Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Digital Commons Network™

Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®

Theses and Dissertations

Discipline
Institution
Keyword
Publication Year
File Type

Articles 2881 - 2910 of 30814

Full-Text Articles in Entire DC Network

Saved By Naloxone: The Path To Sobriety?, Marli Rose-Firillo Fichtner Jul 2024

Saved By Naloxone: The Path To Sobriety?, Marli Rose-Firillo Fichtner

Theses and Dissertations

Beginning in the early 2000s, lawmakers sought to mitigate harm and reduce mortality rates by enacting various policies and increasing community outreach, such as educating society about the dangers of opioids. These efforts can be divided into two broad categories: Drug use prevention and harm reduction. Research has been conducted on both of these strategies, utilizing retrospective analysis on outcomes including crime and mortality, among others. It is of great interest to understand which policies are most effective. NALs are an example of harm reduction because they reverse overdoses should they occur. Preemptive naloxone distribution reduces the likelihood of fatal …


Humanizing Healthcare: Supporting Lgbtq+ Healthcare Professionals And Trainees, Atticus Wolfe Jul 2024

Humanizing Healthcare: Supporting Lgbtq+ Healthcare Professionals And Trainees, Atticus Wolfe

Theses and Dissertations

The public perception of the healthcare profession has been shifting in recent years largely attributed to the rise of scientific and medical skepticism impacting perceptions of the value of healthcare professionals and care itself (Goddard & Patel 2021). While healthcare professions remain associated with higher public value, healthcare professionals and trainees are expected to adhere to rigid expectations of medical professionalism that may contradict other aspects of their identities. LGBTQ+ identity in particular may pose conflicts to the expectations of healthcare professionalism, contributing to lower self-perceived value for LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals and trainees compared to non-LGBTQ+ healthcare professionals and trainees …


Exploring The Impact Of Neonatal Transport On The Health Of Black Preterm Infants And Psychosocial Challenges Faced By Parents In Relation To Social Determinants Of Socioeconomic And Racial Inequities, Karen Faye Warren Jul 2024

Exploring The Impact Of Neonatal Transport On The Health Of Black Preterm Infants And Psychosocial Challenges Faced By Parents In Relation To Social Determinants Of Socioeconomic And Racial Inequities, Karen Faye Warren

Theses and Dissertations

Neonatal transport is a unique aspect of preterm birth. This descriptive, exploratory dissertation study used a multiple-case study design, and mixed methods approach to describe the trajectory of Black preterm outborn infants and their mothers from birth, through transport to a referral center through NICU hospitalization until discharge, for a detailed analysis of each case. The specific aims were 1) Describe each infant's transport trajectory, including baseline characteristics of the community hospital of birth (size, level of care, birthing resources), transport characteristics (mode, distance, personnel), and infant health from birth to arrival of regional referral neonatal intensive care unit; 2) …


A Careful Examination Of The Parameters Impacting The Study Of Plant/Bacteria Interactions, Caroline Victoria Royals Jul 2024

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 …


Medication Adherence Between Long-Acting Injectable And Oral Antipsychotic Medications In South Carolina Medicaid Beneficiaries With Schizophrenia, Pujing Zhao Jul 2024

Medication Adherence Between Long-Acting Injectable And Oral Antipsychotic Medications In South Carolina Medicaid Beneficiaries With Schizophrenia, Pujing Zhao

Theses and Dissertations

Background: Schizophrenia is a chronic and serious mental disorder that affects millions of individuals worldwide. A recent study shows the prevalence of schizophrenia globally is about 1%. The primary schizophrenia treatment goal is to effectively manage symptoms and prevent relapses. Antipsychotic medications are very important for the treatment of schizophrenia. However, the prevalence of nonadherence to antipsychotic medication is high, with mean rates reaching 41.2%. In the realm of schizophrenia treatment, two primary categories of medications are utilized: long-acting injectable antipsychotics (LAI) and oral antipsychotic agents (OAP).LAI are administered at intervals spanning from two weeks to several months and have …


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 Jul 2024

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 Jul 2024

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 …


Light Em' Up, Lorna Renee Young Jul 2024

Light Em' Up, Lorna Renee Young

Theses and Dissertations

In this thesis I will document and explore my process from researching the show to putting it on stage. Theatre is different from concert lighting which I have experience in but lighting in a theatre capacity is still new and through every show I was able to learn something new. Through this program I have learned how to successfully take a script from the paperwork to the stage.


