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Elevating Teacher Agency In School Decision-Making Through Trust-Building: Applying Appreciative Inquiry Within A Mixed Methods Action Research Framework, Alison S. Bellamy

University of Kentucky Doctoral Dissertations

This mixed methods action research (MMAR) study examined how Appreciative Inquiry–based professional learning influenced relational trust, teacher voice, and teacher agency in elementary school decision-making within New Hanover County Schools. Grounded in Teacher Agency Theory, Distributed Leadership Theory, and Appreciative Inquiry, the study addressed the gap between teachers’ perceptions of trust and their opportunities to influence school-level decisions. The study was conducted across three mid-quintile elementary schools using a concurrent QUAN–QUAL design. Quantitative data was collected through pre- and post-intervention relational trust surveys. Qualitative data included focus groups, participant reflections, field notes, and collaborative dialogue from two professional learning sessions …

An Optimization-Driven Approach For Accurate Prediction Of Diabetes Mellitus, H El Bouhissi, Sb Xu, John H Wang

Department of Information Management and Business Analytics Faculty Scholarship and Creative Works

Diabetes mellitus is a progressive metabolic disorder requiring timely identification to prevent severe complications and reduce healthcare burdens. This paper proposes an optimization-driven deep learning framework for accurate diabetes prediction, integrating Long Short-Term Memory selection and hyperparameter tuning. The framework is conceptualized as a decision-support system embedded within electronic health records and clinical workflows, supporting physicians, nurses, case workflow integration, governance, and privacy-are addressed to ensure alignment with real-world organizational contexts. The results demonstrate both technical feasibility and practical relevance, linking predictive analytics capability with human-AI collaboration, adoption factors, and operational decision-making in healthcare organizations.

Ksr 2860 : Teaching Health-Related Fitness, Ksr

Approved Course Proposals

No abstract provided.

Investigation Of Genx Exposure To Pathways Associated With Colorectal Cancer Risk, Emily J. Ferguson

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are persistent environmental contaminants widely detected in drinking water and food sources, resulting in chronic human exposure. Among these compounds, hexafluoropropylene oxide dimer acid (HFPO-DA), commonly known as GenX, has been introduced as a short-chain replacement for legacy PFAS such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). Although GenX is believed to be a safer alternative, emerging research suggests it can still affect human health.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the second leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States, highlighting the need to better understand environmental …

Rates Of 30-Day Emergency Department Visits And Readmissions In Adults After Tracheostomy, Mckenna Gervais, Kayley Anderson, H. Nichols, Jana L. Wardian, Wesley Zeger, Benjamin Mcintire, Elizabeth Lyden, Jayme Dowdall

Journal Articles: Hospital Medicine

OBJECTIVE: To quantify 30-day emergency department (ED) visits and hospital readmissions post-tracheostomy-distinguishing between tracheostomy and non-tracheostomy-related causes-and to identify revisit risk factors.

METHODS: Retrospective cohort study of adult patients undergoing all-cause tracheostomy within the system between April 1, 2018, and April 1, 2025. Electronic Medical Record review captured demographic variables, outcomes, and mortality. Fisher's exact test and Fine and Gray's subdistribution hazard modeling assessed associations with in-hospital death and risk of revisit.

RESULTS: Among 618 patients, 119/618 (19.3%) died prior to discharge. Of the 499 patients discharged alive, 23 (4.6%) died within 30 days, for a cumulative 30-day mortality of …

Keynote: Addressing American Wealth Inequality, Martha F. Davis

Western New England Law Review

As federal constitutional protections constrict and the Supreme Court sends critical issues back to the states, state constitutions offer vital tools for addressing wealth inequality. This article demonstrates how state constitutions—particularly the Massachusetts constitution—can serve as mechanisms for economic justice by examining three distinct pathways. First, it analyzes the Massachusetts Fair Share Amendment, showing how citizens can directly amend state constitutions to implement progressive taxation, generating revenue for education and transportation while redistributing wealth. Second, it explores underenforced constitutional provisions such as the state’s education clause, which establishes a mandatory duty to provide adequate and equitable schooling yet remains subject …

Investigating The Effects Of Biodegradable And Non-Biodegradable Microplastics On Pea Plant (Pisum Sativum L.), Blessing Bisola Akinwande

