Digital Commons Network^™

An Efficient And High-Throughput Method For The Evaluation Of Mitochondrial Dysfunction In Frozen Brain Samples After Traumatic Brain Injury., Hemendra J Vekaria, Olivia J. Kalimon, Paresh Prajapati, Gopal V. Velmurugan, Patrick G Sullivan

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

Mitochondrial function analysis is a well-established method used in preclinical and clinical investigations to assess pathophysiological changes in various disease states, including traumatic brain injury (TBI). Although there are multiple approaches to assess mitochondrial function, one common method involves respirometric assays utilizing either Clark-type oxygen electrodes or fluorescent-based Seahorse analysis (Agilent). However, these functional analysis methods are typically limited to the availability of freshly isolated tissue samples due to the compromise of the electron transport chain (ETC) upon storage, caused by freeze-thaw-mediated breakdown of mitochondrial membranes. In this study, we propose and refine a method for evaluating electron flux through …

Who Can You Count On? Banking While Female: Money, Community, And Self-Help, Leena Haider

Gaines Fellow Senior Theses

This ethnohistorical study explores how women’s creation and participation in financial systems allow them to find the economic prosperity and build community ties which they are entitled to. Because when facts or figures may not appeal to everyone, stories can. This paper is divided into four sections: In the first section, "Contextual Background," I delve into the historical and anthropological context of ROSCAs, exploring their origins, cultural significance, and economic functions across diverse societies in the Global South, before focusing on the diasporic usage of ROSCAs among immigrant communities. The second section, "Portraits of Women from Oral Histories," presents written …

Changes In Criminal Thinking Among Homeless Veterans Receiving Housing First Services, Deirdra Robinson

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

Homelessness is a social problem that has plagued the United States for decades. as early as 1987, veterans were identified has making up a large proportion of people living unhoused. This dissertation is a retrospective exploratory, quantitative study exploring the relationship between criminal thinking and specific characteristics (mental health symptoms, social connectedness, perception of seriousness of legal issues, and housing) of veterans who received services from a Housing First program. Using Survival Mode Theory as a framework for organizing and understanding the context of the study, and the utility of the findings, this dissertation aimed at improving practice and theoretical …

Differential Impacts Of Weather Anomalies On Household Energy Expenditure Shares: A Comparison Of Clustered Panel Analysis Methods, Jordan Champion

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

Recent emphasis on environmental justice has highlighted deficiencies in our energy system that produce disparities in accessibility and affordability for the most vulnerable. Meanwhile, the realities of a gradually warming climate and the onset of a global energy crisis (IEA 2022) have coincidently contributed to spikes in both energy prices and demand. These implications threaten to further exacerbate existing disparities for income-constrained and vulnerable populations, enhancing their risk of falling into prolonged insecurity. To ensure our transition to a just, sustainable future, we must first ensure equitable access to affordable and reliable energy for everyone. Combining household-level panel and state-level …

A Sampling Strategy For Longitudinal And Cross-Sectional Analyses Using A Large National Claims Database, Timothy L. Mcmurry, Jennifer M. Lobo, Soyoun Kim, Hyojung Kang, Min-Woong Sohn

Health Management and Policy Faculty Publications

Importance: The United States (US) Medicare claims files are valuable sources of national healthcare utilization data with over 45 million beneficiaries each year. Due to their massive sizes and costs involved in obtaining the data, a method of randomly drawing a representative sample for retrospective cohort studies with multi-year follow-up is not well-documented.

Objective: To present a method to construct longitudinal patient samples from Medicare claims files that are representative of Medicare populations each year.

Design: Retrospective cohort and cross-sectional designs.

Participants: US Medicare beneficiaries with diabetes over a 10-year period.

Methods: Medicare Master Beneficiary Summary Files were used to …

"And I / Am The Arrow": The Narrative, Personae Construction, And Language Ideology Of Confessional Poets' Identity Performance, Madison Fuchs

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

This thesis argues for consideration of linguistic features in service of raising the postmodern confessionalist poet identity as an utterance and an act of loyalty to performance. The embodiment of the confessionalist identity, attributed to the features used to adhere to the confessional mode, is realized through the invention of confessional personae. These confessional personae merge the responsibilities of the speaker and the narrator to convey a pseudo-autobiographical utterance to a designated audience. In this thesis, I analyze a sequence of poems that either possess taboo subjects or utilize linguistic functions, like indexicality and audience design, that mark its mode. …

Quantitative Sustainable Design Of Urban Tree Soil Cells For Stormwater Management, Jamaya Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Urban trees are critical assets to cities around the world. They act as a green infrastructure system to provide various environmental, economic and social benefits to their surrounding environments. However, the quality of life of urban trees is severely threatened by uncontrolled urbanization and climate change. The compaction of urban soils to meet the structural stability requirements for buildings and pavements directly restricts tree growth. Soil cells are green infrastructure placed in tree wells to transfer active and static loads to pavements. This allows for reduced soil compaction and increased tree root expansion. However, because the technology is still in …

