Digital Commons Network^™

Narrative Persuasion Amplification Via Interactive Narrative Media, Alexander Scott

All Theses

This research was intended to investigate if interactive narrative media enhances the effects of narrative persuasion utilizing a story about opioid overdose kits. Using Social Cognitive Theory (SCT), the Entertainment Overcoming Resistance Model (EORM), and the Extended Parallel Processing Model (EPPM) as theoretical frameworks, this study examines the benefits of narrative persuasion and applies them to interactive narrative media. While these benefits have been established with traditional, unidirectional media, they have rarely been examined in media wherein the audience has the ability to affect the narrative. The hypotheses tested in this experiment posits that the interactive narrative media will elicit …

“It's Not Cramps...That's Not Normal”: A Qualitative Study On Endometriosis Diagnosis, Kayla Ashley Craig

All Theses

This is a qualitative study, regarding women with the chronic pain condition endometriosis, utilizing in-depth interviews. Endometriosis is a chronic pain condition in which the tissue of the uterus is found outside the uterine cavern. This tissue leads to many symptoms that can affect a woman’s social, personal, and professional life. Guiding literature on the history of women’s health, validation through diagnosis, patient-provider relationships, social support, and dialogism in health communication were used to inform this research. A narrative analysis approach was used to analyze the findings which consisted of four narratives: manifestations of pain, social support, patient-provider communication and …

Computational Configurations: Behind The Bricolage Of The Truelist, Emma Jayne Stanley

All Theses

Nick Montfort’s book of computational poetry, The Truelist, allows the reader to understand the code written by Montfort to produce the book as both “bricoleur” and “bricolage.” At the core of my examination, I will ask: how does computational poetry, specifically that of The Truelist, provide us with a new definition of what it means to embody a coded space, specifically a space that, according to Montfort, is constantly redefining itself for new readers? To focus specifically on examining the literariness of the text, I will primarily use Jacques Derrida’s concept of the “bricolage” from “Structure, Sign, and …

How The Tiger Keeps Its Stripes: A Case Study Of Black Student Involvement And Retention At Clemson University, Sherman Jones

All Theses

This manuscript documents and elaborates upon a creative project thesis that used documentary filmmaking to explore organizational involvement and black student retention at Clemson University. The produced docuseries contains five episodes of student and faculty interviews about their experiences at Clemson. This manuscript expands upon the documentary by discussing Clemson University’s general and racial history, as well as academic literature on student involvement, critical race theory, and documentary research. Due to my own involvement and experiences as a black student at Clemson, my positionality is incorporated throughout the project. This manuscript concludes with an overview of project content and an …

Scheduling Control For Many-Server Queues When Customers Change Class, Mary Elizabeth Saine

All Theses

We consider a two class, many-server queueing system which allows for customer abandonment and class changes. With the objective to minimize the long-run average holding cost, we formulate a stochastic queueing control problem. Instead of solving this directly, we apply a fluid scaling to obtain a deterministic counterpart to the problem. By considering the equilibrium of the deterministic solution, we can solve the resulting control problem, referred to as the equilibrium control problem (ECP), and use the solution to propose a priority policy for the original stochastic queueing system. We prove that in an overloaded system, under a fluid scaling, …

Existing Building Codes And Historic Masonry Towers, John Sheridan Bennett

All Theses

The existing building codes offer exemptions for historic structures that lessen the

prescriptive requirements and offer alternative means to achieve life safety goals. Three

examples selected for this study are unreinforced masonry towers subject to high wind loads

and seismic forces to explore the methods of Prescriptive, Work Area, and Performance

Compliance with an eye to the role of the building code official and where the decisions may

impact life safety in the course of repairing, altering, or changing the occupancy of the

towers. The thesis explores the complexity of the code while forming a roadmap of the

process. As …

A Statistical Analysis Of Drought And Its Global Impact, Jared Delk

All Theses

Droughts are the most ambiguous of all natural hazards and yet are often cited as the most destructive and are responsible for the most widespread damage across all sectors of society. The purpose of this study was to further understand the impact that drought has on various sectors of society, especially the economic sector, and how various regions across the United States are specifically impacted by droughts and drought effects. In order to quantify the impact that drought has on the economic sector, an analysis was performed internationally between each country’s GDP and various drought indices such as PDSI, SPI, …

Behind The Handle: Exploring The Experience Of Social Media Managers For Professional Sports Teams, Megan Courage

All Theses

The current study aims to expand sports communication literature from an organizational standpoint. Current literature does not recognize social media departments as an integral part of organizational communication, but rather as a function of public relations (PR) strategy. This study consists of semi-structured, in-depth interviews with social media managers currently working for a professional sports team. Participants discuss their experience working within a professional sports organization, including their interdepartmental structure and relationships, and aspects of their job that they think the general public would be surprised to learn. The study builds upon existing literature concerning sports communication, social media, PR, …

