Digital Commons Network^™

The Perceptions Of Foster Care Alumni Who Are Recipients Of Pandemic Aid, Ashley Robinson

Walden Dissertations and Doctoral Studies

The COVID-19 pandemic heightened challenges for young adults transitioning from foster care to independence. Research shows that foster care alumni faced barriers in education, employment, housing, and health due to limited support networks. Yet, little is known about how emergency policies, such as the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021, affected them. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore the perceptions and experiences of foster care alumni who received financial aid through the Act. The research question: What were the experiences and perceptions of foster care alumni (aged 18-26) who received funds via the CAA of 2021 during …

How Plants Defy Gravity, Olivia Y. Kim, Agatha Shaikhutdinova, Joshua Lee, Reece Sit, Daniel Yang, Aliyah Shams, Kathryn Choi, Esther Yoo

STEM for Success Showcase

This educational short book, written by students, uses creative descriptions to make biology and chemistry concepts engaging and easy to understand.

November 5, 2025 Faculty Senate Minutes, University Of South Carolina

Faculty Senate

No abstract provided.

Commonwealth Times 2025-11-05

Commonwealth Times, 1969-

No abstract provided.

Let It Flow: Walking-With Educators In Affective School Environments, Alyssa Dominique Nucaro

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This dissertation explores the intertwined relationships between K–5 educators and the external environments of their schools. Drawing on post-qualitative inquiry, the study rejects traditional linear methodologies in favor of walking-with, a practice of movement, noticing, and attunement that foregrounds affective intensities and material encounters. Through walking-with, artifact-based reflections, and journaling, this research maps how teachers experience, interpret, and are shaped by the spaces that surround their schools. The dissertation presents vignettes and poetic fragments as affective offerings that illuminate how space, pedagogy, and community intermingle. These moments reveal tensions and possibilities around safety, visibility, infrastructure, play, and cultural connection, while …

Queens, Care, And Creativity: Exploring The Expressions Of Othermothering By African American Girls, Lischa Tshoiya Brooks

Electronic Theses and Dissertations Archive

This study explores othermothering as a cultural and political practice among African American girls in Memphis, Tennessee. While most scholarship on othermothering centers the voices of adult women, this research foregrounds the perspectives of African American girls, illuminating how they interpret and experience the influence of othermothers on their identity formation. Guided by Black Feminist Thought, Africana Womanism, and arts-based inquiry, the study situates othermothering as a theoretical framework that is both intimate and political by nurturing personal growth while resisting deficit narratives that marginalize Black girlhood. Data were collected through a creative workshop, Walk Like a Queen Crown Workshop, …

Ethnobotanical Surveys And Morphological Analysis Of Medicinal Plant Names In Lɔ́Mɔngo (Lomongo) C60 At The Elandisha Mavaolo Protected Area In Northeastern Democratic Republic Of Congo, Jean-Baptiste Grodya Musafiri, Jean-Bosco Njango Ngonda, Reddy Shutcha Ehata, Charles Kumbatulu Sita, Chrispina Alphonce, Helene B. Mavar Manga Sodila

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The aim of this research is to contribute to the documentation of Lomongo, a Bantu language spoken in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). In this study, we focused on two morphological aspects of medicinal plant names in Lomongo: nominal morphology and morpho-syntax. To collect data, we engaged with two categories of informants: primary informants (traditional healers) and secondary informants (native Lomongo speakers). Ethnobotanical and ethnolinguistic surveys were conducted in the “Elandisha” Mavaolo area through participant observation, semi-structured interview guides, audio recordings, and photographs. The plants identified were documented in situ with the assistance of botanists from "Matiti-Lisanga," an interdisciplinary …

Decoding Omens From Animal Calls And Sightings: An Ethnozoolinguistic Study Among The Iraqw Of Tanzania, Chrispina Alphonce

