Digital Commons Network^™

Neutron Stars With Baryon Number Violation, Probing Dark Sectors, Jeffrey M. Berryman, Susan Gardner, Mohammadreza Zakeri

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The neutron lifetime anomaly has been used to motivate the introduction of new physics with hidden-sector particles coupled to baryon number, and on which neutron stars provide powerful constraints. Although the neutron lifetime anomaly may eventually prove to be of mundane origin, we use it as motivation for a broader review of the ways that baryon number violation, be it real or apparent, and dark sectors can intertwine and how neutron star observables, both present and future, can constrain them.

A Measure Of Srs/Srt Plan Quality: Quantitative Limits For Intermediate Dose Spill (R50%) In Linac-Based Delivery, Dharmin D. Desai, Ivan L. Cordrey, Ellis L. Johnson

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) and stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) of multiple cranial targets using a single isocenter on conventional C-arm linear accelerators are rapidly developing clinical techniques. However, no universal guidelines for acceptable intermediate dose spill limits are currently available or widely accepted. In this work, we propose an intermediate dose spill guidance range for cranial SRS/SRT delivered on C-arm linacs with MLC collimation for single PTV plans and single isocenter multiple target plans with PTV volumes in the range 0.02–57.9 cm³. We quantify intermediate dose spill with the R50% metric (R50% = volume of 50% of prescription isodose cloud …

Forage News [2022-03], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Music Therapy In Us Corrections: Philosophy, Practice, And Protocols Of Music Therapists Working With Incarcerated People In The Us, Lorna E. Segall, Olivia S. Yinger

Music Faculty Publications

Although the United States has the highest incarceration rate in the world and music therapy has existed in U.S. correctional facilities for almost a century, little is known about music therapists who provide services to people who are incarcerated. Exploration in this area is important as it could help inform clinical practice, music therapy curriculum, and potentially influence policy in the treatment of inmates. This study explores the philosophy, practices, and protocols of music therapists working in the U.S. corrections system. Board-certified music therapists ( N = 542) completed an online survey in which they indicated their reasons for working …

Computational Characterization Of Charge Transport Resiliency In Molecular Solids, Balaji Sesha Sarath Pokuri, Seab M. Ryno, Ramin Noruzi, Chad Risko, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Organic semiconductors have found utility in a diverse array of applications. A key property impacting device performance is the charge transport mobility of the molecular solids making up the active layer in these devices. There is increasing interest in accessing, quantifying, and understanding the resilience of charge transport mobility to thermal, mechanical, and chemical perturbations in molecular solids. Here, we integrate molecular simulations with graph characterization to quantify the resilience of charge transport. We consider all-atom simulations of the PTB7 system and build on earlier graph approaches to rapidly characterize the charge mobility of the PTB7 molecular simulations. We introduce …

Fill Materials At Integral End Bents, Charlie Sun, Tony Beckham

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Jointless bridge designs have become increasingly popular due to their low construction and maintenance costs. But this design carries risks. Most notably, integral end bents can be displaced and undergo settlement due to soil movement in embankments and loads carried by the superstructure. In response, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) devised a novel treatment for end bent and abutment backfills on low- and middle-span concrete bridges in which elasticized geofoam is placed between geosynthetically confined soil and an integral end bent (GCS-IEB). However, this design requires modification where the elasticized geofoam and overlying pavement meet. Using elasticized geofoam is also …

Autologous Haematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation And Systemic Sclerosis: Focus On Interstitial Lung Disease, Gianluca Bagnato, Antonio Giovanni Versace, Daniela La Rosa, Alberta De Gaetano, Egidio Imbalzano, Marianna Chiappalone, Carmelo Ioppolo, William Neal Roberts, Alessandra Bitto, Natasha Irrera, Alessandro Allegra, Giovanni Pioggia, Sebastiano Gangemi

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Autologous hematopoietic stem cells transplantation (AHSCT) has been employed as treatment for severe systemic sclerosis (SSc) with high risk of organ failure. In the last 25 years overall survival and treatment-related mortality have improved, in accordance with a better patient selection and mobilization and conditioning protocols. This review analyzes the evidence from the last 5 years for AHSCT-treated SSc patients, considering in particular the outcomes related to interstitial lung disease. There are increasing data supporting the use of AHSCT in selected patients with rapidly progressive SSc. However, some unmet needs remain, such as an accurate patient selection, pre-transplantation analysis to …

