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2025 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Erin Lammers-Staats, Derek Young, Kenneth Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Kentucky Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (Mmucc) Sixth Edition Report Card, William Staats, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Eric Green, Nathaniel Swallom

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration published the Model Minimum Uniform Crash Criteria (6th Edition) (MMUCC) in 2024. This updated version of the MMUCC contains recommendations for improving and standardizing electronic crash data. Its guidelines address the collection and presentation of 105 data elements and 1,056 data attributes. To facilitate a possible redesign of Kentucky’s crash reporting process, Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers reviewed the updated criteria and evaluated the degree to which the state complies with its recommended methods of gathering, storing, and presenting crash data. At the level of data elements, Kentucky is 25 percent compliant; for data …

Fournier Gangrene Is Associated With Increased Length Of Stay And Higher Healthcare Costs Compared To Non-Perineal Necrotizing Soft Tissue Infections, Hayato Mitaka, Kristen Mcquerry, Kelsey Karnik, Alexandre R. Marra, Toshio Naito, Patrick Ten Eyck, Paul G. Auwaerter, Yuji Yamada, Takaaki Kobayashi

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Background: Fournier gangrene (FG) is a necrotizing soft tissue infection (NSTI) of the perineum. Recent retrospective studies from quaternary centers suggest improved outcomes and a potentially less aggressive clinical course for FG than non-perineal NSTIs. However, comprehensive nationwide data remain limited. Methods: This retrospective cohort study analyzed the National Inpatient Sample (2016-2020) to compare outcomes between FG and non-perineal NSTIs. Adult patients undergoing surgical debridement with a diagnosis of FG or NSTI were identified using ICD-10 codes. Outcomes included in-hospital mortality, length of stay (LOS), hospital costs, and home discharge rates. Multivariable regression analyses adjusted for patient demographics, comorbidities, and …

The Effects Of Overexpressing K2p Channels In Various Tissues On Physiology And Behaviors, Alaina C. Taul, Elizabeth R. Elliott, Douglas A. Harrison, Robin L. Cooper

Biology Faculty Publications

Two-pore-domain K⁺ channels (K2p), known previously as leak channels, are responsible for maintaining the resting membrane potential of cells. Fifteen subtypes are known to exist in humans and eleven are known in Drosophila melanogaster, as well as six subfamilies; however, little is known about the expression of these subtypes in various animal tissues or the impact of altered expression on cellular physiology. The Drosophila melanogaster model allows for selective misexpression of certain neuron subsets, providing insight into individual cell types and the animal’s physiology more generally. Prior research on the overexpression of K2p channels and the resulting behavioral and …

Making Sense Of Myc In Skeletal Muscle, Ronald G. Jones, Sebastian Edman, Nathan Serrano, Yuan Wen, John J. Mccarthy, Christopher S. Fry, Ferdinand Von Walden, Kevin A. Murach

Physiology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Congestion And Travel Time Reliability Performance Measures For Shift 2026, Mei Chen, Eugene Antwi, Xu Zhang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Researchers obtained and processed probe speed data from HERE Technologies and integrated them with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s highway inventory to develop congestion and travel time reliability performance metrics. This report summarizes analyses conducted using HERE speed data for 2022 – 2023. HERE data were processed using an established methodology, after which they were aligned with Kentucky’s highway inventory network. Analysis found that 2022 – 2023 HERE data offer significant improvements in coverage and quality over previous years. For locations that lacked sufficient data, researchers used HERE’s speed model to estimate hourly speeds. Data were used to calculate congestion and …

Bike/Ped Data Collection And Model Calibration, Eirini Stavropoulou, Dionysios Tzamakos, Nikiforos Stamatiadis, Reginald Souleyrette, Teng Wang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Motivated by an uptick in pedestrian and bicycle traffic, as well as the inclusion of pedestrian and bicyclist weights in the Strategic Highway Investment Formula For Tomorrow, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has made significant investments in transportation facilities for nonmotorized users. Despite an intensified focus on the needs of nonmotorized users, KYTC has not yet established a formal program to track the number of people walking, biking, skateboarding, and using micromobility devices statewide. Based on a review of methods and technologies for counting nonmotorized users; analysis of counting programs established by local, state, and regional transportation agencies; and a …

The Timing And Significance Of Mid-Crustal Shearing And Exhumation Of Amphibolite-Facies Rocks Along The Great Glen Fault Zone, Scotland, Richard D. Law, J. Ryan Thigpen, Calvin A. Mako, Andrew Kylander-Clark, Mark J. Caddick, Lowell R. Moore, Cassandra Becker, Robert E. Holdsworth, Robin A. Strachan, A. Graham Leslie

