Digital Commons Network^™

Puppy Dog Eyes: Begging For Treats And The Regulation Of Dog Breeding, Abigail Barford

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this note, Abigail Barford explores the lack of regulation over dog breeding in Kentucky, particularly the harms caused by puppy mills and backyard breeders. Barford explains that loopholes in the Animal Welfare Act and Kentucky’s absence of state-level protections contribute to dog overpopulation, inhumane conditions, environmental damage, and financial burdens on taxpayers. Barford argues for Kentucky to adopt strong breeding regulations modeled on Pennsylvania’s laws and its own equine breeding system. She proposes statewide legislation to license breeders, enforce humane standards of care, and regulate small-scale breeding to curb overpopulation and protect animal welfare.

Stigma And Isolation: The Lived Experiences Of Male Sexual Assault Survivors In College, Vanessa Vela

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Male sexual assault survivors on college campuses face barriers to disclosure, support, and recovery due to stigma, societal expectations of masculinity, and inadequate institutional resources. This hermeneutic phenomenological study explored the lived experiences of six male survivors of sexual assault enrolled in college, focusing on their perceptions of sexual violence before and after their assault, the psychological burden of disclosure, and their experiences with available support systems. Participants described challenges including rape myths, feelings of isolation, fear of emasculation, and limited access to gender-inclusive resources. While online communities provided some support, institutional services often failed to meet their needs due …

A Systems-Based Framework For Product Circularity Assessment, Gisele Bortolaz Guedes, Junwon Ko, Fazleena Badurdeen, I. S. Jawahir, K. C. Morris, Vincenzo Ferrero

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

One of the key aspects of Circular Economy (CE), particularly when focusing on the product level, lies in its emphasis on designing products to facilitate the circulation of resources and maximize value throughout their entire lifecycle. To effectively develop such products an understanding of the characteristics of circular products (CP) is needed. Adopting a systems perspective that considers the total lifecycle and stakeholders involved and recognizing interdependencies among them is essential for identifying factors that characterize CPs. Existing methods for assessing product circularity do not identify all factors that charac- terize CPs and have limitations in the measurement methods proposed, …

A Franciscan Friar’S Defiant Journey: The Extent Of Individual Power In Colonial Mexico, 1782, Genesis Pena-Lozada

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

During Spanish occupation of Mexico from 1521 to 1821, religion was used as an extension of the Spanish crown as Mexico’s native populations were forcibly converted to Catholicism. Religious orders, including Franciscan friars, a group of men who wandered and preached to help the poor and sick, were used in the systematic conversion of native populations. Because of the sheer scale of religious conversion of these native populations, the Spanish crown’s efforts in New Spain are sometimes described as a “spiritual conquest” rather than a military conquest. However, like military conquest, this evangelization was still enacted through power and domination. …

Promoting Physical Activity (Pa) Among Latinas In Fayette County, Ky, Vanessa Diaz Mph

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

In the United States, the prevalence of overweight and obesity continues to rise at a disproportionate rate that is greatly affecting Latinas. This paper outlines the implementation of an adapted version of Fe en Acción, a faith-based evidence-based physical activity (PA) intervention that was initially implemented in San Diego, CA. The program targets Latinas in Fayette County, KY through culturally tailored, faith-based PA classes held at local Catholic churches. By using promotoras– health promoters– the program works to increase self-efficacy and social support while promoting sustainable behavior change. Key adaptations include a reduction in class frequency (four times a week), …

“A Safe Place”: Exploring Black Couples’ Perceptions Of Black Love And Relationship Coping In The Context Of Their Lived Experiences With Racism, Melinda Murdock

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

Historically, Black couples have not been studied within the context of their lived experiences as it relates to the effects of racism on relationship health. Only in the last decade have relationship scholars begun to consistently link racism-related stressors to relationship processes and outcomes. Despite the growing literature, recent studies are primarily quantitative in method and rely on samples, theoretical models, and measures that predominantly represent White couples’ experiences. It remains unclear how Black couples’ perceptions of love and relationship coping lead to resilient outcomes despite the negative effects of racism.

