Digital Commons Network^™

White Matter Microstructure Of Sensorimotor Projection Fibers In Chronic Low Back Pain, John R. White, Jennifer M.C. Vendemia, Zachary Baty, Sheri Silfies, Stephen A. Coombes

Faculty Publications

Introduction: 

Chronic low back pain (cLBP) is linked to altered cortical sensorimotor structure and function, yet white matter microstructure in sensorimotor projection fibers remains poorly characterized. Objective: To address this gap, we used diffusion MRI to comprehensively characterize sensorimotor projection fibers in 44 patients with cLBP and 41 matched healthy controls.

Methods: 

We estimated an array of microstructural measures, including fractional anisotropy (FA), extracellular free water fraction (FW), free water–corrected FA (fwcFA), and neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) metrics.

Results: 

General linear models identified significantly higher FA and fwcFA and lower orientation dispersion index (ODI) in cLBP vs …

Experience Therapy: How Service Experiences Regulate Everyday Negative Affect, Chang Ma Ph.D., Jae Eun Park, Alei Fan, Laurie Wu

Faculty Publications

In today's fast-paced and high-pressure society, maintaining emotional well-being requires effective strategies for managing everyday negative affect. This research examines the role of service experiences in reducing negative affect and introduces experience therapy as a novel strategy for affect regulation. Through a series of studies, we assess the effectiveness of experience therapy and investigate how different service experiences—varying in levels of personal effort involvement and social involvement—contribute to negative affect regulation. The findings demonstrate that experiences requiring high personal effort and social involvement are particularly effective in alleviating negative affect, especially among emotionally stressed individuals. These effects are mediated, respectively, …

Saag: Structured Agent Assessment And Grounding, Ritvik Garimella, Vedant Khandelwal, Anvi Kohli, Amit Sheth

Publications

Exact-match evaluation of agent-calling obscures qualitatively different failure modes: a model may select the right function yet hallucinate argument values, or satisfy a schema while choosing a agent for the wrong reason. Existing benchmarks collapse these distinctions into a single binary score, leaving practitioners unable to diagnose where agent calls fail. We propose SAAG a cascaded diagnostic framework that decomposes agent-calling evaluation into three sequential stages: registry conformance, structural completeness, and argument grounding, each producing interpretable stage-specific diagnostics. These diagnostics additionally enable iterative self-repair: on prediction failure, the stage-specific signal guides targeted correction without leaking ground-truth values. We evaluate this …

The Meaning And Measurement Of Unrealised Fertility: A Comparison Of Measures Among Women Ages 40-49 In The United States, Kathleen Broussard

Faculty Publications

Unrealised fertility – when people fall short of their childbearing goals – is inconsistently defined and measured, leading to wide variation in estimates of its prevalence and implications for health and well-being. Using a nationally representative sample of U.S. women aged 40–49, this study compares four potential approaches to measurement, finding prevalence estimates that range from 3.5% to 22.4% across indicators. Multivariable logistic regression models reveal that the social and reproductive health correlates of unrealised fertility also vary according to the selected indicator. Improved measures of unrealised fertility are needed to inform our understanding of fertility barriers, including who is …

The Ccu Disease Hunters: Putting Undergraduate Research To Work To Improve Community Health And Training The Next Generation Of Doctors, Paul E. Richardson

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Table Of Contents

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

Restoration Of Neural-Based Function: Collaborative, Multidisciplinary Research To Develop Neurorehabilitation Knowledge, Measures, And Tools To Improve Function In The Real World, Steven A. Kautz

Journal of the South Carolina Academy of Science

No abstract provided.