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

Understanding the interplay between cultural beliefs, language, and environmental signals is crucial for comprehending how communities engage with their natural surroundings. Despite existing research on cultural interpretations of natural phenomena, little is known about how animal calls and sightings specifically predict omens within the Iraqw community in Tanzania. This study examines the Iraqw ethnozoolinguistics of omens, focusing on their role in forecasting social events, both positive and negative, and on how these signals reflect the community’s cultural understanding. A qualitative research design was employed, with data collected through introspection, focus group discussions, and semi-structured interviews, grounded in ecosemiotic, ecolinguistic, and …

What Is In A Plant Name? A Semantic Analysis Of Indigenous Plant Names Among The Yao Of Southern Tanzania, Julius John Taji

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This study investigates the meanings conveyed by indigenous plant names among the Yao of Masasi, southern Tanzania, whose native language is Chiyao (Bantu, P21). The study specifically explores what plant names communicate beyond functioning as tools for labelling and identifying. The data for the study were collected through semi-structured interviews and jungle-walk-and-identify methods and they were analysed using the framework of onomastics, particularly the area of phytonyms. The sample of the study consisted of nine native speakers of Chiyao from three villages in the Masasi District in Tanzania, namely Chiwata, Kanyimbi and Mkululu. The findings show that indigenous plant names …

Investigating The Plant Folk Taxonomy In The Bena Language Of Tanzania, Adriano Utenga

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

This paper surveys plant identification and categorisation among the Bena. Each society’s cultural uniqueness and peculiarity in categorising the local biodiversity informed the study. The researcher conducted the study in Lupembe Ward, Njombe District Council, where Bena is the predominant language. Five elderly speakers of Bena, knowledgeable about plants, were selected through purposive and snowball sampling techniques. Jungle-walk-and-identify and focus group interviews were the key methods for data collection. Using the Perceptual-Taxonomic Theory as a guide, I analysed the data thematically. The study found that the Bena cannot identify the unique beginner “plant” (the all-inclusive word for the notion plant). …

Investigating The Relationship Between Noun Classes And Plant Folk Taxonomy In Chasu Language Of Kilimanjaro Region In Tanzania, Peter Rabson Mziray

Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences

The current study investigates the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu (G 22). The study focuses on two objectives: the first objective is to describe the plant folk taxonomy in Chasu and the second objective is to determine the relationship between noun classes and plant folk taxonomy in Chasu. Data were collected from rural villages in Same and Mwanga districts by using free listing, field interviews (jungle-walk-and-identify), and written texts containing Chasu plant names. The findings reveal that Chasu folk taxonomy reflects different ethnobotanical categories; including a unique beginner which is mmea/mimea ‘plant(s)’, and three life …

Development Of A Clinically Relevant Rabbit Model Of Acute Laryngeal Injury, Ryan Stepp, Naushin Ali, Areli A. Rodriguez, Ethan Nicklow, Noah Thornton, Adithya Reddy, Hannah L. Kenny, Patrick S. Cottler, Donald R. Griffin, James J. Daniero

Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery Faculty Papers

OBJECTIVES: Acute laryngeal injury (ALgI) is created as a result of endotracheal tube pressure ulcer formation leading to fibrosis and inflammation. This condition often leads to airway obstruction and voice and swallowing dysfunction. This study demonstrates a reliable animal model of ALgI to reproduce the acute wound process seen clinically, to explore the pathophysiology of this disease process, and to serve as a reproducible injury suitable for the evaluation of therapeutic interventions.

METHODS: An ALgI model was developed in New Zealand White rabbits using precise mucosal stripping of the posterior larynx, followed by intubation with an oversized 4.0 endotracheal tube …

Data Accompanying "Landscape Composition Surrounding Restoration Projects Modulates Use By Wildlife: A Case Study Of Mule Deer In Utah", Jaylin Solberg

Browse all Datasets

With mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), hereafter, deer, populations in decline, wildlife managers have increased their efforts to improve factors that limit population growth. In the State of Utah (hereafter, Utah), these efforts have included habitat restoration which is expected to improve environmental conditions for deer. Some of these efforts include pinon-juniper removal, prescribed burning, and spraying of invasive plant species. Although previous work has demonstrated the local impacts of restoration on deer populations, it is unknown how the environmental conditions in the landscape surrounding restoration treatments may modify local restoration impacts. Identifying how both local and landscape-scale conditions influence deer …

