Life Sciences Commons^™

A Tale Of Two Serpins: Pathologic And Protective Roles Of Agt And Pai-1 In Metabolic And Cardiovascular Disease, Alex C. Pettey

Theses and Dissertations--Physiology

Metabolic and cardiovascular diseases are leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Conditions such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), aortic aneurysm, and cardiac fibrosis have limited pharmacological therapies, underscoring the need for deeper mechanistic investigations. Serine protease inhibitors (serpins) have been implicated in these pathologies and represent potential therapeutic targets. Despite structural homology, serpins regulate diverse physiological processes through both protease inhibition and non-inhibitory mechanisms. This dissertation examines the roles of two serpins, angiotensinogen (AGT) and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), in preclinical models of metabolic and cardiovascular disease to identify novel mechanisms that may inform future therapeutic strategies. …

Investigation Into The A/Ss Of Cervical Cancer And Its Effects On Tumor Control Probability In Radiation Therapy, Cameron Thayer-Freeman

Theses and Dissertations--Radiation Medicine

The standard of care for locally advanced cervical cancer is chemoradiation, consisting of conventional external beam therapy (EBT) followed by a boost of high dose rate (HDR) brachytherapy. These two radiation treatments will illicit different degrees of biological response depending on the tissue in question, and quantifying the overall effect the combined treatments will have require some form of biological modeling. The linear quadratic (LQ) model of cell survival is the most widely used radiobiological model in clinics across the nation.

It is quantified by the parameters a and ß, which model how radiation generates lethal damage in a population …

Seasonal Population Dynamics And Interspecific Interactions Of Drosophila Suzukii, Eleanor Mccabe

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Invasive species are a growing problem, and it is important to investigate how invasives interact with novel ecosystems, which are characterized by distinct abiotic and biotic factors. In this dissertation, I investigate abiotic and biotic factors affecting two invasive pests in central Kentucky, Drosophila suzukii and Zaprionus indianus. In Kentucky, seasonality, and landscape features on population dynamics and fitness are unknown. I found that D. suzukii overwinters in Kentucky and that wild berry species improve winter survival. I used local weather data to identify meteorological variables that best predict D. suzukii populations. I tested the extent to which D. suzukii …

Fusarium Head Blight Of Hemp: A Destructive Disease Emerges On A New Host, Henry Smith

Theses and Dissertations--Plant Pathology

Hemp was reintroduced as a commercial crop in 2018 after a near 50-year production ban under the Controlled Substances Act. Since reintroduction, Kentucky has consistently ranked among the top five hemp producing states in the US. Surveys have shown that hemp is susceptible to a multitude of diseases that impact production. Among the most concerning diseases in Kentucky is Fusarium head blight (FHB). FHB is a major disease of cereals that is caused by various Fusarium species, predominately F. graminearum. FHB of hemp caused by F. graminearum was first reported in Kentucky in 2020. A survey of 25 different …

Managing Dietary Nonstructural Carbohydrates In Insulin Dysregulated Horses: Pasture, Long-Stem Forage, And Restrictive Grazing Strategies, Morgan J. Askins

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

Insulin dysregulation (ID) is a complex endocrine disorder, impacting a large percentage of the equine population. ID is the defining characteristic of equine metabolic syndrome (EMS). Within the various classifications of EMS horses, the commonality is ID and their higher risk of laminitis. To mitigate insulin response and laminitis risk in ID horses, current management focuses on restricting pasture exposure and feeding low nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) rations. Minimal studies have evaluated how ID horses respond to pasture of various NSC, long-stem forages, and restrictive grazing strategies. Providing horse owners and managers with improved nutritional management recommendations for ID horses with …

Equid Major Histocompatibility Complex (Mhc) Evolution & Genome Organization, Lauren C. Johnson

Theses and Dissertations--Veterinary Science

The evolution of modern horses has a well-documented fossil record and has long been of interest to the genetics community. Although non-caballine equids (e.g. zebras, donkeys, and asses) can hybridize with horses, the resulting offspring are typically infertile. Despite these reproductive barriers, genomic analyses reveal regions of high sequence similarity among equid species. This dissertation investigates the role of historical introgression in the evolution of modern Equus species. The first chapter re-evaluates earlier findings derived from a limited horse population and a single reference genome. The variants of the identified regions were pushed through Ensembl’s Variant Effect Predictor to assess …

Investigating The Full Annual Cycle Ecology Of Eastern Whip-Poor-Wills Breeding In Central Appalachian Forests, Nicole Notarianni

