Digital Commons Network^™

The Dominance Of Masculinity: How The Expectation Of Stereotypical Gender Role Performance Undermines The Productivity Of Gay Men Working In Public Accounting Firms, Joshua Leinheiser

Senior Theses

Discrimination against LGBTQ employees in business settings has been shown to be a problem and negatively affects these employees’ productivity and well-being. In particular, discrimination against gay and other queer men often stems from the view that homosexuality is emasculating and conflicts with traditional expectations of male gender performance. This is seen as undesirable in business since traditional masculinity is seen as useful due to its association with competitiveness and control.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether this paradigm extends to the workplaces of public accounting firms. A survey containing questions about gender, sexuality, gender expression, experiences …

Phonological Variation Among Young Spanish-English Dual Language Learners On An English Sentence Repetition Task, Sarah Kate Coleman

Senior Theses

Purpose - There is a need for research informing best practices for assessing the language abilities of bilingual children, as well as research regarding typical phonological development of bilingual children. The purpose of the present paper is to contribute broadly to informing bilingual phonological assessment practice by examining phonological variation in Spanish-English speaking children’s English sentence repetition responses and the relation between these phonological variations and performance on the English sentence repetition task.

Method - 20 Spanish-English speaking kindergarteners completed the English sentence repetition task of the Bilingual English-Spanish Assessment (BESA; Peña et al., 2014). The phonological variations present in …

Meat Alternatives: The State Of The Industry, Barriers To Adoption, And Overcoming Barriers, Steven Maler

Senior Theses

The world faces many environmental problems that can be linked to human activity, including links to the production of food. The meat industry is often seen as a major contributor to such problems. Meat alternatives are often proposed as a way to address these environmental problems. However, these products face barriers when it comes to their adoption by consumers, and firms that produce meat alternatives must overcome these barriers to be successful. I used data from a variety of academic works, newspaper articles, research reports, and company websites to find that these barriers are related to taste, nutrition, convenience, expense, …

The Effect Of Tp53 Mutations On Tumor Response To Standard Cancer Therapeutics, Clare Mctighe

Senior Theses

The human TP53 gene codes for a protein, p53, that regulates DNA repair and the cell cycle [9]. Therefore, TP53 plays an immensely important role in the proper growth and division of human cells. Mutations in TP53 are also associated with resistance to many standard cancer treatment drugs [6]. More than 50 percent of human cancers have mutations within TP53; it has become a major focus over the years in cancer research [10]. Organoids are in vitro cultures of primary cells established from human surgical samples [8]. They recapitulate genetics of human cancers better than do cell lines [14]. Some …

Ironing Out Anemia: Assessing The Role Of Marketplace Factors And Government Investment Incentives In Shaping East African Pharmaceutical Markets, Madison M. Bradley

Senior Theses

Africa suffers from the highest disease burden in the world, with over half of the population lacking regular access to essential medicines (Owoeye, 2014, p.214; Chaudhuri & West, 2015, p.23). Following two decades of reform, the continent has now emerged one of the fastest-growing economic regions, shifting public health focus toward non-communicable diseases (NCDs) (Holt et al., 2015, p.2). Among these NCDs is anemia, which has direct and indirect economic effects as large as 4.05% of GDP (Horton & Ross, 2003, p.51). Encouraged by the rapid growth of liberalized markets, African governments and health officials are now considering local pharmaceutical …

Observing The Transformation Of Sketches When Rendered In Different Scenarios, Cade Fallaw

Senior Theses

The purpose of the project was to see how a single image of my house transformed when I drew multiple iterations of it under different conditions. Each condition was applied to the artist (me); either by limiting my physical state or by creating a specific mental frame that I drew from. This project consists of 31 sketches of my house: 24 of them were drawn with applied conditions and 7 were drawn from memory. As expected, the greatest differences between the drawings occurred when a greater constraint was placed on the artist, such as when I drew using three different …

