Digital Commons Network^™

Examining Coping, Individual Resilience, And Family Resilience As Strengths-Based Factors For Lgbtq+ Individuals, Elizabeth Moriarty Combs

Theses and Dissertations

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and More (LGBTQ+) individuals are part of a diverse and complex community that has unique considerations regarding physical and mental health. While there is ongoing health equity research regarding LGBTQ+ individuals, the focus is often on health disparities. A strengths-based approach to helping LGBTQ+ individuals through research and other avenues may be beneficial. This multi-manuscript dissertation includes two studies that explored the current literature on strengths-based factors such as coping, individual resilience, and family resilience within LGBTQ+ individuals, as well as determined the feasibility of utilizing these factors to assist LGBTQ+ individuals with health and …

An Investigation Of Preservice And Novice Elementary Education Graduate Students’ Self-Efficacy Toward Teaching Engineering Design, Victoria Harkins Cameron

Theses and Dissertations

This mixed-methods action research study examined how an experiential learning–based pedagogical approach influenced the development of teaching engineering self-efficacy in preservice and novice elementary education graduate students. Grounded in Bandura’s self-efficacy theory and Kolb’s experiential learning cycle, the study examined the impact of mastery experiences, vicarious experiences, verbal persuasion, and affective states on shaping participants’ instructional self-efficacy. Data were collected using the Teaching Engineering Self-Efficacy Scale (TESS), written reflections, and a focus group. Engineering pedagogical content knowledge was the only TESS construct to show statistically significant gains, while qualitative findings indicated broader growth in self-efficacy and emotional readiness. The study’s …

Investigating The Role Of Metallothioneins In Fungal Iron Homeostasis, David Eap

Theses and Dissertations

The pathogenic fungi Aspergillus fumigatus requires metals to survive and infect humans, but metal overload can be detrimental. Metallothioneins (MTs) are small, cysteine-rich proteins that alleviate metal toxicity by binding excess metals (typically Zn or Cu) for storage or delivery. A recent report indicates that the Fe-S cluster binding glutaredoxin GrxD and the putative Cu-MT CmtA were interacting under high iron conditions in A. fumigatus. We hypothesize that this MT may have a role in binding iron or Fe-S clusters under iron overload conditions to prevent iron toxicity. We also aim to characterize this new MT by determining its …

Circannual And Kinship Cues Shape Reproduction And Epigenetic Aging In Peromyscus, Kim Tuyen Huynh Dam

Theses and Dissertations

Evolutionary success is defined by the ability of a species to adapt and survive across many generations. This success is not determined by any single attribute but rather includes the entrenched, complex system that could be associated with biological rhythms, reproductive strategies, and regulations of epigenetic and genetic components. By using closed Peromyscus colonies as a model and by coupling mathematical modeling, analyses of breeding records, epigenetic studies, and in vitro and in vivo experiments, this dissertation aims to discover how Peromyscus adjusts to the internal and external pressures to ensure their survival and preserve evolutionary fitness in controlled environments. …

Satellite Radar Imagery Analysis For Ground Hazard Risk Monitoring In Railway Tracks And Slopes, Sumanth Varma Byrraju

Theses and Dissertations

Railway transportation is essential to national economies globally, and disruptions from geohazards can result in significant operational delays and considerable economic consequences. Satellite radar technologies, including Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR), offer an effective means to monitor geohazard risks across extensive railway networks. This thesis employs Multi-Temporal InSAR (MTInSAR) techniques, including Persistent Scatterer InSAR (PSInSAR) and Small Baseline Subset (SBAS), to identify high-risk areas along railway rights of way (ROW) prior to geohazard occurrences. However, the efficiency of these MT-InSAR and, consequently, the caliber of the data generated may be restricted by elements like topographical profile, vegetation, and surface soil …

How Do People Discern Authenticity From Emotional Expressions, Sewon Oh

Theses and Dissertations

Emotional authenticity is a crucial element in the development and progression of social relationships. However, limited research has comprehensively examined how emotional authenticity perception is shaped by different communication channels, visual attention, and individual differences. This thesis aimed to investigate the emotional authenticity perception from multiple perspectives, including the feasibility of authenticity manipulation, the influence of multimodal cues, and visual attention allocation in assessing authenticity from facial expressions. Findings demonstrated that authenticity could be successfully manipulated by both professional and non-professional actors. Participants differentiated both authenticity and emotion most accurately in audiovisual expressions. The audio channel played an important role …