Low Dose Cone Beam Computed Tomography Versus High Dose Cone Beam Computed Tomography In Measuring Furcation Involvements: (Diagnostic Accuracy Study), Marwa Ezz, Cairo University, Misr University For Science & Technology

Dentistry

Accurate diagnosis of furcation defect is essential in periodontal therapy planning. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) provides three-dimensional visualization, but higher radiation doses remain a concern. This study aims to assess and compare the diagnostic accuracy of low-dose CBCT (LD-CBCT) and high-dose CBCT (HD-CBCT) in detecting and measuring furcation defect using a pig mandible. Detection and accurate assessment of periodontal disease is important to determine the tooth prognosis and treatment. Radiographic assessment provides information about the pattern and extent of the furcation defect. CBCT provides unique 3D images used for diagnosis and treatment plans, but its use in periodontology not …

Mutant P53 Variants Differentially Impact Replication Initiation And Activate Cgas-Sting To Affect Immune Checkpoint Inhibition, Kang Liu, Lidija A Wilhelms Garan, Fang-Tsyr Lin, Weei-Chin Lin

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Prior research shows that Akt-dependent phosphorylation of TopBP1 in S phase results in the switch of TopBP1/Treslin binding to TopBP1/E2F1 binding, which is important to prevent replication re-initiation in late S and G2 phases. Here, we demonstrate that contact, but not conformational, mutant p53 can override this switch by binding to both TopBP1 and Treslin, thereby facilitating persistent TopBP1/Treslin interaction in late S and G2 phases, which ultimately leads to over-firing of replication initiation. This increases micronuclei formation, which is further enhanced by genotoxic stressors such as doxorubicin, PARP inhibitors, or ATR inhibitors. Consequently, contact mutant p53 increases the sensitivity …

Circulating Levels Of Insulin-Like Growth Factor I (Igf-I) And Risk Ofmultiple Myeloma: An Observational And Mendelian Randomisation Study, Yolanda Benavente, Sara Hermosa, Nikos Papadimitriou, Alyssa I. Clay-Gilmour Ph.D., Elizabeth E. Brown, Jonathan N. Hofmann, Nathaniel Rothman, Qing Lan, Sonja I. Berndt, Demetrius Albanes, Mark Purdue, Mitchell J. Machiela, Stephen J. Chanock, Parveen Bhatti, Wendy Cozen, Aaron Norman, Susan L. Slager, James R. Cerhan, Vincent Rajkumar, Shaji J. Kumar, Et. Al.

Faculty Publications

Evidence for an association between insulin-like growth factors (IGF) and multiple myeloma (MM) is inconsistent. We examined total IGF-I concentrations and risk of MM by combining baseline serological data among UK Biobank participants (n = 444 187; 732 incident MM) with a two-sample Mendelian randomisation (MR) analysis using identified genetic variants associated with circulating total IGF-I and IGF-binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3) in the InterLymph consortium (2434 MM and their 2567 controls). Finally, additional lymphoid neoplasm (LN) subtypes were included for comparison with the main hypothesis. Circulating IGF-I level was positively associated with MM risk Hazard ratio-HR-per one standard deviation-SD-increase …

Leveraging Dna Methylation Profiling And Microrna Sequencing To Characterize The Epigenomic Landscape Of Major Depressive Disorder Disease Trajectory, Jan Dahrendorff

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a common and debilitating mental disorder associated with a significant disease burden and economic cost. Despite ample evidence documenting the efficacy of a diverse array of established MDD therapies, a large proportion of patients are inadequately responsive to initial treatment attempts, with first-line treatments leading to remission in only ~30% of the patients. Importantly, about a third of patients even fail to achieve symptom improvement after two or more antidepressant trials, resulting in what is commonly defined as treatment-resistant depression (TRD). The ability to identify which treatments are most likely to elicit a positive response …

