Digital Commons Network^™

Raising Red Flags: Exploring Phenotypic Change In Tiger Moths (Apantesis) Of Coastal Sc Over 50 Years' Time, Allison K. Fletcher

Senior Theses

Organismal phenotypes play a critical role in ecological interactions and individual fitness, and they may undergo rapid shifts through evolutionary adaptation or phenotypic plasticity in response to climate change and environmental disturbances. As morphological traits such as body size, melanization, and aposematic coloration are especially significant for thermoregulation and predator deterrence, it is important to understand the ways in which these traits may be changing on a regional level. Here, I examined the change in phenotype in populations of three tiger moth (Apantesis) species from a single site in coastal South Carolina over a fifty-year period, testing for differences in …

Individual Differences In The Effects Of A Muscarinic Antagonist On Cued Fear Recall And Extinction, Caitlyn J. White

Senior Theses

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is characterized by an inability to extinguish fear after experiencing a traumatic event. The cholinergic system shows increased activity during fear learning and extinction, suggesting a role for cholinergic transmission in PTSD. Our lab has previously found that rats can be divided into extinction resistant (ER) and extinction competent (EC) phenotypes, with ER representing a PTSD-like phenotype. While women are more likely to develop PTSD, there is limited literature on the cholinergic system and recall of cued fear or extinction in female rats which are used as a model system due to their similar brain anatomy. …

Differential Gene Coexpression In 16p11.2 Autism Spectrum Disorder, Joseph Patacsil

Senior Theses

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder that has been associated with several genetic factors. One of these factors is a mutation of the 16p11.2 region on chromosome 16, in which both deletions and duplications have been strongly associated with ASD. KCTD13 is a gene in the 16p11.2 gene locus that has recently been shown to influence brain development and is also associated with ASD. This study analyzes the differential gene expression and gene pathways of these different phenotypes. KCTD13 deletion had a significant up-regulation effect on genes and shares similar pathways to the 16p11.2 duplication mutation. Mutations in …

Endothelial Dysfunction Promotes Age-Related Reorganization Of Collagen Fibers And Alters Aortic Biomechanics In Mice, Liya Du, Jeffrey Rodgers, Nazli Gharraee, Olivia Gary, Tarek Shazly, John F. Eberth, Susan M. Lessner

Faculty Publications

Endothelial dysfunction, defined as a reduction in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), is a risk factor for the occurrence and progression of various vascular diseases. This study investigates the effect of endothelial dysfunction on age-related changes in aortic extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure and the relationship between microstructural adaptation and the mechanical response. Here, we used groups of NOS3 knockout (KO), NOS3 heterozygotes (Het), and wild-type (WT) B6 mice (controls) to study changes in hemodynamic parameters, collagen fiber organization, and both active and passive aortic mechanics using biaxial pressure myography over a time course from 1.5 to 12 mo. Our …

Illustrations Of Benevolent And Hostile Heterosexism In Lgbtq+ People’S Lives, Jes L. Matsick, Lindsay Palmer, Flora Oswald, Mary Kruk, Kenneth Ye

Faculty Publications

In this study, we aimed to define heterosexism—a form of sexual stigma that accounts for interpersonal attitudes and institutionalized ideology—in a multi-dimensional way, centering on LGBTQ+ people’s experiences. We draw from an ambivalent theory of prejudice and focus on heterosexism, or an ideology that stigmatizes nonheterosexual behaviors, identities, relationships, and communities. We aimed to learn how LGBTQ+ people would narrate their experiences of heterosexism within a benevolent and hostile framing. In a qualitative online study, LGBTQ+ participants (N = 77; 49% White) reviewed definitions of and recalled encounters with benevolent and hostile heterosexism, providing examples of how heterosexism manifests …

Racial And Ethnic Inequalities In Actual Vs Nearest Delivery Hospitals, Nansi S. Boghossian, Lucy T. Greenberg, Jeffrey S. Buzas, Joshua Radack, Molly Passarella, Jeannette Rogowski, George R. Saade, Ciaran S. Phibbs, Scott A. Lorch

Faculty Publications

IMPORTANCE Minoritized racial and ethnic groups, such as American Indian and Black individuals, often receive lower quality health care compared with White individuals. There is limited understanding of how these disparities extend to obstetric care, particularly when comparing the quality of care at the actual delivery hospital vs the nearest obstetric hospital based on the birthing individual’s residence. OBJECTIVE To examine inequality in care based on the actual delivery hospital and the closest delivery hospital to the birthing individual’s residential zip code centroid. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS This population-based retrospective cohort study used data from 5 states (2008 to 2020 …