Instructional Practices To Foster The Development Of Autonomy: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study Of The Resident Experience, Rachelle Musgrave Aker

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

A growing concern in graduate medical education (GME), research indicates that some graduating residents are unprepared to enter unsupervised practice. The aim of this qualitative phenomenological study is to illuminate the resident experience surrounding the development of autonomy in clinical decision making relative to teaching practices. Research questions include: (1) What is the dual role of learner/teacher like for residents as they attend to their own and others’ development of autonomy in clinical reasoning and decision making? (2) Which teaching methods do they commonly experience as the learner and practice as the teacher relative to this development, and which methods …

Understanding The Construction Workforce Needs Of The Future: Technology, Skills, Diversity, Bassam Ramadan

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The U.S. construction industry stands at a crossroads. The looming age cliff is about to present its most serious challenges yet, coinciding with a shortage of qualified skilled professionals. As the demands of the construction industry continue to grow, it continues to lack the manpower to meet those demands. In order to meet the rising demands of construction needs in the near future, the construction industry needs to focus on improving workforce performance and productivity, and increasing the size of the construction labor force. Existing research highlights the importance of technological adoption and workforce skills, and that gender and ethnic …

The Effects Of Secretion Regulators, Α-Synuclein And Cysteine String Protein-Α, In Thrombosis And Hemostasis, Alexis N. Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Platelets play many critical roles in the vasculature ensuring proper hemostasis and maintaining vascular integrity. They can mediate these different processes via the release of different cargo molecules from granules. Cargo release from the granules is mediated by a family of proteins called Soluble NSF Attachment Protein Receptors (SNAREs). This process is complex and is regulated by several protein-protein interactions that are not completely characterized. SNARE chaperones have been identified for the t-SNAREs such as Munc18b/STXBP2 for Syntaxin-11, but none have been identified for the VAMPs and SNAP proteins. Proteins of interest as potential chaperones for VAMPs and SNAP proteins …

Revolutionizing Our Understanding Of Specific Platelet-Pathogen Interactions, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar

Theses and Dissertations--Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry

Aside from their classical role in maintaining hemostasis, platelets are considered first-line vascular guardians that influence both the innate and adaptive immune systems. This is mediated by either direct interactions with immune cells or through the release of pre-stored cytokines and chemokines upon interacting with pathogens such as viruses. While this establishes platelets as potential players in the response to pathogens, it remains unclear what platelets can do with pathogens and how important that is to immune responses, especially against viruses. Most systemic viremias, such as HIV-1, present with mild thrombocytopenia, which is mediated through several mechanisms such as a …

The Role Of Microglia In Sex- And Region-Specific Blood-Brain Barrier Integrity During Nicotine Withdrawal, Mohit Kumar, Jack V. Keady, Surya P. Aryal, Marissa Hessing, Christopher I. Richards, Jill R. Turner

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Smoking is the largest preventable cause of death and disease in the United States, with ,5% of quit attempts being successful. Microglia activation and proinflammatory neuroimmune signaling in reward neuro- circuitry are implicated in nicotine withdrawal symptomology. Microglia are integral regulators of blood-brain barrier (BBB) functionality as well; however, whether the effects of nicotine withdrawal on microglia function impact BBB integrity is unknown.

METHODS: Mice were treated with chronic nicotine (12 mg/kg/day) and subjected to 48 hours nicotine withdrawal. Regional BBB permeability, together with messenger RNA and protein expression of tight junction proteins, were assessed. PLX5622 chow was used …

Chemical Control Of Turfgrass Diseases 2024, Bruce B. Clarke, Paul Vincelli, Paul Koch, Ming-Yi Chou

Agriculture and Natural Resources Publications

Turfgrasses under intensive management are often subject to outbreaks of infectious diseases. Diseases usually are most damaging when weather or cultural conditions favor the disease-causing agent but not plant growth and vigor. Cultural conditions that predispose turfgrass to diseases include close mowing, inadequate or excessive fertility, light or frequent irrigation, excessive thatch, poor drainage, and shade. Good turf management practices often greatly reduce the impact of disease by promoting healthy plants that are better able to resist infections. Even under good management, however, diseases sometimes cause excessive damage to highly managed turfgrasses. The proper use of fungicides in these instances, …

Wine, Sparkling, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, Other, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Table B: Generally Recognized As Safe (Gras) Food Additives Containing Aluminum, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Mineral, Spring, Table, And Bottled Water, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Liquors And Spirits, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, Red, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Wine, White, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Table D: Aluminum-Containing Additives Allowed By The Eu And Fao/Who, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Table C: Some Other Fda-Approved Sources Of Aluminum In Food, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Table E: Aluminum Lakes Of Permitted Colors Allowed By The European Union, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

Beyond Grotesque: Contemporary Artists Confronting Abjection, Katherine Gemperline

Graduate Thesis Exhibition Catalogue Gallery, 2024

The artists in Beyond Grotesque: Contemporary Artists Confronting Abjection address the monstrous aspects of life by portraying repulsive encounters in a direct manner. In its abject nature, the grotesque defies conventional notions of art as beautifying. The contemporary artists in Beyond Grotesque subvert the idea that beauty is an indication of good moral character and instead, they assert the grotesque as a device that challenges our expectations of the good and expands our humanity.

