Digital Commons Network^™

Envisioning A Yeats Poetry Digital Archive, Rob Doggett

International Yeats Studies

No abstract provided.

Microwave Flow Cytometer For Single Cell Detection, Differentiation, And Drug Effect Study, Neelima Dahal

All Dissertations

New methods to rapidly detect and identify pathogens in patients’ blood are needed for timely disease treatment. In this work, a tunable microwave interferometer was used to measure single Candida cells of C. albicans, C. tropicalis, C. parapsilosis, and C. krusei at multiple frequencies between 0.265 GHz and 7.76 GHz. A Quadratic Discriminate Analysis was used to classify Candida species with an accuracy of 0.875. Likewise, a microwave device was used to measure single Escherichia coli cells of B and K-12 strains at multiple frequencies between 500 MHz and 8 GHz. A LightGBM model was developed to …

“True Crime Effect”: The Influence Of True Crime Media On Jurors’ Perceptions Of Innocence In A Criminal Trial, Abigail Curran

Honors College Theses

In the mid-2000s, the popular TV show CSI: Crime Scene Investigation and its portrayal of forensic evidence was blamed for a so-called “CSI effect” - hypothesizing that jurors had greater expectations of the use of forensic evidence than was realistic. While CSI has fallen in popularity - ultimately ending its 15-year run on television in 2015 - stories of crime and criminality remain popular. The most recent iteration of this fascination can be seen in the rise in popularity of true crime documentaries and podcasts. This study aims to investigate the existence of a “true crime effect” in which all …

Shifting Perspectives With Procedural Modeling Techniques And Vertex Animated Textures For Real-Time Interactive Morphing, Stephanie Schulze

All Theses

As humans experience reality, they intake external stimuli using sensory receptors to process information, forming a perception. Perceptions are subjective and shape each individual’s reality. Naturally then, by changing one’s perceptions, their experience of reality is altered, for better or worse. To emphasize the idea that perception is malleable and encourage a mindset of questioning alternative ways to look at a situation, an interactive experience in Unreal Engine is developed where a dull cityscape morphs and transforms into a surreal oversized nature scene. Procedural modeling techniques are used to create a variety of morphing assets, while Vertex Animated Textures are …

Interpreting Strain Caused By Transient Well Testing, Soheil Roudini

All Dissertations

Understanding reservoir properties and structure is essential to managing subsurface operations, such as geologic storage of CO₂ or production of water, hydrocarbons or heat. Previous work demonstrated the potential of analyzing strain data during transient well tests by estimating hydraulic diffusivity using a type-curve-like approach. The following dissertation aims to pursue this potential by developing and evaluating methods for interpreting strain tensor data to improve subsurface characterization. The research advances the classic, intuitive method of using type-curves to interpret well tests, but it also brings together modern computational methods from machine learning, proxy modeling and Bayesian inversion, and it …

Investigating Challenges Of Converting Cad Models To Game Ready Assets, Vathsa Pawar

All Theses

This thesis explores the challenges associated with converting detailed CAD models into game-ready assets optimized for use in virtual reality (VR) environments using game engines, focusing on enhancing using mechanical engineering models. The primary goal is to establish a toolchain that allows the integration of CAD models into game engines for immersive applications, enabling engineers and stakeholders to interact with 3D models in a synthetic environment. The study employs several test cases ranging from simple door models to complex automotive vehicle prototypes, elaborating the process of exporting CAD models through intermediate formats (such as STEP, STL, GLB) using tools like …

Environmental Storytelling In Video Games Through The Lens Of Film Noir, Samuel Hagen

All Theses

My project is an interactable video game experience showcased through the lens of film noir, that focuses on the capabilities and benefits of environmental storytelling in video games. With a heavy focus on immersion, my project forces the player to explore a murder scene and encourages them to formulate their own narrative about what has transpired. My project fuels the player’s ability for self-reflection and self-acceptance through the player’s personalized and unique interpretations experienced while exploring the scene I have created. In my paper, I discuss the aspects of environmental storytelling and immersion in video games and how they have …