A Multi-Faceted Study Of Antibiotic-Resistant, Opportunistic Pathogens In Wastewater And Environmental Water, Jeanette Calarco

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

More than 2.8 million infections due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria occur annually in the United States, and more than 35,000 people die as a result. Domestic wastewater (sewage), which contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria and antibiotic resistance genes, is collected at treatment plants for removal of contaminants, e.g. pathogenic microorganisms and nutrients. While wastewater treatment is designed to remove antibiotic-resistant bacteria and other microorganisms through treatment and disinfection, some bacteria may escape treatment. Treated wastewater effluent is generally discharged into surface waters; however, some fraction of the effluent may be used as recycled water. Compromised wastewater collection infrastructure and sewage spills can disseminate …

From Specialized To Generalized Frameworks: Broadening Machine Learning Approaches To Detect Natural Selection, Sandipan Paul Arnab

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Natural selection leaves characteristic footprints in genomic variation, and detecting these patterns is fundamental to understanding evolutionary history and adaptation in humans. In this thesis, I present a progression of machine learning frameworks, beginning with highly specialized feature engineering and complex modeling, advancing to approaches that require minimal training, and culminating in methods that remain robust to model misspecification. First, I developed SISSSCO, a spectral feature extraction framework that applies wavelet transforms, multitaper analysis, and S-transform to genomic summary statistics, converting one-dimensional signals into two-dimensional spectral images analyzed by convolutional neural networks. SISSSCO achieved high accuracy across varied evolutionary scenarios, …

Cofilin Inhibition Ameliorates Piezo2 And Ampa Dysfunction In A Mouse Model Of Angelman Syndrome, Luis O Romero, Manisha Bade, Elisa Carrillo, Sonia Paz-López, Syed A M Hasan, William James Antonisamy, Vasanthi Jayaraman, Zahoor A Shah, Valeria Vásquez, Julio F Cordero-Morales

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurogenetic disorder characterized by motor coordination and cognitive deficits. In AS, hippocampal neurons show reduced filamentous (F-)actin, a decrease we also reported in dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, along with impaired mechanosensitive ion channel activity. Currently, there are no pharmacological targets to prevent the decrease of F-actin in AS. Here, we utilize a first-in-class selective cofilin inhibitor (SZ-3) to restore PIEZO2 function in DRG neurons and glutamate-evoked currents in hippocampal neurons from AS mice. Using atomic force microscopy, we demonstrate that inhibiting cofilin, an actin-severing protein, with SZ-3 increases cellular stiffness by stabilizing the actin …

Integrating Pathogenic Variants, Polygenic Risk Score, And Family History For Prostate Cancer Risk Estimation In Men Of African Ancestry, Fei Chen, Xin Sheng, Anqi Wang, Yili Xu, Raymond Hughley, Wei Xiong, Loreall Pooler, Peggy Wan, Susan M Gundell, Godfrey Kigozi, Gertrude Nakigozi, Fred Nalugoda, Joseph Kagaayi, Grace Nalwoga Kigozi, Stephen Mugamba, Emmanuel Kyasanku, James Nkale, Vitalis Ofumbi Olwa, Alexander Lubwama, Alex Daama, Resty Nakajugo, Ben Adusei, Mohamed Jalloh, Serigne Magueye Gueye, Andrew A Adjei, James Mensah, Pedro W Fernandez, Akindele Olupelumi Adebiyi, J Olufemi Ogunbiyi, Oseremen Inokhoife Aisuodionoe-Shadrach, Lindsay Petersen, Wenlong Carl Chen, Jo Mcbride, Jeannette T Bensen, James L Mohler, Jack A Taylor, Caroline Andrews, Mbaaga Kigongo, Amanya Colline, Vicky Kiddu, Juliet Namugambe, Shallot Owamaani, Kuteesa Job, Benon Joseph Masaba, Frank Asiimwe, Proscovia Muwanga, Joy Namulondo, Florence Nagawa, Charity Kayiraba, Martin Ogwang, Ronald Okidi, David Oweka, Elio Kitara, James Obonyo, Daniel Lajul, Paul Matovu, Precious Arinda Muheki, Johnson Natumanya, Emmanuel Agaba, Emmanuel Aculokin, Amos Twongyeirwe, George Mutema, Denis Bitamazire, Eboneé N Butler, Sue Ann Ingles, Benjamin A Rybicki, Janet L Stanford, Wei Zheng, Sonja I Berndt, Stephen J Chanock, Chad D Huff, Joseph Lachance, Luc Multigner, Burcu F Darst, Timothy R Rebbeck, Laurent Brureau, Stephen Watya, David V Conti, Christopher A Haiman

