Digital Commons Network^™

A Careful Examination Of The Parameters Impacting The Study Of Plant/Bacteria Interactions, Caroline Victoria Royals

Theses and Dissertations

Our laboratory has been studying how different Caulobacter strains impact Arabidopsis plant growth. While reading papers published by other laboratories, I noticed inconsistencies in the methods used by different plant/bacteria interaction studies. For example, a variety of different variables have been used for defining a bacterium as Plant Growth Promoting (PGP). To establish a baseline, I conducted longitudinal studies that examined the impact of bacteria on all phases of a plant’s life. I found that individual Caulobacter wild type strains impact different aspects of plant growth. In addition, I continuously encountered problems with within and between pot variation in plant …

Reimagining Utopia In Post-Utopian China: Chinese Science Fiction And The Reinvention Of Cultural Tradition, Dan Luo

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the end of China’s socialist dream in the late 1970s, utopian expressions about the nation’s rise and progress have continued to emerge in official and popular imaginaries. These expressions find an outlet in the newly popularized sci-fi genre, and especially in literary experiments that evoke cultural resources ranging from premodern and early modern historical and literary records of scientific achievements to figures, tropes, and myths in classical tales, vernacular novels, and ethnic traditions. These experiments at times validate and support, and at times challenge and subvert the nationalist, progressive, and utopian narratives of the state. This dissertation investigates the …

Knowledge, Attitudes And Practices Regarding Sexually Transmitted Infections In South Carolina: A Cross-Sectional Survey And Comparison To Geographically-Associated Social Determinants Of Health, Sean Patrick Sweeney

Theses and Dissertations

Sexually transmitted disease (STD) rates are on the rise in the United States. South Carolina ranks consistently among the states with the highest STD burdens, especially for the bacterial diseases gonorrhea and chlamydia. This study sought to determine the opinions, beliefs, and knowledgebase of South Carolina citizens regarding STDs and sexual health/education. In doing so, the study seeks to identify areas of improvement for educators, healthcare workers, and public health employees. Using a web-based cross-sectional survey, this study contacted approximately 900,000 South Carolina residents for participation. Participants were asked a variety of questions focused on STD knowledge, opinions, and practices. …

Sexual Quality Of Life In Sexual And Gender Minority Women After Cancer, Heather Schneider Miles

Theses and Dissertations

Sexual quality of life (SQoL) is a critical aspect of well-being, encompassing physical, emotional, and social dimensions. For sexual and gender minority women (SGMW)—lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer—cancer presents unique challenges. This dissertation examined the relationships between cancer treatment symptoms, social support, and communication with the cancer care team (CCT) on SQoL among SGMW survivors of breast, gynecological, and colorectal cancers. Quantitative data from 37 participants were collected using PROMIS® measures, assessing demographics, treatment history, post-treatment symptoms, perceived social support, and communication with the CCT. Additionally, in-depth interviews with five participants provided qualitative insights into their experiences and the meaning …

Social Cognitive Factors That Contribute To Student Retention In A High School Engineering Pathway: A Longitudinal Study, Matthew Vargyas

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study investigated the cognitive factors that impacted students’ choice to continue within a high school engineering pathway, and the effect of multiple engineering courses on students’ engineering self-efficacy. Participants (N = 87) were students who completed three quantitative surveys throughout the engineering course(s) in which they were enrolled. Using the theoretical framework of Social Cognitive Career Theory, each survey measured student engineering self-efficacy, coping self-efficacy, outcome expectations, interests, persistence goals, external supports, and external barriers. Near the end of the course, students completed a qualitative, open-response questionnaire where they indicated their decision to continue in the engineering …

How Organizational Structure And Power Dynamics Impact Decision Making—An Empirical Investigation Of General Manager Turnover In The National Basketball Association, Xiaoan Huang

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation examines the factors affecting GM dismissals in the NBA. Although there is limited consideration of executives in sport, scholars argue that GMs play a critical role within professional sport organizations, as they are generally involved in both business and on-field operations of the team. While there is some understanding of the impact that GMs have on organizational performance in sports, there is a lack of consideration of the tenure of executives and the factors that lead to turnover in these positions. As such, there is a critical need for further examination of GMs in sport. Following power theory …

