Digital Commons Network^™

Understanding The Role Of Host Derived Interleukin 1 Alpha In Breast Cancer Progression, Manikanda Raja Keerthi Raja

Theses and Dissertations

In breast cancer research, Interleukin-1 alpha (IL1α) remains a lesser-explored frontier, while its counterpart, Interleukin-1 beta, has garnered extensive scrutiny and understanding. To address this knowledge gap, our investigation leveraged the MMTVdriven HER2+ orthotopic model in Wildtype (WT) and IL1α-/- mice. Our approach demonstrated tumor regression in IL1α-/- mice at the 2-week timepoint, while WT tumors grew exponentially. At 2 weeks, IL1α-/- mice exhibited an immune "hot" microenvironment with increased CD45+ immune cells, particularly CD11b+ myeloid, and CD8+ T cells. CD8+ cells in IL1α-/- mice showed enhanced anti-tumor cytokine production and proliferative capability, with …

Impact Of Equitable Grading Practices On Student Outcomes And Biology Self-Efficacy In A Ninth Grade Biology Class, Laura Boyle

Theses and Dissertations

This action research study, set in a midwestern high school in the United States, was designed to investigate the impact of implementing equitable grading practices in a first semester freshman biology course. Many grading practices commonly used in classrooms in the United States are subjective, can be used to maintain compliance in the classroom, and do not accurately report what students know and can do. Ideas from Critical Race Theory and Bandura’s Self-Efficacy Theory guided this study. Qualitative and quantitative data were collected through pre and post self-efficacy surveys, grading surveys, and semi-structured student interviews, along with quantitative grade data …

Assessing Multi-Annual Phytoplankton Community Compositions And Biomass Across Tidal Creek And Open Water Estuarine Habitats In South Carolina, Shannon Elizabeth Powers

Theses and Dissertations

The urbanization of coastal environments in recent decades has caused an accelerating increase in nutrient-rich runoff from the landscape. The presence of these excess nutrients in the aquatic environment can result in degradation of water quality and harmful algal blooms. In South Carolina (SC), coastal development continues to threaten the resiliency of salt marsh estuaries, especially in combination with other stressors like climate change and sea level rise. Estuaries are important nurseries and habitats for fisheries and ecotourism. The South Carolina Estuarine and Coastal Assessment Program (SCECAP) is an ongoing monitoring program that assesses the habitat condition along the coast …

Histories Of Stress: A Life Course Approach To Population Health In Late Medieval And Early Modern Berlin, Emily Brennan

Theses and Dissertations

Given our current climate crisis and urban population increases, researchers are increasingly interested in the health outcomes at the intersection of climate change and urbanization. Since climate change and urbanization affects human health in a variety of ways, more work is needed in diverse cultural contexts to understand temporal and geographic variations of such phenomena more fully. Using skeletal individuals from 13^th – 18^th century Berlin (n = 387), this project analyses demographic and health trends from the founding of the city in the late medieval period (c. 1200 – 1500) to the early modern period, when the …

Characterizing The Role Of The Escherchia Coli Monothiol Glutaredoxin, Grxd, As An Iron-Sulfur Cluster Carrier Protein, Claire Elizabeth Fisher

Theses and Dissertations

Iron-sulfur (Fe-S) clusters are important cofactors with a primary role of electron transport that are required by proteins involved in wide range of biological pathways such as respiration, photosynthesis, and DNA repair. In Escherichia coli (E. coli), the assembly and transfer of these clusters to their target apo-protein is a highly coordinated process encoded by the multiprotein systems iscRSUAhscBAfdx and sufABCDSE operons. These clusters are assembled on a scaffold protein, where they are then transferred to a carrier protein that will deliver the cluster to the target apo-protein. The Isc and Suf systems contain their own carrier proteins IscA …

The Gendered Patterns Of International Migration Systems: The Role Of Need For Care, Chang-Yi Lin

Theses and Dissertations

The demand for feminized jobs in developed countries—e.g., care, domestic, and entertainment work—has provided women with an opportunity to work abroad independently. However, while numerous studies have discussed gendered opportunities and barriers to women’s migration, few studies have examined these correlates globally. According to traditional gender norms, one such potential barrier is women’s childcare responsibilities at home and, more specifically, the number of children who need to be cared for. Here it is argued that, contrary to men, the higher the number of children who need to be cared for in a given country, the more difficult it would be …