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

The Rosemarkie Inlier lies on the NW side of the Great Glen Fault Zone (GGFZ) and is composed of foliated and lineated Archean orthogneisses and Moine metasedimentary rocks. The mylonitic foliation strikes NE–SW (parallel to the GGFZ), dips steeply SE and contains a gently to moderately plunging mineral lineation. Microstructural and quartz c-axis fabric analyses indicate that oblique sinistral shearing occurred under amphibolite-facies conditions. Laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) analyses on monazite rims in the gneisses yielded ²⁰⁶Pb/²³⁸U ages of 401.8 ± 4.8 Ma (including 2 (Formula presented.) uncertainty and a propagated additional 1% …

Who Reconstitutes The Chemotherapy? The Educational And Practice Needs Of Oncology Pharmacists In West Africa: A Call For Multidisciplinary Team Approach In Oncology Care., Runcie C.W. Chidebe, Ramatu M. Alabelewe, Krishna Prasad Sapkota, Darlingtina K. Esiaka, Candidus C. Nwakasi, Gloria C. Okwu, Jacinta Emejulu, Adamu A. Umar, Ndifreke Okwuegbunam, Funsho David, Toyosi Adepoju, Agha A. Agha, Ejike S. Ugwu, Simeon C. Aruah, Richard Mshelia, Rob Duncombe, Noel N. Wannang, Peace C. Babalola, R. Donald Harvey, Cindy O'Bryant, Folakemi T. Odedina

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

PURPOSE: Oncology pharmacists (OPs) play a crucial role in cancer care, treatment, survivorship, and multidisciplinary teams (MDTs). OPs have specialized training in designing, administering, monitoring, and modifying oncology chemotherapy; managing adverse events; and evaluating clinical trials and investigational drugs. Yet, the state of OP has remained largely unknown in the clinical oncology workforce of the West African region. Therefore, this study aimed to understand who reconstitutes chemotherapy and to explain the OP educational and practice needs, challenges, and solutions in Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using a concurrent embedded mixed method design, 35 OPs completed a questionnaire, and 12 others responded …

Carbohydrate Metabolism In The Intercaruncular Endometrium Is Affected By Form Of Supplemental Selenium At Maternal Recognition Of Pregnancy In Beef Heifers, Sarah N. Carr, Benjamin R. Crites, Kwangwon Son, Phillip J. Bridges

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Selenium (Se)-deficient soils result in Se-deficient forages that do not meet the nutritional requirement for this trace mineral in grazing cattle. Supplementation of Se conventionally occurs through a basal vitamin/mineral mix containing Se in an inorganic form (ISe), although organic Se (OSe) is available when cattle graze on forage. We previously reported that the provision of supplemental Se as a 1:1 mixture of ISe:OSe (MIX), in contrast to the industry standard of ISe alone, increases early luteal phase concentrations of systemic progesterone (P4) and increases the length of the conceptus at day 17 of pregnancy. The objectives herein were to …

Balancing Infrastructure Demands: Analysis Of Materials Pricing And Supply, Bethany Paris, Ying Li, Steve Waddle, Bryan Gibson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) lets around 700 contracts year valued at over $1 billion. One of KYTC’s foremost goals is to deliver projects on time and on budget. However, over the past five years achieving these twin goals has grown in difficulty due to material shortages, widespread inflation, supply chain disruptions, and the tight labor market triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Although material shortages have abated and supply chain disruptions have eased, instability is seemingly a permanent feature of the national and global economies. As such, Cabinet decision makers need reliable tools that can be used to understand historical …

Enhanced Pavement Project Prioritization, Bryan Gibson, Jon Wilcoxson, Gayle Marks

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) is responsible for inspecting, maintaining, and improving 27,000 centerline miles of pavement. Given the vastness of the state’s transportation network, KYTC needs a robust method for prioritizing pavement preservation projects. The Cabinet has relied on pavement condition ratings, data collected using Laser Crack Measurement Systems, and input from district-level staff to prioritize these types of projects. But this approach overlooks information that should be considered, such as factors related to safety, mobility, and geographic context. To resolve these shortcomings, Kentucky Transportation Center (KTC) researchers worked with KYTC subject-matter experts to develop the Enhanced Pavement Prioritization …

Stabilizing Embankments Using Geosynthetic Reinforcement, Daryl Greer, Charlie Sun

