Digital Commons Network^™

A Look At How United States Immigration And Labor Policy Affect The Foreign Workforce On American Farms, Benjamin A. Dennison

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

More Than Meets The Eye: A Look Into Representational Issues In Advertising, Elizabeth Ann Langlois

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Representation has become a buzzword in the advertising industry. With more consumers asking for brands to represent more diverse people in advertisements, this study examined cases when representation in advertisements received negative feedback. By examining three cases where brands received negative feedback after the release of an ad, the researcher explored perceptions and reactions toward the representation of Black people in advertisements. This study conducted a thematic analysis of popular press and trade publications to look for themes among the three cases. With the use of Critical Race Theory and Image Repair Theory, the researcher aimed to fill a gap …

Developing And Validating A Quality Of Delivery Scale And Assessing Adult-Trainees’ Cognitive Load, Motivation, And Compliance, Kelsey P. Moore

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Effective communication is crucial for successful behavior change. However, despite much research in training and development, instructional communication, and public health surrounding communication, it is still unclear what constitutes such effective delivery behaviors, especially for an adult learner population (those over 25 years old). Using cognitive load theory and cognitive-affective theory of learning with media as theoretical frameworks, this dissertation proposes a quality of delivery scale for measuring effective communication across instructional settings with an adult learner audience. Informed by public health, training and organizational communication, as well as adult education and instructional communication, the final valid and reliable QD …

A Multidimensional Approach To Interorganizational Communication Via Emergency Management Organizations And Their Twitter Accounts, Lauren Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Using an adaptation of O’Connor and Shumate’s (2018) theoretical propositions, this research examines interorganizational communication through the lens of multidimensional networks. Twitter data was crawled from a selection of emergency management organization accounts to measure affinity, representational, flow, and semantic networks. These data included the organizations’ followed accounts, retweets, replies, and mentions. A thematic analysis of the organizations’ mission statements was also conducted in order to inform the examination of the semantic networks. The results show a significant relationship between the number of accounts an organization follows and the likelihood of having its message shared. This research provides a further …

Shyness In The Classroom: A Study In Nonverbal Communication Codes, Nora E. Radway

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This study examined the experiences of shy, introverted, and apprehensive students in the college classroom. This study was framed by multiple goals theory to discover how these students use nonverbal communication to achieve their task, identity, and relational goals in the classroom. Shy, introverted, and apprehensive students face challenges in the classroom especially when asked to verbally participate or give presentations that their more outgoing classmates may not face. Participants (N = 16) participated in focus groups where they discussed their experiences, perceptions, and feelings about participation in their college courses. Results showed that these students do experience apprehension …

“It’S Hard To Get Your Head Around Something Like This”: Figurative And Intense Language For Sensegiving During Severe Weather Coverage, Robert W. Prestley

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

During high-impact weather events like Hurricane Harvey, broadcast meteorologists take on the role of sensegiver, as they develop frameworks to help their viewers make sense of the storm. These frameworks are communicated through rhetorical choices evident in the language the meteorologists use to describe the storm’s threat and impact. This study investigates the rhetorical choices of KHOU broadcast meteorologists during Hurricane Harvey in order to make sense of the disaster, using an inductive thematic analysis. The results indicate that the KHOU broadcasters framed Harvey figuratively as an all-encompassing monster and a heat-seeking machine. The meteorologists used emotionally intense language to …

“I Want To Feel What They Feel”: Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Emotional Flow In Narrative Health Blogs, Sarah Elizabeth Sheff

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Emotion has long been implemented in persuasive messages and campaigns to influence attitudes and health behavior. Research demonstrates that messages often evoke more than one emotion during and after exposure, and this was previously viewed as an undesirable outcome; however, the literature suggests that the intentional inclusion of multiple emotions, or emotional flow, could positively impact persuasive outcomes, such as attitudes and behavioral intention.

