Digital Commons Network^™

Companies Over Countries: A More Pointed Approach To International Climate Treaties, Alex G. Woodward

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

No abstract provided.

Surficial Geologic Map Of The Hadley 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Warren County, Kentucky, Matthew Massey, Meredith Swallom, Antonia Bottoms, Wes Buchanan, Bailee Nicole Hodelka, Emily Morris

Contract Reports--KGS

The Hadley 7.5-minute quadrangle is located in Warren County northwest of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Regionally, the quadrangle is entirely within the Mammoth Cave plateau, which is located in the Mississippian Plateaus physiographic region (McDowell, 1986). The Mammoth Cave plateau is a regional west-dipping cuesta, that has been extensively incised by the Green and Barren Rivers and their tributaries. The area is underlain by Upper Mississippian to Lower Pennsylvanian (Rainey, 1963): the lowest fluvial valleys are underlain by Ste. Genevieve Limestone; Girkin Formation is exposed on the steep slopes between the lower valleys and higher plateau; the plateau is underlain by …

Surficial Geologic Map Of The Bowling Green North 7.5-Minute Quadrangle, Warren County, Kentucky, Meredith Swallom, Matthew Massey, Wes Buchanan, Bailee Nicole Hodelka, Hannah Hayes, Charles Wells Iii, Emily Morris

Contract Reports--KGS

The Bowling Green North 7.5-minute quadrangle is located in Warren County immediately north of Bowling Green, Kentucky. Regionally, the quadrangle includes parts of the Pennyroyal and Mammoth Cave plateau, both within the Mississippian Plateaus physiographic region (McDowell, 1986). The Dripping Springs escarpment, which separates the lower-elevation Pennyroyal from the higher-elevation Mammoth Cave plateau is highly dissected in the quadrangle. Topography in the Pennyroyal is characterized by pervasive sinkhole development across the low-relief Pennyroyal, which is mostly underlain by the Mississippian St. Louis Limestone, Ste. Genevieve Limestone, and Girkin Formation (Shawe, 1963). Higher-relief topography is restricted to the slopes of the …

Circulating And Eddy Current Losses In Coreless Axial Flux Pm Machine Stators With Pcb Windings, Yaser Chulaee, Donovin Lewis, Ali Mohammadi, Greg Heins, Dean Patterson, Dan Ionel

Power and Energy Institute of Kentucky Faculty Publications

Printed circuit board (PCB) stators in coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) machines have been proposed, designed, and studied for use in multiple industries due to their design flexibility and reduction of manufacturing costs, volume, and weight compared to conventional stators. This paper investigates mechanisms and methods of approximating open circuit losses in PCB stators within example wave and spiral winding topologies for a dual rotor, single stator configuration using 3D FEA, analytical hybrid techniques and experiments. The effect of rotor magnet shape, end winding, and active conductor geometry on eddy currents is studied, and some mitigation techniques are proposed. …

Assessing Compressed Air Energy Storage (Caes) Potential In Kentucky To Augment Energy Production From Renewable Resources, J Richard Bowersox, John B. Hickman

Report of Investigations--KGS

Fossil fuel power plants in Kentucky have some of the highest emissions of greenhouse gasses in the United States. One potential strategy for mitigating greenhouse gasses from electric power generation is the co-installation of Compressed Air Energy Storage (CAES) and a renewable source such as photovoltaic solar electricity generation (PV solar generation). CAES with complementary co-installed PV solar generation enhances stand-alone PV solar generation because CAES power is available at night.

CAES, however, requires both a site where large volumes of compressed air can be stored in the subsurface, and a heat source to prepare the stored air prior to …

Artificial Intelligence And The Practice Of Law Part 1: Lawyers Must Be Professional And Responsible Supervisors Of Ai, Michael D. Murray

Law Faculty Popular Media

No abstract provided.

