Digital Commons Network^™

Students As Information Responders – Extending Our Understanding Of Students At A Pwi, Anyiah S. Chambers

Theses and Dissertations--Communication

As school shootings continue to rise across the United States, understanding how students respond to and share information during crises has become a critical concern for higher education institutions. While prior research has examined the role of students as first information responders (FIRs) during emergencies, few studies have investigated how these processes unfold among Black and non-Black students at predominantly white institutions (PWIs). This mixed methods study is a replication and extension of Omilion-Hodges and Edwards (2021), examining how undergraduate Black and non-Black students at PWIs evaluate, construct, and disseminate crisis-related messages, particularly during active-shooter events. Grounded in channel specification …

Addressing Obesity And Diabetes In Appalachian Kentucky, Hannah E. Orens

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

Type 2 diabetes and obesity are major public health concerns in Appalachian Kentucky. Populations in this region experience much higher rates of chronic disease than the rest of the state, have limited access to preventive care, and ongoing economic challenges that affect health. Many rural counties face increased poverty, transportation challenges, and shortages of healthcare professionals, all of which contributed to poor health outcomes and reduced access to evidence-based prevention programs. As a result, there is a strong need for focused, feasible, community-based interventions that improve access to evidence-based prevention while addressing the social and economic factors influencing health in …

Purchasing A Healthier Future: A Nutrition-Focused, Community-Centered Approach To Reduce Obesity And Diabetes In Graves County, Kentucky, Marissa Stephens

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

Obesity and type 2 diabetes are among the most significant public health challenges in the United States, with Kentucky consistently ranking among the states with the highest prevalence of both conditions. Together, these conditions contribute to reduced quality of life, rising healthcare costs, and increased morbidity and mortality, underscoring the need for targeted, community-centered interventions. The disease burden of obesity and diabetes is particularly pronounced in rural areas, including the state’s westernmost region, the Jackson Purchase. Among rural populations, chronic disease risk is driven by a combination of factors, including low socioeconomic status, limited access to healthcare/supermarket options, and food …

Automated Object Detection And Change Quantification In Underground Mines Using Lidar Point Clouds And 360◦ Image Processing, Ana Fabiola Patricia Tejada Peralta, Roya Bakzadeh, Sina Siahidouzazar, Pedram Roghanchi

Mining Engineering Faculty Publications

Underground mining environments pose significant challenges for automated hazard detection due to low illumination, restricted visibility, and the absence of Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coverage. These factors limit situational awareness and delay inspection efforts, particularly after disruptive events when rapid assessment is essential for safety. This study addresses this problem by developing a dual-pipeline framework for 2D–3D detection that uses 360° imaging and LiDAR-based machine learning to identify people, vehicles, and positional changes in underground settings without requiring personnel to re-enter hazardous areas. The objective was to create a system capable of recognizing objects and monitoring spatial changes under …

Building Public Health Data Dashboards: Tutorial Playbook, Elwin Wu, Raymond Balise, Benjamin Katz, Daniel R. Harris, Matthew Bullard, Naleef Fareed, Marc Larochelle, Jennifer Villani

Institute for Biomedical Informatics Faculty Publications

Public health data dashboards have substantial potential to improve transparency, understanding, and decision-making at multiple levels, from individuals to public health practitioners and policymakers. However, creating effective dashboards presents many challenges. In this case-based tutorial on public health dashboard development, we share lessons learned from our experience developing data dashboards for the HEALing Communities Study (HCS), a National Institutes of Health (NIH)–funded, community-engaged intervention to deploy evidence-based practices to reduce opioid overdose deaths in 67 communities across 4 states. We present key decision points dashboard teams must address, along with the major considerations and trade-offs that shaped our approach. First, …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Reprograms Osteoclast Lineage Communications To Promote Osteoclastogenesis, Hami Hemati, Brianna M. Doratt, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of osteoporosis and fracture by disrupting bone remodeling, in part by enhancing osteoclastogenesis. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying this process remain incompletely defined. We analyzed scRNA-seq data from osteoclasts differentiated in vitro from bone marrow mononuclear cells obtained from macaques following 12 months of chronic ethanol or isocaloric control solution consumption. Module scoring, trajectory inference with generalized additive modeling (tradeSeq), and CellChat-based analyses of intercellular communication were applied to uncover ethanol-induced changes in metabolic reprogramming, lineage progression, and signaling network dynamics. Module scoring indicated metabolic reprogramming toward oxidative phosphorylation, with reduced glycolytic, migratory, and …