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Reinforced soil slopes (RSSs) can be a feasible solution for embankments where there exist right of way re-strictions, environmental issues, rolling or mountainous topography, unfavorable geology, and other limiting fac-tors. They can be an alternative to retaining walls or importing select fills to construct steeper, stable embankment slopes where flatter embankment slopes may result in unwanted impacts, costs, and maintenance issues. Thisreport discusses the advantages and limitations of using geosynthetic reinforcement to construct RSSs. Researchers investigated current design, specification, and construction practices to determine which practices can be adopted by the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). Specifications were developed for using …

Development Of An International Collection Of Tropical Forage Germplasm For Acid Soils, R Schultze-Kraft

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

SUMMARY A Program conducted by the Centro Internacional de Agricultura Tropical ( CIA T) to develop a collection of forage plant germplasm resources for tropical pasture research in acid, infertile soil areas is described. After an initial 5-year stage of preliminary work in germplasm collection and introduction, 28 major expeditions to collect native germplasm of tropical forage species were carried out in 10 countries on 3 continents, principally in regions with acid soils of low fertility during 1977 to 1984. Emphasis has been on legumes,mainly Centrosema, Desmodium, Stylosanthes, and Zornia, in tropical America, andDesmodium, its allied genera, andPueraria in Southeast …

The Effect Of Daily Herbage Allowance On The Ingestive Behavior Of Dairy Cows, M Rogalski, J Kryszak, Z Karzoun

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In conditions of pasture feeding sward selection and con­sumption by grazing animals is strongly influenced by char­acters of herbage (Forbes, 1986). Quantitative and qualitative state of the sward affects its consumption primarily through changes of such elements in animal behaviour as grazing time and number and size of bites (Hodgson, 1982, 1985). Rela­tivelyt much research has been done to investigate the response to the grazed sward of such ruminants as sheep, while the response of cattle, and particularly of dairy cows, has received much less attention (Arnold, 1981 ; Holmes, 1980). This paper presents results of investigations on the effect …

Characteristics Of Individual White Clover Plants In Grazed Swards, M J.M Hay, J L. Brock, V J. Thomas

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Compared to the large volume of agronomic research on white clover (Trifolium repens L.), studies on the growth and morphology of individual plants constituting the population under grazing are few (Brock et al., 1988). Increased knowledge of the clonal growth and seasonal behaviour of individual white clover plants is seen as essential (Snaydon, 1985) if the mechanisms governing persistence and productivity in mixed grazed swards are to be understood. Seasonal growth patterns of white clover vary with environment (Jones, 1982) and this paper describes seasonal variation in some characteristics of individual white clover plants in grazed swards in a temperate …

Towards Developing A Model Of Persistence And Production For White Clover, M J. Hill, K A. Archer, K J. Hutchinson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The development of a model which successfully simulates the response of white clover Trifolium repens L. to environmental variables affecting persistance would be of great value for defining critical limiting processes. In Australia, persistence is determined by the impact of climate, competition and grazing on the processes of generation, from seed or by stolons (Jones, 1980; Archer and Robinson, 1988). Here we outline a model of white clover persistence and production in eastern Australia. In Australia the four critical phases in the lifecycle of white clover where the environment can threaten persistence are : late autumn and winter when germination …

Improving Marginal Land Productivity In Mediterranean Environment Using Phosphate Fertilizer, A E. Osman, P S. Cocks, E F. Thomson, L Russi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Marginal lands in this paper refer to the non arable lands which exist within or adjacent to the cropping zone in the mediterranean basin. Such lands constitue a sizable proportion of the total land available in north Africa and southern Europe. Similarly in west Asia there are large areas : in Syria and Leb­anon, they constitute between 30 to 60% of the total land surface. In west Asia and north Africa (W ANA), these lands are used mainly for grazing of sheep and goats. However, because pro­ductivity is low the animals need supplementary feeding with barley grain, grazing of green …

Adaptation And Production Of Some Forage Species On The White Clay Soils Of North Eastern China, Hu Jia Lu, J E. Winch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Grain corn, soybeans and wheat have been produced on the white clay soils of eastern Heilongjiang province of the People's Republic of China for about 40 years. Yearly plowing, cultiva­ting and cropping led to a degradation in the physical and chemical properties of the heavy clay soil - a soil which constitutes 30 % of all the cultivated land in the region. This soil is characterized by a shallow loamy Ap horizon overlying a clay hard pan (Aw) (Zhang Zhi ui and Zhang Yuan fu, 1985). Forage crops have not been part of the rotation. To improve the soil physical …