Arbitration Of Erisa Statutory Claims, Kathryn L. Moore

Law Faculty Books and Chapters

In light of the flood of fiduciary litigation in recent years, some plan sponsors have considered amending their plans to include provisions requiring mandatory arbitration of claims and waivers of class action or collective claims. All things being equal, arbitration is potentially more efficient and less costly than litigation, and plan sponsors hope that mandatory arbitration and class action waivers may save them time and money in the current litigious environment. In fact, however, under the current state of the law, arbitration provisions may lead to protracted litigation and additional costs, including the cost of litigating the enforceability of the …

Development And Biological Evaluation Of Selective Small-Molecule Inhibitors Of The Human Cytochrome P450 1b1, Austin Hachey

Theses and Dissertations--Chemistry

The human cytochrome P450 1B1 (CYP1B1) is an emerging target for small- molecule therapeutics. Several solid tumors overexpress CYP1B1 to the degree that it has been referred to as a universal tumor antigen. Conversely, its expression is low in healthy tissues. CYP1B1 may drive tumorigenesis through promoting the formation of reactive toxins from environmental pollutants or from endogenous hormone substrates. Additionally, the expression of CYP1B1 in tumors is associated with resistance to several common chemotherapies and with poor prognoses in cancer patients. However, inhibiting CYP1B1 with small molecules has been demonstrated in cellular and murine model systems to reverse this …

Paper Gowns, Cold Hands, Or Something Else? Black Women's Barriers To Gynecologic Screening, Nadia Ayesha Sesay

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Cervical cancer mortality burden is carried disproportionately by African American women. Early indicators of cervical cancer are identified through prevention screening, a procedure typically performed by a gynecologist. Ideally, the patient group with the most severe mortality would likewise be the group with the most robust communication exchange with their physician to prevent cervical cancer incidence. However, a slew of factors contributes to continued mortalities among Black women. This study uses semi-structured interviews (n=10) and the health belief model to examine one barrier to Black women’s prosocial behaviors regarding routine gynecologic care—awkwardness, which here is conceptualized as social anxiety. The …

Cold Calling In The Classroom: Exploring Student Perceptions Of Instructor Communication Using The Face Negotiation Theory, Cynthia Chinazo Nnagboro

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Using face negotiation theory (Ting-Toomey, 1988) as a theoretical framework, this dissertation sought to determine students’ perceptions of instructor communication during classroom discussions where instructors use cold calling tactics. According to FNT, students perceived that self-construal determines their face concern as either self, other/mutual face. Therefore, an instructor must determine the best facework strategies to prevent face loss during classroom discussions to maintain optimal student outcomes in communication satisfaction and motivation to participate. This was accomplished by using 8 hypothetical vignettes, a pilot test and an experiment that measured face threat, face support, student communication satisfaction and motivation, intention to …

The Influence Of Instructor Immediacy Beyond The Classroom: An Experimental Investigation Of Relational Messages During Office Hours, Adam Tristan

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This dissertation examines instructor relational messages during office hours. Office hours are one of the few pedological tools where instructors can engage with their students outside the classroom. Office hours, in general, are widely adopted at many US higher education institutions, yet the context is under-researched and, thus, worthy of exploration. According to rhetorical and relational goals theory (Mottet et al., 2006), some students prefer building relationships with their instructors; others prefer task-focused interactions. To acknowledge the students' relational needs while also addressing students’ academic concerns, instructors could employ instructor immediacy behaviors to achieve simultaneous goals. A 2 x 2 …

Identity And Perception Among Aspec Consumers Of Mass Media, Jericho Franke

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

The portrayals of sex and romance, as well as asexuality and aromanticism, in mass media can have a profound impact on the way asexual and aromantic media consumers view relationships and their own identities, and affect the perception and treatment of the aspec community as a whole. This study uses mixed qualitative methods of online discourse analysis and participant interviews to examine the how mass media has shaped the self-perception and life experiences relating to sex and romance among aspec audience members.