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Data on habitat needs of migratory birds across the annual cycle is critical for the development of effective management plans, particularly for declining species. One declining species, the eastern whip-poor-will (Antrostomus vocerifus; EWPW) lacks data on habitat selection patterns through the annual cycle, and this knowledge is particularly scarce for the breeding season. In this thesis, I used archival GPS tags on EWPW to: 1) assess patterns of breeding habitat space-use for 11 EWPW breeding in central Pennsylvania, and 2) describe broad space-use patterns during migration and wintering seasons. Breeding data were paired with three LiDAR-derived habitat metrics: …

Using Camera-Based Unmarked Spatial Capture-Recapture Modeling To Estimate Reintroduced Elk (Cervus Canadensis) Population Parameters And Distribution In Southeastern Kentucky, Claire Marie Muia

Theses and Dissertations--Forestry and Natural Resources

Estimation of population parameters is important for wildlife management decisions. Elk reintroduced to southeastern Kentucky experienced early irruptive population growth and are currently monitored using a statewide harvest-based statistical population reconstruction model (SPR) across the Kentucky Elk Restoration Zone (KERZ). Because the SPR model is spatially coarse and difficult to scale to the smaller management units comprising the KERZ, we conducted a spatially explicit capture-recapture study using a clustered camera-trapping array deployed for 10 weeks from June–August 2024 to estimate elk population parameters within Management Unit 4. Due to a lack of resights of GPS-marked elk, population parameters were estimated …

Between The Rails: Experiential Education And Its Impact On Compliance And Consistency In Racetrack Surface Management, Heather Mackenzie

Theses and Dissertations--Community & Leadership Development

Recent regulatory requirements within the Thoroughbred racing industry have increased expectations for consistent collection and reporting of racetrack surface data. Despite clear standards, implementation in daily operations remains inconsistent, highlighting a gap between regulation, knowledge, and practice. This study examined the impact of an experiential education curriculum on racetrack personnel’s self-efficacy and reporting consistency.

Using a quantitative design, data were collected through pre- and post-surveys measuring self-efficacy and records of the number of days surface data were entered. Descriptive statistics, paired-samples t-tests, and effect size analyses were used. Results showed a statistically significant increase in self-efficacy (p < .001) with large effect sizes, indicating meaningful gains in confidence and comfortability. Reporting consistency did not show a statistically significant change (p = .885).

Overall, experiential education …

A Qualitative Analysis Of Fitness Wearable Use And Embodiment, Lucas Brandt

Antioch University Dissertations & Theses

Wearable fitness technologies have become increasingly integrated into contemporary health and wellness culture, providing users with continuous access to physiological and behavioral data related to movement, sleep, stress, recovery, and overall health. Research has demonstrated that wearable devices can increase physical activity and support health behavior change (Ferguson et al., 2022; Koivisto & Hamari, 2019). Although less is known about how these technologies influence individuals’ lived experiences of their bodies. Understanding this relationship is particularly important given growing concerns regarding embodiment, self-surveillance, and the psychological effects of health-tracking technologies (Bergsland, 2017; Rapp, 2021). Drawing on theories of mind-body connection and …

Nanoparticle Carriers Enhance The Prophylactic Antiviral Effects Of Dsrna In Vitro And Ex Vivo, Shayne Oberhoffner, Stephanie Dewitte-Orr, Starla Richardson, Leah Haile, Dominique Daniels, Erin Cooper, Aizah Ijaz, Janet Velasquez Perez, Mathilde Peruzzi, Bertrand Collet, Paul Craig, Kristof Jenik

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Aquaculture now outpaces traditional capture fisheries as the world population and demand for sustainable protein sources increases. Wild and farmed species are increasingly susceptible to pathogen spread as global temperatures rise and stocking densities increase. Despite the devastating losses experienced by aquaculture due to viral infections, there remain few effective prophylactic antiviral therapeutics. Long double-stranded (ds)RNA is a uniquely viral molecule produced by nearly all viruses during their replication cycle, and its detection by salmonids like rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) and chinook salmon (Oncorhynchus tshawytsha) leads to the establishment of a defensive antiviral state. Previous in vitro studies demonstrated a …

Methylseleninic Acid Transformations In Nutrient Rich Water Containing Algae Exposed To Simulated Sunlight, Mikayla Cormier

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Methylseleninic acid (MSA(IV)) is an organic form of selenium that has been suggested to be one of the most bioaccumulative forms of selenium in aquatic ecosystems. However, there have been no lab studies that confirm this, which is the reason this study was conducted. Once MSA(IV) and other bioavailable forms of selenium enter aquatic ecosystems, organisms such as algae take up these compounds which then bioaccumulate through the food chain. S. obliquus was exposed to 10 ppb MSA(IV) in 10% Bold’s basal medium (BBM) in a growth chamber to mimic environmental conditions over a 7-day period. Carbon traps and filters …

