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

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

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

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

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

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

In most cases, and accepting the hypothesis that …

An Acid Baking Approach To Enhance Rare Earth Element Recovery From Bituminous Coal Sources, Ahmad Nawab

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Rare earth elements (REE) are a group of 17 elements typically classified as light and heavy rare earth elements, which play a crucial role in developing the latest technologies for energy, defense, and medical sectors. Even though REEs have been found in more than 200 minerals, only bastnaesite, monazite and xenotime are commercially exploited for REE extraction. However, the recent exponential increase in REE demand has spurred countries such as the United States into research for the extraction of REEs from secondary sources such as coal, acid mine drainage, and coal ash. Several coal sources (e.g., Fire Clay seam coal) …

Three Essays On Consumption Taxation In Indonesia, Partomuan Transparenter Juniult

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

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

In my first essay, titled “The effect …

Understanding And Targeting The Tph1-Serotonin-Htr3a Axis In Small Cell Lung Cancer, Yanning Hao

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Small cell lung cancer (SCLC), which accounts for 10-15% of all lung cancer, is the most malignant type that tends to grow fast and spread in its early stages. The 5-year survival rate remains low at 6% overall. Thus, new therapeutic methods and pharmacological targets for SCLC patients are urgently needed. We present novel data indicating that the synthesis of serotonin is upregulated in SCLC compared to normal bronchial epithelial cells and non-small cell lung cancer. Serotonin signaling plays a critical role in various physiological and pathological processes. However, its contribution to SCLC development has not been well understood. The …

Targeting Ezh2 To Improve Outcomes Of Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma, Tanner Ducote

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Only 20% of patients diagnosed with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) respond to immunotherapy. Anti-PD1 immunotherapy is most commonly prescribed to these patients; however, most will become refractory. It is important to understand the mechanisms underlying this problem to increase durability and survival. Building upon the work of other groups, our lab has demonstrated that the inhibition of the histone methyltransferase, EZH2, is crucial to maintaining an immunologically responsive microenvironment. Based on our data, we hypothesize that combining EZH2 inhibitors with anti-PD1 therapy will increase response and durability. To study non-small cell lung cancers (NSLC) our lab uses a variety …

Foraging Behavior In The Eastern Subterranean Termite, Reticulitermes Flavipes (Kollar) (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae), Anugerah Fajar

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Foraging is essential for survival, but it can be unpredictably dangerous due to organismal interactions like competition and predation to various environmental factors. Animals have come up with strategies to safeguard foraging. Social insects, with their elaborate division of labor, have developed sophisticated systems of foraging task allocation that allow them to capitalize resources beyond their competitors. In this thesis, I delve into the subjects of foraging behavior, allocation strategies, and the genetic basis of foraging in the eastern subterranean termite, Reticulitermes flavipes, the most widely distributed termite species in North America and one of the most economically important …

An Exploration And Performance Of Underrepresented Composers For Cello, Anna M. Watrous

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

As I was preparing for my senior degree cello recital (the performance component of this thesis) last summer, I realized that all the composers I planned on programming were famous composers that were white men. As a woman cellist, teacher, and arts advocate, I knew this was not the story that I wanted to tell through my recital. I realized that there was no reason to wait until after graduation when I was “finished learning” to be an advocate for those underrepresented in the arts, I could start with this recital. Through the process of programming, preparing, and performing this …

Appalachian Adolsescence: A Creative Exploration Of Home, Nature, And Social Progress, Eleni Karelis

Lewis Honors College Thesis Collection

The Central Appalachian coalfields provide a rich culture to the American landscape, often shielded from outsiders to the region. While prevailing stereotypes of the region describe those living there as two-dimensional, the identity of Appalachia has always been complex— whether through the rich history with labor struggles, gender equality, or social progress. Finding one’s identity in a place that has been so strictly held to its stereotypical perceptions can be difficult. This creative project draws inspiration from my own experiences in Southeastern Kentucky as well as a myriad of stories collected through archival research in the Special Collections Research Center …