May 6, 2026 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

A Qualitative Analysis Of Reddit Posts Made By Formerly Incarcerated Women, Madison R. Diaz

Graduate Student Thesis

Women with felony convictions who serve prison sentences encounter significant barriers during reentry, making it difficult to achieve stability. These barriers are shaped by stigma, background check policies, and limited access to supportive resources, often leading to feelings of hopelessness and isolation. The current study analyzes Reddit posts made by self-identified women in the r/Felons subreddit to understand how they describe these barriers and how they use online spaces for support. A qualitative content analysis was used to identify common themes related to employment, education, housing, and stigma. Many posts reflect frustration, discouragement, and anger toward the criminal justice system …

Attentional Mechanisms Of Language In Infants With Down Syndrome, Fragile X Syndrome And Siblings Of Children With Autism, Isabelle Robinson

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Children with Down syndrome (DS), fragile X syndrome (FXS), or younger siblings of a child with autism spectrum disorder (ASIB) often exhibit atypical object exploration and social engagement, which can affect important learning opportunities. The purpose of this study was to examine group differences in social attention shifting and attentional disengagement between infants with DS, FXS, and ASIBs. This study utilized data from a longitudinal study collected from 12-month-old infants with DS (n = 13), FXS (n = 14), and ASIBs (n = 24). No group differences were seen for social attention shifting. However, infants with DS …

The Role Of Paraprofessionals In The Mental Health Structure Of India, Amy Abraham, Kimberly D. Becker, Wendy Chu

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

The mental health treatment gap in India is part of a growing public health crisis, with over 95% of those in need of services never receiving them. Over 197 million Indians suffer from at least one diagnosable mental health disorder, and this number continues to grow given the treatment gap. The treatment gap is a result of four major factors: lack of government support, stigma, limited treatment facilities, and dearth of professionals able to provide treatment. The current study aimed to analyze several factors of paraprofessional-led mental health interventions including setting, treatments delivered, treatment models, and client outcomes. A narrative …

Moving America: A Study Examining The Relationships Between Early Residential Mobility, Anxiety And Academic Performance, Kelsey Thomas, Wendy Chu, Melanie Palomares

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Early residential mobility has known negative effects on mental health outcomes and academic achievement. These effects have been studied broadly and globally, yet there lacks attention in examining early residential mobility to specific localities, regions, or states. As such, this study sought to investigate these associations, specifically its impact on anxiety and academic performance in adults residing or living in South Carolina. Participants were surveyed online regarding their demographic information, academic performance, and anxiety levels. Results found no significant relationships between early residential mobility, anxiety, and academic performance among adults residing or living in South Carolina. Despite these null findings, …

Examining Biobehavioral Indicators Of Adhd In Children With Fxs, Hannah Pressler, Kayla Smith, Ramsey Coyle, Elizabeth Will, Jane E. Roberts

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by inattention and hyperactivity/impulsivity behaviors that are inconsistent with developmental age. Children with fragile X syndrome (FXS), a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, are often diagnosed with comorbid ADHD (53–59% of males with FXS). Despite the prevalence of ADHD in FXS, little is known about the early manifestation of ADHD. The current project aims to explore group differences in play behaviors between children with FXS and typically developing (TD) children as well as the relationship between infant play behavior and heart activity to future ADHD attention outcomes. Participants included male children with FXS and …

Predator Or Prey: The Analysis Of Gender And Race On The Perception Of Black Men As Sexual Assault Victims, Jordyn Livingston, Dr. Florencia Cornet

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Men sexual assault victims have gained more attention in recent years. Despite the growing sociological literature on violence against men, previous research provides little acknowledgment of Black men sexual assault victims. In this manuscript, I analyze emerging literature in the socio-medical sciences to explore how gender and race affects the perceptions of Black men as sexual assault victims. Specifically, I utilize intersectionality as a theoretical framework to synthesize literature on blackness and masculinity in sexual assault victims to conclude that there is an intersectional point that disadvantages Black males, portraying them as sexual predators. In so doing, I provide research …

Effect Of Ampk On Exercise-Induced Adipocyte Metabolism, Alec M. Giakas, Ran Hee Choi, Ho-Jin Koh

