Digital Commons Network^™

The Relationship Between Child Externalizing Behaviors And Parental Stress In Children With Fragile X Syndrome, Erica Mazur, Majorie Grefer, Jane E. Roberts Phd

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the leading heritable cause for intellectual disabilities and the leading known genetic cause for developmental disorders such as autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The present study examined the relationship between levels of externalizing behaviors in children with FXS and increased parenting stress in parents of children with FXS. Aggressive behaviors and autism severity were examined in 48 male children diagnosed with FXS (range 2-5 years). Parenting stress was examined in 27 of their mothers and 21 of their fathers. Increased severity of autistic behavior was associated with elevated parental stress. Greater levels of parental stress were …

Response Interference And Activity-Based Anorexia In Rats, Nicole Streeb

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Anorexia nervosa is a severe eating disorder characterized by extreme emaciation due to the inability to maintain a healthy weight. The disorder can result in many behavioral and physiological changes. Activity-based anorexia (ABA) in animals is a potentially viable model of anorexia nervosa, reproducing many of the core behavioral components of the disorder such as restriction of food consumption, dramatic weight loss, and increased drive for physical activity (i.e. wheel running). Some of the behavioral and physiological factors involved in this phenomenon have been examined by previous research; however, investigators have yet to determine the mechanisms by which this behavior …

The Cranial Morphology Of Large Wild Versus Captive Felids, Bryttin Boyde, Hannah Selvey

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Studies have shown that carnivores in captivity that are fed soft diets have more periodontal problems and that the morphology of their skeletons, skulls specifically, responds to environmental and behavior factors. Considering that captive diet affects teeth and gums, we have conducted research on Dr. Adam Hartstone-Rose’s hypothesis that variation will also be discernible through the examination of cranial morphology. We compared captive and wild lions Panthera leo and tigers Panthera tigris to see if differences were present, then analyzed data collected by a microscribe using a 3D morphometric analysis program. Next, Principal Component Analysis was completed to account for …

A Review Of Video Game Effects And Uses, David Corso

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Video games are versatile in their form and function. Whether they’re training doctors or offsetting Alzheimer’s disease, video games can exercise both mental and physical features, train specific skills for a number of jobs, educate players about events and phenomenon in our world, research and understand natural human processes, and they can be designed for a number of other purposes. Multiple studies have demonstrated the effects of video games on physiological and cognitive levels—positive, negative, and everything in between. This paper identifies various physical and psychological effects that video games produce, and it suggests ways in which video games can …

What In The Fukushima Should We Do? Analyzing The Costs Of The Fukushima Daiichi Disaster And Japan’S Reactions, Sara Deal, Mary Blair Dellinger

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster, which resulted from the Tōhoku earthquake and subsequent tsunami on 11 March 2011, has caused much debate about the future of the nuclear power industry.  Japan has shut down all of its 54 nuclear reactors and increased power production through fossil fuel plants to make up the difference (Foster 2012).  This paper analyzes Japan’s decision to shut down its nuclear reactors and investigates the environmental, economic, and health costs of this decision. Nuclear power is compared with other forms of power in regards to life cycle cost, land use, CO₂ emissions, and deaths on …

Replacing Sugar With Artificial Sweeteners: Is The Replacement Of Sugar With Artificial Sweeteners An Effective Strategy For Weight Loss?, Maragret Mccoy

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

In America today there is great concern about obesity. In an attempt to balance a busy daily life with a healthy diet, consumers are now relying on artificial sweeteners to help them make a small step to a better lifestyle. With this notion in mind, there is the question of whether these artificial sweeteners are healthy. This paper discusses the effects of artificial sweeteners on weight and caloric compensation, and considers some hypotheses regarding the reasons for weight gain.

