Digital Commons Network^™

The Role Of Beavers In Mediating Short-Term Organic Matter Accretion In Kentucky Acep Wre Easements, Jessica B. Moon, Marissa Miles, Logan Firkins, Karen A. Baumann, Michael B. Flynn

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Characterizing Louisville Wetlands From Above And Below To Better Predict Wetland Carbon Sink-Source Status, Andrea E. Gaughan, Andrew S. Mehring, Mark Tierney, David Brown, Kassidy Haynes, Madison Cicha

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Impacts Of Land Use And Groundwater Inputs On Biological Stream Health And Habitat Of Jennings Creek, Bowling Green, Kentucky, Allison Francis, Jason S. Polk

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Temperature-Responsive Membrane With Nano-Sized Catalysts For The Treatment Of Contaminated Groundwater, Rollie Mills, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Full Program Proceedings For 2023 Kentucky Water Resources Symposium, Kentucky Water Research Institute

Kentucky Water Resources Annual Symposium

No abstract provided.

Adipocyte-Derived Pxr Signaling Is Dispensable For Diet-Induced Obesity And Metabolic Disorders In Mices, Fang Wang, Jinwei Liu, Rebecca Hernandez, Se-Hyung Park, Ying-Jing Lai, Shuxia Wang, Bruce Blumberg, Changcheng Zhou

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Pregnane X receptor (PXR) is a xenobiotic receptor that can be activated by numerous chemicals including endogenous hormones, dietary steroids, pharmaceutical agents, and environmental chemicals. PXR has been established to function as a xenobiotic sensor to coordinately regulate xenobiotic metabolism by regulating the expression of many enzymes and transporters required for xenobiotic metabolism. Recent studies have implicated a potentially important role for PXR in obesity and metabolic disease beyond xenobiotic metabolism, but how PXR action in different tissues or cell types contributes to obesity and metabolic disorders remains elusive. To investigate the role of adipocyte PXR in obesity, we generated …

Equine In Vivo Metabolite Profiling Of The Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator Lgd-3303 For Doping Control, Malin Nilsson Broberg, Heather Knych, Ulf Bondesson, Curt Pettersson, Börje Tidstedt, Scott Stanley, Mario Thevis, Mikael Hedeland

UK CARES Faculty Publications

LGD-3303 is a Selective Androgen Receptor Modulator (SARM) that is prohibited in both equine and human sports due to its anabolic properties. The aim of this study was to investigate the equine in vivo metabolite profile of LGD-3303 and identify drug metabolites that can be suitable as new and improved analytical targets for equine doping control. This was performed by an oral administration of 0.05 mg⋅kg 1 LGD-3303 to horses, where blood and urine samples were collected up to 96 h after administration. The in vivo samples consisting of plasma, urine and hydrolyzed urine were analyzed utilizing ultra-high performance liquid …

Kentucky Traffic Collision Facts 2022 Report, Paul Ross, Eric Green, Christopher Blackden, Kenneth R. Agent, Christopher Van Dyke

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Kentucky’s Traffic Collision Facts is based on collision reports submitted to the Kentucky State Police Records Branch. As required by Kentucky Revised Statute 189.635: “Every law enforcement agency whose officers investigate a vehicle accident of which a report must be made...shall file a report of the accident...within ten days after investigation of the accident upon forms supplied by the bureau.” The stated purpose of this requirement is to utilize data on traffic collisions to improve the Commonwealth’s traffic safety program. Unless otherwise noted, data in this publication are for public roads only. Data contained in this report are based solely …

Membrane Functionalization Approaches Toward Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances And Selected Metal Ion Separations, Francisco Cecil Léniz-Pizarro, Holly E. Rudel, Nicolas J. Briot, Julie B. Zimmerman, Dibakar Bhattacharyya

UK CARES Faculty Publications

Adsorption and ion exchange technologies are two of the most widely used approaches to separate pollutants from water; however, their intrinsic diffusion limitations continue to be a challenge. Pore functionalized membranes are a promising technology that can help overcome these challenges, but the extents of their competitive benefits and broad applicability have not been systematically evaluated. Herein, three types of adsorptive/ion exchange (IX) polymers containing strong/weak acid, strong base, and iron-chitosan complex groups were synthesized in the pores and partially on the surface of microfiltration (MF) membranes and tested for the removal of organic and inorganic cations and anions from …

