Digital Commons Network^™

When Disasters Trigger Cyber Vulnerabilities: Mapping Physical-Digital Interdependencies In Critical Infrastructure Systems, Dikshya Panta, Sicheng Wang, Aditya Sapkota, Prakash Ranganathan

Faculty Publications

Critical infrastructure (CI) systems such as power, water, communications, and emergency services are increasingly exposed to compound risks in which natural disasters and cyber incidents interact and amplify one another. Traditional risk assessments often isolate physical and digital threats, overlooking the cascading dependencies that emerge when operational stress, emergency reconfiguration, and adversarial exploitation coincide. This study conducts a 2019–2025 scoping review and introduces a Geographic Information System (GIS) driven six-stage disaster cyber compounding framework that characterizes, maps, and operationalizes compound risk across interdependent CI sectors. The framework integrates a common operating picture, analytic situational understanding, exposure mapping, threat-fingerprint encoding, detection …

The Age And Composition Of The Voyager Seamounts: Evidence For A Long-Lived Marquesas Mantle Source, Andrea Balbas, Hannah Paradis, Kevin Konrad, Valerie A. Finlayson, Michael Bizimis, Stephanie Anderson, Christopher Kelley, Nicole A. Raineault, Beth N. Orcutt

Faculty Publications

We present new observations on the dynamics and locations of deep mantle reservoirs derived from the ages and compositions of Voyager Seamount Chain lava flows. The previously unexplored Voyager Seamount Chain trends NW–SE between the Mid-Pacific Mountains and the Northwestern Hawaiian Ridge. Volcanic samples were recovered from the chain during the Ocean Exploration Trust expedition NA134. The lava flows are alkalic to highly alkalic in composition. Ages ranged from 81 to 86 Ma (n = 8), with the oldest ages in the NW and an age-progression toward the SE. The Voyager age-progression continues southward through the Northern Line Islands …

High Frobenius Pushforwards Generate The Bounded Derived Category, Matthew R. Ballard, Srikanth B. Iyengar, Pat Lank, Alapan Mukhopadhyay, Josh Pollitz

Faculty Publications

This work concerns generators for the bounded derived category of coherent sheaves over a noetherian scheme X of prime characteristic. The main result is that when the Frobenius map on X is finite, for any compact generator G of D(X) the Frobenius pushforward F^e_*G generates the bounded derived category whenever p^e is larger than the codepth of X, an invariant that is a measure of the singularity of X. The conclusion holds for all positive integers e when X is locally complete intersection. The question of when one can take G = …

Dietary Inflammatory Index And Risk Of Colorectal Cancer In Japanese Men, Ayaka Kotemori, Kumiko Kito, Motoki Iwasaki, Taiki Yamaji, James Hébert Scd, Junko Ishihara, Manami Inoue, Shoichiro Tsugane, Norie Sawada On The Behalf Of Jphc Study Group

Faculty Publications

Background/Objectives: Unhealthy lifestyles lead to chronic low-grade inflammation, increasing the risk of colorectal cancer. Few studies in East Asia have examined the association between the dietary inflammation potential and colorectal cancer incidence. Therefore, we aimed to investigate this association further in the Japanese population. Methods: This study included 38,807 men aged 45–74 years who participated in the Japan Public Health Center-based prospective study (JPHC Study). The energy-adjusted dietary inflammatory index (E-DII) was derived from a food frequency questionnaire. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards regression models. Differences in risk due to a …

More Than A Prescription: The Need For Behavioral Theory To Guide Exercise Interventions For Osteoarthritis - A Narrative Review, Christine Pellegrini, Lisa C. Carlesso, Daniel K. White

Faculty Publications

Objective

Design

Results

Supervised Resistance Training In An Individual With Glioblastoma Undergoing Chemoradiation: A Case Report, Bruce Nakfoor, Ciaran Fairman Ph.D., Cscs, Cet

Faculty Publications

Introduction:

Exercise has demonstrated safety and efficacy in mitigating treatment-related symptoms across cancer populations; however, evidence in neuro-oncology remains limited, particularly during active chemoradiation.

