Digital Commons Network^™

Hunting For Heroes: Brain Neurons Mediating Glp-1r Agonists In Obesity Treatment, Yuhan Cao, Qingchun Tong

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) have proven to be highly effective in reducing obesity across species and ages, gaining unmet popularity in clinical treatments against obesity. Although extensive research efforts have been made to explore how the brain regulates body weight homeostasis including the effect brought up by GLP-1 and its synthetic analogs GLP-1RAs, the identity of neurons and neural pathways that are responsible for the observed anti-obesity effect of GLP-1RAs remain largely elusive. Excitingly, three recent high-profile studies presented compelling evidence that each argues for the importance of GLP-1Rs in the dorsomedial hypothalamus, hindbrain, or lateral septum, …

Artificial Intelligence Uncertainty Quantification In Radiotherapy Applications – A Scoping Review, Kareem A Wahid, Zaphanlene Y Kaffey, David P Farris, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Amy C Moreno, Mathis Rasmussen, Jintao Ren, Mohamed A Naser, Tucker J Netherton, Stine Korreman, Guha Balakrishnan, Clifton D Fuller, David Fuentes, Michael J Dohopolski

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/purpose: The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in radiotherapy (RT) is expanding rapidly. However, there exists a notable lack of clinician trust in AI models, underscoring the need for effective uncertainty quantification (UQ) methods. The purpose of this study was to scope existing literature related to UQ in RT, identify areas of improvement, and determine future directions.

Methods: We followed the PRISMA-ScR scoping review reporting guidelines. We utilized the population (human cancer patients), concept (utilization of AI UQ), context (radiotherapy applications) framework to structure our search and screening process. We conducted a systematic search spanning seven databases, supplemented by manual …

Neurocognitive Functioning Of Patients With Sinonasal And Nasopharyngeal Cancers Treated With Multimodality Therapy, Dan Yaniv, Lindsay M Niccolai, Jeffrey S Wefel, Catherine M Sullaway, Jack Phan, Clifton David Fuller, Kareem B Haroun, Ehab Y Hanna, Shirley Y Su

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Importance Few recent studies have examined neurocognitive functioning (NCF) in patients with sinonasal and nasopharyngeal cancers (NPCs) prior to and following multimodality therapy or the potential differences in NCF by disease variables such as disease site.

Objective The objective of this study is to determine rates of NCF impairments prior to and following multimodality therapy, declines in NCF following radiotherapy (RT), and possible differences in NCF by the disease site.

Design, Setting, and Participants We conducted a retrospective chart review of 39 patients with sinonasal and NPCs who underwent comprehensive neuropsychological evaluations. Twenty patients were evaluated prior to RT, of …

Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning In Cancer Pain: A Systematic Review, Vivian Salama, Brandon Godinich, Yimin Geng, Laia Humbert-Vidan, Laura Maule, Kareem A Wahid, Mohamed A Naser, Renjie He, Abdallah S R Mohamed, Clifton D Fuller, Amy C Moreno

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background/objectives: Pain is a challenging multifaceted symptom reported by most cancer patients. This systematic review aims to explore applications of artificial intelligence/machine learning (AI/ML) in predicting pain-related outcomes and pain management in cancer.

Methods: A comprehensive search of Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE and Web of Science databases was conducted using terms: "Cancer," "Pain," "Pain Management," "Analgesics," "Artificial Intelligence," "Machine Learning," and "Neural Networks" published up to September 7, 2023. AI/ML models, their validation and performance were summarized. Quality assessment was conducted using PROBAST risk-of-bias andadherence to TRIPOD guidelines.

