Digital Commons Network^™

Development And Clinical Validation Of The Sensor-E Exoskeleton For Objective Hand Function Assessment In Stroke Rehabilitation, Madison Bates

Theses and Dissertations--Biomedical Engineering

Hand function is often impaired following neurological trauma or in conditions such as stroke, limiting independence and the ability to perform activities of daily living (ADLs). Current clinical assessments rely heavily on subjective rating scales that lack the resolution to detect subtle changes in motor performance, which can limit access to rehabilitation. Recent advances in wearable technologies highlight the potential for hand-worn devices to provide objective, real-time measures of hand function. However, most systems focus solely on kinematics and rarely capture both movement and exerted force. Moreover, integration into rehabilitation frameworks and brain-computer interface (BCI) protocols remains limited. To address …

Image Processing And Machine Learning Using Lidar And 360 Camera In Underground Mines, Ana Fabiola Patricia Tejada Peralta

Theses and Dissertations--Mining Engineering

Underground mining environments present several safety challenges due to low visibility, poor lighting, and the absence of GPS coverage. These factors hinder situational awareness and delay hazard detection, particularly during post-disaster conditions. This research introduces an integrated framework that combines image processing and machine learning techniques applied to 360-degree camera and LiDAR data to enable automated object detection and remote monitoring in underground mines.

The study was divided into two main stages: 2D object detection and 3D object detection. The 2D component employed images captured with a Ricoh Theta Z1 360° camera and utilized YOLO-based deep learning models for object …

Development Of A Stable Isotope Method To Measure Protein Fractional Synthesis Rate In Equine Skeletal Muscle, Antoinette E. Foliart

Theses and Dissertations--Animal and Food Sciences

Muscle mass is regulated by the balance between muscle protein synthesis and degradation. Previous research in horses has shown that the signaling pathway that regulates protein synthesis is upregulated with increasing protein intake; however, whether this corresponds to an increase in muscle protein synthesis rates had not been previously explored. The objective of this study was to develop an isotopic method to measure muscle protein fractional synthesis rate (FSR) in horses following graded protein intake. Eight mature Thoroughbred horses were studied using a randomized cross-over design. Horses consumed meals containing 0 (No), 0.125 (Low), 0.25 (Med), or 0.5 (High) g …

Where Does The Money Go? Three Essays On Intergovernmental Transfers, Spending, And Poverty In Indonesia, Jacobus Cd Rijoly

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

Indonesia allocates substantial intergovernmental transfers to local governments; nonetheless, the decrease in poverty remains limited. This dissertation posits that the binding constraint is institutional, specifically the regulations and incentives that dictate the extent to which funds are allocated from the government to designated programs. Institutional pass-through refers to the fraction of a transfer that is allocated to a program expenditure. The three essays integrate estimation, budget composition evidence, and a formal model to explain both modest average effects and heterogeneity across regions and programs.

The first essay evaluates the impact of transfers on provincial poverty from 2001 to 2022 by …

Essays On Public And Nonprofit Financial Management In Times Of Crisis, Junoh Jeon

Theses and Dissertations--Public Policy and Administration

This dissertation comprises three essays that examine critical aspects of public and nonprofit financial management, focusing on interorganizational relationships, local government influence, and financial reserve management in times of crisis.

The first essay examines how interorganizational relationships, specifically nonprofit organizations’ board interlocks, relate to their financial distress, depending on the temporal and spatial contexts. Organization-level fixed-effects regression analysis with Kentucky nonprofits from 2018 to 2022 shows that nonprofits with board interlocks in urban areas were less likely to experience financial distress during the COVID-19 pandemic. I suggest that board interlock acts as an adaptive buffering tool that helps manage resource …

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 …

Examining The Relationship Between Cognitive Auditory Processing And Sex Hormones, Trey A. Cline

Theses and Dissertations--Gerontology

Estrogen and progesterone have demonstrated modulatory effects on central auditory nervous system (CANS) function. Post-menopausal females often present to audiology clinics with complaints of difficulty hearing in background noise. However, these individuals often have normal peripheral hearing sensitivity on standard audiometry. Previous studies using the auditory brainstem response (ABR) in post-menopausal females demonstrated longer response latencies compared to their premenopausal counterparts, suggesting that sound does not transmit through the CANS as efficiently. However, to date, the available literature focused on sex hormones and the CANS relies mainly on objective measures, predominantly the ABR. The ABR reflects physiologic function through the …

