Digital Commons Network^™

The Impact Of Solution Ionic Strength, Hardness, And Ph On The Sorption Efficiency Of Polychlorinated Biphenyls In Magnetic Nanocomposite Microparticle (Mnm) Gels, Angela M. Gutierrez, Thomas D. Dziubla, J. Zach Hilt

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Environmental conditions of groundwater and surface water greatly vary as a function of location. Factors such as ionic strength, water hardness, and solution pH can change the physical and chemical properties of the nanocomposites used in remediation and the pollutants of interest. In this work, magnetic nanocomposite microparticle (MNM) gels are used as sorbents for remediation of PCB 126 as model organic contaminant. Three MNM systems are used: curcumin multiacrylate MNMs (CMA MNMs), quercetin multiacrylate MNMs (QMA MNMs), and polyethylene glycol-400-dimethacrylate MNMs (PEG MNMs). The effect of ionic strength, water hardness, and pH were studied on the sorption efficiency of …

Controlled Release Of Dna Binding Anticancer Drugs From Gold Nanoparticles With Near-Infrared Radiation, Gracie Fitzgerald, Daniel Low, Luc Morgan, Cole Hilt, Micai Benford, Caleb Akers, Skyler Hornback, J. Zach Hilt, Daniel Scott

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Traditional chemotherapies target rapidly developing cells in the human body resulting in harsh side effects including fatigue, immune system suppression, and nausea, among others. Delivery systems to focus the active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs) to the diseased tissue can diminish the negative side effects while improving treatment outcomes. Gold nanoparticles (AuNP) offer many unique advantages as drug delivery vehicles, including being biologically inert, easily adaptable to various shapes and sizes, able to create a strong Au-thiol bond, and able to generate heat upon the absorption of near-infrared light. To this end, a AuNP delivery vehicle was engineered to load and release …

Improving Wastewater-Based Epidemiology Performance Through Streamlined Automation, Mohammad Dehghan Banadaki, Soroosh Torabi, William Strike, Ann Noble, James W. Keck, Scott M. Berry

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Wastewater-based epidemiology (WBE) has enabled us to describe Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infections in populations. However, implementation of wastewater monitoring of SARS- CoV-2 is limited due to the need for expert staff, expensive equipment, and prolonged processing times. As WBE increases in scope (beyond SARS-CoV-2) and scale (beyond developed regions), there is a need to make WBE processes simpler, cheaper, and faster. We developed an automated workflow based on a simplified method termed exclusion-based sample preparation (ESP). Our automated workflow takes 40 min from raw wastewater to purified RNA, which is several times faster than conventional WBE …

Library Satisfaction Survey 2022, Julene L. Jones

Library Presentations

Briefly describes results from the University of Kentucky Libraries' Library Satisfaction Survey which ran Oct.-Nov. 2022. Presented in April 2023 UK Libraries Town Hall

Targeting Lncrna Ddit4-As1 Sensitizes Triple Negative Breast Cancer To Chemotherapy Via Suppressing Of Autophagy, Ting Jiang, Jiaojiao Zhu, Shilong Jiang, Zonglin Chen, Ping Xu, Rong Gong, Changxin Zhong, Yueying Cheng, Xinyuan Sun, Wenjun Yi, Jinming Yang, Wenhu Zhou, Yan Cheng

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

In this study, it is found that the lncRNA, DNA damage inducible transcript 4 antisense RNA1 (DDIT4-AS1), is highly expressed in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines and tissues due to H3K27 acetylation in the promoter region, and promotes the proliferation, migration, and invasion of TNBC cells via activating autophagy. Mechanistically, it is shown that DDIT4-AS1 induces autophagy by stabilizing DDIT4 mRNA via recruiting the RNA binding protein AUF1 and promoting the interaction between DDIT4 mRNA and AUF1, thereby inhibiting mTOR signaling pathway. Furthermore, silencing of DDIT4-AS1 enhances the sensitivity of TNBC cells to chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel both …

Incorporating Crash Severity And Continuous Improvement Of Shift, Reginald Souleyrette, Riana Tanzen, Teng Wang

