Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Rural Health Equity And Impact Through The Translational Science Benefits Model, Maggie Padek, Rebecca Butcher, Rebecca Delacerda Allen, Hilary L. Surratt, Maran Subramain, Beth Tigges, Alyson G. Eggleston, Jessica H. Presley, Trent Matheson, Nasser Sharareh

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Introduction: Rural communities often lack access to healthcare, have limited resources and infrastructure, and may experience suboptimal translation of evidence-based interventions into practice or measurement of translational research impact. The Consortium of Rural States (CORES), comprising eight Clinical and Translational Science Award (CTSA) hubs, is a research consortium that focuses on clinical and translational research impacting rural health. Methods: Utilizing the Translational Science Benefits Model (TSBM) framework, each CTSA hub’s evaluation lead co-created an inventory of rural-focused activities, projects, and initiatives that occurred at their respective site during the funding period 2021–2023. Variables included program area; activity type and description; …

Adverse Childhood Experiences, Depression And Subjective Cognitive Decline By Gender: A Moderated Mediation Analysis, Monique J. Brown, Darlingtina K. Esiaka, Jaya Viswanathan

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Studies assessing depression as a mediating factor between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and subjective cognitive decline (SCD) are lacking. Therefore, the aims of this study were to: (1) determine the mediating role of depression in the association between ACEs and SCD; and (2) assess the moderating role of gender. Data were obtained from the 2023 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Study (BRFSS) survey (N = 38,600). Crude and adjusted path analyses were used to determine the mediating role of depression between ACEs and SCD. Adjusted analyses controlled for sociodemographic confounders. ACEs were positively associated with depression (B = 0.129, p …

Examining The Relationship Between Racial, Ethnic, And Economic Residential Segregation And Cigarette Smoking Among A Nationally Representative Sample Of Young Adults, Shyanika W. Rose, Mary Kay Rayens, Mona Azadi, Elexis C. Kierstead, Amanda Y. Kong, Kimberly Horn

Behavioral Science Faculty Publications

Introduction

Predominantly Black, Hispanic or Latino, and lower-income communities are overexposed to tobacco. This study investigated the relationship between cigarette smoking and racial/ethnic and economic segregation using the Index of Concentration at the Extremes (ICE). Aims and Methods

A nationally representative sample of 4091 (aged 18–34 years) was surveyed between September and October 2016. We calculated census-tract population estimates to form ICE measures for ethnicity, race, income, ethnicity and income, and race and income. Quintiles were determined, with Quintile 1 (Q1) representing the most Hispanic/Latino, Black, and lowest-income neighborhoods and Q5 representing the most non-Hispanic/Latino, White, and highest-income neighborhoods. State …

Environmental And Behavioral Determinants Of Congenital Defects: An Ecologic Study In Kentucky, Amelia G. Floyd

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

Congenital defects are a significant contributor to infant morbidity and mortality. The multifactorial etiology of such defects presents complex challenges for public health. This ecologic study investigates the association between environmental and behavioral exposures and congenital defects rates at the county level in Kentucky from 2010 to 2019. The Kentucky Department for Public Health, Office of Vital Statistics, provided all relevant defect data. County-level exposure data was collected from multiple sources.

Descriptive and geospatial analyses revealed substantial geographic variability, with notable high defect rates in northeastern Kentucky. Negative binomial regression models identified behavioral and socioeconomic factors to be the strongest …

Understanding The Impact Of The Medicaid Expansion On Hospital Length Of Stay And Emergency Department Use In Kentucky, Cameron Bushling

Theses and Dissertations--Epidemiology and Biostatistics

Three related analyses were performed to try to understand the immediate effects of Medicaid expansion on hospital systems in Kentucky. Medicaid expansion led to a large, sudden increase in the number of individuals eligible for various health care needs. This sudden increase in demand for health services lead to initial hypotheses regarding hospitals’ ability to handle this demand. The first analysis examined hospital average length of stay (LOS) using a linear mixed-effects model. Length of stay was modeled longitudinally between 2013 and 2015 to determine if significant changes in the slope of LOS could be detected after expansion (2014). Separate …