Analysis Of Traffic Crash Data In Kentucky 2018-2022, Paul Ross, Eric Green, Christopher Blackden, Christopher Van Dyke

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

This report documents analysis of traffic crash data in Kentucky. A primary objective of this study was to determine average crash statistics for Kentucky highways. Where used, rates were calculated for various highway types and for counties and cities. Difference criteria were used for exposure. Average and critical numbers, SPFs, and crash rates were calculated for various highway types in rural and urban areas. These metrics rely on crashes identified on highways where Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT) volumes were available. Data in this report may be used to help identify problem areas. The other primary objective of this study …

2023 Safety Belt Usage Survey In Kentucky, Erin Lammers-Staats, Derek S. Young, Kenneth R. Agent, Aidan Elias

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Data and results of a statewide observational survey used to establish the statewide usage rate for safety belts in Kentucky.

Evaluation Of Durable Pavement Striping, William Staats, Erin Lammers-Staats

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Roadway pavement markings, colloquially referred to as “striping”, can be made of various combinations of paint and reflective beads. In the interest of aligning Kentucky with the state-of-the-art durable pavement marking practices of other states, the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) developed a research study aimed at improving pavement marking specifications and practices. This study reviewed current practices, identified potential improvements, and performed a systematic evaluation in a controlled environment on both asphalt and concrete roads. The state evaluated high-build waterborne paint, extruded and spray thermoplastic, polyurea, and preformed plastic tape, as well as several bead packages including M247, Missouri blend, …

Inspection Training Course On Bridge Preventive Maintenance Activities, Danny Wells, Sudhir Palle

Kentucky Transportation Center Research Report

Despite over 30 percent of bridges in the United States having exceeded their 50-year design lives, most state departments of transportation (DOTs) lack the funding needed to replace bridges on a large scale. In response, agencies have increasingly turned to bridge preventive maintenance activities to prolong bridge service lives. These activities provide a safe and cost-effective way to slow the rate at which structures deteriorate, mitigate the effects of aging, and improve bridge functional condition. The Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) has become increasingly reliant on preventive maintenance to preserve and extend the service lives of its steel and concrete bridges. …

Non-Contact Optical Spectroscopy For Tumor-Sensitive Diffuse Reflectance And Fluorescence Measurements On Murine Subcutaneous Tissue Models: Monte Carlo Modeling And Experimental Validations, Zahid Hasan, Pranto Soumik Saha, Madison O. Korfhage, Caigang Zhu

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Fiber-optic probes are commonly used in biomedical optical spectroscopy platforms for light delivery and collection. At the same time, it was reported that the inconsistent probe- sample contact could induce significant distortions in measured optical signals, which consequently cause large analysis errors. To address this challenge, non-contact optical spectroscopy has been explored for tissue characterizations. However, existing non-contact optical spectroscopy platforms primarily focused on diffuse reflectance measurements and may still use a fiber probe in which the probe was imaged onto the tissue surface using a lens, which serves as a non-contact probe for the measurements. Here, we report a …

Protocol For Optimizing Production And Quality Control Of Infective Ecohiv Virions, Hammodah Rawhi Hammodah Alfar, Daphne N. Pariser, Harry Chanzu, Smita Joshi, Daniёlle M. Coenen, Joshua Lykins, Kanakanagavalli Shravani Prakhya, Mary Jane Potash, Wei Chao, Jennifer Kelschenbach, David J. Volsky, Kelly Metcalf-Pate

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

EcoHIV is a model of HIV infection that recapitulates aspects of HIV-1 pathology in mice. However, there are limited published protocols to guide EcoHIV virion production. Here, we present a protocol for producing infective EcoHIV virions and essential quality controls. We describe steps for viral purification, titering, and multiple techniques to analyze infection efficacy. This protocol produces high infectivity in C57BL/6 mice which will aid investigators in generating preclinical data.