Results: Forty four studies from 2006 to 2023 were included. Nineteen studies used …

Imipridones Inhibit Tumor Growth And Improve Survival In An Orthotopic Liver Metastasis Mouse Model Of Human Uveal Melanoma, Chandrani Chattopadhyay, Janos Roszik, Rajat Bhattacharya, Md Alauddin, Iqbal Mahmud, Sirisha Yadugiri, Mir Mustafa Ali, Fatima S Khan, Varun Vijay Prabhu, Philip L Lorenzi, Bo Wei, Elizabeth Burton, Rohini R Morey, Rossana Lazcano, Michael A Davies, Sapna P Patel, Elizabeth A Grimm

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Background: Uveal melanoma (UM) is a highly aggressive disease with very few treatment options. We previously demonstrated that mUM is characterized by high oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS). Here we tested the anti-tumor, signaling and metabolic effects of imipridones, which are CLPP activators, which inhibit OXPHOS indirectly and have demonstrated safety in patients.

Methods: We assessed CLPP expression in UM patient samples. We tested the effects of imipridones (ONC201 and ONC212) on the growth, survival, signaling and metabolism of UM cell lines in vitro, and for therapeutic efficacy in vivo in UM liver metastasis models.

Results: CLPP expression was detected in primary …

Ras-Mutant Leukaemia Stem Cells Drive Clinical Resistance To Venetoclax, Junya Sango, Saul Carcamo, Maria Sirenko, Abhishek Maiti, Hager Mansour, Gulay Ulukaya, Lewis E Tomalin, Nataly Cruz-Rodriguez, Tiansu Wang, Malgorzata Olszewska, Emmanuel Olivier, Manon Jaud, Bettina Nadorp, Benjamin Kroger, Feng Hu, Lewis Silverman, Stephen S Chung, Elvin Wagenblast, Ronan Chaligne, Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, Deniz Demircioglu, Dan A Landau, Piro Lito, Elli Papaemmanuil, Courtney D Dinardo, Dan Hasson, Marina Konopleva, Eirini P Papapetrou

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Cancer driver mutations often show distinct temporal acquisition patterns, but the biological basis for this, if any, remains unknown. RAS mutations occur invariably late in the course of acute myeloid leukaemia, upon progression or relapsed/refractory disease1-6. Here, by using human leukaemogenesis models, we first show that RAS mutations are obligatory late events that need to succeed earlier cooperating mutations. We provide the mechanistic explanation for this in a requirement for mutant RAS to specifically transform committed progenitors of the myelomonocytic lineage (granulocyte-monocyte progenitors) harbouring previously acquired driver mutations, showing that advanced leukaemic clones can originate from a different cell type …

Psychophysical And Functional Outcomes In Chemotherapy-Induced Peripheral Neuropathy After Spinal Cord Stimulation: A Narrative Review And Case Series, Peter D Vu, Kathleen Erin Mcdonough, Patrick M Dougherty, Ryan S D'Souza, Saba Javed

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Objectives: Chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN) is a complication that may occur after treatment with various anticancer drugs. In refractory CIPN cases, spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has garnered increased attention. The use of gait analysis and psychophysical quantitative sensory testing (QST) as an objective measurement of CIPN-related damage has burgeoned; however, these changes have not been reported for patients with CIPN after SCS implantation using either burst or tonic stimulation.

Materials and methods: This manuscript encompasses two parts: 1) a presentation of pain improvement in a series of patients who underwent tonic vs burst SCS for CIPN measured by gait and …

Feasibility Of An Environmental Scan-Based Approach To Collecting Information About Factors Impacting Cancer Genetics Services In Latin American Countries, Erica M Bednar, Roni Nitecki Wilke, Kirsten Jorgensen, Michael T Walsh, Stephanie Nutt, Karen H Lu, Leandro Nóbrega, Aline Patricia Soares Dias De Souza, Gabriela Da Silva Oliveira, Carlos Eduardo Mattos Da Cunha Andrade, Nelson Purizaca-Rosillo, Pamela Mora, Aldo López Blanco, Lenny N Gallardo-Alvarado, David Cantú-De León, J Alejandro Rauh-Hain

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

OBJECTIVE: Clinical cancer genetics services are expanding globally, but national policy and health care systems influence availability and implementation. Understanding the environmental factors within a country is required to appropriately implement, adapt, and evaluate cancer genetics service delivery models. An environmental scan (ES) is an approach used in business, public health, health care and other sectors to collect information about an environment or system for strategic decision making and program planning. An ES has been previously used to assess cancer genetics clinic-level factors to inform quality improvement efforts in the United States. We assessed the feasibility of using an ES …

