Digital Commons Network^™

Khatri-Rao Products And Conditions For The Uniqueness Of Parafac Solutions For Ixjxk Arrays, Heather Michele Clyburn Bush

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

One of the differentiating features of PARAFAC decompositions is that, under certain conditions, unique solutions are possible. The search for uniqueness conditions for the PARAFAC Decomposition has a limited past, spanning only three decades. The complex structure of the problem and the need for tensor algebras or other similarly abstract characterizations provided a roadblock to the development of uniqueness conditions. Theoretically, the PARAFAC decomposition surpasses its bilinear counterparts in that it is possible to obtain solutions that do not suffer from the rotational problem. However, not all PARAFAC solutions will be constrained sufficiently so that the resulting decomposition is unique. …

Studies Of Genetic Variation At The Kit Locus And White Spotting Patterns In The Horse, Samantha Ann Brooks

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

There are numerous different white spotting patterns in the horse, including two of particular interest tobiano and sabino. In the mouse, genetic variation in the gene KIT causes many white spotting patterns. Due to the phenotypic similarity among white spotting patterns in horses and mice, KIT was investigated as the cause of the tobiano and sabino spotting patterns in horses. Initially, the KIT cDNA sequences from horses with several spotting patterns were compared. Three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified, though none were associated with a spotting pattern. Three novel splicing variants were also observed: exon 17 skipping, exon 18 …

Dietary Lysine:Calorie Ratios And Their Influence On Nitrogen Metabolism And Digestibility In Moderately Obese Mature Dogs, Trista Reeder

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This experiment was conducted to determine if changing the amount of ideal aminoacids (meaning the amount of amino acids necessary to supply all the animal's needswithout excesses or deficiencies of any single amino acid), in relation to caloric intakewill change nitrogen metabolism and weight loss in obese mature dogs. Informationprovided by this experiment can be used to formulate canine diets emphasizing weightloss in older animals.Six moderately obese mature female crossbred hounds were fed diets varying in theirratio of lysine:calories (Lysine % : Mcal ME/g) (2.2, 3.0, and 3.8) in a 3 x 3 replicatedLatin square design. Increasing the lysine:calorie of …

Isoprenoid Analogs As Chemical Genetic Tools To Provide Insights Into Farnesyl Transferase Target Selection And Cellular Activity, Jerry Troutman

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Protein farnesylation is an essential post-translational modification required for the function of numerous cellular proteins including the oncoprotein Ras. The farnesyl transferase (FTase) catalyzed reaction is unique because farnesyl diphosphate (FPP), the farnesyl group donor for the reaction, forms a significant portion of a target protein binding site. The major goal of this research was to exploit this unique property of the FTase reaction and determine if changing the structure of the farnesyl donor group would affect FTase protein targeting. A small library of structural analogues of FPP was synthesized. Michelis-Menten steady-state kinetic analyses and competition reactions were used to …

Trade Liberalization And Division Of Labor: Implications For Poverty In China, Xuehua Peng

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The concomitance of prosperity and poverty come as an enigma in today's world.As some people in this world benefit greatly from advanced technologies andglobalization, others are still suffering heavily from poverty. One noticeable fact is thatalmost all developing countries have their own distinguished "poor area". Such poorareas seem to persist regardless of robust economic growth enjoyed by the overalleconomy.By decomposing the developing country into two regions, one rich coastal regionand one poor inland region, this research establishes a new classical general equilibrium3X2 Ricardian model to investigate how trade liberalization will affect the participationin the division of labor by poor individuals …

Neurochemical Studies Of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder Medications In The Striatum And Nucleus Accumbens Of The Fischer 344 Rat, Barry Matthew Joyce

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Stimulant medications such as D-amphetamine, mixed-salts (75% D- and25% L-) amphetamine; Adderall®, and methylphenidate are first-line treatmentsfor Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). In vivo studies havepredominantly focused on these stimulants in the context of drug abuse, andtheir therapeutic mechanistic properties are only theoretical. Previously, in vivotechniques have been limited by poor temporal and spatial resolution, andcharacterizations of these medications in rodent models have not been possibleat low, clinically relevant levels. In order to address these issues, our laboratoryused in vivo high speed chronoamperometric microelectrodes to characterize theeffects of local applications of D-amphetamine, L-amphetamine, D,Lamphetamine,and Adderall® at low levels in the striatum and …