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

The Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT) is the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet's data-informed approach for comparing capital improvement projects and prioritizing limited transportation funds. SHIFT 2022 incorporates advancements in methods and flexibility. This project revises the SHIFT crash data safety metric. The crash data safety metric from the previous version of SHIFT was excess expected crashes (EECs). It is computed using the total number of crashes of all severities. Locations with a higher proportion of severe (fatal and injury) crashes received the same weight as locations with an equal number of property damage only crashes. This project redefines the …

Incorporating Variability In Kytc Planning And Project Development, Reginald Souleyrette, Teng Wang, Riana Tanzen, Arnold Stromberg

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Transportation planning and design decisions are typically made using point estimates of traffic and safety measures. This report addresses the uncertainty of data used to make these decisions. It focuses on two data elements — project safety ratings and volume estimates from traffic counts. For safety ratings, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet’s Strategic Highway Investment Formula for Tomorrow (SHIFT) crash history score is used as a case study. Confidence intervals are developed for the Cabinet’s new safety metric, which incorporates estimates of future crashes by severity as well as excess expected crashes above safety goals. For traffic counts, the report develops …

Examining The Impact Of Teachers’ Attitudes On College Students’ Attitudes In A Mathematics Classroom, Isiaka Busari, Adeola F. Oladeji, Tolulope O. Sulaimon

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) Education Faculty Publications

This paper discusses the relationship between teachers' attitudes and students' attitudes toward mathematics in the classroom. Through a review of more than twenty relevant pieces of literature, the paper analyzes the impact of teachers' attitudes on students' achievement, performance, confidence, and motivation in mathematics. The study concludes that positive attitudes displayed by teachers can enhance students' positive feelings toward mathematics and increase their engagement in the subject. On the other hand, negative attitudes displayed by teachers can hinder students' motivation and engagement in mathematics. The paper suggests that teacher training programs should prioritize the development of positive attitudes toward mathematics …

Nutritive Value Of Alopecurus Pratensis, Festuca Rubra, Arrhenatherum Elatius And Lolium Perenne Grown In The South Of Belgium, A. Nivyobizi, A. G. Deswysen, D. Dehareng, A. Peeters, Y. Larondelle

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In Europe, recent strategies have aimed at encouraging farmers to use production techniques more efficient in preserving the environment and maintaining natural areas. Those strategies have encouraged the use of secondary grass species in forage production systems. However, the nutritive value of those grasses is not well known. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the energy and nitrogen values of Alopecurus pratensis (ALPR), Festuca rubra (FERU) and Arrhenatherum elatius (AREL) under moderate rates of nitrogen (N) application (60 kg N/ha per cut) and a hay-cutting regime (2 cuts/year: 25 May and 9 July). Lolium perenne cv. …

Pollen-Mediated Gene Flow From Genetically Modified Herbicide Resistant Creeping Bentgrass, L. S. Watrud, E. H. Lee, A. Fairbrother, C. Burdick, J. R. Reichman, M. Bollman, M. Storm, G. King, P. K. Van De Water

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Approximately 162 ha of multiple experimental fields of creeping bentgrass (Agrostis stolonifera L.) genetically modified for resistance to Roundup ®herbicide, were planted in central Oregon in 2002. When the fields flowered for the first time in the summer of 2003, a unique opportunity was presented to evaluate methods to monitor potential pollen-mediated gene flow from the experimental GM crop fields to compatible sentinel and resident plants that were located in surrounding, primarily non-agronomic areas.

Magnetic Nanocomposites For The Remote Activation Of Sulfate Radicals For The Removal Of Rhodamine B, Pranto Paul, Marissa Nicholson, J. Zach Hilt

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The widespread presence of numerous organic contaminants in water poses a threat to the ecological environment and human health. Magnetic nanocomposites exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) have a unique ability for magnetically mediated energy delivery (MagMED) resulting from the embedded magnetic nanoparticles; this localized energy delivery and associated chemical and thermal effects are a potential method for removing contaminants from water. This work developed a novel magnetic nanocomposite—a polyacrylamide-based hydrogel loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles. For this magnetic nanocomposite, persulfate activation and the contamination removal in water were investigated. Magnetic nanocomposites were exposed to AMF with a model …

Microcystin-Lr Removal From Water Via Enzymatic Linearization And Ultrafiltration, Abelline Fionah, Cannon Hackett, Hazim Aljewari, Laura Brady, Faisal Alqhtani, Isabel C. Escobar, Audie K. Thompson