Cell-Free, High-Density Lipoprotein-Specific Phospholipid Efflux Assay Predicts Incident Cardiovascular Disease, Masaki Sato, Edward B. Neufeld, Martin P. Playford, Yu Lei, Alexander V. Sorokin, Angel M. Aponte, Lita A. Freeman, Scott M. Gordon, Amit K. Dey, Kianoush Jeiran, Masato Hamasaki, Maureen L. Sampson, Robert D. Shamburek, Jingrong Tang, Marcus Y. Chen, Kazuhiko Kotani, Josephine L. C. Anderson, Robin P. F. Dullaart, Nehal N. Mehta, Uwe T. F. Tietge, Alan Thomas Remaley

Saha Cardiovascular Research Center Faculty Publications

BACKGROUND. Cellular cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is a better predictor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) events than HDL- cholesterol (HDL-C) but is not suitable as a routine clinical METHODS. We developed an HDL-specific phospholipid efflux (HDL-SPE) assay to assess HDL functionality based on whole plasma HDL apolipoprotein–mediated solubilization of fluorescent phosphatidylethanolamine from artificial lipid donor particles. We first assessed the association of HDL-SPE with prevalent coronary artery disease (CAD): study I included NIH severe-CAD (n = 50) and non-CAD (n = 50) participants, who were frequency matched for sex, BMI, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and smoking; study II included Japanese CAD …

A Lamprey Neural Cell Type Atlas Illuminates The Origins Of The Vertebrate Brain, Francesco Lamanna, Francisca Hervas-Sotomayor, A. Phillip Oel, David Jandzik, Daniel Sobrido-Cameán, Gabriel N. Santos-Durán, Megan L. Martik, Jan Stundl, Stephen A. Green, Thoomke Brüning, Katharina Mößinger, Julia Schmidt, Celine Schneider, Mari Sepp, Florent Murat, Jeramiah J. Smith, Marianne E. Bronner, María Celina Rodicio, Antón Barreiro-Iglesias, Daniel M. Medeiros, Detlev Arendt, Henrik Kaessmann

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

The vertebrate brain emerged more than ~500 million years ago in common evolutionary ancestors. To systematically trace its cellular and molecular origins, we established a spatially resolved cell type atlas of the entire brain of the sea lamprey—a jawless species whose phylogenetic position affords the reconstruction of ancestral vertebrate traits—based on extensive single-cell RNA-seq and in situ sequencing data. Comparisons of this atlas to neural data from the mouse and other jawed vertebrates unveiled various shared features that enabled the reconstruction of cell types, tissue structures and gene expression programs of the ancestral vertebrate brain. However, our analyses also revealed …

Bacteroides Fragilis In The Gut Microbiomes Of Alzheimer’S Disease Activates Microglia And Triggers Pathogenesis In Neuronal C/Ebpβ Transgenic Mice, Yiyuan Xia, Yifan Xiao, Zi-Hao Wang, Ashfaqul M. Alam, John P. Haran, Beth A. Mccormick, Xiji Shu, Xiaochuan Wang, Keqiang Ye

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Gut dysbiosis contributes to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) pathogenesis, and Bacteroides strains are selectively elevated in AD gut microbiota. However, it remains unknown which Bacteroides species and how their metabolites trigger AD pathologies. Here we show that Bacteroides fragilis and their metabolites 12-hydroxy-heptadecatrienoic acid (12-HHTrE) and Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) activate microglia and induce AD pathogenesis in neuronal C/EBPβ transgenic mice. Recolonization of antibiotics cocktail-pretreated Thy1-C/EBPβ transgenic mice with AD patient fecal samples elicits AD pathologies, associated with C/EBPβ/Asparaginyl endopeptidase (AEP) pathway upregulation, microglia activation, and cognitive disorders compared to mice receiving healthy donors’ fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Microbial 16S rRNA sequencing …

New Insights On The Differential Interaction Of Sulfiredoxin With Members Of The Peroxiredoxin Family Revealed By Protein-Protein Docking And Experimental Studies, Murli Mishra, Hong Jiang, Qiou Wei

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Sulfiredoxin (Srx) is the enzyme that restores the peroxidase activity of peroxiredoxins (Prxs) through catalyzing the reduction of hyperoxidized Prxs back to their active forms. This process involves protein-protein interaction in an enzyme-substrate binding manner. The integrity of the Srx-Prx axis contributes to the pathogenesis of various oxidative stress related human disorders including cancer, inflammation, cardiovascular and neurological diseases. The purpose of this study is to understand the structural and molecular biology of the Srx-Prx interaction, which may be of significance for prediction of target site for the novel drug-discovery. Homology modeling and protein-protein docking approaches were applied to examine …

Syne1 Mutation Is Associated With Increased Tumor Mutation Burden And Immune Cell Infiltration In Ovarian Cancer, Laura M. Harbin, Nan Lin, Frederick R. Ueland, Jill M. Kolesar

