Digital Commons Network^™

Evaluating The Role Of Data Enrichment Approaches Towards Rare Event Analysis In Manufacturing, Chathurangi Shyalika, Ruwan Wickramarachchi, Fadi El Kalach, Ramy Harik, Amit P. Sheth

Publications

Rare events are occurrences that take place with a significantly lower frequency than more common, regular events. These events can be categorized into distinct categories, from frequently rare to extremely rare, based on factors like the distribution of data and significant differences in rarity levels. In manufacturing domains, predicting such events is particularly important, as they lead to unplanned downtime, a shortening of equipment lifespans, and high energy consumption. Usually, the rarity of events is inversely correlated with the maturity of a manufacturing industry. Typically, the rarity of events affects the multivariate data generated within a manufacturing process to be …

A Generalization Of The Graham-Pollak Tree Theorem To Even-Order Steiner Distance, Joshua N. Cooper, Gabrielle Tauscheck

Faculty Publications

Graham and Pollak showed in 1971 that the determinant of a tree’s distance matrix depends only on its number of vertices, and, in particular, it is always nonzero. The Steiner distance of a collection of 𝑘 vertices in a graph is the fewest number of edges in any connected subgraph containing those vertices; for 𝑘 =2 , this reduces to the ordinary definition of graphical distance. Here we show that the hyperdeterminant of the 𝑘 th order Steiner distance hypermatrix is always nonzero if 𝑘 is even, extending their result beyond 𝑘 =2 . Previously, the authors showed that the …

Automatic Uncovering Of Patient Primary Concerns In Portal Messages Using A Fusion Framework Of Pretrained Language Models, Yang Ren, Yuqi Wu, Jungwei W. Fan, Aditya Khurana, Sunyang Fu, Dezhi Wu, Hongfang Liu, Ming Huang

Publications

Objectives: The surge in patient portal messages (PPMs) with increasing needs and workloads for efficient PPM triage in healthcare settings has spurred the exploration of AI-driven solutions to streamline the healthcare workflow processes, ensuring timely responses to patients to satisfy their healthcare needs. However, there has been less focus on isolating and understanding patient primary concerns in PPMs-a practice which holds the potential to yield more nuanced insights and enhances the quality of healthcare delivery and patient-centered care. Materials and Methods: We propose a fusion framework to leverage pretrained language models (LMs) with different language advantages via a Convolution Neural …

University Of South Carolina Libraries Collection Development Policy, University Of South Carolina Libraries

University Libraries Policies and Reports

University Libraries supports the mission and vision of the University of South Carolina by building and managing general collections that support student success and research excellence. In developing its general collections, University Libraries strives to respond to current and anticipated teaching and research needs, to provide the broadest possible access to library resources, and to responsibly steward materials of enduring academic value.

Barriers And Facilitators To 24-Month Maintenance Of The Faith, Activity, And Nutrition Program In The U.S., Kelsey R. Day, John A. Bernhart Ph.D., Rd, Sara Wilcox Phd

Faculty Publications

Little is known about the barriers and facilitators to organizational maintenance of faith-based health promotion programs. This study used qualitative data (collected from 2016–2019) from pastors (n = 81) and program coordinators (n = 103) to identify barriers and facilitators to 24-month maintenance of a faith-based physical activity (PA) and healthy eating (HE) intervention in South Carolina. Barriers differed for PA versus HE: resistance to change impeded HE while church characteristics tended to impede PA. Similar themes emerged for PA and HE facilitators: healthy opportunities, church communication, and consistency. Future research should build upon this study to tailor faith-based health …

Review Of Fourth-Order Predictive Modeling And Illustrative Application To A Nuclear Reactor Benchmark. I. Typical High-Order Sensitivity And Uncertainty Analysis, Dan Gabriel Cacuci, Ruixian Fang