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Microcystin-LR (MC-LR) is a toxin produced by cyanobacteria that can bloom in freshwater supplies. This study describes a new strategy for remediation of MC-LR that combines linearization of the toxin using microcystinase A, MlrA, enzyme with rejection of linearized byproducts using membrane filtration. The MlrA enzyme was expressed in Escherichia coli (E. coli) and purified via a His-tag with 95% purity. Additionally, composite membranes made of 95% polysulfone and 5% sulfonated polyether ether ketone (SPEEK) were fabricated and used to filter a solution containing cyclic and linearized MC-LR. Tests were also performed to measure the adsorption and desorption of MC-LR …

Application Of Molecular Technologies In Forage Plant Breeding, K. F. Smith, J. W. Forster, M. P. Dobrowolski, N. O. I. Cogan, N. R. Bannan, E. Van Zijll De Jong, M Emmerling, G. C. Spangenberg

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key points

1. A range of molecular breeding technologies have been developed for forage plant species including both transgenic and non-transgenic methodologies.
2. The application of these technologies has the potential to greatly increase the range of genetic variation that is available for incorporation into breeding programs and subsequent delivery to producers in the form of improved germplasm.
3. Further developments in detailing the phenotypic effect of genes and alleles both through research in target species and through inference from results from model species will further refine the delivery of new forage cultivars.

A Glucanase Gene Cosegregates With A Qtl For Crown Rust Resistance In L. Perenne, H. Muylle, J. Baert, E. Van Bockstaele, I. Roldán-Ruiz

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

An important disease in Lolium spp. is crown rust caused by the fungal pathogen Puccinia coronata. In order to study the genetic background of crown rust resistance in L. perenne, a mapping study was carried out and is discussed below. To identify genomic regions or genes involved in resistance, STS markers are extremely useful. This candidate gene approach was applied in the present study.

Measuring Ground Surface Elevation Changes In A Slow-Moving Colluvial Landslide Using Combinations Of Regional Airborne Lidar, Uav Lidar And Uav Photogrammetric Surveys, Sarah E. Johnson, William C. Haneberg, L. Sebastian Bryson, Matthew M. Crawford

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Slow-moving, chronically destructive landslides are projected to grow in number globally in response to precipitation increases from climate change, and land disturbances from wildfire, mining and construction. In the Cincinnati and northern Kentucky metropolitan area, USA, landslides develop in colluvium that covers the steep slopes along the Ohio River and its tributaries. Here we quantify elevation changes in a slow-moving colluvial landslide over 14 years using county- wide lidar, uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV) structure-from-motion (SfM) surveys and a UAV lidar survey. Because the technology and quality differ between surveys, the challenge was to calculate a threshold of detectable change for …

Magnetic Nanocomposites For The Remote Activation Of Sulfate Radicals For The Removal Of Rhodamine B, Pranto Paul, Marissa Nicholson, J. Zach Hilt

UK CARES Faculty Publications

The widespread presence of numerous organic contaminants in water poses a threat to the ecological environment and human health. Magnetic nanocomposites exposed to an alternating magnetic field (AMF) have a unique ability for magnetically mediated energy delivery (MagMED) resulting from the embedded magnetic nanoparticles; this localized energy delivery and associated chemical and thermal effects are a potential method for removing contaminants from water. This work developed a novel magnetic nanocomposite—a polyacrylamide-based hydrogel loaded with iron oxide nanoparticles. For this magnetic nanocomposite, persulfate activation and the contamination removal in water were investigated. Magnetic nanocomposites were exposed to AMF with a model …

Incorporating Environmental Impacts Into Short-Term Mine Planning: A Literature Survey, Milad Rahnema, Bahar Amirmoeini, Ali Moradi Afrapoli

Mining Engineering Faculty Publications

This paper aims to address the significant financial, environmental, and social risks posed by climate change to the mining industry, which is responsible for approximately 8% of global greenhouse gas emissions. With 70% of mining projects for the six largest mining companies located in water-stressed regions, the industry is facing increasing pressure to reduce its impact. Our study investigates the applicability of multi-objective optimization to integrate environmental impact considerations into short-term planning for mining operations. To achieve this, we have reviewed similar studies in various industries and developed an integrated planning framework that incorporates environmental considerations into production planning for …

