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Aggressive, Adaptive, and Underestimated: From Allergy to Arboviruses, the Rise of the Lone Star Tick
No full textOnce considered a nuisance with little medical importance, the lone star tick (Amblyomma americanum, Acari:Ixodidae) has emerged as a formidable vector driving a new era of public health threats across the United States of America. This dissertation traces the rise of the lone star tick from obscurity to infamy, exploring its expanding geographic range, unique immunologic impacts on humans, and role in the transmission of emerging tickborne viruses. Through a series of integrated studies, this work characterizes the epidemiology, immunology, and ecological context of tick-borne diseases in the southeastern U.S., with a particular focus on α-Gal syndrome (AGS), a novel allergic condition linked to tick bites and two tickborne viruses.
The first study examines spatial and demographic patterns of α-Gal sensitization using cross-sectional data from a statewide cohort, identifying regional clustering and non-linear age associations. The second study explores immune dysregulation in α-Gal through detailed cytokine profiling, revealing distinct inflammatory signatures among sensitized individuals. Finally, field surveillance and molecular testing of ticks collected across South Carolina highlight the lone star tick’s widespread distribution and its potential to harbor multiple pathogens, including Heartland and Bourbon viruses.
Together, these findings underscore the lone star tick’s rise as a vector of medical and scientific consequence, with implications for allergy, virology, and climate-sensitive disease emergence. As land use, biodiversity, and human behavior continue to shift, understanding the multifaceted risk posed by A. americanum is vital to anticipating and mitigating the next generation of vector-borne threats in the U.S. South—and beyond
Episode 102: Better health for all: The history of USC\u27s Arnold School of Public Health
No full textFifty years ago, USC established what would later become known as the Arnold School of Public Health, the state\u27s only accredited public health college. It\u27s mission, then and now, is to improve the health of all South Carolinians and help fill the pipeline of the public health workforce.https://scholarcommons.sc.edu/rememberingthedays/1103/thumbnail.jp
Self-Regulation in Children with Fragile X Syndrome: Biobehavioral Underpinnings, Familial Predictors, and Outcomes
No full textSelf-regulation is a multifaceted construct that occurs on biological, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral levels. Self-regulatory abilities typically emerge in the first years of life and continuously develop through early adulthood. There is considerable interindividual variability in developmental trajectories of self-regulation which are associated with numerous adaptive and maladaptive outcomes. Factors influencing the development of self-regulation include interacting genetic and social environmental factors. Given the high heritability of self-regulation, within-family associations are common.
Individuals with Fragile X syndrome (FXS), an inherited, single-gene neurodevelopmental disorder, have heightened vulnerability for self-regulation deficits that are evident in early infancy; however, the developmental trajectories and underpinnings of self-regulation are poorly understood in this population. Additionally, despite evidence of impaired inhibitory control (IC) in women with the FMR1 premutation (FXp), many of whom are mothers of children with FXS, there has been little exploration of shared genetic risk for self-regulation deficits in these family systems. This dissertation study includes a two-part examination of self-regulation in children with FXS, including biobehavioral underpinnings, familial predictors, and outcomes.
We leveraged a biobehavioral, longitudinal approach to understanding the associations amongst different facets (i.e., cognitive, behavioral, physiological) of self-regulation in early childhood and their prediction of executive functioning in middle childhood in FXS (Chapter 1). Similar to extant research, we failed to find significant associations among the different facets and measures of self-regulation in both FXS and neurotypical children. Considering all facets of self-regulation, longitudinal analyses yielded physiological reactivity as the strongest early marker of executive dysfunction in middle childhood for children with FXS. Measuring and monitoring such physiological markers early in life may facilitate earlier intervention and identify children who are most vulnerable to potential executive dysfunction later in life.
In light of evidence of deficits in self-regulation across FMR1-related conditions (i.e., FXS, FXp), no study to date has looked at intergenerational associations. Informed by family systems and evocative gene x environmental interaction frameworks, we examined mother-child IC associations in FMR1 families compared to neurotypical families (Chapter 2). The present study replicated findings of IC deficits in children with FXS and FXp mothers. Whereas clear mother-child IC associations were found for neurotypical families, we failed to determine any relationships between measures of mother and child IC in FMR1 families. Measurement considerations are discussed. Altogether, findings suggest the intergenerational transmission of IC in FMR1 families deviates from neurotypical families, and likely highlights the role of intervening processes such as parenting or parent-child interaction quality in explaining group differences.
