Digital Commons Network^™

Professional Experiences Of Disabled Music Therapists: An Adapted Multiple Case Study, August Lily Tuggle

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Literature about disability often focuses on disabled people as recipients of professional services and there is scant literature about disabled professionals. Although music therapists work primarily with disabled individuals, there is little research on or from the perspectives of disabled music therapists. A growing body of qualitative research, grey literature, and media platforms provides perspectives from the disability community regarding music therapy. Disabled individuals both within and outside the profession critique common music therapy attitudes and practices that conflict with the expressed needs of the disability community. However, much of this literature contains the perspectives of one individual or a …

Luis Serrano Alarcón’S Second Symphony For Wind Orchestra Background, Analysis, And Conductor’S Guide, Adam P. Miller

Theses and Dissertations--Music

Luis Serrano Alarcon’s composition, Second Symphony for Wind Orchestra (2017), is a significant work for the wind ensemble. Written as a tribute to the great Romantic composers it was inspired by their symphonies. It is neo-classical in form but contains a neo-Romantic language and a compositional style unique to the Spanish composer.

The purposes of this dissertation are: 1.) to provide biographical details regarding Luis Serrano Alarcon and his musical career; 2.) to place the Second Symphony for Wind Orchestra in perspective within other modern works for wind band and within the composer’s own catalogue; 3.) to elaborate on the …

Comparative Analysis Of Community Solar Energy Programs For Developing Sustainable Solar Initiatives In Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, Benjamin Kokkonen, Nelson Stone, Widodo Tri Saputro

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

The transition to renewable energy is a critical policy priority for Lexington-Fayette County, Kentucky, as the city aims to achieve net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. However, expanding solar energy presents a complex challenge: increasing renewable energy capacity while preserving the county’s prime agricultural land. This capstone examines how community solar programs in Virginia, Maryland, and New Jersey can inform the development of a sustainable and equitable solar initiative in Lexington.

Using a comparative program analysis of three state-level community solar models, the research evaluates policies on site selection, financial incentives, equity measures, regulatory enforcement, and program implementation. Findings indicate …

From Campus To Career: Enhancing Career Support Services For Graduate International Students At The University Of Kentucky, Aku Fiagbeto, Ratwah Alhazmi

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

During the 2023–2024 academic year, the University of Kentucky enrolled a total of 1,285 international students, with 784 (61%) being graduate students. International students play a crucial role in enriching the university’s cultural and academic landscape. While UK has achieved record enrollment and improved student success rates, including a 66% graduation rate that places it among the top 100 public institutions in the U.S., it is important to consider whether these trends apply to international students as well. Retention and graduation rates for this demographic may differ from those of domestic students, highlighting potential challenges such as visa restrictions, financial …

Integrating Deconstruction And Historic Preservation: A Best Practices Policy Comparison, Kelsey M. Baldwin

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Carl Elefante, the former president of the American Institute of Architects, famously said, “The greenest building is…one that is already built” (Elefante, 2012). Elefante articulated the environmental benefits of reuse and the significant energy costs associated with demolition and new construction. In 2022, the commercial and residential building sectors produced 31% of the United States’ greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (EPA, 2025). A large percentage of this is tied to the production of building materials.

Analysis Of State And Local Requirements For Special Taxing District Fiduciary Managers And How Kentucky Could Improve, Zach Waller

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

This paper examines the oversight and training requirements for fiduciary managers within Special Purpose Government Entities (SPGEs), comparing practices in Kentucky with those in a select group of peer states. The analysis highlights notable deficiencies in fiduciary training, enforcement, and accountability standards in Kentucky, which lead to ongoing issues of financial mismanagement. A review of exemplary practices from other states highlights the importance of mandatory training, robust oversight frameworks, and effective enforcement measures in enhancing fiduciary outcomes. Recommended actions involve implementing mandatory fiduciary training programs, strengthening enforcement authority, and improving transparency mechanisms.