Estimation Of The Optimal Nitrogen Dose In A Brachiaria Humidicola-Corn Rotation System In The Colombian Eastern Plains, K. Enciso, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Improving nitrogen (N) use efficiency by optimizing the N fertilizer application dose is one way to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in agriculture and livestock production, especially in higher demanding crops such as corn. Taking a Brachiaria humidicola (Bh)-corn rotation system in the Colombian Eastern Plains, we seek to determine both the optimal economic dose (OED) and the optimal technical dose (OTD) of N, which allow to maximize income at producer level and minimize environmental impacts. This particular rotation system was chosen as research subject given the presence of the residual effect of Biological Nitrogen Inhibition (BNI) in …

Amplitude And Wavelength Scaling Of Sinusoidal Roughness Effects In Turbulent Channel Flow At Fixed ReΤ, Sparsh Ganju, Sean C. C. Bailey, Christoph Brehm

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

Direct numerical simulations are performed for incompressible, turbulent channel flow over a smooth wall and different sinusoidal wall roughness configurations at a constant Re_τ = 720. Sinusoidal walls are used to study the effects of well-defined geometric features of roughness-amplitude, a, and wavelength, λ, on the flow. The flow in the near-wall region is strongly influenced by both a and λ. Establishing appropriate scaling laws will aid in understanding the effects of roughness and identifying the relevant physical mechanisms. Using inner variables and the roughness function to scale the flow quantities provides support for Townsend’s hypothesis, …

From Theory To Practice: What Should We Have In Mind When Building Effective And Sustainable Payments For Ecosystem Services (Pes) Schemes For Silvo-Pastoral Systems? Evidence From Colombia, M. Díaz, K. Enciso, N. Triana, S. Burkart

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In most Latin American countries, payment for ecosystem services (PES) can be a useful strategy for restoration and conservation of the environment, increasing productivity and promoting sustainable development in rural areas. Despite these plausible benefits, PES implementation can be challenging due to the contextual framework in which it takes place (e.g. institutional weakness in the implementation and monitoring stages, limited connectivity among stakeholders, low adoption levels of agricultural technology). This study aims at evaluating PES schemes for silvo-pastoral systems in Colombia by considering six dimensions based on an extensive literature review: policy and governance; social context; environmental context; risks and …

Pastoralists’ Perception Of Poverty: A Case Of The Somali And Turkana Of Northern Kenya, W. P. Watete, Kogi-Makau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Poverty is a complex phenomenon, without a single definition or standard methods of reducing it. Income based methods of assessing poverty have been shown to have limitations that undermine their application in measuring and attacking poverty among pastoral households. Stages of progress method of poverty assessment was used to assess poverty among pastoral households in Turkana and Mandera Counties of Northern Kenya. Three hundred and three hundred and fifty-four households in Mandera and Turkana Counties respectively were sampled across three different livelihood zones: pastoral, agro-pastoral and off-farm. Accumulation of livestock was regarded as a key indicator of wealth among pastoral …

A Policy Brief On Adopting The Somali Camel For Enhanced Profitability And Pastoral Resilience In Northern Kenya, Simon G. Kuria, A. O. Adongo, S. Murithi, O. K. Koech, J. T. Njoka, P. Kamande

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Persistent drought and high temperatures in Isiolo and Marsabit counties of northern Kenya repeatedly devastate livestock herds particularly cattle making the pastoralists less resilient, more vulnerable to climate change and poor. To address this challenge, an IGAD funded project promoted adoption of Somali camel breed, trained farmers on improved management and also estimated potential profitability of rearing the camel. Through the project, trainers were trained and facilitated to train 240 peri-urban Somali camel producers in Isiolo and Marsabit on breeding, health, routine husbandry and marketing. Impact study documenting positive stories of change was conducted at the end. Producers who hitherto …

Alfalfa Insect Update: 2021 Growing Season, Lee H. Townsend

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Alfalfa weevils (AW) and fall armyworms (FAW) were newsmakers for very different reasons during the 2021 alfalfa growing season. An AW control failure with a pyrethroid in Kentucky drew attention to practices to manage insecticide resistance. A regional outbreak of FAWs resulted in significant damage to alfalfa and grasses along with a reminder of the unpredictable nature and difficult detection of this pest. While there are several effective FAW control options, it is challenging is to detect infestations in time to act.