Faculty Publications

This work (in two parts) will review the recently developed predictive modeling methodology called “4th-BERRU-PM” and its applicability to nuclear energy systems as exemplified by an illustrative application to the Polyethylene-Reflected Plutonium (acronym: PERP) OECD/NEA reactor physics benchmark. The acronym 4th-BERRU-PM designates the “Fourth-Order Best-Estimate Results with Reduced Uncertainties Predictive Modeling” methodology, which uses the Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) principle to incorporate fourth-order experimental and computational information, including fourth (and higher) order sensitivities of computed model responses to model parameters, while yielding best-estimate results with reduced uncertainties for the first fourth-order moments (mean values, covariance, skewness, and kurtosis) of the optimally …

Modeling Rate Dependent Volume Change In Porous Electrodes In Lithium-Ion Batteries, Taylor R. Garrick, Miguel A. Fernandez, Brian J. Koch, Erin Efimoff, Matthew Jones, Rafid Mollah, Hunter Teel, Xiaoniu Du, Sirivatch Shimpalee, Song-Yul Choe, Venkat R. Subramanian, Jason B. Siegel

Faculty Publications

Automotive manufacturers are working to improve individual cell, module, and overall pack design by increasing the performance, range, and durability, while reducing cost. One key piece to consider during the design process is the active material volume change, its linkage to the particle, electrode, and cell level volume changes, and the interplay with structural components in the rechargeable energy storage system. As the time from initial design to manufacture of electric vehicles decreases, design work needs to move to the virtual domain; therefore, a need for coupled electrochemical-mechanical models that take into account the active material volume change and the …

Development And Validity Of The 'Modified Mediterranean Prime Screen' To Assess Dietary Intake Among Women Of Reproductive Age In Lebanon, Mariam Assaad, Sara Ajjour, Maya Rahme, Laila Al-Shaar, May Sakr, Hala Ghattas Ph.D., Ghada El-Hajj Fuleihan, Jana Jabbour

Faculty Publications

The Mediterranean Region registers an increasing prevalence of obesity. The region lacks a diet screener to assess obesogenic nutrients. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility and validity of the Modified Mediterranean Prime Screen (MMPS) in estimating obesogenic nutrients' intake among women of reproductive age, as compared with a culturally validated Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ), in Lebanon. We developed the MMPS consisting of thirty-two food/beverage items specific to the Lebanese Mediterranean culture. The MMPS and FFQ were administered in two visits (2 weeks-6 months apart), face to face and via telephone during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. The reproducibility and …

Toward Concurrent Identification Of Human Activities With A Single Unifying Neural Network Classification: First Step, Andrew Smith, Musa Azeem, Chrisogonas O. Odhiambo, Pamela J. Wright Phd, Ms, Med, Rn, Cen, Hanim E. Diktas, Spencer Upton, Corby K. Martin, Brett Froeliger, Cynthia F. Corbett, Homayoun Valafar

Publications

The characterization of human behavior in real-world contexts is critical for developing a comprehensive model of human health. Recent technological advancements have enabled wearables and sensors to passively and unobtrusively record and presumably quantify human behavior. Better understanding human activities in unobtrusive and passive ways is an indispensable tool in understanding the relationship between behavioral determinants of health and diseases. Adult individuals (N = 60) emulated the behaviors of smoking, exercising, eating, and medication (pill) taking in a laboratory setting while equipped with smartwatches that captured accelerometer data. The collected data underwent expert annotation and was used to train a …

Development Of A Simple And Accurate Polymerase Chain Reaction Screen For Human Papillomavirus In College Students, Emily Bishop, Owen Smith, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

Human Papillomavirus (HPV) is, according to the CDC, the most common sexually transmitted infection (STI) with many infections developing in a person's late teens or early 20’s. HPV is a nonenveloped, relatively small, icosahedral DNA virus that infects squamous epithelial cells. This infection can happen in genital, anal, and oral cavities. 90% of these infections will self-clear in two years according to the CDC. Of the 10% of infections that do not clear in two years, they could develop into carcinomas later in life. The goal of this developmental research is to create a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) that can …

