, Kenneth E. Bernstein

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Aims The metabolic failure of macrophages to adequately process lipid is central to the aetiology of atherosclerosis. Here, we examine the role of macrophage angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) in a mouse model of PCSK9-induced atherosclerosis.

Methods and results Atherosclerosis in mice was induced with AAV-PCSK9 and a high-fat diet. Animals with increased macrophage ACE (ACE 10/10 mice) have a marked reduction in atherosclerosis vs. WT mice. Macrophages from both the aorta and peritoneum of ACE 10/10 express increased PPARα and have a profoundly altered phenotype to process lipids characterized by higher levels of the surface scavenger receptor CD36, increased uptake of …

Examining Migration Flows Across Kentucky's Counties, James Brady Stein

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The state of Kentucky is home to many rural counties which experience high levels of outward migration due to their relatively unfavorable economic conditions. While migration trends nationally have begun to plateau, migration flows from county to county show a much more volatile story. This study will examine the relationship between economic opportunity and migration flow estimates in Kentucky’s counties through a multiple regression approach with the response variable being annual migration flow estimates, with multiple predictor variables showing the economic composition of the county. Variables used in this regression include annual unemployment rates, educational attainment levels, county poverty rates, …

Did The Covid-19 Pandemic Cause A Learning Loss In Reading And Mathematics? Empirical Evidence Using 2022 Grade 8 Students In Kentucky., Tiyani Rodrigo

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

In 2020, most United States (U.S.) schools closed abruptly. Due to the pandemic, students and teachers were affected in multiple ways. Nearly three years post-pandemic, it is evident students lost in academic achievement. Lower academic performance may impact the future economy and labor force due to lower productivity. Therefore, understanding the causal impact COVID-19 had on academic achievement is vital to develop policy that will help mitigate the long-term impact. In this capstone, I will estimate the size and direction of the impact COVID-19 had on Mathematics and Reading skills for grade 8 students in Kentucky. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DiD) …

Accurate Oxygen Abundance Of Interstellar Gas In Mrk 71 From Optical And Infrared Spectra, Yuguang Chen, Tucker Jones, Ryan Sanders, Dario Fadda, Jessica Sutter, Robert Minchin, Erin Huntzinger, Peter Senchyna, Daniel Stark, Justin Spilker, Benjamin J. Weiner, Guido Roberts-Borsani

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The heavy element content (“metallicity”) of the Universe is a record of the total star formation history. Gas-phase metallicity in galaxies, as well as its evolution with time, is of particular interest as a tracer of accretion and outflow processes. However, metallicities from the widely-used electron temperature (Te) method are typically ∼ 2× lower than the values based on the recombination line method. This “abundance discrepancy factor” (ADF) is well known and is commonly ascribed to bias due to temperature fluctuations. We present a measurement of oxygen abundance in the nearby (3.4 Mpc) system, Mrk 71, using a combination of …

Moral Foundations And Student Perceptions Of Academic Dishonesty: A Mixed Methods Study, Carla Spires Hargus

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This mixed methods study explored students’ hypothetical choices of behavior in a series of ten academic vignettes. In addition, it examined student judgments of academic behaviors as acceptable or dishonest. Finally, it compared scores on the Moral Foundations Questionnaire-2 to the importance of factors that might influence student behavioral choices in real world scenarios and explored the differences in perceptions among demographic groups.

Twenty-five undergraduate students participated in the study. In a semi-structured interview, each student discussed ten academic vignettes: predicting their own hypothetical behavioral choice, judging target behaviors as honest or dishonest, and identifying factors that would most influence …

Broken Down: A Mixed Methods Inquiry Examining The Mechanics Of The Segmenting Principle Using Flipped Math Instruction For Automotive Technicians, John David Baumgarten

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

Mayer’s Segmenting Principle requires an instructional designer to both break the instruction into small functional pieces and pause instruction between each of these pieces until a student signals readiness to move on. Over decades of research, investigators have consistently demonstrated that segmented multimedia content achieves better learning assessment outcomes than continuous content across various academic disciplines, ages, and ability levels. While current segmenting research has shown impressive results in tightly controlled experimental scenarios, there is far less research on its application in the real world. To date, the vast majority of segmenting principle studies only assess short-term knowledge using an …