Alcohol Consumption Exacerbates High-Fat Diet- Mediated Disruptions In Myelopoiesis And Osteoclastogenesis In Mouse Models Of Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Liver Diseases, Hami Hemati, Madison B. Blanton, Lauren Rutt, Nicholas Keiran, Rebecca Geron, Florence Lima, Rebecca L. Mccullough, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Objective: Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) and Metabolic Dysfunction-Associated Alcohol-related Liver Disease (MetALD) exhibit systemic immune abnormalities. Given that such immune dysregulation is closely linked to the skeletal complications frequently observed in MASLD and MetALD, we sought to comprehensively characterize the bone marrow hematopoietic compartment and its link to osteoclastogenesis.

Methods: We utilized bone marrow from mouse models of MASLD (high-fat diet, HFD) and MetALD (high-fat diet plus ethanol, HFD+EtOH), followed by flow cytometric analysis to phenotype hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs), as well as in vitro and in vivo assays to evaluate osteoclastogenesis.

Results: We found that …

Aggregation Bias In Multi-Industry Economic Contribution Analysis: The Case Of Kentucky Forest Sector, Domena A. Agyeman, Thomas Ochuodho, Omkar Joshi

Forestry and Natural Resources Faculty Publications

Closely related industries are often aggregated in US forest sector economic contribution analysis, yet the choice of aggregation scheme can influence results. The Impact Analysis for Planning (IMPLAN) system is the most widely applied input–output model for forest economic contribution analysis in the US. In IMPLAN, the level of industry aggregation determines which inter-industry transactions are restricted, thereby influencing the magnitude of estimated indirect and induced effects. Although IMPLAN practitioners can model individual industries to avoid aggregation bias, they must still decide whether to analyze forest industries as a single group, as traditional subsectors, or individually. This decision can alter …

Buprenorphine Utilization Following Removal Of Prior Authorization Requirements In The Kentucky Medicaid Population, Dustin K. Miracle, Lindsey R. Hammerslag, Svetla Slavova, Michelle R. Lofwall, Sharon L. Walsh, Jeffery Talbert, Patricia R. Freeman

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: To evaluate changes in buprenorphine dispensing for treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) among Kentucky Medicaid enrollees following the removal of prior authorization (PA) requirements for the transmucosal buprenorphine combination product.

Methods: We analyzed Kentucky Medicaid claims from 1/1/2016 through 6/30/2023 to identify enrollees with OUD during each quarter (Q1/2017–Q2/2023), using a 12-month lookback window. Segmented regression analysis was used for statistical modeling of an interrupted time series (ITS) design to assess changes in the quarterly proportion of enrollees with OUD receiving buprenorphine for OUD treatment, focusing on the effect of PA removal. The effective date of the PA …

Contemporary Trends In High-Potency P2y12 Receptor Inhibitor Use Among Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction Undergoing Percutaneous Coronary Intervention, Ayman R. Fath, Binish Qureshi, Amro Aglan, Osamah Altaee, Hend Mansoor, Ahmed Almomani, Karim Al-Azizi, Marwan Saad, Andrew M. Goldsweig, Hani Jneid, Islam Y. Elgendy