The Role Of Bacteria And Fungi On Forage Degradation In Vitro, Gilberto V. Kozloski, D. C. Rösler, C. A. Pozo, L. E. Leonardi, Mariana P. Mezzomo

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The study was conducted to evaluate the interactive role of bacteria and fungi on forage degradation in vitro. Samples of Cynodon spp. were incubated in a 48-h in vitro gas assay with incubation medium containing or not antimicrobial substances. Treatments were: antibiotic (Ab), antifungal (Af), negative control (i.e. without antimicrobials) or positive control (i.e. with both Ab and Af). Three replicate assays were conducted and, in each assay the gas volume was measured at 3, 6, 9, 12, 24, 36 and 48 h of incubation. Data of cumulative gas production in each flask in each assay was fitted to …

Sunburns And Sun Protection Behaviors Among Male Hispanic Outdoor Day Laborers, Zhaomeng Niu, Mary Riley, Jerod L. Stapleton, Michele Ochsner, Germania Hernandez, Daniel P. Giovenco, Shawna V. Hudson, Denalee O’Malley, Carolina Lozada, Marién Casillas Pabellón, Carolyn J. Heckman, Elliot J. Coups, Louis Kimmel

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Individuals who work outside are at increased risk for skin cancer due to excessive exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation. Little is known about UV exposures and sun safety practices of outdoor day laborers, who are disproportionately Hispanic. This study identified the correlates of sunburn and sun protection behaviors in a sample of male, Hispanic day laborers (n = 175). More than half of the participants (54.9%) experienced one or more sunburns when working during the past summer, and 62.9% reported having one or more symptoms of heat illness. The frequency of engaging in sun protection behaviors was suboptimal, including …

What Have We Learnt From Quantitative Case Reports Of Acute Lateral Ankle Sprains Injuries And Episodes Of 'Giving-Way' Of The Ankle Joint, And What Shall We Further Investigate?, Filip Gertz Lysdal, Yuehang Wang, Eamonn Delahunt, Dominic Gehring, Kyle B. Kosik, Tron Krosshaug, Yumeng Li, Kam-Ming Mok, Kati Pasanen, Alexandria Remus, Masafumi Terada, Daniel T. P. Fong

Athletic Training and Clinical Nutrition Faculty Publications

Lateral ankle sprains are a commonly incurred injury in sports. They have a high recurrence rate and can lead to the development of persistent injury associated symptoms. We performed a quantitative synthesis of published case reports documenting the kinematics of acute lateral ankle sprains and episodes of ‘giving-way’ of the ankle joint to provide a comprehensive description of the mechanisms. A systematic literature search was conducted to screen records within MEDLINE® and EMBASE®. Additional strategies included manual search of specific journals, as well as contacting researchers in relevant communities to retrieve unpublished data. Twenty-four cases were included in the quantitative …

Recent Advances In Probiotic Application In Animal Health And Nutrition: A Review, Sarayu Bhogoju, Samuel Nahashon

Internal Medicine Faculty Publications

Biotechnological advances in animal health and nutrition continue to play a significant role in the improvement of animal health, growth, and production performance. These biotechnological advancements, especially the use of direct-fed microbials, also termed probiotics, those genetically modified and otherwise, have minimized many challenges facing livestock production around the world. Such advancements result in healthy animals and animal products, such as meat, for a growing population worldwide. Increasing demand for productivity, healthy animals, and consumer food safety concerns, especially those emanating from excessive use of antibiotics or growth promoters, are a driving force for investing in safer alternatives, such as …

[Black] Teachers Resisting Damaged-Centered Research: Community Listening Exchanges As A Reciprocal Research Tool In A Gentrifying City, Thais Council, Shaeroya Earls, Shakale George, Rebecca Graham

Curriculum and Instruction Faculty Publications

Gentrification impacts many cities across the nation. Affordable housing task forces and legislation meant to address housing inequities are becoming more common, yet the authentic experiences of those affected are often unacknowledged. Absent from the discussion of gentrification are the voices of those deeply impacted, some who are at the center of the work to maintain communities: Black teachers, Black students, and Black families. In many school districts, teachers do not have the opportunity to address the systemic issues that impact their students and communities. Still, it is impossible to ignore the ways societal injustice seeps into the classroom. This …

Sex Differences In Kappa Opioid Receptor Agonist Mediated Attenuation Of Chemotherapy-Induced Neuropathic Pain In Mice, Kelly F. Paton, Dan Luo, Anne C. La Flamme, Thomas E. Prisinzano, Bronwyn M. Kivell

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Chemotherapy-induced neuropathic pain is a common side effect for cancer patients which has limited effective treatment options. Kappa opioid receptor (KOR) agonists are a promising alternative to currently available opioid drugs due to their low abuse potential. In the current study, we have investigated the effects of Salvinorin A (SalA) analogues, 16-Ethynyl SalA, 16-Bromo SalA and ethyoxymethyl ether (EOM) SalB, and in a preclinical model of paclitaxel-induced neuropathic pain in male and female C57BL/6J mice. Using an acute dose-response procedure, we showed that compared to morphine, 16-Ethynyl SalA was more potent at reducing mechanical allodynia; and SalA, 16-Ethynyl SalA, and …

