Digital Commons Network^™

Broken Bottles: Understanding The Relationship Between Alcohol Outlet Availability And The Proximity To Alcohol Outlets With Binge Drinking Behaviors In College Fraternity Men At Southeastern Public Universities, Jarod Alan Holt

Theses and Dissertations

Alcohol use among fraternity affiliated men presents a concerning trend with harmful consequences (DeSimone, 2009; Hingson et al., 2017; McCreary et al., 2021; Nuwer, 2001; Patrick et al., 2022; Ranker & Lipson, 2022). The availability theory of alcohol-related problems suggests alcohol use could be influenced based on the availability and proximity of alcohol outlets in the environment (Dimova, 2023; Kypri et al., 2008; Scribner et al., 2008; Single, 1984; Weitzmann et al., 2003). However, no existing studies of fraternity-affiliated students have examined the relationship of binge drinking and access to alcohol through alcohol outlet availability or proximity. This study examined …

Real-Time Edge Computing For Autonomous Systems, Junlin Ou

Theses and Dissertations

This research presents systematic studies and algorithmic and hardware development to enable real-time edge computing for autonomous systems, in particular, for robot path planning and localization applications. First, a low-cost, indoor, multi-camera positioning system is proposed to localize ground robots using the ArUco marker. In this system, the normalized coordinates of the marker processed by OpenCV are utilized to calculate the camera coordinates. Data-driven models are developed to establish a mapping relationship between the camera coordinates and the world coordinates of the marker. Fifty data pairs of the camera and world coordinate systems within one camera view (150 pairs in …

Supporting Improvement In Academic Outcomes And Self-Efficacy For Black Male Varsity Athletes, Katherine M. Currie

Theses and Dissertations

Athletics can have a profoundly positive impact on high school students and can be an avenue for the athletes to attend college. However, some athletes struggle to cope with the demands of athletics and this is especially true for Black male athletes who are already members of a historically marginalized community. The purpose of this study is to examine the support that the Academic Success Center (ASC) offers for students and its impact on their academic outcomes and self-efficacy. A mixed methods data analysis revealed three themes: positive impact on academic outcomes, positive impact on self-efficacy and student frustration with …

From The City To The Countryside – Gentrification Across The Us: Conceptualizing Displacement Pressure, Constructing Novel Measurement Methodology, And Exploring Connections To Health, Parthenia Louise Luke

Theses and Dissertations

In an era marked by profound neighborhood transformation, the phenomenon of gentrification emerges as a dominant force. This dissertation undertakes a holistic exploration of gentrification, unraveling its diverse typologies and consequential impacts on health outcomes. Manuscript 1 details the concept of displacement pressure, exploring the multi-faceted experiences of residents in transforming neighborhoods while highlighting psychological and physiological repercussions beyond mere physical relocation. Manuscript 2 leverages the innovative methodology of repeated measures latent profile analysis (RMLPA) to investigate the multiple manifestations of gentrification. Revealing five metropolitan and four nonmetropolitan profiles among gentrified neighborhoods, this analysis interrogates the complexity inherent in both …

The Effect Of Instructionally Embedded Cognitive Reframing On Students’ Self-Beliefs Of Their Mathematical Competence, Kelly Eyre Frazee

Theses and Dissertations

Many students lack the ability to maintain positive perceptions of their mathematical self-belief, resulting in undesirable social, emotional, and academic outcomes. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of a cognitive reframing strategy on third and fourth grade math intervention students’ perceptions of their mathematical competence. This study sought to understand the impact of this emotional regulation strategy on students’ ability to autonomously regulate their negative or irrational thoughts related to their mathematics abilities, as well as the impact on their self-beliefs. Data for this study were collected through semi-structured interviews with students, student reflections, and researcher …

Pursuing Culturally Responsive Math Teaching By Secondary Math Educators: A Professional Development Action Research Study, Emily Bell Redding

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study examines the use of professional development to build the self-efficacy of secondary math teachers in culturally responsive mathematics teaching (CRMT), with the hope to address achievement gaps of Black and Hispanic students. Seven math teachers from a school division in Southwest Virginia participated in a 9-week professional development that included virtual meetings to learn about CRMT, collaboration with colleagues, classroom applications, and self-reflection. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected throughout the 9 weeks in the forms of questionnaires, meeting transcripts, and reflection journals. The research study results found the professional development to build teacher self-efficacy, especially …