‘It’S Like Flipping A Switch’: Understanding The Challenges, Expectations, And Identity Of High School Wrestlers, Aubree Herman

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

This study aims to understand the challenges and expectations of high school wrestlers, and how they are managing their social identities within the parameters of the sport. The rise of female wrestlers within the last decade and the hegemonic masculine roots of the sport show how imperative it is that research shed light into the unique experiences of high school wrestlers. Social identity theory was used as a theoretical framework and participants answered interview questions that discussed the three components of their social identity (i.e., cognitive, affective, and evaluative). They also identified challenges that they faced, the kind of expectations …

Leadership In Nonprofit Organizations: Best Practices For Volunteer Retention, Jennifer Lawrence

DSW Capstone Projects

While there is a significant amount of research focusing on organizational leadership in business and for-profit organizations, comparatively little data has been collected and studied to address the role of leadership in volunteer organizations. By closing this gap in research and providing context around leadership, nonprofit organizations can enhance leadership, culture and climate, and volunteer engagement and retention. Fewer Americans are engaging in volunteerism in their community than any other time in the past twenty years. The Systemic Literature Review will aid in recognizing and addressing this decline which is important as volunteer organizations provide needed services to people and …

Impact Of Insurance Payer On Stage At Diagnosis Of Prostate Cancer, Hunter M. Stiff

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

Objectives: Prostate cancer (CaP) is the most common site of cancer in men in the United States and is very treatable when diagnosed in localized and regional stages. While there are widely available forms of screening that can detect CaP in its early stages, factors that can affect healthcare access such as health insurance, race, and Appalachian residency have been linked with differences in rates of distant-stage CaP diagnosis. This study aimed to explore the relationships between health insurance, race, Appalachian residency, and late-stage CaP diagnosis in the state of Kentucky.

Methods: A sample of 26,622 men from the state …

Language Matters: Evaluating How Linguistic And Visual Differences In Financial Documents Impact Financial Reporting In Hospitals, Alicia Irwin

Theses and Dissertations--Accountancy

Hospital financial assistance policies (FAPs) should inform uninsured and under-insured patients about options available to assist with their medical expenses. However, language and visual rhetoric variations in these documents may deter otherwise qualified patients from applying to programs meant to relieve their financial obligations. This project explores how visual rhetoric and linguistic differences such as tone and readability, in financial assistance policy documents may influence community benefit reporting in hospitals as a consequence of patient engagement in the application process.

Visual rhetoric and design, as well as linguistic style variation can have a profound impact on program utilization and financial …

Social Ties Across Audit Offices And Audit Quality, Wenyin Li

Theses and Dissertations--Accountancy

This dissertation explores the audit consequences of social ties across audit offices. Although recent studies have demonstrated the importance of auditors’ social ties in auditor performance, little is known about the role of social ties across audit offices in facilitating knowledge sharing within audit firms and their impact on audit quality. To fill this gap, this study employs the Facebook Social Connectedness Index to capture social ties across audit offices within the same audit firm. Drawing upon the organizational learning literature and social network literature, I predict and find that audit office-level social ties improve audit quality. In addition, the …

The Gas And Stellar Content Of A Metal-Poor Galaxy At Z = 8.496 As Revealed By Jwst And Alma, K. E. Heintz, C. Giménez-Arteaga, S. Fujimoto, Gabriel B. Brammer, D. Espada, S. Gillman, J. González-López, T. R. Greve, Yuichi Harikane, B. Hatsukade, K. K. Knudsen, Anton M. Koekemoer, K. Kohno, V. Kokorev, M. M. Lee, Georgios E. Magdis, E. J. Nelson, F. Rizzo, Ryan L. Sanders, D. Schaerer, Alice E. Shapley, V. B. Strait, S. Toft, F. Valentino, A. Van Der Wel, A. P. Vijayan, D. Watson, F. E. Bauer, Amber Christiansen, C. R. Christiansen, S. N. Wilson

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

We present a joint analysis of the galaxy S04590 at z = 8.496 based on NIRSpec, NIRCam, and NIRISS observations obtained as part of the Early Release Observations program of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the far-infrared [C ii] 158 μm emission line detected by dedicated Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) observations. We determine the physical properties of S04590 from modeling of the spectral energy distribution (SED) and through the redshifted optical nebular emission lines detected with JWST/NIRSpec. The best-fit SED model reveals a low-mass (M _⋆ = 10^7.2-10⁸ M _⊙) galaxy with a …

