Digital Commons Network^™

Affordability And Serving Accuracy Of A Publicly Available Dash Meal Plan For Women Using Snap Benefits, Kendra Oonorasak, Mansura Shahad Bawa, Nadia Ayesha Sesay, Emma Smith, Taylor Emerson, Jayden Brewer, Brandi M. White

Health and Clinical Sciences Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: This regional case study evaluated the affordability and serving accuracy of a publicly available one-week DASH meal plan for single-woman households using Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits in central Kentucky.

Methods: For each food item in the one-week plan, total grocery costs and per-serving costs were calculated using January 2025 prices from two national grocery chains commonly patronized in an urban area in central Kentucky. Calculated costs were compared to the average weekly food cost for women aged 20–50 years in a single household based on the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP). Servings for food groups and categories were …

Alexander Duals Of Symmetric Simplicial Complexes And Stanley-Reisner Ideals, Ayah Almousa, Kaitlin Bruegge, Martina Juhnke-Kubitzke, Uwe Nagel, Alexandra Pevzner

Mathematics Faculty Publications

Given an ascending chain (I_n)_n∈N of Sym-invariant squarefree monomial ideals, we study the corresponding chain of Alexander duals (I_n^∨)_n∈N. Using a novel combinatorial tool, which we call avoidance up to symmetry, we provide an explicit description of the minimal generating set up to symmetry in terms of the original generators. Combining this result with methods from discrete geometry, this enables us to show that the number of orbit generators of I_n^∨ is given by a polynomial in n for sufficiently large n. The same is true for …

Does Working From Home Impact Audit Quality? Evidence From Non-Pharmaceutical Interventions During Covid-19, Monika Causholli, Sung-Yuan Mark Cheng, Nargess Golshan

Economics Faculty Publications

Catalyzed by the COVID-19 pandemic, many audit firms announced large-scale plans to adopt work-from-home (WFH) policies. It is unclear how this arrangement would affect audit quality. We exploit county-level non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as shelter-in-place orders and lockdowns, that exogenously increased local auditors’ WFH practices. We use a difference-in-differences research design to compare audit engagements that were affected by these policies to those that were not, including those within the same office. We find that WFH is associated with higher audit quality measured by discretionary accruals and going-concern opinions. We also find some evidence that these results are stronger for clients …

Feasibility Study Of A Screening Decision Tool For Allocating Adults Into Food Is Medicine Programs As An Effective Approach To Target Clinical And Dietary Outcomes Among Rural And Urban Adults, Alison Gustafson, Carolyn Lauckner, Joshua L. Bush, Emily Dimond, Carolina Morales Serrano, Christa Mayfield, Elizabeth T. Anderson Steeves

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

Objective: Evaluate feasibility (primary), clinical, and cost outcomes (secondary) associated with the use of a screening decision tool for allocating rural and urban adults with hypertension into in a food is medicine (FIM) program.

Design: Participants were allocated to receive either medically tailored meals or grocery prescription (Rx), based on a user-centered designed screening decision tool. Medically tailored meals (MTM) provided 5 meals per week for 12 weeks. The grocery Rx program provided $100 each month for 3 months to purchase food consistent with guidelines for hypertension. Feasibility outcomes included engagement, dose, and program acceptability. Semi-structured interviews were completed with …

Three Essays On Disparities And Outcomes Among Patients With Diabetes, Aiemere O. Oikeh

Theses and Dissertations--Health Services Research (HSR)

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) recommends that patients with diabetes adopt 7 preventive care measures to improve their health outcomes. The recommendations are to check their blood glucose levels daily, undergo biennial hemoglobin A1c tests, undergo dilated eye exams once every 2 years, engage in regular physical activity, check their feet daily, have annual feet examinations performed by a clinician, and receive diabetes self-management education services (DSMES). Marital status has been found to be associated with positive health outcomes; thus, it is ideal to evaluate if there is an association between marital status and diabetes preventive care. The ADA also …

