Digital Commons Network^™

The Causal Pivot: A Structural Approach To Genetic Heterogeneity And Variant Discovery In Complex Diseases, Chad A Shaw, C J Williams, Taotao Tan, Daniel Illera, Nicholas Di, Joshua M Shulman, John W Belmont

Center on Aging Staff Publications

We present the Causal Pivot (CP) as a structural causal model (SCM) for analyzing genetic heterogeneity in complex diseases. The CP leverages an established causal factor or factors to detect the contribution of additional suspected causes. Specifically, polygenic risk scores (PRSs) serve as known causes, while rare variants (RVs) or RV ensembles are evaluated as candidate causes. The CP incorporates outcome-induced association by conditioning on disease status. We derive a conditional maximum-likelihood procedure for binary and quantitative traits and develop the Causal Pivot likelihood ratio test (CP-LRT) to detect causal signals. Through simulations, we demonstrate the CP-LRT’s robust power and …

Implementing A Training Resource For Large-Scale Genomic Data Analysis In The All Of Us Researcher Workbench, Jasmine Baker, Erik Stricker, Julie Coleman, Shamika Ketkar, Taotao Tan, Ashley M Butler, Laterrica Williams, Latanya Hammonds-Odie, Debra Murray, Brendan Lee, Kim C Worley, Elizabeth G Atkinson

Duncan NRI Faculty and Staff Publications

A lack of representation in genomic research and limited access to computational training create barriers for many researchers seeking to analyze large-scale genetic datasets. The All of Us Research Program provides an unprecedented opportunity to address these gaps by offering genomic data from a broad range of participants, but its impact depends on equipping researchers with the necessary skills to use it effectively. The All of Us Biomedical Researcher (BR) Scholars Program at Baylor College of Medicine aims to break down these barriers by providing early-career researchers with hands-on training in computational genomics through the All of Us Evenings with …

The Green Approach Of Arabic Gum-Based Adsorbent In Wastewater Treatment, Atheel H. Alwash

AUIQ Technical Engineering Science

The natural polysaccharide Arabic gum is a multifunctional, sustainable material used widely in wastewater treatment technology. Its active functional groups such as hydroxyl, carboxyl, and amino groups facilitate the efficient removal of heavy metals, dyes, pesticides, pharmaceuticals, and persistent organic pollutants. The high surface area and active functional groups facilitate its modification to form various structures such as hydrogels, nanocomposites, or biochar integrated into hybrid adsorption–photocatalysis systems. This review highlights the most familiar forms of Arabic gum in wastewater treatment technology, such as hydrogels, hydrogels nanocomposite, stabilizing agents, coating agents, and bio-activated carbon derived from Arabic gum using different preparation …

Memf-Net: A Mega-Ensemble Of Multi-Feature Cnns For Classification Of Breast Histopathological Images, Alaa Hussein Abdulaal, Ali H. Abdulwahhab, Aqeel Majeed Breesam, Zahra Hasan Oleiwi, Riyam Ali Yassin, Morteza Valizadeh, Saja Nafea Mohsin

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

Pathological anatomical images play a pivotal role in diagnosing diseases, notably breast cancer, which affects women globally. These images, obtained through biopsies or post-mortem examinations, are preserved to maintain their structural integrity. Software tools, like computer-aided diagnosis, aid doctors in early detection and treatment planning, contributing to reduced mortality rates. In this context, convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have emerged as valuable tools for diagnosing benign and malignant breast cancers. This paper introduces a Mega Ensemble Net method, leveraging multi-scale combination features on the breast histopathology dataset. Three fine-tuned deep learning models, namely ResNet-18, ResNet-34, and ResNet-50, are integrated into this …

Retracted: Capsule Network Model For Detecting Spoofing Attack In The Internet Of Medical Things (Iomt), Mohammad A. Alsharaiah, Mohammed Amin Almaiah, Mansour Obeidat, Rami Shehab

Iraqi Journal for Computer Science and Mathematics

The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has transformed healthcare delivery through real-time monitoring and data exchange. However, this integration of smart medical devices has also introduced critical cybersecurity threats, particularly spoofing attacks, which can compromise patient safety and system reliability. Conventional Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) often fail to address IoMT-specific challenges such as class imbalance, computational constraints, and the need for real-time adaptability. This study proposes a Capsule Network (CapsNet)-based IDS that leverages spatial dependency modeling and hierarchical feature relationships to detect spoofing attacks in IoMT environments. Using the CICIoMT2024 dataset, we implemented a binary classification framework where spoofing instances …

