Digital Commons Network^™

Rna Editing Of Microtubule-Associated Protein Tau Circular Rnas Promotes Their Translation And Tau Tangle Formation, Justin Ralph Welden, Giorgi Margvelani, Karol Andrea Arizaca Maquera, Bhavani Gudlavalleti, Sandra C. Miranda Sardón, Alexandre Rosa Campos, Noémie Robil, Daniel C. Lee, Alvaro G. Hernandez, Wang-Xia Wang, Jing Di, Pierre De La Grange, Peter T. Nelson, Stefan Stamm

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Aggregation of the microtubule-associated protein tau characterizes tauopathies, including Alzheimer’s disease and frontotemporal lobar degeneration (FTLD-Tau). Gene expression regulation of tau is complex and incompletely understood. Here we report that the human tau gene (MAPT) generates two circular RNAs (circRNAs) through backsplicing of exon 12 to either exon 7 (12→7 circRNA) or exon 10 (12→10 circRNA). Both circRNAs lack stop codons. The 12→7 circRNA contains one start codon and is translated in a rolling circle, generating a protein consisting of multimers of the microtubule-binding repeats R1–R4. For the 12→10 circRNA, a start codon can be introduced by two …

Genetic Expression Changes And Pathologic Findings Associated With Hyperhomocysteinemia In Human Autopsy Brain Tissue, Erica M. Weekman, Zachary Winder, Colin B. Rogers, Erin L. Abner, Tiffany L. Sudduth, Ela Patel, Adam J. Dugan, Shuling X. Fister, Brandi Wasek, Peter T. Nelson, Gregory A. Jicha, Teodoro Bottiglieri, David W. Fardo, Donna M. Wilcock

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Introduction: Vascular contributions to cognitive impairment and dementia (VCID) are a leading cause of dementia. An underappreciated, modifiable risk factor for VCID is hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), defined by elevated levels of plasma homocysteine, most often due to impaired B vitamin absorption in aged persons. Studies aimed at identifying neuropathologic features and gene expression profiles associated with HHcy have been lacking.

Methods: A subset of research volunteers from the University of Kentucky Alzheimer’s Disease Research Center longitudinal cohort came to autopsy and had ante mortem plasma homocysteine levels available. Brain tissue and blood plasma drawn closest to death were used to measure …

Exhibit: Documenting The Presence Of Hispanic And Latinx Students At The University Of Kentucky, Ruth E. Bryan, Taylor Leigh

Library Presentations

From December 6-7, 2022, at the request of Hispanic Studies Department faculty Heather Campbell-Speltz, University Archivist Ruth Bryan and Hispanic Studies Librarian Taylor Leigh presented to students in classes SPA 211 and 208 an exhibit of items from the University Archives in the UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center that document the presence of Hispanic and Latinx students at the University of Kentucky. Starting with the first student from Latin America to graduate from the Agricultural and Mechanical College in 1878 (the precursor to today’s university) and going through some of the activities of the Latino Student Union in 2022, …

Effect Of Hydrogen Sulfide Content On The Combustion Characteristics Of Biogas Fuel In Homogenous Charge Compression Ignition Engines, Mohammad Alrbai, Adnan Darwish Ahmad, Sameer Al-Dahidi, Ahmad M. Abubaker, Loiy Al-Ghussain, Hassan S. Hayajneh, Nelson Akafuah

Institute of Research for Technology Development Faculty Publications

The use of biogas fuel in homogeneous charge compression ignition (HCCI) engines has been promoted recently due to the environmental advantages. However, hydrogen sulfide (H2 S) forms a non-environment friendly content and biogas impurity that its removal is associated with high costs. In this study, the effect of using biogas fuel in the HCCI engines under different operating conditions is investigated to shed light on the best scenarios of biogas combustion, even with the presence of H2S contents. A modified reaction mechanism is introduced by considering the re- actions of H2 S with other species in the air-fuel mixture. The …

Forage News [2022-12], Department Of Plant And Soil Sciences, University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Apoe Genetics Influence Murine Gut Microbiome, Diana J. Zajac, Stefan J. Green, Lance A. Johnson, Steven Estus

