Digital Commons Network^™

Could It Be Cold War? How Sino-American Tensions Are Unfolding In The South Pacific., Peter R. Caldwell

Senior Theses

This thesis assesses the impacts of geopolitical competition between the United States and China, focusing on the South Pacific as a primary theatre for this great power contest, and investigating the uses of foreign aid by regional powers to effect both the geopolitical alignment and domestic policies of the developing states of the South Pacific. This paper finds that foreign aid to these South Pacific States is geopolitically motivated, and induces greater attention from competing regional powers, furthering the ongoing competition. This paper first provides an overview of the evolving political situation in Kiribati, a Pacific Island Country which has …

Act 388: An Examination Of How An Obscure Property Tax Law Revolutionized Property Tax Funding In South Carolina, Katie Boyette

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

Athlete Decision-Making Process In The Liminality After Career-Ending Injuries, Grace Davie

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative study explored the decision-making process of athletes in the liminal period immediately following career-ending injuries. While existing research has examined transition challenges and coping strategies, there remains a critical gap in understanding how athletes actively make decisions that shape their post-sport trajectories during this crucial period. Using Crisis Decision Theory (CDT) as a theoretical framework, this study investigated athletes' overall experience, support systems, injury severity assessment, and response option determination and evaluation during the immediate post-injury decision-making process. Key findings demonstrated that athletes' decision-making processes closely aligned with CDT's three-stage framework: assessing injury severity, determining response options, and …

Endothelial Dysfunction Promotes Age-Related Reorganization Of Collagen Fibers And Alters Aortic Biomechanics In Mice, Liya Du, Jeffrey Rodgers, Nazli Gharraee, Olivia Gary, Tarek Shazly, John F. Eberth, Susan M. Lessner

Faculty Publications

Endothelial dysfunction, defined as a reduction in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), is a risk factor for the occurrence and progression of various vascular diseases. This study investigates the effect of endothelial dysfunction on age-related changes in aortic extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure and the relationship between microstructural adaptation and the mechanical response. Here, we used groups of NOS3 knockout (KO), NOS3 heterozygotes (Het), and wild-type (WT) B6 mice (controls) to study changes in hemodynamic parameters, collagen fiber organization, and both active and passive aortic mechanics using biaxial pressure myography over a time course from 1.5 to 12 mo. Our …

Tobacco Package Health Warnings About Product Manipulations: An Experimental Study Among Australian Adults Who Smoke, Emily Brennan, Claudia Gascoyne, Kimberley Dunstone, Amanda Vittiglia, Gayathri Srinivasan, Jim Thrasher Ph.D., Ma, Ms, Janet Hoek, Melanie Wakefield, Sarah Durkin

Faculty Publications

The tobacco industry manipulates cigarettes to provide sensory cues that mislead people who smoke. We assessed the effectiveness of health warnings (HWs) focussed on the impact of misleading product attributes, including filter ventilation, menthol, and roll-your-own tobacco, which were called Product Attribute HWs. Australian adults who smoke (n = 2544) were randomly assigned to view: control medication warnings; new Standard HWs with smoking harm images; Product Attribute HWs; or Product Attribute HWs plus a video. At baseline, participants were exposed to seven condition-specific warnings (+ video for those in the Product Attribute HWs + Video condition), then they were …

Adipocyte-Derived Cchamide-1, Eiger, Growth-Blocking Peptide 3, And Unpaired 2 Regulate Drosophila Melanogaster Oogenesis, Chad Simmons, Isaiah Williams, Tancia Bradshaw, Alissa R. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

In addition to energy storage, adipose tissue communication to other organs plays a key role in regulating organismal physiology. While the link between adipose tissue dysfunction and pathophysiology, including diabetes, chronic inflammation, and infertility, is clear, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these associations have not been fully described. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model to better understand how adipose tissue communicates to the ovary. In this study, we utilized D. melanogaster’s robust genetic toolkit to examine the role of five adipokines known to control larval growth during development, CCHamide-1, CCHamide-2, eiger, Growth-blocking peptide 3, and unpaired 2 in regulating …