Association Of Serotonin And Ergot Alkaloids On Tissue Partitioning And Contractile Response Of Bovine Blood Vessels, Eriton E. L. Valente, David L. Harmon, John May, Huihua Ji, Ronald J. Trotta, James L. Klotz

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

Ergot alkaloids can bind serotonin (5-HT) receptors interfering with many physiological functions. However, the mechanism has not been completely established. The objective was to evaluate whether the association of 5-HT and the ergot alkaloid, ergovaline, in a 24-h pre-incubation can affect vascular tissue partitioning and contractile responses. Cross-sections of saphenous veins from five steers were used. In the tissue partitioning experiment, the treatments were the combination of three levels of ergovaline (2.01 × 10⁻⁸ M, 2.01 × 10⁻⁷ M and 2.01 × 10⁻⁶ M) with three levels of 5-HT and a control (5 × 10⁻⁸ M, …

Innovative Strategies For Incorporating Clinical Experiences Into An Rn To Bsn Program, Angie Hensley, Jessica Rice, Brooke Kuns-Adkins

Nursing Faculty Publications

Curricula for Registered Nurse to Baccalaureate (RN to BSN) programs need to enhance nurse’s scope of practice, critical reasoning, and analytical skills. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how one RN to BSN program innovatively integrated clinical experiences into the curriculum.  Students enrolled in the RN to BSN program were required to complete 40 hours of an on-site practice experience that integrated classroom learning with direct clinical experiences incorporated into the Capstone course.

Adult Tobacco Product Use Patterns Across The Urban–Rural Continuum: The Longitudinal Population Assessment Of Tobacco And Health (Path) Study, 2016–2023, Jing Zhang, Shyanika W. Rose, Ellen J. Hahn, Megan E. Roberts, Bethany Shorey Fennell, Jenny E. Ozga, Seth Himelhoch, Saber Feizy, W. Jay Christian, Amanda Thaxton Wiggins, Melissa Abadi, Delvon T. Mattingly, Mary Kay Rayens

Nursing Faculty Publications

Purpose: To determine the association between adult tobacco/nicotine product use over time and residence location (urban, suburban, town, rural), controlling for demographics.

Methods: Data from Waves 4–7 (2016–2023) of the Population Assessment of Tobacco and Health (PATH) study (N = 18,590 adults) were analyzed using survey-weighted logistic regression to evaluate location and time differences in likelihoods of current, daily, and established use of combustible tobacco, electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS), smokeless products, and poly use (≥2 products).

Findings: Compared to those residing in urban locations, suburban residents were less likely to report current (adjusted odds ratio (aOR) …

Association Between Perioperative Patient-Reported Outcomes And Upper Extremity Functional Performance In Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Harshit Arora, Hassan Darabi, Vishwajeet Singh, Aysha Alsahlawi, Jared T. Wilcox, Francis Farhadi

Neurosurgery Faculty Publications

Background: Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) is caused by chronic compression of the cervical spinal cord. Individuals usually present with a combination of upper extremity dysfunction, imbalance, and bladder dysfunction, which impact overall quality of life. Various questionnaires like mJOA, Nurick, NDI, and DCM-72 have been used for disease stratification. Our study aims to evaluate the clinical correlation between self-reported measures and objective upper extremity assessments and to derive the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) for individuals with DCM.

Methods: A prospective two-center study of consecutive patients diagnosed with DCM was undertaken. A comprehensive assessment of upper extremity functioning including dexterity, …

Abca12 Frameshift Deletion In Domestic Cats With Ichthyosis Fetalis, Jeanna M. Blake, Melissa P. Swan, Kari J. Ekenstedt

Veterinary Science Faculty Publications

Background: Ichthyosis fetalis (IF), also known as harlequin ichthyosis, is a rare and often fatal autosomal recessive congenital skin disorder. It is characterized by thickened, hard skin plaques and deep skin fissures that limit mobility and cause malformations of the eyes, lips and ears. Affected individuals are highly susceptible to life-threatening infections due to the disruption of the skin's protective barrier. To date, IF and its genetic basis have not been described in domestic cats.