Analysis Of Alternative Oxidase In Non-Angiosperm Plants, Anissa M. Francis

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Alternative oxidase (AOX) is a mitochondrial terminal oxidase that provides an alternative pathway for electron transport, allowing plants to maintain respiratory flexibility under environmental stress conditions. While AOX has been extensively studied in angiosperms (flowering plants), little is known about its distribution and conservation in non-angiosperms. Based on gaps identified in the literature, this thesis investigated the distribution of AOX across non-angiosperm plant lineages. Although AOX is present in many green algae and is therefore considered to be an ancient protein that originated before the existence of non-angiosperm plants, it remains unclear whether the protein is uniformly distributed across these …

Non-Invasive Detection Of Intracranial Pressure, Andrei V. Nesterenko

Honors Undergraduate Theses

Intracranial pressure is a critical metric used when managing tumors, strokes, TBIs, hydrocephalus, and other operative conditions. Traditional methods for continuous ICP monitoring, intraparenchymal catheters, epidural transducers etc., are invasive and carry a high risk of infection. Previous attempts to create accurate, easy to use, and non-invasive ICP monitoring techniques have been unsuccessful. In this study, we investigated the utility of supraorbital and posterior auricular photoplethysmography to monitor changes in ICP during orthostatic tilt and hyperventilation, which increase and decrease ICP respectively.

Through a continuous 5-minute recording on a tilt-table we characterized SOA and PAA waveforms in 12 participants (ages …

External Validation Of A Knowledge-Based Clinical Toxicology Consultant For Diagnosing Single Exposures, Hugo Lerogeron, Joel D. Schipper, Jay L. Schauben, Laurent Guéguen, Valentine Lacotte, Kim An Nguyen

Publications

Introduction

Clinical prediction models assist healthcare providers in estimating disease likelihood using multiple patient-specific factors. While these models are increasingly used, few undergo the essential process of external validation, which limits their clinical utility. In toxicology, timely diagnosis is crucial and expertise scarce, making knowledge-based systems an excellent choice to support medical decision making. A knowledge-based system developed using data from the Florida Poison Information Center Network has shown promise but lacks external validation. This study aims to evaluate its performance using data from the Lyon Poison Information Center to assess its generalizability

Methods

To externally validate the Florida diagnostic …

Characterization Of The Genetic Diversity Of Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potamogeton Crispus L.) In The Contiguous United States And Canada And Analysis Of Possible Hybrid Potamogeton Crispus Lineages, Mallory M. Kaiser

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

Curlyleaf Pondweed (Potamogeton crispus L.) is a prolific invasive species that has spread across the United States and into parts of Canada since its introduction to North America in the 1840s. It causes extensive economic and environmental damage across its invasive range, and its control and eradication are of utmost importance to agricultural, ecological, recreational, and transportational stakeholders. Developments in molecular ecology and invasive management have found that genetic diversity and hybridization of aquatic macrophytes may affect their susceptibility to herbicide treatments, and genotype or lineage identification are important control variables that must be considered in field and …

Evaluating Soil And Plant Health In A Wide-Row Maize (Zea Mays L.) Production System Integrated With Perennial Cover Crops And Turkey (Meleagris Gallopavo), Sovika Bhattarai

All Graduate Theses, Dissertations, and Other Capstone Projects

In regions dominated by intensive maize (Zea mays L.) production systems, such as the US Midwest, sustainable agricultural practices such as cover crops and livestock integration are gaining interest for their potential to improve soil, plant, and environmental health. Traditionally, annual cover cropping systems (ACCs) have been used to maintain soil quality and crop performance without compromising ecosystem services. However, the high establishment and management costs of ACCs highlight the need for alternative approaches, such as perennial cover crops (PCCs). Grown as companion crops with maize, PCCs provide extended soil cover and can improve soil biochemical properties (e.g., total C …

Retention Time Of Microplastics In The Purple Sea Urchin (Arbacia Punctulata), Alexandra Shore

Honors Theses and Capstones

Marine ecosystems around the world are facing the problem of plastic pollution. Large pieces of plastic eventually degrade into smaller microplastics that are suspended in the water column and sink to the seabed. Sea urchins are exposed to microplastics as they graze on the sea floor and can accidentally consume these pollutants. Sea urchins are ecologically important animals because they physically alter their ecosystem via grazing and are integral part of marine food webs. To better understand how sea urchins interact with microplastics, purple sea urchins were exposed to microfibers and microspheres in a laboratory setting, and the retention time …