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 …

Regulation Of Human Dna Mismatch Repair, Breanna Knicely

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

The DNA mismatch repair (MMR) pathway identifies and corrects misincorporations that arise during DNA replication. MMR is a pathway that is critical for maintaining genomic stability. Mutations within the MMR pathway, both germline and somatic, lead to the development of cancer. There are a variety of mechanisms that regulate the MMR pathway including protein-protein interactions, DNA damage response, and post-translational modifications. In this study, we aim to dive deeper into each of these mechanisms to obtain novel information regarding the mechanisms and regulation of human DNA MMR. In this study we generated hExo1 constructs mutating Exo1’s interactions with MSH2 and …

The Paradox Of Survival: Gendered Food Insecurity, Labor Inequalities, And Coping Strategies During The 2023/4 Drought In Eastern Ethiopia, Meron E. Lemma

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

In drought-prone regions of Eastern Ethiopia, recurring droughts profoundly reshape everyday life in ways that deepen existing gendered inequalities. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in Fedis district, including semi-structured interviews with women, project implementers, and government officials, as well as group discussions with community members, this study explores how women experience, navigate, and resist the gendered impacts of drought. By attending to the sociopolitical dynamics of drought and the development interventions that accompany it, I analyze how these forces restructure labor, land, food systems, and authority in ways that reproduce and exacerbate existing inequalities. Women’s coping strategies, ranging from begging and …

Commercial Attention Spaces: A Century Of Discourses, Measurements, And Models Of Attention In The Construction Of U.S. Advertising Markets, Jacob Saindon

Theses and Dissertations--Geography

A vast assemblage of networked devices populate our everyday spaces. Concomitant with the increasing ubiquity of media devices are advertisements. Indeed, many networked devices, specifically the “free-to-use” software applications, websites, or platforms displayed through them, are advertising-dependent. An assortment of firms within the commercial media industry—brands, agencies, publishers, vendors—work in concert to sustain a market for advertising. The core operation of the commercial media industry, I argue, is the production and exchange of attention as an economic object. In this study, I approach the production of attention and the framing of its markets as spatial processes. The continued growth of …

Poesía Mapuche Y Vasca Como Herramienta De Resistencia Cotidiana, Paula Ruiz Santamaría

Theses and Dissertations--Hispanic Studies

This dissertation examines the work of contemporary Mapuche poets Adriana Pinda, Maribel Mora Curriao and Roxana Miranda Rupailaf, alongside Basque poets Leire Bilbao and Miren Agur Meabe, who write partially or entirely in their native languages— Mapudungun and Basque— as a form of resistance against the historical and ongoing imposition of Spanish. Through their poetry, these poets defend their identities and cultural heritage, invoking their matrilineal lineage to remember and heal. They also subvert traditional Catholic prayers by modifying them into invocations to Goddesses, casting spells of liberation of the female body, denouncing patriarchal violence and recreating alternative worlds. Their …

In‑Situ Characterization And Modeling Of Machining‑Induced Residual Stresses In Peripheral Milling Of Ti–6al–4v With Rounded Cutting Edges, Matthias Wimmer, Julius M. Schoop, Michael F. Zaeh

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

The residual stress state in the sub-surface of machined components can significantly impact the properties and performance of parts, such as tribological properties, fatigue life, and dimensional distortion. The evolution of residual stresses depends on the selected process parameters and tool geometry, which affect the thermo-mechanical load imposed on the workpiece. The cutting-edge radius is among the most important factors influencing the resulting residual stresses. In this paper, a semi-analytical model for the determination of residual stresses after peripheral milling of Ti–6Al–4V is presented. It considers the physical principles of orthogonal machining, including the complex geometric and kinematic relationships during …

A Geopolitical Economy Analysis Of China And India’S Approaches To Transnational Data Governance, Yujia He, Ka Zeng

Patterson School of Diplomacy and International Commerce Faculty Publications

Recent literature on the behavior of rising powers in digital trade and data governance highlights their discourses of data sovereignty and desire to preserve domestic policy autonomy. This article contributes to the literature by employing a political economy lens that shifts the focus from the nation-state/inter-state framework towards the dynamics of state–capital relations, allowing for a more historical and contextual understanding of the geopolitics of data governance in emerging economies. Using China and India—two of the largest emerging economies—as comparative cases, and drawing on secondary data from government documents and other sources, the article argues that the interplay between the …