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Background: High‐potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitors (ticagrelor and prasugrel) reduce ischemic outcomes compared with clopidogrel among patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). This study aims to examine contemporary trends and identify predictors of their use among patients with AMI undergoing PCI in the United States.   Methods: This observational study used electronic health records from >95 US‐based health care organizations. Adults with AMI who underwent PCI between 2016 and 2023 were included. The primary outcome was the prescription of high‐potency P2Y12 receptor inhibitors versus clopidogrel. Multivariable logistic regression was used to identify independent predictors of P2Y12 inhibitor …

Contraceptive Method Provision Patterns Among Rural And Urban Kentucky Medicaid Enrollees, Dustin K. Miracle, Svetla Slavova, Jeffery Talbert, Daniela C. Moga, Patricia R. Freeman

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: To characterize contraceptive provision among the Kentucky Medicaid population and assess for rural−urban disparities.

Methods: Kentucky Medicaid claims from the calendar year 2019 were used to identify females at risk for unintended pregnancy (via a modified version of the criteria defined by the US Department of Health and Human Services Office of Population Affairs). Multinomial logistic regression was used to assess the impact of rural−urban residence on contraceptive outcomes, while adjusting for relevant covariates. Outcomes for the multinomial regression model were provision of a: (1) less effective method (i.e., condoms) or no contraceptive; (2) moderately effective method (oral, transdermal, …

Chronic Alcohol Consumption Disrupts The Gut Microbial And Metabolic Landscapes, Madison B. Blanton, Ethan G. Napier, Katelyn E. Keen, Ethan V. Stuart, Isaac R. Cinco, Hami Hemati, Ronald C. Bruntz, Landon Wilson, Stephen Barnes, Rupak Khadka, Kathleen A. Grant, Ilhem Messaoudi

Pharmaceutical Sciences Faculty Publications

Introduction: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) increases incidence of infections, organ damage, and cancers. Aberrant inflammation is likely a driver of these adverse outcomes. Indeed, chronic alcohol consumption (CAC) rewires macrophages/monocytes toward a hyper-inflammatory phenotype. Prior studies showed increased gut permeability and dysbiosis. Translocation of host- and microbial-derived metabolites could trigger the hyper-inflammatory responses generated by macrophages/monocytes. However, the exact changes in these metabolites remain poorly defined due to confounders that complicate clinical studies and the differences between human and rodent gut microbiomes.

Methods: Here, we utilized a non-human primate model of ethanol self-administration to characterize alcohol-induced alterations in gut microbes …

Establishing A Public Health Surveillance System For The Opioid Crisis: The Experience Of The Healing Communities Study, Bridget Freisthler, Daniel J. Feaster, Charles Knott, Marc Larochelle, John Mccarthy, Svetla Slavova, Sharon L. Walsh, Jennifer Villani

Biostatistics Faculty Publications

Introduction: Efforts to reduce opioid overdose deaths in the United States have been stymied by the lack of timely and standardized population-level data for local, state, and national levels. The U.S. has a strong national need for linking opioid and other drug overdose surveillance data to service utilization data for overdose prevention and treatment to inform resource allocation and response planning.

Methods: We provide insight on the challenges of identifying, obtaining, and harmonizing administrative outcome data across four states using the collective experience from the HEALing Communities Study to test a community-engaged, data-driven, population-level intervention to reduce opioid overdose deaths. …

Curriculum In Pharmacoepidemiology Training Programs: A Cross-Sectional Study To Assess Educational Needs And Alignment With Core Competencies, Amie Goodin, Deborah Layton, Ryan Chung, Vicki Osborne, Chioma Ejekam, Xiaojuan Li, Xuerong Wen, Kristian B. Filion, Luciane Cruz Lopes, Daniela C. Moga

Pharmacy Practice and Science Faculty Publications

Purpose: Pharmacoepidemiology is a key discipline for evidence-based decision-making, yet its educational programs have not been systematically assessed for alignment with international core competencies. Our objectives were to evaluate curricula alignment of pharmacoepidemiology training programs with ISPE-recommended core competency themes and identify key curriculum content development areas.