Guard Your Heart, “By Force, If Necessary”: Faith, Virginity, And Shame In The Evangelical Purity Movement, Kelley M. Gillis

All Theses

In the 1990s and 2000s, American evangelical church culture experienced a shift in its sex education methodology. Known as the purity movement, or purity culture, teachings about sex and dating became inextricably linked to fear and shame. Emerging from this movement in 1997 was a 21-year-old named Joshua Harris. According to Harris, it was not enough to declare a life of abstinence if true holiness were to be achieved. As he declared in his purity manifesto I Kissed Dating Goodbye, one needed to completely renounce dating altogether. The book outlines what a pure life looks like for Christian youth with …

Hydrothermal Crystal Growth And Characterization Of Refractory Oxides Containing 4d, 5d Transition Metal Ions And Lanthanides, Mudithangani Kolambage

All Dissertations

The second row third row transition metal ions and their compounds are quite interesting due to their strong spin-orbit coupling interactions, which make them very different from their 3-d counterparts. This places these 4-d and 5-d transition metal ions between 3-d transition metals where the splitting is dominated by orbital effects and rare earth ions where the splitting is dominated by spin-orbit interactions. This can lead to some unusual and novel physical properties which may eventually lead to novel device possibilities. However, the chemistry of these heavy d block oxides are largely ignored compared to 3-d transition metal chemistry.

In …

The Trump Effect And The Damage Done: A Mixed Methods Study Exploring Sociopolitical Hostility And Teacher Responses In Language Classrooms, Stephanie M. Madison

All Dissertations

Immediately following the 2016 election, teachers reported a previously-unseen level of animosity from their students mimicking the rhetoric of President Trump, often verbatim. The combination of racial, ethnic, religious, and bias-motivated bullying and language has been referred to as the “Trump Effect” in the media and among educators (Nygreen, Lazdowski, & Bialostok, 2017). While teachers in all subject areas may have the potential to address this dehumanizing rhetoric, this study focused on foreign/world language (FL) and English for Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL), which are areas that have not been thoroughly explored as a particularly important and relevant site for …

The Original Sin Of College Sports: College Presidents' Ineffectual Use Of Special Admissions, Gerard Gurney, Lisa Rubin, Sarah Stokowski, B. David Ridpath

Publications

No abstract provided.

Soundscapes For Social Change: Community And Consciousness Through Sound Design Rhetorics, Amy Patterson

All Dissertations

By applying a “sound-mapping” methodology that incorporates qualitative interviews and field research, I argue that theater sound design provides new means to connect sonic rhetorics with social change. I examine theater sound design as an ecological composing practice that lends itself to empathy, community, action, and pedagogy; and further argue that there is rhetorical potential in what I call “soundscapes for social change,” a concept that encourages sonic agency and sound as contemporary resistance. The theater setting introduces sound and vibration experiences carefully calculated and developed to impact a variety of audiences and stir their imaginations through sensory experiences, accessed …

Toxoplasma Gondii Requires Its Plant-Like Heme Biosynthesis Pathway For Infection, Amy Bergmann, Kathleen Floyd, Melanie Key, Carly Dameron, Kerrick C. Rees, L. Brock Thornton, Daniel C. Whitehead, Iqbal Hamza, Zhicheng Dou

Publications

Heme, an iron-containing organic ring, is essential for virtually all living organisms by serving as a prosthetic group in proteins that function in diverse cellular activities ranging from diatomic gas transport and sensing, to mitochondrial respiration, to detoxification. Cellular heme levels in microbial pathogens can be a composite of endogenous de novo synthesis or exogenous uptake of heme or heme synthesis intermediates. Intracellular pathogenic microbes switch routes for heme supply when heme availability fluctuates in their replicative environment throughout infection. Here, we show that Toxoplasma gondii, an obligate intracellular human pathogen, encodes a functional heme biosynthesis pathway. A chloroplast-derived …

Which Activities Do Those With Long Commutes Forego, And Should We Care?, Eric A. Morris, Dick Ettema, Ying Zhou

Publications

Commuting imposes opportunity costs on travelers since those with long commutes have less time to participate in other activities. This paper examines how commute duration is associated with activity patterns. It utilizes a two-day time use survey administered in the United Kingdom in 2014 and 2015. Focusing on full-time employees and controlling for socio-demographic characteristics, we regress time spent engaging in 22 different activities on commute duration using OLS and Cragg two-part hurdle modeling. We separately test the effects of commute duration on activity participation for men versus women and for single persons versus persons in couples. We also report …

Effects Of Functional Training On Functional Movement And Stability Among Female Collegiate Club Lacrosse Athletes, Shelby A. Broughton