Caroliniana Columns - Spring 2025, University Libraries--University Of South Carolina

University South Caroliniana Society Newsletter - Columns

Have Digital Exhibit, Will Travel: “Forest to Furniture” featured at Sumter Museum in early 2025 … p.3

Officers at War: Rethinking Southern Masculinity, Honor, and Violence in the Civil War Era / Dr. Patrick F. Doyle … p.10

Researching Politics, Finance, and Agricultural Subsidies in the Jim Crow Era / Robert Ferguson … p.14

The Unsung Heroes of History / Beth Bilderback … p.16

Primary Sources: Authors Rely on SCL Holdings for Their Research … p.20

The Cost of the Vote: George Elmore and the Battle for the Ballot … p.20

Empowering Communities: How Electric Cooperatives Transformed Rural South Carolina …

Endothelial Dysfunction Promotes Age-Related Reorganization Of Collagen Fibers And Alters Aortic Biomechanics In Mice, Liya Du, Jeffrey Rodgers, Nazli Gharraee, Olivia Gary, Tarek Shazly, John F. Eberth, Susan M. Lessner

Faculty Publications

Endothelial dysfunction, defined as a reduction in the bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO), is a risk factor for the occurrence and progression of various vascular diseases. This study investigates the effect of endothelial dysfunction on age-related changes in aortic extracellular matrix (ECM) microstructure and the relationship between microstructural adaptation and the mechanical response. Here, we used groups of NOS3 knockout (KO), NOS3 heterozygotes (Het), and wild-type (WT) B6 mice (controls) to study changes in hemodynamic parameters, collagen fiber organization, and both active and passive aortic mechanics using biaxial pressure myography over a time course from 1.5 to 12 mo. Our …

Understanding The Relationship Between Executive Function And Language During The Preschool Period, Haya Q. Kidwai

Senior Theses

Executive functions (EFs) are abilities that help us to control our actions, pay attention, and go against automatic responses. EF skills include working memory, inhibition, and cognitive flexibility, all of which develop rapidly during early childhood alongside other developmental abilities like language. In fact, previous research has found a relationship between EFs and language abilities. Therefore, the current study investigated the correlation between EFs and language in the preschool period, a pivotal moment in their development. Specifically, the current study examined the relationship between working memory and inhibition and expressive vocabulary and morphosyntax measures in 7 children 4-6 years old. …

A Score For The Outdoors: A Study Of Hayao Miyazaki's Environmentalism And Joe Hisaishi's Score In Princess Mononoke, Jasper E. Vasilevskis

Senior Theses

This honors thesis explores the role of composer Joe Hisaishi’s score in relation to director Hayao Miyazaki’s environmental perspective in Princess Mononoke (1997). Miyazaki’s belief that, regardless of the target audience, a story cannot be told without presenting “the ecological issues”[1] leads to the production of films that have rhetoric in support of environmental appreciation and conservation embedded throughout. When read through an environmentalist lens, Princess Mononoke becomes a critique of “human-centric” thinking, instead supporting an ideology similar to “deep ecology,” which considers humans to be intrinsically linked to nature. Despite Hisaishi and Miyazaki’s close collaboration that leads to …

The Usc Sports Sorority: A Podcast Highlighting The Experiences Of Sjmc Alumnae Working In Sports Media, Griffin Goodwyn

Senior Theses

Women’s sports are on the rise, as indicated by increased media interest and television viewership records across the professional and collegiate ranks. This trend coincides with one specific to the sports media industry, where more women are pursuing careers in that space – and being recognized for their contributions in ways they have not in previous decades.