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Apolipoprotein E (APOE) alleles impact pathogenesis and risk for multiple human diseases, making them primary targets for disease treatment and prevention. Previously, we and others reported an association between APOE alleles and the gut microbiome. Here, we evaluated effects of APOE heterozygosity and tested whether these overall results extended to mice maintained under ideal conditions for microbiome analyses. To model human APOE alleles, this study used APOE targeted replacement (TR) mice on a C57Bl/6 background. To minimize genetic drift, homozygous APOE3 mice were crossed to homozygous APOE2 or homozygous APOE4 mice prior to the study, and the resulting …

Acute Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis Related Orbital Infection Secondary To Odontogenic Infection, Dennis Levy, Melvyn Yeoh

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

A 64-year old male presented to our institution with painful ophthalmoplegia. The initial differential diagnosis included orbital apex disorders, such as orbital apex syndrome (OAS), cavernous sinus thrombosis (CST), and superior orbital fissure syndrome (SOFS). Ultimately, the diagnosis was acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS) secondary to an odontogenic infection from carious teeth in the maxilla. Significant overlap exists between AIFRS and orbital apex disorders, making it prudent to include AIFRS in the differential diagnosis for painful ophthalmoplegia. The purpose of this review is to detail this specific patient's presentation and hospital course along with a brief review of AIFRS and …

Spf-R Online User Guide, Eric Green, Paul Ross, Christopher Blackden, William Staats, Reginald Souleyrette

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

SPF-R Online greatly improves and simplifies the SPF development process. Building on the original SPF-R script, the online tool eliminates many of the technical barriers associated with the original process, allowing for a much larger audience to take advantage of SPF-R’s capabilities. Like the original SPF-R script, SPF-R Online lets users quickly explore the effect of roadway network heterogeneity on SPF development, compare CURE plots , and compare goodness-of-fit measures to decide which SPF is most appropriate for a given dataset.

An Evaluation Of Injurious Falls And Fall-Risk-Increasing-Drug (Frid) Prescribing In Ambulatory Care In Older Adults, Taylor R. Elliott, Susan Westneat, Shama D. Karanth, Erin L. Abner, Anna M. Kucharska‑Newton, Daniela C. Moga

Epidemiology and Environmental Health Faculty Publications

Background: Falls are a major public health problem afecting millions of older adults each year. Little is known about FRID prescribing behaviors after injurious falls occur. The primary objective of this study was to investigate whether an injurious fall is associated with being prescribed a new FRID.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis using data from the National Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (2016). We included visits from patients age≥65 years and classifed visits based on presence of an injurious fall. The outcome of interest was prescription of new FRID between those with and without an injurious fall. Multivari‑ …

Single Low-Dose Targeted Bevacizumab Infusion In Adult Patients With Steroid-Refractory Radiation Necrosis Of The Brain: A Phase Ii Open-Label Prospective Clinical Trial, Shervin R. Dashti, Robert J. Kadner, Bradley S. Folley, Jason P. Sheehan, Dong Y. Han, Richard J. Kryscio, Mary B. Carter, Lisa B. E. Shields, Brian M. Plato, Renato V. La Rocca, Aaron C. Spalding, Tom L. Yao, Justin F. Fraser

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

OBJECTIVE There is an unmet need for safe and rapidly effective therapies for refractory brain radiation necrosis (RN). The aim of this prospective single-arm phase II trial was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of a single low-dose targeted bevacizumab infusion after blood-brain barrier disruption (BBBD) in adult patients with steroid-refractory brain RN.

METHODS Ten adults with steroid-refractory, imaging-confirmed brain RN were enrolled between November 2016 and January 2018 and followed for 12 months after treatment. Bevacizumab 2.5 mg/kg was administered as a one-time targeted intra-arterial infusion immediately after BBBD. Primary outcomes included safety and > 25% decrease in lesion volume. …

Estimating The Distribution Of Ratio Of Paired Event Times In Phase Ii Oncology Trials, Li Chen, Mark Burkard, Jianrong Wu, Jill M. Kolesar, Chi Wang

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

With the rapid development of new anti-cancer agents which are cytostatic, new endpoints are needed to better measure treatment efficacy in phase II trials. For this purpose, Von Hoff (1998) proposed the growth modulation index (GMI), that is, the ratio between times to progression or progression-free survival times in two successive treatment lines. An essential task in studies using GMI as an endpoint is to estimate the distribution of GMI. Traditional methods for survival data have been used for estimating the GMI distribution because censoring is common for GMI data. However, we point out that the independent censoring assumption required …