Optimization Of A Nanotechnology-Based System For The Treatment Of Electroplating Wastewater, Madeleine Mary Meyer

Theses and Dissertations

To protect humans and the environment, human actions that may expose living organisms to toxic metals are heavily regulated in developed countries. The use and production of toxicants in commercial applications is tightly controlled in the United States of America by federal and state laws. Due to this fact, United States manufacturing companies are required to control the amount of regulated toxicants that leave their facilities. Toxic metals in wastewater are heavily regulated by federal and state law, with manufacturing facilities permitted individually for the concentrations of metals they are allowed to discharge via their wastewater. From previous research conducted …

Using Youth Participatory Action Research To Scale Up Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) In The Southern United States, Mariajose Jhamira Paton

Theses and Dissertations

The recently launched initiative, Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE), provides a targeted plan to end HIV in the United States (US) by 2030, and prioritizes key demographic groups and geographic areas that are disproportionately burdened by HIV. Sexual and gender minority (SGM) youth, especially Black and Latiné youth (SGMBLY), are a key population for EHE as they have experienced the largest increase in new HIV rates in recent decades. States identified by EHE are disproportionately located in the Southern US, where increasing the uptake of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for HIV has been a challenge. Though proven effective, youth participatory action …

Scenic Design: Learning How To Think Outside The Black Box, Ashley Jensen

Theses and Dissertations

During my time in the scenic design MFA program at the University of South Carolina, the most important thing I learned is how little I knew before starting this journey. This thesis will explore the challenges I faced and the growth I experienced through the pain of it all. I will demonstrate what I learned by going through each design process step-by-step, and how I became a better artist for it.

Surface Acoustic Waves-Based Point-Of-Care Biosensor, Debdyuti Mandal

Theses and Dissertations

A biosensor is an analytical tool consisting of biologically active material used in close conjunction with a device that converts a biochemical signal into a quantifiable electrical signal. The early detection of the disease biomarkers can enhance the increased curability of the disease, reduce healthcare costs, and finally, improve the quality of life for patients. Thus, for the following purpose, there is always a need for an effective biosensor as a diagnostic device. The biosensor typically consists of an actuator, a bio-recognition component, and a transducer that converts captured signals into a meaningful display. The bio-recognition component uses biomolecules to …

Decisions, Decisions: Dna Damage Induced Modification Of P53 And The Effect Of Modifications On P53 Differential Binding To The Dna, Savannah Gabrielle Keating

Theses and Dissertations

p53 is the most frequently mutated tumor suppressor protein in cancer. It is highly regulated, most often via post-translational modifications (PTMs). Different pathways and target genes are differentially activated by p53 and there is much left to understand how this occurs. The regulation of p53 at the post-translational level is incredibly important to its DNA damage response, and, therefore, it is understood that PTMs are often involved in the differential activation of pathways by p53. This project aimed to identify some of the types and locations of post-translational modifications on p53 in response to different modes of DNA damage with …

Evaluation Of Mechanism Of Action And Toxicity Of Novel Psychoactive Substances (Nps) Identified As Cannabinomimetics, Robert Michael Sears

Theses and Dissertations

Synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRA), also referred to as synthetic cannabinoids (SCs), pose a significant public health risk, create an undue burden on local emergency departments, and present significant challenges for law enforcement officers and forensic laboratories. SCs are a diverse group of compounds sold with the intent to illicit psychoactive responses like tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the primary psychoactive component in marijuana. Since their initial detection in 2004, illicit use of SCs has grown in popularity. Recognizing the dangers of SC use, the Drug Enforcement Agency has moved to schedule the analytes routinely identified in street drugs. Despite these efforts, the …

Enhancing The Security In High-Speed Networks Using P4 Programmable Switches, Ali Alsabeh