From Disruption To Recovery: Charter School Performance During And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Adam Kho, Shelby Smith, Ron Zimmer

Public Policy and Administration Faculty Publications

In recent decades, an increasing number of students have pursued alternative educational options, including charter schools, as school choice has continued to expand. This trend was accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic. While it is well established that students experienced widespread learning loss during the pandemic, it remains unclear whether the extent of that loss or the pace of recovery has differed between charter and traditional public schools (TPS). In the current study, we examine the effects of Tennessee charter schools on student achievement during and after the pandemic. Using student-level data from 2017-18 to 2022-23, we estimate the charter school …

Research Into Job Classifications For Kentucky Department Of Vehicle Regulation Employees, Mallory Brown, Andrew Martin, Jeeyen Koo, Jennifer Walton

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Kentucky Department of Vehicle Regulation (DVR) faces persistent challenges with employee recruitment, retention, and workforce alignment due to outdated job classifications and compensation structures. This study investigates if DVR’s reliance on the general Administrative Specialist job series is warranted given the duties performed by its staff. Through a job task analysis, financial modeling, and personnel data review, researchers assessed the feasibility of introducing a new DVR-specific job series based on the Vehicle Regulation Specialist (VRS) position currently being used by the Division of Motor Carriers. The proposed VRS series includes two levels — VRS I (Grade 13) and VRS …

Development Of A Health And Wellness Assessment For Kytc Personnel, Gabriel Dadi, Farshid Taherpour, Caitlin Pope

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Highway construction workers operate in high-stress, hazardous settings where they have to perform physically taxing labor in environments where exposure to variable weather conditions, heavy equipment, high volumes of vehicle traffic, and other conditions that induce stress and anxiety are the norm. Up to 70% of workers in this industry have reported experiencing mental health issues, including secondary traumatic stress, post-traumatic stress disorder, depression, anxiety, and substance abuse disorders. Few state departments of transportation, however, offer adequate resources staff can draw on to effectively manage their psychological well-being. To help Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) roadway maintenance and construction workers develop …

Introducing Social Determinants Of Health To The Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Network, Megan Zuelsdorff, Erin L. Abner, Joyce E. Balls-Berry, Gregory A. Jicha, Serggio Lanata, Gladys E. Maestre, Monica Rosselli, Shana D. Stites, Rachel A. Whitmer, Consuelo H. Wilkins, Lisa L. Barnes

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The Alzheimer's Disease Research Centers (ADRCs) consortium represents a critical locus of research on Alzheimer's disease and related disorders (ADRD) prevention, diagnosis, and intervention. Through the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center's (NACC) standardized protocol, the Uniform Data Set (UDS), ADRCs have collected rich, harmonizable clinical and cognitive data. However, the collection of social data has been sparse and Center specific, constraining ADRD science that addresses research priorities on social determinants of health (SDOH) and health equity. Capitalizing on the transition to a revised UDS version 4, an interdisciplinary committee representing 10 ADRCs reviewed the literature and instrumentation, ultimately creating a brief …

Beyond The Legislature’S Website: Strategies And Tools For State Legislative Research That Informs Advocacy Work, Jennifer Horne

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

As the nation’s state legislatures increasingly decide the issues that affect citizens most directly, the ability to identify, track, and understand state legislation is key to successful advocacy efforts. While all state legislative websites provide the status and authoritative text of the bill, this may be insufficient to understand what the bill seeks to do and why the change is being proposed. To find plain English summaries and necessary context and background information on proposed bills, advocates may also need to find appropriate news sources and identify key stakeholders—those who care the most about the bill or are the most …

Support Effects On Fe- Or Cu-Promoted Ni Catalysts Used In The Catalytic Deoxygenation Of Tristearin To Fuel-Like Hydrocarbons, Great C. Umenweke, Robert Pace, Thomas Récalt, Olivier Heintz, Gilles Caboche, Eduardo Santillan-Jimenez

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Previous studies have shown that fats, oils, and greases (FOG) can be deoxygenated to fuel-like hydrocarbons over inexpensive alumina-supported Ni catalysts promoted with Cu or Fe to afford excellent yields of renewable diesel (RD). In this study, supports other than alumina—namely, SiO₂-Al₂O₃, Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O₂, and ZrO₂—were investigated to develop catalysts showing improved RD yields and resistance to coke-induced deactivation relative to Al₂O₃-supported catalysts. Results showed that catalysts supported on Ce_0.8Pr_0.2O₂ and ZrO₂ outperformed SiO₂-Al_{2 …}

