Digital Commons Network^™

Dysregulation Of Dopamine Dynamics Through Monoamine Transporters By The Hiv-1 Protein Transactivator Of Transcription, Sarah Davis

Theses and Dissertations

Prevalence of HIV-1 Associated Cognitive Disorders (HAND) persists in the era of combined antiretroviral therapies, causing impaired memory, motor function, and decreased quality of life. Evidence from clinical samples of persons with HAND has implicated dopamine, as well as the HIV-1 viral protein transactivator of transcription (Tat) as key molecules associated with disease progression. Through molecular modeling, in vitro and in vivo mutagenesis our lab has characterized Tat as a negative allosteric modulator for monoamine transporters, including the dopamine transporter (DAT), vesicular monoamine transporter (VMAT-2), and norepinephrine transporter. While this work has shed light on how Tat impacts the function …

State Estimation And Prediction Based On Simplified First Principle Model Of Lithium-Ion Batteries In Lebesgue Sampling Framework, Enhui Liu

Theses and Dissertations

State-of-charge (SOC) and remaining-dischargeable-time (RDT) are critical states of Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). SOC indicates the available charge stored in LIBs compared to the total charge capacity of LIBs, while RDT refers to the remaining dischargeable time that LIBs can support under given loading profiles. Accurate SOC estimation and RDT prediction play important roles in guaranteeing the safe and efficient operation of batteries in real applications.

Taking advantage of high fidelity of simplified first principle (SFP) model of LIBs, this research aims to accurately estimate SOC and predict RDT. Firstly, this research establishes an SFP model to describe the battery internal …

Use Of Improvement Science To Build The Instructional Capacity Of Faculty In A Community College, Marianne Yohannan

Theses and Dissertations

Up to 78% of Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) students experience poor academic achievement as defined by course grades of D, F and W in college. Students entering these fields are often not prepared (Chen & Soldner, 2013) and struggle to succeed in gateway STEM courses, with one-third of them possibly failing (Freeman et al., 2011). The success rates are lower among first-generation, low-income, and underrepresented minoritized groups (Doerschuk et al., 2016). At Tri-County Technical College, 30-40% of introductory biology students are unsuccessful and receive low grades (Institutional Research, n.d.). Low academic achievement has a huge impact on our …

Associations Between Infant Vagal Regulation, Early Social Communication, And Socidemographic Risk, Tessa Djiko

Theses and Dissertations

Respiratory sinus arrythmia (RSA), a measure of parasympathetic nervous system activation, has been linked to socioemotional and language development (Porges, 2007; Thayer & Lane, 2000). Children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show lower RSA (Patriquin et al., 2011) while both children with ASD and children from lower SES backgrounds show differences in early social-communication development (Jones-Mason et al., 2018). However, little is known about interactions between sociodemographic risk and physiological regulation within the context of ASD and social-communication development. The present study addresses this gap by examining the relationship between RSA (as indexed by RSA suppression and resting-state RSA), …

Developing A Curriculum For An Online Group Piano In The Philippines: An Ideological, Historical, And Practical Approach, Lady Abigail Imperio

Theses and Dissertations

Online distance learning, a modern educational practice, has permeated music pedagogy in the past several decades. It involves synthesizing interdisciplinary studies in philosophy, music, technology, and sociology. In this study, the integrated approach aims to develop a unique curriculum for an online group piano in the Philippine setting. This goal involves coalescing ideological, historical, and practical perspectives to develop a coherent, learner-centered approach.

The ideological approach surveys educational philosophies, music learning theories, cooperative learning theories, online learning theories, and socio-cultural perspectives relevant to forming a unique framework. The nature of online distance music learning itself presents complex challenges of international …

Enslaved Women: Reproductive Choices And Medicine, Adedoyin Adekunle

Theses and Dissertations

Enslavement in the American South persisted as a form of subjugation that endured into the nineteenth century. The origins of slavery stemmed from enslavers’ aspirations for dominance. This compelled displacement involved the removal of Africans from their native lands and their subsequent transport as chattels to America. Slavery gave rise to paternalism, an attempt to justify exploitation to resolve the fundamental contradiction inherent in slavery. Paternalism gave rise to the false idea of ultimate submission, which historians have agreed that most enslavers never attained because of slave resistance. However, the study of slave resistance had been primarily focused on enslaved …

