Digital Commons Network^™

Simpson's Tachytely Or Bradytely? The Importance Of Quantifying Rate Uncertainty, Rosana Zenil-Ferguson, Lee Hsiang Liow

Biology Faculty Publications

The spectacular variation in species forms and richness across space and time can be explored using sophisticated and powerful tools recently developed by evolutionary modellers. In this contribution, we ask if the classic ‘Simpsonian’ view of tachytelic (fast), horotelic (standard) and bradytelic (slow) diversification rates can be distinguished with currently available tools and data. A neglected topic here is the role that the uncertainty of diversification rate estimates plays, where the lack of in-depth uncertainty measures could hinder our ability to confidently suggest differences in speciation or extinction rates in any given comparison. We propose quantifying the relative uncertainty of …

“I Just Don’T Find It Interesting”, Jennifer L. Osterhage, Utku Caybas, Jaeyun Han, Ellen L. Usher

Biology Faculty Publications

Situated expectancy-value theory (SEVT) posits that students’ expectancies for success, task values, and perceived costs affect their performance in STEM courses. Less is known about how students’ majors and timing of course completion affect motivational processes. Using the SEVT framework, this study utilised a convergent mixed methods approach to investigate academic motivation among students (N = 646) who enrolled in introductory biology at a large public university. Survey data revealed that students majoring in Biology were more motivated than students from other majors, although academic major was not directly associated with final grade. Upper-level students reported significantly lower competence-related beliefs …

Seasonal Divergence In Reproductive Timing On The Verge Of Spring, Devraj Singh, Adam M. Fudickar, Ellen D. Ketterson

Biology Faculty Publications

Every year as spring approaches and day length increases, many birds begin to reproduce, an annual expression of seasonal phenology that requires physiological preparation. In species distributed over a broad geographic range, populations that breed at higher latitudes are often migratory and delay reproduction until later in the year as compared to those breeding at lower latitudes. Dark-eyed Juncos serve as an excellent model for understanding the timing mechanisms regulating population-level variation in seasonal reproductive responses. We compared two seasonally sympatric dark-eyed junco populations in early spring. One migrates (Junco hyemalis hyemalis) and breeds in Alaska and Canada, while the …

Effect Of The Communities That Heal Intervention On Overdose Education And Naloxone Distribution, Patricia R. Freeman, Alexander Y. Walley, T. John Winhusen, Emmanuel A. Oga, Jennifer Villani, Timothy Hunt, Redonna K. Chandler, Douglas R. Oyler, Brittni Reilly, Kitty Gelberg, Christian Douglas, Michael S. Lyons, Ja Nae Holloway, Nathan A. Vandergrift, Joella W. Adams, Katherine Asman, Trevor J. Baker, Candace J. Brancato, Debbie M. Cheng, Janet E. Childerhose, James L. David, Daniel J. Feaster, Louisa Gilbert, La Shawn M. Glasgow, Dawn A. Goddard-Eckrich, Charles Knott, Hannah K. Knudsen, Michelle R. Lofwall

Sociology Faculty Publications

Objectives. To determine whether the Communities That HEAL (CTH) intervention is effective in increasing naloxone distribution compared with usual care. Methods. The HEALing (Helping to End Addiction Long-Term) Communities Study (HCS) is a clusterrandomized, parallel-arm, wait-list controlled implementation science trial testing the impact of the CTH intervention on increasing the use of evidence-based practices to lower opioid-related overdose deaths. Communities (n567) highly impacted by opioid overdose in Kentucky, Massachusetts, New York, and Ohio were allocated to CTH intervention (n534) or wait-list comparison (usual care; n533) arms. The primary outcome for this study was the number of naloxone units distributed in …

Cause Or Consequence? Evaluating The Evidence For Housing Instability As A Predictor Of Adult Well-Being, Hope Harvey, Brielle Bryan

Sociology Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Structural Ableism, Health, And Functioning Among People With Disabilities, Robyn Lewis Brown

