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Isolation, Purification, And Characterization Of Α-Galactosidase From Watermelon (Citrullus Lanatus), Christopher Henley Jr.

Chemistry & Biochemistry Undergraduate Honors Theses

The enzyme α-galactosidase is a type of glycosidase that removes galactose sugar units from larger molecules in cells. Compounds that inhibit glycosidases have been useful for understanding the structure and function of the enzymes they inhibit, and some have been used to treat certain diseases. Using inhibitors of α-galactosidase to study its characteristics and mechanisms may provide insights into its role in disease and its general utility. Advances in fields such as agriculture, sustainable fuels, and biomedicine may be facilitated by inhibition studies of α-galactosidase, but the current library of known inhibitors is relatively lacking. Obtaining α-galactosidase enzymes from chemical …

Odor Vs. Direction Prioritization In Shelter Navigation By The Whip Spider Phrynus Marginemaculatus, Aiden Barno, Daniel D. Wiegmann, Verner Peter Bingman, Sidney Tyler Ley

Honors Projects

Arthropod navigation is known to rely on a variety of multisensory strategies, yet the prioritization of these cues in whip spiders remains poorly understood. This study examined whether Phrynus marginemaculatus prioritizes olfactory cues or idioethic directional cues when the two cues directly conflict with one another. Twelve subjects were trained to associate a shelter with both a specific odor (geraniol or 1‑hexanol) and a consistent directional movement (left or right) from the release site. In a subsequent test trial, odor and direction were dissociated, and subjects’ time spent in front of each shelter was used to determine an association index …

Establishing Caenorhabditis Elegans As A Platform For Bioaccumulation And Selectivity Screening Of Anthelmintic Compounds, Jiarui Li

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

To address the cuticular barrier in anthelmintic discovery, this study establishes a bifurcated framework in Caenorhabditis elegans. First, HPLC-based quantification of 14 PIM inhibitors revealed that cuticular penetrance is primarily dictated by phylogenetic lineage (Clade V) rather than ecological niche. Specifically, C. elegans demonstrated a significant pharmacokinetic correlation with the hookworm Ancylostoma ceylanicum (Clade V) but not the whipworm Trichuris muris (Clade I), validating it as a superior surrogate model for hookworm bioaccumulation. Within this small molecule inhibitor library, SGI-12was identified as a lead candidate with superior potency against C. elegans and bioaccumulation. Second, target validation using a C. …

Data-Driven Multimodal Mri Representation Learning For Subtype Discovery And Disease Progression Modeling In Parkinson’S Disease, Zihan Zhou

McKelvey School of Engineering Graduate Student Theses & Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibits substantial clinical and neuroanatomical heterogeneity, limiting robust patient stratification and clinically meaningful progression modeling from MRI. We propose a unified multimodal 3D generative representation-learning framework that learns an interpretable latent space from co-registered baseline T1/T2 MRI with an edge-aware channel. Confound-corrected latent embeddings support unsupervised subtype discovery, while disease duration provides weak supervision to orient a continuous progression axis. On an independent external cohort (PPMI, N=171), the discovery-trained subtype structure shows significant partial replication (ARI=0.35; permutation test p=0.001) and enables longitudinal clinical stratification: mixed-effects modeling reveals subtype-dependent MDS-UPDRS III progression, with the strongest effect in subtype …

Supremacy Politics: The Coding Of Power In Artificial Intelligence (Ai), Dana G. Jones

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

White Predominance Is The Point, Kimberly West-Faulcon

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Punishment, Cruelty & Justice: Critically Interrogating Grants Pass V. Johnson, Sara K. Rankin

North Carolina Civil Rights Law Review

No abstract provided.

Small-Scale Analog Spiking Neural Network: Design And Simulation Of An Analog Deep Neural Network, Lucas Hogue

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

A small-scale analog schematic of a spiking neural network (SNN) is designed and demonstrated through the analog design environment (ADE) within Cadence Virtuoso. An SNN is a type of neuromorphic system that utilizes components mimicking the function of the neurons and synapses found in biological neural networks. The SNN designed in this project is composed of four layers: one input layer, two hidden layers, and one output layer. The inclusion of more than one hidden layer classifies the network as “deep” and increases the network’s efficiency at handling data with increased complexity. The SNN categorizes inputs by producing a set …