All Theses

Women’s lacrosse is one of the fastest-growing sports in the U.S. As of 2013, it was estimated that approximately 300,000 women played lacrosse across the U.S., and the amplified sport participation has come with an increase in injuries. One way to prevent injuries is to increase functional movement and stability through exercise regimes that incorporate strength, plyometric, and neuromuscular components. Currently, few exercise programs have been able to accomplish this although recently a group fitness class, known as F45, has attempted to combine all three aspects of functional training (i.e., strength, plyometric, and neuromuscular training). The purpose of this study …

Finding The Ephemeral: Aura, Apperception, And Digitally-Mediated Music, Rodger Eugene Bishop

All Theses

This paper attends the live music performance in the 21st century to reconsider German philosopher Walter Benjamin’s theses on the authenticity of art in his 1935 essay, “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction.” Benjamin focuses on the emergent technology of photography in the 20th century as a method of technical reproduction of the art object, and, as he indicates, as having “captured a place of its own among the artistic processes” (219-20). Benjamin proposes several theories on the mechanical reproducibility and distribution of art within the culture industry, and his attention to the aura of the …

"A Phenomenon To Monitor:" Racial Discrimination At Nasa, 1974-1985, Ruth Joy Calvino

All Theses

As NASA propelled mankind beyond the limits of the earth, women and African American employees fought against discriminatory structures and systems within the agency. Since its inception, NASA administrators and NASA’s black employees had a tenuous relationship. Black employees did not trust their supervisors, NASA Equal Employment Opportunity staff, or the discrimination reporting processes. Utilizing the case files of the class action lawsuit MEAN v Fletcher, new oral interviews, NASA EEO and administrative archives, and US Congressional hearings, this thesis argues that NASA was structurally and systemically racially discriminatory. NASA’s problems were similar to those at other technological agencies, both …

Technique For The Determination Of Migratable Primary Aromatic Amines Applied To Multi-Laminate Pouches Utilizing Polyurethane Adhesives, Ryan Frederick Ramey

All Theses

Primary aromatic amines (PAAs) are toxic reaction products of polyurethane chemistry and form from unreacted isocyanate monomers and water. This issue is prevalent when considering polyurethane adhesive applications in food contact materials (FCM’s) and food contact articles (FCAs). EU standards state that a maximum migration level of the total sum of PAAs may be no more than 10 ng g-1 of food. Testing for migration and quantification of PAAs has not been standardized, but this research tests a published optimized method for migration testing and quantification of compounds utilizing strong cationic exchange solid phase extraction (SCX-SPE) and ultra-high performance liquid …

Those Who Spectate Are Bound To Murder, Kaitlyn Michelle Samons

All Theses

This thesis is a criticism of chroniclers. As is said at the end of the introduction, this research not only criticizes poor investigative work (whether it be intentionally malicious, or simply lazy) from the past, but also reinforces a standard of expectation for those who wish to go into any field of research and/or writing. As writers are the last defense against the erasure of history, it stands to measure that there should be a higher expectation of those of them granted the authority to chronicle history. However, it is obvious based on the case studies of Native American lynchings …

This Is Not A Drill: A Survey Of Natural Disaster Preparedness In House Museums And Historic Sites, Rachel W. Wilson

All Theses

Natural disasters are unavoidable and oftentimes unpredictable. They have the power to physically and financially cripple house museums and historic sites. While they cannot be stopped, they can be planned for and prepared for. Natural disaster preparedness plans are a vital part of site management for all institutions. While the literature about disaster planning specifically for house museums and historic sites is scarce, the planning process has largely remained the same for the past three decades. The last survey on this topic was Covering Your Assets’ 2004 survey edited by Elizabeth Merritt. This thesis survey will serve as the next …

A Crash Course In Liberal Education: An Analysis Of Civically Engaged Edutainment Videos, Caitlin Marie Lancaster Anderson

All Theses

Crash Course is an entertainment education YouTube channel that was founded on principles that align closely with that of liberal education. Liberal education is a model of education dedicated to broad knowledge, specific intellectual and practical skills, and personal and social responsibility, most notably civic engagement. Despite the value derived from liberal education, it is facing a crisis where it is replaced at the university level by neoliberalism, an ideology dominated by workforce performativity and individualism. Using Michel Foucault’s power/knowledge concept, this thesis examines the neoliberal shift in education as a crisis of power and explores how liberal education is …

Characterizing The Economically Important Species Of Pythium Affecting Cucurbits In South Carolina And Grafting To Control Pythium Disease In Watermelon, Sean Toporek