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Regular physical activity is a recommended strategy to prevent obesity via increasing fatty acid metabolism. AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) has been associated with the activation of lipolysis in adipose tissue. Furthermore, it has been demonstrated that a single bout of exercise increases AMPK activity in adipocytes; however, the mechanism by which AMPK regulates exercise-induced adipocyte metabolism has yet to be determined. To examine the role of AMPK in exercise-induced adipocyte metabolism, we utilized fat-specific AMPK alpha 1 and alpha 2 knockout mice (FKO). Wild type (WT) and FKO mice were divided into sedentary (Sed) and exercise (EX) groups. After 6 …

Connecting On Campus: Exploring The Motivations And Behaviors Of College Students On Dating Apps, Emma Doyle, Melanie Palomares

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Dating apps are increasingly popular among young people, including college students. However, these apps can be quite versatile, and there can be a number of reasons why a college student would use them, whether they are looking for a serious relationship, casual sex, or anything in between. Our study evaluated the intents, behaviors, and satisfaction of college students who used dating apps. Using Chi-Square and independent samples t-test analyses, results show that while satisfaction ratings were similar between men and women, more men use dating apps than women, which suggests that women might have a more negative perception of dating …

The Impact Of Weekly Workouts On Self-Reported Happiness Among College Students, Reid Davis, Melanie Palomares

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

College students are consistently at risk for depressive behaviors during a major time of habit transition (i.e., a time of gaining autonomy while developing their own lifestyle and health habits) and gaining in independence; this is met with only half of them not engaging in at least moderately vigorous exercise (Catellier 2013; Powell, 2019). The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of types of exercise (cardio, weightlifting, and yoga/pilates) that undergraduate college students voluntarily engaged in on their subjective current and general happiness levels. There were 52 participants in the study, all undergraduates at the University of …

The Universe Under A Microscope, Claire Chabot

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Changes In Medical Knowledge And Patent Medicine, Anna Mcnamee

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

This paper examines advertisements for patent medicines and nostrums, from the Colonial Period to the Food and Drug Act of 1906.  The Pure Food and Drug Act represented the triumph of the medical profession over state legislation and unsupervised patent medicine manufacturing. Tracing these advertisements alongside the historiography of science, medicine, and advertising; this paper argues that advertisements for patent medicine represent a shift in the culture of healing and the growth of medical knowledge in the United States. By the end of the nineteenth century, science and medicine made great advances and medical professionals began influencing both state and …

Evaluating The Role Of Stress, Self-Perceptions Of Health, And Self-Efficacy On Physical Activity Over Time: Results From Project Drive, Ashlynn Riley, Allison Sweeney, Dawn K. Wilson

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Most Americans are not meeting the recommended levels of physical activity. In underserved communities, these inequities are even greater, with African American women being less likely to engage in physical activity and being at greater risk for chronic disease relative to non-minority women. This study seeks to further understand the factors that support or undermine engagement in physical activity among African American women. Specifically, the present study evaluates the impact of stress, self-perceptions of health, and self-efficacy on physical activity engagement in a 10-week physical activity intervention program for African American women. Participants (N = 33) completed measures of …

Dominance Linearity And Steepness In Captive Western Lowland Gorillas, Nate Wichmann

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Many animals live in social groups for a variety of reasons, whether it is for hunting strategies, predator avoidance, or enhanced resource acquisition. These groups often develop a social network and/or dominance hierarchy within the population, with certain individuals gaining advantages or disadvantages based upon one’s rank within a group. Dominance hierarchies can be assessed on the grounds of structure, and, more recently, steepness.  Structure can be assessed by determining and comparing the rank of each individual (quantified by David’s scores). These scores can then be plotted and analyzed to determine the steepness of the dominance hierarchy. A dominance hierarchy …

Early Behavioral And Physiological Predictors Of Autism In 12-Month-Old Siblings Of Children With Autism, Nicolas Poupore, Kayla Smith, Abigail L. Hogan, Jane E. Roberts Ph.D.