Methods:

We report the case of a 63-year-old individual with newly diagnosed glioblastoma, experiencing symptoms of fatigue, balance issues, headaches, and memory loss, who initiated a 12-week supervised resistance training program during concurrent chemoradiation. Assessments at baseline and post-intervention included physical function and quality-of-life outcomes.

Results:

Adherence was 56% (20/36 sessions), and no adverse events occurred. The patient showed improvements in 6-minute walk distance and short physical performance battery score that exceeded established minimal clinically important …

Strength In Numbers: Exploring The Link Between Upper Body Muscular Strength And Academic Achievement In Youth, Julian A. Reed, Marsha Dowda Drph, Russell R. Pate Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between upper body strength and endurance (UMSE) and academic achievement in youth.

Design

Cross-sectional study included 5th (N = 25,025) and 8th grade (N = 14,988) students in South Carolina.

Methods

Academic achievement was measured using a statewide assessment and classified into two categories (meets/exceeds standards or does not meet/approaches standards). Achievement in mathematics and English Language Arts was assessed. UMSE was measured as part of the South Carolina FitnessGram project and expressed as Healthy Fitness Zone (HFZ) or Needs Improvement – Health Risk. Student demographic characteristics were derived …

Crystal Structures, Optical Behavior, And Magnetic Properties In Hydrated Lanthanide Iron Sulfates, Chole Jones, Silu Huang, Tyler L. Spano, Eric A. Gabilondo, Mohammed Al-Fahdi, Kara Trim, Mary Douglas, Rongying Jin, Andrew Miskowiec, P. Shiv Halasyamani, Ming Hu, Jie Ling

Faculty Publications

Single crystals of LnFe(SO₄)₃(H₂O)₂ (Ln = La, Ce, Pr, Nd, Sm, Eu, Gd, Dy, Ho, Er, Tm; compounds 1–11) and LnFe(SO₄)₃(H₂O) (Ln = Tm, Yb, Lu; compounds 12–14) were synthesized under hydrothermal conditions. Single-crystal X-ray diffraction (SCXRD) analysis revealed that the dihydrated compounds (1–11) crystallize in centrosymmetric (CS) structures, with the lanthanide ions adopting eight-coordinate geometries. In contrast, the monohydrated compounds (12–14) exhibit noncentrosymmetric (NCS) structures, where the lanthanide ions are seven-coordinated. Vibrating sample magnetometry (VSM) confirmed that compounds 2, …

Cognitive Dysfunction In Women With The Fmr1 Premutation During Midlife: The Lassi-L Reveals Curvilinear Cgg-Dependent Risk Buffered By College Education, Jessica Klusek, Jillian Gierman, Amanda Fairchild, Andreana M. Benitez, Elizabeth Berry-Kravis, Marsha R. Mailick

Faculty Publications

Background

The FMR1premutation (FXPM) is a common genetic variant (∼1:151 females) linked to increased risk for neurodegenerative disease. Midlife cognitive phenotypes remain poorly defined.

Objective

To characterize episodic memory performance in midlife FXPM women and examine potential risk moderation via genetic (i.e., FMR1CGG repeat expansion size) and environmental (i.e., college degree attainment) influences.

Methods

Eighty-eight FXPM women and 84 matched controls, aged 30–55, completed the Loewenstein-Acevedo Scales for Semantic Interference and Learning (LASSI-L), a measure of specific episodic memory processes sensitive to subtle Alzheimer's disease (AD)-related cognitive and neuropathological changes.