Differential Infiltration Of Key Immune T-Cell Populations Across Malignancies Varying By Immunogenic Potential And The Likelihood Of Response To Immunotherapy., Islam Eljilany, Sam Coleman, Aik Choon Tan, Martin D. Mccarter, John Carpten, Howard Colman, Abdul Rafeh Naqash, Igor Puzanov, Susanne Arnold, Michelle L. Churchman, Daniel Spakowicz, Bodour Salhia, Julian Marin, Shridar Ganesan, Aakrosh Ratan, Craig Shriver, Patrick Hwu, William S. Dalton, George J. Weiner, Jose R. Conejo-Garcia, Paulo Rodriguez, Ahmad A. Tarhini

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Background: Solid tumors vary by the immunogenic potential of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and the likelihood of response to immunotherapy. The emerging literature has identified key immune cell populations that significantly impact immune activation or suppression within the TME. This study investigated candidate T-cell populations and their differential infiltration within different tumor types as estimated from mRNA co-expression levels of the corresponding cellular markers.

Methods: We analyzed the mRNA co-expression levels of cellular biomarkers that define stem-like tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), tissue-resident memory T-cells (TRM), early dysfunctional T-cells, late dysfunctional T-cells, activated-potentially anti-tumor (APA) T-cells and Butyrophilin 3A (BTN3A) isoforms, utilizing …

Nutraceutical Supplement Mitigates Insulin Resistance In Horses With A History Of Insulin Dysregulation During A Challenge With A High-Starch Diet, Caroline Loos, Annette Castelein, Eric Vanzant, Emma Adam, Kyle R. Mcleod

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is associated with an increased risk of laminitis which often necessitates the need for clinical intervention. To test the contention that the prophylactic supplementation of nutraceuticals could mitigate ID in susceptible horses, 16 mature horses with a history of ID were supplemented with either the placebo (n = 8) or nutraceutical (n = 8) once daily. Horses were housed in dry lots with ad libitum access to grass hay and fed a concentrate twice daily to provide 0.5 g starch/kg BW/meal. A combined glucose–insulin tolerance test was performed on all horses before and after 4 weeks of …

Impact Of State Abortion Policies On Family Medicine Practice And Training After Dobbs V Jackson Women’S Health Organization, Karen L. Roper, Sarah Jane Robbins, Philip Day, Grace Shih, Neelima Kale

UK CARES Faculty Publications

PURPOSE The Dobbs v Jackson Women’s Health Organization (Dobbs) Supreme Court decision revoked the constitutional right to abortion. Now, restrictive state abortion laws may con- tribute to the shortage and strain already felt in primary care practice, especially related to the provision of reproductive health care. The purpose of this study is to evaluate perceived impacts of state abortion legislation on family medicine clinicians’ practice and medical edu- cation regarding reproductive health care.

METHODS Ten questions were added to the 2022 Council of Academic Family Medicine Educational Research Alliance general membership survey to evaluate impact on relevant themes in reproductive …

Infant Formula, Robert Yokel

Aluminum in Beverages and Foods: A Compilation

No abstract provided.

A Critical Analysis Of Circular Product Attributes And Limitations Of Product Circularity Assessment Methods, Junwon Ko, Gisele Bortolaz Guedes, Fazleena Badurdeen, I. S. Jawahir, K. C. Morris, Vincenzo Ferrero, Buddhika M. Hapuwatte, Ryan Bradley, Ardeshir Raihanian

Institute for Sustainable Manufacturing Faculty Publications

The Circular Economy (CE) has been proposed as a strategy to promote the efficient use of resources, maximizing the benefits derived from materials and products through value recovery strategies, and minimizing waste generation. However, ambiguity remains in defining what makes a product circular and its characteristics when adapting the CE concept for application at the product level. More clarity about the constitutive characteristics of Circular Products (CPs) is also vital to facilitate their design. To address this challenge, and with the intention to increase the adoption of CE concept within the industry, the descriptions and attributes of a Circular Product …