Beliefs Associated With Cancer Screening Behaviors Among African Americans And Sub-Saharan African Immigrant Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study, Adebola Adegboyega, Amanda T. Wiggins, Omoadoni Roseline Obielodan, Mark Dignan, Nancy E. Schoenberg

Nursing Faculty Publications

Background: Beliefs infuence cancer screening. However, there are conficting fndings about how belief infuence cancer screening among Black adults. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationships between beliefs (religiosity, fatalism, temporal orientation, and acculturation) and cervical, breast, and colorectal cancer screening behaviors among African Americans and sub-Saharan African immigrants.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 73 African American and 59 English speaking Sub-Saharan immigrant adults recruited from Lexington and surrounding cities in Kentucky. Data collected included sociodemographic variables, cancer screening behaviors, and several instruments that characterize beliefs, including religiosity, fatalism, temporal orientation, and acculturation. …

The Association Of Gabapentin Initiation And Neurocognitive Changes In Older Adults With Normal Cognition, Gyeon Oh, Daniela Claudia Moga, David W. Fardo, Erin L. Abner

Sanders-Brown Center on Aging Faculty Publications

Background: Gabapentin is increasingly prescribed to older adults, which raises concerns about its potential to cause neurocognitive changes. Therefore, we aimed to examine the association of gabapentin use with neurocognitive changes (i.e., cognitive decline, functional status decline, and motor function change) in older adults.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center Uniform Data Set (UDS; September 2005-March 2021 data freeze). From the eligible sample (≥age 65 years), we identified cognitively normal new-users of gabapentin and the visit they initiated gabapentin (i.e., index visit). Initiators were matched to randomly selected nonusers on year …

Examining Four Blood Biomarkers For The Detection Of Acute Intracranial Abnormalities Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury In Older Adults, Grant L. Iverson, Mira Minkkinen, Justin E. Karr, Ksenia Berghem, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Jussi P. Posti, Teemu M. Luoto

Psychology Faculty Publications

Blood-based biomarkers have been increasingly studied for diagnostic and prognostic purposes in patients with mild traumatic brain injury (MTBI). Biomarker levels in blood have been shown to vary throughout age groups. Our aim was to study four blood biomarkers, glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), ubiquitin C-terminal hydrolase-L1 (UCH-L1), neurofilament light (NF-L), and total tau (t-tau), in older adult patients with MTBI. The study sample was collected in the emergency department in Tampere University Hospital, Finland, between November 2015 and November 2016. All consecutive adult patients with head injury were eligible for inclusion. Serum samples were collected from the enrolled patients, …

Electronic, Redox, And Optical Property Prediction Of Organic Π-Conjugated Molecules Through A Hierarchy Of Machine Learning Approaches, Vinayak Bhat, Parker Sornberger, Balaji Sesha Sarath Pokuri, Rebekah Duke, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, Chad Risko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Accelerating the development of π-conjugated molecules for applications such as energy generation and storage, catalysis, sensing, pharmaceuticals, and (semi)conducting technologies requires rapid and accurate evaluation of the electronic, redox, or optical properties. While high-throughput computational screening has proven to be a tremendous aid in this regard, machine learning (ML) and other data-driven methods can further enable orders of magnitude reduction in time while at the same time providing dramatic increases in the chemical space that is explored. However, the lack of benchmark datasets containing the electronic, redox, and optical properties that characterize the diverse, known chemical space of organic π-conjugated …

Electronic, Redox, And Optical Property Prediction Of Organic Π-Conjugated Molecules Through A Hierarchy Of Machine Learning Approaches, Vinayak Shantaram Bhat, Parker Sornberger, Balaji Sesha Sarath Pokuri, Rebekah Duke, Baskar Ganapathysubramanian, Chad Risko