Developing A Behavior-Based Measure Of Teacher-Student Relationship Quality, Amanda Lynn Davis Jul 2024

Developing A Behavior-Based Measure Of Teacher-Student Relationship Quality, Amanda Lynn Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Students benefit from close, supportive relationships with their teachers. When students feel supported by their teachers, they tend to perform more strongly on social, emotional, behavioral, and academic outcomes compared to peers whose relationships with their teachers are conflictual or strained. Emerging evidence suggests that the quality of these relationships may be improved through interventions that increase teachers’ relationship-building behaviors. Yet, the field lacks a measure that explores teacher-student relationship quality by examining the frequency of the specific relationship-building behaviors that may be subject to intervention. The current study aims to address this problem by developing and pilot testing a …


Social Cognitive Factors That Contribute To Student Retention In A High School Engineering Pathway: A Longitudinal Study, Matthew Vargyas Jul 2024

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 …


Understanding Cancer Grade And Survival Disparities Among Young Adults Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma (Nhl) Residing In South Carolina, Prema S. Bhattacharjee Jul 2024

Understanding Cancer Grade And Survival Disparities Among Young Adults Diagnosed With Non-Hodgkin’S Lymphoma (Nhl) Residing In South Carolina, Prema S. Bhattacharjee

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction. Previous research has shown that age and cancer grade differences must be carefully considered when developing initiatives to improve outcomes for NHL among the young adult population. The aims of this study are 1) to examine differences between low vs. high grade in NHL by race/ethnicity, healthcare insurance, and geographic factors among YAs aged 18-39 years of age in South Carolina, 2) to examine delays in the first course of cancer treatment for NHL by race/ethnicity, healthcare insurance, and county of residence (urban vs. rural) among YAs aged 18-39 years of age in South Carolina, and 3) examine differences …


Optimization Of A Nanotechnology-Based System For The Treatment Of Electroplating Wastewater, Madeleine Mary Meyer Jul 2024

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 …


Three Essays On Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg), Zhengwei Fu Jul 2024

Three Essays On Environmental, Social, And Governance (Esg), Zhengwei Fu

Theses and Dissertations

This abstract synthesizes findings from three studies examining the impact of environmental, social, and governance (ESG). In essay one, using environmental regulatory enforcement data from EPA, I find that facility-level political connections are positively related to the likelihood of experiencing environmental regulatory enforcement. The effect is mainly driven by political connections related to Democratic senators. Consequently, politically connected facilities reduce their air pollution. The effect of political connection is diminished when the authority of senators over environmental regulatory enforcement becomes weaker after the 2017 presidential election. Heterogeneity analyses reveal that the impact of political connection is stronger in states with …


Investigating The Mediating Effect Of Social Support In Team Sport Participation On Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes, Olivia Schmitke Jul 2024

Investigating The Mediating Effect Of Social Support In Team Sport Participation On Adolescent Mental Health Outcomes, Olivia Schmitke

Theses and Dissertations

Peer and non-familial adult supportive relationships are a critical part of healthy adolescent development, positively influencing psychological, behavioral, and social domains (e.g., Panza et. al., 2020). Extracurricular sports activities are a source of peer (e.g., teammates) and adult (e.g., coaches) relationships and are associated with favorable impacts on mental health which may be an impactful protective factor given the rise of mental health crisis in youth today. The present study aimed to clarify the relationship mechanisms underlying the benefits of sports participation by examining and effecting social support has on mental health outcomes in adolescents engaged in sports. In doing …


Using Youth Participatory Action Research To Scale Up Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (Prep) In The Southern United States, Mariajose Jhamira Paton Jul 2024

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 Jul 2024

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 Jul 2024

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 …


Altered Sensory Processing And Pain In Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: Risk Factors And Moderators, Julia Johnston Jul 2024

Altered Sensory Processing And Pain In Youth With Sickle Cell Disease: Risk Factors And Moderators, Julia Johnston

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Youth with sickle cell disease (SCD) experience recurrent pain and increased risk for chronic pain. Neuropathic pain, characterized by alterations to the central and/or peripheral nervous systems, is not well understood among youth with SCD. Based on our current understanding of pain systems and existing literature on pain in SCD, this study aimed to elucidate psychosocial correlates of altered sensory processing (ASP) and neuropathic pain, determine biomedical risk factors contributing to the development of ASP among youth with SCD, and identify how sensory processing and biopsychosocial factors collectively influence pain experiences by assessing two plausible models. Methods: Thirty-five youth …