The proposed study employs the concept of emotional flow, the intentional inclusion of more than one discrete emotion, in the context of narrative health blogs addressing mental health topics relevant to college students. The study specifically …

“Standing On The Front Lines And Down In The Trenches With Her”: An Exploration Of The Dialectical Tensions And Competing Goals Of Adult Children Of Mentally Ill Parents, Kelley Hodgson

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Mental illness is a pervasive health epidemic in the United States and worldwide, and available data suggest that mentally ill adults are statistically more likely to be parents than non-parents. The prevalence and continued growth of parental mental illness means that millions of children in the United States have a parent with some form of mental health issues.

This dissertation contributes to and extends existing literature on children of mentally ill parents by exploring 15 adult children’s subjective perspectives on how they navigate the tension-wrought experience of having a mentally ill parent, and how this has implications for the management …

Emerging From The Ashes: An Evaluation Of The Postcrisis Communication Following The 2008 Tennessee Valley Authority Coal Ash Spill, Nicole Catherine Staricek

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation uses a case study approach assess the postcrisis communication between the Tennessee Valley Authority and the Roane County community following the 2008 coal ash spill. More specifically, the researcher explores the relationship between organizational renewal and community involvement by means of an in-depth case study analysis.

The dataset includes transcripts from interviews with Tennessee Valley Authority leaders, as well as neighboring community members, all of whom were involved in the postcrisis recovery. Supporting data was collected from archival records made available to the public online and dedicated specifically to the Roane County project.

The results, implications for practitioners, …

Cat In The Classroom: Understanding Instructor Behavior And Student Perceptions Through Communication Accommodation Theory, Terrell Kody Frey

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Adjusting one’s communication is a fundamental requirement for human interaction (Gasiorek, 2016a). Individuals adapt communication behavior according to the circumstances surrounding the situation, resulting in different patterns and forms of speech relative to spouses, family members, coworkers, or friends. Yet, researchers in instructional communication have not yet substantially applied adjustment as a theoretical lens for understanding instructor-student classroom interactions (Gasiorek & Giles, 2012; Soliz & Giles, 2014; Soliz & Bergquist, 2016). Apart from overlooking this useful theoretical approach, instructional communication scholarship can also be improved by accounting for 1) shifting group identities in higher education that change how instructors and …

Instructor-Student Rapport As A Psychological Need For Students, Nicholas T. Tatum

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

There is a need to explore ways to better motivate students in instruction, as student motivation is an issue confronting teachers at all levels of education. Instructor-student rapport (ISR), a multidimensional concept comprised of students’ enjoyable interaction and personal connection with instructors, has potential to offer educators a tool for increasing these important student outcomes. Further, self-determination theory (SDT) may have utility for illustrating the psychological mechanisms through which instructors influence students by building rapport.

First, this study explored what behaviors instructors should employ to build ISR with students. Specifically, prosocial humor (related and unrelated) and confirmation (responding to questions, …

Mobile Technology And Classroom Relationships, Joe C. Martin

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines the relational implications of the presence of mobile technology within the basic communication course. To guide the research and interpret the results Mottet, Frymier, and Beebe’s (2006) rhetorical and relational goals theory is utilized. To investigate this phenomenon a survey design was employed, and participants were asked to respond to open-ended, closed-ended, and descriptive questions. Results of this study shed light upon how and when university students use technology, as well as the positive and detrimental results such usage has upon the development and quality of their relationships in the classroom, both with instructors and other students. …

Preventing Interpersonal Violence At The University Of Kentucky: A Community-Level Expansion Of The Green Dot Program, Chelsey Reid

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

College students in the United States are at risk for being impacted by interpersonal violence (IPV), a spectrum of violence that includes sexual assault, dating violence, domestic violence, and stalking, with 1 in 5 women and 1 in 16 men being impacted by victimization during their collegiate careers. Through enhanced approaches to primary prevention, including through active bystander training, research has identified evidence-based strategies for reducing IPV prevalence. In Kentucky, 10.1% of all women impacted by IPV are first victimized prior to 18-years-old and 12.4% of all completed rapes are either alcohol or drug-facilitated. In light of these cumulative data, …

