Digital Commons Network^™

Advocating For Comprehensive Sex Education In Kentucky, Kylie Higgins

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

Legislation surrounding sexual education, comprehensive sexual education in particular, has always been a point of controversy. Recently however, this controversy has been brought to the forefront of political debates and media coverage. With sexual education, and the repercussions of a lack thereof, being such a timely issue, this thesis project will explore the current written literature to create an evidence-based presentation to educate future nurses on the issue and their role in promoting the implementation of comprehensive education in schools and providing it in the clinical setting. Comprehensive sex education is medically accurate, age appropriate, evidence based, and LGBTQIA+ inclusive, …

Dietary Antioxidant Insufficiency Is Associated With Increased Inflammatory Markers And Poorer Health-Related Quality Of Life In Patients With Heart Failure, Jia-Rong Wu, Eun Kyeung Song, Debra K. Moser, Terry A. Lennie

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background: Antioxidant insufficiency, elevated inflammatory markers, and poor health-related quality of life (HRQOL) are prevalent in patients with heart failure (HF). Objective: The objective of this study was to examine the associations among dietary antioxidant intake, inflammatory markers, and HRQOL in patients with HF. Methods: This was a secondary analysis of 265 patients with HF who completed a 4-day food diary. We assessed intake of 10 antioxidants: alpha carotene, beta carotene, beta cryptoxanthin, lutein, zeaxanthin, lycopene, vitamins C and E, zinc, and selenium. Antioxidant insufficiency was reflected by a measured level for each antioxidant that was below the estimate average …

A Biomarker Of Stress And Self-Reported Caregiving Distress Predict Poor Quality Of Life In Family Caregivers Of Patients With Heart Failure, Ya-Ching Liu, Man-Chun Chou, Ming-Chu Chiang, Chih-Ling Hang, Shyh-Ming Chen, Misook L. Chung, Chin-Yen Lin, Tsuey-Yuan Huang

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Family caregivers are at a high risk for low quality of life due to caregiving-related stress. Caregivers' stress is commonly assessed using self-reported measures, which reflect relatively subjective and long-term stress related to caregiving, but objective biological markers of stress are rarely used for caregivers. The purposes of this study were (1) to determine whether caregiver characteristics were associated with stress assessed using a stress biomarker (serum cortisol) and a self-reported caregiving distress measure (Caregiver Burden Inventory) and (2) to determine the predictability of both stress measures for quality of life in caregivers of patients with heart failure. Methods: …

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 …

Principals As Instructional Leaders: Building Knowledge Of Applied Learning To Confidently Lead Implementation, Janell Lynn Mcclure

Theses and Dissertations--Educational Leadership Studies

Principals need to understand best practices and research-based strategies that foster student success and that align to their instructional expectations and professional goals. Some of those practices include applied learning strategies such as integrated learning, student-driven learning, and authentic applications. Unfortunately, little professional learning, specifically for principals, is made available on the topic of instructional leadership, current strategies, or applied learning in general. As a result, school leaders continue to follow a traditional instructional model that includes teacher-directed instruction, student recall of information, and standardized tests as measures of content mastery.

This dissertation was a mixed-methods action research study. The …

Intra- And Inter-Rater Reliability Of Maximum Torque Applied During Passive Elbow Range Of Motion Testing Post-Casting Of Supracondylar And Lateral Condylar Fractures In Children, Joseph T. Armstrong

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Elbow fractures account for a significant number of pediatric orthopedic injuries. The most common of these are the supracondylar and lateral condylar humeral fractures. When surgical repair is necessary casting and pinning of the elbow can affect the elbow’s range of motion (ROM), so recovery is monitored. Practices for measuring recovery are not standardized so measures may not be consistent. A possible novel measure to help account for different clinicians participating in the same study is maximum torque applied during elbow end ROM testing. This study uses several comparisons of maximum torque applied by three different clinicians during end ROM …

Effects Of Constant Load Exercise On Oxygen Consumption And Knee Joint Mechanics In Young Adults, Mariana Victoria Jacobs

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The rate of obesity and its adverse health consequences have continued to rise in the past several decades. Aerobic constant load exercise is recommended to reduce excess body mass, however the effects of constant load exercise on oxygen consumption (VO2) and knee joint mechanics are inconsistent when varying weight-status strategies are employed. The purpose of this study was to assess the influence of different weight classification strategies on VO2 and knee joint mechanics during constant load exercise. Participants walked on an instrumented treadmill at a self-selected speed for 30-minutes while gait mechanics and VO2 measures were determined. Between-group differences were …

Cardiorespiratory And Muscle Recruitment Responses To Incremental Exercise In Flywheel-Based Inertial Training (Fit) Squats, Clara Joyce Mitchinson