Objectives: To characterize the gross clinical, histopathological and genetic features of IF in two stray, random-bred domestic short-hair (DSH) littermates.

Animals: Two deceased female neonatal …

Associations Between Traumatic Life Events And Substance Use Among Black Men Who Are Incarcerated, Jasmine K. Jester, Brittany Miller-Roenigk, Paris B. Wheeler, Danelle Stevens-Watkins

Educational, School, and Counseling Psychology Faculty Publications

The current study examined associations between traumatic life events, current and lifetime importance of mental health and substance use treatment, and crack cocaine use among 201 Black men who were incarcerated and nearing community reentry. Results indicated age, sexual trauma and lifetime importance of drug treatment were significantly associated with an increased likelihood of crack cocaine use. Substance abuse treatment in correctional settings should consider culturally tailored assessment and treatment for history of unaddressed sexual trauma among Black men who are incarcerated and use crack cocaine.

Effective Deep Learning Architectures For Structured Data Analysis And Generation, Md Atik Ahamed

Theses and Dissertations--Computer Science

The effective utilization of structured data is fundamental to modern machine learning, yet it presents distinct challenges in both predictive analysis and generative modeling. Traditional deep learning architectures, particularly Transformers, often suffer from quadratic computational complexity when processing long sequences. This dissertation addresses these limitations by introducing novel architectures based on State-Space Models (SSMs) and Diffusion Models. In the area of predictive analysis, we focus on overcoming the computational bottlenecks of attention mechanisms for tabular and time-series data. First, we introduce MambaTab, a selective state-space architecture designed for efficient tabular classification. By leveraging the linear complexity of SSMs, MambaTab significantly …

Different Destinations: Clarifying And Addressing Pipeline Problems For Women In Academic Archaeology, Scott R. Hutson, Jaycee Castro, Bruno Athie Teruel

Anthropology Faculty Publications

In STEM fields, women tend to leak out of the pipeline to the professoriate. In archaeology, however, robust databases and chronological control reveal that there is no leakage from earning a PhD to tenure-track positions. Nor is there a leak from assistant professor to associate professor. Nevertheless, men get hired as faculty in PhD programs more often than women. This is important because PhD programs are research-intensive and train future leaders. Furthermore, women PhD students have women as advisers more than often men and report advantages to this arrangement. Yet with fewer women faculty in PhD programs, women mentors are …

The Morphological Affinities Of The Fossil Cranium From Kabua, Kenya, Abel Marinus Bosman, Laura Tabitha Buck, Hugo Reyes-Centeno, Marta Mirazón Lahr, Chris Stringer, Rainer Grün, Qingfeng Shao, Katerina Harvati

Anthropology Faculty Publications

Our current understanding of the origins of Homo sapiens is limited, in part, by the fragmented fossil record from Late Pleistocene and early Holocene Africa. Here, we re-examine the Kabua 1 cranium, an enigmatic and little-studied Kenyan fossil discovered in the 1950s. We compare virtual reconstructions created previously by our team with a wide range of Middle Pleistocene to Early Holocene fossils and recent African H. sapiens crania to assess Kabua 1's morphological affinities. We also provide a conservative new Uranium-series minimum date of 64.4 ± 5.4 ka. Our results highlight Kabua 1's broad similarity to derived H. sapiens, both …

Chirp Imaging In Extant Lakes And Reservoirs, Kevin L. Woller, Edward W. Woolery, Eva C. Lyon, Michael M. Mcglue

Earth and Environmental Sciences Faculty Publications

Compressed high-intensity radiated pulse (CHIRP) acoustic reflection data acquired in lakes and other shallow water bodies can provide detailed imaging that is valuable for environmental and engineering geology applications well below the sub-bottom floors. However, it is often unclear to non-specialists which acquisition settings should be considered to achieve optimal imaging quality when beginning a new survey, particularly in an unfamiliar environment. We review fundamental concepts for optimizing signal design using coincident CHIRP lines from two extant glacial lakes in the eastern Sierra Nevada of California: Convict Lake and June Lake. As part of the optimization process, seismic data were …