Family Risk Classes Predict Longitudinal Parent And Child Outcomes: Understanding The Implications Of Poverty-Related Adversity, Daniel K. Cooper, Benjamin L. Bayly, Brianna Tennie, Francesca Lupini, Martha E. Wadsworth

Faculty Publications

Experiencing poverty and associated risk factors can be detrimental to families’ mental health and well-being. However, it is unclear whether experiencing specific types or patterns of adversity leads to distinct outcomes. Guided by the Family Stress Model, the objective of this study was to (a) identify unique family risk classes based on exposure to various combinations of poverty-related adversity and (b) examine whether the family risk classes differed in their levels of parental coping strategies, couple relationship quality, parenting practices, and child behavior problems. The sample included 301 mother–father–child triads (602 adults and 301 children) with a combined income ≤ …

“Burned At The Stake”: Unpacking Disinformation In The Story Of A Coach Allegedly “Terminated” For Expressing Anti-Transgender Women Athlete Beliefs, Ellen J. Staurowsky

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

On August 29, 2023, a video testimony entitled ‘Burned at the Stake’: One NCAA Coach’s Battle to Protect Women’s Sport was released. The film was part of a “female athlete storytelling series” developed and funded by the Independent Women’s Forum (IWF) designed to support the IWF’s stated agenda to “fight to save women’s sports and counter the radical agenda that seeks to erase women” by allowing transgender girls and women on teams that match their identities. The central figure in the video is Kim Russell, then head women’s lacrosse coach at NCAA Division III Oberlin College, who claimed her right …

The Relationships Between Perceived Stress, Burnout, And Work-Family Conflict Among Athletic Trainers Working In Collegiate Sport, Stephanie M. Singe, Alexandrya Cairns, Christianne M. Eason

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Athletic trainers in collegiate sport experience burnout and work family conflict, however the relationship with perceived stress in this setting has yet to be explored. The purpose of this study was to explore the impact that perceived stress has on self-reported measures of burnout and work family conflict. Secondarily, the study aims to better understand if subdivision (DI, DII, DIII) within the NCAA impacts perceived stress, burnout, or work family conflict. A web-based cross-sectional survey (Qualtrics, Provo, UT) was utilized to collect data on collegiate athletic trainers’ perceptions of stress, burnout, and work family conflict as well as demographics relevant …

The Road Less Traveled: Analyzing The Career Paths Of Women Athletic Directors Utilizing Social Network Analysis, Mary C. Motley, Jonathan A. Jensen, Erianne Weight, Brad Bates

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

The purpose of this research is to analyze the career paths of current NCAA Division I women athletic directors (ADs), towards the goal of building and identifying networks within intercollegiate athletics. By using social network analysis (SNA), this research builds out a hiring network within intercollegiate athletics by analyzing the career changes of current Division I women ADs. The objectives of this study included exploring current women AD career paths, uncovering institutions deemed most influential in the network, and comparing the career paths of women and men ADs. Findings suggest that on average, women ADs have longer career paths than …

Book Review: The Price: What It Takes To Win In College Football's Era Of Chaos, Rob Mcdermand

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

In The Price: What It Takes to Win in College Football's Era of Chaos Armen Keteyian and John Talty have written the first comprehensive post-NIL examination of college football’s new landscape for coaches, athletes, agents, and athletic departments. The authors explore the newly disrupted landscape of college football, likening it to the "Wild West" where traditional structures have been upended. The authors detail the profound impact of recent upheavals, including the COVID-19 pandemic, the transfer portal, and name, image, and likeness (NIL), which have collectively struck the sport like a nuclear bomb, leaving coaches and administrators grappling with unprecedented challenges. …

Religiosity, Patience, And Mental Well-Being Among Ncaa Athletes In The United States At State, Secular Private, And Faith-Based Colleges And Universities, Laura Upenieks, Elizabeth M. Bounds, Karen K. Melton, Perry L. Glanzer, Sarah A. Schnitker