Investigate The Possibility Of Producing Healthier, Safer Peanuts Through Molecular Breeding And Novel Fungal Pathogen Management Strategies, Tariq Alam

All Dissertations

Peanut allergy, a critical health concern with high morbidity and mortality rates, is a leading cause of fatal anaphylactic reactions in the United States. Managing peanut allergy is challenging due to the prevalence of peanuts in processed foods and the risk of contamination. This dissertation evaluates the U.S. peanut mini-core collection for four major immunogenic proteins, Ara h1, Ara h2, Ara h3, and Ara h6, using gel electrophoresis, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, liquid chromatography, and mass spectrometry. The study identified 26 genotypes with reduced concentrations of allergenic proteins. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of protein traits revealed 10 significant SNPs and identified …

Leadership Matters: Supportive Principals And Teacher Recruitment In A School–University Partnership, Stephanie M. Madison, V. E. Clark, D. A. Jones, J. Marshall

Publications

This study investigated the factors associated with teacher enrolment in a school-university professional development (PD) partnership. A grant-funded programme was developed to provide a maximum of 15 graduate credit hours to middle school teachers, focusing on rural, high-needs schools in the southeastern United States. At 61 middle schools across the state, the university recruiter composed field notes regarding principal and teacher engagement during recruitment meetings. Other factors potentially influencing enrolment were identified and statistical analyses were conducted. Variables included enthusiasm (teacher and principal), modality of recruitment meeting (in person or virtual), attendance (mandatory or optional), semester (fall or spring), and …

Optimizing Sublimation Transfer Printing: Influence Of Temperature And Dwell Time On Different Synthetic Fabrics With A Focus On Color Metrics And Delta E Evaluation, Ramya Potnis

All Theses

Various techniques are employed to create images on textile fabrics. This study utilized a dye sublimation transfer process to print onto synthetic textile fabrics. Sublimation transfer printing is a widely used method for applying designs onto fabrics. However, achieving consistent and accurate color reproduction remains a significant challenge. Factors such as temperature and dwell time can heavily influence the color accuracy and overall quality of the prints, making it essential to study their effects.

The study focuses on the influence of temperature and dwell time to evaluate the color quality of the sublimation transfer prints across different synthetic fabrics. The …

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 …

Unlocking Lean Construction: Decoding The Root Causes Of Initial Implementation Failures, Adam Hoots

All Theses

In recent years, the construction industry has increasingly adopted lean construction methodologies, with the aim of enhancing project efficiencies, eliminating waste, and delivering projects that exceed all project owner expectations. With this as the industry’s focus, many projects struggle with the initial implementation of lean principles, leading to disrespect of people and resources, cost overruns, schedule delays, stakeholder misalignment, and compromised quality. This research investigates the reasons behind initial failures and how they influence the broader industry's perception of lean construction.

Drawing from a comprehensive case study of a higher education dormitory and dining facility project, this research study explores …

Unsupervised Moving Object Segmentation With Atmospheric Turbulence, Dehao Qin

All Theses

Moving object segmentation in the presence of atmospheric turbulence is a highly challenging task due to the irregular and time-varying distortions induced by the atmospheric turbulence. This thesis presents an unsupervised approach for segmenting moving objects in videos affected by such atmospheric turbulence. The proposed methodology is grounded in a detect-then-grow scheme: the algorithm begins by identifying a small set of moving object pixels (seed points) with high confidence and progressively expanding a foreground mask from these seed points to segment all moving objects. The proposed approach capitalizes on rigid geometric consistency across video frames to disentangle different types of …

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 …

Optimizing Compression Efficiency With Adaptive Quantization Bit Depths, Carson Sisk

All Theses

Large-scale scientific instruments and applications generate massive amounts of data, lead- ing to significant challenges in data transfer and storage for analysis. This constitutes a major

bottleneck to workflow efficiency and scientific throughput. Lossy compression offers a solution to

these storage challenges in increasingly complex systems and services. Error-bounded lossy compression allows users to limit the error introduced during the compression process according to a user-defined metric and achieves significantly higher compression ratios than lossless compression for floating-point data. However, certain data types and compression configurations hinder the attainment of large compression ratios. To address the need for improved compression …