Addressing A Crisis In Nursing Practice: Exploring The Impact Of Multimedia Case-Based Learning On The Clinical Judgment Of Undergraduate Nursing Students, Macy Jenette Bennett

Theses and Dissertations

Clinical judgment is a priority nursing skill to ensure the delivery of safe and effective nursing care. New graduate nurses and nursing students lack the clinical judgment skills that are necessary for entry-level nursing practice. Nurse educators must therefore implement teaching strategies that facilitate clinical judgment. This study evaluated the clinical judgment of undergraduate nursing students after the implementation of multimedia case studies related to the concept of perfusion. Two research questions guided this study: (a) in what ways do undergraduate nursing students demonstrate clinical judgment after completing a series of perfusion-related multimedia case studies and (b) to what extent …

A Discussion Of The Tubman Arias From The Opera Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed That Line To Freedom, Mahari Allene Marie Freeman

Theses and Dissertations

Nkeiru Okoye (1972-) is an American composer of operas and orchestral works whose concert and theatrical compositions have gained extensive recognition in recent years. Harriet Tubman: When I Crossed that Line to Freedom is Okoye’s most well- known opera for which she composed the music and penned the libretto. Through her compositions, Okoye bravely addresses political and racial issues and tells the stories of well-known Black figures, such as Harriet Tubman.

Harriet Tubman (1822-1913) was a prolific American hero that led runaway slaves toward freedom. For approximately a decade, she risked her life traveling to and from the South to …

Simulation Study On Count Data Based On Double Poisson Distribution, Chao Ma

Theses and Dissertations

This thesis delves into the double Poisson distribution. Regression based on the double Poisson distribution, as proposed by Efron in 1986, offers an alternative approach that allows for more accurate regression models when dealing with discrete data that exhibit either over- or under-dispersion compared to the Poisson distribution. In this thesis, two methods of calculating the exact double Poisson density are compared: one utilizes the exact probability with the normalizing constant c(mu, theta) by definition or the “finite sum” method, while the other employs an approximation of the normalizing constant c(mu, theta). Furthermore, a simulation was …

Transcending The Family-Teacher Partnership: Utilizing Teaching Methods And Digital Platforms Proven Effective During The Pandemic, Amanda Katherine Mcclain

Theses and Dissertations

The unprecedented challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic led teachers to innovatively shift their teaching methods. These pioneering practices inspired this study’s Elevated Family-Teacher Partnership intervention to provide equitable guidance and communication for all families. This dissertation, in practice, measured the effects the intervention created in a first-grade classroom setting in Hanahan, South Carolina. A mixed-methods research design analyzed the intervention's effects on the family-teacher relationship and each child’s academic achievement. The data indicated increased parental efficacy, engagement, and academic growth during the 12-week intervention for all families participating.

Improving Equity In Communication: Building Collaborative Partnerships Between Teachers And Spoken Language Interpreters, Angela J. Rush

Theses and Dissertations

In today’s increasingly diverse educational landscape, equitable communication is essential for fostering meaningful parent engagement and ensuring all students have an equal opportunity for a comprehensive education. However, language barriers can pose significant challenges for English Learner/Emergent Bilingual students and parents in the educational context. This improvement study underscores the crucial need for educational systems to address language barriers through targeted support mechanisms, such as quality language access services. The study draws upon the principles of improvement science to design, implement, and examine the transformative potential of a professional development program to enhance collaboration between teachers and interpreters and inform …

A Study Of Direct Sensitivity Method Solving Optimal Control Problems With Single And Multiple Time Grids With An Application In An Experimental Hybrid System, Hainan Wang

Theses and Dissertations

Computational methods for optimal control are important for dealing with bottlenecks in industries. By implementing optimal operation strategies obtained from the computational methods into dynamic systems, objectives such as saving energy, reducing cost, exploiting potential, and improving efficiency can be achieved. Computational methods for optimal control have been used in a broad range of disciplines, including aeronautics and astronautics, oil and chemical engineering, power systems, clean energy, biomedical engineering, economics, and management. Due to the great application value of optimal control, its computational methods have drawn worldwide attention. Direct methods are most effective in computational methods for optimal control. Direct …