Theses and Dissertations

Network security has become increasingly essential in today's networks due to the growth of various network applications, such as Machine Learning (ML) and Fifth-Generation (5G) Networks. One fundamental Internet protocol is the Domain Name System (DNS), which maps domain names to Internet Protocol (IP) addresses. Despite its importance, DNS traffic is often forwarded without being analyzed, making it a center of ever-evolving attacks. Traditionally, defense strategies are implemented on fixed-function security middleboxes that are costly, proprietary, and hard to manage. Alternatively, defenses implemented in software use general-purpose servers (e.g., the control plane of a Software-Defined Networking (SDN) network) that cannot …

Picture Yourself Here: Sources For Exhibits And Programs, John H. Barnett

Faculty and Staff Publications

This document lists sources for free to no-cost exhibits and programs that have been carried out by personnel at the library at the University of South Carolina Upstate. The document accompanies the presentation, "Picture Yourself Here: Using Exhibits and Programs to Attract and Interact with the Campus Community."

Social Media Policies Within Ncaa Member Institutions: Evolving Technology And Its Impact On Policy, Jimmy Sanderson, Eric Snyder, David Hull, Kelly Gramlich

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Ncaa Division I-Fbs Salary Determinants: A Look At New And Amended Contracts, Kellyn Fogarty, Brian P. Soebbing, Kwame J.A. Agyemang

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Predicting Intrinsic Value Of Ncaa Division I Men’S Basketball Coaching Salaries, Ryan M. Brewer, Chad D. Mcevoy, Nels Popp

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

From The Buckeyes To The Bronx, (Reviewed By) Liz Sattler

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

Factors For Success In Ncaa Division Iii Athletics, Matthew Katz, Adam G. Pfleegor, Claire Schaeperkoetter, Jordan Bass

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

More Or Less?: Telling The Library's Story Through The Academic Program Review, John H. Barnett

Faculty and Staff Publications

Academic libraries regularly provide information to support the accreditation, certification, and periodic review of degree programs. The library portion of the academic program review has traditionally focused on detailing the number of titles and volumes of books in the collection, the age of the collection, and the amount of money the library spends to support the degree program. Employing a "more instead of less" approach, the USC Upstate library uses both narrative and data about collections, services, and initiatives to share the library's story.

This presentation explores what prompted our change in focus and the variety of information we provide. …

Library Portion Of External (Academic) Program Review: An Outline, John H. Barnett

Faculty and Staff Publications

This document provides a suggested outline for the library portion of the academic program review/external review/academic self-study. The outline is aimed at providing a more holistic view of academic library services, collections, and initiatives that support disciplinary programs at universities.

Boilerplate Language For Library Portion Of External (Academic) Program Review, John H. Barnett

Faculty and Staff Publications

This document provides boilerplate or common language to consider using when preparing the library portion of the academic program review (also known as the external program review or academic self-study). The document illustrates how academic librarians can provide information on services, collections, and initiatives to provide a more holistic view of the library's support for the academic discipline.

Short- And Medium-Term Impacts Of Small-Scale Vegetable Support On Food Security: Evidence From Syria, Ghassan Baliki, Melodie Al Daccache, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Tilman Brück

Faculty Publications

Small-scale agricultural and horticultural interventions play a critical role in improving nutrition and food security of vulnerable households in peaceful settings. However, scant rigorous evidence exists on the impacts and sustainability of such interventions in conflict settings. In this paper, we address this knowledge gap by analyzing the short- and medium-term impacts of a small-scale vegetable input support program involving asset transfers on food security and diets in war-time Syria. We use longitudinal panel household survey data from a quasi-experimental study collected at three rounds: before, one year, and two years after the horticultural intervention ended. We use propensity score …

Colombia As A Future Tourism Destination From U.S. Travelers’ Perspective, Maricela I. Montes-Guerra, Natalia Zapata-Cuervo, Miyoung Jeong Ph.D.

Faculty Publications

This research identified the perceptions of U.S. travelers regarding Colombia as a potential tourism destination, including their perception of risk. The framework of destination image and travelers’ behavior, including perceived risk, cognitive and affective images, and perceived value for the trip, was adopted. Data for these behaviors were collected using a self-administered online survey with U.S. citizens who had not visited Colombia. Hypotheses were tested employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis and the Partial Least Squares method to analyze the measurement and structural models. The results indicated that U.S. citizens had a positive affective and cognitive perception of Colombia, which led to …

Special Issue Editors’ Note: Mental Health And College Athlete Well-Being, Alex Auerbach, Sarah Stokowski

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

No abstract provided.