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a neurodevelopmental disorder defined by social-communicative deficits and repetitive behaviors. Complementing behavioral (i.e., The Autism Observation Scale for Infants (AOSI) scores) and physiological markers (i.e., respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA), heart rate (HR)) may improve early identification of ASD and provide insights into the neurobiological mechanisms contributing to early ASD symptoms. Younger siblings of a child with ASD (ASIBs) had significantly higher AOSI Total Scores and AOSI Marker Scores in comparison to Low Risk Controls (LRCs). RSA significantly decreased from a Baseline to AOSI for both groups, but only for the ASIB group was a negative …

Sedentary Behaviors And Measured Physical Activity In College Student Populations, Vanessa Grout, Elizabeth A. Easley, Sarah H. Sellhorst, William F. Riner

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Injuries In Youth Football: A Two Year Descriptive Study Of Local South Carolina Football Leagues, Marie Morrissette, Dr. Jim Mensch, Dr. Daheia Barr-Anderson

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

There has been an increase in the media attention surrounding retired National Football League players and the lasting effects from previous injuries.  With more than 20 million children under the age of 17 participating in competitive sports, the attention in the lasting effects of injuries in professional players has trickled down to the youth level.  Of the approximately 20 million children participating in competitive sports, the largest portion of the participants is playing youth football.  The University of South Carolina Athletic Training Department is partaking in a multisite research study conducted by the Datalys Center to track the injuries of …

The Victimization Of Heterosexual Males: A Literature Review On Domestic Violence, Chris Friendly, Christine Palmer Mph, Edd, Ches

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Domestic violence, defined as both emotional and physical abuse in intimate relationships, is a pressing issue in today’s society. Because of its serious nature, domestic violence has become a topic of great interest and concern for many public health researchers. However, an overwhelming degree of the studies conducted by these investigators only examine the effects of domestic violence on the female population. In this literature review, 27 sources, both peer-reviewed articles and literature reviews, were previewed. Of the 27 sources, only four were specific to male victimization. This literature review highlights the research disparity between female and male domestic violence …

Gesture Development In Infants With Fragile X Syndrome, Killian R. Hughes, Jessica Klusek Ph.D., Ccc-Slp, Carsyn Butler B.A., Jane E. Roberts Ph.D.

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Fragile X syndrome (FXS) is the most common known cause of inherited intellectual disability and also the most common known genetic cause of autism spectrum disorder (ASD; Flenthrope & Brady, 2010). About 60% of males diagnosed with FXS meet criteria for ASD (Klusek et al., 2014). Communication impairments are well documented in FXS and ASD; however, limited research has been done to examine early communication in FXS. Gesture use is one of the earliest signs of intentionality and can serve as an early red flag for atypical communication development, even before delays in spoken language are evident (Crais et al, …

Commercializing The Body: Trade. Contract, And Agency In The Merchant Of Venice, John Gullege, Jennifer Tyburczy

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

In this article, I take Shakespeare’s play The Merchant of Venice as my backdrop to explore and illuminate how the commercialization of flesh and body in the play can only fully be understood through its contextualization in sociological concepts of gift-exchange, early modern contract law, and the rise of the merchant class during this period. At this time, English economy, contract law, and cultural notions of agency/autonomy were all shifting and expanding both theoretically and pragmatically, and much has been said about the historical consequences these changes caused – how mercantile culture permeated English society, how the reexamination of contractual …

Towards Improving The Performance Of The Adcirc Storm Surge Modeling Software, Nick Weldner, Tim Stitt, Jijun Tang

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

Accurately predicting storms and hurricanes is critical to saving lives and reducing economic loss. Therefore, it is necessary to use the most efficient software and hardware technology available in order to improve the performance and fidelity of these predictive mathematical models. For over ten years, the Computational Hydraulics Lab (CHL) at the University of Notre Dame has been involved in developing the high-resolution ADvanced CIRCulation (ADCIRC) storm surge model to predict storm surges in coastal areas. The objective of the work reported here was to port a novel adaption of the parallel ADCIRC code to the state-of-the-art Intel Xeon Phi …

Roman Holiday: December 25, 800, And The Philosophical Origins Of Charlemagne’S Purple Reign, Julius Sykes, Alexia Helsley

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.

Sustaining The Land Of Ice And Fire, Chandler Green

Caravel Undergraduate Research Journal

No abstract provided.