The Prevalence Of Opioid Use Disorder In Kentucky’S Counties: A Two-Year Multi-Sample Capture-Recapture Analysis, Katherine L. Thompson, Joshua A. Barocas, Chris Delcher, Jungjun Bae, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Jianing Wang, Redonna Chandler, Jennifer Villani, Sharon L. Walsh, Jeffery Talbert

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background: Kentucky has one of the highest opioid overdose mortality rates in the United States. Accurate estimates of people with opioid use disorder (OUD) are critical to plan for the scope of interventions required to reduce overdose and opioid misuse. Commonly used household surveys are known to underestimate OUD at the state-level and do not provide county-level estimates.

Methods: We performed a multi-sample capture-recapture analysis to estimate OUD prevalence in Kentucky in 2018 and 2019. We utilized four statewide datasets that were linked at the individual level: 1) Registry of Vital Statistics, 2) Emergency Medical Services (EMS), 3) Kentucky’s Prescription …

Two Essays On Industrial Hemp Firms In The United States, Abraham Olakunle Ajibade

Theses and Dissertations--Agricultural Economics

After a long absence from American fields, industrial hemp was reintroduced to growing fields starting with state pilot programs in 2014 and received the green light for commercial cultivation in the US through the 2018 Farm Bill. Being an industry in its resurgence, investment is crucial for growth and the stock market and over-the-counter markets help US hemp firms get these much-needed funds for growth and expansion. This thesis consists of two essays on US hemp firms.

The first essay uses descriptive statistics, correlation analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis Test to investigate how US hemp stocks compare to mid-cap and large-cap …

Enabling Dapps Data Exchange With Hardware-Assisted Secure Oracle Network, Yue Li

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Decentralized applications (dApps), enabled by the blockchain and smart contract technology, are known for allowing distrustful parties to execute business logic without relying on a central authority. Compared to regular applications, dApps offer a wide range of benefits, including security by design, trustless transactions, and resistance to censorship. However, dApps need to access real-world data to achieve their full potential, relying on the data oracles. Oracles act as bridges between blockchains and the outside world, providing essential data to the smart contracts that power dApps. A significant challenge in integrating oracles into the dApp ecosystem is the Oracle Problem …

A Source-To-Sink Analysis Of The Pantanal Basin (Brazil): Implications For Weathering, Erosion, And Landscape Evolution In The World's Largest Wetland, Edward L. Lo

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

Large back-bulge retro-arc basins have limited information about the sediment composition, yet they comprise important parts of the stratigraphic rock record. The exorheic Pantanal Basin is the world's largest continental wetland that regulates many valuable ecosystem services (water storage, nutrient cycling, agriculture, ranching, tourism, and transportation). This dissertation is composed of three studies that utilize a suite of tools to examine the most fundamental basin-wide source-to-sink sediment processes and controls that affect the characteristics and distribution of modern sediments.

The first paper consists of a metadata analysis of 76 shallow tropical floodplain lakes in the literature with bathymetric data and …

Prediction Of Blast-Induced Ground Vibrations: A Comparison Between Empirical And Artificial-Neural-Network Approaches, Luis F. Velasquez

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Ground vibrations are a critical factor in the rock blasting process. The instantaneous load application exerted by the gas pressure during the detonation process acts on the blasthole walls creating dynamic stresses in the adjacent rock. This triggers different sorts of stress waves, mainly divided into two categories: body and surface waves. The first comprises the P and the S waves, while the second comprises Rayleigh waves. These waves spread concentrically starting at the blast location and move along the ground surface and its interior, being attenuated as they reach further distances.