Exploring Cross-Border Business Model Adaptation, Kurt Norder

Theses and Dissertations

A business model is defined as the way a firm organizes its available resources to deliver and capture value. It can be simplified using the RCOV framework which splits the model into resources and competences, organization, and value propositions. However, the interactive nature of the components still creates internal complexity that must be managed without undermining the competitive advantage. This internal system is also subject to a multiplicity of contextual pressures, particularly as it crosses national borders. A cross-border business model has at least one of its components in multiple country environments, thus it faces variation in economic, competitive, technological, …

Infection Intensity And Prevalence From Perkinsus Marinus In The Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea Virginica (Gmelin 1791) And Their Association With Salinity, Temperature, And Sex In South Carolina Estuaries, Deja E. Best

Theses and Dissertations

This project aimed to identify the associations between the infection intensity and prevalence of Perkinsus marinus infection (i.e., Dermo ) in the Eastern oyster, Crassostrea virginica (Gmelin), with extrinsic environmental factors such as changes in salinity and temperature along with oyster host factors such as sex ratio. The objectives of the study were to: (1) identify significant associations between the dependent variables, P. marinus prevalence and infection intensity, in relation to salinity and water temperature which may be affected by climate change; and (2) identify any intrinsic factors related to sex (i.e., male, female, intersex, and indeterminant) that may affect …

Replenishment Of Essential Natural Resources: An Assessment Of The Ability Of Freshwater Algae To Enhance Crop Quality And Soil Health, Lala Christina Ek

Theses and Dissertations

Disregard for soil, an essential natural resource, hinders global food production. Food insecurity is a major concern for both public health officials and environmental scientists due to soil quality decline, pollution, and climate change. Alternatives or targeted additions to chemical fertilizers can bolster soil quality, improve crop yields, lengthen crop shelf life, and mitigate environmental pollution. One potential alternative to chemical fertilizers is replacement of them with biological soil amendments, including algae, to enhance crop growth and improve soil health. Research was conducted at the University of South Carolina-Columbia campus garden to determine impacts of non-toxic freshwater algae on crop …

Structure V-1: A Mississippian Mica Workshop In Kershaw County, South Carolina, John Mclellan Dodge

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis reanalyzes the pottery assemblage of Structure V-1 at the Mulberry site (38KE12). Because Structure V-1 was originally hypothesized to be evidence of a late seventeenth century occupation at the Mulberry site, the framework I use for this research focuses on identifying evidence of community coalescence after Mulberry’s initial occupation ended. However, new evidence from both the pottery and radiocarbon analysis conclusively dates the structure to around the sixteenth century Mulberry I phase. With that new date in mind, I explore the role mica craft production within Structure V-1 might have had in linking the community at Mulberry to …

The Effect Of Model Size On The Root Mean Square Error Of Approximation (Rmsea): The Nonnormal Case, Yunhang Yin

Theses and Dissertations

This study aimed to understand the effect of model size on the Root Mean Square Error of Approximation (RMSEA) under nonnormal data. We considered three methods for computing the sample RMSEA and the associated confidence intervals (i.e., the normal theory method [Browne & Cudeck, 1993], the BSL method [Brosseau-Liard, Savalei & Li, 2012], and the Lai method [Lai, 2020]). The performance of the three methods was compared across various model sizes, sample sizes, levels of misspecification, and levels of nonnormality. Results indicated that the normal theory RMSEA should not be used under nonnormal data unless the model size is very …

Representaciones De La Violencia En El Cuerpo Femenino En María, Llena Eres De Gracia, El Despertar De Las Hormigas Y Cuando Las Flores Hablan, Catalina Lancheros Villa

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACTO Son muchas las mujeres que han aportado a la historia y a las luchas contra la violencia de género. Mujeres que han sido registradas en libros, documentales o películas y marcadas en hechos como heroínas del cambio y la transformación social (ej. Policarpa Salavarrieta Ríos / colombiana, Magdalena Carmen Frida Kahlo Calderón / mexicana, Manuela Sáenz/ ecuatoriana). Son estas mujeres fuertes y empoderadas las que han querido un mundo igualitario para todos desde la antigüedad hasta los tiempos modernos. Desde su capacidad intelectual descubrieron que podían mejorar las condiciones de vida, dejando un legado de transformación en un sistema …