My project examines both trends in the form of a podcast, featuring interviews with eight alumni and two current students who have sports media experience and ties to the University of South Carolina’s School of Journalism and Mass Communications. The podcast consists of …

Combating Forced Labor In Global Supply Chains Through Modern Technology: A Case Study Of Uyghurs In Xinjiang, Samuel Donohue

Senior Theses

This thesis examines how modern traceability technologies can help combat forced labor in global supply chains, focusing on the case of Uyghur workers in Xinjiang, China. The research addresses the pressing challenge of verifying ethical labor practices in complex, multi-tiered supply networks, using the case study alongside an extensive literature review. It evaluates advanced technological solutions, including blockchain ledgers, isotope analysis, radio-frequency identification (RFID) tagging, and microbiome tracing as tools to improve supply chain transparency. Through qualitative case analysis and analysis of current research, the thesis assesses each technology’s capability to trace product origins and authenticate labor conditions. The findings …

The Impact Of The National Teacher Shortage On The Right To An Adequate Education, Anslee Wood

The Journal of Law and Education

No abstract provided.

Developing And Validating Brain Tumor Organoid Models To Evaluate Novel Therapeutics In Vitro, Dev P. Patel

Senior Theses

Glioblastoma (GBM), a World Health Organization Grade IV brain tumor, remains one of the most aggressive and treatment-resistant malignancies. It is characterized by rapid proliferation, deep infiltration, and a high level of genotypic and phenotypic heterogeneity. Despite advancements in medical technology and neuro-oncology, GBM remains one of the most treatment-resistant cancers with a median survival rate of only nine months post-diagnosis and less than 5% of patients surviving beyond 5 years of diagnosis. The standard treatment constitutes maximum surgical resection followed by chemotherapy and radiation. These therapeutic strategies are blocked by significant challenges like the blood-brain barrier (BBB), and intratumoral …

Augmented, Not Replaced: The Impact Of Ai On Equity Research Analysts, Lawrence Carrea

Senior Theses

The adoption of AI tools into professional workflows has the chance to revolutionize major industries such as the financial services industry. Because equity research is a space that is heavily dependent on data aggregation, forecasting, and report generation, there is a threat of AI replacing human analysts in the next five years. The goal of this study is to determine how the adoption of AI tools will affect the equity research career field. To achieve this goal, a mixed-method approach is employed through a quantitative and qualitative survey. Results from the survey indicate that most finance professionals are already using …

Perceptions Of Internship Experiences For Environmental Science Undergraduates, Sydney Brock

Senior Theses

Internships are widely recognized as valuable components of undergraduate education, yet their accessibility, impact, and role in shaping student development vary significantly across disciplines and individual experiences. This thesis investigates the undergraduate internship experience within the School of the Earth, Ocean, and Environment (SEOE) at the University of South Carolina, drawing on survey data and reflective responses from students who participated in internships between 2022 and 2024. The study explores the professional, academic, and personal benefits of internships, with particular attention to how these experiences influence students' career direction, confidence, and skill development. Findings indicate that regardless of format, duration, …

Education As Cultural Diplomacy: Examining International Student Experiences At A Public University In The Southeastern United States, Sydney A. Wilson

Senior Theses

This thesis explores how the lived experiences of undergraduate international students at a public university in the Southeastern United States (US) reflect and contribute to the practice of cultural diplomacy. While the existing literature on international education as an instrument of soft power tends to focus on overtly state-sponsored programs such as the Fulbright, this study is centered around exchange students specifically participating in independently coordinated partner programs. Drawing on influential political science figures such as Joseph Nye and Milton Cummings’ conceptualization of the terms ‘soft power’ and ‘cultural diplomacy,’ this research highlights the important role informal and interpersonal interactions …

Toward Gender Parity In The South Carolina Appellate Judiciary, Anna M. Bishop

Senior Theses

In April 2023, former Chief Justice Kay Hearn retired from the Supreme Court of South Carolina, leaving the state without a woman justice on its highest court until June 2024. During this time, South Carolina was the only state in the nation to lack a female presence on its court of last resort. This lack of women was detrimental, as women judges provide crucial insight and experience to the courts on which they serve.