Graduate Theses/Dissertations

Microplastics have emerged as a significant environmental concern, particularly in agricultural soils where they can interact with plants and potentially affect crop productivity and quality. This study investigated the effects of biodegradable and non-biodegradable microplastics on the growth, physiology, and elemental and metabolite composition of Pisum sativum L. (pea plants). Plants were cultivated under greenhouse conditions and exposed to 2% (w/w) compostable bioplastic (CBP) as a biodegradable microplastic and high-density polyethylene (HDPE) as a non-biodegradable microplastic. Plant growth and physiological parameters, including plant height, seed biomass, chlorophyll content, and lipid peroxidation, showed no significant differences between treatments and control, …

Empowering Change From The Ground Up: Women’S Entrepreneurship In Sub-Saharan Africa’S Informal Sector, Rita Abban, Esi A. Elliot

International Business and Entrepreneurship Faculty Publications

Women’s entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) is a critical driver of socio-economic development, within the informal sector where women enterprises are concentrated. Despite substantial contributions, structural and institutional barriers impede the formalization of these businesses, curbing their economic impact. This study examines how women entrepreneurs in Ghana and SSA navigate informal practices to achieve economic mobility. Employing a systematic literature review - PRISMA framework, the research synthesizes key themes including entrepreneurial capacity, sustainability, intellectual property, and institutional support. A comparative lens incorporating Rwanda and South Africa reveals Ghana’s high rate of female entrepreneurship, predominance of informal trade, and socio-cultural dynamics …

Strong Foundations: Supporting Mental Well-Being In School-Age Youth, Skylar Simpson

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

School-age youth in the United States increasingly face stressors that disrupt their overall mental well-being, highlighting a need for accessible preventative interventions. To address this gap, this doctoral capstone project developed a program titled Strong Foundations: Supporting Mental Well-Being in School-Age Youth, an evidence- and occupation-based program consisting of various interventions designed to enhance the well-being of youth attending a San Francisco Recreation and Park (SFRPD) community-based summer camp. Through embedding occupational therapy-based programming into an environment that currently lacks dedicated mental well-being promotion methods, the Strong Foundations aims to foster mental well-being among school-age youth through occupational engagement that …

Promoting Postpartum Maternal Self-Efficacy Through Prenatal Pelvic Floor Health And Sensory Modulation Education, Cate Smith

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

Pelvic floor therapy, also called pelvic floor health care, is an emerging field for occupational therapy practitioners. Pelvic floor dysfunction (PFD) is a common health outcome after pregnancy and childbirth. Although most women receive consistent prenatal health care, they do not receive the education they need to manage symptoms of PFD such as incontinence, pain, and sensory dysregulation during the postpartum period. Occupational therapy can play a meaningful role in educating and supporting women during the prenatal period, postpartum healing, and role acquisition. This doctoral capstone project researched educational strategies to improve self-efficacy among perinatal women. Albert Bandura defines self-efficacy …

Sensory Modulation For Adults With Developmental Disabilities: An Occupational Therapy Approach For Adult Day Programs, Aveen Dulai

Occupational Therapy | OTD Capstone Projects

This occupational therapy (OT) doctoral capstone project focused on the development and implementation of a proactive sensory modulation program with the use of Assistive Technology (AT) for adults with Developmental Disabilities (DD) at an adult day program. Adults with DD have diverse needs such as - motor, communication, behavioral, cognitive, and sensory processing challenges. These varying abilities often require AT and environmental adaptations to afford meaningful participation in occupations.  Providing customized and accessible programing for adults with DD arediversity, equity, inclusion, justice and accessibility (DEIJA) issues (Kripke, 2018). Often, adult day programs are limited in OT services, including accessible sensory …

A Poor Man's Cup: Chicory Experimentation In Nebraska,1890-1900, Rebecca Hupp

Dissertations and Theses

“A Poor Man’s Cup” explores how Nebraskans actively confronted the problems of the late nineteenth-century through experimenting with new commodities. Prolonged severe drought, economic depression, and poor grain prices created a troublesome situation that grew in complexity as U.S. markets expanded globally and agriculture underwent professionalization. Some lay farmers, like Gabriel and Philomena Bazelman of Holt County, did not wait for new methods to find their way through the experiment station system and instead conducted trials themselves. Through piecing together the story of Nebraska chicory production with periodicals from the 1890s, experiment station bulletins, and Congressional reports, this thesis demonstrates …

People Over Paper: The Effectiveness Of International Agreements Under Treaty Capture, Eric Nicholson

Colorado Environmental Law Journal

No abstract provided.