Sculpting Organs: An Arts-Based Educational Activity For Anatomy Learning, Annika Gupta

Senior Theses

As an integral component of healthcare, a comprehensive understanding of anatomy is necessary for accurate clinical diagnoses and medical procedures. Beginning in undergraduate classrooms (premedical), there is a need to explore new ways of teaching and learning anatomy to train healthcare professionals. Traditional methods of attending a lecture and reading a textbook may not be the most effective method to learn about anatomical structures—or to engage learners. However, recent studies have reported promising results in the use of arts-based approaches to enhance anatomy learning. Of these, clay sculpting can provide an opportunity for students to participate in an active and …

Combination Treatment With Cdk4/6 And Cdk8/19 Inhibitors In Er-Positive Breast Cancer, Samantha Tolentino Safa

Senior Theses

Cyclin-dependent kinases (CDK) 4 and 6 are the main drivers of proliferation in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive breast cancer cells. CDK4/6 inhibitors, such as the FDA-approved cytostatic drug, Palbociclib, induce G1 arrest and prevent cell cycle progression. Prolonged treatment with CDK4/6 inhibitors can lead to drug resistance in the clinic as well as in the lab. The mechanisms behind this resistance are varied, with preliminary evidence suggesting that it may be influenced by the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), CDK6 hyperactivation, or degradation of the retinoblastoma protein (Rb). In contrast to the cell cycle mediating CDK4/6, CDK8 and 19 are involved in …

Does Defense Actually Win Championships? Using Statistics To Examine One Of The Greatest Stereotypes In Sports, Thomas Burkett

Senior Theses

A common saying in sports is that “defense wins championships.” However, the past decade of play in the modern NBA has seen a rise and focus in offensive efficiency and 3-pointers. This thesis tests whether defense can truly predict a championship winning team in today’s NBA through two-sample hypothesis testing and multiple logistic regression models. The results found that both defensive and offensive statistics were significant predictors of championship teams, meaning that a balanced team, rather than one specialized in defense alone, is a more accurate predictor of championship success.

The Effects Of The Use Of Medical Interpreters Amongst The Latina Population In The Context Of Sexual And Reproductive Health, Carson Collins

Senior Theses

The Latino population in the United States is large and consistently growing. These individuals, due to cultural and systemic factors, are at greater risk for a variety of health problems, especially in the context of sexual and reproductive health. Many of these patients may not speak English as their first language and thus need to access interpretative services to receive care. This study sought to examine whether medical facilities using certified medical interpreters and requiring cultural competency training for their staff could reduce the cultural and communication barriers LEP Latinas experience when receiving sexual and reproductive health care services. An …

Innovation Isn't Free: Arizona's Public Universities' Legal Battle Over Commercial Transactions, Sierra Brown

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

The Failed Quest For Equal Educational Opportunity: Regulating Education The Way We Regulate Business, Stephen Sugarman

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

A Tale Of Two Crises: Assessing The Impact Of Exclusionary School Policies On Students During A State Of Emergency Student Note, Megan Helton

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

Discipline Or Crime: An Analysis Of The Use Of Memoranda Of Understanding To Regulate School Resource Officer Intervention In South Carolina Schools Student Note, Jill Lesley

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

One Elementary General Music Teacher’S Uses Of And Experiences With Gordon’S Music Learning Theory: A Case Study, Allison Elizabeth Johnson

Theses and Dissertations

With the intent of understanding one music teacher’s uses of and experiences with Gordon’s (2012, 2013) music learning theory, the purpose of this case study was to interview one GIML PDLC-experienced EGMT about her study, interpretation, and implementation of Gordon’s (2012, 2013) music learning theory in her teaching practice. The guiding research questions were (a) Why and how has one GIML PDLC-experienced EGMT studied, interpreted, and implemented music learning theory in her music teaching practice? (b) Why and how has on GIML PDLC-experienced EGMT questioned and/or deviated from music learning theory in her music teaching practice?

