Digital Commons Network^™

Association Of Sustained Low Or High Income And Income Changes With Risk Of Incident Type 2 Diabetes Among Individuals Aged 30 To 64 Years, Jimin Clara Park, Ga Eun Nam, Jinna Yu, Ketrell L. Mcwhorter, Junxiu Liu, Hong Seok Lee, Seong-Su Lee, Kyungdo Han

UK CARES Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Evidence of the association between income fluctuation and risk of type 2 diabetes (T2D) is scarce.

OBJECTIVE To investigate whether sustained low or high income and income changes are associated with incidence of T2D.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS In this population-based cohort study, more than 7.8 million adults without T2D aged 30 to 64 years from a nationally representative sample from the Korean Health Insurance Service database were enrolled in 2012 and followed up to 2019 (median follow-up, 6.3 years [IQR, 6.1-6.6 years]).

EXPOSURES Twenty quantiles of monthly health insurance premiums determined income levels. Income quartiles were annually analyzed …

Towards A Comprehensive Data Infrastructure For Redox-Active Organic Molecules Targeting Nonaqueous Redox Flow Batteries, Rebekah Duke, Vinayak Bhat, Parker Sornberger, Susan A. Odom, Chad Risko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

The shift of energy production towards renewable, yet at times inconsistent, resources like solar and wind have increased the need for better energy storage solutions. An emerging energy storage technology that is highly scalable and cost-effective is the redox flow battery comprised of redox-active organic materials. Designing optimum materials for redox flow batteries involves balancing key properties such as the redox potential, stability, and solubility of the redox-active molecules. Here, we present the data-enabled discovery and design to transform liquid-based energy storage (D³TaLES) database, a curated data collection of more than 43 000 redox-active organic molecules that are …

Exploring Food-Based Cultural Practices To Address Food Insecurity In Rural Appalachia, Lauren Cassidy Batey, Emily M. Dewitt, Dawn Brewer, Kathryn M. Cardarelli, Heather Norman-Burgdolf

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Background. Health behaviors, like diet, are influenced by a person’s culture and the society where they reside, contributing to the presence of health disparities within a unique region. Such disparities are evident in Central Appalachia where a unique cultural identity exists. Culture-based initiatives focused on improving food security and other nutritional challenges have had success in other diverse groups, yet similar interventions considering geographically tied culture, like Appalachia, are limited. Aim. This study aims to identify specific aspects of Appalachian culture that address food insecurity to inform future initiatives that may improve adult dietary habits and food security status. Methods. …

Fault Tolerant Electric Machine Concept For Aircraft Propulsion With Pm Rotor And Dc Current Stator Dual-Stage Excitation, Donovin D. Lewis, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Ali Mohammadi, Matin Vatani, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

The development of electrically propelled aircraft requires electric machines that are fault-tolerant, compact, and efficient at multiple operating points. This paper proposes a novel machine topology combining a coreless Halbach PM array axial flux unit and a PM-less synchronous hybrid excited radial flux unit. Both units are coupled on the same shaft to take advantage of the opportunities available in the unique usage profile for aviation. The machines can be used simultaneously for the take off and altitude climbing stage or used individually during the cruising stage. The coreless axial flux PM (CAFPM) motor unit consists of two Halbach array …

Coreless Axial Flux Halbach Array Permanent Magnet Generator Concept For Direct-Drive Wind Turbine, Matin Vatani, Ali Mohammadi, Donovin Lewis, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper proposes a concept for a coreless axial flux permanent magnet (CAFPM) generator with a double sided Halbach array rotor for direct-drive offshore wind turbine applications. The application of printed circuit board (PCB) technology is explored as applied to a concentrated winding stator due to its high reliability, repeatability, and fast mass production. A double-sided Halbach array rotor is employed to intensify the airgap flux density and to enable the elimination of the rotor back iron, decreasing the generator’s total active mass. The effect of the Halbach array rotor pole number and magnet-to-magnet (M2M) gap on the airgap flux …

Functional Exploration Of Conserved Sequences In The Distal Face Of Angiotensinogen - Brief Report, Naofumi Amioka, Chia-Hua Wu, Hisashi Sawada, Sohei Ito, Alex C. Pettey, Congqing Wu, Jessica J. Moorleghen, Deborah A. Howatt, Gregory A. Graf, Craig W. Vander Kooi, Alan Daugherty, Hong S. Lu

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND: Angiotensinogen (AGT) is an essential component in the renin-angiotensin system. AGT has highly conserved sequences in the loop and β-sheet regions among species; however, their functions have not been studied.

