Digital Commons Network^™

Converting “Nonlesional” Imaging Occult Epilepsy Into A Focal Lesional Entity Using Advanced Imaging Techniques: Illustrative Case, Muhammad Usman Khalid, Flavius D. Raslau, Valentinos Zachariou, David Powell, Zachary Winder, Ryan Cloyd, Sarah Helen Thomas, John Kuipers, Rachel Ward Mitchell, Riham H. El Khouli, Timothy J. Ainger, Sally Mathias, Farhan A. Mirza

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND To achieve the best possible outcome in surgical refractory epilepsy, the seizure onset zone must be accurately identified prior to treatment.

OBSERVATIONS A 38-year-old man presented with tonic-clonic and focal seizures 2–3 times per month, refractory to antiseizure medications. Scalp EEG, MRI, PET, ictal SPECT, magnetoencephalography, and stereo-EEG (SEEG) did not provide conclusive seizure onset zone localization. Subsequently, the patient was included in the authors’ ongoing postictal arterial spin labeling (ASL) study and additional postprocessing was performed with a morphometric analysis program (MAP) and texture analysis. Using these results, the authors reexamined the original structural MR images, with attention …

Exploiting Artificial Intelligence And Optimization For Smart Agriculture, Jackson K. Butcher

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

Dynamic integration of Cyber-Physical Systems (CPS) and Artificial Intelligence (AI) has become a vital component for unlocking the potential of smart agriculture. Currently, limitations such as limited computational resources, poor network connectivity, and rigid treatment strategies stifle optimal agricultural outcomes. This creates a challenge of leveraging the capabilities of modern artificial intelligence to combat the natural and artificial constraints of the smart agriculture environment. The primary contribution of this thesis is the development of frameworks to alleviate the overhead data and computational demand for AI within smart agriculture settings. The first framework, iCrop+, utilizes TinyML and LoRa to guarantee high-precision …

German Cockroach Allergen Mitigation, Olivia Katz

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

German cockroaches (Blatella germanica L.) remain one of the most challenging indoor pests to manage, due in large part to their cryptic nature, rapid reproduction, and resistance to insecticides. Because of their close proximity to humans, they also pose several serious health threats, including the production and dissemination of several potent allergens linked to asthma development and exacerbation. Given the risks associated with cockroach allergens, we examined the longevity of two distinct cockroach allergens (Bla g 1 and Bla g 5) in the home environment and the efficacy of cleaners at removing these allergens. Our findings show that Bla …

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 …

Understanding Assessments For Adult English Learners: A Case Study Of Second Language Acquisition And Development, Chi Ma

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

While standardized tests have become the norm for assessing language proficiency, they may not effectively capture the diversity of adult immigrants, including their backgrounds, experiences, and varying levels of language proficiency. Grounded in experiential learning theory, sociocultural theory on second language acquisition, and concepts of identity, motivation, and investment, this study explored how the Adult English Learning (AEL) program utilized different types of assessments, what the needs and goals of AEL students were in learning English, and how various stakeholders, including teachers, students, and program coordinator, perceived current assessments reflecting students’ needs and goals.

The findings of the study reveals …

The Effects Of System Of Least Prompts To Promote Indpendence For A Student With Autism, Misty L. Brown

Theses and Dissertations--Education Sciences

This study examined the effects of a System of Least Prompts (SLP) intervention on the independent skills, such as completing a daily schedule, setting alarms on a personal device, and transitioning into set activities, for a high-school student diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and multiple co-occurring diagnoses. LB was a 15-year-old student who attended a specialized non-profit school for individuals with ASD and severe behaviors and was in the process of transitioning back into public school. He required support in self-management and choice making skills. The purpose of this intervention was to increase LB’s ability to evaluate his day …

Sedimentary Archives Of Late Quaternary Limnological, Ecological, And Environmental Change In The Eastern Sierra Nevada (California, Usa), Bailee Hodelka

Theses and Dissertations--Earth and Environmental Sciences

The Sierra Nevada essentially serve as the headwaters of California, providing crucial freshwater to the state through seasonal snowmelt. This water supply is threatened by climate change in complex ways that are not fully understood. Geological records provide a valuable source of information on how the hydrology, limnology, and ecology of the Sierra Nevada region has responded to climate changes of the past. This dissertation presents new sedimentary and paleoecological research from Mono Lake and Convict Lake (Mono County, California) and aims to shed light on environmental changes in the eastern Sierra Nevada from ~16 ka to present.

At Mono …

Measurement Of Two-Point Energy Correlators Within Jets In P+P Collisions At Sqrt[S]=200  Gev, Star Collaboration

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Hard-scattered partons ejected from high-energy proton-proton collisions undergo parton shower and hadronization, resulting in collimated collections of particles that are clustered into jets. A substructure observable that highlights the transition between the perturbative and nonperturbative regimes of jet evolution in terms of the angle between two particles is the two-point energy correlator (EEC). In this Letter, the first measurement of the EEC at RHIC is presented, using data taken from 200 GeV p þ p collisions by the STAR experiment. The EEC is measured both for all the pairs of particles in jets and separately for pairs with like and …

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.