Igc Oral Presentation Summary: Xxv Igc Congress, S. Ray Smith, Echo Elizabeth Gotsick, J. R. Weinert-Nelson, Alayna Jacobs, Christopher D. Teutsch, Will Fleming, D. R. Woodfield, James L. Klotz, Jeff Lehmkuhler, Greg S. Halich, Brittany Davis, Brittany Hendrix, Krista Lea

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This paper will give an overview of the XXV International Grassland Congress thematic, keynote, and plenary sessions. The theme of the XXV IGC Congress meeting was “Grasslands for Soil, Animal, and Human Health.” We had many people attending, presenting, and participating in all these sessions. Within a month after the conclusion of the Congress, the proceeding’s papers presented at the meeting will be available on the IGC app. By the end of 2023 all papers will be available for download through any search engine at internationalgrasslands.org.

“Single Girl, Married Girl:” Female Perspectives On Marriage, Maidenhood, And Motherhood In English-Language Folk Music, Avery Schanbacher

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

In 1928, the Carter Family released “Single Girl, Married Girl.” The recording featured only Sara and Maybelle Carter, and in three short stanzas, highlighted the vastly differing lives of the single girl, who dressed fine and went where she pleased, and the married girl, with a baby on her knee, who rocked the cradle and cried. Sara and Maybelle Carter weren’t the only people who knew this song – before they recorded it for Ralph Peer at the famous Bristol sessions, it was alive as a part of musical traditions not just in their home in Scott County, Virginia, but …

Ioto: Never Open A Stiff Lid Again, Gabriel Portugal

Libraries Award for Undergraduate Scholarship

Background: From baby food to pickles, food jars are a common find in American homes. Unfortunately,  the task of opening a stiff jar lid can be very difficult for consumers with lower grip strength, parkinsons,  or arthritis. While there are a variety of products on the market to help make this easier, there exist few jar  openers that can be used by these consumers. Objective: This project aimed to research and develop  (R&D) an improved hands-free jar opener that is accessible for consumers with the most advanced  cases of limited arm strength. Methods: R&D followed a Design Thinking approach with …

Body Mass Index, Sleep, And Food Insecurity Predict Prevalence Of Anxiety And Depression In College Students, Makenzie Barr-Porter, Amelia Sullivan, Jade Mcnamara

Dietetics and Human Nutrition Faculty Publications

This study aimed to assess the relationship between mental health, health behaviors, and food security in young adults in a university environment. Young adults (N = 536) at two United States universities completed a survey assessing health behaviors and characteristics. Logistic regression determined the odds of anxiety and/or depression based on gender identity, body mass index (BMI), food security status (FSS), and sleep restfulness. Over one-third of students were food insecure (36.7%), and almost all reported anxiety (57%) and/or depression (39.1%). Students who identified as female, reported very low FSS, poor sleep, and had higher BMI were at greater odds …

Eco-Friendly Synthesis And Stability Analysis Of Cspbbr3 And Poly(Methyl Methacrylate)-Cspbbr3 Films, You-Lin Huang, Wei Li, Fuqian Yang

Mechanical Engineering Faculty Publications

This study presents an eco-friendly mechanochemical synthesis of cesium lead bromide (CsPbBr₃), eliminating the need of organic solvents and high temperatures. The synthesized CsPbBr₃ powder is used to fabricate poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-CsPbBr₃ films and CsPbBr₃ nanocrystals (NCs). The photoluminescence (PL) peaks of the emission light are centered at 541 nm, 538 nm, and 514 nm for the CsPbBr₃ powder, PMMA-CsPbBr₃ films, and CsPbBr₃ NCs, respectively, correlating with crystal sizes of 0.96, 0.56, and 0.12 μm, respectively. The PL lifetime analysis reveals decay times () of (4.18, 20.08), (5.7, 46.99), and (5.81, …

A Program Evaluation Case Study, Madelyne G. Culbertson

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

This case study presents a program evaluation of a physical activity intervention implemented in Bourbon County, Kentucky, guided by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Framework for Program Evaluation in Public Health.

A Case Study In Program Evaluation, Alexis Strottman

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

This paper presents a comprehensive evaluation plan for the Bourbon County Physical Activity Improvement Program, as prompted in the University of Kentucky's 2025 MPH-Health Management and Policy Capstone Case Study. The case study outlines a program developed in response to high obesity and inactivity rates in Bourbon County, Kentucky. Utilizing the CDC's 6-step program evaluation framework, the plan outlines engagement of a diverse group of stakeholders to assess the program's effectiveness in increasing physical activity among residents. The evaluation focuses on both process and outcome measures, examining the implementation of exercise facilities, community events, and an app designed to track …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation: Evaluation Of A Program Designed To Increase Activity Levels In Bourbon County Residents, Brooke M. Woodburn

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

This paper provides recommendations to eliminate possible barriers in a program developed to reduce inactive levels across Bourbon County.