The Importance Of Sense Of Community In Recovery For Individuals Living With Serious Mental Illness, Natalia Gomez

Theses and Dissertations

People with serious mental illness face a variety of barriers to participating in community life. Some of these barriers include limits in social functioning which can then affect social relationships and life satisfaction (Sanchez et al, 2016). Devaluation based on mental health status is an important barrier to address due to its connection to stigma and relationships. The more an individual fears that they will be undervalued and discriminated against, the more they may fear interacting with others. They may hide that they are in mental health treatment or avoid social encounters that they consider as possibly rejecting. These behaviors …

Planning And Adapting In The Design Process, Lindsay Kay Wilkinson

Theses and Dissertations

The costume design and technology program at the University of South Carolina requires that students extensively learn each area of the profession. The largest growth-inducing experiences and some of the highlights for me were the opportunities to adapt when challenging changes or unexpected twists and turns arose with each production or project. Through my time at the university, I have gained a better understanding of balance between time and stress management, a system for understanding and completing costume-based research, digital rendering, I have improved the communication of my ideas with a director, working out a cohesive look with a production …

The Effects Of High Fat Diet On Lipid Deposition In Skeletal Muscle, Alexander Huss

Theses and Dissertations

By the year 2030, almost 50% of adults in the United States are expected to be obese. Obesity has been shown to increase the risk of several chronic metabolic diseases, several cancers, and is associated with impaired skeletal muscle function and metabolism. Despite this, little it is known about the role of altered muscle lipid homeostasis, lipid droplet dynamics, and lipid droplet-mitochondrial interactions in contributing to muscle dysfunction in obesity. Therefore, we sought to investigate the impact of high-fat diet induced obesity on overall skeletal muscle lipid deposition, intramyocellular lipid droplet content and morphology, and lipid droplet-mitochondrial contact. Male C57/BL6 …

Injectable, Reversibly Thermoresponsive Captopril-Laden Hydrogel For The Local Treatment Of Sensory Loss In Diabetic Neuropathy, Amit Chandra Das, James M Nichols, Caitlin V Crelli, Lu Liu, Riddhi Vichare, Hoang Vu Pham, Caitlyn M Gaffney, Fisher R Cherry, Peter M Grace, Andrew J Shepherd, Jelena M Janjic

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

A major and irreversible complication of diabetes is diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN), which can lead to significant disability and decreased quality of life. Prior work demonstrates the peptide hormone Angiotensin II (Ang II) is released locally in neuropathy and drives inflammation and impaired endoneurial blood flow. Therefore, we proposed that by utilizing a local thermoresponsive hydrogel injection, we could deliver inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) to suppress Ang II production and reduce nerve dysfunction in DPN through local drug release. The ACE inhibitor captopril was encapsulated into a micelle, which was then embedded into a reversibly thermoresponsive pluronics-based hydrogel matrix. …

Monitoring Response To Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy In Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using Circulating Tumor Dna, Jennifer H Chen, Sridevi Addanki, Dhruvajyoti Roy, Roland Bassett, Ekaterina Kalashnikova, Erik Spickard, Henry M Kuerer, Salyna Meas, Vanessa N Sarli, Anil Korkut, Jason B White, Gaiane M Rauch, Debu Tripathy, Banu K Arun, Carlos H Barcenas, Clinton Yam, Himanshu Sethi, Angel A Rodriguez, Minetta C Liu, Stacy L Moulder, Anthony Lucci

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND: Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive subtype with poor prognosis. We aimed to determine whether circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) and circulating tumor cell (CTC) could predict response and long-term outcomes to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC).