Sociology Faculty Publications

This study examined how structural ableism, conceptualized through the social determinants of health framework, impacts health outcomes among people with disabilities. Using multilevel regression analysis with data from the 2020 National Survey on Health and Disability (N = 2,175) paired with state-level indicators from the 2019 American Community Survey, it investigated associations between state-level disparities (in educational attainment, income, health insurance coverage, housing accessibility, and public transportation access) and self-rated health and functional limitation. Results demonstrated that structural ableism operates through distinct pathways for each health outcome. Income, health insurance, and transportation gaps by disability status at the state level …

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

Sociology Faculty Publications

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

Axial Flux Permanent Magnet Generators For Direct-Drive Wind Turbines - Review And Optimal Design Studies, Matin Vatani, Ali Mohammadi, Donovin D. Lewis, John F. Eastham, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the feasibility, cost, and electromagnetic performance of five distinct types of axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) generators designed for direct-drive wind turbines. The generator configurations investigated include a single-sided AFPM generator with a surface-mounted PM rotor (AFPMG), a double-sided AFPM generator featuring PMs on the stator and a reluctance rotor (AFPMG-RR), a coreless stator AFPM generator with surface PMs (CAFPMG-SPM), and a coreless stator AFPM generator with a Halbach PM array rotor (CAFPMG-Hal). Each generator’s operating principles and configurations are thoroughly explained and compared. Large-scale multi-objective design optimizations were conducted on each type, …

Speed Variation Based Power Regulation Concept For Dynamic Wireless Charging, Donovin D. Lewis, Sudarshan T. Harave, Omer Onar, Mostak Mohammad, Veda Prakash Galigekere, Gui-Jia Su, Dan Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

On-road wireless charging of electric vehicles (EVs) in-motion could potentially reduce range anxiety or battery size with wide-spread deployment. The planning and implementation of such systems are greatly complicated due to their susceptibility to load variation inherent to traffic flow. This paper proposes a method for derisking the potential for traffic slowdowns by compensating for reduced vehicle speed and investigates how implementation may affect system performance. A load modeling case study is presented at 200kW for a mile of high-speed roadway employing speed-based power regulation with results indicating average power usage and maximum car hosting capability can be reduced by …

Fault-Tolerant High-Power Two-Phase Coreless Afpm Motor-Drive System Concept, Yaser Chulaee, Ali Mohammadi, Matin Vatani, Aaron M. Cramer, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper proposes a fault-tolerant, high-power two-phase coreless axial flux permanent magnet (AFPM) motor drive system concept. Initially, the performance of a two-phase variant of the coreless AFPM machine is compared with that of its three-phase counterpart using both 3D finite element analysis (FEA) and experiments. Thanks to the intrinsic unique features of coreless AFPM machines, the analysis of the results demonstrates that the two-phase configuration has comparable power density (kW/kg) and efficiency. In terms of fault tolerance, the two-phase configuration exhibits superior performance, as the mutual inductance between phases is zero, resulting in an electric machine with magnetically decoupled …

Two-Level Multi-Objective Design Optimization Including Torque Ripple Minimization For Stator Excited Synchronous And Flux Switching Machines, Ali Mohammadi, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Yaser Chulaee, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

Electric machine performance can be enhanced through torque ripple mitigation, which reduces mechanical vibrations and improves system stability and operation. This paper proposes a novel two-level optimization method for synchronous flux-switching and hybrid excitation machines, featuring an innovative multi-point spline shaping approach for torque ripple minimization. The study employs experimentally validated models based on a prototype with a similar topology. The optimization process is implemented on two distinct designs: a 20-pole inner rotor PM-excited stator machine and a 28-pole outer rotor DC-excited stator machine. Analysis results demonstrate that the proposed innovative method significantly reduces torque ripple in both configurations. Force …