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Patience has been defined as remaining calm in the face of frustration, suffering, or adversity for the sake of something beyond the self. This study examines patience, an understudied virtue in the world of collegiate athletics. Drawing from a sample of 415 student-athletes across the United States, we assess patience as a mediating mechanism between religiosity/spirituality and well-being. Regression results suggest that of the three subscales of patience considered, only greater hardships patience was associated with lower depression, anxiety, and loneliness. We also observed that greater intrinsic religiosity and a secure attachment to God predicted greater patience, yet more frequent …

Msbzip55 Regulates Salinity Tolerance By Modulating Melatonin Biosynthesis In Alfalfa, Tingting Wang, Jiaqi Yang, Jiamin Cao, Qi Zhang, Huayue Liu, Peng Li, Yizhi Huang, Wenwu Qian, Xiaojing Bi, Hui Wang, Yunwei Zhang

Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Synthesis Of A Series Of Rare-Earth-Based Multi-Anion Chalcogenide Iodides Re3Si2SeXS8-XI (Re = La, Ce, Pr, And Nd) Using The Flux-Assisted Boron-Chalcogen Mixture Method, Gopabandhu Panigrahi, Habiba Binte Kashem, Gregory Morrison, Hans Conrad Zur Loye

Faculty Publications

Single crystals and polycrystalline powders of rare earth mixed chalcogenide iodides La3Si2Se1.21S6.79I, Ce3Si2Se1.39S6.61I, Pr3Si2Se1.22S6.78I, and Nd3Si2Se1.18S6.82I were prepared using the reactive flux-assisted boron-chalcogen mixture (BCM) method at 850 °C. All compounds crystallized in the monoclinic crystal system, space group C2/c (space group number 15). The series adopts the La3Si2O8Cl structure type, containing isolated SiQ4 tetrahedra connected by REQ8 (RE = La, Ce, Pr and Nd) polyhedra; this arrangement creates tunnels that are filled by I atoms. The partial substitution of S by Se was carried out to modulate the optical properties. Phase pure samples and uniform solid solutions were obtained …

Garnet & Black: Spring 2025, University Of South Carolina, Office Of Student Media

Garnet & Black Magazine

No abstract provided.

Time-Series Forecasting In Smart Manufacturing Systems: An Experimental Evaluation Of The State-Of-The-Art Algorithms, Mojaba A. Farahani, Fadi El Kalach, Austin Harper, M.R. Mccormick, Ramy Harik, Thorsten Wuest

Faculty Publications

Time-Series Forecasting (TSF) is a growing research area across various domains including manufacturing. Manufacturing can benefit from Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) innovations for TSF tasks. Although numerous TSF algorithms have been developed and proposed over the past decades, the critical validation and experimental evaluation of the algorithms hold substantial value for researchers and practitioners and are missing to date. This study aims to fill this research gap by providing a rigorous experimental evaluation of the state-of-the-art TSF algorithms on thirteen manufacturing-related datasets with a focus on their applicability in smart manufacturing environments. Each algorithm was selected based …

Comparison Of Deep Learning And Traditional Machine Learning Models For Predicting Mild Cognitive Impairment Using Plasma Proteomic Biomarkers, Kesheng Wang Phd, Ma, Bs, Donald A. Adjeroh, Wei Fang, Suzy M. Walter, Danqing Xiao, Ubolrat Piamjariyakul, Chun Xu

Faculty Publications

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a clinical condition characterized by a decline in cognitive ability and progression of cognitive impairment. It is often considered a transitional stage between normal aging and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study aimed to compare deep learning (DL) and traditional machine learning (ML) methods in predicting MCI using plasma proteomic biomarkers. A total of 239 adults were selected from the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (ADNI) cohort along with a pool of 146 plasma proteomic biomarkers. We evaluated seven traditional ML models (support vector machines (SVMs), logistic regression (LR), naïve Bayes (NB), random forest (RF), k-nearest neighbor …

Time-Dependent Shear Flows And Their Applications In Parabolic–Parabolic Patlak–Keller–Segel Systems*, Siming He

Faculty Publications

In this study, we investigate the behavior of three-dimensional parabolic–parabolic Patlak–Keller–Segel systems in the presence of ambient shear flows. Our findings demonstrate that when the total mass of the cell density is below a specific threshold, the solution remains globally regular as long as the flow is sufficiently strong. The primary difficulty in our analysis stems from the fast creation of chemical gradients due to strong shear advection.