METHODS: Patients with TNBC were enrolled between 2017-2021 at The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center (Houston, TX). Serial plasma samples were collected at four timepoints: pre-NAC (baseline), 12-weeks after NAC (mid-NAC), after NAC/prior to surgery (post-NAC), and one-year after surgery. ctDNA was quantified using a tumor-informed ctDNA assay (Signatera

RESULTS: In total, 37 patients were enrolled. The mean age was 50 …

Learning Through Discourse: Impacting Fractional Understanding Through Virtual Discourse, Laurie A. Gentry-Goodale

Theses and Dissertations

There is a strong need for fifth-grade students to become proficient in mathematical problem-solving using fractional computations because it will have a lasting impact on student achievement. Traditionally, mathematics is taught inside a brick-and-mortar classroom, grounded in rote memorization of facts, rules, and formulas. In recent years, more elementary students have enrolled fully in online learning environments, which emphasize on students becoming problem-solvers, specifically in fractional computation. The NCTM strongly encourages using mathematical discourse as an instructional method but employing mathematical discourse, but its applicability to online math learning is not well understood. This study addressed students' problem-solving skills, mathematical …

Layers Of Support: Cognitive, Psychological, And Social Factors That Contribute To Success In The High School-To-College Transition, Paige Cristine Mckeown

Theses and Dissertations

The future of individual and societal progress is largely dependent on students’ success following completion of K-12 education. For most traditionally aged students, this entails a journey into higher education at colleges and universities. This transition is rife with pitfalls that may lead students to stop out, fail out, or make inadequate progress towards completion – which further compounds social, psychological, financial, and personal challenges they may be facing. However, the challenges that contribute to these outcomes can be addressed and interventions can be designed to best support students in transition. This dissertation addresses these factors through a thematic literature …

Impacts Of Covid-19 And Taliban Takeover On U.S. Afghan Refugee Women’S Mental Health: A Socio-Ecological Approach To Resilience Resources, Atefeh Aghaei

Theses and Dissertations

In response to the escalating global refugee crisis, intensified by ongoing conflicts and environmental changes, this dissertation research focuses on the mental health of Afghan refugee women in the United States (U.S.), particularly in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2021 Taliban takeover. With over 114 million people displaced globally, Afghan refugees, notably women, encounter heightened mental health risks due to violence, deprivation, systemic persecution, and the challenges of migration. This vulnerability is exacerbated by recent mass traumatic events, including the pandemic and political upheaval in Afghanistan. Our study, conducted through semi-structured interviews with Afghan refugee women and …

Examining Systems To Improve Third Grade Literacy: Focus On Schools With High Poverty Index, Brenda Kelley

Theses and Dissertations

This improvement project was designed to ensure students enrolled in elementary schools with a high poverty index received literacy instructional strategies that promoted literacy achievement. When analyzing Graham County School data, I noticed third-grade students attending high poverty elementary schools were not achieving literacy success at the same rate as third-grade students attending low poverty elementary schools. An improvement team, consisting of myself, administration, and teachers at a high poverty elementary school implemented the improvement science framework to further study the root causes of this problem. Utilizing the six principles of the improvement science framework, problem focused and user centered, …

Eco-Domestic Femininity: The Collapse Of Domestic And Wild In Southern Women’S Writing, Christina Xan

Theses and Dissertations

When the Agrarians set out to assert their definition of southern in I’ll Take My Stand (1930), they planted roots deep in the ground of the south that slowly wrapped its tendrils around its descendants. In the years that have followed, southern women have had to push back against these limiting boundaries. Their individual stories are linked by the communal lineage of the south, specifically the binary of domestic and wild. Traditionally, southern women have had to stay in the boundaries of the home, cultivating domesticity, ordering the space, and warming the hearth. The land itself, posed as opposite from …

Connecting Family Funds Of Knowledge With Pre-Kindergarten Curriculum: A Strengths-Based Approach, Molly Kathleen Hamel

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study investigated the application of funds of knowledge research to supplement a Pre-Kindergarten curriculum in order to connect the previous knowledge and lived experiences of students and their families with the concepts and objectives of the classroom. The research combined funds of knowledge theory with social constructivism to form its theoretical framework. The research study used semi-structured interviews with parents to collect information about student and family funds of knowledge which the researcher used to supplement the existing curriculum with materials, activities, and experiences with which students were familiar. The findings revealed how enhancing existing curriculum with …

Nutrition And Mental Health Related Factors Across Historically Black College And University Students, Nancy Anai Uriegas

Theses and Dissertations

The prevalence of food insecurity across college campus in the United States has been widely explored, with the primary focus placed on large, 4-year, primarily White institutions. Less is known about the prevalence of food insecurity and the impact it may have on health behaviors among minority serving institutions, including Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU). Young adults attending college, and more specifically student-athletes (SAs), are typically in a new place, facing new stressors and high rates of food insecurity, which in turn may play a critical role in their current health status as it pertains to meeting their energy …