Electromagnetic Design Characterization Of Synchronous Machines With Flux Switching Effect Employing Reluctance Rotors And Stators With Pms And Ac Concentrated Coils, Oluwaseun A. Badewa, Ali Mohammadi, Donovin D. Lewis, Somasundaram Essakiappan, Madhav Manjrekar, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Graduate Research

This paper introduces an innovative design for a synchronous electric motor that has phase coils and permanent magnets (PM) embedded in the stator. The electric machine contains both concentrated winded phase coils in dedicated slots and spoke-type permanent magnets solely in the stator. The spoke-type magnet arrangement achieves a high flux intensity even with low remanence non-rare earth permanent magnets. As the rotor has no active electromagnetic components, the risk for demagnetization is reduced and advanced cooling applied to the stator can enable high-speed operation. The principle of operation and polarity of the motor are investigated with a unique approach …

Ai In Newsrooms: Assessing Perception, Challenges And Possibilities In Bangladesh’S Media Landscape, Nadia Rahman

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

With the relentless progression of technological advancements, artificial intelligence (AI) has become a transformative force across various sectors, and newsrooms are no exception. Developed nations have already integrated AI into journalistic practices, showcasing its versatility in different news functions. However, the developing nations, including Bangladesh, a south Asian nation faces challenges in catching up, marked by technological and economic disparities. As an emerging economic force Bangladesh encounters different obstacles in the adoption of AI in its media landscape. Despite the expansiveness of its media industry, the country grapples with limited technological support and inadequate training opportunities. These challenges bring up …

The Information Practices Of Undergraduates Encountering Material Objects As Information Resources In Classroom Learning Tasks, Christopher A. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

Undergraduate students sometimes encounter material objects as information resources in small-group classroom learning activities. Examples include art, artifacts, specimens, and anatomical models. This dissertation sought to identify common features of the students’ information practices in such situations, regardless of the activity’s discipline or content, and to explore how making material information central shapes students’ information practices. The conceptual framework combined theorizations of materiality and information practices. Methods involved video recording students doing a variety of simulated classroom activities with objects, video elicitation, qualitative content analysis, and praxiographic interpretation. The praxiographic interpretive descriptions illustrated how all aspects of the site–material, bodily, …

Chemoproteomic Profiling Of A Carbon-Stabilized Gold(Iii) Macrocycle Reveals Cellular Engagement With Hmox2, Sailajah Gukathasan, Chibuzor Ngozi Olelewe, Libby Ratliff, Jong H. Kim, Alyson M. Ackerman, J. Robert Mccorkle, Sean Parkin, Gunnar F. Kwakye, Jill M. Kolesar, Samuel G. Awuah

Chemistry Faculty Publications

In this work, we discovered a novel organometallic gold(III) macrocycle, Au-Mac1, that demonstrates anticancer potency in a panel of triple-negative breast cancer cells (TNBC), and based on this complex, a biotinylated-Au-Mac1 probe was designed for target identification via chemoproteomics, which uncovered the engagement of HMOX2 of the heme-energy metabolism pathway. Using orthogonal chemical biology and molecular biology approaches, including immunoblotting, flow cytometry, and cellular thermal shift assays, it was confirmed that Au-Mac1 engages HMOX2 in cells. Downstream effects of Au-Mac1 on the depletion of mitochondrial membrane proteins and bioenergetics point to the potential role of HMOX2 in cancer. Importantly, Au-Mac1 …

Caspase-11 And Nlrp3 Exacerbate Systemic Klebsiella Infection Through Reducing Mitochondrial Ros Production, Yuqi Zhou, Zhuodong Chai, Ankit Pandeya, Ling Yang, Yan Zhang, Guoying Zhang, Congqing Wu, Zhenyu Li, Yinan Wei

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Introduction: Klebsiella pneumoniae is a Gram-negative bacterium and the third most commonly isolated microorganism in blood cultures from septic patients. Despite extensive research, the mechanisms underlying K. pneumoniae-induced sepsis and its pathogenesis remain unclear. Acute respiratory failure is a leading cause of mortality in systemic K. pneumoniae infections, highlighting the need to better understand the host immune response and bacterial clearance mechanisms. Method: To investigate the impact of K. pneumoniae infection on organ function and immune response, we utilized a systemic infection model through intraperitoneal injection in mice. Bacterial loads in key organs were quantified, and lung injury was assessed. …