To evaluate Kentucky’s oversight of SPGEs compared to …

Managing Kentucky's Coal Severance Tax Decline: Lessons From Other States, Ryan Reed

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Governments levy severance taxes on the extraction of natural resources such as coal, oil, and natural gas. This can be a substantial source of revenue for these entities, but overreliance on this has led to what is now known through extensive research as the so-called ‘resource curse’. This has been observed to create political instability, corruption, and repression within resource-rich areas. Additionally, it cripples the ability of the area to pursue future non-resource related economic development after the resource is depleted. A Sovereign Wealth Fund has been touted as one such solution to bridge this gap as an intergenerational wealth …

Beyond The Gas Tax: Evaluating Oregon’S Road Usage Charge (Orego) As A Model For Sustainable Infrastructure Funding, Gilles David Kwekam

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Fuel tax revenues are declining nationwide due to electric vehicle adoption, improved fuel efficiency, and long periods without rate adjustments. This erosion has created long-term instability in transportation funding, including in Oregon, where revenue no longer aligns with road use. Road usage charges (RUCs) offer a potential replacement by charging drivers per mile traveled rather than per gallon consumed. However, their success depends less on technology and more on how programs are designed and governed.

This capstone examines which design features make RUC programs effective, using Oregon’s OReGO program as the central case. A Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) comparing Oregon, …

Targeted Federal Advocacy For Financial Stability: Recommendations For United Way Of The Bluegrass, Jefferson Abney, Lou Hurst

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Advocacy refers to activities undertaken with the intent of influencing policy change. For nonprofit organizations, advocacy can be a critical aspect of furthering their mission. Successful advocacy requires a comprehensive, dynamic understanding of the needs and priorities of stakeholders, as well as an understanding of the political context in which the organization operates and the challenges and opportunities that context poses for its institutional goals. A policy agenda helps nonprofit organizations identify and communicate the most pertinent policy needs for consideration when making decisions around advocacy.

For this project, in response to a request from United Way of The Bluegrass …

Mortgage Lending Discrimination: Racial Differences In A Post-Covid Society, Zachary Owen

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Researchers have studied the disparities of the mortgage lending process extensively, but their research fails to examine the process following the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the aftermath of the pandemic, home sale prices increased, interest rates rose, and rental costs skyrocketed. As such, the housing landscape changed drastically, and research must be conducted to assess new trends and relationships. In this report, I will estimate the relationship between applicant characteristics, such as race, debt-to-income ratio, and income and the outcome of their mortgage loan application and their expected credit score. Prior to COVID-19, Black and White applicants for mortgage loans were …

Public University Gift Management Policies: Building A Best Practice Guide, Cristin Costello

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Currently, no consistent standards exist for how institutions of higher education should manage their non-endowed gift revenue. Good stewardship of gift funds is vital to ensuring the maintenance of donor relationships to create unions that bring further financial opportunities to universities for years to come. Public institutions, as recipients of government dollars, are especially vulnerable to the negative repercussions that could come with the scandal of misappropriated gift dollars. Overall cash donations to higher education have significantly increased in the past few decades as state appropriations fall short and the need to keep tuition rates stable increases. It is more …

Reforming Need: How Certificate Of Need Laws In North Carolina Can Be Reformed To Promote Rural To Regional Health Network Integration, Taylor Fulk

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

Across North Carolina, many rural hospitals are facing closures, staffing shortages, and financial turmoil. Many hospitals, such as Morehead Hospital in Eden, NC (now UNC Rockingham), have utilized mergers with larger regional networks (e.g., UNC Health, Duke, Novant, Atrium) to stabilize operations and preserve local access to care. (deBruyn, 2017). However, even after successful integration efforts to bring some rural hospitals into larger regional networks, Certificate of Need laws in North Carolina are preventing these smaller, rural integrated hospitals from expanding their service offerings, thereby driving up healthcare expenditures for residents. As a result, patients experience longer-than-normal travel times and …

Boys & Girls Clubs Of Greater Cincinnati Strategic Plan, Emily Yellman

MPA/MPP/MPFM Capstone Projects

After-school organizations nationwide, such as Boys & Girls Clubs, provide youth with out-of-school opportunities for academic and social-emotional learning. Strategic plans can help after-school organizations maximize their impact. This paper outlines a strategic plan for Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Cincinnati, specifically to increase the number of members they serve on an average daily basis. The plan addresses both Club member recruitment and retention techniques, and includes specific action items, communication, and monitoring plans.

