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An Examination Of Self-Identity In Relation To Smoking And Vaping In South Carolina, Jaron Hoani King

Theses and Dissertations

BACKGROUND

This dissertation examines self-identity in the context of smoking and vaping among adults in South Carolina (SC) using data from the 2023 SC Adult Tobacco Survey (n=1370). The conceptual model created to guide this dissertation is called the “Smoker and Vaper Behavior-Identity Model” and draws constructs from theoretical frameworks in health behavior and social identity theories. Behavior was defined as lifetime and past 30 day cigarette or e-cigarette use. Self-identity was defined by asking respondents with a history of cigarette or e-cigarette use “Do you consider yourself a smoker/vaper”, respectively.

METHODS

First, this study assesses the prevalence of mismatching …

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 …

How Passion Functions In Sport Applicant Attraction: A Biometric Approach, Jiayao Qi

Theses and Dissertations

Passion has been extensively researched from the perspective of athletes, entrepreneurs, and employees. In this dissertation, the researcher conducted an in-depth investigation of the way passion functions in sport job attraction. The two-stage experimental design combines the pioneer biometric methodology with qualitative inquiry, and 25 job seekers selected from a larger sample participated in the biometric lab. Results indicate that the interplay between cognitive and affective appraisals is critical in explaining sport job seekers’ highly individualistic and discriminative attraction toward work opportunities in sport. In particular, sports job seekers foster work passion through their multiple identifications with sport (playing history, …

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. …

Associations Between Neurological Correlates Of Reading And Learning Disability Profiles Among Children, Jessica Luedke

Theses and Dissertations

Early reading skills are vital for child development. Children with specific reading learning disabilities (SLD-R) display persistent difficulties acquiring reading skills. They are at an increased risk for adverse life outcomes, including mental health concerns, low educational attainment, and low academic motivation. Progress in neurobiological research provides opportunities to enhance the assessment and identification of learning disabilities by revealing distinct neurological patterns of learning. However, the integration of this progress with school psychology research is rare. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate brain network connectivity as a biomarker of reading using resting-state quantitative electroencephalography (QEEG) coherence. Fronto-central …

Antioxidant And Anti-Inflammatory Potential Of Engineered Ceria Nanoparticles In The Management Of Alzheimer's Disease, Shanshan Shi

Theses and Dissertations

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder that affects millions worldwide. Unfortunately, there are currently no effective therapies available to prevent or cure the disease. While current therapies aim to change AD progression, there is a growing need for novel therapeutic strategies that can effectively penetrate the blood-brain barrier (BBB) to target the underlying pathology of the disease. The BBB is a highly selective semipermeable barrier that separates circulating blood from the brain. It plays a crucial role in amyloid-β (Aβ) homeostasis and clearance dynamics, as Aβ accumulation is a key factor in the pathogenesis of AD. Aβ aggregation …

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 …

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 …

An Analysis Of Akira Yuyama's Piano Works For Children, Xiaoya (Sisi) Gao

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis analyzes Akira Yuyama’s piano collections and method for children published before 2000. Akira Yuyama was born in Hiratsuka, Japan on September 9th, 1932 and spent his childhood during World War II. At the age of 23, Yuyama graduated from Tokyo National University of Fine Arts and Music and won first prize in the 9th Japan Music Competition for his Sonatine for Violin and Piano. He also won the Grand Prize at the Agency for Cultural Affairs Arts Festival. As a prolific composer, Yuyama composed pieces that became internationally known including works for various instruments, such as piano, vocal, …

Communicating About A Nicotine Reduction Policy Among People Who Use Little Cigars And Cigarillos, Charity Afi Ntansah

Theses and Dissertations

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has proposed rulemaking to reduce the nicotine content in cigarettes and other combusted tobacco products to non-addictive levels. A very low nicotine content (VLNC) policy aimed primarily at cigarettes could drive people to other combusted products like little cigars and cigarillos (LCCs), potentially undermining its effectiveness. Expanding the policy to include LCCs requires effective messages for people who use LCCs. This dissertation explores how to communicate the reduced nicotine policy to people who use LCCs. The research recruited four populations with the highest prevalence of cigar use: African American and White males and …

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 …

Fan, Friend, Or Foe: An Exploratory Scale Development Of Perception Of Social Media Influencers On Instagram, Katelynn Danyell Stewart

Theses and Dissertations

This study aims to start the scale-building process of perception of social media influencers. This dissertation analyzes lifestyle Instagram influencers' followers’ perceptions of the influencer, their brand, and their communication and interaction efforts with followers through Instagram. This survey will help test the independent variables and dependent variables through the public relations lens using a combination of parasocial relationship theory, source credibility theory, and uses and gratifications theory to determine the effects and behaviors that lifestyle Instagram influencers have on their followers connected to influencer brand and influencer interactivity; and how lifestyle Instagram influencer usage, influencer authenticity, and parasocial relation …

Cultural Selection Of Ethical Self-Control Toward Sustainability, Michael Jonathan Passage