Improving Transportation Resiliency, Ben Blandford, Erin Lammers-Staats, Emma Gregory

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Transportation agencies are increasingly more challenged by the effects of extreme weather and national hazards on transportation assets.  Severe weather events in Kentucky have become more frequent and more costly. These extreme events damage transportation assets, increase maintenance costs and strain transportation budgets. Climate models predict changing conditions to occur over the next century that differ from historical data. In Kentucky, models predict a warmer and wetter environment. The goal of this research is to help KYTC plan for extreme weather and natural hazards events, as well as absorb, recover from, and adapt to the resulting damage.  Researchers determined where …

Frequency Of Low Impact Scores Among Adolescent And Young Adult Student-Athletes With Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder And/Or Learning Disorder, Philip Schatz, John Cuzzupe, Justin E. Karr, Nathan E. Cook, Grant L. Iverson

Neurology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by attention problems, excessive activity, and impulsivity - occurring in approximately 13% of children 12– 17 years of age, and as many as 16% of older adolescents 18–22 years of age, with a greater prevalence in boys than girls. ADHD frequently co-occurs with specific learning disorder (LD), a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by difficulties learning and using academic skills, such as reading, writing, and mathematics. Taken together, ADHD and/or LD are common among high school students and college students and can influence performance on computerized tests used in concussion management. However, normative …

Economic Contribution Of Kentucky Airports, P. Gayle Marks, Bethany Paris, Bryan Gibson

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Airports generate economic impacts that are felt well beyond their physical boundaries by supporting commerce, tourism, and the provision of essential services. To understand the economic contributions of airports throughout Kentucky, researchers collected data from general aviation (GA) airports and commercial service (CS) airports across the state on operational statistics, levels of employment, and usage patterns in calendar year 2022. IMPLAN^® econometric models were developed to estimate the economic contributions of the state’s airports. These models show that in 2022 Kentucky’s airports contributed $23.7 billion in total economic output, which equals 9.1 percent of its gross domestic product ($261.5 …

Assessing Chronic Pain Among Adults Diagnosed With Diabetes Residing In Rural Appalachia, Brittany L. Smalls, Adebola Adegboyega, Courtney Ortz, Ellen Combs, Md. Tofial Azam, Philip M. Westgate, Nancy Schoenberg

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Appalachian populations have some of the highest rates of overdose and comorbidity, all of which are considered risk factors for and contributors to chronic pain.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the associations of comorbidity, disability (physical limitations), and depression with chronic pain among a community-based sample of Appalachian adults living with diabetes.

Methods: This study used baseline data to conduct a secondary analysis of cross-sectional data (n=356). Data included sociodemographic, disability (physical limitations), chronic pain, and depression measures. These data were collected and analyzed from 2017–2019. Multiple logistic regression was used to investigate the association …

Psychosocial Factors, Stress And Sleep Among Rural Appalachian Kentucky Residents With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus, Blake Dipaola, Zoe Taylor, Eric Hennemann, Brittany L. Smalls, Philip M. Westgate, Nancy Schoenberg

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Rural Appalachian residents experience higher rates of most chronic diseases, including type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Stress and sleep deficiency also are common in the region.

Purpose: To better understand these associated health burdens, the relationship among these conditions and psychosocial factors—such as depressive symptoms, distress, empowerment, and social support—was examined among Appalachian residents with T2DM.

Methods: Using data collected from a community-based sample of Appalachian adults with T2DM, the study examined whether psychosocial factors were associated with perceived stress (Cohen Perceived Stress Scale) and self-reported sleep deficiency (Epworth Sleepiness Scale). Multilevel linear mixed effects regression modeling was used …

Factors Affecting Plant Sulphur Requirements In New Zealand Pastoral And Arable Systems, M L. Nguyen, K M. Goh

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper reviews major factors affecting sulphur (S) cycling in New Zealand pastoral and arable· systems and identifies areas of research required to improve the efficient use of S fertilisers and soil S reserves. In the grazed pastoral system, S removal in animal products constitutes a small fraction of total S output while S leaching losses and excreta! S transfer losses to stock camps are substantial. Although grazing animals may cause a considerable S loss from the system, they enhance the oxidation of elemental S. Accumulated soil organic S due to the return of animal excreta and long-term annual applications …

The Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (Ue-Mh-Hsi): Development And Validity Evidence, Joseph H. Hammer, Courtney J. Wright, Melanie E. Miller, Sarah A. Wilson

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Background: Undergraduate engineering students experiencing distress are less likely than peers to ask for professional help. A population-specific instrument to facilitate the identification of factors that influence mental healthcare utilization could guide development and testing of interventions to increase help seeking.

Purpose: We used mixed methods guided by the Integrated Behavioral Model (IBM) to develop and evaluate the Undergraduate Engineering Mental Health Help-Seeking Instrument (UE-MH-HSI).

Method: First, we adapted existing measures of mental health help-seeking intention and mechanisms (i.e., attitudes, perceived norm: injunctive, perceived norm: descriptive, personal agency: autonomy, personal agency: capacity). Second, we coded qualitative interviews (N = 33) …

Evaluation Of Kentucky’S Driver Focus Camera System, David Leddy, Brian Beaven, Xiaobing Li, Andrew Martin, Jennifer Walton, Chris Van Dyke

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Commercial motor vehicle (CMV) drivers who engage in federally prohibited activities such as not wearing safety belts, using hand-held mobile phones, or texting while driving endanger themselves and imperil the well-being of everyone who occupies the surrounding roadway environment. Unfortunately, conventional CMV inspection routines fail to detect many of these violations because inspectors have difficulty obtaining a clear view of truck cab interiors from inspection facilities. Recognizing it is critical to improve enforcement of Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations, this project evaluated the performance of a Driver Focus Camera System (DFCS) at an inspection facility on Interstate 75 northbound in …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky 2019-2023, Paul Ross, Eric Green, Chris Blackden, Christopher Van Dyke, Teng Wang, Mohammad Majidi

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

2024 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium, Kentucky Water Research Institute

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

The program and proceedings contains details of the 2024 Kentucky Water Resources Symposium, including presentations, award winners, and poster presentations.

This symposium was planned and conducted as a part of the state water resources research institute annual program that is supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number G21AP10631-02 from the United States Geological Survey (USGS). The contents of this proceedings document and the views and conclusions presented at the symposium are solely the responsibility of the individual authors and presenters and do not represent the official views of the USGS or of the symposium organizers and sponsors. This publication is produced with …

2024 Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium, Kentucky Water Research Institute

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Molecular Basis Of Legume-Rhizobium Interactions: Potentials For Improving Symbiotic Nitrogen Fixation, Adam Kondorosi, Michael Schultze, Beate Hoffmann, Csaba Koncz, Laszlo Bogre, Michele Cren, Ilona Dusha, Denes Dudits, Eva Kondorosi

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The establishment of nit.rogen-fixing symbiosis between rhizobia and their plant hosls requires multiple interactions between the two pnrtners, which involves transmission of signal molecules activating gene sets controlling nodule development. Plant roots exude specific Oavonoids which can induce the expression of the nodulation (nod) genes in the appropriate bacterium partner, in conjunction with the constitutively produced activator protein NodD. Additional positive and negative regulatory factors further modulate nod gene expression and this fine tuning of 110d gene expression is required for optimal nodulation of the hosts. Some of these factors mediate the effects of some soil factors, such as (he …

Impact Of Changing Trade Opportunities On Livestock Production In Developing Countries, J K. Camoens

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

For the lesser developed countries (LDCs) and advanced countries (ACs), the paper identifies the determinants of "free" trade, analyses protectionism, examines the global trade picture with respect lo "free" trade, relates trade to production and the structure of demand, and finally predicts the impact of trade reforms. The analysis concludes that: (i) trade policies per se do not impact in any significant manner on domestic production or imports in the LDCs since world trade constitutes a small fraction of production; (ii) demand, and hence supply, of animal products are determined primarily by GNP, income distribution and price; (iii) grassland farming …