METHODS: Adeno-associated viral vector (AAV) serotype 2/8 encoding mouse AGT with mutations of conserved sequences in the loop (AAV.loop-Mut), β-sheet (AAV.βsheet-Mut), or both regions (AAV.loop/βsheet-Mut) was injected into male hepatocyte-specific AGT-deficient (hepAGT−/− ) mice in an LDL (low-density lipoprotein) receptor–deficient background. AAV containing mouse wild-type AGT (AAV.mAGT) or a null vector (AAV.null) were used as controls. Two weeks after AAV administration, all mice were fed a western diet for …

Chemokine Receptor Cxcr7 Activates Aurora Kinase A And Promotes Neuroendocrine Prostate Cancer Growth, Galina Gritsina, Ka-Wing Fong, Xiaodong Lu, Zhuoyuan Lin, Wanqing Xie, Shivani Agarwal, Dong Lin, Gary E. Schiltz, Himisha Beltran, Eva Corey, Colm Morrissey, Yuzhuo Wang, Jonathan C. Zhao, Maha Hussain, Jindan Yu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

CXCR7 is an atypical chemokine receptor that recruits β-arrestin (ARRB2) and internalizes into clathrin-coated intracellular vesicles where the complex acts as a scaffold for cytoplasmic kinase assembly and signal transduction. Here, we report that CXCR7 was elevated in the majority of prostate cancer (PCa) cases with neuroendocrine features (NEPC). CXCR7 markedly induced mitotic spindle and cell cycle gene expression. Mechanistically, we identified Aurora Kinase A (AURKA), a key regulator of mitosis, as a novel target that was bound and activated by the CXCR7-ARRB2 complex. CXCR7 interacted with proteins associated with microtubules and golgi, and, as such, the CXCR7-ARRB2-containing vesicles trafficked …

Co-Targeting Nucleus Accumbens Associate 1 And Nf-Κb Signaling Synergistically Inhibits Melanoma Growth, Lixiang Gu, Xingcong Ren, Chrispus Ngule, Xiaofang Xiong, Jianxun Song, Zhiguo Li, Jin-Ming Yang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Nucleus-accumbens-associated protein-1 (NAC1) is a cancer-related transcriptional factor encoded by the NACC1 gene, which is amplified and overexpressed in various human cancers and has been appreciated as one of the top potential cancer driver genes. NAC1 has therefore been explored as a potential therapeutic target for managing malignant tumors. Here, we show that NAC1 is a negative regulator of NF-κB signaling, and NAC1 depletion enhances the level of the nuclear NF-κB in human melanoma. Furthermore, the inhibition of NF-κB signaling significantly potentiates the antineoplastic activity of the NAC1 inhibition in both the cultured melanoma cells and xenograft tumors. This study …

Identification Of Immunodominant T Cell Epitopes Induced By Natural Zika Virus Infection, Christopher S. Eickhoff, Krystal A. Meza, Frances E. Terry, Chase G. Colbert, Azra Blazevic, Andres H. Gutiérrez, E. Taylor Stone, James D. Brien, Amelia K. Pinto, Hana M. El Sahly, Mark J. Mulligan, Nadine Rouphael, Maria L. Alcaide, Kay M. Tomashek, Chris Focht, William D. Martin, Leonard Moise, Anne S. De Groot, Daniel F. Hoft

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a flavivirus primarily transmitted by Aedes species mosquitoes, first discovered in Africa in 1947, that disseminated through Southeast Asia and the Pacific Islands in the 2000s. The first ZIKV infections in the Americas were identified in 2014, and infections exploded through populations in Brazil and other countries in 2015/16. ZIKV infection during pregnancy can cause severe brain and eye defects in offspring, and infection in adults has been associated with higher risks of Guillain-Barré syndrome. We initiated a study to describe the natural history of Zika (the disease) and the immune response to infection, for which …

Identification Of Monotonically Expressed Long Non-Coding Rna Signatures For Breast Cancer Using Variational Autoencoders, Dongjiao Wang, Ling Gao, Xinliang Gao, Chi Wang, Suyan Tian

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

As breast cancer is a multistage progression disease resulting from a genetic sequence of mutations, understanding the genes whose expression values increase or decrease monotonically across pathologic stages can provide insightful clues about how breast cancer initiates and advances. Utilizing variational autoencoder (VAE) networks in conjunction with traditional statistical testing, we successfully ascertain long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) that exhibit monotonically differential expression values in breast cancer. Subsequently, we validate that the identified lncRNAs really present monotonically changed patterns. The proposed procedure identified 248 monotonically decreasing expressed and 115 increasing expressed lncRNAs. They correspond to a total of 65 and 33 …