All Theses

The plant family Cucurbitaceae, informally referred to as cucurbits, is the largest family of cultivated vegetables with 118 genera and 825 species. In South Carolina, the most commonly grown cucurbit crops are watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) (1,982 ha), squash (Cucurbita pepo) (643 ha), cucumber (Cucumis sativus) (398 ha), and cantaloupes and muskmelons (Cucumis melo) (365 ha). In cucurbits, Pythium spp. cause symptoms of root rot, stem rot, and damping-off. Four different cucurbit species were planted repeatedly in sentinel plots in nine fields over three years to isolate and identify Pythium species pathogenic to …

Parent-Child Communication Regarding Sport-Related Concussion, Joseph Luis Fontana

All Theses

Extant research has discussed the importance of the social climate surrounding SRC reporting, especially the need to address parents’ role in concussion management. The purpose of this study was to explore motivations and barriers to parent-child communication regarding SRC reporting via the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB). This study analyzed the attitudes, subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and intentions toward parent-child communication about SRC reporting with 292 parents of 1st-12th graders who play contact sports. A structural equation model (SEM) was conducted to test the TPB model. The results indicate that parents’ intention toward having these conversations was determined by …

Evaluation And Optimization Of A Liquid-Sampling Atmospheric Pressure Glow Discharge Ionization Source For Diverse Applications In Mass Spectrometry, Ashley Anna Perkins

All Theses

Mass spectrometry is a powerful analytical tool that can be used to identify and quantify diverse classes of analytes, including atomic, small molecular, and large biological species. The limitation in this powerful technique, however, lies in the fact that these various analytes require vastly different instrumental configurations. Elemental analysis, for example, requires instrumentation capable of hard ionization, such as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) and thermal ionization mass spectrometry (TIMS). These instruments also require very high-resolution mass analyzers so isobaric elemental isotopes can be clearly resolved and quantified, typically employing sector field and Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) …

Between Worlds & A Conversation On Fantasy, Portals, And Escape, Sarah Savannah Watkins

All Theses

The primary content of this creative thesis is a portion of a manuscript—the first four chapters of a novel to be called, Between Worlds. This could be considered a work of fantasy and science fiction. Additionally, this thesis contains a critical essay entitled, “A Conversation on Fantasy, Portals, and Escape,” which explores the idea of multiple genres within fantasy and the question of escape versus escapism in fiction. This essay elucidates on the creative work herein, as Between Worlds ventures into both multiple genres and the argument surrounding escapism.

Patterns Of Membrane Potential Of Cells Isolated From The Midgut Of Heliothis Virescens, Richard Melton

All Theses

The midgut is the main point of interaction between a lepidopteran larva and its environment, so understanding how the gut functions is important not just for understanding gut physiology but also the ecology and evolution of these organism. The midgut of these larvae is a fascinating system in which to study developmental, regeneration, and immune physiology. The midgut can exhibit up to a 200-fold increase in size through ontogeny, primarily through addition of new cells at molt, while damaged cells are replaced throughout intermolt periods. In the midgut of lepidopteran larvae, mature cells are produced from stem cells, localized in …

“It Felt Like Walking Through A Night Sky”: Managing The Visitor Experience During Biologically-Based Nighttime Events, Caitlin Michelle Henry

All Theses

Nighttime activities and events specifically related to natural phenomena are becoming increasingly popular. As nighttime recreation in parks and protected areas increases, managers must implement policies and frameworks that maintain both the visitor experience and natural darkness and soundscapes. The Congaree National Park Fireflies Festival celebrates the annual fireflies mating season, and after national renown for this event the park has witnessed increased visitation. Over the past year, visitation rates have forced management to implement a designated trail to enhance the visitor experience while reducing crowding on the boardwalk and manage the natural phenomena more like a festival event than …

The Role Of Automation Perceptions In Manufacturing Strategy, Edwin Chase Wentzky

All Theses

The objective of this work is to identify the key differences among typical stakeholders in the adoption of automation in manufacturing. The design and integration of advanced technologies in manufacturing is collaborative, requiring inputs from individuals across disciplines, with varying levels of education, expertise, and work experience. A “design chain” was developed to describe the three main stages of automation adoption in manufacturing: 1) development, 2) procurement, and 3) implementation and use. This research is focused on elucidating how the stakeholders in each stage view automation. The first phase of the study employed surveys and focus groups to understand how …

Identifying Thematic Patterns Of Autonomy Shifts And Team Boundary Work For Long Duration Spaceflight Multiteam Missions, Lizandra Alvarado

All Theses

As long duration exploration missions (LDEMs) become the norm for spaceflight, it is important to understand the factors that may influence how astronaut crews and ground control teams work together. Although there are numerous efforts underway to continue to push boundaries in space exploration, much of the existing work to examine teamwork is designed to primarily address intrateam issues, not considering how inter-team factors may predict team and mission performance. Given the potential future challenges and uncertainties of LDEMs, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has identified a need for risk-mitigating spaceflight multiteam system (SFMTS) interventions designed to resolve …