Black Mph Internship Experiences In Racialized Organizations: Critical Counter-Narratives For A More Racially Just Public Health Workforce, Zach Jenkins

Theses and Dissertations

Internships are a vital component of Master of Public Health (MPH) programs. Despite 14% of MPH students identifying as Black, limited research has examined their internship experiences. This is particularly troubling given the racial demographics of the public health workforce and the racialized nature of most public health organizations. Using critical race theory (CRT) as a theoretical framework and critical counter-narrative as a methodology, this study sought to answer the following research questions: 1) How do Black MPH students describe their racialized experiences in their internships? and 2) What are the implications of Black MPH students’ narratives for policies and …

Effects Of Mmp14 Overexpression On Cardiac And Ovarian Connective Tissue And Myocyte Size In Pregnant And Post-Partum Mice, Emily Catherine Walliser

Theses and Dissertations

The main protein component of extracellular matrix is collagen, which fills spaces and supports cells. In the heart, collagen provides the scaffolding for cardiomyocytes and aids in contractile forces. In the ovary, collagen gives follicles their structural support. MMP14 or membrane type 1 matrix metalloproteinase is a membrane bound proteinase that cleaves extracellular matrix proteins, including collagen I and III. Recent studies have shown that overexpression of MMP14 influences collagen content in the heart, and elevated MMP14 has also been linked to ovarian cancer. In the current study, we investigate the effects of overexpression of a human MMP14 (hMMP14) transgene …

The Autistic Adult's Perspective On Genetic Testing In The Prenatal And Cancer Settings, Robin Lisa Urban

Theses and Dissertations

Prenatal and cancer genetic tests are recommended by many professional medical organizations. Previous studies have shown that autistic adults have a negative opinion towards genetic testing for autism but have not explored if this sentiment is shared for other types of genetic testing. We used a descriptive, web-based survey of autistic adults to assess their attitudes towards prenatal and cancer genetic testing (n=36). Our data showed that overall attitudes towards prenatal and cancer genetic testing are positive. Notably, participants had slightly more positive attitudes towards prenatal genetic testing related to neurodevelopmental disorders when compared to testing for disorders primarily affecting …

Impacts Of Teacher-Led Staff Meetings On School Climate, Culture, And Teacher Voice, Alison Ely

Theses and Dissertations

A staff development team composed of four teacher leaders was chosen at a public high school to plan and facilitate two staff meetings. The purpose of this study is to determine how the use of a staff development team influences teacher voice within the school, the overall direction of staff meetings, and the culture and climate of the school. 21 teacher participants completed surveys that measured their perceptions of school climate, school culture, and teacher voice. Additionally, these teacher participants also completed post staff meeting surveys that measured their perceptions of the productivity/ effectiveness of four staff meetings. As a …

Evaluating Gender Bias In An Early Reading Screener Of Word Identification Abilities, Donna Perazzo

Theses and Dissertations

Children who have difficulty learning to read, particularly those with a specific learning disorder in reading (SLD-R) are at risk for an array of adverse outcomes. However, children who are identified and receive reading interventions early perform better on social, emotional, academic, and behavioral outcomes relative to those who do not receive early identification and intervention. In response to the growing body of research that has developed on the importance of the early identification of children have difficulty reading, many states have mandated the screening of all children for reading difficulties, specifically dyslexia. However, with the development of new reading …

Therapy Use And Self-Stigma Of Seeking Help Among College Students Of Color, Rawle David Sookwah Ragoonath

Theses and Dissertations

Amidst rapid diversification of higher education student bodies, discrepancies in help-seeking relative to endorsed psychological distress have been noted among college students of color. The treatment utilization disparity exhibited by minoritized racial and ethnic groups attending college necessitates analysis of factors that impact help-seeking. Colleges have increasingly implemented multi-systemic interventions to address rising mental illness prevalence rates across college student demographics. Addressing treatment use disparities and implementing culturally competent services are foci of updated college mental health models. Empowering help-seeking is vital to promoting campus community health. Saint Arnault’s (2009) cultural determinants of help-seeking model (CDHS) posits the interplay of …