Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Role Of Data Science Applications In Soil And Water Health, Payton Davis, Debabrata Sahoo, Dara Park, Brook Russell

Forestry and Natural Resources

Data science is an emerging field that can be incorporated into many disciplines, including environmental science. Data science can provide valuable information from data, enhancing the understanding of systems and environments. This publication is intended to give an overview of the different aspects of data science and how data science can be leveraged into and applied to soil and water health.

3c) Module 3 Readings, 2, Barry Stiefel

Barry Stiefel, Civic Heritage and the Power of Place

No abstract provided.

3e) Module 3 Readings, 4, Barry Stiefel

Barry Stiefel, Civic Heritage and the Power of Place

No abstract provided.

1a) Module 1 Assignment, Barry Stiefel

Barry Stiefel, Civic Heritage and the Power of Place

No abstract provided.

A Hip-Hop-Based Workshop Cultivates Urban Underserved Youths’ Critical Consciousness Around Food Systems, Jacob Rowell, Hannah Scherer, Kim Niewolny, Anthony Kwame Harrison, Kendrick Spencer

Journal of Youth Development

Hip hop is social commentary and critique that highlights the complexity of issues within society, including systemic inequity in the food system, which disproportionately affects urban and African American populations. After-school and non-formal programs are innovative educational opportunities to engage youth in learning about and addressing local problems through culturally-relevant program design and enactment of critical pedagogy. To meaningfully connect middle-school-aged urban youth, their lived experiences, and inequities in the food system, we designed a hip-hop-based workshop and delivered it in an established afterschool program. In this qualitative case study, we explored participants’ critical consciousness related to the food system …

Toward A Conceptual And Methodological Understanding Of Supervisor Gaslighting In The Workplace, Gabriela Peschiera

All Dissertations

The term ‘gaslight’ has infiltrated popular media, with articles, TV shows, and podcasts dedicated to identifying gaslighting behaviors and mitigating its effects. Despite the term’s popularity, much of the existing literature solely focuses on gaslighting in intimate partner relationships, medical settings, and political campaigns. As a result, little is known about how it operates in the workplace context and whether it is distinct from other well-established workplace mistreatment constructs. In this dissertation, I explored the mechanisms of supervisor gaslighting by developing a scale and testing its distinctiveness from other workplace mistreatment and positive workplace behaviors. While two scales were recently …

Imaging Oxygen Near Implanted Medical Devices Through Tissue With X-Ray And Ultrasound Modulated Luminescence Chemical Imaging, Vigjna Abbaraju

All Dissertations

Oxygen plays a crucial role in stem cell maintenance, tissue regeneration, disease progression, and treatment efficacy. For example, understanding oxygen dynamics within implanted medical devices, such as bone scaffolds, is essential for successful tissue regeneration and can serve as an early indicator of infection. The existing oxygen sensing and imaging techniques are often limited by narrow imaging depth, low spatial resolution in vivo resulting in poor understanding of oxygen dynamics in tissue microenvironments. This dissertation describes the development of implantable sensors using X-ray scintillators and thermochromic leuco dye paired with phosphorescent oxygen dye (PtTFPP) to image oxygen using X-ray luminescent …

Can Kinematics Specify Tool Use Affordances?, Tyler Duffrin

All Dissertations

Object properties such as length, shape, and heaviness, as well as affordance-based properties such as strike-with-ability and poke-with-ability, can be perceived via dynamic touch as functions of inertia tensor invariants. The primary question addressed here was whether people can perceive these same power and precision properties for purely virtual objects, which lack dynamic physical forces. The Kinematic Specification of Dynamics (KSD) principle asserts that missing dynamics are lawfully specified by kinematic (visual) motion patterns, such that kinematic information alone may support successful interactions with virtual objects. In three experiments, we investigated (1) whether virtual reality (VR) users could calibrate to …

Lizards In The Trees: Structural, Functional, And Behavioral Specializations To A High-Risk Environment, Victor D. Munteanu

All Dissertations

Animals must contend with unexpected changes in their habitat and environment to thrive. Arboreal habitats can consist of a wide variety of environmental features, and failure to adequately contend with these features can result in high risk of injury or death upon falling. Despite these strong selective pressures, many vertebrate lineages have successfully invaded arboreal habitats. Using lizard taxa as a model system, I investigated how morphology and behavior have evolved within this specific habitat transition. I pursued these investigations through complementary analyses including: 1) evaluating the effect of stance height and tail prehensility on perturbation recovery, 2) assessing behavior …

Effects Of Urbanization On Barrier Island Bobcats, Meghan P. Keating

All Dissertations

Urbanization is a leading driver of ecological change and presents unique challenges for carnivores by altering habitat availability, prey communities, and exposure to anthropogenic threats. Although many carnivore species persist in developed landscapes, the ecological and demographic consequences of urbanization often remain poorly understood, particularly over long timescales. Using one of the longest-running studies of a free-ranging carnivore population, I evaluated the effects of urbanization on the behavior, resource use, exposure risk, and population dynamics of bobcats (Lynx rufus) inhabiting a residentially developed barrier island in coastal South Carolina, USA. I first examined temporal and spatial responses to …