March 5, 2025 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Nucleoredoxin Regulates Wnt Signaling During Pituitary Stem Cell Differentiation, Michelle L. Brinkmeier, Leonard Y M Cheung, Sean P. O'Connell, Diana K. Gutierrez, Eve C. Rhoads, Sally A. Camper, Shannon W. Davis

Faculty Publications

Nucleoredoxin (Nxn) encodes a multi-functional enzyme with oxidoreductase activity that regulates many different signaling pathways and cellular processes in a redox-dependent manner. Rare NXN mutations are reported in individuals with recessive Robinow syndrome, which involves mesomelic skeletal dysplasia, short stature, craniofacial dysmorphisms, and incompletely penetrant heart and palate defects. Here we report that Nxn is expressed in the ventral diencephalon and developing pituitary gland, and that Nxn deficient mice have pituitary dysmorphology and craniofacial abnormalities that include defects in the skull base and cleft palate. Nxn mutant mice exhibit reduced WNT signaling and reduced differentiation of pituitary stem …

Friction-Based Recycling: An Evaluation Of Friction Extrusion For Fabricating Ti-6al-4 V Wire Fabricated From Machining Chip Feedstock, Devesh Kumar Chouhan, Mageshwari Komarasamy, Scott B. Taysom, Nicole R. Overman, Nathan L. Canfield, Timothy J. Roosendaal, Anthony P. Reynolds, Scott A. Whalen

Faculty Publications

Titanium and its alloys are used in aviation and automobile industries due to their remarkable strength to weight ratio, but machining loss commonly is high with ~ 80 wt% of the material being converted to scrap. Recycling post-consumer Ti scrap directly into solid bulk products is a potential solution for repurposing valuable material. Further, eliminating fresh Ti sponge during recycling might lead to lower energy and greenhouse gas emissions. In this study, a solid-phase process known as friction extrusion was utilized to recycle Ti-6Al-4 V machining chips into solid wires which could be used as feedstock in additive manufacturing. The …

Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis Uptake Among Black/African American Men Who Have Sex With Other Men In Midwestern, United States: A Systematic Review, Oluwafemi Adeagbo, Oluwaseun Abdulganiyu Badru, Prince Addo, Amber Hawkins, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Xiaoming Li, Rima Afifi

Faculty Publications

Introduction: Black/African American men who have sex with other men (BMSM) are disproportionately affected by HIV, experience significant disparities in HIV incidence, and face significant barriers to accessing HIV treatment and care services, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Despite evidence of individual and structural barriers to PrEP use in the Midwest, no review has synthesized this finding to have a holistic view of PrEP uptake and barriers. This review examines patterns of, barriers to, and facilitators of PrEP uptake among BMSM in the Midwest, United States (US).

Methods: Five databases (CINAHL Plus, PUBMED, PsycINFO, SCOPUS, and Web of Science) were searched …

Understanding Ionic Transport In Perovskite Lithium-Ion Conductor Li3/8Sr7/16Ta3/4Hf1/4O3: A Neutron Diffraction And Molecular Dynamics Simulation Study †, Danyi Sun, Nan Wu, Yeting Wen, Shichen Sun, Yufang He, Ke Huang, Cheng Li, Bin Ouyang, Ralph E. White, Kevin Huang

Faculty Publications

Solid-state Li-ion electrolytes (SSEs) are essential for the development of next-generation solid-state Li-metal batteries and new Li-extraction electrochemical cells. Among these, the perovskite-type SSE Li3/8Sr7/16Ta3/4Hf1/4O3 (LSTH) has garnered attention for Li-extraction applications, owing to its outstanding chemical and thermal stability and high ionic conductivity. However, its precise crystal structure and Li-ion transport mechanisms remain insufficiently understood. This study addresses these gaps by employing neutron diffraction to resolve LSTH's crystallography and machine learning force field (MLFF) based MD simulations to elucidate ionic transport mechanisms. A single-phase LSTH, synthesized via the sol–gel method, exhibits a room-temperature bulk conductivity of 0.418 mS cm−1 …

Neighborhood Disinvestment And Racial And Ethnic Disparities In Peripartum Cardiomyopathy In California, From 2004 To 2019, Curisa M. Tucker Phd, Rn, Chen Ma, Mahasin S. Mujahid, Afshan B. Hameed, Audrey Lyndon, Elliott K. Main, Suzan L. Carmichael