Action Research To Explore The Use Of Augmented Reality To Support High School Students In Understanding And Creating Art Work In A Drawing Course, Alicia Joanne Cobler

Theses and Dissertations

High school students in Drawing 1 at a high school in South Carolina struggle to understand meaning or make personal connections to their own artwork. The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the implementation of immersive reality technology, specifically augmented reality (AR), in art for high school Drawing 1 students to help them understand meaning in art and create their own meaningful artwork. Creating personally meaningful symbolic works of art is one of the first Visual Art National Core Standards (National Core Visual Art Standards, 2014). Creating meaning in artwork allows students to understand society, provide an opportunity …

Contemporary Anaylsis Of Black Male Experience Through Photovoice: A Second-Year Exploration, Ashley Dillahunt Dantzler

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation investigates the second-year experiences of successful Black males at predominantly White institutions (PWIs), focusing on the University of South Carolina. While the second-year experience has gained attention in higher education research, specific insights into the challenges and successes faced by African American male students remain limited. This study highlights the critical issues surrounding sophomore retention, emphasizing that while universities often concentrate on first and final-year experiences, the second year is pivotal for academic success and continuation. Through qualitative methods, the research captures the narratives of ten participants, revealing common themes related to belonging, cultural understanding, and the impact …

The Mystery Of Narrative Structure: How Scooby-Doo Challenges Episodic Conventions, Evrie Joy Pruitt

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how the Scooby-Doo franchise employs narrative complexity within an episodic formula, balancing accessibility with layered storytelling. Analyzing two pivotal iterations, Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! (1969) and Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated (2010), the research challenges the perception that episodic animation is inherently simplistic.

While the original series established a consistent mystery-of-the-week format, characterized by predictable structures and comedic relief, it also demonstrated narrative ingenuity through character dynamics and tonal balance. Scooby-Doo, Where Are You! navigated the industrial constraints of Saturday morning cartoons, designed for syndication and commercial viability, by embedding recurring character dynamics, atmospheric tension, and iterative mystery tropes …

Unveiling Injustices In Theodore Dreiser's “An American Tragedy” And Susan Glaspell's “A Jury Of Her Peers”, Athena Maria Dotsikas

Theses and Dissertations

Crime and its representation in new age media is seeping into every avenue of discussion nowadays. The influence of crime is most notably evident in literature, where real cases inspired fictional novels and short stories that explore social issues and injustices. Since the 16th century, true crime has captivated human curiosity while also shedding light on the United States legal and justice system. Ultimately, true crime narratives provide a deeper understanding of human psychology and the reasons behind a number of gruesome and horrific incidents. This thesis investigates how Theodore Dreiser’s An American Tragedy and Susan Glaspell’s A Jury of …

Reduced Order Model-Based Framework For Microsecond Model Updating Of Two-Dimensional Structural Systems Using The Local Eigenvalue Modification Procedure, Emmanuel Abiodun Ogunniyi

Theses and Dissertations

Real-time model updating is crucial for active structures and electronic assemblies subjected to high-rate dynamic events. High-rate dynamic events refer to events that occur at high speeds and with rapid changes in the forces and energy involved. These events can include explosions, impacts, and crashes. These systems are characterized by a high dynamic response with a high rate (< 100 ms), high amplitude (> 100 gn), highly nonlinear, meaning that the response is not proportional to the applied force, and involve complex interactions between multiple objects or materials. A system exposed to high-rate dynamic environments is frequently prone to rapid plastic deformation, involving violent and …

Sensing Others, Alissa Reed

Theses and Dissertations

In this project, I notice how we listen and respond to animals, both through marine bioacoustics studies and rhetorical theory, and consider how we might develop new ways of noticing and interacting with animals. I hold together rhetorical theory, marine bioacoustics studies, and my observations nest sitting sea turtles to see what kind of multispecies ethic emerges from messy encounters with nonhuman others – specifically, with sea turtles nesting on the beaches of the Outer Banks in the Summer of 2020. By confronting the unavoidable moments of indecision, and even possible violence, inherent to encounters with nonhumans others, even and …