The Past, Present, And Future Of Climate Adaptation In A Widespread Lizard Species, Matthew R. Mcternan

All Dissertations

Climate, as a selective force, shapes patterns of biodiversity globally. However, how species adapt to climate remains a central question of biology. The need to understand climate adaptation is paramount, as global climate change threatens a large portion of global diversity. Climate can impose selection on life by either controlling rates of energy intake and expenditure through effects on body temperature and activity, or by exposing organisms to conditions beyond their physiological limits. Studies of climate adaptation have identified a wide-range of putatively adaptive phenotypic patterns, but genomic evidence is increasingly being used to investigate these patterns and better understand …

Prenatal Acoustic Programming Of The Developing Hypothalamus: A Multi-Omic Analysis Of Heat Call Exposure In Zebra Finch Embryos, Prakrit Subba

All Dissertations

Climate change is intensifying thermal stress on wildlife globally, yet the developmental mechanisms by which embryos use prenatal cues to adjust to predicted environments remain unclear. In Australian zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata), incubating parents produce distinctive heat call vocalizations at high ambient temperatures, and embryos exposed to these calls during late incubation develop altered growth trajectories, thermoregulatory capacity, and reproductive outcomes, suggesting a form of anticipatory developmental programming triggered by sound alone. To investigate the molecular basis of this response, I initially hypothesized that prenatal heat call exposure would act primarily through hypothalamic neuroendocrine reprogramming, given the central …

Use Of Active Learning In The Teaching Of The Veterinary Science Course, Cary Rita

All Dissertations

Agricultural education is rooted in active learning, where students develop skills and learning opportunities through hands-on experiences on classroom farms, greenhouses, and even school-based grooming salons. Recent policy and funding revisions have shifted the measures of success in agricultural education programs towards the number of students earning industry-based certifications. This shift has led to the adoption of a test-focused curriculum, often provided by the company offering the certification exam. While the certification-aligned curriculum provides strong content for veterinary knowledge, the problem is that it is often at the expense of hands-on learning. Balancing active learning while also preparing the students …

Making The Case For Historically Minoritized Students At Career Centers With A Focus On Agriculture, Janine Honey Sutter

All Dissertations

Historically minoritized students are still underrepresented in many Career and Technical Education (CTE) programs, such as agricultural education, even though these programs offer valuable academic, workforce, and postsecondary opportunities. This dissertation used Improvement Science to explore whether educator perceptions and communication practices played a role in this underrepresentation at Liberty Career Center. It also examined whether targeted informational interventions could help educators become more aware of and more positive about Career Center opportunities.

Following Improvement Science principles, the study used a continuous improvement approach to find system-level barriers and test new ways to improve communication between the Career Center and …

History, Myth, Courage, And Selflessness: Kate Shelley And The Bridge Of Darkness, Stephen M. Jennings

All Theses

This thesis documents the research, creative development, and production of the animated short film Kate Shelley and the Bridge of Darkness. The project is inspired by the historical account of Kate Shelley, a fifteen-year-old girl who in 1881 crossed a railroad bridge during a violent storm near Moingona, Iowa, to warn a nearby train station of a catastrophic bridge collapse. Over time, Shelley’s actions became both a documented historical event and a subject of mythologized retellings in American cultural memory. The film explores this tension between history and legend through an interpretation that balances historical research with cinematic storytelling. The …

Immersive Attraction Design Using Real Time Virtual Production Techniques: A South Carolinian Ghost-Lore Dark Ride, Gabrielle M. Delo

All Theses

The role of themed entertainment can serve as a tool for cultural enrichment by integrating regional folklore into attraction design, using South Carolina’s “Gray Man” legend as the narrative foundation for a proposed dark ride. This project highlights how attractions can introduce wider audiences to lesser-known folktales while fostering appreciation for regional identity. It also examines the use of real-time virtual production, specifically using Unreal Engine 5.5, as a unified platform for previsualizing narrative-driven environments, enabling efficient iteration and integration of both physical and digital storytelling elements. This project positions game engine technology as a means of preserving and communicating …

Painting A Scene: 3d Painterly Rendering From Curves To Rebelle, William M. Luttrell

All Theses

Stylized 3D rendering has seen much development and success over the past few years. From Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse to The Bad Guys, many studios have developed tools to incorporate stylistic elements from graphic novels, comic books, watercolor paintings, and more into their productions. This stylization process incorporates the pacing, visual style, and themes from the source medium into the animated work, allowing a much greater freedom of expression for artists and directors.

Inspired by these films as well as the needs of the short film Kate Shelley and the Bridge of Darkness currently in production, This paper presents …

Treatment, Recognition, And Prevention Of Communicable Conditions In The Summer Camp Setting, Matthew Labkovski

CompassPoint

No abstract provided.