Theses and Dissertations

This study consisted of three experiments to improve our understanding of the conditions that foster cooperation related to sustainability. In Experiment 1, participants completed a demographic questionnaire and an environmental and social discounting task. Results (a) support the utility of the environmental discounting task; (b) suggest responding to the discounting task is dissimilar; and (c) show that responding to hypothetical consequences on the social discounting task correlates to actual responding. Experiment 2 evaluated whether interlocking behavioral contingencies (by microculture members) associated with sustainable and non-sustainable aggregate products (Condition A & B) could be selected by cultural consequences (i.e., 20¢ toward …

Parallel Communications In Single-Core Optical Fibers Utilizing Spatial Domain Multiplexing And Wavelength Division Multiplexing, Mingxuan Tu

Theses and Dissertations

This endeavor proposes a hybrid parallel optical communication architecture in single-core fibers combining WDM in O-band (1270 nm, 1310 nm, 1310 nm, and 1330 nm) and two-channel SDM. The proposed architecture applies carefully designed delays in each propagating channel to achieve synchronization and, therefore, realizes parallel transmission in single-core fibers without the help of Serializer/De-serializers (SerDes). A mathematical model of SDM, calculations on delays between each optical channel, simulation of the hybrid architecture, experimental setup, and the testing and analysis of channel performance have been provided. A design of a photonic integrated circuit based on thin film lithium niobate electro-optic …

Cultural Tightness-Looseness And Optimal Distinctiveness: Examining The Influence Of Culture On The Need To Belong And The Need To Be Different, Hairong Jiang

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigates the influence of cultural tightness-looseness on optimal distinctiveness motives and group identification, examining the moderating roles of self-construal, global orientation, and tightness/looseness match. Participants (N=465) from the United States and China were randomly assigned to tight or loose conditions and numerically majority or minority group conditions. Experimental manipulation of tightness-looseness did not significantly affect optimal distinctiveness needs. Cultural match, operationalized as alignment of tightness/looseness between participants' own culture and experimental condition, significantly moderated the relationship between culture conditions and need to belong. Individuals with high cultural match showed higher need to belong in tight conditions, while those …

Assessing Role Of Social Media Labels In Countering Misinformation Using Information Processing Perspective: Findings From University Of South Carolina, Ali Zain

Theses and Dissertations

In the context of online misinformation, this study integrates Heuristic-Systematic Model (HSM), Elaboration-Likelihood Model (ELM), and Motivation, Opportunity, and Ability (MOA) to investigate the impact of three social media labels on information processing and verification. It adopts experimental design with single manipulation involving undergraduate students. Psychophysiological measures (i.e., dwell time, peaks per minute, and frontal alpha asymmetry) are used along with self-report methods. Findings reveal significant effects of social media label 1 which explicitly flagged misinformation on perceived message credibility, intentions to adopt counter behaviors and information verification, and actual behaviors. The findings were also endorsed by regression analyses using …

Improvement Of Triboelectric Nanogenerator By As-Prepared Lithium Niobate For Energy Harvesting And Sensing Applications, Jahid Inam Chowdhury

Theses and Dissertations

One readily available green energy source that is used to address the small-scale energy requirement is mechanical energy. To harvest mechanical energy, supply energy for upcoming electronic devices, and enable flexible health monitoring, triboelectric nanogenerators composed of perovskite and lightweight polymers have garnered significant interest. A material named lithium niobate (LiNbO3) was produced in two different phases and used to make a flexible triboelectric nanogenerator (TENG). Furthermore, lightweight polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), Polyvinyl Alcohol (PVA), and LiNbO3 nanoparticles were used to produce a small triboelectric nanogenerator that successfully converts mechanical energy into electricity. LiNbO3 nanoparticles were first created and loaded into polydimethylsiloxane …

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 …

“What Memory Wants From Me”: Contemporary Female Writers On The Calling To Remember, Daria Smirnova

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation explores the intersections of transnational memory studies and feminist autobiographical writing through the works of Maria Stepanova, Annie Ernaux, and Lea Ypi. It argues that contemporary literature, especially that written by women, provides innovative frameworks for understanding identity, memory, and the sociopolitical context of our time. By examining how these authors intertwine personal and collective histories, the study highlights the shift in memory studies from monumental, nation-centered history to transnational, mobile memory modalities. I have pinpointed three themes to which these authors significantly contribute within the feminist and political discourse on memory: the relationship between gender and memory, …

The Role Of Nr4a Transcription Factors In The Body And Their Effects In The Pancreatic Beta Cell, Jacob A. Herring

Theses and Dissertations

A central aspect of type 1 and type 2 diabetes is decreased functional β-cell mass which leads to systemic glucose dysregulation. Functional β-cell mass takes into account β-cell insulin secretion, β-cell proliferation, and β-cell survival. Several treatments are currently used to help maintain glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. However, cures for these diseases are not available due to inability to expand functional β-cell mass. Transcription factors control expression of target genes critical for various functions, and transcription factors that control β-cell function, proliferation and survival play a significant role in β-cell development and function. A more thorough examination of …

