Digital Commons Network^™

Targeting Intensive Job Assistance To Ex-Offenders By The Nature Of Offense: Results From A Randomized Control Trial, Christopher R. Bollinger, Aaron Yelowitz

Institute for the Study of Free Enterprise Working Papers

As many as two-thirds of newly-released inmates will be arrested for a new offense within three years. This study evaluates the impact of job assistance on recidivism rates among ex-offenders. The job assistance program, run though the private company America Works, uses a network of employers to place clients. Ex-offenders were randomly assigned to intensive job assistance (treatment group) or the standard program (control group). The intensive program is meant to improve average work readiness for ex-offenders. It reduces the likelihood of subsequent arrest among non-violent ex-offenders, but has little effect on violent ex-offenders. The re-arrest rate for non-violent ex-offenders …

Energy Consumption And Lifecycle Assessment Comparison Of Cutting Fluids For Drilling Titanium Alloy, Navneet Khanna, Prassan Shah, Jwalant Wadhwa, Anjali Pitroda, Julius M. Schoop, Franci Pusavec

Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing Faculty Publications

This study analyzes four cutting conditions (dry, flood, Liquid CO 2 (LCO2), and Liquid N2 (LN 2)) based on energy consumption and ecological impacts for drilling VT-20, a Titanium alloy. The lower cutting and total energy have been consumed for LCO2 as compared to others. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) analysis has been performed using ReCiPe 2016 midpoint (H) to identify the impact of cutting conditions on ecosystem, human health, and natural resources. Cryogenic environment with LN 2 has been found as the most ecological cutting condition next to dry machining, while flood coolant has 94-99% of total impact considering …

In-Store Marketing Campaign To Promote The Purchase Of Healthy Foods And Beverages At Convenience Stores In Rural Kentucky, Brynnan Nicole Jacobs Dunaway

Theses and Dissertations--Nutrition and Food Systems

The prevalence of obesity is greater in rural communities, and current health promotion interventions have not shown broad positive impacts on dietary patterns in these areas. Focusing community-based efforts on unconventional food retailers is a unique avenue to encourage healthier food choices in rural populations. This study used shelf-wobblers to market healthier snack and beverage items at convenience stores (n=5) in a rural Kentucky county. Selection of healthy snacks and beverages from the store inventory was conducted using the CDC Food Service Guidelines for Federal Facilities calculator. Items were sorted into four categories: meal replacement snacks, high-protein snacks, low-fat carbohydrate …

Decreasing Test Anxiety In Nursing Students Using Cute/Funny Animal Videos, Lynn Kelso

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Stress, test anxiety and worry continue to increase in nursing students. As successful completion of course exams is required for nursing students to complete their program of study, these increased levels of stress, anxiety and worry can hinder their ability to perform at their best. Purpose: The aim of this project is to show that using cute/funny animal videos prior to an exam can decrease test anxiety (TA) and improve performance. Project Improvement Framework: The plan-do-study-act, PDSA, quality improvement framework was used for the final, modified project. Method: A video was embedded into three of …

The Outcomes Of Cope, A Cognitive Behavioral Therapy Program, In Patients Awaiting Lvad Implantation, Aaron G. Harris

DNP Projects

PURPOSE: The purpose of the Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) project was to pilot Creating Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (COPE), an evidence based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) intervention, with patients diagnosed with advanced heart failure who are awaiting Left Ventricular Assist Device (LVAD) implantation or those who have had one recently implanted before they are discharged home. METHODS: A cross-sectional study design was used for this Pilot project. Patients were identified for potential participation by LVAD coordinators and represent a convenience sample. The patients were screened for anxiety and depression using the GAD-7 and PHQ-9 screening tools. If patients scored …

Relationship Between Preoperative Frailty And Postoperative Outcomes After Lvad Implantation, Katherine L. Wilhelm

DNP Projects

Abstract

Background: Frailty is common in many patients with advanced heart failure, including those who undergo left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation. Frailty has been associated with worse outcomes after other cardiac surgeries; however, little is known about the effect of frailty on postoperative outcomes after LVAD implant.

Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate whether preoperative frailty [as determined by either short physical performance battery (SPPB) score ≤ 7/12 or 6-minute walk test (6-MWT) <200 >meters] is associated with poorer postoperative outcomes after LVAD implantation than non-frailty in adults with advanced heart failure.

Setting and Sample: This project …

Risk Factors For Workplace Sexual Harassment In Female Truck Drivers, Kimberly Marie Riddle

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Sexual harassment is one of the most common forms of workplace violence in the United States. Sexual harassment is defined as unwanted verbal and physical behaviors of a sexual nature (e.g., physical advances, requests for sexual favors, inappropriate sexist or sexual comments or jokes, pornography, or other unwanted conduct) that creates an uncomfortable working environment or interferes with the employee’s job responsibilities. In general, it is estimated that nearly one in every two women have experienced sexual harassment at the workplace over their lifetime. In male-dominated occupations, such as truck driving, law enforcement, firefighting, and construction, females may have a …

Complications In Cardiac Surgery, Christine Williamitis

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Quality of care and outcomes from cardiac surgery have always been of primary importance to providers and the entire health care team when caring for cardiac surgical patients. Providers in cardiac surgery have had a long history of tracking procedural morbidity and mortality rates in programs nationally and internationally. Morbidity and mortality rates vary widely among hospitals. In most studies in which procedural outcomes from cardiac surgery are evaluated, the focus has been on operative morbidity and mortality and the probability of death after a cardiac surgical procedure. Less attention has been paid to predictors of perioperative complications, and sample …

Factors Associated With Lifestyle Modification For Type 2 Diabetes Self-Management And Prevention, Leigh Anne Koonmen

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Diabetes is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States, affecting roughly 13% of U.S. adults aged 18 years or older. Type 2 diabetes accounts for 90-95% of all diabetes cases and is characterized by the progressive development of insulin resistance leading to sustained elevated blood glucose levels. Management of type 2 diabetes includes risk-reduction strategies and continuous medical care to prevent the development of complications.

Lifestyle is a major contributing factor to morbidity and mortality rates in the United States. Preventative health behaviors, such as engaging in physical activity, maintaining a healthy weight, and following a healthy …

Dietary Assessments And Their Association With Psychological Factors, Inflammation, And Cardiovascular Health Outcomes, Junghee Kang

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs), a group of disorders of the heart and blood vessels, are the leading cause of death worldwide, causing one-third of deaths each year. Diet is one of the most important behavioral risk factors for CVD. The effects of behavioral risk factors, such as diet, may lead to increased blood pressure, increased blood glucose, raised blood lipids, and overweight and obesity. Inflammation contributes to the development of CVD and can be influenced by diet. Dietary assessment indices can measure diet quality from an individual's dietary intake by scoring food and nutrient intakes. However, the mediation effects of diet …

Dexamethasone Serum Concentrations After Intravenous Administration In Horses During Race Training, S. Mcclure, C. K. Fenger, Bradley Brown, George Maylin, W. Duer, L. Dirikolu, Kimberly Brewer, Jacob Machin, Thomas Tobin

Maxwell H. Gluck Equine Research Center Faculty Publications

Dexamethasone (DXM) sodium phosphate is a widely used corticosteroid for inflammatory conditions in horses, regulated in racing jurisdictions in the USA by a 0.005 ng/ml serum/plasma threshold. This study seeks to describe serum concentrations of DXM at 48 and 72 h after intravenous administration of 20 mg DXM sodium phosphate over 1 to 5 days, and to identify a possible source of DXM overages. 74 horses (39 Thoroughbreds, 13 Standardbreds, 22 Quarter Horses) in active race training received 20 mg DXM sodium phosphate. Serum was collected before injection, at 48 and 72 h post last injection, and analysed by LC/MS-MS …

Covid-19 Stakeholder Experiences In The Commonwealth Of Kentucky, Center Of Excellence Of Rural Health, University Of Kentucky, Center For Rural Health Research, East Tennessee State University

Center of Excellence in Rural Health Reports

Key Points:

Healthcare providers reported that many in-person services had stopped and that other services were delivered remotely or via telehealth. Some services that were still in-person moved to curbside delivery, including family planning visits. Others described a shift in roles within the community, primarily to support COVID testing.