County-Level Surveillance For The American Dog Tick (Dermacentor Variabilis) And Rickettsia Species In Kentucky, Callista W. Vandegriff, Jun Seok Ryoo, Maria C. Carrasquilla, Anna Rosalee Pasternak, Wayne T. Sanderson, Subba R. Palli

Entomology Faculty Publications

Spotted fever group (SFG) rickettsiosis includes a group of illnesses with similar symptoms caused by Rickettsia species bacteria. While Rickettsia rickettsii, the agent of Rocky Mountain spotted fever (RMSF) is a well-known pathogen, other SFG Rickettsia spp. can infect ticks and occasionally contribute to human disease. We conducted county-level surveillance of Dermacentor variabilis ticks in Kentucky to characterize the distribution and diversity of SFG Rickettsia. Ticks were collected from the environment from 2019 to 2024 by dragging a white cloth and through our Kentucky Tick Submission Program. In total, 2,023 D. variabilis ticks were collected from 114 …

Clinical Manifestations Of Bed Bug Bites: A Systematic Review Of Case Reports, Julian Felipe Porras-Villamil, Zachary C. Devries

Entomology Faculty Publications

Importance: Clinical characterization of bed bug (Cimex spp.) bite manifestations remains limited.   Objective: This systematic review synthesizes case reports to describe dermatological, systemic, and psychological outcomes of bed bug bites.   Evidence review: Following PRISMA guidelines, multiple databases, including Pubmed and Scopus, were searched using terms such as “bed bug,” “Cimex lectularius,” “Cimex hemipterus,” “case report,” and “case series.” Extracted data included demographics, species, lesion type, anatomical distribution, and clinical manifestations. Quantitative and qualitative analyses were conducted.   Results: Eighty-four patients were included: 76 with C. lectularius (90.5%) and, 8 with C. hemipterus (9.5%). Sex distribution was …

Complex Interplay Between Facilitation And Competition In Two Invasive Fruit Pests, Eleanor Mccabe, Nicholas M. Teets

Entomology Faculty Publications

When one invasive species facilitates the invasion of another species, it can lead to invasional meltdown. However, when the two species depend on the same finite resource, facilitation and competition can occur simultaneously and impact population dynamics. Furthermore, factors like resource availability and population density could alter the balance between facilitation and competition. Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus are two invasive insect pests that infest small fruit crops. The co-localization of these species in the same fields, coupled with the fact that Z. indianus lacks a hardened ovipositor that can penetrate the skin of fruit, has led to the hypothesis …

Elevated Temperatures Disrupt Wolbachia-Induced Feminisation And Reshape Microbial Community Dynamics Across Generations In A Spider Host, Virginija Mackevicius-Dubickaja, Jennifer A. White, Ellen E. Williams, Eyal Klement, Yuval Gottlieb, Matthew R. Doremus

Entomology Faculty Publications

Longitudinal microbial interactions within a host are challenging to study, leading to a focus on constructed microbial communities in vitro settings. Here, we take advantage of a naturally defined microbial community within a spider host to study how elevated temperatures influence microbial dynamics and phenotypes across host generations. The spider Mermessus fradeorum hosts up to five endosymbionts, including a Wolbachia strain, W1, which induces feminisation, causing genetic males to develop as phenotypic females, skewing sex ratios and promoting symbiont spread. Despite this, Wolbachia 1 persists at intermediate frequencies in wild populations. We hypothesised that elevated temperatures might reduce penetration of …

Evolutionary Transitions In Social Behavior Are Associated With Convergent And Partially Reversible Expansions Of Transcription Factor Binding Sites, Savanna G. Ploessl, Beryl M. Jones