Results

FXPM women demonstrated deficits in proactive semantic …

Gatos – Xi. Excess Dust Heating In The Narrow-Line Regions Of Nearby Agn Revealed With Jwst/Miri, Houda Haidar, David J. Rosario, Ismael García-Bernete, Almudena Alonso-Herrero, Anelise Audibert, Steph Campbell, Chris M. Harrison, Tiago Costa, Laura Hermosa Muñoz, Françoise Combes, Dimitra Rigopoulou, Claudio Ricci, Cristina Ramos Almeida, Enrica Bellocchi, Peter Boorman, Andrew Bunker, Richard Davies, Daniel Delaney, Tanio Díaz Santos, Federico Esposito, Enrique Lopez Rodriguez, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

We present James Webb Space Telescope/Mid-Infrared Instrument imaging of eight nearby active galactic nuclei (AGN) from the GATOS (Galactic Activity, Torus, and Outflow Survey) survey to investigate the physical conditions of extended dust in their narrow-line regions (NLRs). In four galaxies (ESO 428–G14, NGC 4388, NGC 3081, and NGC 5728), we detect spatially resolved dust structures extending ∼100–200 pc along the NLR. In these systems, we find a strong link between the morphology of the dust, the radio ejecta, and the coronal [Si VI] emission, implying that dust carries imprints of the processes shaping the NLR. Using spatially resolved …

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Effect Of Macadamia Nut Oil Solution On The Growth Of Saccharomyces Cerevisiae, Yashas Peddireddy

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

The Comparative Effect Of Four Reflective Coatings On The Thermal Performance Of Residential Roofing In Climate Zone 8b, Henry Holton

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

A Hybrid Cooling System Utilizing Active Air And Phase Change Material Polyethylene Glycol In A Lithium-Ion Battery Pack, Arieleus Taine

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Batteries have become one of the most important components of electronic devices. However, a large issue lies in overheating batteries, which decreases their performance and lifespan. Although cooling systems have been researched to combat this, the combination of phase change material polyethylene glycol (PEG) and fans has not been observed. The purpose of this study was to determine if a hybrid system consisting of PEG and air cooling would decrease temperatures compared to individual cooling systems such as just air cooling. It was hypothesized that the hybrid cooling system would have lower overall temperatures as compared to individual active and …

Evaluating Corruption Defenses On Learning Adversarial Robustness, Roland Yang, Akhil Kanthamneni

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Pdr-Stgcn: An Enhanced Stgcn With Multi-Scale Periodic Fusion And A Dynamic Relational Graph For Traffic Forecasting, Jie Hu, Bingbing Tang, Langsha Zhu, Yiting Li, Jianjun Hu, Guanci Yang

Faculty Publications

Accurate traffic flow prediction is a core component of intelligent transportation systems, supporting proactive traffic management, resource optimization, and sustainable urban mobility. However, urban traffic networks exhibit heterogeneous multi-scale periodic patterns and time-varying spatial interactions among road segments, which are not sufficiently captured by many existing spatio-temporal forecasting models. To address this limitation, this paper proposes PDR-STGCN (Periodicity-Aware Dynamic Relational Spatio-Temporal Graph Convolutional Network), an enhanced STGCN framework that jointly models multi-scale periodicity and dynamically evolving spatial dependencies for traffic flow prediction. Specifically, a periodicity-aware embedding module is designed to capture heterogeneous temporal cycles (e.g., daily and weekly patterns) and …

Fatigue Crack Length Estimation Using Acoustic Emissions Technique-Based Convolutional Neural Networks, Asaad Migot, Ahmed Saaudi, Roshan Joseph, Victor Giurgiutiu

Faculty Publications

Fatigue crack propagation is a critical failure mechanism in engineering structures, requiring meticulous monitoring for timely maintenance. This research introduces a deep learning framework for estimating fatigue fracture length in metallic plates through acoustic emission (AE) signals. AE waveforms recorded during crack growth are transformed into time-frequency images using the Choi–Williams distribution. First, a clustering system is developed to analyze the distribution of the AE image-based dataset. This system employs a CNN-based model to extract features from the input images. The AE dataset is then divided into three categories according to fatigue lengths using the K-means algorithm. Principal Component Analysis …