Understanding Stressors, Coping Strategies, And Physical Activity Among African American Women Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Asia Brown Jul 2024

Understanding Stressors, Coping Strategies, And Physical Activity Among African American Women Using Ecological Momentary Assessment, Asia Brown

Theses and Dissertations

Psychological stress is a normal part of the human experience and can be adaptive in certain contexts. However, chronic, cumulative, or uncontrollable stressors, such as those associated with living in poverty or being a member of a marginalized group, contribute to pervasive inequities among African American women including lower rates of physical activity. Given the social and political forces that continue to shape inequities, and which have exacerbated Covid-19’s impact on African Americans, it is important to gain a better understanding of how this population is experiencing and coping with current stressors, many of which are embedded within the social …


Sleep Quality And Quantity Assessment Among African American Survivors Of Lung Cancer With And Without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd), Amanda Rae Myhren Dyer Jul 2024

Sleep Quality And Quantity Assessment Among African American Survivors Of Lung Cancer With And Without Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (Copd), Amanda Rae Myhren Dyer

Theses and Dissertations

Introduction: Improving the quality of life of survivors of early-stage lung cancer (NSCLC, Stages I - IIIa) requires attention to persistent, burdensome symptoms, including sleep disturbances. While research exists regarding sleep quality, sleep quantity, and sleep disturbances in cancer survivors, minimal research targets this minority survivor population. The purpose of this study was to measure and assess sleep quality, sleep quantity, and sleep disturbances among African American survivors of lung cancer. Based on the Symptom Management Theory, our comprehensive assessment focuses on a racial minority group and multiple diagnostic groups (COPD vs. No COPD). Methods: This two-group, cross-sectional, descriptive study …


Decisions, Decisions: Dna Damage Induced Modification Of P53 And The Effect Of Modifications On P53 Differential Binding To The Dna, Savannah Gabrielle Keating Jul 2024

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 …


Enabling Novel Nanopore Sensing Approaches For Personalized Medicine Through Chemical Modifications To Analytes, Zehui Zhang Jul 2024

Enabling Novel Nanopore Sensing Approaches For Personalized Medicine Through Chemical Modifications To Analytes, Zehui Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

Nanopore sensors have garnered significant attention recently, not only for their groundbreaking advancements in single-molecule DNA sequencing but also for their diverse applications in stochastic sensing, single-molecule chemistry, and protein unfolding. The interaction of single molecules with the nanopore sensing interface leads to characteristic ionic current modulations, reflecting the composition, charge, distribution, structure, and sequence of the translocating molecule. With the electrical resistive pulse nanopore sensing, its single-molecule sensitivity and specificity have opened doors to numerous potential applications in personalized medicine. I will discuss recent advancements in the sensitivity and specificity of personalized medicine using nanopore sensors, focusing on proteomic …


Social-Ecological Determinants Of Affective States Among College Students: A Cross-Cultural Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Abhishek Aggarwal Jul 2024

Social-Ecological Determinants Of Affective States Among College Students: A Cross-Cultural Ecological Momentary Assessment Study, Abhishek Aggarwal

Theses and Dissertations

Background: College students experience a complex and diverse array of stressors during their college life, making them vulnerable to severe mental health issues. Momentary affective states are linked to major mental health disorders and overall well-being; however, the current social-ecological model of affect lacks a temporal dimension, failing to account for within-person dynamics of affective states over time. This study disentangles the complex temporal dynamics among the momentary, multilevel social-ecological factors and affective states in the real-world setting of college students across the United States (US) and India. However, establishing invariance of the affect model across time, people, and cultures …


Evaluation Of Mechanism Of Action And Toxicity Of Novel Psychoactive Substances (Nps) Identified As Cannabinomimetics, Robert Michael Sears Jul 2024

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 …


Essays In Labor Economics, Inclusion, And Diversity, Saharnaz Babaei Balderlou Jul 2024

Essays In Labor Economics, Inclusion, And Diversity, Saharnaz Babaei Balderlou

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation presents a comprehensive analysis of various teacher staffing policies and their impact on teacher retention and turnover. It comprises three studies, each addressing a unique aspect of teacher staffing challenges in the United States and in South Carolina. Chapter 2 investigates how different salary structures (frontloading vs. backloading) affect teacher turnover in South Carolina. Using a Difference-in-Differences (DID) approach and data from FY2014 to FY2023, the study finds that frontloading salary schedules do not significantly impact overall teacher turnover, with negligible effects on novice teachers. However, the impact varies with district characteristics: specifically, frontloading may reduce turnover in …