Therefore, the goal of the present study is to …

Impacts Of School-Based Agricultural Education On The Resilience Of Senior Appalachian High School Students Living In Economically Disadvantaged Counties In Kentucky And Virginia, Ruth D. Toole

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Students in Central Appalachia, particularly those in economically disadvantaged (ED) counties, may face unique risks related to their geographic and socioeconomic circumstances. However, school-based and youth development programs have been shown to foster resilience among youth. This convergent mixed-methods study aimed to explore whether involvement in School-Based Agricultural Education (SBAE) can enhance youth resilience. Data were collected through a resilience questionnaire and semi-structured focus group interviews, which were analyzed, interpreted, and integrated to uncover key findings. Results indicated that participants living in ED areas exhibited relatively high resilience scores. Focus group discussions revealed that, despite the challenges they face, participants …

A Framework For Ai Implementation In Construction: Use Cases, Challenges, And Benefits For Contractors, Jaqueline De Aquino Leite Gomes

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The construction industry is one of the most important sectors that contribute to the economy worldwide, but it has been very slow in adopting digital transformation. Artificial Intelligence is the backbone of digital innovation, and it can help solve inefficiencies, improve safety, and enhance decision-making in construction. This thesis reviews 85 academic papers, identifies 354 AI use-cases, 180 benefits, and 173 challenges. Key findings have looked at the role of AI in safety monitoring, design optimization, and operational efficiency, while barriers involve data scarcity, high costs, and readiness of the workforce.

All of these challenges have one very handy framework …

Multi-Scale Computational Mechanical Modeling Of Complex Multi-Phase Materials Systems, Naji Al-Mashrafi

Theses and Dissertations--Chemical and Materials Engineering

This thesis employs finite-element–based computational methods to investigate how microstructural features and material heterogeneity govern mechanical behavior across three distinct complex systems. First, the elastic response of open-cell metallic foams is analyzed using large ensembles of model RVEs generated with the Kentucky Random Structures Toolkit (KRaSTk); finite-element homogenization reveals that effective stiffness is not dictated by relative density alone, as the skewness of ligament-length distributions—captured by the second Pearson’s coefficient—exerts a strong and previously unrecognized influence, with structures enriched in short load-bearing ligaments exhibiting consistently higher stiffness even at fixed density and connectivity. The second study examines heterogeneous polycrystalline solids …

Incarceration Reimagined: A Diversionary Option For Serious Felony Offenders, Jane Mitchell

Kentucky Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Evaluating Experiential Learning In Undergraduate Agricultural Education: A Content Analysis Of Course Syllabi From A College Of Agriculture, Tyler Newberry

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

This study evaluated the presence and depth of experiential learning within undergraduate course syllabi from the Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment. Through a content analysis of 41 syllabi across five academic majors, the study examined how course objectives and assignments aligned with Kolb’s Experiential learning cycle (1984), Webb’s depth of knowledge (1997), and Joplin’s Mini to maxi Scale (1981). A structured coding instrument was used to quantify the frequency of learning elements across these three frameworks. The findings revealed that Abstract Conceptualization and Reflective Observation were the most common stages in both objectives and assignments, while Concrete Experience …

Biomedical Relation Extraction In The Era Of (Large) Language Models, Yuhang Jiang

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Biomedical relation extraction is a key task in information extraction supporting downstream applications such as knowledge discovery, information retrieval, and question answering. As such, improvements in relation extraction (RE) are expected to have major implications for other information needs in biomedicine. In this dis- sertation, we pursue biomedical relation extraction in several advanced settings with recent advances in large language models (LLMs) and retrieval augmented generation (RAG). First, we address an important slot filling task on social media that arose during the Covid-19 pandemic, using the idea of continuous prompts with encoder models. Next, we handle a tricky dynamic n-ary …