Real-Time Surveillance Of The Drug Epidemic: An Assessment And Comparative Visualization Of Substance Abuse In The Commonwealth Of Kentucky, Julia Van Hosen

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

The purpose of this study was to implement and examine a new surveillance system for Kentucky State Police’s forensics unit to track trends of illicit drugs and drug trafficking, and to see if the implementation of this new system was associated with a decrease in overall drug counts over a period of five months. An extensive review of the literature showed that the drug epidemic in the United States continues to worsen, with public health and law enforcement institutions leading the fight in attempting to end the epidemic, but little evidence showing these two joining forces to work together.

Results …

Developing Ecologically Valid Clinical Tools For Persons With Tbi: Understanding The Role And Impact Of Distractions, Deanna Pinnow

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

There is a critical need for the development of ecologically valid clinical tools to assess real-life cognitive functioning in persons impacted by traumatic brain injury (TBI). Chronic cognitive impairments that are exacerbated by distractions are one of the core factors contributing to poor home and community re-integration post injury. Simulation-based digital platforms (i.e., virtual reality, augmented reality, and mixed reality) have become potential solutions for eliciting real-world cognitive performance in clinical settings. Yet, there is a paucity of research investigating the role and impact of distractions on cognition. As a result, there is no clear framework of measuring distractions to …

Exclusive J/𝜓 Detection And Physics With Ecce, X. Li

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The EIC Comprehensive Chromodynamics Experiment (ECCE) detector has been recommended as a reference design for the proposed Electron-Ion Collider (EIC) program. This paper presents simulation studies of exclusive J/𝜓 detection and selected physics impact results in EIC using the projected ECCE detector concept. Exclusive quarkonium photoproduction is one of the most popular processes in EIC, which has a large cross section and a simple final state. Due to the gluonic nature of the exchange Pomeron, this process can be related to the gluon distributions in the nucleus. Preliminary results estimate the excellent statistics benefited from the large cross section of …

Internalized Homonegativity And The Mental Health Of Lesbian, Gay, And Bisexual Individuals: An Integrative Treatment Approach, David Kearby

DSW Capstone Projects

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual individuals (LGBI) have a higher rate of mental health disorders than the general population. The mental health disparities experienced by LGBI are positively correlated with higher internalized homonegativity (IH) levels, which impacts their functioning at the unconscious, cognitive, and interpersonal levels. Thus, effective interventions targeting the mental health of LGBI must consider IH's intrapsychic, cognitive, and interpersonal nature. An integrative psychotherapy approach addressing the mental health and IH of LGBI is needed to address the intrapsychic, cognitive, and interpersonal factors at play.

Product one of this capstone is a systematic literature review that identified psychotherapeutic interventions …

Building Energy Modeling And Studies Of Electric Power Distribution Systems With Distributed Energy Resources, Evan S. Jones

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

There is significant opportunity for savings in energy and investment from improved performance of electric Power Distribution Systems (PDSs) through optimal planning and operation of conventional voltage-controlling devices. Novel multi-step model conversion and optimal capacitor planning (OCP) procedures are proposed for large-scale utility PDSs and are exemplified with an existing utility circuit of approximately 4,000 buses. Simulated optimal control and operation is achieved with a cluster-based approach that utilizes load-forecasting to minimize equipment degradation by intelligently dispersing device setting adjustments over time such that they remain most applicable. Improved performance may also be achieved through smart building technologies and Virtual …

Optimal Design Of Special High Torque Density Electric Machines Based On Electromagnetic Fea, Murat G. Kesgin

Theses and Dissertations--Electrical and Computer Engineering

Electric machines with high torque density are essential for many low-speed direct-drive systems, such as wind turbines, electric vehicles, and industrial automation. Permanent magnet (PM) machines that incorporate a magnetic gearing effect are particularly useful for these applications due to their potential for achieving extremely high torque density. However, when the number of rotor polarities is increased, there is a corresponding need to increase the number of stator slots and coils proportionally. This can result in manufacturing challenges. A new topology of an axial-flux vernier-type machine of MAGNUS type has been presented to address the mentioned limitation. These machines can …