Benthic Community Change And Stress-Tolerant Coral At A High-Latitude Coral Community In The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Marissa F. Nuttall, Kelly O'Connell, Ryan J. Eckert, Emma L. Hickerson, Olivia Eisenbach, Donavon French, Jennifer L. Debose, Michelle Johnson, G. P. Schmahl

Publications

High-latitude coral communities exist in variable environmental conditions and provide an opportunity to study the response of biological communities to changing environmental conditions. A 30-year monitoring dataset, initiated in 1993, was used to investigate how biological communities have changed in relation to environmental parameters over time. During the study period, major components of the sessile benthic community underwent periods of stability and significant phase shifts, where hydrocoral and sponge cover declined while macroalgal cover increased, with no recovery to observed historical states in more than a decade. However, despite the significant changes in major components of the benthic community, scleractinian …

An Isoform-Specific Runx1c-Btg2 Axis Governs Aml Quiescence And Chemoresistance., Cuijuan Han, Zhiping Zhang, Edie I Crosse, Sogand Sajedi, Bin Lu, Xiyue Wang, Sadik Karma, Mitchell S. Kostich, Sakthi Harini Rajendran, Dylan B Udy, Steven Chen, Alexander Arnuk, Abimbola Eunice Lawal, Kayla R Koenig, Meryl Mckenna, Patrick K Reville, Hussein A Abbas, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Pedro Miura, Robert K Bradley, Eric Wang

Faculty Research 2025

Aberrant levels or structures of RNA isoforms are a hallmark of many cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet their role in AML chemoresistance remains unclear. We conducted a paired analysis of RNA isoform changes in patients with AML before therapy and at relapse after chemotherapy and identified intragenic DNA methylation at the proximal promoter of the transcription factor RUNX1, which resulted in elevated expression of the long-isoform RUNX1C through its alternative distal promoter. The unique N-terminal region of RUNX1C orchestrated an isoform-specific transcriptional program that promoted chemoresistance, with its direct target BTG2 playing a role in chemotherapy resistance. …

Editorial: Community Series In Bark-Water Interactions, John T. Van Stan Ii, Salli F. Dymond, Anna Klamerus-Iwan, Julieta A. Rosell

Biological, Geological, and Environmental Faculty Publications

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2025-09-03

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

September 3, 2025 General Faculty Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Optimizing Beer Fermentation Through Intelligent Control, Azizbek Nodirbekovich Yusupbekov, Mirjalol Yusupov

Chemical Technology, Control and Management

This paper presents an intelligent control approach for optimizing the beer fermentation process using fuzzy logic and adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems. By incorporating multivariable inputs—temperature error and pH deviation—the proposed system effectively handles the nonlinear dynamics and biological variability inherent in fermentation. Simulation results demonstrate improved control accuracy, responsiveness, and robustness compared to conventional methods, making the approach suitable for integration in modern brewery automation systems.

Investigating Bacterial Vaginosis Pathogenesis Using Peptide Nucleic Acid-Fluorescence In Situ Hybridization With A Focus On The Roles Of Gardnerella Species, Prevotella Bivia, And Fannyhessea Vaginae, Sheridan D. George, Megan H. Amerson-Brown, Lúcia G.V. Sousa, Tyler M. Carter, Alexa H. Rinehart, Ashleigh N. Riegler, Sixto M. Leal, Kristal J. Aaron, Jiaying Hao, Ashutosh Tamhane, Chaoling Dong, John W. Lammons, Jacob H. Elnaggar, Keonte J. Graves, Paweł Łaniewski, Melissa M. Herbst-Kralovetz, Christopher M. Taylor, Nuno Cerca, Christina A. Muzny

School of Graduate Studies Faculty Publications

Background. Bacterial vaginosis (BV) is a vaginal dysbiosis characterized by polymicrobial communities of BV-associated bacteria (BVAB) adhered to the vaginal epithelium. Despite decades of research, its etiology remains unknown. We aimed to investigate BV biofilm formation over time among women who developed incident BV (iBV) using peptide nucleic acid-fluorescence in situ hybridization (PNA-FISH), focusing on 3 key BVAB (Gardnerella species, Prevotella bivia, and Fannyhessea vaginae). Methods. Heterosexual, nonpregnant women ages 18–45 with optimal vaginal microbiota were enrolled to self-collect twice-daily vaginal specimens for 60 days. iBV was defined as a Nugent score of 7–10 on ≥ 4 consecutive specimens. For …