An Examination Of Physical Literacy: Learning Through A Technology Integrated, Flipped Classroom Approach., Euan M. S. Frew

Theses and Dissertations

Technology integrated, flipped classroom design offers opportunities to engage students on various levels and through meaningful ways. Introducing this learning environment to students at an early age is likely to change their motivation for learning towards physical literacy and influence their lifelong participation in physical activity. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of a new technology integrated, Flipped Classroom in a physical education class, to increase eighth -grade students’ physical literacy at an international middle school. The following research questions guided this study: (a) How and to what extent does a technology integrated, flipped classroom, …

Investigation, Synthesis And Rational Design Of Novel Transuranic Containing Extended Structures, Adrian Thomas Hines

Theses and Dissertations

The use of nuclear technology has proven useful for energy generation and for weapons manufacturing, but disposal and storage of nuclear waste is an ongoing problem. The accumulation of nuclear waste over the past decades has yielded a vast amount of waste that must be dealt with, and with space at interim storage facilities diminishing, it has become increasingly important to find solutions to nuclear waste storage. The vitrification process has been widely accepted as a viable route for immobilization of high-level waste; however, the process is inadequate for complex waste streams and has many drawbacks such as limited waste …

Dietary Inflammatory Index During Pregnancy And Changes Over Time: Associations With Post-Partum Sleep Duration And Quality And Depressive Symptoms., Nowrin Tamanna

Theses and Dissertations

STUDY OBJECTIVES: Sleep and mental health are two important factors for a new mother, as adequate sleep and a healthy mind help her prioritize self-care, seek support when needed, and create a nurturing environment for both her and her baby. Among various plausible theories exploring the etiology of sleep disturbances and depression, the concept of inflammation is gaining attention. This study examined the hypothesis that more pro-inflammatory diets during pregnancy are associated with a decrease in sleep quality and duration, abnormal sleep timing and higher Edinburg Postnatal depression score (EPDS) scores 6 months and 12 months post-partum.

METHODS: A secondary …

Causes And Consequences Of The Risk Of Generalizability Biases In Health Behavioral Interventions, Lauren Von Klinggraeff

Theses and Dissertations

Preliminary testing of health behavior interventions (e.g., pilot, feasibility studies) are used to evaluate intervention viability prior to additional testing and resource investment (e.g., larger trials). This initial testing provides valuable information, but promising estimates of effectiveness produced during early testing are rarely reproduced in larger studies, stalling the development of effective, scalable health interventions. In the obesity intervention literature, external validity biases, features of the intervention that are not (or cannot) transfer to the larger study, are associated with these diminished effects. These study features, such who delivers the intervention, the characteristics of the population receiving the intervention or …

Channel Morphology Of A Leaky Coastal Plain River: The Congaree River, Sc 1884-2022, William Nicholas Logan

Theses and Dissertations

Downstream changes in river planform can be associated with changes in geologic controls and often signal changes in channel geometry, bed slope, or bed material grain size. While previous studies documented downstream trends in channel geometry and planform for a variety of rivers, there is a gap in the literature on spatial and temporal trends in channel geometry on the fluvial part of Coastal Plain rivers, i.e., the not-tidally influenced part. The literature highlights the existence of crevasse splays in natural levees that allow floodplain inundation below bankfull conditions as unique feature of channels and floodplains in the Coastal Plain. …

Robust Deep Learning Models For Multi-Label Image Classification In Limited And Free Annotation Scenarios, Rabab Ezzeldin Rabie Abdelfattah

Theses and Dissertations

This proposal introduces various methods for tackling the challenge of multi-label image classification in different scenarios, including partial labels and free-annotation settings. Multi-label image classification is typically formulated as a partial-label learning problem because it can be expensive to annotate all labels in every training image. Existing partial-label learning approaches typically focus on annotating each training image with only a subset of its labels, including a special case of annotating only one positive label per image. To further alleviate the annotation burden and improve classifier performance, this proposal introduces a new partial-label setting where only a subset of training images …

Educative Curricular Supports Used To Improve High Cognitive Demand Task Implementation In High-Dosage Mathematics Tutorial, Halley Bowman