Brief Intervention And Buprenorphine Initiation For Opioid Use Disorder In Northern Kentucky Emergency Departments, Cady Cornell

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The opioid epidemic has had sweeping, devastating effects on the United States. Kentucky has the fifth highest overdose mortality rate in the nation and the Northern Kentucky counties, specifically Kenton and Campbell, have been especially affected. Their opioid overdose mortality rates are the third and fourth highest in the state, respectively. In order to contribute to ongoing Northern Kentucky community efforts to combat the opioid epidemic, St. Elizabeth Healthcare is proposing to implement The Brief Negotiation Interview (BNI) in our emergency departments in order to provide more comprehensive care. The BNI is a motivational interviewing strategy that has been combined …

Methods For Multiple Imputation By Chained Equations Accounting For Missingness: A Simulation Study, Nathaniel Wilson

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Improper treatment of missing data can lead to biased or invalid results. If the data are missing at random (MAR), multiple imputation by chained equations (MICE) is one method utilized to reduce bias. When implementing MICE, the imputation model must be compatible with the final analysis model. We aim to show how to include interaction terms in the imputation model to ensure valid results are obtained. Data were simulated for one continuous outcome originating from two binary predictor variables and their interaction. Missingness was imposed via a MAR mechanism. To handle the missing data, four methods were performed: complete records …

Thyroid Function Screening & Dysfunction In Patients With Heart Failure: An Examination Of Practice At The University Of Kentucky Albert B. Chandler Hospital From 2007-2017, Alexandra Paige Hall

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

Introduction: Heart failure constitutes a global pandemic affecting at least 26 million globally (an estimated 5.7 million of which are Americans), and its burden on our healthcare system is projected to increase.[1] As a result, it is imperative that diagnostics and treatment among that population be evidence based in order to contain costs and optimize patient outcomes. Over the last 20 years, thyroid function screening has been recommended for patients upon initial diagnosis of heart failure by the American College of Cardiology and other professional organizations. However, it remains unclear whether this recommendation is followed by practitioners and how much …

A Comparison Of Pediatric Prevention Policies To Pediatric Health Supervision Codes, Rania Burke

Theses and Dissertations--Public Health (M.P.H. & Dr.P.H.)

The number of policy statements from the AAP presents pediatricians with an increasing amount of advice related to prevention, yet the definition of prevention and well-child visits has not changed for outpatient office visits. Outpatient office visits are the primary means by which preventive care is administered. The objective of this study is to quantify and characterize the prevention policy recommendations that pediatricians are expected to provide patients/guardians beyond the well-child visit. Secondarily, an analysis was completed to demonstrate which prevention policies make recommendations that can be coded for reimbursement as part of a well-child prevention visit.

METHODS The author …

Does Childhood Psychological Abuse Strengthen Or Weaken Msw Social Workers And Allied Professionals’ Compassion Fatigue And Compassion Satisfaction?, Andy S. C. Reynolds

Theses and Dissertations--Social Work

The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors of social worker and allied professional’s professional quality of life, particularly the impact of the professional’s childhood psychological abuse on compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction scores. Variables such as perceived resilience, social support, childhood psychological abuse, evidence-based practice training, years of experience, percentage of clients with trauma narratives, and case-load number are explored both conceptually and as risk or protective factors to social worker and allied professional’s compassion fatigue and compassion satisfaction. A conceptual model is provided to visually show the direction of the proposed research.