Intertidal Ecosystem Variation Along A Latitudinal Gradient Across The Gulf Of Maine, Reuven William Frye, Justin Baumann

Standard Theses

Rocky intertidal ecosystems are structured by environmental conditions and are particularly sensitive to climate change driven stressors such as ocean warming and acidification (Fernandez et al., 2020; Kleisner et al., 2017). This study examined algal and invertebrate community composition across eight rocky intertidal sites spanning northern and southern regions along the Gulf of Maine to assess how tidal height, site, and region shape species distributions and interactions. Surveys quantified percent cover and total count across low, mid, and high tidal zones, and patterns were analyzed using two-way ANOVA and Tukey HSD post hoc tests. Algal community composition varied significantly with …

Assessing The Impact Of Toxic Fescue Consumption During Gestation On Muscle Growth Gene Expression And Beef Color Quality Of The Offspring, Madison Blank

Animal Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

Endophyte-infected tall, toxic fescue is the most common forage for beef cattle in the southeastern U.S. However, exposure to this forage causes detrimental effects on the health of gestating cattle. The exposure to toxic fescue during gestation has been shown to impact fetal development during pregnancy and their offspring’s subsequent growth. However, limited information is currently available on the impact of this exposure on the meat quality of the offspring. Our objective is to determine how the dam’s exposure to toxic fescue during gestation impacts the beef color and quality of the final offspring.

A total of 22 animals (11 …

Establishing The Inter-Rater Reliability Of The Titleist Performance Institute (Tpi) Movement Screen, Ian Henry Dahners, Matthew Fetner, Carlan Haugrud, Hunter Johnson, Braeden Lee Knutson, Erica Jo Peters, Dana Jayde Zarn

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background: The Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) Movement Screen is a golf-specific physical assessment widely used by professionals to identify physical limitations that may influence swing mechanics and injury risk. Despite its popularity, there is limited peer-reviewed evidence regarding the screen’s inter-rater reliability. Without established reliability, clinical and performance decisions based on TPI scores may be questionable. Prior research on similar tools, such as the Functional Movement Screen (FMS) and Selective Functional Movement Assessment (SFMA), shows that reliability varies based on evaluator experience, scoring objectivity, and standardization—all relevant concerns for the TPI Movement Screen.

Purpose: To determine the inter-rater reliability of …

The Effects Of Dynamic Blood Flow Restriction On Transmembrane Fluid Shifts, Parker Bradley Carroll, Caden John Heinert, Isaiah John Kludt, Lucas Robert Simon

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

The benefits of blood flow restriction (BFR) training, particularly its ability to induce muscle hypertrophy, are well established. However, the physiological mechanisms underlying this hypertrophy remain unclear. This study hypothesized that fluid shifts within the skeletal muscle, specifically changes in intracellular fluid (ICF) and extracellular fluid (ECF) composition, contribute to hypertrophic responses following BFR exercise. The purpose of this study was to investigate ICF and ECF dynamics in the lower extremity skeletal muscle using bioelectrical impedance spectroscopy (BIS) following BFR in combination with submaximal resistance exercise. Additionally, the researchers aimed to determine the duration of fluid shifts by assessing ICF/ECF …

Prognostic Predictors Of Developmental And Functional Outcomes In Children With Global Developmental Delay: A Retrospecive Chart Review, Rachel Lynne Kuechle, Sadie Elizabeth Olson, Eliana Hazel Parks, Hailee Lynn Schauer, Mara Marie Vannyhuis, Audrey Elizabeth Whitman

Physical Therapy Scholarly Projects

Background and Purpose: Global developmental delay (GDD) is a broad, global disorder in which children do not reach the appropriate gross and fine motor milestones as expected for their age. GDD’s impact can extend beyond motor skills to include speech and language development, cognitive abilities, social and personal skills, and ADL’s. This study aims to investigate the prognostic predictors of developmental and functional improvement of children with GDD. Our study also examines how the prognosis of children diagnosed with GDD will be affected based on therapeutic intervention in order to offer evidence-based recommendations to support children with GDD and their …

Examining Organizational Factors Contributing To Burnout In Community College Employees: An Anthropological Perspective, Jesse N. Blue