Understanding First-Year Undergraduate Students Safety, Savviness, And Social Etiquette Online, Collis Ray Robinson

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Student’s engagement and interaction online continue to grow as technological advancements increase. The ability to engage and connect is endless today compared to two decades ago. This mixed methods action research study examines the digital citizenship knowledge of first-year students at a private liberal arts work college. The study focuses on student’s understanding of digital citizenship through the lens of safety, savviness, and social engagement online. Additionally, the study seeks to explore students, staff, and faculty perceptions around more education about digital citizenship at the undergraduate level. This study discusses the problem of practice, methodological framework, and study plan in …

Addressing A Cohort Discrepancy Among Ninth-Grade Students At A Rural/Suburban High School, Bryley Keaton Murphy

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Ninth grade is a critical period where some children experience academic and social growth, while others struggle to navigate their new context, leading to reduced outcomes at school and worsened physical/mental health (Benner & Graham, 2007; Rice, 2001). This mixed-methods action research (MMAR) study addressed how professional practice changes could better support students during this foundational period. Quantitative data was collected from school databases to compare the rate of student success and identify demographic discrepancies, while qualitative data was used to identify possible causes. These data were then integrated to create insightful meta-inferences into the problem of practice. From these …

Investigating The Relationship Between Empowerment And Secondary Science Teachers’ Technology Integration Knowledge, Jane Elizabeth Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Empowered teachers believe they can improve their work conditions and positively impact student outcomes. Likewise, teachers with technology integration knowledge can effectively use technology to enhance lessons and improve student learning. This quantitative correlational study investigated teachers’ empowerment, teachers’ technology integration knowledge, and associations between empowerment and technology integration knowledge. Two hundred fourteen randomly selected high school science teachers from across the United States responded to a survey intended to measure empowerment and technology integration knowledge. The teachers' average responses indicate that teachers generally agree with statements surrounding empowerment (M = 3.93, SD = 0.54) and technology integration knowledge …

Embracing Rural First-Generation College Student Scholar Identity: Wading Waist Deep In Unfamiliar Waters, Robert Hayes

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

First-generation college students do not persist to degree completion at the same rate as their continuing generation peers. There is a wide range of research focusing on the challenges and opportunities that first-generation college students experience, ranging from pre-matriculation factors, the transition period to college, and throughout the undergraduate years. The achievement gap, in terms of persistence to degree, has been a consistent focus of research as first-generation students routinely do not earn college degrees at the same rate as their continuing generation peers. This research takes a holistic approach to understanding the first-generation college student experience that does not …

Examination Of Physiological And Perceptual Responses During Sustained, Isometric, Fatiguing, Handgrip Exercise Anchored To Ratings Of Perceived Exertion, Minyoung Kwak

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The purposes of this study were to: 1) Examine the patterns of force responses relative to critical force (CF) during submaximal, fatiguing, isometric handgrip exercise anchored to different rating of perceived exertion (RPE) levels (RPE=3, 5, and 7); 2) assess the loss of force during the task and the level of performance fatigability after each RPE hold; 3) examine the time course of changes and patterns of neuromuscular [electromyography (EMG) amplitude (AMP), mean power frequency (MPF), mechanomyography (MMG) AMP and MPF, and neuromuscular efficiency (NME) (i.e. force/EMG AMP)] and muscle oxygen saturation (% SmO₂) responses during each RPE …

Doing The Work: Using Questions, Tasks, And Sources To Navigate Teaching Contentious Social Studies In Secondary Classrooms, Bonnie Patrice Lewis

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This explanatory case study examines how two secondary social studies teachers use inquiry-based learning to mitigate the risks of teaching contentious social studies in a charged classroom. Research questions included: 1. How do two in-service secondary teachers use inquiry-based instruction to navigate teaching contentious social studies during charged times? 2. What curricular and pedagogical choices were made by the in-service teachers to navigate risk when designing inquiry-based instruction that features contentious social studies during charged times? 3. What curricular and pedagogical choices were made by the in-service teachers to navigate risk when delivering inquiry-based instruction that features contentious social studies …

High School Student Perceptions Of Positive Behavior Interventions And Supports, Candice Conley

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This case study examines student voice and their interpretations of the Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports (PBIS) framework used in one Kentucky high school. Qualitative interview data from high school student focus groups was analyzed using grounded theory to develop themes related to PBIS implementation.