Black And Latiné Parents' Perspectives On Supporting Their Children's Emotional And Physical Health, Daniel K. Cooper, Jayxa K. Alonzo, Tracey Goldson, Isabel R. Jordan, Fatima Jatoi, Isabella Mallozzi, Francesca Lupini

Faculty Publications

Informed by integrative models of cultural resilience, the purpose of this study was to (a) explore how parents are promoting their children's emotional and physical health, with a focus on race and ethnic-racial socialization strategies, and (b) identify the barriers and challenges parents are experiencing in supporting their children's health. Ethnically racially matched qualitative interviews were conducted with 33 parents (82% women, 64% Black, 36% Latiné). Results of thematic analysis revealed three overarching themes: (a) Strategies for Promoting Children's Physical and Emotional Health, (b) Challenges Promoting Children's Physical and Emotional Health, and (c) Impact of Racism on Parenting and Children's …

Evaluation Of A Team-Based Model Of Nursing Care In The Acute Care Setting, Vanetta W. White

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem: The current nursing shortage is much different than the ones we have experienced in previous years. It is predicted that it will have long-lasting effects. With this shortage of nurses, especially in the acute care setting, alternative methods to deliver patient care beyond the current use of primary care models need to be explored. These alternative models of care which include team-based nursing must maintain quality and safety for patients cared for.

Purpose: This project will evaluate the outcomes of returning to a team-based nursing model of care on a medical-surgical unit while continuing to provide safe, quality care …

Implementation And Evaluation Of A Neonatal Resucitation Program Protocol In Stand-Alone Emergency Department, Hannah Collins Walden

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem statement: Within nursing there are some skills that hold a significant amount of risk. This includes neonatal resuscitation within stand-alone emergency departments. Due to the low frequency of opportunities to practice neonatal resuscitation, nurses must utilize alternative methods to maintain current evidence-based practice. Purpose: The purpose of this project was to evaluate the effectiveness of a protocol incorporating Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) preparedness and simulation to increase stand-alone emergency department nurses’ perceived clinical competence to performing neonatal resuscitation. Methods: The development and implementation of a protocol that defines and incorporates NRP roles, provides a maintenance checklist for …

Measurement-Based Mental Health In Adolescents, Ayzia Lynn Taylor

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adolescent mental health is a growing concern. Children and adolescents are commonly diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, and depression. Some youth may also experience co-occurring symptoms that their primary healthcare provider must distinguish to appropriately diagnose and treat.

Purpose: The project aimed to implement measurement-based care for adolescents between the ages of 12 to 18 in a pediatric outpatient facility that is not currently utilizing post-assessment screening tools. The project seeks justification for treatment options utilizing pre-assessment screening tools and therapeutic relief with medication intervention determined by post-assessment screening results.

Methods: Adolescents between the ages …

Implementation Of Shared Decision Making To Impact Decisional Conflict In Advancing Chronic Kidney Disease, Margaret Mcannar Sorkin

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: A notable phenomenon in nephrology is indecision regarding treatment for End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD). Indecision regarding treatment for ESRD can lead to suboptimal dialysis starts, creating poorer health outcomes, decreased quality of life, and higher healthcare costs. Purpose: This project aimed to determine if participation in a shared decision-making (SDM) program decreases decisional conflict in patients with advancing renal disease deciding between ESRD treatment options. Methods: A pretest-posttest design was used. Participants were recruited from a private nephrology practice. Inclusion Criteria: English-speaking patients, over the age of 20, with Chronic Kidney Disease Stages 4 or 5 (estimated …

Implementing The 5a’S Of Obesity Management In Primary Care, Holly H. Rowell

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: The prevalence of obesity continues to increase globally, with greater prevalence in the southern United States, resulting in higher costs to the healthcare system and greater risks for the development of other chronic diseases. Purpose: Determine if implementing the 5A’s of Obesity Management among primary care providers in a rural, low-income healthcare setting will increase the diagnosis of obesity and result in a subsequent decrease in weight among patients who are obese. Methods: An educational session was held to familiarize providers with the 5A’s of Obesity Management and the importance of obtaining and documenting proper height …