Supercapacitors With Cotton Shell-Derived Activated Carbons And Porous Polymer Electrolyte Films, Saurabh Singh, Yulin Zhang, S. A. Hashmi, Fuqian Yang

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Some of the well-known challenges in the field of supercapacitors (SCs), or more specifically, electrical double-layer capacitors (EDLCs), such as low energy density and high cost, have proven to be major barriers to their widespread market success despite having some excellent electrochemical merits such as high-power density and good cyclic stability. In this work, efforts have been made to overcome these gaps and eventually enhance the performance of EDLCs via a cost-effective and eco-friendly approach. To fabricate these EDLCs, a bio-waste, namely, cotton-shell-derived activated carbons (ZnACs) (activated with ZnCl2), was used in a mass ratio of 1 : 2 for …

Improvement Of Cellular Pattern Organization And Clarity Through Centrifugal Force, Lauren E. Mehanna, James D. Boyd, Shelley Remus-Williams, Nicole M. Racca, Dawson P. Spraggins, Martha E. Grady, Brad J. Berron

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Rapid and strategic cell placement is necessary for high throughput tissue fabrication. Current adhesive cell patterning systems rely on fluidic shear flow to remove cells outside of the patterned regions, but limitations in washing complexity and uniformity prevent adhesive patterns from being widely applied. Centrifugation is commonly used to study the adhesive strength of cells to various substrates; however, the approach has not been applied to selective cell adhesion systems to create highly organized cell patterns. This study shows centrifugation as a promising method to wash cellular patterns after selective binding of cells to the surface has taken place. After …

Integrating Protein Language Model And Molecular Dynamics Simulations To Discover Antibiofouling Peptides, Ibrahim A. Imam, Shea Bailey, Duolin Wang, Shuai Zeng, Dong Xu, Qing Shao

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Antibiofouling peptide materials prevent the nonspecific adsorption of proteins on devices, enabling them to perform their designed functions as desired in complex biological environments. Due to their importance, research on antibiofouling peptide materials has been one of the central subjects of interfacial engineering. However, only a few antibiofouling peptide sequences have been developed. This narrow scope of antibiofouling peptide materials limits their capacity to adapt to the broad spectrum of application scenarios. To address this issue, we searched for antibiofouling peptides in the vast sequence pool of the microbiome library using a combination of deep learning-based high-throughput search and molecular …

Clarifying The Role Of Η-Phase With Varying Chemistry On Localised Corrosion Of A Cu-Containing 7xxx Al-Alloy By Quasi-In-Situ Tem, S. K. Kairy, Y. Wu, S. Turk, A. Shekhter, Rudolph Buchheit, N. Birbilis

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

Quasi-in-situ transmission electron microscopy was employed to study dissolution associated with η-phase (Mg(Zn,Al,Cu)₂) precipitates in a Cu-containing 7xxx Al-alloy. Two distinct η-phase chemistries, with Cu to (Zn+Mg+Al) ratios ∼0.12 and ∼0.2, were studied in 0.01 M NaCl at pH 6 and 2. In near-neutral NaCl, both η-phase precipitates exhibited ‘duplex’ behaviour, i.e., they were primarily more noble with respect to the surrounding Al-matrix, causing matrix dissolution, and simultaneously established nanoscopic active sites within the noble precipitate itself by generating nanoscale pits. Conversely, η-phase precipitates rapidly dealloyed in acidic NaCl, forming nocrystalline Cu remnants containing twins, which subsequently caused …

Enhancing Intrinsic Ductility In Vnbmotaw High Entropy Alloy: A Combinatorial Investigation With Experimental Evaluation Of Theoretical Predictions, Taohid Bin Nur Tuhser, Ian Stewart Winter, Daryl Chrzan, Thomas John Balk

Chemical and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications

The application of refractory high entropy alloys (RHEAs) as engineering materials has been hindered by their poor inherent ductility. In this study, a novel approach combining thin film combinatorial screening with fragmentation testing was employed to identify intrinsically ductile alloy compositions. Inspired by the physics-based intrinsic ductility parameter, the ‘χ-parameter,’ we investigated the replacement of group VI elements (W/Mo) with group V elements (V, Nb, Ta) in the VNbMoTaW system. Conventional combinatorial analyses, including composition, phase, and hardness assessments, were conducted across a wide range of non-equiatomic configurations. The results revealed a broad compositional space favoring a single-phase body-centered cubic …

Mind The Gap: Supporting Freshmen Voice Students Transitioning To Higher Education Through Coaching Conversations, Erica L. Gabriel

Theses and Dissertations--Music

The experiences one may encounter while matriculating through the K-12 system of education are vastly different from the world of higher education. While one feeds directly into the other, the transition can be a difficult one for young singers also navigating the developmental leap from adolescence to adulthood. This is due to several systematic and instructional differences, compounded with unique challenges encountered by freshman voice students in the first year. Gaps in support systems compiled with new and increasing financial, social, and academic demands can lead to a decline in overall student well-being and an increase in stress.