Theses and Dissertations

This study used a holistic case study to explore obstacles tutors faced when implementing high cognitive demand (HCD) tasks and the possibility of using embedded educative curricular supports to overcome them. Much prior research has explored using educative supports in classrooms with teachers (Davis et al., 2017), but more research is needed on using educative supports in tutorial. Similarly, prior research has shown that HCD tasks lead to significant mathematical learning but are challenging to facilitate (Stein et al., 1996). Little research explores the use of HCD tasks in tutorials. This study used the theoretical framework that educators and curricular …

Correlates Of Immunization Timeliness In Three South Asian Countries: Secondary Analysis Of Demographic And Health Surveys, Tanzir Ahmed Shuvo

Theses and Dissertations

Despite the availability of effective vaccines, 1.5 million children under the age of 5 years die every year because of vaccine preventable diseases. Improvements in vaccine delivery infrastructure have resulted in relatively high coverage of vaccines, but many children are not receiving their vaccines on a timely basis. Timely administration of routine vaccines recommended by the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) ensures maximum efficacy. It is vital to explore rates of vaccination timeliness and the correlates of timely vaccination among children to design targeted interventions for improving both coverage and timeliness. We conducted a secondary data analysis of the Demographic …

Reactive Molecular Dynamics Of Large Systems: Quantum Dynamics With Adaptable Gaussian Bases; Hydroxide Diffusion In A Polymeric Environment, Mohottige Sachith Prasanga Wickramasinghe

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation describes our research in theory and applications of reactive molecular dynamics. Quantum dynamics provides the foundation for understanding chemical processes. However, the computational cost of describing a general quantum system scales exponentially with the system size. Thus, an efficient basis representation of wavefunctions is essential. Time-dependent Gaussian bases are often employed to describe the large-amplitude motion of high-dimensional systems. The time dependence of such bases is typically determined by (i) the variational principle or by (ii) classical dynamics. But those approaches have shortcomings due to intrinsic singularity of the variational equations in the full basis limit or due …

Piloting Brief, Just-In-Time Training Videos For Mentors: Expanding And Strengthening Motivational Interviewing For Youth, Mackenzie J. Hart

Theses and Dissertations

Having paraprofessional providers, such as youth mentors, deliver evidence-based services, has been posited to increase the reach of youth services given the affordability and ubiquity of mentors in school settings. Further, examinations of mentor-delivered Motivational Interviewing (MI) have shown promise in increasing youth mentees’ academic performance and wellbeing. Yet, traditional methods used for training mentors to use MI effectively and sustainably can be costly and time-consuming processes. Previous work has suggested the value of asynchronous, brief, just-in-time trainings (JITTs) to help offset these challenges; however, MI JITTs for mentors have not yet been formally evaluated. As such, the present study …

Novel Approach To In-Situ Mocvd Oxide/Dielectric Deposition For Iii-Nitride-Based Heterojunction Field Effect Transistors, Samiul Hasan

Theses and Dissertations

III-Nitride-based compound semiconductors have unique properties such as high bandgap and high breakdown field, which make them attractive for a variety of applications, including high-power and high-frequency electronics and optoelectronics. The most common types of III-Nitride-based field effect transistors (FETs) are aluminum gallium nitride (AlGaN)/gallium nitride (GaN) based, which suffer from some inherent problems such as virtual gate effect, current collapse, gate leakage, etc. The solution to this problem can be the inclusion of a dielectric passivation layer under the gate. However, the addition of the dielectric layer impacts one of the most critical device-controlling parameters, “threshold voltage”, which suffers …

The Effect Of Antibiotics On Immune Cell Infiltration Of Colon In A Mouse Model Of Early Onset Colorectal Cancer, Valerie Hinsch

Theses and Dissertations

Early onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is an aggressive form of colorectal cancer diagnosed before the age of 50. While colorectal cancer cases in patients 50 years and older have been declining, EOCRC cases have been steadily increasing globally in the last few decades, and the cause is unknown. Many agents, called exposomes, have been associated with EOCRC based on their emergence and prevalence prior to and in parallel with the rise in EOCRC cases. Among these are antibiotics (Abx). Abx are indispensable in our fight against infectious diseases, however their overuse is becoming a global epidemic. They are prescribed globally, …