Methods: The ISPE Core Competencies Workgroup and ISPE leadership developed a curriculum and needs assessment survey, incorporating feedback from global members. The survey was electronically distributed to leaders of pharmacoepidemiology training programs (e.g., department chairs and program directors) using the ISPE contact database, followed by snowball sampling to enhance representation. Institutional respondent characteristics …

Delivering Safe Sleep And Breastfeeding Education To Pregnant And New Mothers Through Private Facebook Groups: Study Protocol For A 4-Armed Randomized Controlled Trial, Rebecca F. Carlin, Margaret G. Parker, Ann L. Kellams, Fern R. Hauck, Stephen Kerr, Benjamin T. Cornwell, Marc T. Kiviniemi, Nicole Geller, Katherine E. Boguszewski, Michael J. Corwin, Eve R. Colson, Rachel Y. Moon

Health, Behavior & Society Faculty Publications

Background: Annually, more than 3500 US infants die suddenly and unexpectedly. Many sudden unexpected infant deaths (SUID) are preventable with greater adherence to safe infant sleep guidelines. There are racial and economic disparities in guideline adherence and SUID rates. Education alone has proven ineffective at altering behavior for many parents, and social networks and social norms regarding infant care have been found to influence rates of unsafe sleep. Using the power of social networks to shape social norms by delivering education through moderated online social media groups provides a unique opportunity to influence these practices in large groups of parents. …

Feasibility Of Brief Behavioral Telehealth Interventions For Sleep And Pain In Adults With Chronic Musculoskeletal Orofacial Pain: An Idiographic Clinical Trial, Linda Sangalli, Gabriel Gilmore, Isabel Moreno-Hay, Lauren N. Whitehurst, Anna Alessandri-Bonetti, Ian Andres Boggero

Oral Health Science Faculty Publications

Objective: Brief behavioral interventions targeting pain (Physical Self-Regulation, PSR) or sleep (Brief Behavioral Intervention for Insomnia, BBTI) show promise for interdisciplinary management of chronic pain, though their feasibility with chronic musculoskeletal orofacial pain (MSK-OFP) populations remains underexplored. This pilot study assessed the feasibility of a randomized clinical trial (RCT) of these interventions in a university-affiliated tertiary OFP clinic and explored clinical changes in pain, sleep, and other secondary outcomes.

Methods: Treatment-seeking participants (N=19) with chronic MSK-OFP and insomnia were randomized to three-session PSR or BBTI. At pre- and post-intervention, participants completed questionnaires (assessing pain intensity, insomnia symptomatology, sleep …

Fecal Microbiota Transplantation Modulates Gut Microbiota And Lipid Metabolism To Reduce Diarrhea In Low-Birth-Weight Neonatal Calves, Zhanhe Zhang, Duo You, Donglin Wu, Xintong Li, Yang Jia, David L. Harmon, Ming Xu

Animal and Food Sciences Faculty Publications

This study aimed to elucidate the mechanism by which colonic fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) improves lipid metabolism in low-birth-weight neonatal calves via modulation of the gut microbial ecosystem. In a completely randomized design, seventy newborn Holstein calves (1 day old, 32.63 ± 3.13 kg BW) were assigned to two groups (35 calves/treatment; 30 females and 5 males per group). A healthy calf was used as a fecal donor. A 10% fecal bacterial suspension was prepared and administered colonically (50 mL, twice daily for 5 days). All calves were fed the same milk replacer and weaned using a step-down protocol at …

Molar–Incisor And Generalized Grade C Periodontitis: Distinct Microbiome–Immune Interactions Suggest Divergent Pathogenesis, Camila S. Stolf, Hélvis E. S. Paz, Murilo C. Paraluppi, Manuela Maria Viana Miguel, Mauro P. Santamaria, Mabelle F. Monteiro, Deyvid E. Amgarten, Raquel R. A. Franco, Luciana S. Branco-De-Almeida, Luciana M. Shaddox, Renato C. V. Casarin

Oral Health Practice Faculty Publications

Aim:

Molar-Incisor (PerioC-MIP) and Generalized (PerioC-G) Grade C Periodontitis could have distinctive etiopathogenesis behind their unique clinical patterns. Thus, this study aimed to distinguish these two phenotypes by analyzing the subgingival metagenomic profile and the inflammatory markers levels.