Impact Of A Cancer Education Curriculum On Appalachian Kentucky Middle And High School Students, Lauren Hudson‑Rose, L. Todd Weiss, Nathan L. Vanderford

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Appalachian Kentucky is disproportionately affected by elevated cancer incidence and mortality rates. This disparity is driven by inequities in health behaviors and social determinants of health including decreased education attainment levels that cause lower health literacy. To increase cancer literacy in the region, a three-part cancer education curriculum was designed for Appalachian Kentucky middle and high school students. This study was designed to evaluate the effect the curriculum had on students’ cancer literacy. The curriculum lessons were disseminated to Appalachian Kentucky middle and high school teachers who engaged 223 students with the material. For each lesson, students filled out a …

Inhibition Of Acid Sphingomyelinase Reduces Reactive Astrocyte Secretion Of Mitotoxic Extracellular Vesicles And Improves Alzheimer’S Disease Pathology In The 5xfad Mouse, Simone M. Crivelli, Zainuddin Quadri, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Zhihui Zhu, Priyanka Tripathi, Ahmed Elsherbini, Liping Zhang, Patrick G. Sullivan, Erhard Bieberich

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

In Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reactive astrocytes produce extracellular vesicles (EVs) that affect mitochondria in neurons. Here, we show that Aβ-induced generation of the sphingolipid ceramide by acid sphingomyelinase (A-SMase) triggered proinflammatory cytokine (C1q, TNF-α, IL-1α) release by microglia, which induced the reactive astrocytes phenotype and secretion of EVs enriched with ceramide. These EVs impeded the capacity of neurons to respond to energy demand. Inhibition of A-SMase with Arc39 and Imipramine reduced the secretion of cytokines from microglia, prompting us to test the effect of Imipramine on EV secretion and AD pathology in the 5xFAD mouse model. Brain derived-EVs from 5xFAD …

Portable Optical Spectroscopic Assay For Non-Destructive Measurement Of Key Metabolic Parameters On In Vitro Cancer Cells And Organotypic Fresh Tumor Slices, Jing Yan, Carlos Frederico Lima Goncalves, Madison O. Korfhage, Zahid Hasan, Teresa Whei-Mei Fan, Xiaoqin Wang, Caigang Zhu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

To enable non-destructive metabolic characterizations on in vitro cancer cells and organotypic tumor models for therapeutic studies in an easy-to-access way, we report a highly portable optical spectroscopic assay for simultaneous measurement of glucose uptake and mitochondrial function on various cancer models with high sensitivity. Well-established breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231) were used to validate the optical spectroscopic assay for metabolic characterizations, while fresh tumor samples harvested from both animals and human cancer patients were used to test the feasibility of our optical metabolic assay for non-destructive measurement of key metabolic parameters on organotypic tumor slices. Our optical …

The Role Of Vaccination Route With An Adenovirus-Vectored Vaccine In Protection, Viral Control, And Transmission In The Sars-Cov-2/K18-Hace2 Mouse Infection Model, Alexandria Dickson, Elizabeth Geerling, E. Taylor Stone, Mariah Hassert, Tara L. Steffen, Taneesh Makkena, Madeleine Smither, Katherine E. Schwetye, Jianfeng Zhang, Bertrand Georges, M. Scot Roberts, John J. Suschak, Amelia K. Pinto, James D. Brien

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Introduction: Vaccination is the most effective mechanism to prevent severe COVID-19. However, breakthrough infections and subsequent transmission of SARS-CoV-2 remain a significant problem. Intranasal vaccination has the potential to be more effective in preventing disease and limiting transmission between individuals as it induces potent responses at mucosal sites.

Methods: Utilizing a replication-deficient adenovirus serotype 5-vectored vaccine expressing the SARS-CoV-2 RBD (AdCOVID) in homozygous and heterozygous transgenic K18-hACE2, we investigated the impact of the route of administration on vaccine immunogenicity, SARS-CoV-2 transmission, and survival.

Results: Mice vaccinated with AdCOVID via the intramuscular or intranasal route and subsequently challenged with SARS-CoV-2 showed …

Weighted Mean Difference Statistics For Paired Data In The Presence Of Missing Values, Yuntong Li, Brent J. Shelton, William St Clair, Heidi L. Weiss, John L. Villano, Arnold Stromberg, Chi Wang, Li Chen

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Missing data is a common issue in many biomedical studies. Under a paired design, some subjects may have missing values in either one or both of the conditions due to loss of follow-up, insufficient biological samples, etc. Such partially paired data complicate statistical comparison of the distribution of the variable of interest between the two conditions. In this article, we propose a general class of test statistics based on the difference in weighted sample means without imposing any distributional or model assumption. An optimal weight is derived from this class of tests. Simulation studies show that our proposed test with …