Increasing Hpv Vaccination Adherence In Floyd County, Ky: Give Teens Vaccines, Taylor M. Stumbo

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

Cervical cancer remains a pressing public health issue, particularly in underserved and rural areas where access to preventive care is limited. This capstone addresses the urgent need to increase human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination adherence in Floyd County, Kentucky—part of the central Appalachian region that experiences disproportionately high cervical cancer incidence and mortality. Despite the proven effectiveness of HPV vaccines in preventing the virus strains most responsible for cervical cancer, uptake in this region remains below national targets due to socioeconomic barriers, limited healthcare access, and lack of awareness. Give Teens Vaccines is a two component intervention leveraging existing healthcare systems …

A Case Study In Program Evaluation Evaluation Of A Physical Inactivity Program In Bourbon County, Kentucky, Carine N. Malekera

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

This paper evaluates a physical activity program by the Bourbon County Health Department aimed at increasing physical activity among local residents. Using the CDC’s Framework for Program Evaluation, the study includes both process and outcome evaluations to assess program implementation and impact on health outcomes. Key findings indicate success in urban areas but challenges in rural regions due to limited access to resources. Recommendations include improving access to exercise opportunities in rural areas and offering virtual classes. This evaluation emphasizes the importance of continuous assessment for effective public health interventions.

A Case Study In Program Evaluation, Kaitlyn E. Lee

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

This capstone project evaluates a fictious online MRSA education program developed by the Lexington-Fayette County Health Department and Fayette County Public Schools after a suspected outbreak among student athletes. Using the CDC’s 6-Step Framework for Program Evaluation, the project focuses on how stakeholders were engaged, how the program was described and mapped, how the evaluation questions were developed, what evidence was collected, and how conclusions were formed. The goal of the evaluation is to understand whether the program’s structure, delivery, and implementation support clear infection-control education for the different school personnel who use it. This project emphasizes the overall evaluation …

Identifying Adverse Childhood Experiences And Mental Health Needs Among A Small Sample Of Pregnant Women Who Use Cannabis, Aubrey Jones, Lisa M. Blair, Julie A. Kurzer, Kathy Rademacher, Letitia Ducas, Cynthia Cockerham, Kristin Ashford

Social Work Faculty Publications

Introduction: As the legalization of cannabis becomes more widespread use has steadily increased. Approximately 5 percent of pregnant individuals self-report use during pregnancy.

Methods: This study uses a mixed methods approach to examine adverse childhood experiences, mental health needs, and cannabis use among a small sample (N =59) of women. Cumulative ACE scores of four or more were considerably high within this sample compared to the US average.

Results: Results of a binary logistic regression indicate an association between ACEs and Cannabis use (OR 1.27, 95% CI (1.002- 1.616) when controlling for maternal age and anxiety. Qualitative results identified two …

The Role Of Self-Efficacy In Rehabilitation And Recovery From Ankle Sprains, Bridget M. Walsh

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Ankle sprains are among the most common musculoskeletal injuries in the United States. Approximately 2 million ankle sprains occur annually, with an estimated 46% of affected individuals experiencing residual symptoms and developing chronic ankle instability (CAI). In addition to physical impairments, individuals with CAI may exhibit lower physical and psychological health-related quality of life (HRQL). HRQL integrates the physical, psychological, and social domains of a person’s health and is influenced by their experiences, expectations, and perceptions.

Injury-related fear is a common psychological impairment in individuals with CAI and has been associated with decreased physical function, reduced physical activity, and greater …

Investigating Non-Functional Overreaching In Special Operations Tactical Training, Jeremy Alan Ross

Theses and Dissertations--Rehabilitation Sciences

Special Operations Forces (SOF) tactical training requires high levels of physical performance and psychological resilience. This training is often characterized by extreme temperatures and environments, extremely high levels of physical activity and large caloric deficits. As such, SOF personnel follow intense strength and conditioning (S&C) programs to enhance a wide range of athletic abilities. Such programs rely on a balance between training stress and recovery to allow for gradual improvement in physical ability over time, however it is unknown how to quantify tactical training stress in the context of a training program. This dissertation explores evidence related to how this …