Roles Of Cyclooxygenase-2 In Microglial Activation And Dopaminergic Cell Death, Rattanavijit Vijitruth

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Accumulating evidence suggests that inflammation plays an important role in the progression ofParkinson's disease (PD). Among many inflammatory factors found in the PD brain, cyclooxygenase(COX), especially the inducible isoform, COX-2, is believed to be the critical enzyme in theinflammatory response. Induction of COX-2 is also found in an experimental model of PD producedby administration of 1-methy-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP). To investigate whetherinhibition of COX-2 by valdecoxib or deficiency in COX-2 could prevent dopaminergic neuronaltoxicity and locomotor activity impairment, we injected MPTP into valdecoxib-treated C57BL/6N miceand COX-2 deficient mice, respectively. Both automated total distance and vertical activitymeasurements of the open-field test were significantly …

Information Technology For Next-Generation Of Surgical Environments, Jesus Caban

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Minimally invasive surgeries (MIS) are fundamentally constrained by image quality,access to the operative field, and the visualization environment on which thesurgeon relies for real-time information. Although invasive access benefits the patient,it also leads to more challenging procedures, which require better skills andtraining. Endoscopic surgeries rely heavily on 2D interfaces, introducing additionalchallenges due to the loss of depth perception, the lack of 3-Dimensional imaging,and the reduction of degrees of freedom.By using state-of-the-art technology within a distributed computational architecture,it is possible to incorporate multiple sensors, hybrid display devices, and3D visualization algorithms within a exible surgical environment. Such environmentscan assist the surgeon with …

A Mass Spectrometry-Based Study Of Serum Butyrylcholinesterase Inhibition From Pesticide Exposure And Organophosphate Pesticide-Induced Proteome Alteration, Jinchun Sun

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Pesticides including organophosphates (OPs) and carbamates (CBs) are widelyused to control undesirable pests. These compounds are neurotoxic and inhibithydrolysis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine by acetylcholinesterase. Public healthconcerns have increased with the escalating usage of pesticides. Reliable monitoringprograms are required to detect and quantify pesticide exposure, as well as to promotean understanding of their neurotoxic properties. In this dissertation, both theanticholinergic (Part I) toxicity and neurotoxicity in neuroblastoma cells (Part II) ofpesticides were explored using mass spectrometry (MS). The high sensitivity andhigh-throughput of this technique renders it well-suited for proteomics analysis.Part I describes the study of butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) inhibition resultingfrom OP …

Cd(Ii)-, Pb(Ii)- And Hg(Ii)-2-Aminoethanethiolates, Mohan Singh Bharara

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This theses presents the synthesis and characterization of Cd(II)-, Pb(II)- and Hg(II)-aminoethanethiolates in aqueous media. 2-Aminoethanethiolate, a versatile sulfur andnitrogen (S/N) based ligand was used due to its resemblance to the naturally occurringamino acid, cysteine. The work is presented in four major parts: first, backgroundinformation on the versatile structural chemistry of Cd, Pb and Hg-thiolates with S/Ncontaining ligands; second, synthesis and characterization of Cd(II) with 2-aminoethanethiolates; third, synthesis and characterization and structural chemistry ofPb(II) with 2-aminoethanethiolates; and fourth, synthesis and characterization of Hg(II)-2-aminoethanethiolates in solution- and solid-state with emphasis on the mechanisticpathways for the formation of clusters.The compounds reported here …

Oxidative Stress And Redox Proteomics Studies In Models Of Neurodegenerative Disorders: I. The Canine Model Of Human Aging; Ii. Insights Into Successful Aging; And Iii. Traumatic Brain Injury, Wycliffe Omondi Opii

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The studies presented in this dissertation were conducted with the objective ofgaining greater understanding into the mechanisms of successful aging, the role ofmitochondria dysfunction in traumatic brain injury, and also on the mechanisms ofimproved learning and cognitive function in the aging.Aging is usually characterized by impairments in physiological functionsincreasing its susceptibility to dementia and neurodegenerative disorders. In thisdissertation, the mechanisms of dementia-free aging were investigated. The use of anantioxidant fortified diet and a program of behavioral enrichment in the canine model ofhuman aging was shown to result in a significant decrease in the levels of oxidativestress. A proteomic analysis of …