A review of literature led to the conclusion that artificial sweeteners can be 100-13,000 times sweeter than sucrose and that sucrose …

Maternal Depressive Symptoms Predicting Development Of Internalizing Behavior Problems In Boys With Fragile X Syndrome, Sara Deal, Mary Blair Dellinger

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Individuals with fragile X syndrome (FXS) often exhibit increased internalizing problem behaviors that substantially impact functioning. Research suggests that maternal depressive symptoms can increase the development of internalizing problem behaviors in their children. The present study examined whether (1) maternal depressive symptoms related to the degree of internalizing behaviors exhibited in their sons with FXS, and (2) age as an influencing factor for the development of internalizing behaviors. Child internalizing behaviors were measured in 49 male children with FXS (range 1.08-5.75 yrs). Maternal depressive symptoms were measured in each of their mothers with the FMR1 premutation (range 20.55-40.74 yrs). Increased …

Institutional Silence And The Governance Of Women College Athletes’ Reproductive Autonomy In The United States, Tarlan Chahardovali, Molly Harry Ph.D., Emily S. Mann Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This study examines how women college athletes understand their pregnancy-related rights and protections and how institutional communication – or its absence – shapes reproductive autonomy within college sport. Guided by a reproductive justice framework, it conceptualizes pregnancy as a site of reproductive governance shaped by institutional policies, norms, and silences within performance-oriented sport organizations. The analysis draws on semi-structured interviews with 25 women college athletes from various NCAA Division I institutions in the United States, conducted between September 2023 and July 2024 in the post-Dobbs legal context, and uses reflexive thematic analysis to examine athletes’ knowledge of Title IX and …

Association Between Cholinesterase Inhibitor-Overactive Bladder Antimuscarinic Prescribing Cascade And Risk Of Delirium And Falls Among Individuals Living With Dementia, Sarah Beth Tucker, Bryan L. Love Pharm D., Chijoke M. Okeke, Erin D. Zwick, Chengwen Teng Pharm.D., Ph.D., Jingkai Wei, Ibraheem M. Karaye, Saud Alsahali, Krithika Rajagopalan, Ismaeel Yunusa Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

Background

Prescribing cascades occur when cholinesterase inhibitor (ChEI)-induced urinary incontinence is misinterpreted as a new condition, leading to overactive bladder (OAB) antimuscarinic initiation. We evaluated whether the ChEI-OAB antimuscarinic prescribing cascade was associated with delirium or falls compared with mirabegron in older adults living with dementia.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study using the Anlitiks All-Payor Claims database (2015–2020). Participants were adults aged ≥ 65 years with dementia newly prescribed a ChEI with no prior ChEI or OAB therapy (180 days). A 60-day window identified OAB treatment initiation after ChEI therapy. Exposures were OAB antimuscarinics or mirabegron. Outcomes were …

Examining The Relationships Among Child Care Providers’ Knowledge Of Child Development, Burnout, Organizational Climate, And Expulsion Risk: A Brief Report, Juan Wang, Cheri Shapiro Ph.D., Tristan Collier, Jessica Sharp

Publications

Expulsion poses a significant barrier to high-quality and inclusive early care and education (ECE), leading to both immediate and long-term negative con-sequences for children and their families. This descriptive, exploratory study examined whether ECE providers’ knowledge of child development, burnout, and organizational climate was associated with their attitudes and perceptions related to expulsion risk. A total of 309 ECE providers in one state in the South-eastern region of the United States taking part in a program evaluation completed an online survey prior to program implementation. Multiple linear regression analyses were conducted to assess associations among providers’ knowledge of child development, …

Wrky Transcription Factors: Integral Regulators Of Defence Responses To Biotic Stress In Crops, Dongjiao Wang, Ruize Zhang, Wenhui Zou, Yuanyuan Zhang, Wanying Zhao, Tingting Sun, Qibin Wu, Zheng Qing Fu, Youxiong Que

Faculty Publications

Crops are continually challenged by biotic stresses, including fungal, bacterial and viral pathogens and insect pests, which cause substantial yield and quality losses worldwide. WRKY transcription factors constitute a plant-specific and functionally diverse family that is central to immune regulation. Recent advances in genomic resources and multi-omics approaches have accelerated the identification and functional characterisation of WRKYs in crops. This review summarises the structural features and classification of WRKY genes and their genome-wide distribution across crop species. It also synthesises WRKY-centred regulatory modules that mediate resistance to major classes of biotic stress. In antifungal defence, WRKYs reinforce pattern- and effector-triggered …