Impact Of Hydrogen Peroxide Wipes Disinfecting Clostridioides Difficle On High-Touch Surfaces, Tyler Wolf Ramirez

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Clostridioides difficile is the leading cause of nosocomial diarrheas worldwide (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control [CDC], 2022). 15% of all hospitalized patients in the United States develop antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD), with 15-25% of cases caused by C. difficile (CDC, 2022). C. difficile costs the United States Healthcare system $5.4-6.3 billion annually (Balsells et al., 2019). The project’s purpose was to see if implementing hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) wipes using an interprofessional team leads to the following expected outcome(s): reduction in hospital-acquired C. difficile infections and comparable disinfection rates to sodium hypochlorite. An interprofessional team consisting of the primary lead, Clinical …

Human Papillomavirus Vaccination Rates Among Adolescents In South Carolina, Rebecca Jane Morrison

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Among adolescents 11-17 years of age in South Carolina, low rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination can negatively impact health outcomes through increased risk of acquiring HPV-associated cancers.

Purpose: To determine if the 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit increased HPV vaccination rates among adolescent patients.

Methods: The 4 Pillars™ Immunization Toolkit was the framework for this bundled intervention. Pillar 1, convenience and easy access, included after-school HPV express clinics. Pillar 2, communication, utilized staff motivational interviewing skills, campaign promotion materials, documentation of declination, and second-dose callback appointments. Pillar 3, enhanced vaccination systems, was designed to use …

Impact Of The Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score On Inpatient Length Of Stay On Inpatient Psychiatric Units Within An Acute Care Hospital, Princess P. Minter

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Insufficient discharge planning at the time of patient admission can result in increased hospitalization length of stay and poor clinical outcomes, including a rapid deterioration of stabilized patients’ mental status while unnecessarily waiting for discharge arrangements to be put in place at the time of discharge. Purpose: To determine if completing the Blaylock Risk Assessment Screening Score (BRASS) index tool to identify barriers to discharge at the time of patient admission impacts the length of stay for patients admitted to general psychiatric inpatient units. Methods: Patient admission and discharge data collected using the BRASS index within 48 hours …

Assessing Readiness To Quit As An Intervention For Tobacco Cessation In Oncology Patients, Victoria Gabriela Maddox

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Smoking and tobacco use is the leading cause of preventable death in the United States. Twenty percent of all cancer diagnoses are directly linked to smoking, and tobacco-related diseases and cancers contribute to one in every five deaths annually in the United States. Less than one in ten smokers are successful at quitting. Smokers attempting to quit are more successful in cessation programs after evaluation of self-efficacy, such as the readiness to quit.

Purpose: This evidence-based practice project aimed to evaluate the impact of motivational interviewing with the 5A’s model on smoking cessation efforts in patients at an …

Use Of An Audit And Feedback Tool And Sglt-2 Inhibitors To Delay Progression Of Chronic Kidney Disease, Megan Elaine Lanpher

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Adults with Type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease experience a higher risk for progression to end-stage kidney disease, which negatively impacts health, increases medical costs, and decreases quality of life. Purpose: Determine if an audit and feedback intervention in a local nephrology clinic can increase provider adherence to a clinical practice guideline that supports the prescription of sodium glucose cotransporter-2 (SGLT-2) inhibitors. Methods: A pretest-posttest design was used to determine if an audit and feedback tool delivered to providers at three-week intervals would increase prescription of SGLT-2 inhibitors in adults with Type 2 diabetes and chronic …

Appropriate Policies For Patients Utilizing Insulin Pumps With Continuous Glucose Monitoring During Hospital Admission, Mary Elizabeth Holiday

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: A growing number of patients with diabetes are using advanced diabetes management technology with an integrated insulin pump and continuous glucose monitor (CGM); however, multiple concerns surround their use during hospitalization, ranging from patient safety risks to nursing comfort in overseeing these devices.