Through a literature review, I examine the importance of women on the bench and how different state judicial selection mechanisms affect the gendered makeup of state …

Interactive Pathways: Designing Accessible Museum Experiences, Bryce M. Christian

Senior Theses

This research examines the educational strategies employed by the Columbia Museum of Art in addition to similar institutions to explore how museums can optimize their educational impact on K–12 students by applying human-centered design strategies that prioritize accessibility, engagement, and real user needs. Many museums struggle to fully serve K–12 students due to physical, financial, and perceptual barriers. While digital platforms have expanded reach in some institutions, others prioritize in-person experiences and community engagement. This research uses artificial intelligence tools such as supervised data to accelerate and enhance the analytical process. The study evaluates these approaches through the lens of …

Barriers In Receiving A Diagnosis Of Sanfilippo Syndrome: Perceptions From Healthcare Providers And Caregivers, Cassidy Lena

Theses and Dissertations

Sanfilippo syndrome (MPS III) is a rare, degenerative condition characterized by symptoms impacting neurological functioning, behavior, and quality of life. Diagnosis is often not made until three to six years of age, but comprehensive and effective symptom management have been reported to optimize patient longevity. The aim of this study was to identify barriers to diagnosis and the corresponding impact on patients. This study surveyed healthcare providers and caregivers of individuals with Sanfilippo syndrome. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were employed to assess provider knowledge and comfortability in managing Sanfilippo syndrome. Additionally, it explored caregiver perspectives on healthcare system navigation, …

Contemporary Voices Of China: Biographical Introduction Of Four Contemporary Chinese Composers And Their Chinese Language Art Songs, Xintian Xu

Theses and Dissertations

This document primarily explores the rich developmental journey of Chinese modern art songs from the early 20th century to the present. It provides an overview of the lives, compositional activities, and contributions to Chinese art songs of four contemporary composers: Zheng Qiufeng, Wang Liping, Lu Zaiyi, and Zhao Jiping. To provide more specific resources, this study includes a table of selected works by the four composers, detailing the composer, song title, poet/lyricist, vocal range, and difficulty level. This section aims to serve as a practical reference for researchers, performing artists, and music educators interested in Chinese art songs.

Reducing Information Asymmetry: Economic Value Of Airbnb Signals In A Small College Town, Hatice Sena Akkurt

Theses and Dissertations

Trust is the backbone of platform operations. Airbnb platform designers implement various methods including trust-building mechanisms, user interface (UI) artifacts, and reputation management systems. Previous research has explored trust in Airbnb, yet little is known about the economic value of trust indicators in smaller cities and rural areas. Thus, this thesis investigates the economic significance of User Interface (UI) artifacts, including the “Superhost” badge, star ratings, and listing photographs, within the peer-to-peer accommodation sector in the Columbia Metropolitan Area. Drawing on signaling theory, we conducted quantitative analysis, to examine the relationship between trust indicators and listing prices, controlling factors like …

The Association Between Parent’S Mobile Device Use And Physical Activity, Sydney Hill

Theses and Dissertations

Background. The rapid increase in mobile technology has allowed smartphones to be used almost anywhere, but a potential disadvantage of these mobile devices is the displacement of physical activity. Parents of young children are already struggling to reach higher intensities of physical activity and mobile devices might make this worse. However, most existing research on similar topics look at adults without children or uses subjective measures only. Therefore, this study aims to (1) quantify objective mobile device use from a sample of parents with preschool age children; (2) describe the duration and intensity of parents’ physical activity and inactive behavior; …

Adipocyte-Derived Cchamide-1, Eiger, Growth-Blocking Peptide 3, And Unpaired 2 Regulate Drosophila Melanogaster Oogenesis, Chad Simmons, Isaiah H. Williams, Tancia W. Bradshaw, Alissa R. Armstrong