Use Of Period- Or Fertility-Tracking Technologies Pre- And Post-Dobbs, Emily Neiman, Marta Bornstein Phd, Mph, Abigail Norris Turner, Megan L. Kavanaugh, Maria F. Gallo

Faculty Publications

Objectives

Study design

Family Perspectives: A Qualitative Examination Of College Athlete Suicide During The Spring 2022 Semester, Elaine M. Anton-Lotruglio, Sophia M. Burke, Kimberly H. Mcmanama O'Brien

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Objective: Suicide among college athletes remains largely underexplored despite rising rates. This qualitative study aimed to explore family members' perspectives on why their loved ones died by suicide. Participants: The study included family members (N=10) of three college athletes who died by suicide in the spring 2022 semester. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted between March and July 2024. ATLAS.ti and Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis were employed to analyze the data and identify themes. Results: The data revealed three primary themes: factors contributing to the suicide crisis, presence of a suicide crisis, and university crisis response. The themes suggested a …

Beyond The Playing Field: Athletic Identity, Academic Performance, And Career Readiness Among Student-Athletes, Lucy Mcafee, Alexander Traugutt, Caroline J. Ketcham, Eric E. Hall

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This mixed-methods study examined how athletic participation relates to perceived career readiness development and explored relationships between athletic identity, academic performance, and post-graduation plans among 124 Division I student-athletes (varsity and club) at a private university. Participants completed surveys measuring athletic identity (AIMS), perceived development of NACE Career Readiness competencies, and open-ended questions about how athletics prepared them for future careers. Varsity athletes reported significantly higher perceived development than club athletes across five competencies: professionalism, critical thinking, communication, technology, and career and self-development. Male athletes reported higher perceived development in professionalism, critical thinking, and technology. Athletic identity demonstrated significant positive …

Should There Be International Standards For Qualitative Social Work Research? A Commentary On Utility, Contradictions, And Reframing To Principles, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg

Faculty and Staff Publications

This commentary critically examines the promise and contradictions inherent in developing international standards for qualitative social work research. It contributes by proposing that ethics guided by epistemic freedom and epistemic justice can act as a foundation for flexible principles enhancing qualitative social work research on an international level.

When Is Engagement ‘Good’? Values And Integrity In Community-Engaged Autism Research, Margaret Janse Van Rensburg

Faculty and Staff Publications

Community engagement (CE) in autism research has been promoted as “good practice,” and is described through approaches such as co-production, participatory action research, and community-based participatory research. Although CE can enhance relevance and trust, its potential burdens or harms are rarely examined or disclosed to community members, and it is often implemented without evaluating its processes or outcomes. Limited attention is also given to values: the axiological foundations of CE and whether engagement is conducted with integrity. This perspective introduces an axiological lens to CE in autism research by arguing that researchers’ value commitments shape not only why engagement occurs …

Ai And Algorithmic Literacy Among Health Workers: A Scoping Review Through A Digital Health Literacy Lens, Ihoghosa Iyamu, Carly Wheelans, Devon Haag, Ian Roe, Hsiu Ju Chang, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Faan, Ursula Ellis, Geoffrey Mckee, Sofia Bartlett, Mark Gilbert

Publications

Introduction – Artificial intelligence (AI) and algorithmic systems influence health workers’ access, interpretation, and action on clinical and public health information, positioning them as intermediaries between algorithmically mediated outputs and patients, communities, and decision makers. This study examines how AI and algorithmic literacy are conceptualized and measured among health workers through a digital health literacy (DHL) lens. Methods – Using Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework, we searched Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, Scopus, IEEE Xplore, ACM Digital Library, Europe PMC, and arXiv for English language sources published between January 2020 and May 2025. Two reviewers screened records and extracted data …