Leadership Education Capstones

Organizational culture and systemic inequities remain under-researched factors driving the mental and physical deterioration of community college employees. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to describe and interpret the lived experiences of job-related burnout among community college employees. This qualitative short-term ethnography was conducted at Big Rock College, a rural community college in central Arkansas. The sample consisted of six volunteer participants across administrative, faculty, and staff roles. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews conducted via Zoom®. Interviews were recorded, transcribed, and triangulated with institutional document analysis. Findings indicated that 84% of participants experienced varying degrees of burnout, driven by …

Burnout Among Wisconsin Career Firefighters: An Examination Of Shift Schedules, Sleep Disturbances, And Organizational Factors, Nickolas R. Pridgeon

Leadership Education Capstones

Occupational burnout among career firefighters represents a growing crisis with serious consequences for individual health, public safety, and fire department sustainability. This study investigates the factors contributing to burnout among career firefighters in Wisconsin, with a focus on three primary areas: shift schedules, sleep disturbances, and organizational culture. Using a concurrent mixed-methods design, the research combines an online quantitative survey with semi-structured qualitative interviews to examine how these factors interact to produce burnout in the fire service context.

The quantitative component employs the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index alongside measures of organizational factors, targeting a sample …

Secondary Teachers’ Perceptions On The Wida Framework To Support Academic Literacy In Multilingual Learners, Laura G. Faris

Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to determine teachers’ perceptions of benefits and barriers to using the WIDA Framework to support academic literacy in multilingual learners (MLs).  Content-area teachers of MLs who continue to learn English are teaching academic literacy through complex linguistic structures for students to both comprehend and produce informative textual structures which occur in secondary textual reading and written assessments in the literature and historical content areas. Qualitative methods including reflective journal entries, semi-structured teacher interviews, and classroom observations were used to collect data on teachers’ perceptions of the effectiveness of using the WIDA Framework to better …

A Fourth Uniform Parentage Act, Jeffrey A. Parness

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

Teaching Legal Thinking In The Age Of Ai: Reimagining Legal Education Through Cognitive Science And Deliberate Practice, Joan R. M. Bullock

University of Baltimore Law Review

No abstract provided.

From Structure To Support: An Integrative Model Of Leadership, Emotional Exhaustion, Role Clarity, And Daoist Moderation, Aradhna Mohan

Dissertations

Rooted in the understanding that effective leadership significantly influences organizational outcomes, this study examines process-oriented relationships between leader initiating structure and subordinate outcomes. Specifically, it extends the leadership literature by focusing on the cognitive resources underlying initiating structure behaviors, such as role-related clarity, that may enhance positive subordinate outcomes and mitigate negative ones. The study also incorporates an underexamined Eastern leadership style, Daoist Water-Like Leadership, and explores its associations with leader initiating structure and consideration. Guided by the Job Demands-Resources (JD-R) model, this research assesses the effects of initiating structure and Daoist leadership on emotional exhaustion, examines the relationship between …

The Intersection Between Adolescent Pregnancy, Mental Health Concerns, Stigma, And Sex Education, Madelon Cox

Honors Program: Senior Projects (Public)

This thesis discusses research from the past two decades focused on factors contributing to an increased risk of adolescent pregnancy and the lasting impact of that pregnancy. The consequences of being a pregnant adolescent can be compounded by race, gender, socioeconomic class, and access to education. Adolescent pregnancy also carries significant physical and mental health risk for the adolescent and the child. Awareness and various interventions can help pregnant adolescents or those who may be at risk for adolescent pregnancy to support them, prevent isolation, and reduce further negative mental health conditions, such as depression and anxiety.

Pedagogical Strategies In Medical Laboratory Science Student Learning Outcomes: A Comparative Study Of Learner-Centered And Lecture-Based Instruction, Kasey Kuker

Medical Laboratory Science Independent Study Projects

Learner centered teaching (LCT) has gained prominence across the health sciences, yet its specific impact on Medical Laboratory Science (MLS) education remains underexamined. This comparative literature review synthesizes findings from various empirical studies to evaluate how active, learner centered pedagogies - such as flipped classrooms, blended learning, team based learning, simulation, gamification, and structured feedback - perform relative to traditional lecture based instruction. Across diverse MLS and allied health contexts, LCT consistently improved cognitive outcomes including examination performance, laboratory skill proficiency, and long term retention. Equally significant were gains in affective outcomes: heightened self efficacy, motivation, engagement, teamwork, and professional …

Course Insight Portfolio: Math 1060 Calculus Of One Variable I, Minh Ha, Dinaniaina Florence Rafidimanantsoa, Preston Sessoms, Rishabh Shukla

Publications

The following portfolio is a representation of the course MATH 1060, Calculus I, taught at Clemson University. The contents can be broken down into 3 major components.