Impaired Waters: New Treatments And Improved Methods For Pfas And Algae Toxins, Alexandria Forster

Theses and Dissertations

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are high-profile environmental contaminants, many having long persistence in the environment and widespread presence in humans and wildlife. Following phase-out of perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) in North America and restrictions in Europe, PFAS replacements are now widely found in the environment. While liquid chromatography (LC)-mass spectrometry (MS) is typically used for measurement, much of the PFAS is missed. To more comprehensively capture organic fluorine, we developed sensitive and robust methods using activated carbon adsorption, solid phase extraction, and combustion ion chromatography (CIC) to measure total organic fluorine (TOF) in industrial wastewaters, river …

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), …

Erlang-Distributed Seir Epidemic Models With Cross-Diffusion, Victoria Chebotaeva

Theses and Dissertations

We examine the effects of cross-diffusion dynamics in epidemiological models. Using reaction-diffusion dynamics to model the spread of infectious diseases, we focus on situations in which the movement of individuals is affected by the concentration of individuals of other categories. In particular, we present a model where susceptible individuals move away from large concentrations of infected and infectious individuals.

Our results show that accounting for this cross-diffusion dynamics leads to a noticeable effect on epidemic dynamics. It is noteworthy that this leads to a delay in the onset of epidemics and an increase in the total number of people infected. …

Associations Between The Use Of Ssri Medication In Older Adults And Cognitive Decline And Impairment, Paige Jones

Theses and Dissertations

Previous research has indicated that depression is a risk factor for dementia. Since SSRI medication is the most common treatment for depression, it is important to determine if SSRIs are associated with reduced dementia and better cognitive outcomes. Using longitudinal data from the 2004-2014 waves of the Health and Retirement Study merged with the 2005 Prescription Drug Study, we examined potential associations between SSRI and TCA medication and cognitive impairment and cognitive decline. The study population consisted of 1,775 older adults who participated in the PDS in 2005. We found that SSRIs were associated with significantly higher odds of cognitive …

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 …

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.

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 Impact Of A Professional Learning Community On Direct Care Staffs’ Self-Efficacy In Promoting Social—Emotional Learning Skills, Tiffany Drahota

Theses and Dissertations

This qualitative collective case study documented three early childhood educators’ participation in a professional learning community (PLC) focused on promoting children’s social–emotional skills. Particularly, it illuminated the impact of a PLC on the direct care staffs’ self-efficacy related to the promotion of the specified skills. Self-efficacy strongly predicts a person’s willingness to persist through challenges, attempt a new task, and exert sufficient effort toward completion. Self-efficacy is highly influenced by social factors including peer observations and discourse (Bandura, 1977). PLCs are a form of professional development that focuses heavily on social interactions such as communication, collaboration, and group goal setting …

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 …

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 …

Human-Human Vs Human-Ai Therapy: An Empirical Study, Mohammad Amin Kuhail, Nazik Alturki, Justin Thomas, Amal K. Alkhalifa, Amal Alshardan

All Works

In many nations, demand for mental health services currently outstrips supply, especially in the area of talk-based psychological interventions. Within this context, chatbots (software applications designed to simulate conversations with human users) are increasingly explored as potential adjuncts to traditional mental healthcare service delivery with a view to improving accessibility and reducing waiting times. However, the effectiveness and acceptability of such chatbots remains under-researched. This study evaluates mental health professionals’ perceptions of Pi, a relational Artificial Intelligence (AI) chatbot, in the early stages of the psychotherapeutic process (problem exploration). We asked 63 therapists to assess therapy transcripts between a human …

Modulation Of Neurodegenerative Disease Progression By Antioxidant Status, Elena Kelety

Theses and Dissertations

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease, profoundly impact the brain and nervous system. In 2019, the United States reported the highest global prevalence of neurological disorders. This thesis approaches neurodegenerative diseases by emphasizing the critical role of a well-maintained antioxidant system, its intricate relationship with dietary patterns, and proposes an alternative fate of the antioxidant urate.