Iodinated Disinfection Byproduct Formation From Iohexol In Sunlit And Chlorinated Urban Wastewaters, Reagan Patton Witt, Marcelo I. Guzman

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Iodinated disinfection by-products (I-DBPs) are of growing concern due to their elevated toxicity compared to their chlorinated counterparts, with links to adverse health effects such as bladder cancer and miscarriages. Medical imaging agents like iohexol, commonly used in healthcare facilities, introduce iodine into wastewater systems. This study investigates the photodegradation of iohexol and the subsequent formation of products, including I-DBPs, during simulated final wastewater treatment under chlorination and sunlight exposure. Experiments were conducted with solutions containing 30 μM iohexol, 3 mg L⁻¹ humic acids, and 5.5 mg L⁻¹ hypochlorite. Samples were irradiated at λ ≥ 295 nm and …

Aluminum In Beverages And Foods: A Comprehensive Compilation Of Regulations; Concentrations In Raw, Prepared, And Stored Beverages And Foods; And Intake, Robert Yokel

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The history and controversy concerning aluminum use in beverage and food preparation and storage are reviewed. This review on aluminum in drinking water, foods, and beverages updates and exceeds prior reviews. Country and international organization regulations that permit incorporation of aluminum containing food additives, their use limit, and purposes are presented. The aluminum concentration in beverages and foods consumed worldwide was gleaned from approximately 2100 sources available to the author. The approximately 17700 values are compiled in 175 tables by beverage or food category that include the analytical method used, sample source, and reference. The tables are posted on the …

Development Of A Ghrelin Deacylase To Attenuate Drug Reward And Associated Effects Of Methamphetamine, Madeline J. Stewart, Huimei Wei, Nellore Bhanu Chandar, Fang Zheng, Chang-Guo Zhan

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

All addictive substances directly or indirectly interact with the dopamine reward system to alter the brain’s dopamine receptor activities. It is essential for a truly effective addiction medication to attenuate substance reward and normalize the brain’s physiological functions. Conventional pharmacological intervention approaches to the treatment of substance addiction usually aim to develop and deliver a potential therapeutic agent to the brain to directly block or decrease actions of the substance or its therapeutic target in the brain. However, it is a grand challenge to attenuate the substance reward without affecting the normal physiological functions of brain receptors or transporters. Here, …

Effects Of Fentanyl-Adulterated Methamphetamine On Circulating Ghrelin In Rats, Huimei Wei, Elise C. Maul, Shawn Park, Kaniz Fatema, Daniel J. Peter, Chang-Guo Zhan, Fang Zheng

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

The appetite hormone ghrelin influences biological processes that are responsible for substance use disorder, which is related to alcohol and most abused drugs including cocaine, methamphetamine, nicotine, etc. In general, upregulation of the ghrelin system enhances drug cravings and substance use. Studies reported in the literature consistently demonstrated that the ghrelin system is associated with stimulants. However, research on opioids in combination with methamphetamine has not been reported. In this study, we examined the relationship of circulating ghrelin with the polydrug use of fentanyl and methamphetamine in male Sprague-Dawley rats, demonstrating for the first time that concurrent use of fentanyl …

Effects Of Fentanyl-Laced Cocaine On Circulating Ghrelin, Insulin, And Glucose Levels In Rats, Huimei Wei, Elise C. Maul, Annet Kyomuhangi, Shawn Park, Maddilynn L. Mutchler, Chang-Guo Zhan, Fang Zheng