• The first being an analysis of the students who may typically be in the course, the prerequisites required to take the course, and what paths students have after completing the course. This analysis is based upon the course curriculum at Clemson, and as a result will likely not align with that of other universities

. • The second major component is a map of the concepts discussed in MATH 1060 as well …

Course Insight Portfolio Math 1040: Precalculus And Introductory Differential Calculus, Jessica Ayers, Morgan Hayes, Meghan Kerrick, Uthman Rasaq, Drishty Singh

Publications

This portfolio includes four primary elements. First is a document titled “Where did they come from? Where are they going?” that provides a description of the types of students who are likely to take the course, followed by the “Course Concept Map” that visually depicts the flow of topics and possible misconceptions in MATH 1040. Additionally, the “Misconceptions Overlay” document lists articles that offer interesting discussion and further insight into the ideas students may bring to MATH 1040 or develop throughout the course. Two lesson plans are included that cover “Continuity and Introduction to Classifying Discontinuities” as well as an …

Course Insight Portfolio: Math 1080, A Gentle Introduction To Infinite Series, Igor Luis Aureliano, Leyanis Falcon Hernandez, Ross George, Fnu Monika

Publications

This lesson aims to introduce the concept of an infinite series through geometric representations and partial sums to help students develop an intuitive understanding of convergence. A common misconception students may have when first encountering infinite series is the belief that “a sum of infinitely many things must be infinite”. Through the study of a convergent geometric series, students will investigate how the limit of partial sums can produce a finite value, thereby addressing this misconception and developing a more accurate understanding of infinite series.

Comparative Risk Metrics For U.S. Commercial Aviation, Mihhail Berezovski

BCAAS Reports

No abstract provided.

The Evaluation Of Broiler Lines Divergently Selected For Water Conversion Ratio Under Acute And Chronic Stress, Baileigh B. Cash

Poultry Science Undergraduate Honors Theses

            The importance of water conversion ratio in broiler production influences not only bird physiology but also barn environment, litter quality, and provides potential solutions to environmental stressors. However, very little is known about how genetic selection for water conversion ratio can affect litter characteristics and performance parameters, specifically under heat stress conditions. This study evaluates the effects of genetic lines, environmental conditions, and time, on litter and bird performance characteristics in high water conversion ratio (HWCR) and low water conversion ratio (LWCR) broilers. Litter samples were collected from HWCR and LWCR broilers raised under heat-stress and thermal-neutral conditions, both before …

Status Of The Potentially Invasive Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Cherax Quadricarinatus), Margaret (Addie) Munn

Biology Theses

The introduction of invasive species, including crayfish, is common through aquaculture and aquarium trade pathways and is an important factor causing the decline and/or extinction of native species. Invasive species cause billions of dollars in damages annually and threaten almost half of the native species in the United States. Australian Redclaw Crayfish (Redclaws) are a species of large individuals that originated in Australia and New Guinea and have been introduced specifically for aquaculture and the aquarium trade. Redclaws are known to thrive in tropical and subtropical locations. They can tolerate high temperatures and low oxygen and are generalist omnivores that …

Emma Sealey Honors Portfolio, Emma Sealey

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Emma Sealey's honors capstone portfolio captured in May 2026.

Jessica Heinsch Honors Portfolio, Jessica Heinsch

Honors Capstone Portfolios

Jessica Heinsch's honors capstone portfolio captured in May 2026.

Mammalian Biodiversity Of The Easley Conservation Stewardship Area, Grayson C. Belt

Honors College Theses

Monitoring wildlife is an important part of conservation and is particularly vital for newly acquired conservation areas to provide a baseline of what is present. In 2025, the 22 ha Murray State University Easley Conservation Stewardship Area (MSU ECSA) was established following a donation to the university by Melissa Easley. I conducted a survey using trail cameras at the ECSA in fall 2025 and winter 2025/26 to record mammalian diversity. The survey consisted of two subprojects: a mesomammal subproject of 18 knee height trail cams and a small mammal subproject using 15 custom small mammal bucket cameras. I uploaded all …