First Results On The Search For Lepton Number Violating Neutrinoless Double-Β Decay With The Legend-200 Experiment, H. Acharya, N. Ackermann, M. Agostini, A. Alexander, C. Andreoiu, G. R. Araujo, Frank Avignone Iii, M. Babicz, W. Bae, A. M. Bakalyarov, M. Balata, A. S. Barabash, C. J. Barton, L. Baudis, C. Bauer, E. Bernieri, L. Bezrukov, K. H. Bhimani, V. Biancaccu, E. Blalock, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

The LEGEND Collaboration is searching for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay by operating high-purity germanium detectors enriched in ⁷⁶Ge in a low-background liquid argon environment. Building on key technological innovations from the GERmanium Detector Array (GERDA) experiment and the MAJORANA DEMONSTRATOR experiment, LEGEND-200 has performed a first 0νββ decay search based on 61.0 kg yr of data. Over half of this exposure comes from our highest performing detectors, including newly developed inverted-coaxial detectors, and is characterized by an estimated background level of 0.5^+0.3_−0.2 cts/(keV ton yr) in the 0νββ decay signal region. A combined …

Chasing Disinfection Byproducts Through The Pipes: How 66 Dbps Change Over Time In Chlorinated Vs. Chloraminated Distribution Systems, Erik Niehaves, Patrick T. Justen, Ashley A. Perkins, Alexandria L.B. Forster, Caroline O. Granger, Susan D. Richardson

Faculty Publications

While disinfection byproducts (DBPs) are typically measured at drinking water treatment plants, levels can change dramatically within the distribution system before reaching the consumer. In this study, the spatio-temporal trends of 66 DBPs across 9 different classes were examined in two drinking water distribution systems with similar source waters, but different pretreatments and residual disinfectants. One system uses residual chlorine in the distribution system, and the other uses chloramine, allowing for examination of how DBP concentrations change over time in distribution systems with different residual disinfectants. Four routes were sampled for each system with six time points over three days …

The Incorporation Of Ai-Enabled Culturally Relevant Narrative-Based Learning Pedagogy To Engage Students In A Diverse Stem Classroom, Nitin U. Jain, Eliza G. Braden

Faculty Publications

This study explores how AI-enabled, culturally relevant, narrative-based learning pedagogy influences engagement among ninth-grade students in an Earth Science course. Conducted in two classrooms in a southeastern U.S. school predominantly attended by African American and Latinx students, we developed lesson plans on Earth Systems and Climate Change. Using a qualitative case study design, we examined one educator's implementation of AI-enhanced lessons. Thematic analysis of exit surveys and students' artifacts revealed that narrative-based learning significantly increased students' desire, engagement, and confidence in scientific concepts compared to conventional methods. This approach allowed students to integrate local and global knowledge, fostering deep questions …

Protocol For The Development Of The Who Gestational Weight Gain Charts, Thais Rangel Bousquet Carrilho, Olufemi Taiwo Oladapo, Jennifer A. Hutcheon, Giovanna Gatica-Domínquez, Kathleen M. Rasmussen, Monica C. Flores-Urrutia, Richard Kumapley, Ӧzge Tunçalp, Dang Bahya-Batinda, Amel A. Fayed, Annick Bogaerts, Aris T. Papageorghiou, Cinthya Muñoz-Manrique, Dayana Rodrigues Farias, Eric Ohuma, Harshpal Sachdev, Hayfaa A. Wahabi, Helena J. Teede, Molin Wang, Nandita Perumal Phd

Faculty Publications

Introduction Gestational weight gain (GWG) is an important indicator of maternal nutrition to be monitored during pregnancy. However, there is no evidence-based tool that can be used to monitor it across all geographic locations and pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) categories. The WHO is undertaking a project to develop GWG charts by pre-pregnancy BMI category, and to identify GWG ranges associated with the lowest risks of adverse maternal and infant outcomes. This protocol describes all the steps that will be used to accomplish the development of these GWG charts.