The sample to be …

Preparation And Characterization Of Multimodal Hybrid Organic And Inorganic Nanocrystals Of Camptothecin And Gold, Christin P. Hollis, Alan K. Dozier, Barbara L. Knutson, Tonglei Li

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

We demonstrate a novel inorganic-organic crystalline nanoconstruct, where gold atoms were imbedded in the crystal lattices as defects of camptothecin nanocrystals, suggesting its potential use as simultaneous agents for cancer therapy and bioimaging. The incorporation of gold, a potential computed tomography (CT) contrast agent, in the nanocrystals of camptothecin was detected by transmission electron microscope (TEM) and further quantified by energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS) and inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometers (ICP-OES). Due to gold's high attenuation coefficient, only a relatively small amount needs to be present in order to create a good noise-to-contrast ratio in CT imaging. The imbedded …

Methods To Quantify Nanomaterial Association With, And Distribution Across, The Blood-Brain Barrier In Vivo, Robert A. Yokel

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The role and functional anatomy of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) is summarized to enable the investigator to appropriately address evaluation of nanomaterial interaction with, and distribution across, it into brain tissue (parenchyma). Transport mechanisms across the BBB are presented, in relation to nanomaterial physicochemical properties. Measures and test substances to assess BBB integrity/disruption/permeation are introduced, along with how they are used to interpret the results obtained with the presented methods. Experimental pitfalls and misinterpretation of results of studies of brain nanomaterial uptake are briefly summarized, that can be avoided with the methods presented in this chapter. Two methods are presented. …

The Evaluation Of Pathogen Survival In Dry Cured Charcuterie Style Sausages, Jennifer Michelle Mcneil

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objective of this study was to evaluate the survival of non-O157:H7 STEC, Salmonella spp., and S. aureus in dry fermented sausages. Chorizo and Landjager sausages were inoculated with individual bacterial cocktails and stuffed into natural casings. Temperature, relative humidity, pH, and water activity were monitored through fermentation, drying, and storage. Bacterial counts were determined by serial dilution and plated in triplicates on selective media. Plates were incubated at 37°C for 24 hours and colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) were observed.

Results of the first study validate that contaminated raw materials contribute to pathogen survival and background bacteria outcompeted …

Effects Of Yeast-Derived Microbial Protein On Transition Dairy Cow Health And Performance, Gustavo Mazon Correa Alves

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The transition period for dairy cows is defined as the three weeks pre and postpartum. During the transition period, dairy cows experience a myriad of metabolic, managerial, and nutritional requirement changes. These changes lead to stress and increased susceptibility to diseases which can negatively affect lactational performance in the short and long term. However, dietary amino acid availability can have a dramatic impact on the health and performance of dairy cows around parturition. Thus, the objective of the thesis was to evaluate the effects of supplementing yeast-derived microbial protein, as an alternative protein source for dairy cows during the transition …

Long-Term Effects Of Different Fat Sources And Vitamin E Supplementation On Growth Performance, Antioxidant Status, Carcass Characteristics, Meat Quality, And Immune Capacity Of Pigs With Heavy Slaughter Weight Up To 150 Kg, Ding Wang

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Two experiments were used to evaluate the potential interaction of fat source and vitamin E (VE) in heavy slaughter weight pigs. In Experiment 1, a total of 64 individually-fed pigs (28.41 ± 0.83 kg) were randomly assigned to 8 dietary treatments in a 4×2 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments included cornstarch (CS), tallow (TW), corn-oil (CO), and coconut-oil (CN). VE treatments were dietary α-tocopheryl acetate (ATA) at 11 and 200 ppm. In Experiment 2, a total of 72 individually fed pigs (28.55 ± 1.16 kg) were randomly assigned to 12 dietary treatments in a 2 × 6 factorial arrangement. Fat treatments …

Metabolizable Energy Determination In Broiler Chickens, Andrew E. Dunaway

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Feed accounts for the highest cost associated in poultry production, with energy-containing feedstuffs being the most expensive portion of the cost of feeding. The increasing demand for poultry meat gives reason to determine accurate apparent metabolizable energy (AME) values for various feedstuff through measuring energy utilization in the birds. The adaptation length of birds fed an experimental diet may affect the determined AME value due to the diet matrix and physiochemical properties of the feedstuff. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate a select group of energy-containing feedstuff with different diets and with factors such as coccidia challenge …