Using Critical Reflection To Mitigate Racial Implicit Bias And Enhance Cultural Humility: A Nursing Faculty Action Research Study, Teresa Stafford Cronell

Theses and Dissertations

Formal American nursing education has existed since the late 19th century, but its historically deep-seated white framing continues to influence how current nurses are educated, enculturated, and professionalized. Insufficient inclusivity and diversity deficit have endured despite decades-long demands to do otherwise. To most nursing educators, the white frame is invisible. This unseen framing allows ongoing harmful implicit biases and microaggressions towards underrepresented nursing students and colleagues to persist. Nursing students are taught to provide culturally humble, unbiased patient care. Should not nursing faculty likewise demonstrate the same unbiased attitudes and humility towards their students? Faculty risk perpetuating the white frame …

Effects Of Ai Voice Assistants’ Messages On Pro-Environmnetal Consumer Behavior: Message Content And Voice Attributes, Somang Min

Theses and Dissertations

The hospitality and tourism industry has increasingly prioritized environmental concerns, driving the adoption of green practices and communication strategies. This dissertation investigates the role of AI voice assistants in hotel rooms in promoting pro-environmental behavior, recognizing the importance of fostering environmental mindfulness through technology and behavioral interventions. This research explores the influence of voice attributes and message content on consumers' pro-environmental behavior when conveyed through AI voice assistants. It specifically focuses on the marketing cue of Kindchenschema cuteness by examining how a baby-like voice in AI voice assistants may enhance pro-environmental communication, a topic rarely addressed in the hospitality and …

Insights Into Supported Metal Catalyst Sintering And Their Application For Bio-Oil And Crude Oil Upgradation, Md Fakhruddin Patwary

Theses and Dissertations

Typical heterogeneous catalysts consist of transition metal nanoparticles anchored against sintering on an inert, porous, high temperature stable support. The synthesis of supported catalyst involves pretreatment (drying, reduction) of deposited, ionic metal precursor complexes to form metal nanoparticles. In the first part of this work, we aim to understand the influence of pretreatment (reduction temperature, heating rate, moisture content) on final particle size. Supported nanoparticles of Pt and Pd were synthesized by strong electrostatic adsorption (SEA) and dry impregnation (DI). Reduced samples were characterized by in-situ and ex-situ XRD and STEM. The DI-derived samples generally showed an expected increase of …

Increasing English Progress Proficiency Of Multilingual Learners Utilizing Improvement Science, Stephanie Corley Huckabee

Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT This problem of practice addresses creating more positive outcomes for multilingual learners in achievement data for English Proficiency Progress matching or exceeding achievement data patterns of the general student population in a suburban middle school. Improvement science is the framework used to help solve this problem. The improvement team consisted of an assistant principal of instruction, a multilanguage learner teacher assigned to this school along with four additional schools, and the principal. The team began their work with the goal of understanding the current system by learning from students, families, and teachers about their experiences with multilingual learning. Potential …

Dephosphorylation Of Mpk6 And Mpk3 By Phosphatases Modulates Responses To Herbivory In Arabidopsis, Claire Teresa Hann

Theses and Dissertations

As sessile organisms, plants rely on extracellular signals and chemical responses to defend against stressors. Extracellular stress signals inducing defense responses originate both from biotic or abiotic threats, and from products of tissue damage or hormones. In defense against herbivores, essential responses include rapid generation of jasmonic acid (JA) at the wound site, followed by the global expression of genes that impede digestion and growth. Early defense gene expression amplifies JA production, while later JA-responsive gene expression causes the accumulation of defense products. MAP kinase (MAPK) pathways play a central role in mediating the perception of self, non-self, and hormonal …

Creative Insights On The Commissioning, Analysis, And Performance Of Four New Works For Saxophone, Andrew Joseph Hutchens

Theses and Dissertations

This document explores, in detail, four works for saxophone, which the author commissioned. These pieces were performed on the author’s degree recitals prior to the writing of this document. The selected works are At the Seams by Baljinder Singh Sekhon II, Intrepid by Russell Wharton, Unity Synonym by Michael Laurello, and Third Rail / Revelation by Stephen Karukas. This document focuses on the commissioning process, musical performance, and theoretical aspects of these four pieces. Interviews were conducted virtually via Zoom and then transcribed for inclusion in this document. There have been no previous studies that have explored these four works. …