Methods and analysis This project will involve the analysis of individual …

Optimized Photoemission From Organic Molecules In 2d Layered Halide Perovskites, Muhammad S. Muhammad, Dilruba A. Popy, Hamza Shoukat, John M. Lane, Neeraj Rai, Vojtěch Vaněček, Zdeněk Remeš, Romana Kučerková, Vladimir Babin, Chenjia Mi, Yitong Dong, Mark D. Smith, Novruz G. Akhmedov, Daniel T. Glatzhofer, Bayram Saparov

Faculty Publications

In recent years, hybrid organic–inorganic metal halides have been at the forefront of materials research. Typically, the functional (e.g., optoelectronic) properties of hybrid halides are derived from the inorganic structural part, whereas the organic structural units can add extra advantages in terms of stability, rigidity, and processability. Here, we report the design, synthesis, and characterization of two new hybrid materials in which the outstanding photophysical properties originate from the organic structural part. The new compounds, (C₁₅H16N)₂CdCl₄ and((Br)C₁₅H₁₅N)₂CdCl₄, have 2D layered Ruddlesden–Popper-type perovskite structures. These hybrids are blue-white …

Jwst Interferometric Imaging Reveals The Dusty Torus Obscuring The Supermassive Black Hole Of Circinus Galaxy, Enrique Lopez Rodriguez, Joel Sanchez-Bermudez, Omaira González-Martín, Robert Nikutta, Ryan M. Lau, Deepashri Thatte, Julien H. Girard, Ismael García-Bernete, Matthew J. Hankins

Faculty Publications

The dusty and molecular torus is an elusive structure surrounding supermassive black holes, yet its importance is unequivocal for understanding feedback and accretion mechanisms. The torus and accretion disk feed the inspiraling gas onto the active nucleus, launching outflows that fundamentally connect the active nucleus’s activity to the host galaxy. In this work, we utilize the aperture-masking interferometric mode onboard the JWST to achieve a resolution of 0.08" at 4.3 μm and bring out the fainter features in the central 10 pc of the Circinus galaxy. We show that most of the dust mass is located along the equatorial …

Tuning Oxygen Reduction Kinetics In Lasrcoo4 With Strained Epitaxial Thin Films And Wrinkled Freestanding Membranes, Habib Rostaghi Chalaki, Ebenezer Sessi, Mohammad El Loubani, Dongkyu Lee

Faculty Publications

Sluggish oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) remains a critical barrier to advancing intermediate-temperature electrochemical energy devices. Here, we demonstrate that strain engineering in two platforms, epitaxial thin films and freestanding membranes, systematically tunes ORR kinetics in Ruddlesden-Popper LaSrCoO4. In epitaxial films, film thickness is varied to control in-plane tensile strain, whereas in freestanding membranes strain relaxation during the release step using water-soluble sacrificial layers produces flat or wrinkled architectures. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy analysis reveals more than an order of magnitude increase in the oxygen surface exchange coefficient for tensile-strained films relative to relaxed films, together with a larger oxygen vacancy concentration. …

Preferences Of Health Professions Learners: A Scoping Review Of The Use And Role Of Dces In Health Professions Education, Sarah O'Neal, Natalie Smith, Jan Ostermann Ph.D., Binbin Zheng, Laiton Steele, Chris Gillette

Faculty Publications

While discrete choice experiments (DCE), have increasingly been used in the medical literature, little is known about the use of these methods for eliciting preferences from and about students and trainees in health professions. The objectives of this scoping review are to (1) describe the extent to which DCEs have been used in health professions’ education, (2) identify which health professionals have been studied, and (3) identify thematic areas of research in which these methods have been used thematic areas. Between June and September 2024, we conducted a scoping review of the PubMed/Medline, EconLit, Web of Science, and Global Index …

Reformulation Of The Protein Databank For Real-Time Search Of Geometrical Attributes Of Protein Structures, Musa Azeem, Christopher Lee, Aaron Hein, Christopher Ott, Homayoun Valafar

Faculty Publications

Introduction:

In this study, we introduce the design and implementation of PDBMine, a large-scale, queryable platform for mining sequence-structure statistics from the Protein Data Bank (PDB). PDBMine enables rapid analysis of local conformational trends across proteins by extracting dihedral angles and sequence patterns at scale. In addition to the design and implementation of PDBMine, we also present results validating its ability to return structurally meaningful information.

