Digital Commons Network^™

Epigenetic Variation Of American Alligators (Alligator Mississippiensis) In The Okefenokee Swamp, Mark Hoog, Kimberly M. Andrews, Aaron W. Schrey

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

An animal's survival is heavily influenced by how well adapted it is to the environment in which it lives; however, phenotypes are only able to change so quickly. Epigenetics allows for greater phenotypic plasticity through molecular mechanisms without altering the DNA sequence. DNA methylation is the most widely studied epigenetic mechanism. It has shown the ability to alter gene expression and may even be able to compensate for a lack of genetic variation. Changes in DNA methylation are often caused by stressors that range from anthropogenic causes to natural occurrences. We sought to examine the effect of environmental factors on …

Comprehensive Characterization Of Lake Floor Sediments, Clarks Hill Lake, Southeastern Usa., Oluwatunmise Emmanuel Akanmu

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Oluwatunmise Akanmu¹, Aguinaldo Silva², Jéssica Franzon Cruz Santo³, Edward L. Lo^1,4

¹School of Earth, Environment, and Sustainability, Georgia Southern University

2Faculty of Engineering, Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul

3Faculty of Data Science, SENAI São Paulo

4Institute of Water and Health, Georgia Southern University

Sediment geochemistry plays a fundamental role in regulating nutrient availability, cycling organic matter, and moderating primary productivity in aquatic systems. The Clarks Hill Lake (J. Strom Thurmond Reservoir) is a temperate reservoir filled in 1952 along the Savannah River, which forms the Georgia–South Carolina state line. The …

Thinking Under Pressure: Does Mindset And Mood Affect Cognitive Performance?, Pamela Kplivi, Hannah Nowicki, Emmy Carmichael, Charlie Guri, Abigail Blanda, Brandon Sookkasem, Shayne Alexander, Hope Williams, Gabriella Tossah, Meeraben Patel, Michael Woodcock, Virginia Wickline

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Cognitive performance, particularly on tasks requiring creative problem-solving, can be influenced by both individual and situational factors. Prior research highlights intrinsic beliefs about intelligence and external factors such as mood states as determinants of problem solving outcomes (Baumeister & Vohs, 2016; Okon-Singer et al., 2015). The present study utilizes a 2 x 3 between-subjects experimental design to examine how mindset (growth vs. fixed) and temporary mood state (positive, neutral, negative) interact to shape performance on a creative problem solving task. Mindset is assessed using the Implicit Theories of Intelligence Scale (ITIS; Dweck, 1999), cognitive performance is measured using a shortened …

Machine Learning-Based Defect Identification Using Resonant Ultrasonic Spectroscopy, Abigail Richard

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Resonant ultrasonic spectroscopy (RUS) is a common non-destructive testing (NDT) technique that is used for quality assessment of the parts and components in various applications. RUS is performed by exciting samples by an external load and capturing its vibrational frequencies to be analyzed and find irregularities to classify parts. RUS has been investigated to test additively manufactured Inconel 718 samples for the feasibility of accurate quality assessment. Frequency and amplitude data was collected, transformed using z-score normalization and then analyzed using different classification algorithms. Machine learning algorithms has been deployed for defect classification of good and bad samples. These findings …

Project Akira: Data Mining And Merging, And Training A Custom-Built Gpt To Produce Therapist-Like, Ethically Coherent Responses, Rocco Moore, Joshua Farara

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Numerous artificial intelligence GPT models are trained on various language dataset types, including ethical and mental health dialogue, to produce ethically coherent responses, and these datasets are opened and merged together via the efficient processes of data mining and data merging. To explore how companies such as OpenAI and Microsoft achieve these goals, we implemented our own custom-built GPT, named AkiraGPT, which has recently and historically had issues generating ethical responses, simulating self awareness, and has sometimes generated incomprehensible, contextually irrelevant responses. In addition to that, AkiraGPT would sometimes have it's responses be "cut off." 

Our goal with our research …

Exploring The Changes In First-Year Students’ Self-Regulated Learning From High School To College, Nancy E. Rodriguez, Anna C. Brady

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

During the first semester of college, students experience drastic changes in their independence, and learning strategies. This transitional period from high school to the first semester of college requires researchers to understand students’ self-regulated learning (SRL) processes during their first year. It is important to understand the connection between students’ experiences, learning strategies, and persistence in college. Knowledge on this connection can support funding for institutional resources like first-year seminar classes. These classes can improve students’ commitment for graduating on time, and academic achievement. For this reason, the proposed project aims to investigate students’ engagement in SRL by answering the …

Predicting Diabetes Using Logistic Regression: A Cross-Sectional Analysis Of The Pima Indians Diabetes Dataset, Caroline Andrew, Ibrahim Aliu

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Introduction: Globally, Diabetes affects an estimated 589 million adults and caused approximately 3.4 million deaths equivalent to one death every six seconds, with type 2 diabetes accounting for most cases. The Pima Indians of Arizona have one of the highest documented prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes globally, making their population central to diabetes research. Although the Pima Diabetes Dataset has been widely used in predictive and machine-learning studies, few investigations have applied rigorous multivariable epidemiologic methods to quantify the independent contributions of key demographic and metabolic risk factors. This study aimed to characterize diabetes risk factors and quantify independent …

A Cross-Cultural Analysis Of Medieval And Early Modern Iberian Dress, Kennedy Pemberton