Exploring The Relationships Between Social Influence, Vaping Behaviors, And Susceptibility Across Grade Levels In Kentucky, Raphael Adesiyan, Odunayo O. Omotilewa, Saber Feizy, Melinda J. Ickes

Kinesiology and Health Promotion Faculty Publications

Purpose: This study explored the relationships between social influence, vaping behavior, and susceptibility across different grade levels.   Design: The study design was cross-sectional. Data were collected from middle and high school students who voluntarily participated between September 2022 and April 2023.   Sample: A convenience sample of students in 6^th to 12^th grades in Kentucky (N = 4677).   Measures: Demographic information, including age, grade level, school location, and race/ethnicity, was collected. The outcome variables included social influence, susceptibility, and vaping behavior.   Analysis: Logistic regression analysis was used to explore the relationships between social influence, vaping behavior, and susceptibility.   Results: …

Adapting To Uncertainty: Effects Of Environmental Instability On Zebrafish Behaviour, Britney Sekulovski

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

This thesis addresses how animals cope with unpredictability by testing how environmental stability changes the behaviour of zebrafish (Danio rerio) in two complementary experiments. In Experiment 1, fish lived for three months in either a Dynamic environment (water temperature, feeding times, habitat complexity, group size, and membership fluctuated) or a Stable environment (all factors constant). Across seven behavioural assays, measuring individual behavioural differences, collective movement, social memory, and information use, Dynamic condition fish were found to be more sensitive to social cues and more likely to conform to recent social information, independent of the quality of the information …

The Effects Of Environmental Complexity On Brain Development And Personality Expression In Western Hognose Snakes, Gokulan Nagabaskaran

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

There is growing interest in snake cognition, personality, and welfare as more snakes are kept as pets, yet little research has been conducted. The effects of enrichment and environmental factors have been well documented in other taxa, and recent evidence suggests that snakes may benefit in similar ways. This dissertation investigated the impact of environmental and social enrichment on personality expression, personality stability, and brain development. Western hognose snakes (Heterodon nasicus) were used as the model species, as they are a popular choice in the pet trade. This allows the research to be readily translatable to husbandry practices of many …

Developing Provider Digital Twins For Personalized Provider-Patient Communication Via A Rag-Based Conversational Framework, Pengze Li, Yutong Hu, Jianfu Li, Garit Gemeinhardt, Fang Li, Muhammad Amith, Licong Cui, Antonio J Forte, Cui Tao

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Digital twins have emerged as a paradigm in precision and personalized medicine, enabling data-driven modeling of individuals to support tailored interventions. While most existing work focuses on patient-oriented twins, little attention has been given to modeling the provider’s role, particularly in clinical communication. In this study, we present GRACE (Generalized RAG-Enhanced Conversation Framework), a framework for constructing a provider digital twin (ProDT) that emulates key aspects of clinicians’ communicative and cognitive behavior. GRACE integrates three modules: a physician-informed dialog script generation and optimization module for provider-patterned conversation, a Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) pipeline for factual grounding and timely knowledge updating, and …

Eeg Correlates Of Tactile Synchrony, Devon K. R. Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

New research on the tactile system has suggested that cortical representations of body parts are not fixed, as previously thought, and are instead dynamically maintained through constant sensorimotor information and feedback. Within the somatosensory cortex (S1), the capacity for both permanent and temporary changes have been the topic of ongoing research. The current study aimed to corroborate whether 24 hours of a finger adhesion manipulation is sufficient to elicit behavioural and electrophysiological correlates from cortical reorganization of digit representations in S1, using a behavioural paradigm outlined by Kolasinski et al. (2016). Through electroencephalography (EEG) recording during a tactile discrimination task, …

Injury To Insight: Exploring The Influence Of Media On Acl Rehabilitation Experiences Of Female Soccer Players, Chynna Ho-Young Cadogan, Jill Tracey

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Participation in soccer inherently carries a risk of injury, with female athletes facing a significantly higher susceptibility to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries (Campbell et al., 2014; Le et al., 2025; Silvers-Granelli, 2021). The increasing participation in women’s soccer, coupled with the growing demand for its consumption through spectatorship, has contributed to a rise in ACL injuries, and increase in media coverage on this phenomenon (Parsons et al., 2021). Understanding how media narratives surrounding ACL injuries and recovery may influence rehabilitation experiences can educate coaches, mental performance consultants, athletic therapists, and female soccer players to better understand and navigate ACL …