Time Series Decomposition Of Land Surface Temperature For Long-Term Trend Forecasting And Impact On Nesting Sea Turtle Habitats In The Arabian Gulf, Sachi Perera, Rommel H. Maneja, Mohamed Allali, Cyril Rakovski, Erik Linstead, Daniele Struppa, Ali Qasem, Hesham El-Askary

Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science Faculty Articles and Research

Improving land surface temperature (LST) modeling is vital for mitigating climate change effects on various ecosystems and marine habitats such as important sea turtle habitats. Over the past decade, extreme temperatures have likely significantly affected nesting sea turtle habitats in the Arabian Gulf, with predominantly female hatchlings creating an imbalance in the sex ratio. Such shifts have profound implications for these habitats’ long-term survival and conservation management. This study leverages statistical machine learning models to measure ongoing temporal variations in LST. We break down the LST time series into trend, seasonal, and noise components using classical decomposition methods like X11, …

Genetic Ablation Of The Isoform Γ Of Pi3k Decreases Antidepressant Efficacy Of Ketamine In Male Mice, Gabriela N Vaz, Flávia C Turcato, Isabel A V Lima, Franciele F Scarante, Melissa R Araújo, Tamires A V Brigante, Livia C M Rodrigues, Francisco S Guimarães, Jaime E C Hallak, Jose A Crippa, Antonio L Teixeira, Antonio C P De Oliveira, Alline Cristina Campos

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

About one-third of major depressive disorder (MDD) patients demonstrate unresponsiveness to classic antidepressants, and even the clinical efficacy of fast-acting drugs such as ketamine varies significantly among patients with treatment-resistant depression. Nevertheless, the lack of suitable animal models that mimic a possible ketamine-resistant phenotype challenges the understanding of resistance to drug treatment. In this study, we showed that PI3Kγ knock-out (KO) mice do not respond to classical doses of ketamine and classical antidepressants. PI3Kγ KO mice were unresponsive to both the rapid and sustained antidepressant-like effects of a single dose of ketamine in the forced swimming test. Additionally, they were …

Learning To Represent Temporal Dynamics And Generative Factors For Intelligent Visual Navigation, Sahand Khoshdel

All Theses

Visual navigation systems are crucial in various applications, including autonomous driving, unmanned aerial systems (UAS), and industrial automation. For these systems to operate efficiently in dynamic environments, they must not only interpret complex surroundings but also anticipate changes over time. Temporal prediction—forecasting environmental changes like moving obstacles or shifting lighting conditions—enables navigation systems to act proactively, enhancing both safety and performance. This dissertation investigates representation learning methods both as a backbone feature extractor for RL agents as well as a proxy for systems oriented for Explainable AI (XAI). Two main projects are presented as case studies to achieve the aforementioned …

Prediction Of Dislocation Density During Casting Of 316 Stainless Steel Based Alloys As A Function Of Chromium And Nickel Composition, Abhishek Chitradurga Ranganath

All Theses

By the 1990s, computational methods were beginning to be used to study dislocation density in mental casting. Prior to that time research was based heavily on laboratory studies. This move was encouraged by the need to overcome limitations that experimental approaches had, including high costs and time-consuming processes, and needs of researchers to understand atomic-scale phenomena. Computational techniques allow complex materials to be simulated in cost effective way and can provide insight into behaviour that could never be determined through experimental methods alone.

This work utilized molecular dynamics (MD) simulations along with machine learning approaches to examine the dislocation density …

The Impact Of In Ovo Administration Of Probiotic Lactobacilli On The Gut Health And Immune Competence Of Broiler Chickens, Shreeya Sharma

All Theses

Due to the incomplete development of their immune system, newly hatched chicks are vulnerable to a wide range of pathogenic microorganisms, including enteric bacterial pathogens during the early stage of life. To boost their immune system during this critical period, numerous studies suggest early feeding, either in ovo or immediately post-hatch, of nutrients and immunomodulators such as prebiotics, probiotics, phytobiotics, Toll-like receptors (TLRs) ligands, vitamins and minerals. Probiotics, defined as live, non-pathogenic microorganisms that confer beneficial effects on the host, have been extensively studied for their effects on poultry health. Supplementation of probiotics to chickens has demonstrated a broad spectrum …