Sowing Imbalance From The Start: Power, Role Socialization, And Graduate Assistants In Ncaa Division I Power Four Athletic Departments, Kaitlin Pericak, Daniel Springer, Brittany Washington, Rachel Silva

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Graduate assistantships represent early entry points into intercollegiate athletics and serve as critical sites of professional socialization. Guided by Mead’s (1934) role theory and Foucault’s (1975/1977) concept of power, this study examined how graduate assistants (GAs) negotiated their dual roles as students and employees within Division I Power Four athletic departments. Semi-structured interviews with 10 current GAs revealed how organizational expectations normalized overwork, positioned the master’s degree as a compulsory credential, and sowed imbalance that shaped participants’ identities and well-being. Findings demonstrate how GAs internalized structured constraints and reproduced organizational norms, framing overwork as a necessary rite of passage. These …

Characterizing The Unique Chemical Imprint Of On-Axis, Lower-Temperature Hydrothermal Flow To The Deep Ocean (Southern East Pacific Rise, 16.5°–18.0°S), Laura E. Moore, Randelle M. Bundy, Joseph A. Resing, Scott M. White, Tamara Baumberger, Peter N. Sedwick, Nathaniel J. Buck, Anson M. Antriasian, Isaac Keohane

Faculty Publications

In addition to high-temperature vents, lower-temperature flow (LTF) (< 300°C) is abundant along mid-ocean ridges and contributes globally-important fluxes of heat and water along with largely-unconstrained geochemical influences on the ocean. We examined the impact of on-axis LTF on the chemical composition of the overlying water column (< 40 m above seafloor) along the 16.5°–18.0°S sector of the ultrafast-spreading southern East Pacific Rise using autonomous underwater vehicle Sentry surveys and conductivity-temperature-depth rosette casts. LTF sites were typically spatially isolated from high-temperature systems and imparted unique chemical signatures to the overlying ocean. Water column samples impacted by LTF exhibited low particulate iron:sulfur ratios and high methane: total-dissolvable manganese ratios, whereas samples influenced by high-temperature venting exhibited opposite trends. We confirmed that LTF imparts a distinct and measurable chemical signature to the water column, independent from high-temperature vents. Isolated, on-axis LTF will be important to consider when assessing hydrothermal circulation impacts upon ocean biogeochemistry.

April 15, 2026 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Volume 1, Issue 1: The Blueprint - Full Issue

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This is the full issue of Volume 1, Issue 1: "The Blueprint" of the Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal.

Health Insurance Literacy Among College Students At The University Of South Carolina, Emma J. Smith, Lorie Donelle Phd, Rn, Fcan, Robin Dawson

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the health insurance literacy skills of graduate college students and undergraduate college students.

Methods: A cross-sectional research design incorporated a 20-item questionnaire to examine college students’ knowledge of common health insurance terms and definitions, as well as their perceived understanding of health insurance. Descriptive analyses were conducted of participant demographics, health insurance literacy scores were summarized, and common health insurance policies were tested through a readability checker.

Results: The majority of students were between the ages of 18-25 and undergraduate students. More than half of the participants were female, and more …

Developing A Bilingual Education Program For Middle Schools In Richland School District 01: Promoting Literacy Through Culturally-Relevant Pedagogy, Paige E. Swanson

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

The following study explores how bilingual and immersive language learning programs can enhance multi-subject literacy and academic engagement among at-risk African American middle school students in Richland County School District One (R01) in Columbia, South Carolina. Through a qualitative thematic analysis utilizing a literature review of fifty sources that explore education, linguistics, and psychology, the research identifies intersections between bilingual education, culturally relevant pedagogy (CRP), and literacy development in at-risk youth populations. Six themes were revealed by the analysis. From these themes, the results conclude that African American students experience greater academic success when classroom instruction integrates their cultural identities, …

‘“We Was Girls Together”’: Black Girlhood And Homoeroticism In Toni Morrison’S Sula, Summer A. Still