Using open and axial coding, themes were developed from common student interpretations of PBIS within focus groups. Participants discussed a variety of positive techniques teachers use inside the classroom and responses to student behavior. Reward systems were discussed, but more importantly students offered suggestions of interventions and supports to offer at school. When asked to …

Development And Validity Inquiry Of A Rubric For Interdisciplinary Competencies In Occupational Safety And Health In Capstone Projects Of Carerc Program Graduates, Olumuyiwa Moses Desmennu

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Emerging demands in the field of interdisciplinary studies reveal a need for competent professionals who can apply their skills and experience to solving complex tasks of the workplace. This has placed inevitable demands on training institutions to adequately equip graduates to deliver on their mandate. Competency appraisal is an effective way to ensure proficiency in graduates. Meanwhile, transparent and valid rubrics provide opportunities for both students and trainers to continuously assess and evaluate the transfer of necessary skills.

This study focused on evaluating interdisciplinary competencies in Occupational Safety and Health (OSH) in the capstone projects of the CARERC program, a …

The Moral Imperative To Include More Women In Leadership Within Institutions Of Higher Education, Kathryn Mattingly Flynn

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

In higher education, women’s trajectory into leadership positions is not equitable to men’s. The concerns with the scarcity of women in leadership positions, specifically deans, provosts, presidents, and board members, involve varying levels of gender biases, norms, and stereotypes, as well as expectations of representation. Gender biases and stereotypes remain ingrained in American societal structures and result in immoral consequences, injustice for colleges and universities, and diminished happiness of the participants within them. I will use philosophical inquiry to argue that greater representation of women in the leadership of higher education would lead to morally better outcomes for institutions and …

Wha Up Bruh, You Good: A Critical Analysis Of Mentoring Programs For African American Males In Community College, Taran Landell Mczee

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Policy Studies and Evaluation

This qualitative case study used a phenomenological research approach to explore the lived experiences of African American male community college students who participate in mentoring programs. Mentoring programs for African American males in higher education have been implemented to help improve retention, academic performance in the classroom, sense of self, intention to complete, and graduation rates (LaVant et al., 1997). Critical race theory (CRT) informed the use of qualitative interview methods to represent the lived experiences of the participants and to elevate the knowledge of young African American men in research on higher education mentoring programs. Research participants were 8 …

A Statewide Network’S Impact On School Leaders’ Self-Efficacy For Transformational School Change, Karen Perry

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

Changing educational practice is widely understood to be a challenging endeavor, even for experienced school leaders. Much of the research on school networks focuses on building teacher capacity for improving student performance, but less evidence exists relating to increasing school leaders’ self-efficacy, specifically for the purpose of transformational school change. Building on the body of research of school networks and leaders’ self-efficacy, this mixed methods participatory action research study investigates how a network, facilitated by university faculty, impacts the leadership self-efficacy of high school principals for the purpose of leading transformational school change. Self- efficacy is both malleable and essential …

Transplanted Appalachians’ Perspectives Of Culturally Relevant Topics/Texts And How These Topics/Texts Aid In Their Reading Comprehension, Kathryn E. H. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

The purpose of this research study was to understand Transplanted Appalachians’ perspectives of culturally relevant topics/texts and how these topics/texts aid in their reading comprehension. This culturally relevant study was framed using Vygotsky’s (1978) sociocultural theory, Barton and Hamilton’s (1998) literacy as a social practice, and Rosenblatt’s (1994) transactional theory. Research participants included five transplanted Appalachian adults from the Central Appalachian Region. The research methods included one introductory interview, four think-alouds, four post think-aloud interviews, and four Cultural Relevance Rubrics. Results from the data sources revealed the participants strongly related to six cultural themes including: community, authentic Appalachian experiences (e.g., …

Musical Portraiture In Acht Korte Karakterschetsen Voor Piano Vierhandig By Hans Osieck, Yuri Kim