Determining The Individual- And Team-Level Effects Of Team Tenure And Team Stability, Float Teams, Jordan Britt

All Theses

This study investigated the individual- and team-level effects of team tenure and stability on performance and employee collaboration, identity, and turnover intentions. Most previous research on the effects of team tenure, defined as the extent to which team members have previously worked with one another (Huckman et al., 2009; Mule et al., 2010), has assumed stable team membership. With an increase in “fluid” team membership both inside and outside of healthcare (Bushe & Chu, 2023), this study addressed a meaningful gap in the literature by analyzing the effect of team tenure in teams with fluid membership. Using secondary data from …

Assessing The Potential For Photosynthetic Degradation Of Per- And Polyfluoroalkyl Substances, Marlow Thomas

All Theses

PFAS is a prevalent groundwater contaminant. It has been known to cause many health issues for humans and animals including cancer and several diseases. A main problem faced with PFAS is contamination in groundwater. Remediation strategies have been and continue to be researched to try to mitigate this issue. Current treatment strategies to mitigate PFAS include the use of granular activated carbon, ion exchange, chemical oxidation, and many hybrid treatments. There has not been one treatment technology to date that has prevailed as the best due to monetary and time constraints.

The main intention behind this research is to examine …

Application Of Lossy And Lossless Compression To Dicom Files, Yizhe Yang

All Theses

The Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine (DICOM) standard is widely utilized for the management, storage, and transfer of medical images. However, the substantial file sizes associated with DICOM data present challenges in terms of storage and data transmission. Data reduction techniques help address these challenges by minimizing the size of the data while preserving its integrity. This thesis examines various compression methods aimed at reducing the size of DICOM files. We evaluate five lossless compressors and four lossy compressors on DICOM data to compare and assess their performance. Through an analysis of each compressor’s compression efficiency and resulting image …

Sustainable Agriculture Practices And Economic Outcomes: Selected Ipm In Tomato And Cover Crop Inter-Seeding In Organic Corn In South Carolina, Rohini Sonti

All Theses

This two-chapter thesis focuses on the economic evaluation of integrating a combination of sustainable agricultural practices aimed at improving environmental resilience and farm profitability across both conventional and organic farming systems in South Carolina. The research study lays emphasis on two key areas: the use of Integrated Pest Management practices, specifically grafting and Anaerobic Soil Disinfestation (ASD) in tomato production and the inter- seeding of cover crops under different tillage systems in organic corn production.

The first chapter assesses the economic feasibility of two IPM practices: grafting and anaerobic soil disinfestation (ASD) in tomato production. Following the phase-out of methyl …

Informing Management Of American Shad (Alosa Sapidissima) In The Carolinas: Evaluating Novel Fish Passage Approaches And Acoustic Tracking Methods, Margaret Gaither

All Theses

Acoustic telemetry is a valuable tool for fisheries scientists to study the movements and migratory behaviors of aquatic organisms. A critical assumption of this method is that tagged fish exhibit similar behaviors and survival rates as their untagged counterparts. To investigate this, we conducted a 12-week laboratory study on adult American Shad (Alosa sapidissima) using gastroesophageal insertion of acoustic transmitters. We implanted 80 fish with dummy transmitters and monitored tag retention and survival. Our analysis, employing a mixed effects Cox’s proportional hazards model, revealed no significant differences in survival between tagged and control fish, regardless of sex. Additionally, …

Unpacking The Impact Of Mixed Messaging, Lizzie Bell

All Theses

In recent years, organizations that demonstrated mixed messaging in their support for LGBTQIA+ communities following consumer backlash have been thrown into the spotlight. This study investigated the impact of organizational mixed messaging on prospective employees' perceptions using both a politically charged issue (LGBTQIA+ rights) and a neutral issue (reading campaign). Drawing from both signaling and social identity theory, it was hypothesized that organizations inconsistent in their support for LGBTQIA+ issues would be rated lower in attractiveness and integrity, with higher perceptions of hypocrisy. Additionally, a three-way interaction between organizational consistency, politicization of the organizational stance, and participant political affiliation was …