Faculty, Staff and Student Publications

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The impact of germline pathogenic variants (PVs) in cancer predisposition genes on risk of prostate cancer (PCa) remains understudied in large populations of African ancestry. This study aims to characterize the range of genetic risk of PCa and aggressive disease phenotypes in men of African ancestry.

METHODS: We analyzed 7176 PCa cases and 4873 controls from seven countries across North America and Africa to assess the association between PVs in 37 cancer predisposition genes and the risk of overall, aggressive, and metastatic PCa. Genes significantly associated with PCa risk were used to estimate lifetime absolute risk based …

Computational Data Analysis, Kathryn S. Biles

LSU Master's Theses

Data science has emerged as a cornerstone of innovation, shaping an ever-expanding range

of professional careers. As technology advances and the volume of data expands expo-

nentially, the ability to extract meaningful insights from data has become indispensable

across industries. Far from representing a single career path, data science enables profes-

sionals in nearly every domain to make informed decisions, optimize systems, and drive

innovation. Yet, many high school students and incoming college freshmen have limited

exposure to data science fundamentals or the career opportunities they unlock. This is

the gap that Computational Data Analysis, a high school-level curriculum I …

The Historical Shift On Depression: Psychoanalysis To Neuroscience, Melina Kehtar-Navaz

The Bear Counseling Collective

Depression, a condition that affects millions of people worldwide, has been an important subject for the collaboration between psychologists, medical doctors, and beyond. Over the past century, our understanding of depression has undergone a transformation from theory-driven insights of psychoanalysis to the biological and brain-based medical and cognitive models that currently dominate research in the field. In the early 20th century, psychoanalysts like Sigmund Freud proposed an original definition and cause for depression, including components of unconscious conflicts. Today, with advancements in neuroscience and biological psychiatry, depression is a disorder of the brain that is affected by multiple components of …

A Detestable Nation Of Orcs: Echoes Of Eurasian Nomads In Early Fantasy And The Literary Ecosystem Behind Them, Axel Hansen

Journal of Tolkien Research

It is well known that Orcs and Easterlings in J.R.R. Tolkien's works share features with Eurasian nomadic peoples such as Huns and Mongols. The same is true for Tolkien's literary predecessor William Morris' Dusky Men in The Roots of the Mountains. This article will provide an examination of these features from a historical viewpoint, on how interactions with and subsequent records about various steppe nomads in European history can be tied to villains in early modern Fantasy literature. It will then present a short review of how a network of historic accounts, academic theories and pop cultural works – …

Evaluating Soil Responses To Three Different Tillage Practices, Robert L. Burchett, Cordale L. Straub Senior, Logan D. Renfrow Sophomore

Scholars Week

Evaluating Soil Responses to Three Different Tillage Practices

Luke Burchett, Logan Renfrow, and Cordale Straub

Mentor: Dr. Iin Handayani Ph.D

Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Kentucky, USA

ABSTRACT

Tillage systems can greatly affect soil health by changing its structure, chemistry, and biological activity. This study examined how soil organic carbon (SOC), soil pH, soil moisture, soil organic matter (SOM) responds under three tillage systems: no-till, biannual tillage, and conventional tillage. Soil samples were taken from a 1–7.6 cm depth during September 2025 across three locations. The no-till site was located in Caldwell County, Kentucky, on an irrigated double-crop …

Impact Of Crop Rotation And Species Variation On Soil Quality Indicators, Somasekhar Auduti, Uday Kiran Pittala, Pratibha Adhikari

Scholars Week

Impact of Crop Rotation and Species Variation on Soil Quality Indicators

Pratibha Adhikari, Somasekhar Auduti, Uday Kiran Pittala

Mentor: Dr. Iin P. Handayani, Ph.D.