Entomology Faculty Publications

The evolution of sociality involves shifts in physiology and behavior, most notably the emergence of a reproductive division of labor. Within social colonies, these distinct behavioral phenotypes arise from differential regulation of a shared genome. Changes in transcription factor (TF) binding motifs are one potential mechanism underpinning this plasticity, with prior studies suggesting that social species exhibit expansions in TF binding sites. However, it remains unclear whether motif expansions are reversed when sociality is lost. Here we analyze predicted TF motif occurrences across gene promoters in 42 bee species spanning millions of years of evolutionary divergence and multiple independent gains …

Variability In Mountain Pine Beetle (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Gene Expression In Response To Increasing Concentrations Of Species-Specific Double-Stranded Rna, Kylie J. Bickler, Zachary Bragg, Flávia Pampolini, Bethany R. Kyre, Lynne K. Rieske

Entomology Faculty Publications

Sensitivity to double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-induced gene silencing has been observed in multiple coleopterans. Initial work with mountain pine beetle, Dendroctonus ponderosae Hopkins, determined that specific ubiquitously expressed essential genes can cause mortality when silenced by carefully designed dsRNAs. However, current dsRNA production methods are not economically feasible for production at scale. Therefore, identifying the minimum efficacious dose is a critical step to deployment. To investigate the relationship between dsRNA dose and subsequent gene expression, adult mountain pine beetles were fed either a target or control dsRNA across a gradient of concentrations, including 2.5, 1.0, 0.25, and 0.025µg/µl, and relative gene …

Indoor Allergens And Endotoxins In Relation To Cockroach Infestations In Low-Income Urban Homes, Madhavi L. Kakumanu, Zachary C. Devries, Richard G. Santangelo, Jeffrey Siegel, Coby Schal

Entomology Faculty Publications

Background: Cockroach allergens are well recognized as important risk factors in the development and prevalence of allergic rhinitis and asthma in children, especially in low-income urban households. The German cockroach gut hosts a diverse community of highly abundant microbes, including gram-negative bacteria that shed large amounts of endotoxins in cockroach feces. Objective: We sought to delineate the causal relationship between the presence of cockroaches in homes and levels of household endotoxins. Methods: In laboratory assays, we measured the amount of endotoxin produced by cockroaches. In-home monitoring estimated the size of the cockroach population in each home and quantified cockroach allergen …

Dissolution Or Restructuring? Fiscal Implications For Taxpayers In Special Tax Districts: A Case Study Of The Reedy Creek Improvement District, Tasha Huber

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Although extensive research has examined the creation and function of special tax districts in the U.S., little research has been done regarding the fiscal and governance implications of dissolution of these entities. This study examines the fiscal outcomes of dissolution versus restructuring special districts, using the former Reedy Creek Improvement District as the primary case study. Using a qualitative approach, the analysis compares restructuring and dissolution cases in California, Vermont, and Tennessee. Drawing on publicly available material such as financial documents, media coverage, and legislative records, this research evaluates impacts on taxpayer burden. Findings suggest that dissolving large, active special …

Expenditure Management Strategies For Long-Term Fiscal Sustainability In South Korea, Jaehyun Ryu

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This capstone examines strategies for managing government expenditures to secure long-term fiscal sustainability in South Korea. Although South Korea currently maintains a relatively low public debt-to-GDP ratio compared with other OECD countries, rapid population aging, slowing economic growth, and the continued expansion of mandatory expenditures pose significant long-term fiscal risks. Given the political and economic constraints associated with tax increases and growth-led debt management, this study focuses on expenditure management as a primary and feasible policy instrument for sustaining fiscal soundness.