Identifying The Physical Activity Promotion Practices Of Obstetricians And Gynecologists: Patients With Endometriosis And Polycystic Ovary Syndrome, Allison P. Herman

Theses and Dissertations (Comprehensive)

Despite efforts to promote physical activity, many females in Canada do not meet recommended physical activity guidelines. For individuals with gynecological conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), physical activity may aid in symptom management and improve daily functioning. Healthcare settings, including obstetrics and gynecology, represent an area of opportunity to promote physical activity among this population. This thesis aims to understand the physical activity promotion practices of Ontario-based Obstetricians and Gynecologists (OBGYNs) to patients with endometriosis and/or PCOS. A cross-sectional online survey was conducted to explore OBGYNs promotional practices and perceived factors influencing their engagement in physical …

Impacts Of Management Practices And Soil Properties On Free-Living Nitrogen Fixation In Eastern South Dakota, Laura Galvan Nuevo

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Free-living nitrogen (N) fixation (FLNF) may represent a sustainable pathway to supplement crop N demand in agroecosystems, yet edaphic and management factors regulating this process under field conditions remain poorly understood in the Northern Great Plains. Using 15N2 direct method to quantify potential FLNF (pFLNF) and baseline FLNF (bFLNF), this thesis investigates how crop rotations (2-, 3-, and 4-year systems), tillage management (conventional vs. no-till), cover cropping, and soil properties affect the potential of free-living diazotrophs to supply N via FLNF in a long-term no-till corn-based system in Southeastern South Dakota. A two-year field study evaluated pFLNF across four growing …

Unlocking Green Potential In Indonesian Small Medium Enterprises: Challenges And Opportunities For Sustainable Vermicelli Production, Togar W. S. Panjaitan, Karina Agustin, Prayonne Adi, Jani Rahardjo, I Nyoman Sutapa

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Due to limited initiatives and support, the transition to green manufacturing among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in developing countries remains challenging. Through a critical literature review and case study of the Indonesian vermicelli industry, this study highlights the importance of collaboration and strong policies to address this. Other findings also reveal that the energy intensity and emissions in the sector exceed best practice benchmarks, with the cooking and drying stages contributing significantly to emissions due to high energy consumption. Lack of government regulations, company awareness, and understanding of applicable practices and technologies creates challenges in green manufacturing. The study …

The Diagnostic Value Of Serum Ferritin In Telogen Effluvium, Sara Khaled Mohamed Elbasiouny, Marwa H. Elnagdy, Sherif R. Ismaeil, Fawzia A. Saafan

Mansoura Medical Journal

Background Telogen effluvium (TE) is a common cause of hair loss (HL) in females, characterized by diffuse HL. Iron deficiency has a significant relationship with emotional stress, and anxiety is another prevalent cause for HL. So, our aim was to evaluate the serum ferritin levels among TE patients, compared to healthy controls. Methods This case-control study was conducted on 100 subjects, and they were divided into 2 groups, group (A) included 50 patients with Telogen Effluvium and group (B) included 50 healthy normal volunteers matching for age and sex with the patients. Clinical examination of diffuse shedding and positive pull …

Evaluating The Role Of Power Electronics In Enhancing Renewable Energy And Smart Grid Performance: A Review, Muhammad Irfan Habib

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

The review article demonstrates the importance of power electronics in propelling the increase of renewables and increasing the efficiency of contemporary electrical grids. In particular, it highlights the need for bidirectional converters for effective energy management in vehicle-to-grid (V2G) systems with two-way power transfer. The paper examines the series of complications offered by the significantly large integration of power electronic converter-interfaced renewables, such as those related to system steadiness, power quality, and resignation bottlenecks. Also, it recognizes a mix of new technologies, such as wide bandgap (WBG) semiconductors like silicon carbide (SiC) and gallium nitride (GaN), that deliver superior performance …

Artificial Neural Network Based Protection For Dc Bus Using Solid State Dc Breaker, Eswaraiah Giddalur, Askani Jaya Laxmi

ASEAN Journal on Science and Technology for Development

Low voltage Direct Current (LVDC) microgrids have been extensively used as a hopeful technology with high access to distributed energy resources (DERs) and DC loads, due to the absence of multiple conversions. A high amplitude Fault current together with the vulnerability of electronic devices, poses a great challenge to the line protection in LVDC microgrids. Electromechanical switches are slow and take long tripping time to clear the short circuit fault. Power electronic circuit breakers are used to achieve fast fault interruption recent progress in areas like machine learning and natural language processing have affected nearly every assiduity and area of …