Purpose: This project aimed to determine if an accurate, reformed inpatient policy supporting specific automated insulin pump use during admission maintained patient glucose control, improved patient satisfaction, and increased nursing comfort levels.

Methods: Pre- and post-policy nursing knowledge surveys, retrospective admission glucose metrics, and patient experience narratives were evaluated.

Inclusion Criteria: Patients and nurses were …

Reducing Wait Times For Psychiatric Intakes, Ryan Brad Carsten

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Early intervention for mental illness is vital to a swift recovery and extended wait times for mental health treatment have proven to be a barrier to early intervention. Purpose: The purpose of this quality improvement project was to determine if wait times for psychiatry intakes at the University of South Carolina (USC) Student Health Center Psychiatry Services can be reduced and kept under 1 week by utilizing the Specific Timely Appointments for Triage (STAT) model. This model consists of clinicians scheduling a specified number of intake appointments based on the typical demand for service. Students were booked in …

Using Visual Thinking Strategies To Increase Empathy Levels In Inpatient Psychiatric Nurses: A Quality Improvement Project, Katharine E. Harding

Doctor of Nursing Practice Scholarly Projects

Problem Statement: Research indicates that empathy is declining in today’s behavioral health nursing workforce. Purpose: The aim of this quality improvement project was to apply an evidence-based Visual Thinking Strategies intervention to the clinical problem and increase empathy levels from pre-survey measurement among psychiatric nurses. Method: VTS methodology was employed through in-person interviews where participants viewed art-based images pertaining to mental health. Feedback from semi-structured questions was shared among participants. Pre and post-test interventional quantitative data via The Jefferson Scale of Empathy-Health Provider version (JSE-HP) and The Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI) instruments were collected. Inclusion Criteria: Participants were voluntarily recruited …

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 …

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 …

"Ain’T No Slump...I Just Ain’T Hittin’": Investigating Psychological Momentum And Loss Aversion In Major League Baseball, Josephine Matalone

Theses and Dissertations

Throughout the history of America’s pastime, it has long been concluded among fans, athletes, and coaches alike that momentum is a key element necessary should one want to win when it counts. However, this issue of “hot hand” existence in the context of baseball has been largely glazed over since the canon of literature on the topic was initiated, and even more so has the concept of a “cold hand.” This study seeks to make a novel contribution by exploring streaks in professional baseball. Using 10-years’ worth of regular season MLB data between 2012 and 2021, a comparative analysis of …

Sacred Symbols In A Secular World: Religious Imagery In The Works Of Jack London And Sylvia Plath, Kathleen Elizabeth Long

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis seeks to investigate and analyze the presence of religious symbolism in the novels of Jack London and Sylvia Plath, two authors whose atheist beliefs comingle in intriguing ways with this sacred imagery, offering rich ground for comparative analysis. Despite London’s fervent Darwinist beliefs, he injects subtle religious motif within The Call of the Wild, devoted to promoting atheist thought yet yearning for the grandiosity of myth. Similarly, Plath uses allusions to Judaism within her novel The Bell Jar, subverting classical religious tradition to associate it with themes of animal savagery. By studying these two texts, this …

Social Media Use And Interactivity: An Application Of Uses And Gratifications, Patrick Bush

Theses and Dissertations

Accessing news media and the coverage of current events has become streamlined and exponentially easier to access due to the explosive growth of internet usage and by extent the increase of social media usage. As this form of media continues to evolve and becomes not only more accessible, but accepted by a variety of audiences, some parties may seek to find or create their own public spheres of influence online to share information and develop conversations relevant to the participants therein. It is here where the concept of digital storytelling becomes a heavy influence on how the individual not only …

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 …