Innovative Methods To Strengthen Internal Kytc Communications, P. Gayle Marks, Jeff Jasper

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Communication is the linchpin of every organization. Poor communication leads to inefficiencies, frustration among staff, and employee disaffection and disengagement. Although some state transportation agencies have adopted comprehensive strategic plans for internal communications, many have taken a more piecemeal approach, with some Offices and units (e.g., incident management) developing their own plans that apply only to their operations. The latter approach is less than ideal because establishing a comprehensive communications plan provides an organizing framework for all communications within an organization and is critical for uniting staff around a shared sense of purpose and equipping them with the tools they …

Facilitated Identification Of Kytc Performance Measures, Candice Wallace, Jon Wilcoxson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Federal and state government agencies are embracing performance management as a means to (1) justify the use of tax dollars and (2) monitor and report program accomplishments. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) efforts to fold Transportation Performance Management (TPM) into its business processes and workplace culture required training that would educate personnel about TPM’s benefits, objectives, and activities. After reviewing training resources on performance management from FHWA, NHI, AASHTO, and state DOTs, Cabinet leadership concluded that their emphasis on federal requirements was not exactly what KYTC was looking for in a training program. Instead, KYTC wanted a training program that …

Evaluating The Use Of A Near-Miss Reporting Program To Enhance Employee Safety Performance, Gabriel Dadi, Farshid Taherpour, Seth Atkins, Ashtarout Ammar, Jon Wilcoxson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Using safety incidents and crashes to improve safety performance is an outdated and reactive practice in safety and health programs. One component of a modern approach to safety is a near-miss reporting program. This type of program tracks close calls or near misses that do not result in an incident or crash, but which often can be an early indicator that one may happen. While most construction companies have implemented some methods for reporting near-miss events, many agencies, such as the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC), struggle getting employees to report near misses. To fill this gap, potential factors that result …

Friction And Texture Equipment Correlation Study, David Hacker, Kean H. Ashurst Jr., Clark Graves

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s (KYTC) foremost goal is building and maintaining a safe road network. To accomplish this goal, KYTC needs reliable pavement friction and macrotexture data, both of which influence road performance and safety. KYTC currently measures fiction using a lock-wheel skid tester (AASHTO T 242), however, the agency has not been able to collect data at the network level due to equipment and personnel limitations. In 2020 the Cabinet commissioned a study to collect friction and macrotexture data. Investigators used a sideway-force coefficient routine investigation machine (SCRIM) (AASHTO TP 143) to measure friction. To understand the performance of …

Combined Behavioral And Engineering Approach To Preventing Highway Fatalities, Benjamin Blandford, Reginald Souleyrette, Caitlin N. Pope, Tony Fields, Erin Lammers-Staats

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Traditional, single-discipline highway safety approaches can be augmented through multidisciplinary approaches that consider both engineering and behavioral interventions (e.g., education, enforcement, public outreach campaigns). Leveraging a systems-based conceptual framework of roadway safety, multiple forms of statistical and geospatial analysis, and SPF modeling and network screening, this report proposes and demonstrates methods for unpacking the influence of behavioral-related factors on crash occurrences and outcomes. The primary focus is on behaviors targeted in the Strategic Highway Safety Plan — aggressive driving, distracted driving, impaired driving, and driving without proper restraint (i.e., seatbelts). Based on application of these methods, the report highlights areas …

Portuguese Society Of Pastures And Forages, J. Potes, E. V. Lourenço, T. Carita

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Portuguese Society of Pastures and Forages (SPPF) was born from a course on pastures and forages held in the National Plant Breeding Station of Elvas (where the headquarters of SPPF are located) in 1979. It was organised by the head of the Pastures and Forages Department, David Gomes Crespo, who was the first and founder member. According to Abreu et al. (1999), the structure established was that of a Scientific Society and was considered by the Government as a Service of Public Interest. It gathered inspiration from the British Grassland Society, the Association Francaise pour la Production Fourragére, …

The Role Of The New Zealand Grassland Association In Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution, M. W. Calder

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The New Zealand Grassland Association (NZGA) aims for a two-way communication between grassland researchers and pastoral farmers on research findings and farming trends and opportunities. Annual conferences, special symposia, print and electronic publications as well as the web site are used to further these aims. Policy evolution is indirect, using the relationship with agribusiness sponsors and members to promote research objectives.

Slovenian Grassland Society: Science, Profession And Practice, Branko Kramberger, Matej Vidrih, T. Vidrih, J. Čop

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Slovenian Grassland Society (SGS) was established in 1993. It has around 120 members. A half of members are active farmers, around 10% are scientists, the rest are employed in extension services or other agricultural enterprises (seed companies, administration bodies, etc.)