Faculty Publications

In addition to energy storage, adipose tissue communication to other organs plays a key role in regulating organismal physiology. While the link between adipose tissue dysfunction and pathophysiology, including diabetes, chronic inflammation, and infertility, is clear, the molecular mechanisms that underlie these associations have not been fully described. We use Drosophila melanogaster as a model to better understand how adipose tissue communicates to the ovary. In this study, we utilized D. melanogaster’s robust genetic toolkit to examine the role of five adipokines known to control larval growth during development, CCHamide-1, CCHamide-2, eiger, Growth-blocking peptide 3, and unpaired 2 in regulating …

Unaccompanied Double Bass Literature: History, Pedagogy, And Performance Practice, Joseph Lee Gaskins

Theses and Dissertations

While most solo recitals featuring the double bass employ the piano as accompaniment, this ensemble configuration presents several problems for the performer in terms of balance and sound production. These challenges can cause students who are still developing their technique and musicianship to form bad habits in an effort to meet the demands of playing with piano. Over time, double bassists have developed a multitude of strategies to solve the problem of projecting a soloistic sound that will project over the accompaniment. However, the question must be asked: Why not remove the accompaniment from the equation entirely? While the double …

Assessing Bioactivity Of Green Leaf Volatiles In Various Plant Systems, Fallon S. Tomlin

Senior Theses

Green leaf volatiles (GLVs) are chemical compounds essential in plant communication. Plants emit these volatiles due to abiotic and biotic stressors and, when perceived, these GLVs activate defense responses. Though GLVs play an important role in plant survival, it is still unknown where they localize, how they are perceived, and what structural factors influence perception. To elucidate these structural determinants, we tested the bioactivity of (Z)-3-fatty alcohols with four to nine carbons. Through root growth inhibition assays with tomato (Solanum peruvianum) seedlings, we found that (Z)-3-octenol and (Z)-3-nonenol were more bioactive than (Z)-3 hexenol and (Z)-3-heptenol. Thus, higher bioactivity was …

An Exploratory Study Of Disclosure Of X-Linked Conditions Between Mothers And Daughters, Madge Isabella Stuhlreyer

Theses and Dissertations

Carriers of X-linked conditions, both asymptomatic and symptomatic, face unique challenges regarding their experiences navigating the healthcare system and understanding implications of their carrier status. Studies show that mothers are known to be the main communicators of genetic information within their families, but in families affected with X-linked conditions, communication between mothers and daughters are hindered by factors such as lack of knowledge about the condition and reproductive implications, lack of emotional support, anxiety, and uncertainty about how to initiate these conversations. The purpose of this study was to explore the motivations behind mothers' decisions to initiate conversations with their …

Bridging Tradition And Interpretation: Overdotting In J.S. Bach's Keyboard Music And Recorded Practice, Jiamo Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Abstract This dissertation presents a research and quantitative study about overdotting performance practice in Baroque music. Overdotting is a performance practice in the 17th and 18th century. It refers to playing dotted rhythms with exaggerated lengthening of the dotted note and shortening of the following note, beyond what is indicated in the notation. In this study, the dual evidence method is applied for cross-verifying recorded performances in the past century with published literature on performance practice of the interpretation of overdotted Baroque performance tradition in J.S. Bach’s solo keyboard work recorded since the early 20th century. The analysis focuses on …

Who’S On First, What’S On Second An Analysis Of Major League Baseball Fans And Multiple Points Of Attachment, Ryan W. Dastrup

Theses and Dissertations

Need to write

Understanding The Factors Influencing Movement Behaviors Among Dog Owners, Katherine Eileen Devivo

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates two key objectives: 1) to understand influences of physical activity among dog owners, and 2) to determine if there were differences in objectively measured physical activity levels and/or affect at times when dog owners are with their dogs compared to times when they are not with their dogs. To address the first objective, a qualitative study was conducted with 20 dog owners using semi-structured interviews, constant comparative methodology, grounded theory, and open coding. The findings revealed several key barriers to physical activity and dog walking such as physical health, seasons/weather, time/schedules, and dog specific limitations. Key facilitators …