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Opioid mixed with cocaine has been increasingly implicated in overdose deaths, including both intentional co-use of opioid and cocaine and fentanyl-adulterated drug supply. As ghrelin plays an important role in drug reward and can also influence insulin, this study aimed to assess responses of the circulating ghrelin, insulin, and glucose levels to the combined use of fentanyl and cocaine (a polydrug) in rats by performing combined animal behavioral experiments and biochemical analysis. The experimental data consistently revealed that the fentanyl and cocaine co-use can significantly elevate both the acyl-ghrelin and desacyl-ghrelin levels and significantly decrease the insulin level without significant …

Development Of Zafirlukast Analogues For Improved Antithrombotic Activity Through Thiol Isomerase Inhibition, Justine A. Keovilay, Kaitlind C. Howard, Kirk A. Taylor, Sabeeya Khan, Sienna E. Wurl, Melanie K. Szahaj, Tanya Sage, Nishad Thamban Chandrika, Caixia Hou, Oleg V. Tsodikov, Jonathan M. Gibbins, Sylvie Garneau-Tsodikova, Daniel R. Kennedy

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background:   Thiol isomerases play essential and nonredundant roles in platelet activation, aggregation, and thrombus formation. Thiol isomerase inhibitors have the potential to overcome the 2 major drawbacks of current antithrombotic therapies, as they target both arterial and venous thrombosis without enhancing bleeding risks. Recently, a Food and Drug Administration–approved drug, zafirlukast (ZAF), was shown to be a promising pan-thiol isomerase inhibitor. The objective of this study is to develop analogues of ZAF with optimized thiol isomerase inhibition and antithrombotic activity.   Methods:   Thirty-five ZAF analogues were tested in an insulin turbidometric assay for thiol isomerase inhibition. Analogues were tested for platelet …

Functional And Structural Studies On The Esperamicin Thioesterase And Progress Toward Understanding Enediyne Core Biosynthesis, Erome D. Hankore, Mitchell D. Miller, Abigael J. Kosgei, Weijun Xu, Kemin Tan, Michael Endres, Minakshi Bhardwaj, Grazyna Joachimiak, Andrzej Joachimiak, George N. Phillips Jr., Jon S. Thorson, Steven G. Van Lanen

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Enediynes are among the most potent antitumor and antibacterial natural products. Studies on their biosynthetic pathways have identified a shared, linear polyene precursor generated from an iterative type I polyketide synthase (PKSE) as the source of the enediyne warhead. A key step is the release of this polyene from the PKSE by a discrete thioesterase (TE). Here, we used X-ray crystallography, site-directed mutagenesis, and heterologous coexpression of PKSEs and TEs to elucidate how enediyne TEs mediate the production of the polyene. We solved the structure of wild-type EspE7 from esperamicin producer Actinomodura verrucosospora. The substrate binding pocket was also …

Association Between Lifetime Interpersonal Violence And Post– Covid-19 Condition Among Women In Kentucky, 2020-2022, Ayşe Güler, Heather M. Bush, Katie Schill, Nurlan Kussainov, Ann L. Coker

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic increased the risk of interpersonal violence. We investigated the association between lifetime interpersonal violence experience and risk of post–COVID-19 condition (the persistence of symptoms of COVID-19 and severity of health problems associated with COVID-19 that last a few weeks, months, or years) among women with lifetime interpersonal violence experience.   Methods: Women participants aged ≥18 years in Kentucky’s Wellness, Health & You—COVID-19 study completed online quantitative surveys about the impacts of the pandemic, developing COVID-19, and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition. We conducted cross-sectional analyses estimating rate ratios of developing COVID-19 and symptoms of post–COVID-19 condition during the …

Equatorial Flow Triangulations Of Gorenstein Flow Polytopes, Benjamin Braun, Alvaro Cornejo

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Generalizing work of Athanasiadis for the Birkhoff polytope and Reiner and Welker for order polytopes, in 2007 Bruns and Römer proved that any Gorenstein lattice polytope with a regular unimodular triangulation admits a regular unimodular triangulation that is the join of a special simplex with a triangulated sphere. These are sometimes referred to as equatorial triangulations. We apply these techniques to give purely combinatorial descriptions of previously-unstudied triangulations of Gorensten flow polytopes. Further, we prove that the resulting equatorial flow polytope triangulations are usually distinct from the family of triangulations obtained by Danilov, Karzanov, and Koshevoy via framings. We find …