Base Cation Concnetration And Content In Litterfall And Woody Debris Across A Northern Hardwood Forest Chronosequence, Marty Acker

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Forest floor calcium (Ca) declines in northern hardwood forests are of interest because Ca availability may limit future forest growth. In the 1990s investigations into Ca pools and fluxes across a northern hardwood forest chronosequence showed decreases across stand age in the mass of forest floor base cations and litterfall cation concentrations. I undertook a study of factors that influence litterfall chemistry to develop a better understanding of base cation biogeochemistry in developing northern hardwood forests. Although Ca, potassium (K), and magnesium (Mg) concentrations in litterfall significantly declined with stand age, species composition and soil nutrient availability also influenced litterfall …

Geographies Of Learning In The Blackfeet Nation, Kristin Kay Seery

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Though there is a wealth of theory and research on the relationship between space and identity, few, if any, investigations in geographic literature have examined the relationship between space, identity and education. This research asks the question: In what ways are the spaces of formal education and the spaces of informal education on the Blackfeet reservation similar or different and how does this relationship affect the formation of the identity of the Blackfeet traditional student? For this project, students affiliation with traditional practice is defined by their self-identification and is not connected with their tribal membership status. In interviews, students …

Intergenerational Communication About African American Women's Health: The Sharing Of Health Messages Between Diabetic Mothers And Their Non-Diabetic Adult Daughters, Angela F. Cooke-Jackson

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The prevalence of type II diabetes is high among African-American women but research that emphasizes black mothers and their adult daughters is rarely studied in social sciences or communication research. Though existing research addresses various domains of the mother-daughter relationship scant information addresses the significance of talk or the transmission of health information between African-American diabetic mothers and their non-diabetic adult daughters. For that reason, this dissertation investigates information sharing among a sample of African-American mothers with type II diabetes and their non-diabetic adult daughters.This study's two primary research objectives were to: 1. describe whether and how African-American type II …

Influence Of Moisture Regime And Tree Species On Nitrogen Cycling And Decomposition Dynamics In Deciduous Forests Of Mammoth Cave National Park, Kentucky, Usa, Eric Fabio

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The study of biogeochemical cycles and their role in ecosystem function has helped to highlight the impacts of human activities on natural processes. However, our understanding of the effects of nitrogen (N) deposition on forested ecosystems remains limited due to the variable controls on N cycling. Soils, microclimate, and vegetation can influence rates and processes of N cycling, singly or in concert at multiple scales. Understanding how these factors influence N cycling across the landscape will help to elucidate the impacts of N deposition. The objectives of this study were to characterize variation in soils, microclimate and vegetation characteristics, and …

Lithologic And Stratigraphic Compilation Of Near-Surface Sediments For The Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant, Mccracken County, Ky, Joshua L. Sexton

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The Jackson Purchase region of western Kentucky consists of Coastal Plain sediments near the northern margin of the Mississippi Embayment. Within this region is the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a uranium enrichment facility operated by the US Department of Energy. At PGDP, a Superfund site, soil and groundwater studies have provided subsurface lithologic data from hundreds of monitoring wells and borings. Despite preliminary efforts by various contractors, these data have not been utilized to develop detailed stratigraphic correlations of sedimentary units across the study area. In addition, sedimentary exposures along streams in the vicinity of PGDP have not been …

The Integration Of The Theory Of Planned Behavior, Altruism, And Self-Construal: Implications For Designing Recycling Campaigns In Individualistic And Collectivistic Societies, Rungrat Chaisamrej

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This study was an effort to uncover four major facts: (a) the predictive power ofthe proposed integrated model, which posits the influence of attitudes (ATT), subjectivenorms (SN), perceived behavior control (PBC), altruism, self-construal, and paperrecyclingknowledge on behavioral intentions; (b) the moderating effects ofindividualism-collectivism (I-C) on the attitudes-intentions relationship and thesubjective norms-intentions relationship; (c) the comparison of the predictive power ofthe TPB model and the proposed integrated model; and (d) the relationship between twointentions measures: behavioral intentions and implementation intentions.This cross-sectional research consisted of two phases: the TPB elicitation researchand the main study. Participants were undergraduate students recruited from two majorpublic …