Alzheimer’S Disease And The Immune System: The Emerging Role Of Temra Cells, Edric D. Winford, Adam D. Bachstetter

Neuroscience Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Complete High Thoracic Spinal Cord Injury Causes Bowel Dysfunction In Mice, Olivia Wireman, Ellie L. Sams, Lynnet E. Richey, Gabrielle V. Hammers, Andrew N. Stewart, William M. Bailey, Samir P. Patel, John C. Gensel

Spinal Cord and Brain Injury Research Center Faculty Publications

Bowel dysfunction, is a prevalent and life-impacting comorbidity of spinal cord injury (SCI) with no long-term treatment available. SCI-induced colon changes including motility and fibrosis are understudied as are strategies to address SCI bowel dysfunction. This need remains partly due to the lack of a mouse model that recapitulates the human condition. We hypothesized that a high thoracic spinal transection in mice would trigger bowel dysfunction with coincident colon pathology similar to humans and rats after SCI. We observed bowel dysfunction as increased fecal pellet numbers within the colon, smaller pellet size, and decreased motility. Fecal pellets numbers in the …

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 …

Longitudinal Relationship Between Problematic Social Networking Use And Internalizing Problems, Lindsay Roesel

Theses and Dissertations--Family Sciences

The purpose of this study is to examine the longitudinal and bidirectional relationships between problematic social networking use (PSNU) and internalizing problems (depressive symptoms and self-esteem) in adolescents. Data were collected from N = 360 adolescents from two public high schools in Turkey, 14.58 years old in 9^th grade at Time 1 (54.3% females). Participants completed four assessments regarding problematic social media use, depression and self-esteem, over the course of two school years, once per semester in 9^th and 10^th grades. The study tested a series of hypotheses which tested the bidirectional relationships between PSNU on depressive …

Linkage To Treatment And Recovery Support Services For Patients With A Substance Use Disorder, Seif Atyia, Terry Bunn, Dana Quesinberry, Timothy Prince

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Objective The purpose of this study was to survey current physicians in Kentucky to evaluate their management of patients with substance use disorder (SUD), with a focus on the identification of their referral methods for linkage to SUD treatment and recovery support services. Methods A cross-sectional study was performed through a developed survey that was administered by e-mail to all 12,152 in-state physicians licensed in Kentucky; 524 responded. Addiction specialists, emergency physicians, and psychiatrists were categorized separately; family medicine and internal medicine (FM/IM) physicians were combined into one category; all of the other specialties were grouped into an "Other"category. The …

Fairehr, Karen S. Galea, Finlay Brooker, Shahzad Rashid, Michael Bader, Yu Ait Bamai, Jos Bessems, Embialle Mengistie Beyene, Alison Connolly, Carla Costa, Pravina Deligannu, Radu Corneliu Duca, Kaoutar Chbihi, Kasahun Eba, Manosij Ghosh, Melissa Gonzales, Stuart Harrad, Erin N. Haynes, Nancy B. Hopf, Po Chin Huang, Kate Jones, Konstantinos M. Kasiotis, Ming Kei Chung, Jihyon Kil, Holger Koch, Jung Hwan Kwon, Elizabeth Ziying Lin, Henriqueta Louro, Kyriaki Machera

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

The FAIREHR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable, Reusable Environmental and Health Registry) platform is a state-of-the-art online registry for prospective harmonization of human biomonitoring (HBM). It was developed by the HBM working group of the Europe Regional Chapter of the International Society of Exposure Science (ISES Europe) and is supported by the HBM Global Network. FAIREHR is designed to harmonize HBM metadata and support the implementation of the FAIR (Findable, Accessible, Interoperable and Reusable) Guiding Principles throughout HBM studies or programs. The registry enables preregistration of HBM by capturing key metadata on study design, metadata management, and planned methods before participant recruitment. …

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 …

Spermidine And Polyamine Blockade As Key Mediators Of Intestinal Epithelial Cell Functions, Madison Lynn Flory

Theses and Dissertations--Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics

Frequently, alterations in the composition of the gut microbiota and its metabolites are linked with intestinal diseases, including inflammatory bowel disease and colorectal cancer. However, the direct connections between alterations in the microbiome and disease states often remain elusive. Prior research has identified increases in both polyamines, which are a class of microbial metabolite, and in the abundance of bacteria that can produce polyamines, in a murine colorectal cancer model. Understanding the significance of the interaction between these microbial metabolites and intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) will provide new and expanded evidence of the importance of the gut microbiome in colorectal …