A Comprehensive Framework For Assessing Terrestrial Analogue Field Sites For Ocean Worlds, Jennifer C. Stern, Heather V. Graham, Bradley Burcar, Emily S. Martin, Aaron Noell, Kevin Hand, Jeff S. Bowman, Peter Doran, Virginia Edgcomb, James F. Holden, Alta E.G. Howells, Michael J. Malaska, Brook L. Nunn, Jani Radebaugh, Laura E. Rodriguez, Schuyler Borges, Dina Bower, Samuel Courville, Melisa Diaz, Benjamin Hockman, Julie Huber, Justin Lawrence, Trista Vick-Majors, Conor A. Nixon, John R. Spear, Amanda V. Steckel, Anezina Solomonidou, Nicholas Schmerr, Britney Schmidt, Matthew O. Schrenk, Lauren Seyler

Michigan Tech Publications

Field studies at terrestrial analogue sites represent an important contribution to the science of ocean worlds. The value of the science and technology investigations conducted at field analogue sites depends on the relevance of the analogue environment to the target ocean world. We accept that there are no perfect analogues for many of the unique environments represented by ocean worlds but suggest that a one-to-one matching of environmental characteristics and conditions is not crucial to the success or impact of the work. Instead, we must determine which processes and parameters are required to map directly to the target ocean world …

Life-History Stage-Dependent Effects Of Food Supplementation On Gut Microbiome Diversity In Sialia Sialis (Eastern Bluebird), Marcella D. Baiz, Allison Cornell

Biology Faculty Publications

Diet can be an important health factor that links fitness to an individual’s ecology. The gut microbiome responds to diet changes and plays an important role in host physiology. Dietary interventions are known to impact gut microbiome composition, but long-term effects and to what extent these impacts vary among individuals at different life-history stages are unclear. To address this question, we performed a supplemental feeding experiment by providing live mealworms (Tenebrio molitor) to Sialia sialis (Eastern Bluebird) during the chick-rearing period. We produced 16S metabarcoding data to quantify gut microbiome diversity from fecal samples of adults and nestlings …

Neonatal Striatal Volume Is Associated With Infant Anhedonia, Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, Catherine H. Demers, Jessica L. Irwin, Laura M. Glynn, Martin A. Styner, Mercedes Hoeflich Haase, M. Camille Hoffman, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Benjamin L. Hankin, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology Faculty Articles and Research

Anhedonia is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. New evidence demonstrates that anhedonia is present in infancy and early childhood. Structural variability in striatal regions involved in reward processing and pleasure seeking is concurrently linked to anhedonia, yet few studies have examined whether striatal differences presage anhedonia, and none have examined prospective associations before middle childhood. The present study examined whether neuroanatomical markers that confer risk for anhedonia can be detected as early as the neonatal period. Specifically, we tested whether the volume of striatal regions in neonates predicted the emergence of infant anhedonic behaviors at six …

Improving The Reporting On Health Equity In Observational Research (Strobe-Equity): Extension Checklist And Elaboration, Omar Dewidar, Larissa Shamseer, G J. Melendez-Torres, Elie A. Akl, Jacqueline Ramke, Xiaoqin Wang, Oyekola Oloyede, Taryn Young, Stuart G. Nicholls, Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta

Institute for Global Health and Development

Data on health equity to inform societally relevant evidence based decisions and policy making are lacking in the research literature. Observational studies have the potential to provide data on health equity. Yet, guidance on how to report health equity data and considerations in observational research is inadequate. The STROBE-Equity extension addresses this gap by providing a structured set of criteria to enhance the reporting of health equity data and considerations.

An Isoform-Specific Runx1c-Btg2 Axis Governs Aml Quiescence And Chemoresistance, Cuijuan Han, Zhiping Zhang, Edie I Crosse, Sogand Sajedi, Bin Lu, Xiyue Wang, Sadik Karma, Mitch Kostich, Sakthi Harini Rajendran, Dylan B Udy, Steven Chen, Alexander Arnuk, Abimbola Eunice Lawal, Kayla R Koenig, Meryl Mckenna, Patrick K Reville, Hussein A Abbas, Omar Abdel-Wahab, Pedro Miura, Robert K Bradley, Eric Wang

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Aberrant levels or structures of RNA isoforms are a hallmark of many cancers, including acute myeloid leukemia (AML), yet their role in AML chemoresistance remains unclear. We conducted a paired analysis of RNA isoform changes in patients with AML before therapy and at relapse after chemotherapy and identified intragenic DNA methylation at the proximal promoter of the transcription factor RUNX1, which resulted in elevated expression of the long-isoform RUNX1C through its alternative distal promoter. The unique N-terminal region of RUNX1C orchestrated an isoform-specific transcriptional program that promoted chemoresistance, with its direct target BTG2 playing a role in chemotherapy resistance. …