When asked about the impact of COVID-19, educators described an expansion of roles among staff and a rapid adoption of new technology. Educators also described their staff as being dedicated to meeting the needs of their students including assuring access to food and learning materials for those without reliable internet.

Community …

Workplace Lactation Support And Breastfeeding Practices In Employed Mothers, Robin Ray

Theses and Dissertations--Nursing

Low rates of breastfeeding are a global public health issue. Despite national and international health agency recommendations for breastfeeding until infants are six months of age when solid foods are introduced and continued breastfeeding until 12 months of age or older, many mothers in the United States discontinue breastfeeding at an early age. Return to work after childbirth is one of the leading contributing factors to early cessation of breastfeeding in employed mothers. Understanding the association between individual and organizational factors and breastfeeding practices in employed mothers is essential for the development, implementation, and evaluation of programs and policies to …

2020 Kentucky River Watershed Watch: Annual Report, Malissa Mcalister, Steven Evans

Kentucky River Watershed Watch

No abstract provided.

Bring The Masks And Sanitizer: The Surprising Bipartisan Consensus About Safety Measures For In-Person Voting During The Coronavirus Pandemic, Joshua A. Douglas, Michael A. Zilis

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

Requiring masks at the polls might implicate a clash between two vital rights: the constitutional right to vote and the right to protect one’s health. Yet the debate during the 2020 election over requirements to wear a mask at the polls obscured one key fact: a majority of Americans supported a mask mandate for voting. That is the new insight we provide in this Essay: when surveyed, Americans strongly supported safety measures for in-person voting, and that support was high regardless of partisanship. One implication of our results is that by making some widely supported safety modifications, state election officials …

A Case Study In Revitalizing A State Library Association And Keeping It Vital During Covid, Rebecca J. Morgan, Tiffney A. Gipson, Lauren E. Robinson

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

The Kentucky Medical Library Association (KMLA) is an organization dedicated to building a networking community and providing resources to the health sciences and medical librarians of Kentucky. Medical and health science libraries within the state of Kentucky are encouraged to become annual members of KMLA. Organization membership exists on two levels: (1) individual and (2) institutional. Individual membership includes access to three KMLA business meetings a year, voting rights at business meetings, any conferences KMLA holds, an opportunity for continuing education (CE) reimbursement, and access to any CEs presented by KMLA. Institutional memberships are unique in that they provide interlibrary …

Maybe Coal Shouldn’T Keep The Lights On: An Analysis Of Climate Change In Kentucky And Potential Legislation That Could Mitigate Its Effects, Shelby Lamar

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Unprotected And Overworked: An Analysis Of The Abuses Migrant Horse Workers Face Under The H-2b Program, Jocelyn Lucero

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Workers’ Compensation Laws: Mulling Over The “Agricultural” Exemption, Bennett Z. Tuleja

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Kentucky’S Hunger Crisis: A Preventable & Overlooked Tragedy, Ryan Quarles

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Precision Nutrition And Advanced Culinary Medicine, Sara B. Police

Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences Textbook Gallery

This electronic textbook (eBook) accompanies NS801, Precision Nutrition and Advanced Culinary Medicine, a 1-credit, 8-week online medical elective course for the University of Kentucky College of Medicine Office of Medical Education. The eBook provides module-based background information including text, tables, and figures to support each module of the online course:

1. Introduction
2. Culinary Challenges Preparation
3. Emerging Concepts in Precision Nutrition
4. Cardiovascular Disease & Nutritional Considerations
5. Neurological and Mental Health Disorders & Nutritional Considerations
6. Cancer & Nutritional Considerations
7. Gastrointestinal (GI) Health, Microbiome & Nutritional Considerations
8. Renal Conditions & Nutritional Considerations

As an open access textbook supported by the University of Kentucky Libraries …

The Pearl Of Siberia: The Emerging Threat To Lake Baikal, Blake Donithan

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Old World Regulations And New World Flexibility: Countering The Effects Of Climate Change On Wine, Seth Stroud

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Hemp's Arbitrary 0.3% Thc Legal Standard And The Consequences Of Applying Such Standard, Michelle Bodian, Shawn Hauser

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Got Hemp? A Call For A Hemp Checkoff, Mitchum A. Whitaker

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Integrating Persuasive Messaging Strategies Into Higher Education Early Alert Interventions To Improve Student Academic Behaviors, Joseph Gayheart

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Higher Education is at a critical juncture as both public and private institutions seek to attract, retain, and graduate students. Institutions of higher education have traditionally developed communication and engagement strategies that become part of early warning/alert systems intended to increase student positive academic behaviors and improve student success. Persuasion can be a powerful tool in improving communication—especially when persuasive messages are deployed within the complex and ever-changing media landscape. Communication and persuasion scholars, for example, have applied persuasive messaging interventions in a variety of contexts but have yet to substantially apply these persuasive tactics in a higher education setting. …

A Multiple Goals Perspective On Burnout Disclosure And Support Among Attending Physicians, Alison N. Buckley

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Burnout is a common experience among physicians and has been identified as a precursor to substance abuse and suicide ideation. When not addressed, burnout can have many negative personal, relational and professional consequences. Research about the burnout experience is limited due to the taboo nature of the topic. The present study used a multiple goals theoretical perspective to examine how physicians disclose burnout in order to access social support. Attending physicians from various specialties (N = 30) participated in one-on-one interviews and were asked to discuss their burnout experience, conversational goals during burnout disclosure, catalysts and barriers for disclosure, and …

Exploring Health And Risk Information Seeking In The Context Of Covid-19: Testing The Comprehensive Model Of Information Seeking And Risk Information Seeking And Processing Model As Competing Explanatory Models, Xianlin Jin

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Facing a pandemic caused by a novel coronavirus (COVID-19), the public feels uncertainty and fear. To cope with the pandemic and reduce uncertainty, the public needs accurate and prompt information. By theoretically and empirically comparing the Comprehensive Model of Information Seeking (CMIS) and the Risk Information Seeking and Processing Model (RISP), this dissertation aims to unpack the core mechanism of health and risk information seeking. Built on the two models, the author proposed an Integrated Model and explored which variables are the significant predictors of health and risk information seeking.

The author recruited 729 adult participants and analyzed 394 completed …

Gender Violence On Television: Insights And Implications From Female Audiences Of Drama Series, Mary Celeste Clark

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Gender-based violence is pervasive across many television shows that are targeted toward a variety of audiences and cover a range of genres and settings, yet there is a dearth of literature regarding gender violence in fictional television drama series and how female audiences interpret and react to the depictions of gender violence in those programs. For this study, I spoke with 13 women about their experiences viewing programs with depictions of gender violence. The data was analyzed qualitatively using a phronetic iterative approach and demonstrates why these women watch these shows, what affective responses they have, and how they interpret …

Understanding Struggles And Triumphs Of Widows In Central Nigeria: A Path To Communication And Economic Empowerment, Meredith Annette Garrison

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

One in ten African women age 15 or older are widows. Approximately 8 million widows live in Nigeria with many living in extreme poverty. Throughout the nation, widows are subjected to physical and psychological harm from their families and communities following the deaths of their husbands. Women are marginalized across Nigeria, but widowed women often experience ostracization and oppression that leads to poverty. Most widows rely on informal business and petty trading to survive but these ventures typically only bring in less than a $1 a day for a family. This dissertation critically examined the situation of widows in a …