Innovative 4d Printing Of Biomimetic Collagen-Tcp Scaffolds For Bone Regeneration, Karly Morgan Liebendorfer

Theses and Dissertations

Bone tissue engineering (BTE) is a promising alternative approach to autografts and allografts when treating various bone diseases and disorders. BTE enables the fabrication of biocompatible, biomimetic, and osteo-stimulating constructs for the repair and regeneration of damaged bone tissue. The native bone environment primarily consists of anisotropic type 1 collagen (organic) and hydroxyapatite nanocrystals (inorganic). Composite biomimetic scaffolds fabricated by combining collagen with bioceramics have shown immense promise for BTE applications. Prior work has reported on different biofabrication methods to synthesize collagen-based composite scaffolds for use in BTE applications. However, to date, a customizable 3D composite scaffold that resembles the …

Development And Characterization Of Β-Cyclodextrin Inclusion Complexes With Enzalutamide For Easing Administration And Efficacy Of The Drug In Crpc, Meghana Kolli

Theses and Dissertations

Prostate cancer (PC) is prevalent among men in the US, often leading to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC) with therapy. This is marked by androgen receptor (AR) overexpression, resistance, mutations, and splice variants. Enzalutamide (ENZ), a nonsteroidal antiandrogen, surpasses first-gen AR inhibitors like Bicalutamide. It's the go-to drug for CRPC. We explore ENZ for self-assembly complex formation, crucial for CRPC treatment. Using the solvent evaporation method, we developed β-cyclodextrin and ENZ self-assembly complexes (β-CD-ENZ). β-CD acts as both agent and solubilizer, FDA-approved and safe. Efficacy was tested on PC cell lines (C4-2B) and (22Rv1), including 3D cultures for cytotoxicity and a …

Viewing Ir Through A Unicolonial Lens: A Case Study On The Effects Of Cultural Recognition On State Behavior, Andrew Viera

Theses and Dissertations

The following thesis utilizes the concept of unicoloniality, a process found within several ant species, to analyze the aggressive behavior and alliance-forming behavior of states. Through the unique lens of ant colony behavior, this study creates a new variable for quantifying culture that measures whether two states can recognize each other based on their cultural identity. Utilizing this noble variable, a logistic regression model was run to test the impact of cultural recognition on state behavior. The results indicated that cultural recognition had no effect on the decision of a state to join an alliance or engage in a militarized …

“Trust Us To Teach It ”: Examining The Associations Among Leadership, Organizational Trust, And Well-Being In Educational Settings, Jessica Mckinley

Theses and Dissertations

Today’s educators are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress, which have been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite evidence supporting the protective nature of positive climate, effective leadership, and support for educator autonomy, there is also evidence to suggest that negative climate, ineffective leadership, and lacking autonomy continue to be major stressors for educators at work. This study investigated the relations among educator well-being, transformational and autonomy-supportive leadership styles, and organizational trust through the lens of the educator. Using a cross-sectional, survey-based design, this study examined the relations among these variables, as well as identified the relative contributions of leadership and …

A Strategic Communication Plan For The Clemente Center At Florida Tech, Cristiano Bozzolan

Theses and Dissertations

This design project develops a strategic communication plan for the Clemente Center at the Florida Institute of Technology, aimed at enhancing campus engagement. The methodology includes interviews, focus groups, a SWOT analysis, and secondary data analysis, providing insights into the communication dynamics at the center.

Key findings reveal a reliance on outdated communication methods and insufficient use of digital platforms. The proposed communication plan introduces optimized digital signage, targeted email campaigns, community engagement initiatives, and enhanced staff training. These strategies are designed to be cost-effective and actionable, addressing the center's current limitations and leveraging opportunities for improved community interaction.

This …

Characterizing The Quorum Sensing (Qs) System In The Model Eukaryote Chlamydomonas Reinhardtii, Kirstin Donnette Cutshaw

Theses and Dissertations

Group behaviors in microorganisms are often regulated by low-molecular weight molecules that enable them to sense population density, a signaling system known as quorum sensing (QS). QS in prokaryotes has provided insight into the role ‘social’ behaviors play in the bacterial world and refined our models of virulence, bacterial motility, and more. While less common, similar behaviors are observed in certain fungi, primarily yeasts, in which QS controls cell morphology, biofilm production, and other phenotypes. We have recently pursued the potential for QS to be more broadly distributed among unicellular eukaryotes, which could significantly alter our understanding of social behaviors …

Investigating Microbe-Plant Symbioses In Space, David Handy

Theses and Dissertations

As life has evolved on Earth, gravity has been a constant around which biological processes have developed, rather than a pressure that has been adapted to. As humanity ventures into space, we remove this constant and can observe a variety of changes in biological systems, such as bone loss in humans, stunted plant growth, or increased virulence in pathogens. The growing body of data shows that life adapts to spaceflight and microgravity in unique ways that, due to our limited understanding, can be difficult to predict. A particularly under-studied area is that of host-microbe interactions. Despite efforts to limit their …