Development Of Teacher Leader Identities In Stem Teacher Leader Programs: Key Experiences From The Perspectives Of Program Developers And Program Completers, Paula Adams

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to add to the understanding of attributes of a STEM teacher leader project that contribute to the growth of STEM teacher leader identity. Single case study design was employed to explore key experiences in a collaborative Science Technology Engineering and Math teacher leader project and to explore how those experiences enhanced the teacher leader identity of participants. This research includes seven programs from six universities across the United States. The perceptions of two subunits, program developers and program completers, were considered. Data collection began with a document review which included initial university …

The Integration Of Traditon And Innovation: An Analytical Study Of Hindemith’S Piano Sonata No. 2, Yi-Ting Chen

Theses and Dissertations

Twentieth-century German composer Paul Hindemith was influenced by music of the classical period. While music in the twentieth century is often associated with atonality and irregular structures, various compositional trends emerged during this period. Hindemith was recognized as part of the neoclassical movement. His three piano sonatas, composed in 1936, not only incorporate classical elements but also integrate 20^th-century techniques. This document examines how Hindemith blends classical and post-tonal techniques in his Piano Sonata No. 2.

This study provides an analytical exploration of Hindemith’s Piano Sonata No. 2 and is structured into five chapters. Chapter One introduces the …

Comparing Prokofiev’S Piano Transcriptions: “Romeo And Juliet” And “Cinderella”, Yu Hua Wu

Theses and Dissertations

Sergei Prokofiev transcribed and arranged many of his own works, including excerpts from many of his ballets and one of his symphonies. Among his most famous transcriptions are the piano versions of Romeo and Juliet and Cinderella, both derived from his ballet scores.

This document explores Prokofiev’s approach to transcription through a comparative analysis of the orchestral and piano versions as well as an analysis of the transcriptions considered as independent compositions. Chapter One outlines the value and necessity of a comparative analysis. Chapter Two provides brief historical overviews of Russian ballet and piano transcription, highlighting how Prokofiev expanded on …

Regression With Atypical Data: Measurement Error, Periodicity, And Non-Normality, Nicholas W. Woolsey

Theses and Dissertations

Regression is a ubiquitous and fundamental method that can be found in any ele- mentary statistics course. The simplicity and self evidently useful nature of linear regression beguiles a non-negligible portion of researchers into disrespecting assump- tions required by these models, namely in terms of accuracy of covariates and the underlying nature of the data. This disregard can at best lead to meaningless results and at worse cause significant misunderstandings in scientific pursuit.

In this dissertation we strive propose remedies to violations of specific assump- tions. Namely the assumptions that covariates are either observed without measure- ment error or they …

Naqbu: Cosmological Undercurrents In Sumer And Akkad, Fiona Eirene Andrews

Theses and Dissertations

The concepts of primordial incomprehensibility, ordered creation, and the liminal chaos between them, form a foundational framework in Mesopotamian intellectual culture. The distinctive ways in which these concepts manifest in Sumero-Akkadian cultures suggest a systematic cosmological substructure — characterized by the paradoxical, cyclical, and co-creative relationships between forces such as Infinity and measure, generation and destruction, and definition and obscurity — that remains insufficiently examined in current scholarship. Drawing from diverse corpus of Mesopotamian creative works, Kabbalistic exegesis, and post-modern scholarship, this thesis seeks to elucidate the essential dynamics within that substructure. By proposing a semiotic hermeneutical strategy attuned to …

Exploring The Ancestry And Mutational Signatures Of Free-Breeding Dogs From Chernobyl And The Galápagos Islands, Gabriella Jean Spatola

Theses and Dissertations

Two free-breeding dog populations, one in Chernobyl, Ukraine, and the other on the Galápagos Islands, Ecuador, exist on opposite sides of the globe, yet both hold unique scientific potential to further our understanding of free-breeding dog population dynamics and evolutionary processes related to their environments. In the following studies, blood samples from more than 400 individual Chernobyl dogs were collected and their genomes were analyzed alongside over 1500 purebred and 200 global free-breeding dogs, describing genetic relationships and the extent of admixture with purebred migrants. Importantly, the sampled Chernobyl dogs had long-term exposures to ionizing radiation because of the 1986 …