Chemistry Faculty Publications

Accelerating the development of π-conjugated molecules for applications such as energy generation and storage, catalysis, sensing, pharmaceuticals, and (semi)conducting technologies requires rapid and accurate evaluation of the electronic, redox, or optical properties. While high-throughput computational screening has proven to be a tremendous aid in this regard, machine learning (ML) and other data-driven methods can further enable orders of magnitude reduction in time while at the same time providing dramatic increases in the chemical space that is explored. However, the lack of benchmark datasets containing the electronic, redox, and optical properties that characterize the diverse, known chemical space of organic π-conjugated …

Effects Of Sowing Date And Phosphorus Fertiliser Application On Winter Survival Of Lucerne Cv. Aohan In The Northern Semi-Arid Region Of China, Z. L. Wang, Q. Zh. Sun, Y. W. Wang, Zh. Y. Li, Sh. F. Zhao

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the northern semi-arid region of China, winter survival is always a limiting factor for lucerne production, because low temperatures and a dry climate in winter (Zhou et al., 1993; Ma, 2000; Sun & Gui, 2001; Sun et al., 2003). An experiment was conducted to find an appropriate sowing date and P application rate in order to improve lucerne winter survival.

Ear Emergence Of Different Grass Species Under Finnish Growing Conditions, M. Niskanen, O. Niemeläinen, L. Jauhiainen

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Timothy is the most commonly cultivated grass species in Finland. Swards cultivated for silage of hay are of pure timothy or timothy is the dominant species of the mixture. Successful timing of harvesting of the primary growth is very critical in Northern latitudes where the stand develops very rapidly at daylengths of above 18 hours with a daily mean temperature close to 20 °C. The primary growth has to be harvested within a very short period to obtain a yield of high and uniform quality. Short harvesting periods require high capacity harvest machinery which lead to high costs. If it …

Reasons For The Premature Decline In Astragalus Adsurgens Stands In Kerqin Sandy Land, Q. Zh. Sun, Z. L. Wang, J. G. Han, Y. W. Wang, G. R. Liu

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Diseases partly account for reductions in Astragalus adsurgens, stand longevity. The effect of some cultural practices on the control of pests and diseases have been reported (Hou, 1986; Nan, 1996), but few reports have detailed the relationship among soil fertiliser status, diseases and premature stand decline. This study was conducted to investigate these relationships in order to extend the longevity of Astragalus adsurgens stands.

The Influence Of Fertiliser Application To Strip-Sown Grasslands On Herbage Production And Quality, A. Kohoutek, P. Komárek, V. Odstrčilová, P. Nerušil

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To increase the productivity of dairy cattle in the Czech Republic requires an improvement in herbage quality and an increase in the net energy of herbage. The decrease in cattle numbers by 50 % and the expansion of the grassland area both result in a surplus of feedstuffs of low quality. Introduction of strip-seeding of legumes and grasses into grasslands in interaction with fertilisation provides a possible solution to this problem.

Range-Based Livestock Production In Turkmenistan, R. H. Behnke, G. Davidson

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Turkmenistan retains a centralized system of livestock production in which many critical assets are owned by the state. Though technically in the temperate zone, the country's climate is harsh and unstable. Groundwater resources are unevenly distributed, leaving many potential grazing areas seasonally inaccessible due to lack of drinking water for livestock. This paper summarizes the results of a three-year study of rangelands, livestock production, flock economics and land tenure at two study sites, one in central and the other in eastern Turkmenistan. The results of this study suggest that pastoral communities in Turkmenistan have coped remarkably well with the institutional …

About Private Tommie D. Smith Guy, Wac, Reinette F. Jones

Library Presentations

Tommie D. Smith [Guy], from Lexington, KY, was one of the three African American WACs who were beaten by the local police and charged with disorderly conduct for sitting in the white waiting area of the bus station in Elizabethtown, KY. The three WACs were with the 1550th Service Command Unit, WAC Section II. The three women were eventually found not guilty of any charges.