Multiple Cut Systems Of Cannabis Sativa L. For Micropropagation Without The Use Of Cytokinins, Molly Mckay

All Theses

Micropropagation is a technique used to propagate clean, high-quality clonal stock plants using plant growth regulators (PGR) in a single harvest batch system. This two-part study uses an in vitro multiple harvest system “hedging” combined with the fed- batch media process, to observe (1) the effects of modified physical state and (2) LED light quality to improve shoot production and quality. In Experiment 1, four genotypes of Cannabis sativa (‘Cherry 1’,‘BaOx’,‘T1’,‘Peach’) were observed in three different physical states: stationary agar (A), stationary Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_s) and agitated Oasis® infused with liquid (OIL_a). Fifteen …

The Effect Of Packaging On The Acceptance Of Natural Peanut Butter, Perian M. Reese

All Theses

The aim was to determine the effect of packaging on the acceptance of natural peanut butter, especially concerning the acceptance of the undesirable oil layer. The jars of peanut butter differed by color, label size, and inclusion of qualifying statements. 119 participants across two groups completed this study. Both groups completed an eye-tracking study in a mock grocery setting. The first group rated all five jars in appearance, expected quality, and overall rating. They were given one sample cup of peanut butter and gave hedonic liking values for color, oiliness, peanut flavor, smoothness, sweetness, and overall liking. The second group …

On Humans, Hogs, And Habitat: How Landscape Features And Vegetation Influence Wild Hog (Sus Scrofa) Detection On Private Lands And Using Existing Wild Hog Outreach Websites To Create An Effective Website For South Carolina, Andrew Jamison

All Theses

Invasive species are a source of human conflict with wildlife on a global scale and exist to the detriment of native wildlife species. Invasive species often possess the ability to respond rapidly to change and they often exist alongside humans. Wild hogs (Sus scrofa) are perhaps one of the most infamous examples of an invasive species. The spread of wild hogs necessitates effective communication with the public being impacted by them, as well as a continuation of research to learn more about wild hog behavior to promote effective management. Chapter 1 focuses on how we created a website …

Get Outside: The Moderating Effects Of Exposure To Nature On The Work Stress-Burnout Relationship, Meredith Pool

All Theses

This study explores the relatively uncharted territory of nature exposure within the workplace and its influence on mitigating burnout. While prior research has linked access to nature with enhanced well-being, a gap persists in understanding how exposure to nature moderates the relationship between work stress and burnout. Employing a cross-sectional design with 724 working individuals in the United States, a survey was conducted to assess burnout, work stress, nature exposure, and climate data. The present study explores how green workplaces, which involve the presence of physical and artificial greenery in the work environment, and the employees’ perceptions that the organization …

Investigation Of Chondrogenesis, Myogenesis, And Osteogenesis After 2,4-Dtbp, 2-Bp, 4-Bp, 3,5-Dtbc Exposure In Zebrafish, Haley Brashears

All Theses

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are used in personal care products, food packaging, and water pipes, common SPAs include 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DTBP), 2-tert-butyl phenol (2-BP), and 4-tert-butyl phenol (4-BP). These compounds are detected in the environment and in human biological samples. 2,4-DTBP has been detected in cord plasma, placenta, and breast milk samples. This drives the concern regarding developmental toxicity. In human iPS cells 2,4-DTBP impairs differentiation into somites and osteoblasts. Other SPAs, like 2,6-di-tert-butyl-hydroxytoluene caused increased rates of malformations including yolk and pericardial edema, and spinal curvature in 5-day post fertilization (dpf) zebrafish. …