Role Of Hellenic Range And Pasture Society In Technology Interaction And Policy Evolution, T. G. Papachristou, P. D. Platis, V. Papanastasis, A. Ainalis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Hellenic Range and Pasture Society (HRPS) was founded in 1992 and is a non-profit scientific association. It is composed of 74 members with a common interest in the study, management, and rational use of rangelands and related ecosystems (e.g. pasturelands). The objectives for which the corporation was established are: a) to develop an understanding of rangeland ecosystems and of the principles applicable to the management of rangeland resources (soil, plants, water, and animals), b) to assist all who work with rangelands and pasturelands to keep abreast of new findings and techniques in the science and art of rangeland and …

Role Of The Grassland Society Of Bosnia And Herzegovina In Grassland Agriculture, S. Alibegovic-Gbic, M. Bezdrob

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The biggest part of Bosnia and Herzegovina is covered with hilly and mountainous terrain, which, from the agricultural perspective, determines the manner of soil usage. Of all agricultural areas in Bosnia and Herzegovina, 55.49% are covered by grassland with that figure increasing to 79.14% in mountainous regions. Therefore, grassland agriculture and its cousin livestock production are the most significant part of the Bosnian economy. In the current situation natural grasslands are largely neglected and give a low yield of forage of low quality. Many areas are completely abandoned and have been gradually overgrown with weeds and bushes. Yet a special …

Institutions, Structures And Topics Of Grassland Research In Germany - From Science To Practice, Johannes Isselstein, H. Hochberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Germany, grassland covers some 30% of the agriculturally used land. It forms the basis of forage production in dairy and beef cattle husbandry as well as sheep and horse feeding. The intensification of grassland farming during the last fifty years was made possible through extended basic and applied research in all fields of grassland management. This included the improvement of forage species and varieties by plant breeding, the adaptation of botanical knowledge for the control of the botanical composition of permanent grass swards, the application of regular fertilisation, the improvement of the grazing management, the increased frequency of utilisation …

The Spanish Society For The Study Of Pastures: 45 Years Promoting Better Pasture Knowledge And Management, A. San Miguel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The Spanish Society for the Study of Pastures (SEEP) (http://www.seepastos.es) was founded in 1960 through the initiative of Prof. G. González with the intention of combining efforts and initiatives on pasture studies from many points of view. The Society has the objective of promoting the knowledge and improvement of Spanish pastures, regarding every issue related with pastoral science: typology; ecology and functions of pastoral ecosystems; plant production; feeding value; animal production; economics; sociology and agricultural policy, etc. The term 'Pasture' is considered in a broad sense to include every plant part, individual or community capable of being used for livestock …

Comments On The Present Activity Of Czech Specialists In Grassland Cultivation, B. Cagaš

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Unlike some other countries, there is no officially established forage crop or grassland society in the Czech Republic. This, however, does not mean that activity in this field is lacking. Several institutions are involved in the development of grassland research. These are predominantly: Grassland Commission of the Section of Plant Production of the Czech Academy of Agricultural Science, Forage Crop Commission of the Bohemian-Moravian Union of Plant Breeders, Bohemian-Moravian Association of Plant Breeding and Seed Production and Association of Grass and Clover Seed Growers. Members of these institutions are researchers and breeders of grasses and legumes, university lecturers from departments …

American Forage And Grassland Council Technology Interaction And Policy Development, E. K. Twidwell, W. A. Tucker

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The American Forage and Grassland Council (AFGC) is a national organisation which has been in existence since 1968. Membership of AFGC is about 2,500. The membership of AFGC is divided into three main sectors: private, public and industry. The private sector has the largest membership (60%), and private members are usually producers that are engaged in some type of agricultural enterprise involving the use of forages. The public sector members (30%) are educators and other government agency personnel that work with the general public. The industry sector (10%) involves various companies that deal with the forage industry. The AFGC Board …

The Role Of Grassland Societies In The West Of Scotland, G. E. D. Tiley

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Local grassland societies were first established in the United Kingdom in the 1950s, under the guiding hand of the national, British Grassland Society, itself founded in 1946. In the west of Scotland two local societies were formed: 1) the South West Scotland Grassland Society in 1962, covering the former counties of Ayrshire, Dumfries, Kirkcudbright and Wigtown; and 2) the Central Scotland Grassland Society for Lanark, Stirling, Renfrew, Dumbarton and Clackmannan. The declared aim of these two societies was to promote good grassland farming in all its aspects amongst members and to identify opportunities for improved grassland management, all to the …