This increase …

Treating Social Media Addiction In Adolescents: A Scoping Review With Implications For Music Therapy Practice, Roman D. Swain

Theses and Dissertations--Music

With the rapid expansion of online connectivity, concerns have emerged regarding the influence of digital interactions on adolescents’ real-world relationships and mental health. Social media use can expose adolescents to harmful content and disrupt the brain’s pleasure centers, increasing the risk of developing addictive patterns of use. Such disruptions may interfere with daily functioning and contribute to negative mental health outcomes. Given the impact of music on the brain’s reward system, music therapy may offer a beneficial approach for helping adolescents develop mindfulness of social media use and strengthen offline social connections. This thesis presents a scoping review of current …

Soil Phosphorus Retention In A Palustrine Wetland Chronosequence Of The Northern Mississippi Embayment, Cora Lee Aossey

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

The USDA NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program Wetland Reserve Easements is focused on converting marginal agricultural lands to wetlands to restore hydrologic function and enhance wetland habitat. There is a gap in knowledge of how phosphorus (P) dynamics develop as these wetlands are converted from row crops to wetland vegetation over time. Recently converted wetlands have the potential to develop into P sinks. In this study, a chronosequence of former farmlands converted to forested palustrine wetlands in the northern Mississippi Embayment was used to evaluate the potential mobility of P post-conversion. Three soil depth intervals were analyzed for water-soluble P, …

Management Adaptations To Sustainably Increase Soybean Yield And Water Productivity Through Field Studies And Crop Modeling, Mounica Talasila

Theses and Dissertations--Plant and Soil Sciences

Soybean (Glycine max [L.] Merr.), a major crop in the upper U.S. Mid-South, is predominantly cultivated under rainfed conditions, where variable precipitation frequently induces water stress and limits yield potential. Consequently, irrigation adoption has been increasing across this region. Determining the optimal cultivar maturity group (MG) and planting date (PD) for both rainfed and irrigated systems is essential for maximizing yield and improving water use metrics. Evaluating crop water use efficiency (WUE; yield per unit of seasonal evapotranspiration) and total water productivity (WP; yield per unit of total water input from precipitation and irrigation) is critical to developing such …

Talking About Cancer And Tobacco (Tact) Study With Lgbtq Patients And Their Care Providers, William Bowling

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Due to multilevel factors, including a high prevalence of tobacco use, the burden of some cancers is disproportionately higher in the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ) community than the general population. Evidence-based tobacco treatment delivery with high rates of tobacco cessation would be a powerful tool for secondary cancer prevention in the LGBTQ community, yet few studies have explored this issue. The current study aimed to 1) uncover both positive and negative aspects related to the lived experience and treatment of LGBTQ cancer survivors who use tobacco, 2) elucidate barriers and facilitators of tobacco treatment and cessation, and …

Evaluating The Acceptability Of Ptsd Treatment Among Justice-Involved Women In Kentucky With Histories Of Opioid Use, Jesse P. Mccann

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Rates of trauma and PTSD as well as histories of opioid use are high among justice-involved women, particularly in Kentucky. However, there are many barriers to receiving treatment. There is a pressing need for brief, trauma-focused interventions that can be more feasibly delivered in jail or prison settings as well as by community clinicians serving women on probation or parole. This study explores the acceptability of treatment for PTSD, particularly Written Exposure Therapy (WET), among justice-involved women on probation or parole with a history of illicit or nonmedical prescription opioid use. The research aims to deepen our understanding of factors …

The Impact Of Victim Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Ptsd) On Legal Decision-Making In A Rape Trial, Mary M. Levi

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Prior psychology and law research has investigated juror perceptions of victims and defendants with mental health issues. However, one factor that has yet to be fully examined empirically is how the presentation of a victim who developed a mental health disorder, such as posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), following a rape impacts legal decision-making. Understanding this impact is crucial considering over 36 million individuals in the United States report being a victim of rape in their lifetime, many of which report developing psychological disorders following the crime. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate how presenting mock jurors with victim testimony …