Holding The District Together With Duct Tape And Determiniation: A Study Of Superintendent Stress, Robert Orion Thompson

Dissertations and Theses

Researchers’ work found the superintendent role was increasingly complex. Superintendents experienced elevated stress, burnout, and turnover. However, the ways in which district context and coping strategies interacted to shape superintendent well-being remain insufficiently understood, particularly in rural settings. This study examined how school superintendents perceived and experienced occupational stress, the impact of that stress on their well-being and leadership, and the coping strategies they used. Notably, there was a focus on district size differentiation. Using a qualitative research design, data were collected through two focus groups in the western side of a rural state with superintendents representing districts with large …

Unh: The Magazine Of The University Of New Hampshire, Winter 2026, Unh Magazine

UNH Magazine

No abstract provided.

Search Strategies For “Quality Of Life Measures In The Study Of Neurogenic Dysfunction Among Children And Adolescents With Spina Bifida”, Erin Witt, Heidi Castillo, Gene O. Huang, Kesha Balakrishnan, Jonathan Castillo, Danielle Westmark

Search Strategies: Leon S. McGoogan Health Sciences Library

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2026-02], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Forage News [2026-01], University Of Kentucky

Forage News

No abstract provided.

Long Acting Beta2-Adrenergic Receptor Agonists Reverse Diabetic Nephropathy And Liver Steatosis In Murine Models Of Diabetes And Are Associated With Protection In Retrospective Human Studies, Brennan Winkler

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) affects 13.9% of men and 14.3% of women worldwide, a total of approximately 828 million people. Patients with diabetes are at risk of several complications including diabetic nephropathy (DN) and metabolic-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). These diseases eventually lead to end stage kidney disease (ESKD) and liver failure requiring dialysis and organ transplantation. In addition, diabetes exacerbates disease severity of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD), the most common potentially lethal genetic disease to affect humans with a prevalence of 1 in 500-1000. Therefore, a therapeutic approach that can attenuate organ damage and restore function in patients with DM, …

The Impact Of The Different Vdac Isoforms On Hbv Replication And Hbx Localization, Cody Mcumber

MUSC Theses and Dissertations

Chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma worldwide. Despite the availability of a preventative vaccine, there are approximately 254 million people living with a chronic HBV infection. There are 9 known HBV genotypes, each with their own clinical impacts and manifestation in infected patients. HBx is the only regulatory protein encoded by the HBV genome and is required for efficient viral replication. HBx has many effects in infected hepatocytes besides known effects on HBV replication, such as localization to the mitochondria. HBx is also known to have impacts on mitochondrial membrane potential, mitochondrial permeability …

Expanding Access To Urban Nature: Floating Gardens As Equitable And Inclusive Blue-Green Infrastructure In The Chicago River, Michael Hendricks, Alec Foster, Noha Shawki, Mariela Fernandez, Sage Rossman, Sierra Mack-Erb, Eric Peterson

Faculty Publications – Politics and Government

This study examines the social dimensions of Urban Rivers’ Free Kayak Days at the Bubbly Creek Floating Gardens in Chicago, Illinois. Floating gardens are a form of blue-green infrastructure that provide ecological benefits, including nutrient removal, habitat creation, and shoreline stabilization, while also offering recreational and educational opportunities. Guided by environmental justice scholarship, our interdisciplinary team conducted participant observation to evaluate whether Urban Rivers’ Freek Kayak Days effectively engaged residents from surrounding marginalized communities. Four themes emerged: (1) access and inclusion, highlighting reduced financial barriers but ongoing challenges related to safety perceptions, cultural relevance, and physical accessibility; (2) community engagement …

Effect Of Corn Harvest With A Chopping Head On Performance Of Cattle Grazing Corn Residue, Conner K. Biehler, Mary E. Drewnoski, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

The effects of harvesting corn using a chopping vs a standard, non-chopping combine head on steer performance when grazing corn residue were evaluated. Steers were supplemented with dry distillers grains at 0.6% of initial body weight. The amount of corn residue mass and the quality of the husk did not differ between harvest methods. Steer gains were over twice as high in year 2 (2.10 lb/d) than year 1 (0.76 lb/d), potentially due to greater husk digestibility and milder winter conditions. Corn residue harvested with a standard combine head resulted in a slightly higher average daily gain …