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 …

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 …

Ai At The Helm: Transforming Crisis Communication Through Theory And Advancing Technology, Timothy Whims

All Theses

This thesis investigates the integration of artificial intelligence (AI), particularly large language models, into crisis communication, focusing on how AI technologies can enhance response strategies and stakeholder engagement during crises. By leveraging established communication frameworks such as Image Repair Theory, Situational Crisis Communication Theory, and the Discourse of Renewal, this research explores the potential for AI to improve both the speed and precision of crisis responses. The study highlights how AI can assist in monitoring public sentiment, drafting tailored responses, and managing real-time information during crisis events. However, it also addresses the limitations of AI, such as its inability to …

Microbial-Chemical Degradation Of Styrene In Co-Mingled Plumes With Ethylbenzene, Benzene, And Carbon Tetrachloride, Marcela C. Flórez-García

All Theses

Industrial sites contaminated with a complex matrix of chemicals represent a problem for the ecosystem and a high risk for the health of all individuals. That is why remediation strategies are needed to mitigate this environmental impact. The latex zone, located at the Corteva industrial site in San Lorenzo, Argentina, is the subject of this research. The environmental impacts in this area are a consequence of petrochemical operations carried out for many years.

Monoaromatic hydrocarbons such as styrene, ethylbenzene, and benzene, and chlorinated methanes like carbon tetrachloride, chloroform, dichloromethane, and chloromethane are among the contaminants identified at the site that …

From “At-Risk” To “Aspiring” Youth:Locating Positive Youth Development In Kenya, Kennedy Karani Onyiko, Justine Amadi Orucho, Lawrence Asige, Dennis Omuse Obushe, Aden Ang'aba Esokomi, Faith Inyele Olita, Simon Kitiyo

Journal of Youth Development

The youth population bulge in Kenya comes with so many challenges such as poverty, gender inequalities, political inequities, the absence of adequate health and medical resources, low educational attainment, homelessness, increased involvement in violence, drugs, and alcohol, poor physical and mental health, a lack of key life skills, premature sexual involvement. Using inductive or “bottom up” thematic analysis, we explored experiences of the youth aged 18-34 (n=36), youth workers (n=26) and administrators of youth programs (n=22) on existing youth development programs and their alignment to the positive youth development principles. Six key findings from the study sufficed as follows: (1) …

Ensuring Successful Bond Referendums In Rural South Carolina School Districts: Key Strategies Employed By Superintendents, David Fallaw

All Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to develop a better understanding of the strategies of superintendents that lead to the successful passage of referendums within small, rural districts in South Carolina. Federal, state and local revenue streams make up the majority of funding for operating expenses for districts in South Carolina. For capital projects, however, the majority of districts must rely on local funding. The primary method to acquire the needed revenue is through a referendum which can be a costly and time-consuming process that moves the focus of school and district leadership from teaching and learning to pursuing funding …

Exploring Mechanisms Of Chemical Resistance In Xanthomonas Arboricola Pv. Pruni And Strategies To Mitigate Resistance And Improve Disease Control, Milan Panth

All Dissertations

Xanthomonas arboricola pv. pruni (XAP) is a phytopathogenic bacterium that causes bacterial spot of peach. It causes spotted lesions on leaves and fruit, leading to early defoliation and unmarketable fruit, respectively. The pathogen can overwinter in twig cankers, which serve as the primary initial inoculum source for the next season’s leaf and fruitlet infection. The current disease management practice mainly relies on routine application of chemical bactericides containing copper or oxytetracycline (OTC) in the growing season. However, disease incidence can still be high despite chemical control measures in warm, rainy seasons.