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 …

Visual Legal Rhetoric In The Age Of Generative Ai And Deepfakes: Renaissance Or Dark Ages?, Michael D. Murray

Law Faculty Scholarly Articles

The paradoxical development of visual generative AI tools, such as OpenAI’s DALL-E 3, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion, simultaneously signals a renaissance and a potential dark age in visual rhetoric and communication. On the one hand, these tools democratize the creation of visual content, empowering attorneys and others to become artists and illustrators of their legal communications without needing to learn how to draw. These AI systems can simplify complex legal concepts, bridge language barriers, and enhance advocacy. But on the other hand, the proliferation of deepfakes presents significant challenges for visual rhetoric. Deepfakes can quickly and easily create realistic but …

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 …

Open Access And Citation Impact: Modality, Funding, Publisher, And Disciplinary Trends At The University Of Kentucky, Ben Rawlins, Mitchell Scott

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

As publishers and libraries attempt to align business models and collection strategies to an ever-increasing open access (OA) publishing landscape, both have found that the message of open access citation advantage (OACA) resonates with current and prospective authors. Despite its widespread promotion and acceptance, however, OACA is not universal and is subject to ongoing debate. This quantitative study contributes to the OACA debate and research with a longitudinal focus on citation data from journal articles published 2018-2021 by University of Kentucky affiliated authors. The article and citation data for University of Kentucky affiliated authors are supplemented with University of Kentucky …

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.

The Tiny Library And The Mini Library, Reinette F. Jones

Library Faculty and Staff Publications

Ask a librarian to describe a tiny library and a general answer will be a facility that is smaller than a small library. A more contem-porary description is a little library in a small wooden box that is attached to a stand and placed in a neighborhood to support reading and free book exchange. Both are good answers and added to these definitions is the centuries-old backstory when the tiny library was whatever an individual meant for it to be.

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.

When Breathing Becomes Wheezing: Why Kentucky Should Require Schools To Conduct Radon Testing, Abbey Norvell

Kentucky Journal of Equine, Agriculture, & Natural Resources Law

In this note, Abbey Norvell analyzes the dangers of radon exposure in Kentucky schools, highlighting the state’s nation-leading lung cancer rates and the heightened risks for children. She explains that Kentucky has no law requiring schools to test for or mitigate radon levels, leaving students vulnerable. Norvell argues for mandatory radon testing and remediation in Kentucky schools. She proposes legislation modeled on other states requiring testing in both public and private schools within five years, and remediation within two years if levels exceed EPA standards.

Analysing The Us—China “Ai Cold War” Narrative, Yujia He, Richard Heeks

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Discussions about artificial intelligence (AI) are gaining prominence in the recent revival of “cold war” narratives comparing US-China relations today to the historical rivalry between the US and the Soviet Union. Drawing on a review of existing academic and policy literature engaging with the “AI cold war” narrative, this paper examines how the narrative is justified, and numerous ways that it can be challenged. It finds that the framing is largely driven by the securitisation of AI, as state actors and policy pundits view AI innovations’ dual-use capabilities as key to national security and ideological competition. However, critics posit that …

Just What Is Equity And What Is It Doing In A Nice Field Like Assessment, Julene Jones, Glenn Phillips, Ciji Heiser

Library Presentations

This presentation outlines a literature review on equity and assessment, drawing from the article Making a Grand Contribution: Professional Development Resources for Leveraging Assessment Data to Advance Equity. The review will explore how assessment practices can promote equity, identifying professional development strategies that support equitable data use in higher education. The findings will inform institutional leaders, faculty, and assessment professionals on embedding equity within assessment processes. This session will engage participants in discussions about the history of equity in assessment and its current uses, equipping them with tools to advance equitable assessment practices and institutional change.

Chronic Sleep Fragmentation Differentially Affects Alzheimer’S Disease Pathology In Male And Female AppSaa Knock-In Mice, Margaret R. Hawkins, Haleigh R. Whitlock, Carrie E. Johnson, Teresa Macheda, Ma Kayla F. Cox, Madison G. Lapid, Kelly N. Roberts, Heather M. Hash, Esther G. Drinkard, Sridhar Sunderam, Bruce F. O’Hara, Michael P. Murphy, Marilyn J. Duncan, Adam D. Bachstetter

Biology Faculty Publications

Introduction: Sleep fragmentation often precedes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) diagnosis and represents a potential modifiable risk factor, especially among women who have higher prevalence of both sleep disorders and AD. Methods: This study investigated how chronic sleep fragmentation affects neuroinflammation and amyloid-beta (Aβ) accumulation in male and female APP^SAA knock-in mice, a physiologically relevant AD model expressing APP at normal levels. APP^SAA mice of both sexes (N=8/sex/strain, 8 months old) underwent either 5 weeks of chronic sleep fragmentation administered during the light phase using an automated sweeper system or undisturbed sleep. Sleep-wake patterns and circadian rhythms were monitored using …