Methods:

In this cross-sectional comparative study, Gingival Crevicular Fluid (GCF) and Subgingival Biofilm (SB) were collected from 18 PerioC-MIP North Americans and 14 periodontally healthy controls (HC) from the same location (HC-MIP) and 20 PerioC-G Brazilians and 20 controls (HC-G). From GCF, immunoenzymatic analysis was performed. SB functional and taxonomic bacterial content was determined using shotgun metagenomics sequencing.

Results:

Taxonomic results showed …

Ev Charging And V2g Operation For Distribution System Vpp Including Model Predictive Control, Rosemary E. Alden, Simone Silvestri, Malcolm D. Mcculloch, Dan M. Ionel

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Publications

Future smart grid virtual power plants (VPPs) are considered for development based on industry communication standards for electric vehicle (EV) chargers such as Open Charge Point Protocol (OCPP), IEC 15118, and IEC 61851. To support research and development of computationally intelligent controls for distributed EV batteries, a python-based API OpenDSS VPP framework is utilized with thousands of experimental smart meter profiles, the IEEE 123 node test feeder, and hundreds of national survey-based EV modules for conventional and optimal charging and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) control development to mitigate any voltage violations and reduce peak load. A methodology is proposed for model-predictive control …

Transcriptional Signatures Of Rapid Protection From Sudan Virus Infection By A Single Dose Of A Vesicular Stomatitis Virus-Based Vaccine, Brianna M. Doratt, Sheridan B. Wagner, Delphine C. Malherbe, Gregory T. Smith, Andrea Marzi, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Sudan virus (SUDV) has caused multiple outbreaks of human disease with case fatality rates ranging from 41 to 100%. We have previously shown that a single vaccination with a recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus-based vaccine expressing the SUDV-Gulu glycoprotein (VSV-SUDV) prevented clinical and fatal disease from lethal SUDV challenge in cynomolgus macaques. With the high probability of future outbreaks, it is critical to determine the molecular mechanisms of VSV-SUDV-mediated protection and the ability to impart rapid protection against SUDV infection. In this study, RNA from whole blood samples obtained from nine cynomolgus macaques that were challenged with SUDV-Gulu post-vaccination with either …

Characterizing Immune Perturbations In Peripheral Blood Following The East Palestine, Ohio Train Derailment, Sheridan B. Wagner, Hami Hemati, Siva Gandhapudi, Timothy J. Hilbert, Candace J. Brancato, Erin N. Haynes, Ilhem Messaoudi

Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics Faculty Publications

Background: The East Palestine, Ohio, train derailment on February 3rd, 2023, resulted in the exposure of residents and the surrounding area to numerous hazardous chemicals, which included known acute irritants and human carcinogens. Despite evacuation and cleanup, both residents and responders reported high occurrences of symptoms associated with exposure in the months following, such as eye, skin, and respiratory irritation, headaches, and fatigue. The long-term health consequences for residents remain uncertain.

Objective: To assess the potential for immune perturbations resulting from the exposure, we performed a broad investigation of circulating immune cells and mediators from residents of East Palestine, OH, …

Legislative Debate-Attributed Suicidality Among Lgbtq+ Adults: The Buffering Effect Of Community Belongingness, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Laneshia Conner, Nicole Campbell, Louis G. Baser, Dekeitra Griffin, Sydney Howard, Missy Spears, Justin X. Moore

Social Work Faculty Publications

Background: In recent years, the sociopolitical landscape in the United States has shifted due to an increase in state-level legislation regarding LGBTQ+ rights, a trend that has been particularly pronounced in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. While the mental health impacts of enacted laws are increasingly documented, a critical gap remains in understanding the psychological toll of the legislative debates themselves—the prolonged periods of public discourse surrounding the restriction of rights.