An Introduction To Infophilia, A Positive Psychology Of Information, Anita S. Coleman

Library Research Seminar 8: Telling Library Stories

This paper will tell some of the stories of infophilia, a positive psychology of information, avant-garde research. The goal of Brenda Dervin’s ground-breaking research was not just to develop the sense-making theory, framework, and tools, but also to “invent communication alternatives and assess their utility.” One of the ‘practice communication inventions’ of Brenda Dervin was the ‘Good news newsletter’ where she developed infosheets for doctors, schools, and medical clinics (Neill, 1992, p. 6). I am no Brenda Dervin. But I am a strongly interdisciplinary scholar who has been a tenured librarian, LIS school faculty, library director, publisher for the voiceless, …

2024 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Erin Lammers-Staats, Derek Young, Kenneth R. Agent

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

No abstract provided.

Coal Ash Triggers An Elevated Temperature Landfill Development: Lessons From The Bristol Virginia Solid Waste Landfill Neighboring Community, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Landfills for disposing of solid waste are designed, located, managed, and monitored facili- ties expected to comply with government regulations to prevent contamination of the surrounding environment. After the average life expectancy of a typical landfill (30 to 50 years), a large investment in the construction, operation, final closure, and 30-year monitoring of a new site is needed. In this case study, we provide a holistic explanation of the unexpected development of elevated temperature landfills (ETLFs), such as that in the city of Bristol (United States) on the border of the states of Virginia and Tennessee, including the initial role …

China In Global Digital Trade Governance: Towards A Development-Oriented Agenda?, Yujia He, Ka Zeng

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Existing literature on the behaviour of rising powers in global trade governance has yielded inconclusive evidence about their role and impact. This article contributes to this literature by examining China's role in global digital trade governance, an issue area which so far has not received sufficient scholarly attention. Specifically, it addresses the following question: as a self-proclaimed leader of the developing world in digital development, to what extent do its preferences and negotiation approach align with the interests of other developing countries? Analysing China's participation in three sets of negotiations using process tracing, the article argues that China's dual identity …

Spot, Zone And Overcoat Painting Of Steel Bridges, Christopher Goff, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Over the past 25 – 30 years, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has replaced lead-based coatings on many bridges, often with zinc-based systems. But many of these coating systems are now degrading and reaching the ends of their service lives. Historically, KYTC has relied entirely on remove-and-replace painting, however, given the programmatic costs associated with remove-and-replace painting and constraints imposed by limited funding, the agency needs to explore more economical options, such as spot, zone, and overcoat painting. This report discusses use cases for spot, zone, and overcoat painting and lays out guidelines staff can use to determine what method …

Does It Take A Village? The Impact Of Lgbtq+ Community And Geographic Location On Associations Among Parenting Stress, Parent Mental Health, And Child Adjustment, Kevin A. Mcaweeney, Rachel H. Farr

Psychology Faculty Publications

While LGBTQ+-parented families share many similarities with their cis-het parent counterparts, they still experience unique factors exclusive to them. One such factor is access to the LGBTQ+ community. Utilizing a diverse sample of LGBTQ+ parents with adolescents in the U.S., primarily living in Southern and Midwest states, we examined the potential moderating impact of a parent’s sense of LGBTQ+ community on the relationship between parenting stress, parent mental health, and child adjustment. Regression analyses demonstrated a series of positive associations between LGBTQ+ parent stress, parent mental health concerns, and child adjustment issues. However, sense of community failed to moderate these …

Use Of Ecogeographical Factors For Sampling A Core Collection Of Perennial Ryegrass, F Balfourier, G Charmet, C Grand-Ravel

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In order to set up a core collection of wild populations of pei:ennial ryegra11 {Lolium perenne L.), 3 different criteria have been combined lo make a choice of populations: similarities between populations, geographic location and ecological characteristics of their original sites. Different multivariate analysis and clustering methods, introducing a geographic contiguity CXJnstnint were used to sample, among a set of 550 Prench wild populations, 114 populations 111 representative as po11ible of the whole variability.