Unveiling Secrecy: A Qualitative Analysis Of The Breonna Taylor Grand Jury Proceedings, Taylor Bettis

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Grand juries have faced heightened scrutiny in recent decades following high-profile cases involving police use of lethal force against Black civilians. In 2020, Police officers killed Breonna Taylor while executing a search warrant at her home. Despite widespread public outcry, it remains unclear how prosecutors failed to indict the officers involved on charges directly related to her death. Guided by critical race theory, procedural justice, and theories of authority, the current project used reflexive thematic analysis to examine the Breonna Taylor grand jury proceedings. We identified two main themes: structural influences and narrative influences. Structural influences examine how prosecutorial authority, …

A Dual Process Model Perspective On Associations Between Parent And Offspring Problem Drinking, Karallyn E. Fitisone

Theses and Dissertations--Psychology

Parental problem drinking (PPD) is a well-established risk factor for adolescent alcohol use, yet the complex mechanisms involved remain underexplored. The present study addresses this critical gap by examining how PPD, parent emotion socialization, and emerging adult problem drinking are associated within the framework of the Dual Process Model of Substance Use. Participants were 2,036 undergraduates who completed an online survey assessing PPD, retrospective reports of parental reactions to their negative emotions in childhood, and students’ current levels of problem drinking, negative urgency, negative emotional reactivity, and emotion-regulation difficulties. Structural equation modeling was used to clarify the roles of emotion-related …

Distinct Odorant Receptor Response Patterns To Aliphatic Odorants In Freely Behaving Mice, Claire A. De March, Patrick Breheny, William B. Titlow, Hiroaki Matsunami, Timothy S. Mcclintock

Physiology Faculty Publications

In mammals, odors are encoded by a combinatorial code determined by the pattern of responses across hundreds of odorant receptors expressed monogenically and monoallelically in olfactory sensory neurons. The compositions of these receptor response patterns are largely unknown and overlap between them has yet to be explored. Activity-dependent reporter gene expression in freely behaving S100a5-tauGFP mice allowed capture of activated olfactory sensory neurons and identified 168 receptors responsive to moderate concentrations of 1 or more of 12 aliphatic (5 to 8 carbons) ketones, alcohols, and carboxylic acids. These 12 response patterns are remarkably different, with only 19% of the receptors …

Feeding- And Light-Cycle Synergistically Regulate Mouse Blood Pressure Daily Rhythm Via Bmal1-Dependent And Independent Mechanisms, Tianfei Hou, Wen Su, Aaron Chacon, An-Hsuan Lin, Zhenheng Guo, Ming C. Gong

Physiology Faculty Publications

Cardiovascular health requires the orchestration of the daily rhythm of blood pressure (BP), which responds to changes in light exposure and dietary patterns. Whether rhythmic light and feeding can modulate daily BP rhythm directly or via modulating intrinsic core clock gene Bmal1 is unknown. Using inducible global Bmal1 knockout mice (iBmal1KO), we explored the impact of rhythmic light, rhythmic feeding, or their combination on various physiological parameters. Daily rhythms of BP, heart rate, and locomotor activity were monitored via radiotelemetry, while food intake patterns were tracked using the BioDAQ system. Respiratory exchange ratio (RER) and energy expenditure (EE) were assessed …

Methylome–Proteome Integration After Late-Life Voluntary Exercise Training Reveals Regulation And Target Information For Improved Skeletal Muscle Health, Toby L Chambers, Andrea Dimet-Wiley, Alexander R Keeble, Amin Haghani, Wen-Juo Lo, Gyumin Kang, Robert Brooke, Steve Horvath, Christopher S Fry, Stanley J Watowich, Yuan Wen, Kevin A Murach

Physiology Faculty Publications

Abstract: Exercise is a potent stimulus for combatting skeletal muscle ageing. To study the effects of exercise on muscle in a preclinical setting, we developed a combined endurance–resistance training stimulus for mice called progressive weighted wheel running (PoWeR). PoWeR improves molecular, biochemical, cellular and functional characteristics of skeletal muscle and promotes aspects of partial epigenetic reprogramming when performed late in life (22–24 months of age). In this investigation, we leveraged pan-mammalian DNA methylome arrays and tandem mass-spectrometry proteomics in skeletal muscle to provide detailed information on late-life PoWeR adaptations in female mice relative to age-matched sedentary controls (n = 7–10 …