Suicidality: The Role Of The Workplace, Hailey Carroll

All Theses

Suicide is a major issue in the world today. Complex reasons explain why some people have higher levels of suicidal ideation or attempts than others. One theory that posits answers to why people die by suicide is the Interpersonal Theory of Suicide (IPTS). This theory states that thwarted belongingness (TB) and perceived burdensomeness (PB) work together to lead to suicidal ideation. The relationship between suicidal ideation and suicide attempts is moderated by the capacity for suicide. The current study sought to expand upon this theory, questioning what role the workplace plays in one’s suicidality. Specifically, the study looked at mattering …

Developing Holistic And Reduced Fertilization Guidelines For Southeastern Peach (Prunus Persica (L.) Batsch) Orchards, Richardson Bien-Aime

All Theses

Peach production in the southeastern United States requires optimizing fertilization practices to balance economic sustainability and environmental health. Current guidelines may overlook rootstock-specific nutrient requirements and fail to align with orchard-specific conditions, often resulting in overfertilization, increased costs, and environmental risks. This study, conducted at Clemson University’s Musser Fruit Research Center during 2023 and 2024, aimed to refine fertilization practices through two complementary experiments. The first experiment investigated how three rootstocks, ’MP-29’, Lovell, and Guardian, influence nutrient dynamics of ‘Carored’ peach trees. Nutrient concentrations were measured in various tree organs, including leaves, pruned wood, thinned fruitlets, and harvested fruits, along …

Field Prevalence Of Ring Nematodes In South Carolina And Its Potential To Predispose Peanut Pods To Aflatoxin Contamination, Sarala Giri

All Theses

Peanut ring nematode, Mesocriconema ornatum is a nematode pest of peanut which can cause necrotic lesions on pods, pegs, and roots. It has been reported to facilitate secondary infections in peanut and other crops resulting in more significant losses in yield and quality. Aspergillus flavus is a ubiquitous facultative saprophyte that produces aflatoxin, the most problematic mycotoxin for global health and economy. Experiments were conducted at the Edisto Research and Education Center of Clemson University to examine the relationship of ring nematode populations at pegging and harvest with aflatoxin concentration in peanut kernels due to infection by A. flavus …

The Relationship Between Aging Perceptions And Cognition Among Older Adults: A Cross-Sectional Study Using The Enact And Efit Studies, Ava Mcvey

All Theses

Maintaining cognition is critical to overall health and independence. While lifestyle predictors (e.g., cognitive engagement, social engagement, physical activity) of cognition have been established in current research, the relationship of one’s perceptions of aging and cognition have been less thoroughly investigated. This thesis cross-sectionally explores the relationships between self-perceptions of aging (SPA; including awareness of age-related change and expectations regarding aging) and cognition, including performance-based measures of executive function (Matrix Reasoning, Letter/Number Switching, Digit Symbol, Trails A & B, Visual Paired Associates) and self-reported cognition (Cognitive Self Report Questionnaire). Participants include community dwelling older adults from two studies: the Elucidating …

Comparing The Effects Of Traffic Speed And Driver Assistance On Different Age Groups: Mixed Methods User Testing, Alan Mintz

All Theses

Although much research exists investigating preferences towards transportation and driver assistance technologies, there is a gap in the literature related to taking a mixed methods approach investigating age-related differences in traffic management behaviors. Previous studies have established that older adults tend to avoid higher risk traffic situations more often than younger adults. This research builds on existing work that compares different aged participants simulated driving behaviors, self-reported workload, and interview responses. Benefits from this study include adding to our understanding of gap maintenance behavior, perceived workload at varying traffic speeds, and preferences among younger and older drivers towards offloading driving …

Toward Electrochemical Detection Of Salmonella Enterica Serovar Enteritidis On Hydroponically Grown Green Onions (Allium Fistulosum L.), Lisseth Casso-Hartmann

All Theses

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) established standards during the growing, harvesting, packing, and holding of produce for human consumption as part of implementing the Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA). One of the main requirements for farmers is to detect environmental pathogens such as Salmonella enterica species in water and sprout samples. S. enterica is a bacterium of significant concern due to its pathogenicity and ability to survive and persist in diverse environmental conditions. S. enterica has been associated with recalls in ready-to-eat foods. Traditional detection methods include Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA), Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR), and plate counting, which …