Methods: Utilizing data from the 2025 Queer Kentucky Survey (N = 817), this exploratory study examined the association between LGBTQ+ community belongingness and acute suicidality attributed specifically to anti-LGBTQ+ legislative …

The Functional Significance Of Plk1 Phosphorylation Of Nrf2 In Prostate Cancer Progression, Maria Nur

Theses and Dissertations--Toxicology and Cancer Biology

Prostate cancer progression and therapeutic resistance are closely linked to alterations in redox homeostasis and cell cycle regulation. Nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (NRF2) is a master regulator of antioxidant responses, yet the mechanisms integrating cell cycle signaling with NRF2 activity in prostate cancer remain poorly defined. In this study, we identify polo‑like kinase 1 (PLK1) as a novel regulator of NRF2 through direct phosphorylation at serine 253 (S253). Using bioinformatic prediction, mass spectrometry, in vitro kinase assays, and cell‑based analyses, we demonstrate that PLK1 phosphorylates NRF2 at S253 in a cell cycle–dependent manner, with maximal phosphorylation during mitosis. …

Limitations Of Reproductive Manipulation By Bacterial Endosymbionts In A Spider Host, Jordyn D. Proctor

Theses and Dissertations--Entomology

Maternally inherited bacterial endosymbionts are common in arthropods. Many of these bacteria manipulate host reproduction to favor the production of infected females, thereby increasing bacterial prevalence in the host population, even if cost is incurred to the host. However, there are also many factors that may inhibit symbionts’ ability to spread in host populations, including environmental constraints, symbiont-imposed costs on the host, interactions with co-infecting bacteria, or host biology. I explored two aspects of symbiont biology within a spider host, Mermessus fradeorum (Linyphiidae), which has varying combinations of up to five different bacterial endosymbionts in local populations: Rickettsiella, Tisiphia …

Assessing Interdisciplinary Learning And Knowledge: A State-Of-The-Art Review And Heuristic, Kacey Beddoes, Kristi Bartlett

Product Design Faculty Publications

Background – The need for interdisciplinary training is increasingly important, but assessing the effects of interdisciplinary education initiatives remains challenging. One of the leading difficulties is identifying and selecting the best instrument or technique for a given purpose.

Purpose -- To help researchers and educators identify available options and determine the best options for their purposes, we conducted a literature review and created a heuristic table of available techniques. Our review addresses the questions: 1) What domain-general techniques and instruments exist for assessing interdisciplinary learning or knowledge? 2) What research scenarios, populations, and questions are each technique or instrument most …

“Oh, You’Ve Come To Visit The Yard?”: Phenotypic Capital, Intragroup Marginalization, And The Gated Sanctuary In Black Lgbtq+ Communities, Keith J. Watts, Shawndaya S. Thrasher, Nicole Campbell, Laneshia Conner, Julian K. Glover, Janet K. Otachi, Dekeitra Griffin

Social Work Faculty Publications

Identity-based communities that share common characteristics, beliefs, and experiences (e.g., Black LGBTQ+ communities) have historically been conceptualized as protective bubbles that buffer Black LGBTQ+ individuals against the deleterious effects of systemic racism and cisheterosexism. However, this monolithic narrative often masks the internal power dynamics that divide belonging. This study explores the exclusionary dynamics embedded within these safe spaces, examining how internal hierarchies of skin tone, socioeconomic status, and gender performance function as proximal stressors. Guided by a critical constructivist paradigm, this study utilized Reflexive Thematic Analysis to analyze open-ended survey responses from 74 Black LGBTQ+ adults. Data were drawn from …

Assessment Of Hearing Health Among Adults In Rural Health Clinics, Mit A. Patel, David Adkins, Laura Bellnier, Anthony Mahairas, Matthew L. Bush

Otolaryngology--Head & Neck Surgery Faculty Publications

Objective: Hearing loss (HL) negatively impacts all aspects of health, yet poor access to hearing healthcare (HHC) among adults is a pervasive public health problem. The inaccessibility of HHC is amplified in rural adults. Rural health clinics (RHC) are a critical healthcare system tasked with improving health in rural communities and the objective of this study is to assess the prevalence of HL and the utilization of HHC within RHCs.