Suspended Sediment And Pathogen Transport In Two Inner Bluegrass Karst Ground-Water Basins, Woodford County, Kentucky, Thomas M. Reed

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Multiple parameters were monitored during an 18-month period in two karst groundwater basins in Woodford County, Kentucky, in order to assess the effects of land use on water quality. Blue Hole Spring drains a primarily urban area, whereas spring SP-2 drains an agricultural area. Water-quality parameters were monitored manually weekly or biweekly, as well as more frequently during storms. Discharge (Q), temperature (T), specific conductance (SC), and turbidity were continuously monitored and logged at 15-minute intervals. It is hypothesized that pathogen and sediment concentrations would be lower at SP-2 than at Blue Hole Spring due to differences in land use …

Citizens On Patrol: Community Policing And The Territorialization Of Public Space In Seattle, Washington, Marcia Rae England

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This dissertation shows how organizations, including local government and police, and residents within Seattle, Washingtons East Precinct define and police the contours of community, neighborhoods and public space. Under the rubric of public safety, these players create territorial geographies that seek to include only those who fit the narrowly conceived idea of a neighbor. Territoriality is exercised against the social Other in an attempt to build a cohesive community while at the same time excluding those who are seen as different or as non-conformant to acceptable behaviors in the neighborhood. This research provides a framework through which to examine how …

The Politics Of Garbage: Municipal Solid Waste In Oaxaca, Mexico, Sarah Anne Moore

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

This dissertation analyzes the politics of garbage in Oaxaca, Mexico. In particular, it explores the tactics used by a marginalized colonia near the dump to affect waste management and local development. This colonia provokes garbage crises by blocking the metropolitan areas access to its dump. As a result, garbage builds up in the city and public officials are forced to negotiate with colonia residents. I argue that two prior processes are essential to the success of this strategy. First, the mid-sized city in southern Mexico implemented many new waste management practices during the latter half of the 20th century and …

A Political Ecology Of The Chipko Movement, Sya Kedzior

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The Indian Chipko movement is analyzed as a case study employing a geographically-informed political ecology approach. Political ecology as a framework for the study of environmental movements provides insight into the complex issues surrounding the structure of Indian society, with particular attention to its ecological and political dimensions. This framework, with its focus on social structure and ecology, is distinct from the more traditional approaches to the study of social movements, which tend to essentialize their purpose and membership, often by focusing on a single dimension of the movement and its context. Using Chipko as a case-study, the author demonstrates …

Detection Of Malingered Mental Retardation, Lili Odom Graue

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

The 2002 Supreme Court decision (Atkins vs. Virginia, 536 U. S. 304), prohibiting the execution of mentally retarded persons, may potentially increase malingering of mental retardation (MR). There is limited research addressing the detection of feigned MR. The present study compared results from tests of intelligence, adaptive functioning, legal/courtroom knowledge, and psychiatric and neurocognitive feigning to determine how effectively these instruments discriminate between MR participants and community volunteers asked to either approach the test honestly (CVH group) or feign, or malinger, MR (CVM group). CVMs suppressed their IQ scores sufficiently to appear MR. CVMs overestimated deficits on individuals with genuine …

Does Optimism Explain How Religiousness Affects Alcohol Use Among College Students?, Benjamin Lee Collier

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Alcohol use, because of its many negative consequences, is the number one health problem facing college students. Because of this, researchers have looked for factors associated with reduced drinking. Religiousness is one such factor. Religiousness is a complex, multidimensional construct, and while it tends to be negatively associated with alcohol use, research progress has been slow due to the tendency of researchers to poorly operationalize this construct and to design studies that fail to go beyond the bivariate relationship of religiousness and alcohol use. In order to address these shortcomings, this study will assess two dimensions of religiousness, religious commitment/motivation …

Reconciling Biophysical And Psychosocial Models Of Stress In Relocation Among Older Women, Heidi Harriman Ewen

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

The decision to relocate or to age in place can be a difficult one, mitigated by a variety of influencing factors such as finances, physical abilities, as well as social and instrumental support from family and others. This study focuses on the stresses of residential relocation to independent and assisted living facilities among older women living in Lexington, Kentucky. Participation entailed three semi-structured interviews as well as saliva and blood sampling over a period of 6 months, beginning within one month of the move. Measures of cortisol were used as indicators of stress reactivity. Distinct patterns of cortisol response have …