Evaluating Costs Associated With Management Decisions Of Replacement Dairy Heifers And Their Impact On The Total Rearing Investment, Anna Catherine Hawkins

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Replacement heifer rearing is critical for the future of the dairy operation, especially to improve genetic merit and maintain herd size. A replacement heifer from the day she is born to the day she calves herself is generally a 2-year investment without potential income. A myriad of options exists on how to manage, fed, and ultimately raise replacement heifers. This study quantifies the costs associated with replacement heifer management decisions from birth to calving related to housing, labor, feed and health. The heifer rearing period can be broken into pre and post weaning sections to allow for more understanding the …

Evaluation Of Current And Emerging Techniques For Measuring Eggshell Integrity Of The Domestic Fowl, Lauren Wood Nolan

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This dissertation is an investigation into the effect of different zinc sources and levels on eggshell quality and microstructure, as well as keel bone damage. Eggshell function is two-fold; eggshells function to protect the developing embryo, as well as act as a barrier against bacterial penetration, optimizing food safety of the egg for human consumption (Mabe et. Al., 2003). Two small trials were conducted in order to determine differences in eggshell microstructure of eggs produced from hens at peak lay (26 weeks of age) and at the end of lay (88 weeks of age). Two groups of hens were fed …

Developmental Changes In The Pig From Birth To 42 Days Post-Weaning (1.5 – 25 Kilograms Bodyweight), Sarah K. Elefson

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

This study evaluated the changes in body composition, glycogen tissue reserves, visceral organ growth, and small intestine morphology in the young pig. A total of 96 crossbred pigs were euthanized at birth (pre-suckle), days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14 postpartum, weaning at day 21, and days 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, 14, 28, and 42 post-weaning. Body composition of the pig had increasing dry matter and fat, decreasing ash, calcium and phosphorus, and relatively static protein percentage over the course of the study. Liver and muscle glycogen was greatest at birth. Following birth and weaning there was a distinct …

Three Essays On Welfare Policies In American States: Explaining American Welfare States In The Post-Welfare Reform Era, Hyokyung Kwak

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This dissertation consists of three empirical studies that address questions regarding state welfare policy making in the post-welfare reform era. The first empirical study pays close attention to the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) as a federal block grant program, which is a big departure from most previous TANF studies, to ask why American states differ in their decisions to allocate federal block grants across specific programs. Drawing on research on fiscal federalism and state and cross-national welfare politics, the study uses cross-sectional time-series data covering 50 states over the fiscal years 2004-2016 to examine factors that have an …

Measuring Police Officer Self-Efficacy For Working With Individuals With Autism Spectrum Disorder, Abigail M. A. Love

Theses and Dissertations--Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is currently one of the most researched of all childhood developmental disorders and is receiving attention in many domains including popular media, social sciences, education, and medicine. The purpose of this dissertation was to design and provide initial psychometric evidence for a scale that measures police officer self-efficacy for working with individuals with ASD. Psychometric properties of a scale designed to measure knowledge of ASD were also explored. Data from 620 police officers actively serving in the United States were collected in two separate phases. A 13-item scale was created to measure police officer self-efficacy for …

Retirement Planning Versus Family Support: What Drives Peoples` Decisions?, Radion Svynarenko

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

A slight majority of American households headed by 55–64-year-olds do not have any savings for retirement, and those who have retirement savings have a median of around $109,000 saved, which is equivalent to an inflation-protected annuity of $405 per month (i.e., well below the official poverty level). Among the main reasons cited for the lack of retirement savings among parents is a desire to provide financial support to their young adult children. Indeed, on the whole, parents spend twice as much on financial support of their adult children as they save for retirement (Merryl Lynch, 2018). Understanding the precursors and …