Methods: Using cross-sectional study design, adults were recruited from 10 RHC throughout rural Kentucky, mostly within Appalachia. The primary outcomes were (1) presence of HL on screening and (2) history …

A Chandra View Of Spt-Cl J0217–5014: A Massive Galaxy Cluster At A Cosmic Intersection At Z = 0.53, Dan Hu, Shida Fan, Zhongsheng Yuan, Junjie Mao, Norbert Werner, Yuanyuan Su, François Mernier, Yuanyuan Zhao, Liyi Gu, Haiguang Xu

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Context. Galaxy clusters trace the densest regions of the cosmic web and are crucial laboratories for studying the thermodynamic and chemical evolution of the intracluster medium (ICM). The massive galaxy cluster SPT-CL J0217−5014 (z ∼ 0.53; M₅₀₀ ∼ 3 × 10¹⁴ M_⊙) is one of the Swift X-Ray Telescope serendipitous galaxy clusters with the highest reported Fe abundance (∼1.3 ± 0.4 Z_⊙ within ∼ 1_.^′7) and a potentially disturbed morphology.

Aims. SPT-CL J0217−5014 presents an intriguing opportunity to investigate ICM chemical enrichment and cool-core survival. With this study, we aim to …

The Relationship Between Warm And Hot Gas-Phase Metallicity In Massive Elliptical Galaxies And The Influence Of Active Galactic Nucleus Feedback, Valeria Olivares, Yuanyuan Su, Pasquale Temi, Ryan Eskenasy, Helen Russell, Massimo Gaspari, Philippe Salome, Francoise Combes, Ming Sun, Ezequiel Treister, Kevin Fogarty, Ana Jimenez-Gallardo, Patricio Lagos

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

Context. Warm ionized gas is ubiquitous at the centers of X-ray bright elliptical galaxies. While it is believed to play a key role in the feeding and feedback processes of supermassive black holes, its origins remain under debate. Existing studies have primarily focused on the morphology and kinematics of warm ionized gas. Aims. This work aims to provide a new perspective on warm (∼10 000 K) ionized gas and its connection to X-ray-emitting hot gas (> 10⁶ K) by measuring and comparing their metallicities. Methods. We conducted a joint analysis of 13 massive elliptical galaxies using MUSE/VLT and Chandra …

Cooperative Charge Ordering Signature Of Trimer Molecules In Infinite-Layer Cacoo2, J. S. Lee, W. J. Kim, A. Khandelwal, K. T. Ko, H. Lee, C. T. Kuo, S. Song, C. Song, D. Jang, H. Choi, G. Park, S. Y. Park, G. Kang, H. Jang, P. Abdollahi, A. Seo, C. C. Kao, H. Y. Hwang

Physics and Astronomy Faculty Publications

The infinite-layer compound CaCoO₂ provides a compelling platform to explore how local orbital distortions evolve into collective electronic order. Using resonant soft x-ray scattering (RSXS) and its time-resolved counterpart (tr-RSXS), we reveal a cooperative coupling between two intertwined orders at the same in-plane wave vector, q≈(1/4,1/4,0), comprising a quasi-two-dimensional orbital order associated with the distorted Co(1) sites and a quasi-three-dimensional trimerlike charge order stabilized through Co-O-Ca hybridization. The charge-sensitive component exhibits a uniform relaxation time of ∼400 fs (391±5 fs) across multiple Co resonances, evidencing a collective charge response. A comparable timescale observed in the orbital order associated with …