Neurodegenerative disease pathogenesis involves a complex interplay of neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, misfolded proteins, and oxidative stress. Oxidative stress arises from an imbalance in the antioxidant defense system and the production of reactive oxygen species. Synergistic antioxidant interactions are vital …

Cell Based Sodium Alginate Microcapsules Within Ocular Disease: A Proof Of Concept, Chelsea Marie Zizzi

Theses and Dissertations

Sodium alginate is a natural polymer that has been widely used as a drug delivery system due to its controlled-release qualities and low cellular toxicity. These capsules are effective at transporting therapeutics in various diseased animal models. Retinitis Pigmentosa is an incurable genetic disease affecting the retina, which causes gradual blindness as the disease progresses. In our study, we injected cell-based sodium alginate capsules into the vitreous cavity of C57BL/6 and Pde6b^rd10/J mice to observe the migration of these capsules in both wildtype and diseased mouse models over a course of 2 weeks. Our intention was …

Perspectives From Caregivers For Children With Retinoblastoma: Psychosocial Concerns And Genetic Counseling, Kayla Marie Lashinger

Theses and Dissertations

Caregivers play a vital role in the care of children affected with retinoblastoma as most cases are diagnosed before the age of five years old. While previous studies have explored the psychosocial needs of caregivers of children with pediatric cancer, these have not specifically focused on retinoblastoma in the United States (US). Prior research identified the profound emotional burden in terms of depression, anxiety, guilt, isolation, and loneliness experienced by caregivers. Given previous findings and the National Cancer Institute’s recommendation for genetic counseling and testing for all individuals affected with retinoblastoma, this study aimed to assess psychosocial concerns in relation …

Preimplantation Genetic Testing For Sickle Cell Disease; Exploring The Effect Health Disparities Have On Parental Awareness And Interest, Justine Frances Manigault

Theses and Dissertations

Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a group of disorders of the hemoglobin resulting in episodes of chronic pain, pulmonary hypertension, progressive multiorgan damage, risk for stroke, and increased mortality. It is caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the HBB gene and 1 in 12 African Americans, 1 in 100 Hispanic individuals, and 1 in 30-50 Mediterranean people are reported to be carriers of the disease and have sickle cell trait (SCT). SCD is typically diagnosed through newborn screening; however, when prospective parents are aware of their carrier status, they can conceive via in vitro fertilization (IVF) and have genetic testing …

Statistical Inference Based On Elliptically Symmetric Distributions For Directional Data, Zehao Yu

Theses and Dissertations

Directional data arise in many scientific fields such as meteorology, oceanography, geology, zoology, and biomechanics. Geometrically, directional data lie in a spherical space. Although not in a spherical space, compositional data, such as microbiome data, can be mapped from a simplex to a spherical space via the component-wise square-root transformation. Other examples where compositional data emerge as a subject of interest include compositions of minerals in rocks, compositions of chemical mixtures, investment portfolios, and demographic composition of a population. This dissertation aims to develop inference procedures for analyzing directional data in general initially, with later focus shifted to the transformed …

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 …

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 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 …

The Impact Of Culturally Relevant Pedagogy And Appropriate De-Escalation Strategies On African-American Male Office Discipline Referrals, Kourtney Michael Chapman

Theses and Dissertations

This study investigated the impact of culturally relevant pedagogy and appropriate de-escalation strategies on African American male office discipline referrals. This study took place in a Title I elementary school located in South Carolina and focused on five teachers of African American male students who received one or more office discipline referrals in the previous school year between September to November. These teachers were provided with an 8-week professional development training on how to implement into the general education classroom culturally relevant pedagogy and appropriate de-escalation strategies. The professional development focused on cultural relevance in a classroom, how to create …

Using Differentiated Gamification To Teach Systems Interactions: Impacts On Ninth Grade Biology Students' Academic Achievement And Cognitive, Behavioral, And Emotional Engagement, Stephanie Morgan Ruiz

Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this action research was to evaluate the impact of differentiated gamification on student cognitive, behavioral, and emotional engagement, and academic performance within the unit of plant and animal systems for ninth grade biology students. Scientific literacy is considered a key component of education, as it contributes to societal innovation, economic production, and an informed public. Comprehension of biological concepts and processes, such as plant and animal systems, provide a greater understanding of the living world, and contributes to overall scientific literacy. Although a vital component to science education and literacy, students continue to struggle with the concepts …

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. …