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

The 15th and 16th centuries represent some of the most historically significant years for the Spanish Kingdom. The Spanish Inquisition, consequent subjugation of the moors, and discovery and conquest of the Americas each display a unique strength and objective of the Spaniards within the late 1400s and early 1500s. As these events altered the world, so too did they alter forms of dress. The integration of Muslims into Spanish society opened the door for Moorish influence in certain elements of Spanish dress, especially regarding decorative elements like embroidery. The conquering of foreign lands provided a wealth of gold, gems, and …

Honoring Survivors’ Wholeness: Recommendations For University Offices Of Wellness, Maeve Jillian King

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Rates of child abuse are nationally significant, especially after considering how much violence goes unreported. Many college students have experienced sexual violence prior to arriving on campus, where incidents of sexual victimization are prominent. With this in mind, how can university offices of wellness support survivors wherever they are in their journey of survivorship? Previous research rarely considers both realities of victimization, but displays large concerns surrounding survivor’s mental health and educational obtainment. Additionally peer and social support play significant roles in survivor outcomes. This interdisciplinary literature review examines current university practices, mental health realities, and impacts of culture on …

2026 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Conference Program

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

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The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Prevention Vs. Treatment On The Global Stage: How National Priorities In Public Health And Healthcare Shape International Power And Health Outcomes, Sophie I. Antell

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

National approaches to health are shaped by political priorities, institutional structures, and global positioning. This project examines how countries balance investments in public health (population-level prevention) versus healthcare (individual-level treatment), and how these choices influence both domestic health outcomes and international power. Using Taiwan and the United States as comparative case studies, the research explores how differing health system models reflect broader political identities, shape global health credibility, and affect participation in international health governance.

Taiwan's strong public health infrastructure, effective disease surveillance, and active medical diplomacy have contributed to its reputation as a capable global health actor, despite its …

Neurosplit: Differentiating Adhd And Early Alzheimer’S Using Eeg Biomarkers, Nithish Kumar Navaneethakrishnan

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Electroencephalography (EEG) is a powerful and noninvasive technique of neurophysiological recording and biomarkers of cognitive impairment. Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Alzheimer's Disease (AD) are two extreme poles of the neurological impairment: one developmental and one degenerative, but they have similar behavioral and cognitive traits that make it more difficult to distinguish them. The paper provides a comparative model of distinguishing the EEG patterns of ADHD and Early Alzheimer's Disease based on spectral analysis and feature learning using deep learning. The methodology includes strict preprocessing, such as band-pass filtering, segmentation, and normalization, estimation of power spectral density, and calculation …

Preserving The Pump: Extensive History Of Cardiothoracic Surgery In A Cadaver, Joshua Lindsey, Lillian Hequembourg, Anna Brown, Thien Duy Chen

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

During the dissection of the 85-year-old female cadaver by the medical students at the Medical College of Georgia, Savannah at Georgia Southern University, evidence of significant cardiovascular health conditions, prior surgeries, and a left-sided inferior vena cava (IVC) were discovered; providing a unique educational reservoir of anatomical and clinical knowledge. Routine dissection of the heart revealed cardiomegaly and findings consistent with a history of numerous surgical interventions. A triple coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) was indicated through surgical staples along the left anterior descending (LAD) artery, left circumflex artery, and right coronary artery with graft vessels in place to maintain …

Short Time, Lasting Impact: Teaching Pediatric End-Of-Life Care In One Day, Mckenzie Taliaferro

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Background: Pediatric nurses working in specialities that experience end-of-life, death, and post-mortem care, often feel unprepared for the emotional toll and lack adequate support systems (Camera et al., 2024). Nurses report feeling under prepared due to a lack of hands-on opportunities before graduation (Richoux, et al., 2022).  Pediatric death is a traumatic experience for families and nurses. Previous studies have shown that hands-on education increases nurses' confidence in caring for patients at the end of their lives (Cole & Foito, 2019; Noyes et al., 2023).

Method: A one-day, hands-on workshop on pediatric end-of-life was created and offered to nursing students …

Navigating Through Covid: How Has Covid Impacted College Student Adjustment?, E'Lena E.H Johnson

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

College adjustment is the way incoming and continuing college students cope with the demands of college life, including academic, mental, socioemotional, and developmental components. The purpose of this research project is to determine whether the COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on college students' ability to adjust to college living across three distinct phases: pre-pandemic, during the pandemic, and post-pandemic. A cross-sectional sample of 1,515 participants from Georgia Southern University completed the Wooster-Wickline College Adjustment Test (WOWCAT; Wickline et al., 2009) between 2019-2024, which was administered online via Qualtrics, a secure web-based survey platform. Although the WOWCAT has been successfully …

2026 Conference Program, Georgia Southern University

GS4 Student Scholars Symposium

Conference Program

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Rosa Lee Ellis Devine

African American Funeral Programs

Program for the funeral of Rosa Lee Ellis Devine held at Hodges Grove Missionary Baptist Church on April 21st, 2026

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

Toni Annette Haynes

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

Mother Kathy Denise Allen

African American Funeral Programs

Program for the funeral of Mother Kathy Denise Allen held at Clarkston First Baptist Church on April 18th, 2026

Joseph Lee Blige, Jr.

African American Funeral Programs

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Inkwell Edition, Georgia Southern University

The Inkwell

No abstract provided.

The Mosaic, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The George-Anne Daily, Georgia Southern University

George-Anne Media Group: Newsletters & Magazines

No abstract provided.

The Fallacy Of Stupidity, The Philosophical Discussion Group

The Philosopher's Stone

• The Fallacy of Stupidity

Midweek Memo, Georgia Southern University

Midweek Memo

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