Scale Modeling Of An Appearance Of Downwash Pattern Of Hot Smoke Ejected From Chimney In The Turbulent Cross Flow, Xangpheuak Inthavideth, Nobumasa Sekishita, Sounthisack Phommachanh, Yuji Nakamura

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

This study aims to elucidate the scaling law to provide the critical condition on appearance of the downwash pattern of the hot smoke ejected from a chimney in a turbulent cross flow. A specially designed wind tunnel with an active turbulence generator developed by Makita was adopted to offer a quasi-isotropic turbulence field in a lab-scale test facility. A heated jet with smoke is issued into the cross flow from the vertically oriented chimney placed in the test section of the wind tunnel. In this study, the experimental parameters considered are temperature of the heated jet (smoke), jet ejected velocity, …

Green Dairy, A Project For Environmental Friendly And Sustainable Dairy Systems In The Atlantic Area, H. Chambaut, A. Pflimlin, C. Raison

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Green Dairy is an European Interreg III B project which runs over 3 years. It brings together 10 research and development partners from 5 countries and 11 regions of the Atlantic Area which range from Scotland to Portugal. It aims to provide a better understanding of the impact of intensive dairy systems on the quality of the environment in order to develop ways of improving practices in the different regions. This is expected to encourage more rapid responses to the problems of deteriorating water and air quality and a more appropriate response within or between regional contexts that could be …

Rangeland Ecological Management Counter-Measures Study Of Xinjiang, H. X. Cui, J. Li, S. Asiya, J. L. Zhang, Jialin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Xinjiang is located in the hinterland of the Asian-Euro continental area and far from the ocean. It is surrounded by mountains and forms a physiognomic landscape of two basins located in three mountains. This results in an extremely droughty continental climate and a harsh environment in the Temperate Zone. However, the geographical environment is diverse in the Xinjiang Autonomous region, the three high mountains and complicated geographical structure results in changes in ecological conditions with altitude and a diverse ecological environment. Because of the drought characteristics the desert area has developed different types of vegetation, and the complexity of the …

Management Options To Reduce N-Losses From Ploughed Grass-Clover, J. De Wit, G. J. Van Der Burgt, N. Van Eekeren

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrate (NO₃ -) leaching from grassland can be kept at acceptable levels, but is often high after ploughing for grassland renewal or for silage maize/grain production. In on-farm research with several organic farmers, management options are being explored to save scarce organic manure and to reduce N-losses.

Mechanical Aeration And Liquid Dairy Manure: Application Impacts On Grassland Runoff Water Quality And Yield, T. J. Basden, S. B. Shah, J. L. Miller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Wet weather on heavy soils reduces oxygen availability in the root zone and reduces forage yields. Mechanical aeration can improve forage yield in these soil conditions. Research has shown that under certain conditions, mechanical aeration can increase yield by improving drainage and aeration (Davies et al., 1989); aeration can also increase depression, storage and infiltration thus reducing surface runoff and improving nutrient distribution in the root zone. Aeration on sloping, fertilised grassland can provide environmental (Douglas et al., 1995) and agronomic benefits. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the runoff water quality and agronomic impacts of …

Nitrogen Dynamics Following The Break-Up Of Grassland On Three Different Sandy Soils, Manfred Kayser, K. Seidel, J. Müller

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Nitrogen (N) is accumulated under grassland depending on factors such as soil type, management, and fertiliser input. Break-up of grassland stimulates mineralisation of organic N and may lead to increased soil mineral N and leaching losses (Lloyd, 1992). The objective of this study was to find out how site factors, e.g. soil, previous management and sward age, the following crop and the new level of N fertiliser affect the amount of inorganic N in autumn and the preceding mineralisation processes when grassland is ploughed in spring.

Fine Colloids ‘Carry’ Diffuse Water Contaminants From Grasslands, P. M. Haygarth, A. L. Heathwaite

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The transport of diffuse pollutants from grassland has traditionally been described by the operationally defined threshold of greater, or smaller than a nominated membrane filter size. Most commonly this has been a 0.45 μm threshold to define ‘solute’ and ‘particulate’ transport. In this paper we shall use phosphorus (P) to help provide an example of the importance of colloid-facilitated transport.

Leaching Losses Of N, P And K From Grazed Legume Based Swards: Some Preliminary Results, E. R. Dixon, A. C. Stone, D. Scholefield, D. J. Hatch

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

There is increasing interest in sustainable agricultural systems because of environmental concerns. Animal production which utilises mixed grass and legume swards could be an effective measure in increasing the efficiency of nutrient utilisation, and investigation into different legume species is necessary. Leaching losses of N, P and K from 3 legume species under grazing by sheep were measured using Teflon-coated suction cups. The experiment took place on the UK site of the EU-funded, multi-site experiment – LEGGRAZE.