Rapid Charging Lithium-Ion Batteries: Structure, Morphology, And Methodology, Sean Cade Wechsler

Theses and Dissertations

The initial commercialization and subsequent development of the lithium-ion battery (LIB) in 1991 has revolutionized the way that humans power devices, cars, and homes and led to the advent of many technologies that seemed impossible just half a century ago. As LIBs are integrated into more of daily life through handheld devices, wearable medical devices, transportation, and grid-level energy storage, the demand for fast charging and high energy density increases rapidly. To design a battery with these favorable qualities, an understanding of the effect of electrode crystal structure and electrode morphology on the ionic/electronic transport and failure modes must be …

Quantifying Biomass Burning Impacts On Soil Nox Emissions And Reactive Nitrogen Cycling, Olivia Rae Steinbeck

Theses and Dissertations

Nitrogen oxides (NOx = NO + NO₂) are trace gases that play a critical role in the atmosphere by influencing air quality, oxidation chemistry, and the deposition of fixed nitrogen. Historically, NOx emissions have been primarily linked to anthropogenic sources such as fossil fuel combustion, industrial activities, and agriculture. However, as successful legislation has significantly reduced these emissions, the relative importance of natural NOx sources has become an increasing concern. Soil NOx emissions are of particular interest due to their strong temperature dependence and their connection to global climate change. Rising global temperatures are expected to accelerate soil NOx emissions …

Generalized Dynamic Pole Placement Control For Voltage Source Converters With Inductive-Capacitive Output Filters, Byunghee Moon

Theses and Dissertations

Voltage Source Converters (VSCs) with inductive-capacitive (LC) filters are prevalent in power electronics applications. There are many control techniques utilized for that category of power converter topology. However, as converter applications continue to increase their switching frequency, faster control methods are desirable to take advantage of the higher bandwidth that increased switching frequency allows for

Dynamic pole placement (DPP) controls are very promising methods for achieving high-speed control of VSCs with LC filters. However, the conventional DPP controls have very high sensitivity to disturbances and noise. In order to address this, two novel DPP current control methods are proposed and …

Hybrid Penstemon Flowers: Colors, Pigments, And Detectability & Experimental Teaching: Evaluating The Impact Of Active Learning, Josh Thomas Edward Stevens

Theses and Dissertations

Shifts to different primary pollinators are often accompanied by changes in suites of floral traits. Understanding how and why these floral adaptations evolve is a central goal in evolutionary biology. Within the genus Penstemon, the transition from bee-pollinated to hummingbird-pollinated flowers is a common evolutionary pattern. These pollinator shifts have caused several closely related species to exhibit distinct pollination syndromes. One example of this evolutionary phenomenon can be seen within the sister species P. eatonii (hummingbird-pollinated) and P. laevis (bee-pollinated). These two species form several hybrid zones, in which hybrid individuals exhibit colors resembling both parental species, along with a …

Democracy’S Sanctuary: Highlander Folk School’S Campaign For Justice From The Labor Movement To The Civil Rights Movement, 1932-1962, Alexandra Elizabeth Bethlenfalvy

Theses and Dissertations

A sanctuary for political democracy, the Highlander Folk School was established in 1932 as a center for community activism, serving as the leading labor union organizing site in rural Tennessee during the Great Depression. With social unrest swelling in the 1930s, Highlander empowered workers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge needed to demand improved conditions and union representation across the anti-labor South. During World War II, however, as ranks of organized labor grew and civil rights activism in the South accelerated, Highlander convened interracial workshops, beginning in 1944, at a time when racial segregation was enforced by law and …

Relevant Reading: Modernizing High School Reading Lists, Michele Honeycutt

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative action research study, using case study methodology, explores the modernization of high school reading lists to ensure inclusivity, cultural relevance, and engagement in contemporary educational settings. Grounded in Culturally Relevant Pedagogy, Constructivism, and Problem-Posing Theory, this research examines how diverse literary selections impact student learning, motivation, and critical thinking. The study uses semi-structured interviews, observations, and student surveys to evaluate the effectiveness of integrating contemporary texts that reflect varied cultural, social, and political perspectives. The findings highlight the tensions between traditional literary canons and efforts to introduce diverse narratives, emphasizing the challenges of book bans, parental resistance, and …