The aforementioned studies are both individually and collectively important for characterizing early self-regulation, including identifying salient markers and mechanisms of risk, in FXS. This knowledge is critical for determining who is most vulnerable to self-regulation deficits and ensuring targeted intervention; findings may also generalize to other neurodevelopmental disorders. Capitalizing on the malleability of the brain in early childhood, optimization of early biobehavioral self-regulatory processes may redirect developmental trajectories and promote long-term adaptive outcomes for children with FXS and their families
Mild Hydrothermal Crystal Growth of Two Luminescing Uranyl Phosphates Exhibiting an Autunite-Type Sheet Structure
No full textTwo new layered uranyl phosphate compounds, K(UO2)PO4(H2O)3 and Na(UO2)PO4(H2O)1.52, crystallizing in an autunite-type sheet structure, were successfully synthesized as both single-crystals and polycrystalline powders under mild hydrothermal conditions. The compound K(UO2)PO4(H2O)3 crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system with the space group P4/ncc, exhibiting lattice parameters of a = b = 6.99320(7) Å and c = 17.8389(3) Å. Similarly, Na(UO2)PO4(H2O)1.52 also crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system, however, in the space group P4/nmm and exhibits lattice parameters of a = b = 6.9787 Å and c = 8.6303(17) Å. Both compounds adopt layered structures, a characteristic feature of uranyl phosphates, and exhibit intense green fluorescence typical for uranyl-containing materials. The infrared spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and scintillation properties of these compounds were investigated
Wheels Up: Mobilizing Ideas and Partnership through the Richland Library Bike Maintenance Clinic
No full textUsing the Bike Maintenance Clinic at the Richland Library as both example and object lesson, I hope to offer practical strategies to help other professionals identify key community partnerships, gauge community interest, and consider program scalability for similar programming in their libraries
Racial and Ethnic Inequities in the Receipt of Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder Among Pregnant People: A Meta-Analysis
No full textObjectives: The aim of this meta-analysis is to examine inequities in the receipt of medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) by race and ethnicity among pregnant people. Methods: PubMed and Embase were searched for studies examining the relationship between race and ethnicity and the receipt of MOUD during pregnancy. Studies were included if they were observational in nature and reported sufficient data to ascertain effect measures. Random-effects meta-analyses were conducted to estimate the pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% CIs. Results: Fourteen studies were included with data on 157,208 individuals. Receipt of MOUD among Black (pooled OR: 0.35, 95% CI: 0.23, 0.55) and Hispanic (pooled OR: 0.60, 95% CI: 0.40, 0.89) pregnant people was significantly lower compared to their White counterparts. Among all other racial and ethnic categories, receipt of MOUD was nonsignificantly lower compared to White pregnant people (pooled OR: 0.79, 95% CI: 0.56, 1.12). Ten studies utilized self-reported race and ethnicity, and 3 studies reported data on well-defined racial and ethnic categories outside of White, Black, and Hispanic. Conclusions: There is strong evidence of racial and ethnic inequities in the receipt of MOUD during pregnancy. We hypothesize these inequities to be caused by structural and interpersonal racism impacting the quality of care for pregnant people with opioid use disorder. Increased use of self-identified race and ethnicity alongside improved reporting of racial and ethnic categories beyond Black, White, and Hispanic is needed in future research to better understand and measure constructs related to racism
Enhancing Self-Efficacy for Engagement With Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Initiatives: Evaluation of a Seven-Day Immersive Pilot Program in a College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
No full textColleges of health, human sciences, and education are often administratively organized to include a diverse array of human sciences departments that share roots in social justice and a commitment to advancing equity and inclusion. Despite espoused commitments to equity and inclusion, they frequently struggle to achieve the changes necessary for advancing equity, and inclusion principles across policies, practices, procedures, and units. We implemented and evaluated a 7-day, total immersion, 56-h, educational program entitled the “Social Justice Institute” (SJI) for two cohorts of faculty, staff, and administrators to develop self-efficacy to intervene in systemic oppression in their academic units. SJI delivered focused content and exercises on structural oppression. A one-group, pre-, and post-survey no comparison process evaluation design was used to estimate the change in participants\u27 quantitative self-efficacy. Cohort 1 included 14 and Cohort 2 included 15 participants (N = 29). Before attending SJI, participants\u27 average self-efficacy score was 5.84 (SD = 0.76; Cohort 1) and 5.83 (SD = 0.37; Cohort 2), respectively. After attending the SJI, the self-efficacy average increased to 6.49 (SD = 1.19) and 6.46 (SD = 0.18) respectively. This is a 9%–10% average improvement in self-efficacy each year. Each cohort rated the quality of the SJI. Day 2 had the highest quality rating (mean = 4.75, SD = 0.45) (topic: sex, gender, sexism, and cissexism), with Day 3 receiving the lowest quality rating (mean = 3.75, SD = 0.97) (topic: race, racism, and whiteness). This evaluation provides preliminary evidence that an SJI may be one possible contribution to advancing self-efficacy for intervening in bias in higher education. Rigorous educational programs and evaluations must be implemented and conducted to advance strategies that support inclusion and diversity in higher education
Psychometric Analysis of a Nursing Informatics Competencies Survey
No full textAs healthcare information technology continues to expand its influence on healthcare, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing has recognized the importance of informatics in nursing by creating a healthcare and informatics domain in the newly revised Essentials. Nurse educators are tasked with ensuring graduates have the informatics competencies necessary for safe patient outcomes. A research team examined the Self-Assessment of Nursing Informatics Competencies Scale-18 and compared the competencies assessed to the American Association of Colleges of Nursing Essentials, the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society’s Technology Informatics Guiding Education Reform Competencies, and current trends in healthcare information technology. Revisions were made to fill competency gaps and reflect current technological advances. The survey was finalized as a 19-item Likert scale instrument called the Nursing Informatics Competencies Survey-2024. Higher student self-assessment scores indicate higher perceived competence. The Nursing Informatics Competencies Survey-2024 was distributed virtually to nursing students of all program types across the southeastern United States (n = 202). A Cronbach\u27s α of .959 was calculated, indicating excellent internal consistency. A Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare mean scores (M = 58, SD = 11.92) for BSN students (n = 49) and (M = 55, SD = 15.79) for RN-BSN students (n = 121). No significant difference was found between the total scores (P = .589, Z = −0.540). The Nursing Informatics Competencies Survey-2024 is a valid and reliable instrument to determine nursing students\u27 informatics competencies
Open TDM: How the Open Movement is Transforming the Way Academic Libraries Support Text and Data Mining Research
No full textEdited volume, published by the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), the book provides librarians with the skills necessary to support researchers using text and data mining (TDM). Chapter 24 focuses on the open access aspects of TDM and how librarians and scholars are assisting each other in learning these new skills. Librarians from USC and UNC Wilmington share their paths to understanding and supporting TDM on their campuses
Differential Gene Coexpression in 16p11.2 Autism Spectrum Disorder
No full textAutism 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 the 16p11.2 region affected pathways were related to ribosomal activity and composition