Including Black Farmers, Excluding Pests: Perspectives On Participation In The Cooperative Extension Service, Briana Bazile

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

In recent years, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has faced renewed scrutiny for documented discrimination against Black farmers, yet far less attention has focused on its century-old partner in public service delivery, the Cooperative Extension Service (CES). This gap is especially notable considering 1) federal parity mandates extant since 1972 in response to significant disparities between Black and White constituents and staff,2) public commitments to Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in 2020 and, 3) the contributions of Black leaders at the origins of CES, at Tuskegee University in the late nineteenth century. Using the Kentucky Cooperative Extension Service (KYCES) as a …

Seasonal Variation Of The Stream’S Autogenic Sediment Transport Regime, Melissa Beckman

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This thesis investigates the autogenic sediment transport regime in a low-gradient stream system in the inner bluegrass region of central Kentucky, USA The seasonality of sediment transport seasonality was not well addressed in prior research for baseflow and low flow periods, to our knowledge, due to the assumption that low flows do not account for considerable fluid transport capacity to move sediment. The hypothesis is that during the autogenic regime the sediment transport in the low-gradient system is being driven by geophysical, biogeochemical, and biological processes. We hypothesize that crayfish are one mechanical driver of sediment transport during these periods. …

Folliculin (Flcn) In Thyroid Tumors: Incidence, Significance, And Role As A Driver Gene And Secondary Alteration, Faisal Hassan, Camryn Slone, Robert J. Mcdonald, Julie C. Dueber, Adeel M. Ashraf, Melina Windon, Oliver J. Fackelmayer, Cortney Y. Lee, Therese J. Bocklage, Derek B. Allison

Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Faculty Publications

Thyroid carcinomas are driven by diverse molecular alterations, but the tumor suppressor gene folliculin (FLCN), best known for its role in Birt–Hogg–Dubé (BHD) syndrome, has received limited attention in thyroid tumors. Here, we describe two thyroid tumors with pathogenic FLCN alterations—one germline and one somatic—and analyze the broader prevalence and significance of FLCN in thyroid carcinomas using multiple large sequencing datasets, including ORIEN-AVATAR. Patient 1, with a germline FLCN mutation and a history of BHD syndrome, presented with a well-circumscribed oncocytic adenoma. Molecular testing confirmed biallelic FLCN inactivation, but no additional mutations or aggressive features were observed, and the patient …

La Parole Comme Outil De Résistance Contre Les Tabous Oppressifs Des Femmes Marocaines : Une Étude Comparative De Paroles D’Honneur Et Hshouma, Roseline Adeleke

Students' Supported Scholarship

No abstract provided.

Geographic Patterns Of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (Hiv) Risk Behaviors Among Older Adults: A Strategy For Identifying Space As A Risk Exposure, Laneshia R. Conner, Reuben Adatorwovor, Sarah Jane Robbins, Rujeko O. Machinga-Asaolu, Kathryn Showalter, Carrie B. Oser

Social Work Faculty Publications

Objectives: This study examined geographical patterns of HIV risk among adults aged 60 and older.

Methods: The 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) weighted data was used to analyze self-reported participation in HIV risk behaviors among older adults (n = 62,852). Logistic regression models were used on a dichotomous HIV risk variable to map the distribution of HIV risk behaviors across both census regions and divisions.

Results: The weighted model revealed significance across regions. Across all regions, identifying as female, identifying as Hispanic, and reporting not having depression were protective from participating in HIV risk behaviors.