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper examines Toni Morrison’s Sula through the intertwined frameworks of Black girlhood and homoeroticism, with a focus on the friendship between Sula Peace and Nel Wright. By analyzing moments of intimacy, dreams, and kinship terminology, I argue that Morrison portrays their bond as both a survival mechanism against oppressive social structures and as a site where homoerotic desire emerges. Concepts such as “fictive kin,” “chosen kin,” and “quare” are used to show how Morrison complicates traditional categories of friendship and queerness in American literature. Ultimately, the novel positions Sula and Nel’s relationship as one of enduring love that exceeds …

Historians At War: A Comparative Analysis Between Thucydides And Xenophon's Accounts Of The Peloponnesian War, Juleeanna S. Fuller

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This essay analyzes Thucydides and Xenophon's accounts of the Peloponnesian War, reflecting on the intersection of historical narratives, personal bias, and political perspectives. Thucydides’ History of the Peloponnesian War presents Athens’ decline through the lens of moral and political collapse, emphasizing human nature, rationalism, and realism. Despite his reputation for objectivity, his reconstruction of speeches and selective focus revealed an underlying critique of Athenian democracy, shaped by his own life experiences. However, Xenophon's Hellenica continues the narrative with a pronounced Spartan bias, depicting Spartan hegemony and the Thirty Tyrants in a largely favorable or justified light, while minimizing their brutality …

Exploring Decision-Making In Caenorhabditis Elegans: Navigating Dichotomous Envrionmental Cues, Hunarmeet K. Gill

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

All living organisms thrive off the survival choices they make and the factors they prioritize, but the mechanisms guiding these choices remain unclear. This study investigates decision-making in Caenorhabditis elegans, aiming to understand how they navigate dichotomous environments that contain both attractive and aversive cues. Despite possessing a simple nervous system, C. elegans express behaviors indicating a level of advanced sensory-processing abilities, making them ideal models for studying decision-making processes. The experiment consisted of five separate petri-dish tests, each with three sections: side A and side B (containing natural or UV light and/or E.coli or ethanol), and a neutral …

Comparing The Effect Of Varying Concentrations Of Polytetrafluoroethylene On The Length And Fresh Weight Of Salvinia Minima, Talha Islam

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

The increasing usage of fluoropolymer pollution in aquatic environments has increased concerns about the ecological consequences of materials such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), commonly known as Teflon. In the past decade, the usage of Teflon in American homes across the United States has risen by 37.7%, resulting in large amounts of aquatic pollution due to improper disposal of these harmful substances (Török et al., 2020). Although PTFE is chemically inert, its accumulation in freshwater systems can introduce matter that physically interacts with aquatic organisms. This study examined how varying concentrations of PTFE suspensions affect the growth of Salvinia minima, a …

Letter From The Editors

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

In this Letter, the Editors-in-Chief for the 2025-2026 academic year, Khufu Holly and Megha Badiger, describe their feelings about the inaugural issue. As they convey the theme and namesake of this issue, The Blueprint, they also express hope that readers will feel empowered to embark on future research experiences. They also hope that readers will strive to engage in excellence of scholarship through involvement with the Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal. As founders of CURJ, they are excited to lay the foundation for future issues and to continue watching the organization grow.

Front Matter

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

This is the Front Matter for Volume 1, Issue 1: "The Blueprint" of the Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal. Included here are the Front Cover, Title Page, and Table of Contents.

Understanding The Binding Of Nickel(Ii) Bromide To A Zirconium Metal-Organic Cage For Heterogeneous Catalysis, Luci Green

Caroliniana Undergraduate Research Journal

Heterogeneous catalysts offer inherent advantages in improving the sustainability of industrial chemical processes. Their high ease of separation and recyclability has the potential to reduce the cost, waste, and energy consumption of processes that currently rely on homogeneous catalysts. Metal–organic cages (MOCs) are an attractive material for heterogeneous catalysis due to their discrete and highly tunable structures, which can be functionalized by binding these complexes with catalytically active metals. The specific objective of this study is to provide preliminary insight into the binding of nickel(II) bromide (NiBr₂) to zirconium MOCs, which was done by studying the binding of …