Publications

BACKGROUND: Peripartum cardiomyopathy (PPCM) is a rare medical condition presenting as idiopathic heart failure. The aim of this study was to (1) examine the contribution of neighborhood disinvestment to PPCM risk and to racial and ethnic disparities in PPCM; (2) examine the extent to which sociodemographic factors and chronic hypertension explain these outcomes; and (3) describe severe maternal morbidity cases and the timing of PPCM. METHODS: We conducted an observational cohort study using vital records longitudinally linked with hospital discharge records for mothers and infants up to 9 months postpartum for births in California from 1997 to 2019. Using the …

Nanostructure Retention To 1100 °C In Soft-Templated Niobium Tungstates Using Dual-Carbon Strategy, Sean C. Wechsler, Alexander Gregg, Coby S. Collins, Santosh Kiran Balijepalli, Morgan Stefik

Faculty Publications

Mesoporous metal oxides (MMOs) have diverse applications including energy storage, catalysis, and separation membranes. Block polymer structure directing agents enable the control of morphology and pore size, however preservation of the nanostructure is often limited to a narrow range of heat treatment temperatures which constrains the tailoring of defect chemistries. High temperature treatments typically lead to collapse of the porous structure as surface area is reduced during crystal growth. Here, using a mesoporous niobium tungstate it is shown that neither in situ carbon generation nor ex situ carbon infiltration alone enable preservation of the ordered mesostructure at temperatures high enough …

Learning Lessons From Hard Truths: School Shootings, Devin Watson

South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal

The American school system is plagued by violent attacks such as school shootings. Unfortunately, these events are incredibly difficult to predict. The security used for these schools is often found lacking and students aren’t getting the help needed. Part of the issue is the internal struggle of students in tough situations and teachers not being trained properly to help them. School security is more than just something at the gate. It’s about creating a safe environment that students can find sanctuary in. The solution is to provide better training for teachers and updating the physical security of the school.

Church Leaders’ Health Behaviors And Program Implementation In The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition Program In The United States, Kelsey R. Day, Sara Wilcox Phd, Lindsay Decker, John Bernhart Ph.D., Mph, Ches, Meghan Baruth, Andrew T. Kaczynski Ph.D., Christine A. Pellegrini Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Objectives: Church leaders are important to the success of faith-based health promotion interventions through the role modeling of health behaviors. However, clergy may be at a higher risk of chronic disease than their congregants and their health is understudied. This study examined church leaders’ health-related behaviors, differences in health behaviors by socio-demographic characteristics, and associations between health behaviors and church-level implementation of an ecological intervention. Methods: Pastors (n = 93) and church coordinators (n = 92) reported body mass index (BMI), self-rated health, fruit and vegetable consumption (F&V), and physical activity (PA) at baseline and 12 months post-training in the …

Continuous Improvement: Resources To Support Teachers’ Professional Growth, Victoria Oglan, Lauren Gehr

South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal

Being an effective teacher requires attention to a wide variety of factors. In addition to knowing the content, teachers need to address the following: planning and implementing curriculum, building a welcoming classroom where every student feels safe, developing healthy relationships with students, mastering the many forms of assessment strategies, understanding how to actively engage and motivate students in their learning, growing a repertoire of best practice instructional methods, and being a reflective practitioner to address next steps in their methodology. The books reviewed here will assist in professional development for teachers.

A Review Of Three Verse Novels To Promote Engagement And Critical Thinking, Isaiah Gillian, Michelle Rasheed

South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal

Verse literature is a valuable genre to incorporate into today’s classroom. Verse literature provides various benefits for students and teachers alike, while sparking readers’ interests and aligning with educational standards. The verse style requires writing to be concise, with relatively short lines, condensed thoughts, and depth of emotions. Verse literature delves into underrepresented topics and perspectives, beneficial for student growth and new learning experiences. This article reviews three verse novels—All the Fighting Parts (2023), Good Different (2023), and I Am Kavi (2023)— highlighting their potential to engage diverse student populations. Additionally, the article provides practical recommendations for integrating verse into …

Attendance And Absenteeism: Can We Fix It?, Stephanie J. Bell

South Carolina Association for Middle Level Education Journal

This research project shows how consistent communication with parents of special education students regarding daily and weekly attendance can make a difference in decreasing absenteeism and increasing attendance in the virtual resource classroom. This study supports promoting access to special education services with parents as partners in the virtual environment. This approach can be adapted to fit various classroom environments.