The research combines empirical analysis with comparative case studies. First, the study examines the relationship between government debt and …

A Comparative Policy Analysis Of Lung Cancer, Maternal Mortality, And Obesity, Destiny M. Rucker, Rhonda M. Lawson, Trinity Olmstead

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Kentucky has significantly poorer outcomes than peer states across key women's health indicators. This capstone focuses on lung cancer, maternal mortality, and obesity to evaluate the structural and policy factors behind these disparities. Using a quantitative comparative research design, the study analyzes secondary data from sources including CDC WONDER, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS), America’s Health Rankings, and the March of Dimes. Data were analyzed in Excel to create comparative figures, benchmarking Kentucky’s outcomes against the U.S. average and four regional peer states: Tennessee, Indiana, Illinois, and Virginia. These states were chosen for their demographic and geographic similarities …

Ai Data Center Boom: An Analysis Of Economic And Legislative Impacts, Shelby Jackson

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The United States is currently experiencing an Artificial Intelligence (AI) data center boom due to increased demand for generative AI following the launch of models such as ChatGPT. Data centers, particularly hyperscale data centers, have become a flashpoint due to environmental and public health concerns, along with rising utility costs. Although more than 70% of Americans do not want data centers in their community, state and local governments often offer tax incentives to attract data center development with the aim of job creation and tax revenue.

This study assessed whether the financial benefits that AI data centers may offer state …

A Comparative Analysis Of Governance And Financial Frameworks In Public Transit Systems: A Case Study Of Lextran And Peer Transit Agencies, Kelin E. Beattie

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Public transportation serves as a vital community "lifeline," providing essential mobility for the 45% of Americans without private vehicle access and generating a 5-to-1 economic return on investment. This research investigates a critical fiscal paradox within Lextran, the transit authority for Lexington, Kentucky: despite achieving a cost per passenger trip 22% lower than the national peer average, the agency faces a $25.95 million unfunded capital gap over the current five-year planning horizon. Utilizing a comparative case study methodology, this paper evaluates the "rules of the game"—the hybrid governance and fiscal frameworks—that influence long-term financial sustainability.

The study benchmarks Lextran against …

Balancing Accountability And Efficiency: A Policy Review Of The City Of Toledo's Purchasing Contract Threshold, Jennifer L. Baskey

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Municipal procurement policies are intended to balance fiscal accountability with the efficient acquisition of goods and services necessary to support public operations. One of the primary mechanisms used to achieve this balance is the establishment of purchasing thresholds that determine when formal contracts are required. While these controls are essential for protecting public resources, procurement policies should also evolve to reflect changing economic conditions and contemporary public-sector management practices.

The City of Toledo currently requires formal contracts and legislative approval for purchases exceeding $10,000 pursuant to Toledo Municipal Code, Chapter 13, Section 228 (City of Toledo Municipal Code, 2026). This …

Allocation And Governance Of Opioid Response Funding In Rural Kentucky: A Case Study Of The Big Sandy Area Development District, Hayley M. Mccarty

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The opioid epidemic continues to present significant public health, economic, and administrative challenges throughout the United States, with rural Kentucky experiencing some of the nation's highest rates of opioid-related morbidity and mortality.

Effectively responding to this crisis requires not only adequate financial resources but also transparent governance, coordinated implementation, and accountability for how public funds are distributed.

This study examines the allocation, governance, and implementation of opioid response funding within the Big Sandy Area Development District (BSADD), a rural multi-county region in eastern Kentucky. Using a qualitative case study and policy analysis approach, the research evaluates four primary funding sources: …

Best Practices For Budgeting In Small Non-Profit Organizations: The Arts Commission Of Danville/Boyle County, Esther Rugerio

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Nonprofit arts organizations face unique financial management challenges due to limited staffing, restricted funding sources, and fluctuating revenue streams. This thesis examines the Arts Commission of Danville/Boyle County located in Danville, KY. It identifies opportunities to strengthen financial oversight, accountability, and long-term sustainability. Using a qualitative research approach and document-based analysis, the study evaluated organizational budgets, governance documents, and nonprofit financial management best practices.

The findings revealed several areas for improvement, including reliance on line-item budgeting, recurring use of carry-forward funds, limited board financial oversight, fiscal sponsorship complexities, and a lack of formal financial policies. Recommendations include adopting a program-informed …