Cognition, White Matter Hyperintensities And Suicide Risk In Late-Life Depression Patients: An Exploratory Study, Martha Sajatovic

Faculty Scholarship

Objective: Suicide among older adults represents a major public health concern and is closely associated with late-life depression (LLD). White matter hyperintensities (WMHs), frequently observed in the aging population, have been linked to both LLD and cognitive impairment. However, the role of WMH burden and cognitive dysfunction in older adults with LLD who have recently attempted suicide remains unclear. This study aims to investigate differences in WMH burden and cognitive performance across three groups: LLD patients with a recent suicide attempt (recent suicide attempt group, RSA), non-suicidal LLD patients (non-suicidal group, NS), and healthy older adults (healthy comparison group, HC). …

Re: Butte Priority Soils Operable Unit (Bpsou) Final Insufficiently Reclaimed Sites Field Sampling And Investigation Plan (Fsp): Bres No. 120 – Bonanza Dump, Mike Mcanulty

Silver Bow Creek/Butte Area Superfund Site

No abstract provided.

Neonatal Striatal Volume Is Associated With Infant Anhedonia, Melissa Nevarez-Brewster, Catherine H. Demers, Jessica L. Irwin, Laura M. Glynn, Martin A. Styner, Mercedes Hoeflich Haase, M. Camille Hoffman, Diego A. Pizzagalli, Benjamin L. Hankin, Elysia Poggi Davis

Psychology: Faculty Scholarship

Anhedonia is increasingly recognized as a transdiagnostic risk factor for psychopathology. New evidence demonstrates that anhedonia is present in infancy and early childhood. Structural variability in striatal regions involved in reward processing and pleasure seeking is concurrently linked to anhedonia, yet few studies have examined whether striatal differences presage anhedonia, and none have examined prospective associations before middle childhood. The present study examined whether neuroanatomical markers that confer risk for anhedonia can be detected as early as the neonatal period. Specifically, we tested whether the volume of striatal regions in neonates predicted the emergence of infant anhedonic behaviors at six …

Persistent Na+ Current Couples Spreading Depolarization To Seizures In Scn8a Gain-Of-Function Mice, Isamu Aiba, Yao Ning, Jeffrey L Noebels

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Spreading depolarization (SD) is a slowly propagating wave of massive cellular depolarization that transiently impairs the function of affected brain regions. Although SD typically arises as an isolated hemispheric event, we previously reported that reducing M-type potassium current (IKM) by ablation of Kcnq2 in forebrain excitatory neurons results in tightly coupled spontaneous bilateral seizure–SD complexes in the awake mouse cortex.

Here we find that enhanced persistent Na+ current attributable to gain-of-function mutations in Scn8a (N1768D/+, hereafter D/+) produces a similar compound cortical excitability phenotype. Chronic direct-current (DC)-band EEG recording detected spontaneous bilateral seizure–SD complexes accompanied by seizures with …

Handling Hemolytic Blood Samples From High-Risk Clinical Areas: A Call To Action, Alan H B Wu, Jerrold H Levy, W Franklin Peacock, Ramzy Rimawi, Manuel Sanchez Luna, Christopher Farnsworth, Hugo Stiegler, Robert H Christenson

2020-Current year OA Pubs

BACKGROUND: Spectrophotometric testing to detect sample hemolysis is available from central laboratory chemistry analyzers. While the cause and preventative measures are known, hemolysis continues to be a common preanalytical error, especially for specimens collected from the emergency department (ED) and intensive care units (ICUs) where point-of-care analyzers are commonly used for whole blood electrolyte testing. Recently, these analyzers have employed technology to detect hemolysis directly on whole blood samples.

METHODS: Experienced laboratorians and physicians from the clinical laboratory, ED, adult and neonatal ICUs provide a summary of the medical importance of in vitro hemolysis. Causes for in vivo hemolysis are …

Student Exploration Of Self And Identity Within The Context Of On-Campus Employment, Jason Foster, Hermen Díaz Iii

New York Journal of Student Affairs

Utilizing constructivist interpretive inquiry, this study examined the role of student employment in the Division of Student Affairs for four current undergraduate students. Findings indicate that student employment provided an important space for student employees to develop an identity-centric sense of self, a sense of belonging, and benefit from culturally competent supervision. Implications for practice are discussed to better facilitate student affairs employment as a place of intentionality and development.