Aapm Medical Physics Practice Guideline 12.A: Fluoroscopy Dose Management, Ryan F. Fisher, Kimberly E. Applegate, Lindsey K. Berkowitz, Olav Christianson, Jaydev K. Dave, Lindsay Deweese, Nichole Harris, Mary Ellen Jafari, A. Kyle Jones, Robert J. Kobistek, Brendan Loughran, Loren Marous, Donald L. Miller, Beth Schueler, Bryan C. Schwarz, Adam Springer, Kevin A. Wunderle

Radiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Ispe-Endorsed Guidance In Using Electronic Health Records For Comparative Effectiveness Research In Covid-19 Opportunities And Trade-Offs, Grammati Sarri, Dimitri Bennett, Thomas P. A. Debray, Anouk Deruaz-Luyet, Montse Soriano Gabarró, Joan A. Largent, Xiaojuan Li, Wei Liu, Jennifer L. Lund, Daniela Claudia Moga, Mugdha Gokhale, Christopher T. Rentsch, Xuerong Wen, Chen Yanover, Yizhou Ye, Huifeng Yun, Andrew R. Zullo, Kueiyu Joshua Lin

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

As the scientific research community along with healthcare professionals and decision makers around the world fight tirelessly against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, the need for comparative effectiveness research (CER) on preventive and therapeutic interventions for COVID-19 is immense. Randomized controlled trials markedly under-represent the frail and complex patients seen in routine care, and they do not typically have data on long-term treatment effects. The increasing availability of electronic health records (EHRs) for clinical research offers the opportunity to generate timely real-world evidence reflective of routine care for optimal management of COVID-19. However, there are many potential threats to …

Evaluation Of Herbage Intake Estimation Methods For Dairy Cattle Grazing On Semi-Extensive Pastures, S. Perdana-Decker, E. Velasco, J. Werner, U. Dickhoefer

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Available empirical and mechanistic models to estimate total dry matter intake (DMI) and pasture dry matter intake (PDMI) of grazing lactating dairy cows have mainly been developed under intensive grazing conditions. The objective was to evaluate the adequacy of such existent models for use under semi-extensive grazing conditions, characterised by semi-natural grassland and less intensive resource use. Feed intake of lactating cows was measured on three commercial organic dairy farms in South Germany during one or two 6-d-periods/farm in 2019. Each period, DMI was determined in 10 or 20 cows per farm from their daily faecal output measured using titanium …

Strategy For Conjugating Oligopeptides To Mesoporous Silica Nanoparticles Using Diazirine-Based Heterobifunctional Linkers, Md Arif Khan, Ramy W. Ghanim, Maelyn R. Kiser, Mahsa Moradipour, Dennis T. Rogers, John M. Littleton, Luke H. Bradley, Bert C. Lynn, Stephen E. Rankin, Barbara L. Knutson

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Successful strategies for the attachment of oligopeptides to mesoporous silica with pores large enough to load biomolecules should utilize the high surface area of pores to provide an accessible, protective environment. A two-step oligopeptide functionalization strategy is examined here using diazirine-based heterobifunctional linkers. Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) with average pore diameter of ~8 nm and surface area of ~730 m²/g were synthesized and amine-functionalized. Tetrapeptides Gly-Gly-Gly-Gly (GGGG) and Arg-Ser-Ser-Val (RSSV), and a peptide comprised of four copies of RSSV (4RSSV), were covalently attached via their N-terminus to the amine groups on the particle surface by a heterobifunctional linker, …

Linking Ground, Space And Knowledge: The Role Of Weather Forecasting In Pastoralists' Decision-Making, E. L. Mulder, V. C. Wright, S. C. Steele-Dunne, P. H. A. J. M. Van Gelder, H. C. Winsemius

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Changing weather patterns and decreasing land availability continue to challenge the livelihood of the pastoralists in northern Tanzania. The increasing variability of expected rains has complicated livestock management, often jeopardizing household resilience. Drought Early Warning Systems are being set up to contribute to decision-making processes at national and international levels. Nevertheless, due to the large spatial- and temporal resolution of these systems and their high uncertainties, these systems have limited value at a pastoral household level.

Therefore, this paper explores what type of weather and climate information is deemed valuable for pastoral households in Longido District, Tanzania. It is based …

Long-Read Sequencing Of The Zebrafish Genome Reorganizes Genomic Architecture, Yelena Chernyavskaya, Xiaofei Zhang, Jinze Liu, Jessica S. Blackburn

Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Nanopore sequencing technology has revolutionized the field of genome biology with its ability to generate extra-long reads that can resolve regions of the genome that were previously inaccessible to short-read sequencing platforms. Over 50% of the zebrafish genome consists of difficult to map, highly repetitive, low complexity elements that pose inherent problems for short-read sequencers and assemblers.