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

BACKGROUND: Spaceflight induces rapid loss of aerobic capacity and muscle strength. Flywheel-based Inertial Training (FIT) – a gravity-independent form of exercise previously used as a countermeasure against unloading-induced muscle atrophy – provides external resistance through moment of inertia (MOI) of a rotating disk in a velocity-dependent manner. Optimizing FIT for cardiorespiratory fitness may improve exercise efficiency and reduce hardware needs associated with deep space exploration. This modality of exercise has also been of interest among athletes of various disciplines due to its purported benefits on athletic performance. PURPOSE: To determine the cardiorespiratory and muscular recruitment responses to FIT with varying …

Physical Activity Preference And Participation In Middle School Age Students In Kentucky, Fabian Correia

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Physical activity (PA) in youth is significant as it begins to lay the fountain for a healthier lifestyle as children age. The benefits of being regularly physically active are plentiful as it improves muscle strength, cardiovascular, fitness, and cognitive functions (Rodgers, 2008). However, oftentimes in physical education classes, the voice of the student tends to go unheard. The purpose of this study was to determine how the perception or preference to be physically active differs by age, gender, and/or ethnicity in a middle school setting. The goal of this study is to shed ligt on how building a more inclusive …

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 …

Effect Of Sleep Restriction On Quadriceps’ Strength And Voluntary Activation, Scott Sigrist

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: As little as three nights of sleep restriction reduces muscle strength. More than one-third of Americans are chronically sleep restricted (< 7.0 hours/night) and are at risk of muscle weakness (dynapenia). Presently, the mechanistic cause of sleep restriction-induced dynapenia (SRID) has not been elucidated. Rapid changes in muscle strength are typically driven by short-term changes in muscle contractility or voluntary recruitment. The purpose of this study was to investigate how sleep restriction affects muscle contractile function and voluntary recruitment. Methods: A sample of 12 subjects (age 24.8 ± 2.6y) underwent isometric and isokinetic knee extensor muscle testing following 3d of adequate sleep (SA; 8.05 ± 0.45h), 3 d of sleep restriction (SR; 5.02 ± 0.05h), and 7d of washout (WO, 8.27 ± 0.50). The morning (7-11a local time) following the last day of each sleep period, subjects performed muscle strength testing using an isokinetic dynamometer. Subjects sat upright with the dominant leg secured at 60⁰ of knee flexion to optimize maximal quadriceps torque. They then performed 3 maximal voluntary isometric contractions (MVICs) of the quadriceps. Then subjects performed 6 submaximal contractions at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90% of the greatest MVIC. Next, subjects completed an interpolated twitch experiment while on the isokinetic dynamometer to assess voluntary activation. Finally, subjects completed 5 repetitions of isometric contractions, in descending order, at speeds of 300, 240, 180, 120, and 60 degree/s. From these methods we measured the highest MVIC, calculated the voluntary activation (VA), measured twitch properties, and compared the torque-EMG relationship. One-way repeated measures ANOVA were used to compare sleep, MVIC, and VA values, two-way (time x twitch property) repeated measures ANOVA was used to compare twitch properties and the torque-EMG relationship. Results: MVIC torque decreased following SR compared to SA before and after sleep restriction (SA: 217.1 ± 69.4 Nm vs. SR: 199.4 ± 67.1 Nm, p = 0.032). MVIC after WO (219.2 ± 54.2 Nm) was significantly greater than SR (p = 0.018) but was not significantly different from SA (p = 0.991). Although peak isokinetic torque decreased with increasing velocity (p < 0.001), there was no significant effect of sleep or sleep x speed interaction. Peak twitch torque and rate of torque
development, but not relaxation rate, were significantly greater in the potentiated state, but no significant effect of sleep or sleep x time interaction was noted. Sleep 3 condition did not significantly affect voluntary activation (SA: 86.3 ± 11.1% v. SR:86.6 ± 11.9% v. WO 87.7 ± 11.1%; p = 0.695). The torque output at various levels ofelectromyography (EMG) activity was not significantly different among sleep conditions (p = 0.383). The mean power frequency (MPF) of the VL was …

Responses To Exercise Anchored To Vigorous Intensity Heart Rates, Djadmann Gustave

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Exercise prescription to improve cardiorespiratory endurance (CE) is often based on percentages of the reserve or maximum heart rate (HR_peak) or oxygen consumption rate (V̇O_2peak)that reflect vigorous intensities (77-95% HR_peak, 64-90% V̇O_2peak). These intensities elicit a rating of perceived exertion [RPE] response between 14-17 on the 6-20 Borg Scale. It is recommended that exercise within these ranges be sustained for 20-60min per session. The purposes of this study were to: 1) Determine the metabolic (V̇O₂) and perceptual (RPE) responses as well as the sustainability of exercise (time to exhaustion [T …