Ferric Chloride-Induced Arterial Thrombosis And Sample Collection For 3d Electron Microscopy Analysis, Smita Joshi, Alexis N. Smith, Kanakanagavalli Shravani Prakhya, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar, Joshua Lykins, Ming Zhang, Irina D. Pokrovskaya, Maria A. Aronova, Richard D. Leapman, Brian Storrie, Sidney W. Whiteheart

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular diseases are a leading cause of mortality and morbidity worldwide. Aberrant thrombosis is a common feature of systemic conditions like diabetes and obesity, and chronic inflammatory diseases like atherosclerosis, cancer, and autoimmune diseases. Upon vascular injury, usually the coagulation system, platelets, and endothelium act in an orchestrated manner to prevent bleeding by forming a clot at the site of the injury. Abnormalities in this process lead to either excessive bleeding or uncontrolled thrombosis/insufficient antithrombotic activity, which translates into vessel occlusion and its sequelae. The FeCl3-induced carotid injury model is a valuable tool in probing how thrombosis initiates and progresses …

Description Of Reaction And Vibrational Energetics Of Co2-Nh3interaction Using Quantum Computing Algorithms, Manh Tien Nguyen, Yueh-Lin Lee, Dominic Alfonso, Qing Shao, Yuhua Duan

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

CO2 capture is critical to solving global warming. Amine-based solvents are extensively used to chemically absorb CO2. Thus, it is crucial to study the chemical absorption of CO2 by amine-based solvents to better understand and optimize CO2 capture processes. Here, we use quantum computing algorithms to quantify molecular vibrational energies and reaction pathways between CO2 and a simplified amine-based solvent model—NH3. Molecular vibrational properties are important to understanding kinetics of reactions. However, the molecule size correlates with the strength of anharmonicity effect on vibrational properties, which can be challenging to address using classical computing. Quantum computing can help enhance molecular …

Existing Transportation Infrastructure In The Central Appalachian Basin To Support Core-Cm, Bryan Gibson, Robin Baskette, Doug Kreis

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Stretching from Tennessee northeastward through southwestern Pennsylvania, the Central Appalachian Basin’s economic fortunes have long depended on coal production. However, as the U.S. has increasingly turned toward new forms of energy to generate electricity, the region’s economy has faced inexorable headwinds. Yet, what is clear is that the extractive industries are likely to play a key role in shaping the basin’s economy in the years to come. Taking this assumption as a starting point, this paper discusses how well current transportation infrastructure can support expanded us of the basin’s carbon ore, rare earth, and critical minerals (CORE-CM), other minerals, and …

Pasture Land Management System Decision Support Software, G. E. Groover, S. R. Smith, N. D. Stone, J. J. Venuto, J. M. Galbraith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Controlled or rotational grazing provides benefits to producers and society through profitable and sound management of grazing land and livestock. Pasture land management system (PLMS) is a decision support system developed to help university, government, and professionals provide technical pasture management assistance to beef and dairy producers. The PLMS focuses on the balance between seasonal forage supply and nutrient demand in a dairy or beef cattle operation. It allows users to explore and compare alternatives (dividing fields into multiple paddocks, changing stocking rates, and forage species) through a visual display and embedded simulation. Users enter a description of the farm …

Irish Dairy Farming: Effects Of Introducing A Maize Component On Grassland Management Over The Next 50 Years, A. J. Brereton, N. M. Holden

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Typical management of Irish dairy units is based on a low-cost spring-calving strategy with 90% of annual feed derived from grass grown on the farm. Almost 70% of feed is from grazed grass managed by rotational grazing, the remainder is conserved forage and concentrates. The objectives of the work were to examine how the management system has to be modified when part of the dairy unit land is allocated to maize silage instead of grass silage production, and to examine how climate change over the next 50 years will impact on grass and maize management within the production system.