I purposefully interviewed one …

Student Perceptions Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And The Impact On Teacher-Student Relationships, Robert Louis Harris

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to explore how six eighth-grade Magnet Program students perceive their teacher-student relationship through the teacher’s use of culturally relevant pedagogy. This case study provided information that guides a classroom teacher in the implementation of culturally relevant pedagogy that helps develop and maintain teacher-student relationships. The resulting analysis and interpretation provided major themes that developed regarding the use of culturally relevant strategies in the classroom.

This study informs educators in the profession about the extent to which students perceptions impact their relationship with the teacher. Findings could be used by teachers and administrators to advocate …

Iterate To Innovate: How Firms Strategize Design Iteration To Navigate The Uneven Landscape In The Global Mobile Application Industry, Pengxiang Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation builds on the logic of opportunity and the institutional perspective to explore how firms iterate to innovate in the uneven landscape of the global digital marketplace. In such nascent industries, innovative firms could not rely on differential positioning or valuable resources to sustain advantage but must take actions of iterative search to capture fleeting opportunities. Specifically, I focus on the role of design iteration, through which firms engage in trial-and-error learning and create situation-specific knowledge. While this logic of opportunity has received a significant upsurge of interest from strategy and entrepreneurship scholars, it largely assumes a homogeneous institutional …

Paul Ricoeur And Biblical Hermeneutics: Narrative, Genre, And Self, Collin Angell

Senior Theses

In short, this thesis seeks to develop a biblical hermeneutic centered on one central axis, based on the philosophy of Paul Ricoeur. That central axis is narrative. The Bible is written in various genres, ranging from prophecy to wisdom to hymn. The goal of this thesis is first to show how a biblical hermeneutic that treats narrative as the central mode of discourse informs a better understanding of the other biblical genres of discourse, and thus of the Bible as a whole. Furthermore, this thesis takes an existentialist direction by taking the narrative-centered biblical hermeneutic and deriving from it a …

Tax Administration And Racial Justice: The Illegal Denial Of Tax-Based Pandemic Relief To The Nation's Incarcerated Population, Leslie Book

South Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Inmates May Work, But Don't Tell Social Security, Stephanie Hunter Mcmahon

South Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Taxation And Racial Injustice In South Carolina, Jordan M. Wayburn

South Carolina Law Review

No abstract provided.

Bayesian Nonparametric Model For Functional Data Analysis, Tahmidul Islam

Theses and Dissertations

Functional data analysis (FDA) experienced a burst of growth after Ramsay and Silverman published their textbook in 1997. Functional data analysis interests researchers because of the challenges it adds to well-established multivariate analysis. Unlike finite dimensional random vectors, we visualize infinite dimensional random functions; for example, curves, images, brain scans, etc. A vast amount of literature have been dedicated to developing models for functional data. The ideas are mostly based on basis function representations and kernel-based nonparametric methods. In this dissertation, we propose a Bayesian treatment of nonparametric functional data analysis by introducing a Gaussian process (GP) over the space …

Instrumentation And Experimentation Development For Robotic Systems, Tristan Kyzer

Theses and Dissertations

Localization of robotic systems is a necessity for control of robotic systems and often requires the use of costly sensors and equipment onboard the robot or installed within a facility. GPS or GNSS sensors are effective for localizing robots in GPSaccessible environments, but do not work as well in dense urban areas or inside fully enclosed buildings, such as factories or warehouses. Sensors such as LiDAR can be costly and require substantial experience and knowledge to utilize as well as potential changes to infrastructure for use. Computer vision-based localization systems offer potential as a localization solution for various applications. A …

Conservation Of Polyester-Urethane Magnetic Audio Tapes And Discrimination Of Textile Fiber Dyes Using Spectroscopy And Chemometrics, Nilmini Hemanthika Ratnasena

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores and discusses conservation of magnetic audio tapes and discrimination of fiber dyes employing spectroscopic techniques and chemometrics.