Deeper Groundwater Flow And Chemistry In The Arsenic Affected Western Bengal Basin, West Bengal, India, Abhijit Mukherjee

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

Natural attenuation of trichloroethene (TCE) and technetium (99Tc) was studied for five consecutive seasons (from January 2002 to January 2003) in Little Bayou Creek. The stream receives ground water discharge from an aquifer contaminated by past waste disposal activities at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant (PGDP), a uranium enrichment facility near Paducah, Kentucky. Results from stream gaging, contaminant monitoring, tracer tests (with bromide, nitrate, rhodamine WT and propane) and simulation modeling indicate the TCE is naturally attenuated by volatilization and dilution, with volatilization rates related to the ambient temperature and surface discharge rate. The only apparent mechanism of 99Tc attenuation …

Design Of Partial Enclosures For Acoustical Applications, Amy Elizabeth Carter

University of Kentucky Master's Theses

Enclosures are a very common way to reduce noise emissions from machinery. However, enclosures display complex acoustic behavior that is difficult to predict. The research presented in this thesis uses the boundary element method in order to better understand the acoustic behavior of a partial enclosure. Insertion loss was used as the performance measure and the effect of several design factors on the overall insertion loss was documented. Results indicate that the most important factors affecting enclosure performance are the opening size, amount of absorption, and the source-to-opening distance.

Dump Truck Driver Dies After Unintentional Release Of Asphalt, Kentucky Injury Prevention And Research Center

Fatality Case Reports--Motor Vehicle

On June 6, 2005 a 55-year-old male dump truck driver (Driver 1) died when he was buried waist deep in 400-degree Fahrenheit asphalt. Driver 1 stopped along the highway to help another dump truck driver (Driver 2), (both were independent truck drivers), who had experienced brake problems. As the two men were examining the pneumatic brake system at the rear of the disabled dump truck, the tailgate opened unexpectedly, spilling hot asphalt onto the decedent who was under the rear of the truck.

To prevent similar incidents, the following recommendations have been made:

Recommendation No. 1: Tailgate chains should always …

Disposal Of Bridge Paint Residue, Theodore Hopwood Ii, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Paint residue generated by bridge maintenance painting commonly contains lead requiring the residue to be disposed of as a hazardous waste. Several alternatives are being investigated in this study, chemical stabilization and recycling as options for the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) to consider in addressing the waste stream generated by bridge maintenance painting operations.

In the initial portion of this study, four chemical stabilization materials were identified as candidates for xperimental/demonstration projects entailing maintenance painting. A recycling option was also provided. An experimental bridge painting project was let by KYTC to investigate the use of two chemical stabilizers and the …

Fiscal Year 2005 Fhwa-536 Report For The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Steven Douglas Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) requires state transportation agencies to submit a biennial report on local highway finances. The purpose of these reports is to provide FHWA with the data it needs to capture the financing of highway activities at the local level. Based on this information, it can identify trends in revenue, expenditures, investments, and program development, and in turn make decisions about future investments. The report, FHWA-536, asks agencies to report on four areas of local highway finance: 1) disposition of highway-user revenues; 2) revenues used for roads and streets identified by source and funding type; 3) road …

Sal-Site: Integrating New And Existing Ambystomatid Salamander Research And Informational Resources, Jeramiah J. Smith, Srikrishna Putta, John A. Walker, D. Kevin Kump, Amy K. Samuels, James R. Monaghan, David W. Weisrock, Chuck Staben, S. Randal Voss

Biology Faculty Publications

Salamanders of the genus Ambystoma are a unique model organism system because they enable natural history and biomedical research in the laboratory or field. We developed Sal-Site to integrate new and existing ambystomatid salamander research resources in support of this model system. Sal-Site hosts six important resources: 1) Salamander Genome Project: an information-based web-site describing progress in genome resource development, 2) Ambystoma EST Database: a database of manually edited and analyzed contigs assembled from ESTs that were collected from A. tigrinum tigrinum and A. mexicanum, 3) Ambystoma Gene Collection: a database containing full-length protein-coding sequences, 4) Ambystoma Map and Marker …