Objectives And Benefits Of Molecular Breeding In Forage Species, T. Lübberstedt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

1. The amount of resources and information provided by forage crop genomic programs has dramatically increased during the past few years.
2. Trait-based forward genetic procedures such as mapping and expression profiling have successfully provided new candidate genes or genome regions affecting forage quality. Respective information can easily be transferred across related forage species.
3. Since several genes in major biochemical pathways related to forage traits have been isolated, gene-based reverse genetic approaches (transformation, association studies) are promising.
4. Most genetic experiments are conducted under simplified "artificial" conditions such as on single-spaced plants. Therefore, transferability of respective genetic information to breeding practice needs to …

Hay Mechanization And New Equipment, Noah Pendry

Kentucky Alfalfa and Stored Forage Conference

Review of the latest developments in hay mechanization equipment.

A 16s Rdna-Based Quantitative Assay For Monitoring Lactobacillus Plantarum In Silage, M. Klocke, K. Mundt, C. Idler, P. O'Kiely, S. Barth

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Ensilage of herbaceous biomass can be enhanced by applying pre-selected fermentative bacteria, however insufficient is known about the population dynamics of such starter cultures under a range of ensiling conditions. Classical methods for species-specific quantification of bacteria are labour intensive. An alternative approach is the detection of bacteria based on molecular markers for species-specific regions within their genomic DNA (e.g. the 16S rDNA sequence). In this study, a quantitative marker assay using the real-time PCR technique (Q-PCR) is described for Lactobacillus plantarum, a bacterium often used for silage starter cultures.

Improving The Aerobic Stability Of Whole-Crop Cereal Silages, I. Filya, E. Sucu, A. Karabulut

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Whole-crop cereal silages, such as wheat, sorghum, and maize are susceptible to aerobic deterioration, especially in warm climates. This is because aerobic yeasts are the most active at 20-30°C (Ashbell et al., 2002). Therefore, it is very important to find suitable additives that inhibit fungi and protect the silage upon aerobic exposure. Propionibacterium acidipropionici is propionic acid bacteria (PAB), which produce propionic and acetic acid in silage. Results with these micro-organisms in laboratory studies were promising with regard to aerobic stability. The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of PAB, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and …

Aerobic Stability And Nutritive Value Of Low Dry Matter Maize Silage Treated With A Formic Acid-Based Preservative, I. Filya, E. Sucu, A. Karabulut

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Aerobic stability is one of the major problems of the ensiling process, especially in warm climates. Ashbell et al. (2002) have shown that at 30°C, the development of aerobic yeast and moulds in silages is most intensive. In Turkey all silages are susceptible to air penetration during storage and unloading with a large proportion of the silage spoiled and in extreme cases all the silage is spoiled. The purpose of the present work was to study the effects of formic acid-based preservative (FAB; Kemisile® 2000, Kemira Oyj-Industrial Chemicals, Finland) on the aerobic stability and nutritive value of maize silage.

Silage Production From Tropical Forages, Luiz Gustavo Nussio

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key Points

1. The determination of overall DM recovery is important in tropical grass silage systems
2. Silage fermentation profile and aerobic stability: trends and additional effects
3. Combinations of chemical and microbial additives might be useful for control of losses
4. Fermentation products should be considered in order to better predict animal performance
5. A critical points database would be a helpful management tool for the development of a set of HACCP principles for the production and utilisation of tropical grass silages

Update On Technologies For Producing And Feeding Silage, P. D. Forristal, P. O'Keily

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key Points

1. Mechanisation and engineering inputs are key factors which contribute to silage costs.
2. Sensing technologies will improve management precision in many areas of ensilage.
3. While current harvesting machines have high output capacity reflecting mature design, there is a need to revisit the area of energy efficiency.
4. Baled silage technology, particularly in the areas of covering film and wrapping technology, needs further research.
5. Feeding systems are well researched but there is a need for systems research to underpin farmers’ decisions concerning housing design and feeding system.

Paying For Our Keep: Grasslands Decision Support In More-Developed Countries, Andrew D. Moore

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Key points

1. A survey of decision support (DS) tools in grassland agriculture illustrates the diversity of decisions supported and of delivery technologies that are used. Larger, whole-enterprise planning tools are undergoing a period where their user interfaces are being adapted to better reflect the requirements and practice of advisory users.

2. The history of use of GrassGro, a ‘versatile simulator’, is used to illustrate how versatile tools attract a diverse range of users and uses. Lessons learnt by the GrassGro team are discussed.

3. Uptake rates of DS tools in grasslands are generally lower than was expected a decade …