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Hans Osieck (1910-2000) was a Dutch composer, pianist, and teacher. His musical portraits, Acht Korte Karakterschetsen voor piano vierhandig (Eight Short Character Sketches for Four Hands), are a valuable addition to the piano duo repertoires for intermediate and advanced students. In Eight Sketches, Osieck musically portrays eight of his students using simple compositional techniques, much like the brushstrokes and color palette of an artistic portrait. As a result of their programmatic nature and relatable subjects, Osieck’s Eight Sketches can be particularly useful for students developing their imaginations and learning to perform expressively. As a piano duo, Eight Sketches also serves …

A Conductor’S Analysis Of Selected A Cappella Works By Samuel Coleridge-Taylor, William Bernard Chandler Iii

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Despite experiencing a great deal of recognition in his lifetime, Samuel Coleridge-Taylor’s music is seldom performed today. His more famous pieces were his choral cantatas, but they require resources that most choirs cannot access. To encourage performance of his music, this monograph focuses on four of his part songs, which are much more accessible.

While many choirs will have the voicings to perform these pieces, they are very chromatic. Coleridge-Taylor is a product of late Romanticism and he employs many chromatic techniques to embellish his music. Inexperienced choirs will struggle to maintain a sense of tonal center if they are …

Relojerías Sensibles By Juan Trigos – A Performance Guide, Geraldo Leite Da Costa Neto

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This dissertation provides insights into the compositional style of the Mexican composer Juan Trigos (b. 1965) and his brand-new work for solo guitar: Relojerías Sensibles (2022). Included in this document is a brief biography of the composer, commentaries about other of his works, as well as a description of his musical concept: Abstract Folklore. The main purpose of this research is to introduce the reader to Trigos’ artistic universe as well as provide a performance guide that may facilitate the understanding and learning process of his new solo piece. In addition, the first two appendices are dedicated to a catalog …

“Songs Of The Underground” – Crafting A Unique Gaming Experience Through Music, Megan Franklin

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The academic study of video game music, known as Ludomusicology, is a younger research area in the world of musicology, with the earliest works having been published in the late 80’s and early 90’s. Despite its young age, Ludomusicology is becoming a staple in the academic world, with scholars such as Melanie Fritsch, Andra Ivănescu, Michiel Kamp, Tim Summers, and Mark Sweeney dedicating their time to the subject. This thesis uses musical analysis as the basis of exploring the relationship between music and aspects of video game creation and player interaction. The case study for this project is the 2015 …

The Three E’S Of Horn Repertoire: From Excerpts To Etudes To Employment, Briana Pepilascov-Childers

Theses and Dissertations--Music

This project explores effective solutions for practicing orchestral excerpts, a challenge often faced by young musicians preparing for auditions. It introduces a method of adapting practice ideas and composition to facilitate a more profound understanding of fifteen orchestral excerpts. While primarily directed at horn players, the concepts and techniques explored in this study are applicable to musicians of all instruments, offering specific ideas, practice tips, and original etudes tailored to each excerpt. These etudes serve a dual purpose by addressing technical aspects of both the horn and the excerpt itself while familiarizing the musician with the standard orchestral repertoire commonly …

Sugar And Spice: Sex, Money, And Social Media, Rachel Elizabeth Davis

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

Interest in transactional sex, or the provision of a sexual relationship in exchange for gifts and/or money, has increased in recent years among researchers, nongovernmental organizations, and law enforcement officials as increasing numbers of women self-identify as hypergamous, indicating their interest in forming heterosexual partnerships with men of higher status. Hypergamous women may identify as sugar babies, spoiled girlfriends, or high-value women. A sugar baby is a woman providing romantic companionship to an older man, known as a sugar daddy, in exchange for money and/or gifts. A spoiled girlfriend is a woman whose partner provides her with money and/or gifts …

Let's Not Do Anything Drastic: Processes Of Reproducing Rural Marginalization In Education Policy Decision-Making, Julia M. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Sociology

At a school board meeting in micropolitan Athens County, parents of children attending the district’s smallest elementary school, Chauncey Elementary, packed in to defend the school against consolidation. They made calls for a levy to cover the impending budget shortfall and offered to reduce their classrooms by half if other schools would also bear some of the costs. They spent their holiday season defending their school, a source of vibrancy in the small town, from being closed. In the meeting, someone advocating for alternatives to closure suggested cutting administrator positions. The board response, according to one parent-leader? “Let’s not do …