Hutson School of Agriculture, Murray State University, Murray, KY, USA

Designing crop rotations that counter the negative effects of monocropping requires crop choices that build carbon and create stable pore structure. The objective of this research was to evaluate the effects of crop rotation on selected soil health indicators and to interpret soil health conditions across agricultural fields. Soil samples were collected from West Farm, Murray, KY, from six crop fields—corn, soybean, tobacco, millet, cotton, and …

Assessing Soil Quality Indicators In Leguminous And Non-Leguminous Cropping Systems, Kabita Budthapa, Kranthi Vinukonda, Ramya Sree Teeguri

Scholars Week

It is crucial to understand how different cropping systems influence soil health to boost the efficiency of resources and sustainable agricultural outputs. This study examined the effects of leguminous (soybean and pea) and non-leguminous (sunflower and maize) cropping systems on selected soil characteristics. On September 16th, 2025, soil samples (24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed) were collected from the 0-7.5 cm depth of West Farm, Murray, Kentucky. Disturbed samples were analyzed for pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic carbon (SOC), while undisturbed samples were used to determine bulk density, porosity, soil water holding capacity (SWHC), and soil water field …

Comparative Assessment Of Soil Properties In Cropland And Forested Areas In Western Kentucky, Shiba Hari Dhakal, Abinash Dhungana, Ramson K C

Scholars Week

Soil health is profoundly influenced by its physical and chemical properties. These properties rely on land use systems; consequently, impact on soil functions and agricultural sustainability. The objective of this study was to determine selected physical and chemical properties affected by crop and forest management in Western Kentucky. Two crop and two forested areas with six replications each were selected for this study in September 2025 in Calloway County, Kentucky. A total of 24 disturbed and 24 undisturbed soil samples were collected at 0-7 cm depth. Disturbed samples were analyzed for soil pH, soil organic matter (SOM), and soil organic …

Learning And Satisfaction, Ainsley Smith

Scholars Week

Learning and Satisfaction

Motivation, especially in the world of psychology, is quite the broad and overarching term that relates to various aspects of life. Whether it be motivation in the workplace, classroom, sports, or relationships, our intrinsic and extrinsic motivations drive us to do our best on what we set forth to accomplish. Although there is extensive research on methods of learning in correlation to motivation as well as levels of satisfaction impacting these levels, there has yet to be much exploration into the impact an emotional component or personal connection may have on these factors. The purpose of this …

Adaptation Of Exome Sequencing Methods For Low-Quality Genomic Dna Extracted From Aged Fta Micro-Cards In Sudden Death Investigations, Gerges Samir Nazir

Thesis/ Dissertation Defenses

DNA degrada􀆟on and insufficient gDNA quan􀆟ty and purity, preserving genomic DNA on FTA Micro-Cards presents substan􀆟al difficul􀆟es for forensic inves􀆟ga􀆟ons of unexpected fatali􀆟es. Through the use of lowquality genomic DNA recovered from four-year-old dried blood using FTA Micro-Cards, this effort seeks to enhance and op􀆟mize exome sequencing. Samples were sequenced using Next-Genera􀆟on Sequencing (NGS) with Illumina DNA Prep with Exome 2.0 Plus Enrichment with mitochondrial panel, star􀆟ng at 0.1 ng/μl of gDNA.To improve the coverage of mitochondrial genes, a mitochondrial DNA spike-in was included, and the samples were sequenced using the NextSeq 1000/2000 pla􀆞orm, employing the onboard DRAGEN Enrichment Pipeline …