Assessing The Effects Of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury On Risk/Reward Decision Making And Catecholamine Associated Proteins, Christopher Knapp Jun 2024

Assessing The Effects Of Repetitive Mild Traumatic Brain Injury On Risk/Reward Decision Making And Catecholamine Associated Proteins, Christopher Knapp

Theses and Dissertations

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) disrupts cognitive processes that influence risk taking behavior; however, the effects of repetitive mild injury (rmTBI) or whether these outcomes are sex specific are unknown. Risk/reward decision making is mediated by the prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is densely innervated by catecholaminergic fibers. Aberrant PFC catecholamine activity has been documented following TBI and may underlie TBI-induced risky behavior. Here, we exposed rats to sham (no injury), single, or three closed-head controlled cortical impact (CH-CCI) injuries to characterize the effects of rmTBI on 1) risk/reward decision making behavior using a probabilistic discounting task (PDT) and 2) levels …


Black Men Who Participate In An Urban Community College Men Of Color Initiative: A Phenomenological Study, Steven Hardy Jun 2024

Black Men Who Participate In An Urban Community College Men Of Color Initiative: A Phenomenological Study, Steven Hardy

Theses and Dissertations

This phenomenological study explored the perceptions and experiences of Black men who participated in the MOCI. The study uncovered insights into what aspects of the program were effective and where improvements could be made according to the student participants. Employing a phenomenological design, the research identified commonalities among the participants' experiences (Creswell & Creswell, 2018; Moustakas, 1994; Rubin & Rubin, 2012). The structure of understanding surrounding participants in the MOCI program was meticulously facilitated using phenomenology (Creswell & Creswell, 2018). The interviews were not just semi-structured but also empathetic, with prepared open-ended questions followed by probing inquiries, all aimed at …


Manufacturing Of Aligned Electrospun Nanofiber Yarns For Their Enhanced Mechanical And Piezoelectric Properties, Adaugo Mary-Frances Enuka Jun 2024

Manufacturing Of Aligned Electrospun Nanofiber Yarns For Their Enhanced Mechanical And Piezoelectric Properties, Adaugo Mary-Frances Enuka

Theses and Dissertations

Electrospinning is a widely used technique for producing nanofibers with diverse applications. This method uses polymer solutions and strong electric fields to generate nano-sized fibers with unique properties. This study presents a novel manufacturing approach that enables the production of electrospun poly(vinylidene fluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene) (PVDF-HFP) nanofiber yarns using an automated parallel track system and an adjustable roll-to-roll collector. This research examines the impact of an automated post-drawing system on the polymer chain orientation, crystallinity, tensile strength, morphology, and piezoelectric properties of PVDF-HFP nanofiber yarn. The results reveal that the post-drawing process significantly improves molecular alignment, increases tensile strength, and enhances the …


Online Teacher-Student Rapport In Higher Education, Joshua Fitzgerald Jun 2024

Online Teacher-Student Rapport In Higher Education, Joshua Fitzgerald

Theses and Dissertations

Rapport developed between teachers and students in a typical classroom setting can provide students with a more positive school experience, an increase in learning and performance, and added feelings of social belonging (Cook, et al., 2018). Online learning is associated with many advantages like a more comfortable setting for students to participate (Majewska & Zvobgo, 2023), but also includes disadvantages like feelings of isolation (Phirangee & Malec, 2020) which can result in rapport being more difficult to develop. Established rapport during online educational settings can yield a multitude of positive outcomes for online students and teachers alike. These outcomes include …


Redefining Culture And Climate In The Alternative Setting: Dumping Grounds Or Where Students Are Found?, Joan Louise Barbagiovanni Jun 2024

Redefining Culture And Climate In The Alternative Setting: Dumping Grounds Or Where Students Are Found?, Joan Louise Barbagiovanni

Theses and Dissertations

This autoethnographic study aims to answer the following questions: How can a school leader design a culturally sensitive, inclusive alternative education program? What type of systemic change does an alternative school leader believe to be most effective in supporting students in attaining a high school diploma and a solid postsecondary plan to become productive members of society? What characteristics of culture and climate are most critical in an alternative school setting? The study focused on 4 years and tells how a school leader successfully changed the school culture and climate to best serve students and staff in the alternative school …