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

SYNE1, a nuclear envelope protein critical for cellular structure and signaling, is downregulated in numerous malignancies. SYNE1 alterations are found in 10% of gynecologic malignancies and 5% of epithelial ovarian cancers. Previous studies demonstrated an association between SYNE1 mutation, increased tumor mutation burden (TMB), and immunotherapy response. This study evaluates the SYNE1 mutation frequency, association with TMB, and downstream effects of SYNE1 mutation in ovarian cancer. Genetic information, including whole-exome sequencing, RNA analysis, and somatic tumor testing, was obtained for consenting ovarian cancer patients at an academic medical center. Mutation frequencies were compared between the institutional cohort and The Cancer …

Interferon-Stimulated Gene Tdrd7 Interacts With Ampk And Inhibits Its Activation To Suppress Viral Replication And Pathogenesis, Sukanya Chakravarty, Gayatri Subramanian, Sonam Popli, Manoj Veleeparambil, Shumin Fan, Ritu Chakravarti, Saurabh Chattopadhyay

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Many viruses activate cellular autophagy in infected cells to facilitate their replication. Recently, we identified an interferon (IFN)-stimulated gene (ISG) Tudor domain containing 7 (TDRD7), which inhibits viral replication by blocking autophagy pathway. Here, we present a molecular mechanism for TDRD7 action and its relative contribution to protection against viral pathogenesis. TDRD7 inhibited the activation of adenosine monophosphate (AMP)-activated protein kinase (AMPK), a kinase required for initiating autophagy. Mechanistically, TDRD7 interacted directly with AMPK in the cytosolic compartment. Domain-mapping analyses revealed C-terminal Tudor domain of TDRD7 interacted with auto-inhibitory domain of AMPK. Deletion of Tudor domains abolished anti-AMPK and antiviral …

Unleashing The Potential Of 1,3-Diketone Analogues As Selective Lh2 Inhibitors, Juhoon Lee, Hou-Fu Guo, Shike Wang, Yazdan Maghsoud, Erik Antonio Vázquez-Montelongo, Zhifeng Jing, Rae M. Sammons, Eun Jeong Cho, Pengyu Ren, G. Andrés Cisneros, Jonathan M. Kurie, Kevin N. Dalby

Markey Cancer Center Faculty Publications

Lysyl hydroxylase 2 (LH2) catalyzes the formation of highly stable hydroxylysine aldehyde-derived collagen cross-links (HLCCs), thus promoting lung cancer metastasis through its capacity to modulate specific types of collagen cross-links within the tumor stroma. Using 1 and 2 from our previous high-throughput screening (HTS) as lead probes, we prepared a series of 1,3-diketone analogues, 1−18, and identified 12 and 13 that inhibit LH2 with IC50’s of approximately 300 and 500 nM, respectively. Compounds 12 and 13 demonstrate selectivity for LH2 over LH1 and LH3. Quantum mechanics/molecular mechanics (QM/MM) modeling indicates that the selectivity of 12 and 13 may stem from …

Association Between Insurer Connectivity In Appalachian Population Health Networks And Preventable Hospitalizations: Evidence From Kentucky, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Kelsey R. Gatton, Rick Ingram, Glen P. Mays

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Addressing complex health and social needs requires cross-sector collaboration to deliver medical, social, and population health services at the community level. Capacity in community health and social services networks may be constrained in regions like Appalachia due to the combined effects of rurality and persistently poor health and social outcomes. One way that cross-sector networks serving low-resource communities can expand their capacity is by engaging partners, like health insurers, who can leverage resources from outside the local area.

Purpose: This study examines insurer connectivity in cross-sector networks across Kentucky’s geographic regions and the association between connectivity and the probability …

The Ninth Myth Of Appalachia, Randolph Wykoff

Journal of Appalachian Health

Many stereotypes afflict our much-maligned region, and the Jonesborough­­–Washington County History Museum displays eight of these "myths of Appalachia." Here, our Editor-in-Chief suggests a ninth—that the people of Appalachia "do not care" about their health—and argues that regional health disparities result not from apathy but from a confluence of socioeconomic factors.

Patient Engagement In Patient Portals In Appalachia V. Surrounding U.S. Census Regions: An Analysis Of Hints (Health Information National Trends Survey) Data, 2017–2020, Heather Lea Tudor, Rick Ingram, Sarah Wackerbarth

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Those living in the Appalachian Region face a greater number of significant health disparities than residents of other areas of the U.S. Patient portals can decrease disparities, increase health literacy, and improve health outcomes.