Discussion: The …

Design And Comparative Analysis Of Electric Motors With “Flux-Switching” Effect Having Reluctance Rotors And Pm Or Dc Stator Excitation, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Ali Mohammadi, Donovin D. Lewis, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper introduces innovative designs for synchronous electric motors with phase coils and permanent magnets (PM) or DC-excitation coils embedded in the stator. Alongside concentrated phase coils in dedicated slots, the spoke-type PMs offer high flux intensification, while the option for DC-excitation coils eliminates demagnetization risks. Since the rotor has no active electromagnetic components, the machine can achieve high-speed operation while enabling advanced cooling systems focused solely on the stator. A special implementation with a “wave” or “serpentine” DC-excitation winding which has the potential for reduced losses depending on the motor aspect ratio is presented. The operation, control, and polarity …

Precision Public Health Alliances As A Model And Method For Community Engagement, Margaret L. Mcgladrey, Mary Elizabeth Lacy, Kristen Mcquerry, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Svetla Slavova, Emily R. Clear, Kory Heier, Caitline Phan, Megan Hall, Ryan Parker, Mindy Keeton, Jennifer Sword, Thomas Ard, Charbel Salem

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Using precision analytics approaches with population health data helps identify localized patterns of social determinants and comorbidities, supporting the design of tailored interventions. The University of Kentucky College of Public Health (UKCPH) and UK King’s Daughters (UKKD) have partnered to create a Precision Public Health Alliance (PPHA) applying precision analytics to UKKD electronic health records (EHR) as well as secondary datasets to map social, demographic, and clinical comorbidity factors onto colorectal cancer (CRC) screening data in UKKD’s rural service area (the northeastern Kentucky counties of Boyd, Carter, Greenup, and Lawrence and southeast Ohio county of Lawrence). In addition to UKKD …

Blackness And Nineteenth-Century Art In The Atlantic World, Rachel Hooper

Curatorial Publications

No abstract provided.

Listening To Cursive: The Roles Of Regional Identity And Folk Beliefs In Perceptual Cue-Weighting, Stella Takvoryan

Theses and Dissertations--Linguistics

Listeners use knowledge acquired from experiences to weight phonetic-level cues to phonological contrasts. Phonetic knowledge is imbued with expectations about the contexts in which cues covary, speakers of a variety, and identity categories or constructs, so it can be challenging to distinguish expectations about variation from expectations about speakers. This study aims to explore the extent that expectations about iconic vowel quality variation in Southern American Englishes can drive cue-weighting. Listeners categorized stimuli with vowel qualities synthesized from an [ɛ]-[eɪ] continuum from a Southern and a non-Southern talker, with duration manipulated in tandem. Half of the participants saw a label …

Common Law Executive Privilege(S), Jonathan Shaub

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

There are few Supreme Court cases that enjoy as much widespread support as the unanimous decision in United States v. Nixon. The recent pitched battles between Congress and the executive branch have made apparent the vast disagreement between the two branches over access to information. But that disagreement does not extend to Nixon, the unquestioned jurisprudential foundation for the doctrine of executive privilege. Closer inspection shows, however, that this foundation is not a stable one, but one constructed from unnecessary, ill-considered dicta.

As this Article demonstrates, Nixon conflated the constitutional question about one branch’s power vis-à-vis another branch with an …

West Virginia V. Epa: Considerations For The Future Of Epa Greenhouse Gas Regulation, Shavonnie R. Carthens

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

When compared to historical levels, the air quality in the United States has improved. However, exposure to air pollution still rises to the top of environmental health risks experienced by Americans. It is estimated that one hundred thousand to two hundred thousand deaths annually are associated with this exposure, which exceeds the deaths from murders and car crashes combined. Further, evidence establishes that “rising concentrations of carbon dioxide, methane, and other greenhouse gases pose serious threats to public health.” Looking to the sources of greenhouse gas emissions, fossil fuel-fired power plants are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in …

Three Lesser-Known African American Poets, Authors, And A Publisher In Kentucky, Reinette F. Jones

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This article highlights the work of some lesser known historical poets who were African American, including Frances Carter DeBerry, Lawrence Harris, Sr., and Phil H. Brown.

Framing Large Language Models: Teaching Foundational Concepts Of Generative Ai And Information Literacy For Critical Student Engagement, Isaac Wink, Jennifer Hootman

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

This chapter situates the emerging scholarly conversation around AI literacy within the established Association for College and Research Libraries (ACRL) Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education. We apply three frames in particular: 1) Authority Is Constructed and Contextual, 2) Information Creation as a Process, and 3) Research as Inquiry, considering competencies relevant to students encountering generative AI applications in educational contexts and addressing ways that both students and instructors may seek to engage productively with such tools.