Editing Japan: Pornography Commentary As Postcolonial Revenge In China's Digital Sphere, Yichi Zhang

Theses and Dissertations

This study examines how Chinese male audiences reconstruct postcolonial masculinity through the consumption and reinterpretation of Japanese pornography. By analyzing commentary videos produced by "Team Strawberry," I argue that this phenomenon constitutes a symbolic revenge against Japan's historical dominance. Through degrading Japanese female performers and mocking Japanese culture and male actors, Chinese viewers invert colonial hierarchies, transforming sexual consumption into a nationalist project. However, this mimicry of colonial violence ultimately reinforces patriarchal structures rather than subverting them, while also framing nationalism through sexual conquest that mimics collective historical trauma. The re-editing and mocking of Japanese pornography by Chinese content creators …

The Return Journey: Migration, Reintegration, And Postcolonial Identity In Contemporary African Literature, Babila Bengala Samuel

Theses and Dissertations

Migration is a human practice as old as human society. It is primarily triggered by a human urge for self-preservation or the quest for better standards of living. Various periods of human history have known great flows of voluntary, semi-voluntary, and forced migrations. In contemporary days, people move more than ever before, mostly from countries of the Global South to countries of the Global North, mainly from African countries. These migrants flee from poverty, armed conflicts, unemployment, and repression from despotic leaders. While the question of migration has consistently and extensively been addressed, the focus in the mainstream migration studies …

Inorganic Nanoparticle And Nanoplastic Transformations And The Impact On Biouptake By Freshwater Algal Cells Using Single Cell And Single Particle Inductively Coupled Plasma Mass Spectrometry, Elizabeth Carey Bair

Theses and Dissertations

The ubiquitous presence of nanoparticles (NPs) and nanoplastics (NPPs) and their effects on environmental and human health is a significant concern. They are used in every aspect of our lives, and while they offer many benefits, there are concerns about their impacts on ecosystems and human health. The primary aim of this dissertation is to quantify NP and NPP transformations in the presence of algae and determine how those transformations influence bioavailability. The methodology involves two complementary analytical techniques: single particle (SP) and single cell (SC) inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). These techniques are tested and applied to two …

Birth Of Inspiration: York County, South Carolina, The Setting That Inspired The Clansman, Zachary Alan Lemhouse

Theses and Dissertations

In 1905, Thomas Dixon, Jr., published his controversial novel The Clansman. Monopolizing on racist sentiments held by white southerners, Dixon’s narrative contributed significantly to the perception of the Lost Cause myth and defense of white supremacy in America. The novel, and its subsequent adaptations as a play and the film Birth of a Nation, was inspired by actual events that occurred in Dixon’s ancestral home of York County, South Carolina. Located in the northernmost region of South Carolina’s Piedmont, York County played host to a struggle for civil rights during the Reconstruction Era that garnered national and international …

The Intersection Of Rurality And Wellness: A Multi-Manuscript Investigation Into Rural Well-Being, Lucas Perez

Theses and Dissertations

Rural communities face unique mental health and wellness challenges, including geographic isolation, provider shortages, and stigma surrounding help-seeking. This dissertation explores rural wellness through three interrelated studies, utilizing both qualitative and quantitative methods to examine disparities, perceptions of rurality, and demographic influences on well-being. The first study utilized the Five Factor Wellness Inventory (5F-WEL) to compare wellness scores between rural and non-rural individuals. The second study employed Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) to explore rural definitions of wellness, as well as barriers and strengths related to mental health. The third study examined how perceptions of rurality and demographic factors predict wellness …

William Hogarth's Portraiture: A Vehicle For Social Commentary, Kaitlyn Elizabeth Hoff

Theses and Dissertations

William Hogarth is often celebrated for the critiques of eighteenth-century England seen throughout his widely reproduced satirical print series and paintings, however his contributions to portraiture offer a compelling extension of his artistic vision and techniques. This research aims to explore Hogarth’s use of portraiture as a vehicle for social commentary and moral messaging, revealing broader themes of morality, nationalism, and identity among all of his works, comparing this approach to that of both his contemporaries and his own prints.

In examining Hogarth’s portraits alongside other formal portraiture, the socio-political landscape of the time, and existing scholarship, methods such as …