Your Camp Health Services Essential Tips For Success, Bev Unger

CompassPoint

Camp health services are the cornerstone of health and safety. From managing small injuries to medical emergencies, it is the area of camp that encompasses care, safety, health promotion, injury prevention, illness and injury management, and the overall “make you feel better” place. Hiring the right health staff and setting them up for success with appropriate tools, staff training, and solid processes are key to the success at summer camp. When there is a crisis, an injury, or an illness, the outcome can be devastating if not managed in a timely and effective way. Creating the best health center experience …

Co-Designing Multimodal, Multilingual Text Sets: Centering Caregiver Choice, Katie M. Crook, Emily Howell, Lindsey W. Rowe, Hazel Vega Quesada, C. C. Bates

Publications

Early literacy instruction in the U.S. often centers monolingual, English-dominant practices that marginalize multilingual learners and their families. This qualitative design-based research study examines a family literacy initiative that engaged caregivers and teachers as co-designers of a multilingual, multimodal literacy resource bag. Using the MultiSemiotic Architecture Framework, we analyzed qualitative data to explore how collaborative text selection can advance linguistic justice in early childhood education. Findings highlight five themes that shaped intentional text selection and supported multilingual home literacy practices: content, language, cultural relevance, curricular alignment, and collaborative modifications. By centering families' cultural and linguistic resources, the project disrupted monolingual …

How Lesson Type Shapes First-Grade Scienceengagement And Enjoyment, Stella Cybulski, Brooke Towner, Joy James

Journal of Youth Development

Although traditional classroom instruction often emphasizes passive forms of learning, growing evidence highlights the value of active play in promoting curiosity and conceptual development. Grounded in guided play theory, this study investigated how young learners experience science lessons across three instructional contexts: indoor inactive, indoor active, and outdoor active. Thirty-two first-grade students in a Title I laboratory school completed an enjoyment survey and drawing task following each lesson type. Results demonstrated that active play, particularly in outdoor contexts, was associated with higher enjoyment and more dynamic depictions of science learning. Thematic analysis of drawings indicated that students connected more deeply …

Assessing Rural Homelessness: A Mixed-Methods Case Study, Matthew Lyons, Ashley Feierstein, Christy Storey, Akilah Hairston, Jonathan Jones, Jada Brown, Sarah H. Cross

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

Rural homelessness represents a significant public health and human rights challenge, but research on homelessness in the United States has predominantly focused on urban settings. This case study describes a mixed-methods assessment of the prevalence, causes, and consequences of homelessness in a rural county. Through both surveys and interviews with stakeholders from multiple sectors (including both service providers and those experiencing homelessness), we built a rich picture of the scale and experiential dimensions of homelessness within the county. Here, we present our research methods, the main findings of each primary data collection arm, and the actionable conclusions drawn from the …

Volume 41, Issue 1, Full Issue, Journal Of Rural Social Sciences

Journal of Rural Social Sciences

No abstract provided.

Uplifting Youth Voice Through Multi‑Level Features To Make A Splash For Positive Youth Development, Sylvia Y. Gutierrez, Kellie A. Walters, Jayne A, Fulkerson, Nancy Sherwood, Eydie Kramer-Kostecka

Journal of Youth Development

This study explored how a multicomponent health promotion program for pre-adolescent girls could be adapted to support positive youth development across diverse cultural and community contexts. In summer 2022, trained research staff conducted six focus groups with 27 girls from urban and rural communities in the Midwestern United States. Participants reviewed the original program curriculum and provided feedback on program activities, structure, relationships, and implementation strategies. Sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analyzed thematically using qualitative software and manual review. Girls provided feedback on multiple program components, resulting in 12 themes aligned with eight established features of positive developmental …

Clemson Commencement Program, May 2026, Clemson University

Clemson Commencement Programs

No abstract provided.

"Neutrality—That Was Anathema": The Critique Of Ideology In The Revenge For Love, Joseph Owen

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Wyndham Lewis And British Art Rock: A Practicological Modernism By Thomas Keller, David A. Wragg

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

Thomas Keller, Wyndham Lewis and British Art Rock: a Practicological Modernism. (Narr Francke Attempto Verlag, 2024), 328pp. £54.00 (Hbk)

The Grotesque Modernist Body: Gothic Horror And Carnival Satire In Art And Writing By David Cruickshank, Benjamin Bruce

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

Book Review

David Cruickshank, The Grotesque Modernist Body: Gothic Horror and Carnival Satire in Art and Writing (Palgrave Macmillan, 2024), 276pp. £99.00 (Hbk)

Volume 12, 2024/2025, Full Issue

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.

Time And The Small Man: Lewis's Early Democratic Tendencies, Alexander Alfred Scott

The Journal of Wyndham Lewis Studies

No abstract provided.