RESULTS: We used long-read nanopore sequencing to generate a de novo assembly of the zebrafish genome and compared our assembly to the current reference genome, GRCz11. The new assembly identified 1697 novel insertions and deletions over one kilobase in length and placed …

Innovative Approaches To Analysing Carbon Sequestration As A Mitigation Strategy In Tropical Pasture Landscapes In Two Emblematic Contexts, The Amazon And The West African Sahel, V. Blanfort, R. Pocard-Chapuis, J. Vayssières, M. Vignes, M. H. Assouma, B. Hubert, A. Ickowicz, S. Fontaine

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The relationship between ruminant production systems and climate change is complex. As a major contributor to greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, the sector has been the subject of considerable controversy, with particularly severe criticism in the 2000s. However, ten years ago, the attitude towards grazing lands began to change. Their efficient use of non-renewable energy and their contribution to carbon (C) sequestration were considered as key factors in the new environmental challenge. The reality of this mitigation potential was recently called into question once again in the global agriculture and climate change debate, including that of sequestration in the soil where …

Drought Mitigation In Bundelkahand Grassland Ecosystem For Improving Livelihood Of Farming Community-A Case Study, N. S. Pasricha, P. K. Ghosh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Bundelkhand grassland ecosystem (23º20´ and 26°20´N latitude and 78°20´ and 81°40´E longitude) is an undulating rain fed region (annual rain fall, 768-1087 mm) spread over an area of 7.08 m ha in central India in the states of Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh. This region has to support 16 million human and 8.5 million animal populations. Area is prone to surface run off losses, severe soil erosion and increasingly more drought events, leading to only mono-cropping. Lively-hood of the people, which is mainly the live-stock rearing and marginal agriculture, is at stake. In-situ conservation of rain water, forage management, …

Automatic Segmentation Of Sinkholes Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Muhammad Usman Rafique, Junfeng Zhu, Nathan Jacobs

Computer Science Faculty Publications

Sinkholes are the most abundant surface features in karst areas worldwide. Understanding sinkhole occurrences and characteristics is critical for studying karst aquifers and mitigating sinkhole-related hazards. Most sinkholes appear on the land surface as depressions or cover collapses and are commonly mapped from elevation data, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). Existing methods for identifying sinkholes from DEMs often require two steps: locating surface depressions and separating sinkholes from non-sinkhole depressions. In this study, we explored deep learning to directly identify sinkholes from DEM data and aerial imagery. A key contribution of our study is an evaluation of various ways …

Feasibility Of Using Ring-Mounted Halcyon Linac For Single-Isocenter/Two-Lesion Lung Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy, Damodar Pokhrel, Aaron Webster, Richard Mallory, Justin Visak, Mark E. Bernard, Ronald C. Mcgarry, Mahesh Kudrimoti

Radiation Medicine Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: To demonstrate the plan quality and delivery efficiency of volumetric-modulated arc therapy (VMAT) with the Halcyon Linac ring delivery system (RDS) in the treatment of single-isocenter/two-lesion lung stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT).

MATERIALS/METHODS: Sixteen previously treated non-coplanar VMAT single-isocenter/two-lesion lung SBRT plans delivered with SBRT-dedicated C-arm TrueBeam Linac were selected. Prescribed dose was 50 Gy to each lesion over five fractions with treatment delivery every other day and AcurosXB algorithm as the final dose calculation algorithm. TrueBeam single-isocenter plans were reoptimized for Halcyon Linac with coplanar geometry. Both TrueBeam and Halcyon plans were normalized for identical combined target coverage …

Automatic Segmentation Of Sinkholes Using A Convolutional Neural Network, Muhammad Usman Rafique, Junfeng Zhu, Nathan Jacobs

Faculty, Staff, and Affiliated Publications--KGS

Sinkholes are the most abundant surface features in karst areas worldwide. Understanding sinkhole occurrences and characteristics is critical for studying karst aquifers and mitigating sinkhole-related hazards. Most sinkholes appear on the land surface as depressions or cover collapses and are commonly mapped from elevation data, such as digital elevation models (DEMs). Existing methods for identifying sinkholes from DEMs often require two steps: locating surface depressions and separating sinkholes from non-sinkhole depressions. In this study, we explored deep learning to directly identify sinkholes from DEM data and aerial imagery. A key contribution of our study is an evaluation of various ways …