Supplementing Monensin And Rumen Undegradable Protein To Late-Gestation Heifers, Dempster M. Christenson, Rick N. Funston

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

This study evaluates the effects of supplementing late-gestation heifers with rumen-undegradable protein and monensin on weight gain, feed efficiency, and reproductive performance, and subsequent impact on progeny. We hypothesized that supplementation would enhance growth and feed efficiency, ultimately improving cow and calf performance. Previously synchronized artificially inseminated heifers were fed ad libitum hay for 89 d prior to calving. Feed was top dressed with chelated mineral with or without monensin, dried distillers’ grains, or dried distillers’ grains and monensin. Supplementation with rumen undegradable protein increased growth rate and decreased calving difficulty with no further effects on cow …

Evaluation Of Lysoforte Extend On Rumen Fermentation Parameters, Rumen And Total Tract Digestion, And Fatty Acid Digestion, Anna Kobza, Dalton Anderson, Jerilyn Hergenreder, Jim C. Macdonald

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Supplemental fat fed in finishing diets in recent years has generally increased in price. This digestibility study evaluated LYSOFORTE Extend, a lysophospholipid based nutritional emulsifier, in beef finishing diets containing tallow or corn oil. Five ruminally and duodenally cannulated steers were used in a 5 × 5 Latin Square design. Treatments followed a 2 × 2 +1 factorial: 1) No Oil (negative control), 2) Corn Oil (3.5%), 3) Tallow (3.5%), 4) Corn Oil + LFE (8 g/d), and 5) Tallow + LFE (8 g/d). Cattle fed the negative control diet had greater dry matter intake than cattle …

Health Indicators Worsened By Moderate-Intensity Heat Stress Are Only Partially Recovered By Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acid Supplementation, Melanie R. White, Shelley A. Curry, Ashley A. Hahn, Jessica L. Petersen, Ty B. Schmidt, Dustin T. Yates

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Heat stress throughout the summer and into the fall is a persistent hurdle for growing and finishing cattle in Nebraska. Minimizing the impact of heat on growth and well-being of cattle is critical to the productivity and profitability of beef production. This project aimed to evaluate the effect of an anti-inflammatory dietary supplement, ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (ω-3 PUFA), on physiological indicators of stress during a 4-day moderate-intensity heat challenge. Heat stress elevated core body temperature and respiration rates as expected but did not impact circulating inflammatory biomarkers. Heart rate variability measurements indicative of adrenergic stress and …

Modulation Of Heat Stress Responses In Cattle Supplemented With Dietary Ω-3 Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids, Shelley A. Curry, Melanie R. White, Ashley A. Hahn, Dustin T. Yates

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

Summary with Implications

Heat stress in beef cattle triggers physiological and metabolic disturbances that compromise performance, health, and welfare. In this study, Red Angus heifers exposed to heat stress for 5 days exhibited elevated body temperatures, increased heart and respiration rates, and altered hematological and acid–base parameters. A commercial ω-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) dietary supplement failed to improve heat stress-reduced ribeye area or red blood cell parameters but did resolve the reduction in blood chloride concentrations, which is consistent with restoration of electrolyte balance and hydration under heat stressed conditions. These results indicate that ω-3 PUFA supplementation offers some …

2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report

Nebraska Beef Cattle Reports

The 2026 Nebraska Beef Cattle Report brings together applied research, emerging technologies, and management insights that directly address the evolving challenges and opportunities facing today’s beef industry. This year’s collection includes 36 articles that span the full beef production system, from cow/calf and forage management to feedlot nutrition, animal health, behavior, meat quality, and sustainability, providing science-based guidance grounded in real-world production contexts.

Cow/Calf Nutrition, Reproduction, and Management

This section highlights management strategies that influence reproductive success and long-term herd performance. Articles focus on late-gestation heifer nutrition and practical applications of artificial insemination to support efficient, productive cow/calf systems.

Forage, …

A Case Of Primary Gastric Diffuse Large B-Cell Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma With Tumor Lysis Syndrome And The Warburg Effect, Sarah Barnhardt, Brooke Escoe, Mary Carter

South Atlantic Division GME Research Day 2025

No abstract provided.

Undergraduate Catalog Of Studies, 2025-2026, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville

Undergraduate Catalog of Studies

No abstract provided.

Law Catalog Of Studies, 2025-2026, University Of Arkansas, Fayetteville

School of Law Catalog of Studies

No abstract provided.