Conservation of polyester urethane magnetic audio tapes has become a major challenge since they are susceptible to degradation via hydrolysis. The world’s modern cultural history is vastly recorded in this media, and now conservationists need a non-destructive technique to determine the playability status of these tapes. Once conservationists identify degraded tapes, they can be subjected to the baking process. This process temporarily reverses hydrolysis and provides enough time to digitize tapes, preserving information for future generations. The first three chapters …

Temperature Dependence Of Electroluminescence And Current-Voltage Characteristics Of Arrays Of Deep Ultraviolet Algan Micropixel Led, Dhruvinkumar Prakashchandra Patel

Theses and Dissertations

III-Nitride based deep ultraviolet (DUV) light emitting diodes are non-toxic light sources that are highly desirable to replace current mercury lamp-based technology for air and water purification, surface and object disinfection, and sterilization. In the present. By freezing out defect related conduction pathways at temperatures less than 50K, the external quantum efficiency (EQE) of an interconnected array of 1,296 AlGaN DUV micropixels is improved by 4 times, underscoring the importance of defect management. Assuming a current injection efficiency (CIE) of 100% and considering that the light extraction efficiency (LEE) is constant with temperature, the 4-fold increase in the EL signal …

The Impact Of Collective Efficacy And Collective Inquiry On Closing The Achievement Gap, Anne Marie Yarborough

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this two-phased, mixed-method action research study was to investigate the impact of a professional learning community’s collective teacher efficacy and their practice of collective inquiry in closing the achievement gap of eighth-grade social studies English language learners. The research questions guiding this research: 1. How and to what extent will collective inquiry impact collective efficacy among teachers? 2. How and to what extent will a professional learning community's collective efficacy impact student achievement on the 8th-grade social studies state assessment for English language learners?

Social cognitive theory and adult learning theory provided the theoretical foundation for this …

Evaluation Of A Clinic-Based Peer Navigation Program (Pnp) For African Americans Living With Hiv In South Carolina, Kimberly Butler Willis

Theses and Dissertations

Peer navigation programs have been identified as a potential motivator in care engagement and retention for patients living with HIV, although the data is inconsistent. HIV management requires important disease management considerations and innovative approaches for patient care. Medication advancements and technology have drastically improved care for most patients living with this chronic disease; yet African Americans contract, live with, and die because of HIV-related complications at disproportionately higher rates compared to their White peers.The purpose of this exploratory mixed-methods outcome evaluation is to: (1) determine if peer navigation is a viable intervention to improve three key HIV care metrics: …

The Evolution Of Cyber Risk And The Cyber Insurance Market, Abigail Chase

Senior Theses

Insurance and hedging instruments can help corporations manage many of the operational and financial risks they face. Yet, additional complexities are introduced now that many risks are increasingly interdependent and thus strongly correlated, making them more challenging to manage. Few risks illustrate this challenge better than cyber risk.

This thesis will focus on the increasing attention that the management of cyber risks receives in corporations, institutions and industries, and the role that insurance and risk management strategies play in mitigating this risk. The decision to focus on cyber risks—and the financing and management of those risks—is directly related to the …

Eye Gaze And Heart Rate Deceleration As Indices Of Attention In Autism: Relations To Anxiety And Asd Symptomology, Matthew Caputo

Senior Theses

There is strong evidence that atypical attention patterns are robust indicators of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in young children. Additionally, anxiety disorders are very prevalent in ASD populations, though the role of anxiety in modulating social attention and threat bias is unclear in children with ASD. While eye gaze methods are typically utilized to measure attention, physiological methods have been deemed a reliable and complementary way to characterize attentional states. As patterns of autonomic dysregulation have been identified in studies of ASD, the use of physiological measures (i.e., heart rate defined sustained attention) is intriguing. The primary goal of the …

Teaching International Law Students: A Collaboration Between A Law Professor And An Esl Specialist, Clare Keefe Coleman, William Albertson

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.