Trends In Respirable Coal Mine Dust Concentration (Mg/M3) Based On Coal Miners’ Occupational Designation: An Analysis Of The Msha Coal Dust Samples Data Set (2000-2022), Aaron Blake Charles

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

Rates of Coal Workers' Pneumoconiosis (CWP) have recently increased in prevalence over the past 20 years. Recent regulation (Phase III) by the Mining Safety and Health Administration to lower the coal dust standard to 1.5 mg/m3 has been mandated to assist in reducing the burden of CWP. Occupations in the coal mining industry have different exposures to coal dust depending on their occupational responsibilities. This study examined the respirable coal dust trends for underground and surface mining occupations from 2000 to 2022. The ultimate goal is to see how respirable coal dust exposures have changed in multiple occupations over this …

Blue Oval Sk Battery Park Environmental Impact And Community Guide, Warren Rummage

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

This Capstone Project Paper will discuss the potential effects of the BlueOval SK Battery Park being constructed in Glendale, Kentucky based on knowledge attained from open records requests and available publicly online. Based on the process of attaining said information, a Community Guide has been generated and is available to distribute to concerned community members. It is the hope that this work will enable those in Hardin County, and possibly beyond, to ensure their environment and community health are prioritized during the construction phase and eventual operation of the EV-battery manufacturing faciliities on this massive 1,500 acre plot of land.

Pfas Clinical Guidance, John Bingham

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

Introduction

A broad category of synthetic organic compounds, per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS), forms the impetus for this project. Known compounds in this category are numerous and diverse, with over 4700 identified molecular entities (Panieri, Baralic, Djukic-Cosic, Buha Djordjevic, & Saso, 2022). Their only commonality is the presence of at least one carbon atom that is saturated with fluoride groups. These chemical bonds are exceptionally difficult to break (Tansel, 2022), which incepts both the utility of PFAS compounds and the concerns they raise for human health (Cousins et al., 2020). While PFAS are …

Generative Ai Art: Copyright Infringement And Fair Use, Michael D. Murray

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

The discussion of AI copyright infringement or fair use often skips over all the required steps of the infringement analysis in order to focus on the most intriguing question, “Could a visual generative AI generate a work that potentially infringes a preexisting copyrighted work?” and then the discussion skips further ahead to, “Would the AI have a fair use defense, most likely under the transformative test?” These are relevant questions, but without considering the actual steps of the copyright infringement analysis, the discussion is misleading or even irrelevant. This neglecting of topics and stages of the infringement analysis fails to …

Supporting Social Work Employment-Hosted Practicum Placements: Challenges And Recommendations, Mary Scanlon

DSW Capstone Projects

The Council on Social Work Education (CSWE) named field education as the signature pedagogy of social work education in 2008. The accrediting organization develops policies that accredited social work programs must adhere to within their field education programs. One policy that stood for over forty years required students completing practicums at their places of employment to create learning opportunities beyond the scope of their employment activities. CSWE altered that policy in its 2022 Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS) and now allows programs to let students count their paid work time as field hours. This is a significant shift in …

Defining Sagittal Plane Gait Mechanics And Joint Loading In People With Marfan Syndrome, Justin Melan Pol

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Marfan syndrome (MFS) is a genetic condition that is associated with altered muscle composition, which leads to muscle dysfunction. People with MFS exhibit high instances of lower extremity (LE) joint pain that inhibits their ability to perform activities of daily living, such as walking. Despite these detrimental impacts of MFS, there have been no attempts to characterize the effects of MFS on LE joint loading and health during walking that are associated with LE pain and dysfunction. As people with MFS exhibit a high incidence rate of osteoarthritis (OA), the need to understand the potential alterations in LE extremity mechanics …

3-Dimensional Muscle Constructs: Using Hydrogels In Order To Model The Effects Of Exercise In Disease Conditions, Mark Mchargue

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Currently, there is no standard in vitro model for studying the effects of mechanical stimulation on muscle in type II diabetes. Existing models primarily utilize electrical stimulation, which does not fully recapitulate the effects of exercise. In this thesis, we create a standardized in vitro model of murine muscle that can recapitulate the benefits seen in exercise when mechanically stimulated. Moreover, we show that a type II diabetes environment has similar effects on the muscle in vitro as well as in vivo.