Frequent applications of copper and OTC in United …

Nanostructured Silicon Meta-Waveguides And Surfaces For Enhanced Light-Matter Interaction, Saddam Gafsi

All Dissertations

In this study, we tackle the challenge of light-matter interaction engineering and local field enhancement using various silicon photonic platforms based on three different approaches. (i) The first approach is based on boundary condition engineering where we present and show through simulation and experimental results, a silicon nanodisk “diabolo” configuration able to support significant local field enhancement levels in the range ~102 to 104 in the high index medium through proper structural modifications at the nanoscale. We show that the presented optical behavior is consistent with the anapole modes characterized by the observed near-field enhancement and coinciding with far-field suppression. …

Protocol Transformations Across Osi Network Stack Layers For Attack, Evasion, And Defense, Nathan Tusing

All Dissertations

Network endpoints frequently contend with errors and deviations within protocols. Many factors account for these deviations including noise, tampering, and algorithm implementations. Intermediate nodes are expected to modify instantiated protocols and not guarantee correctness. This ability to modify traffic enables all sides of network security to alter security and performance properties of protocols, and we define this intermediary modification of an instantiated protocol as a transformation. Protocol transformations traverse layers of the OSI reference model and changes a protocol's time series byte sequence. Within this thesis, we show that this framework applies to multiple domains and protocols. Common examples of …

Concert Tickets, Party Matching, Sleeping Barbers, And Single Lane Bridges: Characterizing Student Reasoning About Concurrency, Aubrey Lawson

All Dissertations

Programming with concurrency is challenging both to learn and to teach. A concurrent program has multiple computations happening “at the same time” either simultaneously or in an interleaved manner. It is non-deterministic, imposing only a partial ordering on its decomposed parts. Advantages of concurrency include the potential for increased program throughput, high responsiveness and reduced complexity of program structure. But a concurrent program can be more complex to reason about than a sequential program, in part because the conditions of correctness must hold for all possible execution sequences and also because programmers must implement and reason about synchronization constructs that …

2024 Committee Mid-Year Reports

NASIG Newsletter

No abstract provided.

December 2024 Full Issue, Faye O'Reilly

NASIG Newsletter

No abstract provided.

Socio-Ecological Drivers Of Anthropogenic Marine Debris Effects On Coral Reef Communities In The Florida Keys, Usa, Tokea Payton

All Dissertations

The Florida Keys reef tract has rapidly shifted from a structurally complex, hard coral-dominated reef to a less rugose, soft coral-dominated reef. Persistent anthropogenic stressors facilitate ecological transitions by including recreational and commercial fishing and increased anthropogenic marine debris. These artificial structures are becoming habitats for small marine taxa known as cryptofauna. Cryptofauna are among the most essential yet understudied reef taxa where little is known about their fate considering degrading coral reefs and increasing anthropogenic disturbance. With increased anthropogenic stressors on the marine environment, the SCUBA diving community has initiated extensive marine debris removal efforts to assist in cleaning …

An Exploration Of The Role Of The Disorienting Dilemma In Professional Learning For Academic Library Instructors, Anne Grant

All Dissertations

This study uses an explanatory sequential mixed method design to understand more about the learning experiences of academic library instructors from 2- and 4-year institutions during a professional development session centered on using Universal Design for Learning. Transformative Learning Theory served as the lens to examine data, and the concept of a disorienting dilemma that serves as a trigger for deep learning in adults. The experiences of the participants are explained using data from a pre- and post-survey as well as semi-structured interviews with participants to learn more about factors that may predict whether or not participants experience a disorienting …

Agricultural Water Use In South Carolina - A Series Of Investigations To Support Long-Term Planning, Charles Pellett

All Dissertations

Agricultural water use in South Carolina has been the subject of some public debate. While there are several sources of information available, the accuracy of the relevant data has been called into doubt. Self-reported estimates may be biased; survey sampling and extrapolation methods yield wide ranges of uncertainty; and reporting compliance or response rate can change over time.

Agricultural water users self-report that their estimates of water use volumes are less accurate than the other major sectors of water use. Center pivot irrigation is the largest and fastest growing kind of agricultural water use in SC. Since the year 2000, …