College Athletes And Suicide Prevention: A Collaborative Autoethnography, Kim D. Gross, Lisa M. Rubin, Anne P. Weese

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

This collaborative autoethnography weaves together a personal and powerful story from a former college athlete turned student-athlete services professional with reflections from a licensed mental health counselor who works with student-athletes. Kim shared her own struggles with mental health as well as her initially unknowing impact on a teammate, who sought her support when contemplating suicide. Information about depression and suicide among college athletes is presented along with practical ways and resources for anyone who might work with student-athletes to know. Developing skills to talk to student-athletes about suicide is one method for professionals to participate in supporting the mental …

Beyond The Lines: Exploring The Impact Of Adverse Childhood Experiences On Ncaa Student-Athlete Health, Braden J. Brown, Jakob J. Jensen, Jennifer L. Hodgson, Alexander M. Schoemann, Damon L. Rappleyea

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Emerging research has highlighted a link between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and various health concerns experienced by NCAA student-athletes. Building on prior work (Kaier, Cromer, Davis, & Strunk, 2015), we hypothesized that ACEs would significantly predict student- athletes’ biopsychosocial (BPS) health and that spirituality would serve as a protective factor against the effect of ACEs on BPS health outcomes. Division I, II, and III NCAA student-athletes (N = 477) representing 20 sports across 53 universities completed an online quantitative survey (k = 133) that assessed for ACEs, injury/physical health concerns, anxiety, depression, stress, social support, substance use, and spirituality. Nearly …

Black Football Student-Athletes’ Perceived Barriers To Seeking Mental Health Services, Todd A. Wilkerson, Sarah Stokowski, Alison Fridley, Stephen W. Dittmore, Charles A. Bell

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

Black male student-athletes have endured frequent stereotyping on college campuses (Hawkins, 2010). Additionally, Black student-athletes have experienced educational, campus, and athletic stressors (Miller & Hoffman, 2009). Many student-athletes do not seek mental health services because of their status on campus (Watson, 2005). The general population has experienced common barriers in seeking mental health services including low socio-economic status (Hurd, Stoddard, & Zimmerman, 2013) and negative stigmas related to metal illness (Wang et al., 2005). While it is reasonable to assume similar challenges exist for Black student-athletes, it must be investigated empirically. As such, the purpose of this study was to …

Connected At The Hip: Exploring Quality Dimensions In First-Year Seminars For Student-Athletes, Nikola Grafnetterova, Chelsie L. Hawkinson, Rachel L. Rodriguez

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

First-year seminars have been identified as a high-impact practice resulting in heightened academic performance, retention, and skill attainment (Kuh, 2008). Many higher education institutions offer exclusive sections of this transition course to first-year student-athletes, but a lack of research exists about their curriculum and learning outcomes. As such, this study sought to examine the design of first-year seminars for student-athletes as it relates to their quality implementation. The review of syllabi and institutional websites revealed that first-year seminars address a wide range of student-athlete needs, and for the most part, meet the expectations of HIP quality dimensions. Yet, this study …

Antiblackness In College Athletics: Facilitating High Impact Campus Engagement And Successful Career Transitions Among Black Athletes, Eddie Comeaux, Sara E. Grummert

Journal of Issues in Intercollegiate Athletics

There are increasing concerns about the quality of educational experiences of NCAA Division I Black athletes in big-time college sports. Calls for reform have come from within colleges and universities and beyond. This article presents findings from a review of the extant research on high-impact engagement activities of Black athletes, which have been shown to be conditional on the campus racial climate and antiblack racism in the multibillion-dollar athletics enterprise. The article concludes with an introduction to the Career Transition Scorecard, a mechanism and process designed to shift cognitive frames among practitioners, foster evidence-based practices, and improve campus experiences and …