Multiscale And Multimodality Optical Imaging Of Brain Hemodynamics And Function, Mehrana Mohtasebi

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Frequent measurement of cerebral hemodynamics is crucial for continuous assessment of brain function and health. Low-frequency oscillations (LFOs; < 0.1 Hz) have shown promise as an indicator of altered neurologic activity in the abnormal brain. Moreover, quantification of temporal correlations in LFOs across distinct brain regions enables mapping of regional neurovascular disorders. Portable diffuse optical techniques such as near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) enable noninvasive and continuous measurements of cerebral oxygenation and cerebral blood flow (CBF), respectively. However, most NIRS/DCS systems use limited numbers of discrete light sources and detectors and thus lack combinations of high temporal/spatial resolution and large field-of-view (FOV) for brain imaging. Recent development of an innovative noncontact speckle contrast diffuse correlation tomography (scDCT) in our lab provides a low-cost and portable tool for high-density imaging of CBF distributions over large FOVs. The scDCT uses a galvo-mirror to remotely deliver coherent point near-infrared light to multiple source positions and a CMOS camera as a high-density 2-D detector array to quantify spatial fluctuations of diffuse laser speckles, resulting from movement of red blood cells. Boundary CBF data were input to a unique finite-element-method (FEM)-based reconstruction algorithm for 3-D imaging of CBF distributions. However, scDCT was hindered for extracting LFOs due to its low sampling rate. In this study, scDCT was optimized to achieve high sampling rates and fast image reconstructions by use of moving window algorithms with parallel computations (Project 1). Power spectral density (PSD) analysis was performed to investigate altered LFOs during transient cerebral ischemia in neonatal piglets. Transient cerebral ischemia caused reductions in both CBF and PSD, supporting inclusion of scDCT in the growing field of LFO analysis. One remaining limitation was the long computational time required for 3-D reconstruction, which prohibited real-time applications. To overcome this limitation, a depth-sensitive diffuse speckle contrast topography (DSCT) method was developed for analyzing scDCT data to achieve fast and high-density 2-D mapping of CBF distribution without the need of complex and time-consuming 3-D reconstructions (Project 2). New head-simulating phantoms with known optical/geometric properties were designed and fabricated to evaluate the spatial resolution and depth sensitivity of DSCT method. In-vivo experiments verified the capability of DSCT in tracking dynamic changes in CBF at different depths during CO₂ inhalation and transient cerebral ischemia in rats. In addition to preclinical studies, a low-cost, wearable, fluorescence eye loupe (FLoupe) device was invented for intraoperative visualization of brain tumor margin in the clinic (Project 3). Consistent results were observed against an expensive, large, standard fluorescence operative microscope for the guidance of tumor resection. Overall, through 3 projects this dissertation demonstrated a variety of noninvasive noncontact optical technologies (scDCT, DSCT, and FLoupe) that enabled multiscale (rodents, piglets, and humans) and …

A Wearable Fiber-Free Optical Sensor For Continuous Measurements Of Cerebral Blood Flow And Oxygenation, Xuhui Liu

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Wearable technologies for continuous monitoring of cerebral hemodynamics in freely behaving subjects not only advance our understanding of cognitive processing and adaptive behavior, but also provide vital information for diagnosis and therapeutic assessment of cerebral diseases associated with hypoxia/ischemia. Wearable near-infrared diffuse optical techniques have been used at the bedside to probe deep cerebral hemodynamics, including near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) for cerebral oxygenation measurement and diffuse correlation spectroscopy (DCS) for cerebral blood flow (CBF) measurement, respectively. However, most systems are relatively large and expensive, and use rigid fiber-optic probes that significantly constrain subject’s movement. A novel, wearable, fiber-free diffuse speckle contrast …

Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (Qmra) For Urban Stormwater Reuse After Treatment Through A Bioretention System, Isaac Oluk

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Bioretention, also referred to as a stormwater biofilter, is an extensively used low-impact development technology for both stormwater management and water quality gains. However, little attention has been paid to the acceptability and uncertainty of human health risks associated with the treatment performance of bioretention filter media, and non-potable water reuse scenarios to guide decision-making and system design. This study uses bioretention mechanistic modeling paired with quantitative microbial risk assessment (QMRA) under uncertainty to evaluate human health risks from two reference pathogens – Campylobacter jejuni and Cryptosporidium. Consumption of irrigated green salad, consumption of raw green salad washed with effluent, …

Do Transportation Network Companies Affect Road Safety Outcomes: A Spatially Detailed Analysis In San Francisco, Vedant Shriniwas Goyal

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

US traffic fatal deaths have steadily risen since 2010, with the past few years witnessing an unusual trend increase. To reverse such a dangerous trend, one must understand how and why road crashes occur and which factors are causing them. Emerging transportation technologies have shown the potential to improve mobility and safety. However, such technologies are not inherently beneficial and could worsen road safety if not effectively implemented. One such transportation technology that warrants investigation is the rise of ridesharing services, also called Transportation Network Companies (TNCs). The primary goal of the dissertation is to explore the statistical relationship between …

Prediction Of Chlorine And Disinfection Byproduct Concentration In Water Distribution Systems Using Kypipe And Tthm Regression Models: Application To Two Systems In Kentucky, Yogesh Gautam

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

The main objective of this research is to study if the hydraulic and water quality models can be used for water quality analysis of chlorine decay and TTHM formation at various locations across a water distribution system. This is particularly important because it is not always easy or economical to take multiple field samples and analyze them in the laboratory. In this study, models of two different water distribution systems (one more urban and efficiently managed system located in a relative flat topography, and other more rural and less efficiently managed system located in a mountainous topography) were developed in …

Estimating The Effectiveness Of Incentives On The Adoption Of Electric Vehicles, Michelle O. Imarah

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

This study aims to estimate the effectiveness of incentives in increasing the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) among households in the near future. Five scenarios were tested using a vehicle type choice model estimated from the 2017 National Household Travel Survey (NHTS) data: (1) increasing the number of EV chargers, (2) reducing the purchase price of EVs based on household income, (3) increasing the number of EV models and makes, (4) increasing the EV range, and (5) all scenarios at once. Results showed that all the scenarios were effective in increasing EV adoption amongst households. Some scenarios were more effective …

Digital Twins For Ancillary Transportation Asset Data Management, Ashtarout Ammar

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

Transportation Asset Management (TAM) is a data-driven decision-making process to maintain and extend the serviceability of transportation assets throughout their lifecycle. TAM is an extensive data process requiring accurate, high-quality information for better decision-making. A significant challenge that state Departments of Transportation (DOTs) face is allocating limited funds to optimize their assets’ performance. The criticality of this challenge increases when state DOTs need to manage a wide variety of assets distributed along with a vast network; thus, they prioritize the management of high-value assets and visible ones such as bridges, and they pay less attention to ancillary assets even though …

Rollout Of A Digital Comprehensive Safety Management System In A Large Public Agency: A Case Study With Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Salena Pham

Theses and Dissertations--Civil Engineering

It’s understood that construction is extremely dangerous and highway construction has an added risk that comes from the presence of traffic. Many steps and prevention measures can be taken to reduce the risks to workers’ safety in highway work zones. Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) realized they had room for improvement and wanted to have a database that would allow for analysis of the common causes of incidents. The new software KYTC wanted to implement is called Origami Risk. Origami Risk is a cloud-based safety management system (SMS) software that offers a huge range of customizable risk management, RMIS, environmental health …