In most cases, and accepting the hypothesis that …

Evaluation Of Boron Supplementation In Swine And Poultry, Tyler B. Chevalier

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

The objectives of this dissertation were to evaluate dietary boron (B) supplementation as sodium borate in various swine models and broiler chicks through a series of experiments. The initial experiment evaluated supplemental B (0, 25, 50, and 100 ppm B) on serum insulin, glucose, and clinical chemistry panel of growing pigs. Serum insulin/glucose ratio tended to decrease linearly with increasing supplemental B in a fasting state (P = 0.08). These findings were more noticeable (linear effect, P = 0.02) in a postprandial state (~ 50 minutes following a meal). A series of follow-up studies further evaluating B supplementation (0, 5, …

Ultrasound-Based Structural And Functional Modifications Of Oat Protein: Complementary Effects Of High Pressure, Cysteine, And Flavonoids, Runnan Li

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Oat (Avena sativa L.), a specialty cereal grain belonging to the Poaceae family, is relatively abundant in nutritious protein (12–20%) and dietary fiber (β-glucan). The balanced hydrophilic/hydrophobic amino acid profile in oat protein relative to other plant sources provides numerous possibilities for formulating oat protein isolate (OPI) into a wide range of food products. Yet, there has been limited research on OPI and the application of this valuable protein source is hampered by its low solubility at neutral and mildly acidic conditions. This dissertation research aimed to elucidate the efficacy of high-intensity ultrasound (HIU) for structural modification of OPI …

Monoclonal Antibody Therapy Of Breastfeeding Patient Infected With Sars-Cov-2: A Case Report, Nicole E. Marshall, Madison B. Blanton, Brianna M. Doratt, Delphine C. Malherbe, Monica Rincon, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Although safety data demonstrated the efficacy and effectiveness of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) vaccination for all individuals over 6 months of age, including pregnant and breastfeeding individuals, optimal treatment courses for symptomatic pregnant and lactating individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 remain to be defined. Case Description: A coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19)-vaccinated breastfeeding woman received anti-SARS-CoV-2 monoclonal antibody treatment casirivimab–imdevimab 5 days after diagnosis of a symptomatic breakthrough SARS-CoV-2 infection. Results and Conclusions: The patient did not present with obvious defects in innate or adaptive cellular subsets, but compared with controls had minimal maternal antibody response to recommended …

Three Essays On Rural Education: Descriptive Studies Focused On Federal Rural Definitions And Policy Changes, Kyung Ha Oh

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

Rural education issues in K-12 public schools are understudied despite a large rural student population in the U.S. This dissertation studies how different federal definitions of rural change how rural school districts and their diverse communities are portrayed, in comparison to their non-rural counterparts. This study also explores the recent federal rural policy changes on rural district revenue and student academic outcomes.

This dissertation consists of three descriptive essays. The first chapter shows how we choose to define ‘rural’ changes what differences are accentuated between rural and non-rural districts. Definitions of ‘rural’ is closely related to who gains access to …

A Multilevel Jurisdictional Analysis Of The Impact Of Walmart On Host Communities, Matt Young

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This research takes a holistic approach to answer the empirical question about what impacts Walmart has on host jurisdictions. This consists of a thorough review of the extant literature; a formalization of Walmart’s potential impact into a theoretical framework; a consideration of endogeneity within Walmart’s operations from multiple angles; a nationwide analysis of impacts on labor and retail markets at both the county and municipal level; a nationwide analysis of the impacts on housing prices and property tax revenue post Walmart; a multistate analysis of host jurisdictions’ reactions to these changes through the lens of local sales taxes; finally, a …

Three Essays On Consumption Taxation In Indonesia, Partomuan Transparenter Juniult

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

Consumption taxes play a major role in revenue generation for many developing countries. They are also used to encourage or discourage certain consumption behaviors. However, the administrative aspects of implementing these taxes can create challenges for the tax authorities, and lead to distortions in taxpayer behavior. To overcome these challenges, efforts have been made to simplify policies and utilize technology to improve administration and compliance. My dissertation aims to provide empirical evidence on the effects of three consumption or commodity tax policy reforms in Indonesia. The dissertation consists of three essays as follows.

In my first essay, titled “The effect …

Giving Retakes Their Best Chance To Improve Learning., Thomas Data Guskey

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Assessment retakes can improve student learning if educators clear up a few misconceptions and avoid common missteps.