Sex- And Tissue-Specific Effects Of Leukemia Inhibitory Factor On Mitochondrial Bioenergetics Following Ischemic Stroke, Hemendra J. Vekaria, Sarah J. Shelley, Sarah J. Messmer, Prashant D. Kunjadia, Christopher J. Mclouth, Patrick G. Sullivan, Justin F. Fraser, Keith R. Pennypacker, Chirayu D. Pandya

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Oxidative stress due to increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and/or inflammation is considered to play an important role in ischemic stroke injury. Leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) has been shown to protect both oligodendrocytes and neurons from ischemia by upregulating endogenous anti-oxidants, though the effect of ischemia and the protective role of LIF treatment in mitochondrial function have not been studied. The goal of this study was to determine whether LIF protects ischemia-induced altered mitochondrial bioenergetics in reproductively senescent aged rats of both sexes (≥18 months old), approximately equivalent to the average age of human stroke patients. Animals were euthanized …

An Agrin-Yap/Taz Rigidity Sensing Module Drives Egfr-Addicted Lung Tumorigenesis., Reza Bayat Mokhtari, Divyaleka Sampath, Paige Eversole, Melissa Ong Yu Lin, Dmitriy A. Bosykh, Gandhi T. K. Boopathy, Aravind Sivakumar, Cheng-Chun Wang, Ramesh Kumar, Joe Yeong Poh Sheng, Ellen Karasik, Barbara A. Foster, Han Yu, Xiang Ling, Wenjie Wu, Fengzhi Li, Zoë Weaver Ohler, Christine Fillmore Brainson, David W. Goodrich, Wanjin Hong, Sayan Chakraborty

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Despite epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is a pivotal oncogene for several cancers, including lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD), how it senses extracellular matrix (ECM) rigidity remain elusive in the context of the increasing role of tissue rigidity on various hallmarks of cancer development. Here it is shown that EGFR dictates tumorigenic agrin expression in lung cancer cell lines, genetically engineered EGFR-driven mouse models, and human specimens. Agrin expression confers substrate stiffness-dependent oncogenic attributes to EGFR-reliant cancer cells. Mechanistically, agrin mechanoactivates EGFR through epidermal growth factor (EGF)-dependent and independent modes, thereby sensitizing its activity toward localized cancer cell-ECM adherence and bulk rigidity …

Breeding For Non-Shattering Forage Vetch, Vicia Sativa L., A.M Abd El Moneim

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Because of the potential importance of common vetch, Vicia sativa L., as a forage legume to replace fallow in the cereal/­fallow rotations in the Mediterranean region, it is of great importance to increase seed yield and reduce seed prices. One way of doing this is to increase the proportion of pods which do not shatter at maturity. Losses of seeds from maturing pods of forage common vetch, constitutes a serious economic problem and severely restricts the use of the species as a forage crop (Abd El Moneim, 1984). Furthermore, the harvesting of common vetch grown in fallow lands causes severe« …

The Effect Of Selfing On Trifolium Alexandrinum Measured In Conditions Of Interference Among The Plants, P Rotili, G Gnocchi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

After the constitution of the cv Sacromonte the breeding work on berseem (Trifolium alexandrinum) at the Forage Crop Institute of Lodi was slowed. A renewed interest in nitrogen fixing legumes in recent years has led to a program aimed at reevaluating the berseem clover. Today this crop is utilized not only in South Italy (autumn sowing) but in North Italy as well and in some Central European countries (spring sowing). The greatest utilization is in Egypt where berseem is grown either for forage crop or for green manure crop, usually preceding cotton or summer vegetables.

Selection Of Paspalum Spp. Adapted To Seasonally Flooded Varzea Lands In Central Brazil, B Grof, R P. De Andrade, M A. De Souza, J.M F. Valls

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Seasonally flooded lands with a high water table (varzea) constitute a significant portion of the Cerrados. It is estimated that there are 30 x 106 ha of hydromorphic soils in Brazil and 12 x 106 ha of these varzea lands are situated in the Cerrados (Goedert, 1986). Paspalum is a predominantly American genus, it contains c. 250 species, most of which are good grazing grasses and several of which are adapted to wet situations. According to Chase (1944), the majority of the c. 160 species of this genus occurring in Brazil are well-accepted by cattle. A major limitation to the …