Yvonne Petkus delves into the intricacies of struggle, survival, and vulnerability within the human experience. Through pieces like Headwind, Collapse, and Colossus, Petkus portrays the …

Empowering Caregivers In The Prevention Of Clinical Delirium For At Risk Older Adults Boarding In The Emergency Department Setting, Danielle Brewer

DNP Projects

Background: Emergency Department (ED) overcrowding is a global healthcare crisis documented in the literature for more than a decade, impacting patient outcomes and resource availability. While awaiting delayed transfer to an inpatient room, older adults in the ED remain vulnerable to developing acute delirium. Boarding potentiates the risk for worsening health outcomes, which are further compounded by delirium. Scarcity of resources and time constraints delay delirium detection and increase risk for down-stream hospital-acquired complications, higher cost, and prolonged length of stay. Current ED models do not prioritize caregiver partnership or involvement in delirium-conscious care, which is a holistic approach to …

Increasing Awareness Of Implicit Bias And Systemic Racism Among Clinical Staff Caring For Non-Hispanic Black Maternal Patients, Melissa Courtney

DNP Projects

Background: Kentucky is ranked 17^th in the nation for the highest maternal mortality rate in the U.S. with a rate of 22.9 per 100,000, and 78 percent of those maternal deaths were considered preventable. The Non-Hispanic Black maternal death rate in the U.S. and Kentucky is 2.9 times higher than that of the Non-Hispanic White maternal counterparts (Kentucky Department of Public Health Division of Maternal and Child Health (KDPHDMCH), 2022). The fundamental cause of maternal health inequities is structural racism, which leads to poor treatment and experiences in the healthcare system (Chinn et al., 2020). Structural racism and implicit …

Veterans Direct Admission Reassessment Tool Validation For The Reduction Of Rapid Response Code Blue, And Code Stroke Team Activations In Newly Arrived Direct Admission Veterans, Joshua Monroe Wells

DNP Projects

Abstract

Purpose: Rapid clinical assessment of newly arriving direct admission veteran patients to the Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care System (VAHCS) Lexington is of the utmost importance to determine current patient condition, alteration from previously known condition at time of provider acceptance or time of report, and appropriate level of care for these veterans. The facility has seen an increase in the number of unexpected patient declines by direct admission patients presenting to medical surgical units at the VA Health Care System Lexington KY. This recurrent decline resulted in the facility performing a Root Cause Analysis (RCA), which identified …

Associations Between Physical Activity Levels And Physical And Mental Health In Military Veterans., Troy Hubert

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Research suggests that higher rates of health conditions are associated with lower levels of physical activity, but this association is not well characterized in U.S. Military Veterans. The current study utilized a sample of U.S. military veterans (n = 3,989) from the 2019-2020 National Health and Resiliency in Veterans Study (NHRVS). Physical activity levels (insufficient, moderate, and active), physical and mental health were evaluated with a variety of self-report questionnaires. After controlling for covariates, veterans with any disability, asthma, chronic pain, diabetes, high cholesterol, and stroke were significantly less likely to report sufficient physical activity compared to insufficient physical …

Sources Of American Law: An Introduction To Legal Research, Tina M. Brooks, Beau Steenken

Law Faculty Books and Chapters

At its most basic definition the practice of law comprises conducting research to find relevant rules of law and then applying those rules to the specific set of circumstances faced by a client. However, in American law, the legal rules to be applied derive from myriad sources, complicating the process and making legal research different from other sorts of research. This text introduces first-year law students to the new kind of research required to study and to practice law. It seeks to demystify the art of legal research by following a “Source and Process” approach. First, the text introduces students …

Experiencing Burnout: John Henryism, Gender Role Conflict, And Anxiety Among Incarcerated Black Men, Jardin Dogan, Danelle Stevens-Watkins, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Christopher K. Marshburn, Myles Moody

Psychology Faculty Publications

At the intersection of race and gender, Black men encounter conflicting and often stress-inducing gender norms. Research suggests Black men may utilize John Henryism Active Coping (JHAC), a culturally-relevant strategy to manage stress. However, little is known about how incarcerated Black men cope with gender role conflict (GRC) and resulting psychological distress. To better understand stressors and coping strategies among Black male prisoners, the current study examined the relationships between GRC, anxiety, and JHAC among N = 193 incarcerated Black men nearing community reentry. Hierarchical linear regression results showed length of incarceration, GRC, and anxiety were all negatively associated with …