The Matrixschubert Package For Macaulay2, Ayah Almousa, Sean Grate, Daoji Huang, Patricia Klein, Adam Laclair, Yuyuan Luo, Joseph Mcdonough

Mathematics Faculty Publications

We introduce the MatrixSchubert package for the computer algebra system Macaulay2. This package has tools to construct and study matrix Schubert varieties and alternating sign matrix (ASM) varieties. The package also introduces tools for quickly computing homological invariants of such varieties, finding the components of an ASM variety, and checking if a union of matrix Schubert varieties is an ASM variety.

Daily Anxiety And Dual Use Of Cigarettes And Vaping Products: Disparities By Sex, Race, And Ethnicity In U.S. Adults, Maggie K. Richardson, Delvon T. Mattingly, Osayande Agbonlahor, Alison C. Mcleish, Joy L. Hart, Kandi L. Walker

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

Objective:

Despite a decline in cigarette use, the dual use of cigarettes and electronic vaping products (EVPs) is a concerning pattern of nicotine consumption in the United States. Anxiety, a risk factor for tobacco use, may contribute to dual-use patterns; however, the association between daily anxiety symptoms and dual use of cigarettes and EVPs is not known. This study investigated associations between daily anxiety symptoms and dual cigarette and EVP use overall and by sex, race, and ethnicity.

Method:

Data are from the 2020–2022 National Health Interview Survey (n = 83,544). Multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for sociodemographic factors, …

Sonic Photovoice And Critical Literacy: Listening To And Sounding What Is Me, What Is Not Me, And What Is Between, Alexander Chadwell

Theses and Dissertations--Curriculum and Instruction

This study examined sonic photovoice, a sound-based arts research method, as a tool for developing critical literacy in middle and high school students. Participants found and recorded sounds related to three categories, “what is me,” “what is not me,” and “what is between,” composed a sound collage using the sounds, and reflected on the experience. Framed by 4EA cognition, participatory sensemaking, and relational and everyday aesthetics, the study explored how listening and sounding shaped students’ conceptions of self and reality. Data from recordings, journals, and interviews suggest that the sonic engagement can foster relational, emergent understandings of self and …

High-Resolution Geospatial Database: National Criteria-Air-Pollutant Concentrations In The Contiguous U.S., 2016–2020, Tianjun Lu, Sun-Young Kim, Julian D. Marshall

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Concentration estimates for ambient air pollution are used widely in fields such as environmental epidemiology, health impact assessment, urban planning, environmental equity and sustainability. This study builds on previous efforts by developing an updated high-resolution geospatial database of population-weighted annual-average concentrations for six criteria air pollutants (PM_2.5, PM₁₀, CO, NO₂, SO₂, O₃) across the contiguous U.S. during a five-year period (2016–2020). We developed Land Use Regression (LUR) models within a partial-least-squares–universal kriging framework by incorporating several land use, geospatial and satellite–based predictor variables. The LUR models were validated using conventional …

Evaluating Impact Of Stress First Aid Programs In A Primary Care Setting, Ryan Marler

DNP Projects

Background: Prolonged stress in healthcare workers (HCWs) can lead to burnout and absenteeism. High stress also negatively impacts work productivity and healthcare quality. The Stress First Aid (SFA) program aims to improve recovery from stress among HCWs. Chronic stress is evident in primary care clinics, where absenteeism and burnout symptoms have increased.

Purpose: This project aimed to evaluate the SFA program's effectiveness in reducing burnout and absenteeism and improving healthcare workers (HCW) knowledge of stress and available resources at University of Kentucky Healthcare (UKHC).

Methods: A quasi-experimental quality improvement project included pre- and post-education surveys, an SFA education session, and …