Methods:

We first assess the accuracy of its dihedral angle distributions by comparing them to established Ramachandran space and verifying expected behaviors of residues such as glycine and proline. We then use PDBMine to …

Technology-Enabled Cognitive Behavioral Therapy For Insomnia (Cbt-I) In Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: Development And Feasibility Study, Hongtu Chen, Marta Pagán-Ortiz, Sara Romero Vincente, Emma Chapman, James Maxwell, Otis L. Owens, Sue E. Levkoff Scd, Msw, Sm

Faculty and Staff Publications

Background/Objectives: Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and early dementia, affecting up to 20% of older adults. Sleep disturbances, particularly insomnia, affect around 60% of individuals with MCI, contributing to declines in cognitive and physical function. Although Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia (CBT-I) is an evidence-based non-pharmacological treatment, few studies have adapted it for individuals with MCI. This pilot study developed and evaluated Slumber, a clinician-supported mobile CBT-I app tailored for older adults with MCI and insomnia. Methods: The study had three aims: (1) to develop the app for delivering CBT-I to individuals with …

Sociodemographic And Hiv-Related Characteristics Associated With Mental Health Diagnoses Among People Living With Hiv, Monique J. Brown Ph.D., Mph, Jiayang Xiao, Xueying Yang Ph.D., Bankole Olatosi Ph.D., Sharon Weissman, Xiaoming Li Ph.D., Jiajia Zhang Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Mental health diagnoses have been linked to poor HIV treatment outcomes and poorer quality of life among people living with HIV (PLWH). Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the association between sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics, and common and serious mental health disorders among PLWH in South Carolina (SC). Data were obtained from the integrated system of statewide electronic health record (EHR) data in SC (2006–2019; N = 8,124). Multivariable logistic regression models were used to determine the associations between sociodemographic and HIV-related characteristics, and common mental health disorders and serious mental health disorders. Among the study population, 4% were 60 …

The Nutritional Environment And Food Access Of Female Athletes At Hbcus: A Qualitative Analysis, Nancy A. Uriegas, Zachary K. Winkelmann Ph.D., Lat, Atc, Chse, Dawn M. Emerson, Toni Torres-Mcgehee Ph.D., Lat, Atc, Facsm

Faculty Publications

Purpose:

Female student-athletes attending Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) may encounter distinct challenges related to food access, particularly when their campuses are situated in areas with limited food availability. This study assessed food security (FS) and explored the lived experiences of HBCU female student-athletes regarding their food environments and access to nutrition.

Methods:

This qualitative study used a semi-structured interview protocol derived from quantitative data. Participants were 10 HBCU female athletes (age = 19 ± 1 years) living in on-campus dormitories; recruited after completing a quantitative study examining energy needs. The three-part semi-structured interview protocol included questions about personal …

Tectonic Implications Of Transitional Melting Regimes From Petrological, Geochronological, And Compositional Characterization Of The Ophiolitic Seventymile Terrane, Alaska, Usa, Erin Todd, Johnathan Saul Caine, Michael Bizimis, Andrew R.C. Kylander-Clark, Robert Reece Hammond, Alicja Wypych

Faculty Publications

New geochemical, U-Pb geochronology, and Sr-Nd-Hf isotope data provide evidence for the tectonic evolution of the Seventymile terrane in interior Alaska, USA. Ultramafic and mafic rocks of the Seventymile terrane are thought to represent components of a dismembered ophiolite and provide unique constraints on regional terrane evolution and accretion. The Seventymile ophiolite represents fragments of the Devonian to Permian Slide Mountain Ocean (SMO) that separated allochthonous and parautochthonous continental fragments of western North America. It now occurs as multiple thrust sheets containing Permian mafic and ultramafic rocks overlying and/or possibly imbricated with amphibolite-facies supracrustal rocks of allochthonous Yukon-Tanana terrane and …