Investigation Of Lower Extremity Neuromuscular Function In Individuals With And Without Diabetes, Roya Hoveizavi

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: Diabetes mellitus is associated with notable neuromuscular and motor dysfunctions that could lead to an increased risk of plantar ulcers and amputations. Several contributing factors, including increased muscle-tendon stiffness and abnormal muscle activation pattern may influence the kinematics and kinetics of walking in people with diabetes and promote formation of plantar ulcers. Hyperglycemia and the resultant accelerated rate of glycation have been recognized as the leading cause of muscle and tendon degeneration, yet the precise mechanisms by which diabetes affects the biomechanical properties of the muscle-tendon unit remains unclear. Altered muscle activity during gait is observed in people with …

The Effect Of Physical Activity Courses On The Motivation For Physical Activity In College Students: A Scoping Review, Erica Fauste Waizenhofer Hill

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

The lack of physical activity and exercise participation has been an ongoing
problem for young adults aged 18-24. Universities and colleges worldwide offer a variety of required and elective physical activity courses for college credit to increase active participation in lifelong healthy lifestyles. This scoping review collected studies on college students’ motivation to participate in physical activity. The courses were taught using methods based on motivational theories. The authors of the studies collected information from the students before and after the classes to gather data on the theoretical framework’s effect on the students, if any. This review compiles this information, …

The Effects Of Saddle Angle/Inclination On Lumbopelvic Kinematics And Cardiometabolic Measures, Andrew Nathan Anderson

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Lower back pain (LBP) is a condition which affects the lumbar portion of the spinal column that can lead to mild to extreme physical pain during seated tasks and has been shown to be prevalent in people who spend long durations sitting particularly in a slumped position or in a position with a large degree of lumbar flexion. LBP can cause regular interruptions in work and in a person’s ability to engage in exercise, and in most extreme cases warrants surgical interventions for clinical treatment. While LBP is prevalent in sedentary populations, it is also quite prevalent in cycling populations …

The Effects Of Cannabidiol Cream On Soreness And Performance After Exercise In Untrained Individuals, Joseph Thomas Pastina

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Background: Exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) results from unaccustomed exercise and can lead to delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS). Impairments associated with EIMD and DOMS can result in moderate-to-severe discomfort and hindered performance. Recently, a compound derived from the cannabis plant, cannabidiol (CBD), has been used as a recovery tool for EIMD and DOMS. Despite the rising popularity of CBD products, their effectiveness in mitigating EIMD and DOMS is unknown. Purpose: The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of CBD cream on DOMS and performance after an intensive lower-body exercise protocol. In addition, the study sought to …

Kentucky Teacher Social-Emotional Competence, Burnout, And School Climate, Monica Mundy

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Teachers are tasked with supporting student learning and academic achievement. Teachers must establish social-emotional competence within themselves to support students' social-emotional learning. Increased teachers' social-emotional competence could lead to favorable student social, emotional, and academic outcomes. To effectively do so, school officials, parents, and community members should support teachers' social-emotional competence equally.

This study examined the relationship between Kentucky teachers' social-emotional competence, burnout, and school climate. The prosocial classroom model provided the theoretical framework for this study, including the five dimensions of social-emotional competence (self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making), teacher burnout, and school climate. The hypothesis …

Methodolocical Concerns Of Using Global Positioning System Technology To Assess American Football Competition Demands, Tyler Lindon

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Despite its popularity, there is a lack of research describing the physical demands of American Football. This is surprising when considering the popularity of the use of global positioning systems (GPS) within this specific sporting environment. The aim of the present study was to utilize a novel methodology to describe the physical demands of American football players by play type (run vs. pass) using a play-by-play analysis of global positioning system (GPS) outcomes. Fifty Division I collegiate American football players (Age: 19.8 ± 1.1 yr, Height: 189.3 ± 4.4 cm, Body mass: 86.1 ± 5.8 kg) wore portable GPS monitors …

Reliability And Validity Of A Commercial Running Power Meter To Indicate Metabolic Workload During Endurance Running, James Harris Hudgins Iii

Theses and Dissertations--Kinesiology and Health Promotion

Commercial running power (RP) meters may provide endurance runners and coaches with improved precision for monitoring running intensity. Cyclists rely upon the relationship between cycling power and metabolic demand to regulate physiological intensity during training and racing, independent of changes in the physical environment (e.g., terrain, wind). Research demonstrates strong reliability and validity for a specific RP meter to indicate metabolic demand within controlled running conditions. However, several potential influences on this relationship have not been investigated. Therefore, four studies were conducted with the following aims:

- Study 1: Determine the inter-limb reliability and validity of a single-limb-based RP meter …

Development And Validation Of An Instrument To Measure Teacher Self-Efficacy For Meeting The Needs Of Military-Connected Children, Amy M. O'Neill

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The average military child changes schools six to nine times before graduating high school. With those moves come significant educational challenges, but there is currently no known instrument designed to measure whether teachers believe they are capable of meeting the needs of this population. The purpose of this study was to develop, pilot, and provide initial psychometric evidence for a scale, the Teacher Self-Efficacy Scale for Military Kids (TSES for MilKids), that measures teacher self-efficacy for meeting the needs of military-connected children. A 19-item instrument was created and distributed to regular education teachers in Grades 1-5 in civilian school districts …

The Protection Of Student Data Privacy In Wisconsin School Board Policies, Curtis Clyde Rees

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

American schools have increasingly adopted technology resources to fulfill their educational obligations. These tools are for instruction, communication, and storing and analyzing student information. Student data can be directory information, enrollment records, achievement data, and student-created products. This increased utilization began with the passage of No Child Left Behind in 2001, and the COVID-19 pandemic led to more educational technology use of student data. Districts turned to third-party vendors for assistance with data systems and virtual learning resources. Before, during, and after the pandemic, stakeholders were concerned about information security and the students' privacy. School leaders looked to federal regulations …

Supporting The Covid Freshmen: An Exploratory Study Of The Teaching Aspects That Supported The Executive Functioning Of Undergraduate Freshmen During Covid-19, Jennifer Lynn Pusateri

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Transitioning from high school to higher education is one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. But, for the undergraduate students who were freshmen during the fall of 2020 (in the middle of the COVID-19 pandemic), this predictable stress was compounded by additional stressors related to the pandemic. While there were undoubtedly many teaching factors that made learning more difficult during the pandemic, there were also many aspects of teaching that these freshmen found helpful. This exploratory study of secondary data sought to discover which aspects of teaching were most helpful to the COVID Freshmen (the students who …

Principal Leadership Practices At Kentucky High Schools Administering The Pisa For Schools: Leading For Global Competitiveness, Marjorie L. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Since launching Sputnik in 1957, the United States education system has been trying to climb to the top of the international education rankings. The Organisation for Economic and Co-operative Development (OECD) began analyzing how well school systems prepared students to compete in the global economy in 2000. The OECD uses the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). U.S. students rank at or near the OECD averages in reading and science but consistently perform below the OECD average in mathematics. In addition to the PISA, the OECD released the PISA for Schools, which provides PISA data at the school level.

In …

The Thin Line In The Bluegrass Schools: A Quantitative Study On How School Resource Officers Impact A School And District's Use Of Exclusionary Discipline In Kentucky, Mia Morales

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Legislatures across the country have been developing laws and policies to place police officers, also known as School Resource Officers (“SROs”), in schools. A recent piece of legislation in Kentucky, entitled the School Safety and Resiliency Act, requires all school campuses in Kentucky contain at least one SRO. Researchers have found relationships between the presence of SROs and the use of exclusionary discipline, and this research expands on that foundation by looking statewide at school- and district-level variables.

Using a multiple regression model, this research examined the presence of SROs in schools and the ratio of number of SROs to …

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 …

A Quantcrit Investigation Of The Discriminatory Practices In Texas Education Funding, Stuart Andrew Keogh

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

The Texas constitution guarantees citizens a "general diffusion of knowledge" and an "efficient system of public free schools." However, the state has often failed to provide sufficient funding to meet this constitutional mandate. Many school districts, especially those serving low-income or minority communities, have been chronically underfunded. This has led to unequal access to quality education. As a result, there have been numerous lawsuits challenging the constitutionality of Texas's school funding system. Plaintiffs argue that the state has violated the education clause of the constitution by failing to adequately and equitably fund public schools. Despite several legislative attempts at reform, …

Transformative Learning In Teachers’ Family Collaboration With English Learner Families: The Role Of Beliefs, Cultural Competence, And Communities Of Practice, Sara Saberimoghaddam

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

Through a multiple case approach, this qualitative research study examined how teachers' beliefs on family collaboration and cultural competence related to their family collaboration practices within Culturally Responsive Instruction. The learning theories of Communities of Practice (Lave &Wenger, 1991) and Transformative Learning (Mezirow, 1978), and Critical Consciousness (Freire, 1979) were used as the lens to analyze the data. Teacher interviews and classroom observations were used as data sources. The study found that teachers’ perception of cultural competence impacted their classroom practices. Teachers who worked hard to intentionally change their cultural competence awareness into family collaboration actions appeared to be more …

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 …