This chapter primarily focuses on tools such as ChatGPT that are built atop large language models (LLMs)—systems trained on massive text corpora—rather …

West Virginia V. Epa: Consideration For The Future Of Epa Greenhouse Gas Regulation, Shavonnie R. Carthens

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this article, Shavonnie Carthens examines the implications of West Virginia v. EPA, emphasizing how the Supreme Court’s use of the major questions doctrine creates uncertainty around the Environmental Protection Agency’s (“EPA”) authority to regulate greenhouse gas emissions. It argues that, in light of the doctrine’s growing influence and the end of Chevron deference, Congress should revise the Clean Air Act to explicitly authorize the EPA to regulate greenhouse emissions through system-based transitions to cleaner power-generating sources, public health-conscious considerations, and multi-agency regulatory approaches to ensure durable and effective climate policy.

Quieting The Cacophony: How To Reduce Greenwashing And Environmental Damage From The Food Industry, Alex Woodward

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this article, Alex G. Woodward addresses the problem of greenwashing and environmental harm caused by industrial agriculture and misleading food labeling. Woodward explains that while agriculture is essential to feeding a growing global population, its large-scale, profit-driven practices cause significant environmental damage. Woodward argues for a strategy that compels transparency through warning labels and expanding credible certification frameworks. Woodward proposes that the USDA implement a tiered labeling system under its Organic Program and require factual, noncontroversial disclosures about environmental harms on food packaging, with the goal of informing consumers, restoring trust, and incentivizing environmentally responsible agricultural practices.

This Land Is Our Land: Addressing Foreign Ownership Of Agricultural Land In The United States, Will Miller

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this note, Will Miller examines the rapid increase in foreign ownership of U.S. agricultural land and the national security and food security risks it creates. He explains that the Agricultural Foreign Investment Disclosure Act (AFIDA) only requires reporting of foreign ownership but imposes no restrictions, leaving regulation largely to a patchwork of state laws. Miller argues for federal oversight, contending that matters of foreign affairs and national security are best handled at the national level. He proposes a comprehensive federal regulatory scheme which would set nationwide minimum standards such as prohibiting ownership by foreign adversaries and capping total foreign-held …

Pesticide Lies! A Call For Epa Action As Recent Judicial Decisions Reveal The Harmful Truth Resulting From Exposure, Stevi Whitman

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this note, Stevi Whitman analyzes the dangers of weak pesticide regulation in the United States. Whitman explains that the EPA’s reliance on the vague “unreasonable adverse effects” standard under the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act (FIFRA) allows harmful products like Roundup to remain on the market despite strong evidence of health risks. Whitman argues for strengthening U.S. pesticide laws to match the European Union’s stricter safety threshold. She proposes amending FIFRA to require proactive bans on hazardous pesticides and greater accountability from manufacturers to better protect public health and the environment.

The New American Farmer – Extension Engagement With Urban Agriculture And Food Systems, Margaux S.C. Robinson, Kc V. Cunningham, Jeffery A. Young, Nicole D. Breazeale, Kenneth Jones, Julie Zimmerman

Sociology Faculty Publications

Extension's evolving role in urban food production will require intensive reflexivity and ongoing collaboration. Extension educators around the country have already made progress in engaging with both the social and horticultural sides of urban agriculture. Designed appropriately, urban food systems hold the potential for healthy food access, community and environmental resilience, and economic prosperity (Rangarajan & Riordan 2019). Moving forward, we offer recommendations for Extension staff to apply within their institutions and beyond. Specifically, we urge Extension to prioritize the following: 1) mediate the rural/urban dichotomy, 2) tackle structural and institutional power dynamics, and 3) intensify strategies for community resilience.