Use Of Eagala Model–Based Psychotherapy For Youth Psychological Disorders, Kimberley D. Ryan, Tammy L.B. Mckenzie

People and Animals: The International Journal of Research and Practice

Global youth psychological disorder prevalence has increased exponentially. Therefore, a drastic increase in mental health care utilization is expected. Since traditional approaches to the treatment of adult psychological disorders are ineffective with youth, alternative approaches to treatment of youth psychological disorders must be considered. One such approach is equine assisted psychotherapy (EAP), a person-centered, experiential approach using horses during the treatment of psychological disorders and the basis of the Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (Eagala) model–based programming. This article presents the quantitative research findings of a study investigating the effectiveness of the Eagala model–based EAP programming in the treatment …

Does Memory Trust Predict Confidence In Memory Performance?, Rachel Thayer, Jenna Thomason

2024 Symposium

Generally, people tend to believe that they are poor at remembering vital information while simultaneously displaying a tendency to overestimate their performance on memory tests. People display the usage of their metamemory, the control and awareness of memory, by monitoring and reporting how much information they have accurately remembered. Predicting the outcome of test scores is one way of testing metamemory, but this does not address how a person’s trust in their memory relates to their perceptions of how they performed on a test. The Squire Subjective Memory Questionnaire (SSMQ) measures beliefs about susceptibility to omission errors (excluding information), and …

Is Measles Particularly Hazardous In Cases Of Trisomy 21?, Nihal Akçay, Demet Tosun, İlyas Bingöl

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Measles-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis is a rare and life-threatening condition, particularly in immunocompromised individuals. This case report discusses the management and successful treatment of a 21-month-old unvaccinated male with Down syndrome who developed secondary Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis during follow-up for pneumonia and respiratory failure. The patient presented with rashes, fever, and cough. Despite initial treatment for pneumonia, he developed respiratory failure, requiring transfer to the pediatric intensive care unit. Physical examination revealed a toxic appearance, bilateral coarse crackles, hepatosplenomegaly, and several mobile cervical lymphadenopathies. Laboratory findings included pancytopenia, hypofibrinogenemia, elevated liver enzymes, and high C-reactive protein. Due to suspicion of myocarditis, intravenous …

Comparison Of Hepcidin-25 And Angiogenin (Rnase-5) Levels In Healthy Children And Children With Brucellosis, Ümmü Seleme Mumcu, Özge Metin Akcan, Mehmet Özdemir, Gökçe Kader Arslan, Mustafa Gençeli

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: The aim of this study is to determine whether there is a change in serum levels of the anti-microbial peptides Hepcidin-25 and angiogenin, in pediatric patients with Brucellosis compared to healthy controls. In addition, to evaluate their role in brucellosis and relationship with complications of brucellosis. Methods: In our study, children aged 3 to 18 years were included. There were 50 patients in the brucellosis group and 40 healthy children in the control group. Serum hepcidin-25 and angiogenin levels were studied, as well as complete blood count, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferas, C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate. The relationship between …

Ezrin And Childhood Pneumonia: A Potential Marker Of Pulmonary Epithelial Damage And Inflammation, Sedef Turk, Bahadir M. Samur, Humeyra Aslaner, Didem Barlak-Keti, Emrah Turk, Mehmet Kose

Journal of Pediatric Infectious Diseases

Objective: Ezrin, also known as villin-2 or cytovillin, is a cytoplasmic peripheral membrane protein encoded in humans with the potential implications for various human cancers, cytokine modulation, cytoskeleton remodeling, mucous membrane integrity, and epithelial or pulmonary damage. This study hypothesizes that the amounts of exosome-associated ezrin in the serum detected by ELISA may correlate with the diagnosis or severity of pneumonia in children. We aimed to examine ezrin levels as a pulmonary epithelial cell damage or inflammation marker in a clinical model of pediatric pneumonia. Methods: The prospective study was conducted with 108 previously diagnosed children with pneumonia and 59 …

The Road To A Raisin In The Sun: The Hansberry Family Of Floster, Mississippi, And Its Link To Alcorn A&M; College, J. Janice Coleman

Journal of Mississippi History

No abstract provided.

Predation Of Aegaeobuthus Nigrocinctus (Ehrenberg, 1828) (Scorpiones: Buthidae) By A Middle East Black Tarantula, Chaetopelma Olivaceum (C. L. Koch, 1841) (Araneae: Theraphosidae) In Lebanon, Rami Khashab

Euscorpius

I report the first documented case of the buthid scorpion Aegaeobuthus nigrocinctus (Ehrenberg, 1828) serving as prey for the tarantula Chaetopelma olivaceum (C. L. Koch, 1841) in Lebanon. The observation was made during a nocturnal survey in the Mount Lebanon region. The case contributes to the limited records of tarantula predation on scorpions and underscores the role of prey-predator size asymmetry in facilitating high-risk predation among arachnids.