Purpose: This study explores if those living in the Appalachian Region are offered access to and use their patient portals differently than those in the surrounding U.S. Census regions. Additionally, the study aims to determine if there was a difference in reported reasons for the non-use of patient portals.

Methods: A secondary analysis was completed using data from the National Cancer Institute's Health Information National …

Self-Reported Consumption Of Bottled Water V. Tap Water In Appalachian And Non-Appalachian Kentucky, Jason W. Marion

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Quantitative studies on drinking water perceptions in Appalachia are limited. High-profile water infrastructure failures in the U.S. and Eastern Kentucky, coupled with human-made and natural disasters in the Appalachian Region, have likely impacted opinions regarding tap water.

Purpose: To use existing unexplored data to describe baseline tap water v. bottled water consumption in Kentucky.

Methods: Telephone-based cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2013 Kentucky Health Issues Poll (KHIP) directed by the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky. Among many items in KHIP, self-reported consumption of bottled water over tap water, reasons for bottled water use, and demographic data were obtained. …

The Appalachian Gap In Preventable Hospitalizations: Are We Seeing Any Progress?, Rachel Hogg-Graham, Juan Lang, Teresa M. Waters

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Previous studies have documented geographic variation in preventable hospitalizations between rural and urban areas, but much less is known about preventable hospitalization patterns between heterogeneous rural areas. Unique challenges related to access of care and poverty may put the rural Appalachian Region at risk for higher rates of preventable hospitalizations.

Purpose: This study examines whether within-rural differences in Kentucky’s preventable hospitalization rates exist and how these differences may be changing over time.

Methods: Longitudinal and geographic trends in county-level preventable hospitalization rates were examined using Kentucky hospital discharge data from 2016 to 2019. Regression models were run to determine …

Evaluation Of A Faculty Fellows Program In Science Communication, Stacy Stanifer, Beverly Delidow, Kathy Rademacher, Luz Huntington-Moskos, Kelly Kennoy, Amanda Thaxton-Wiggins, Craig Wilmhoff, Ellen J. Hahn

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Science communication plays a crucial role in tackling pressing regional, national, and global health issues. Effective communication with various audiences is integral to dissemination of science findings.

Purpose: This study evaluates changes in self-efficacy and attitudes toward science communication skills over time and also assesses program outcomes and satisfaction with a Faculty Fellows in Science Communication (FFSC) program among faculty (N = 30) with interest in environmental health science and/or education in Appalachia Kentucky.

Methods: A mixed methods program evaluation was employed using longitudinal data on behaviors, attitudes, and program outcomes from three cohorts of Faculty Fellows who participated …

Impact Of Interprofessional Student Teams At A Remote Area Medical Event In Rural Appalachia, Emily K. Flores, Karilynn Dowling, Caroline Abercrombie Md, Rick L. Wallace

Journal of Appalachian Health

Introduction: Education in interprofessional collaboration is vital to expand healthcare access, especially in areas of higher disparity. To address this need, interprofessional faculty collaborators incorporated undergraduate and graduate health profession students into teams at an annual Remote Area Medical event in rural Appalachia between 2017 and 2020.

Purpose: This article evaluates the impact of an interprofessional student teams model on both patient care experience and students’ interprofessional collaboration attitudes and behaviors.

Methods: Student volunteers completed pre- and post-event surveys containing questions about demographics, open-ended questions, and questions from two instruments: the Student Perceptions of Interprofessional Clinical Education-Revised Instrument, Version 2 …

Scale Model Experiments Of Toxic Gas Production From The Combustion Of Polymers When Applied With Different Droplet Sizes Of Water Mist, Nicharee Thinnakornsutubutr, Masayuki Mizuno, Kazunori Kuwana

Progress in Scale Modeling, an International Journal

This research experimentally investigated the combustion of polymeric materials with water mist application in an enclosure, with an emphasis on the production of toxic gases. Two different diameters, ~100 and ~260 μm, were tested. The experimental conditions were determined based on Froude similarity laws for low drop Reynolds number conditions. Droplets and polymers’ physical and chemical properties influence the burning/extinguishing behavior and toxic-gas evolution. In general, larger droplets can extinguish a fire in a shorter time, and toxic gas concentrations in a test chamber decreased more rapidly. However, the large droplets tended to cause the flame expansion phenomenon for thermoplastics …