Digital Commons Network^™

The Sentiments Of Drag Performers On Anti-Drag Legislation: A Thematic Analysis, Brian D. Briggs

Senior Theses

Since 2022, at least 21 states have considered, filed, or passed legislation with the goal of banning or limiting drag performances in public spaces or in the presence of minors. These pieces of legislation seek to suppress drag performances on the grounds that they appeal to sexual interests, and they even go as far as to claim that drag performers aim to groom and assault children at their performances. These claims are baseless and vastly misrepresent the true breadth of drag as a performance art and the positive messages it promotes, as well as suggest that bias against the LGBTQ+ …

The Arabic Influence On The Spanish Language: Sociocultural Mechanisms Of Language Change Under Islamic Rule In The Iberian Peninsula, Reagan Borland

Senior Theses

After Latin, which makes up about 75-80% of the Spanish lexicon (Comparán Rizo, 2006, p. 17), Arabic is the most important linguistic contributor to the branch of Romance languages that would come to be known as Spanish or Castellano (Castilian), surpassing Germanic influence and that of other contributors such as French and Celtic languages. The broad range of Arabisms found in Spanish can be attributed to certain cultural and social changes that took place under Arab-Muslim rule in the Iberian Peninsula between 711 and 1492 and during the period following the so-called “Reconquista” of Spain by the Christian kingdoms to …

Motivations Behind The Rise And Success Of Homeopathy In India, Kavya Patchipulusu

Senior Theses

Homeopathy is a form of medicine that is incredibly controversial and is often labeled as a fraudulent, placebo effect drug, that can have potentially dangerous side effects. This is the picture that is painted of homeopathy in the United States and many other countries in which these medicines are banned in distribution or highly unregulated. In contrast, India has popularized and well-integrated homeopathy into their medical systems with government backing and consistent funding towards accredited homeopathic institutions and funding hospital systems. This paper will explore the circumstances and health care dynamics of India that allowed homeopathy to gain the level …

The Individuality Of Bereavement: A Phenomenological Analysis Of Sudden Loss Trauma On Young Adults, Teaghan B. Brosokas

Senior Theses

While death of a loved one or peer is likely experienced by everyone at least once in their lifetime, bereavement is far from a universalized experience. Just as no two people are alike, no two relationships are alike. Thus, no two losses breed the same after-effects. Multiple factors influence the individual characteristics of bereavement, such as mode of loss, relationship to the deceased, and possible societal barriers. This study explores the impact of a sudden unexpected death on young adults based on their relational closeness to the deceased, including plausible reasoning behind reactions and influences on post-loss adjustment. Young adults …

Lyraquist: Language Learning Via Music App, Vivian D'Souza, Siri Avula, Mahi Patel, Tanvi Singh, Ashley Bickham

Senior Theses

Lyraquist is a new language learning mobile app that encourages the practice of a foreign language through music. Language learners can connect their Spotify Premium account to Lyraquist to listen to music in their target languages and utilize tools such as translation and vocabulary lists to facilitate language practice. Through integration with Spotify, users can import and create Spotify playlists and search the service’s entire catalog. By combining daily listening habits with several tasks associated with language learning in one place, Lyraquist hopes to be a useful language learning tool.

Investigating The Expression Of Growth-Regulating Factor 2 (Grf2) In Arabidopsis Thaliana, Sophia S. Henry

Senior Theses

Arabidopsis thaliana is a model organism that is used in laboratories across the world for the study of cellular and molecular processes in plants. GROWTH-REGULATING FACTOR 2 (GRF2) is a transcription factor that promotes leaf growth in Arabidopsis. It is a member of a family of transcription factors that is conserved across all land plants. Previous studies have characterized GRF2 expression in leaves, but GRF2 expression in floral organs has not been studied as extensively. GRF2 acts redundantly with other members of the GRF transcription factor family during floral development. grf1/2/3/5 quadruple mutants show malformed gynoecia, severe fusions between floral …

Elevating Academic Administration: A Comprehensive Faculty Dashboard For Tracking Student Evaluations And Research, Musa M. Azeem

Senior Theses

The USC Faculty Dashboard is a web application designed to revolutionize how department heads, professors, and instructors monitor progress and make decisions, providing a centralized hub for efficient data storage and analysis. Currently, there’s a gap in tools tailored for department heads to concisely manage the performance of their department, which our platform aims to fill. The USC Faculty Dashboard offers easy access to upload and view student evaluation and research information, empowering department heads to evaluate the performance of faculty members and seamlessly track their research grants, publications, and expenditures. Furthermore, professors and instructors gain personalized performance analysis tools, …

Facing Two Fronts: Asian Americans Grappling With Covid-19 And Xenophobic Tensions, Matthew Soos

Senior Theses

This thesis examines the impact of COVID-19-induced discrimination against Asian Americans (AsAms) and its effects on the mental health of college-aged individuals within this demographic. The study specifically targets East and Southeast Asians due to their heightened connection with the pandemic. Data was gathered via a survey disseminated among undergraduate AsAm students at the University of South Carolina. The survey sought information on the occurrence and forms of discrimination encountered pre-pandemic and during the pandemic, alongside the mental health condition and coping mechanisms of the respondents. Moreover, participants were prompted to assess the efficacy of suggested approaches in addressing discrimination. …

Focus Group And Survey Responses To Postural Feedback During Creative Movement Exploration, Mary C. Matthews

Senior Theses

John H. Riskind’s “appropriateness hypothesis” states that posture, positions, and gestures can be emotionally self-regulating if an individual holds a posture that is appropriate for its context. A litany of studies on power posing suggests expansive postures could increase Feelings of Power. One meta-analytic review demonstrates the “robust” significance for evidence of “power feelings, emotion, or self-esteem” due to postural feedback while cautioning researchers on the empirical invalidity of evidence for behavioral and physiological variables. A qualitative description of individuals’ experiences as they change posture, gesture, and position would direct future research on postural feedback. The current project qualitatively examines …

Design Of A Launchable Remote-Controlled Rover And Protective Aeroshell, Matthew Loewer, Colby Weeks, Lake Williams, Jackson Zazzaro

Senior Theses

Planetary rovers, vehicles that can traverse challenging terrain, have excelled in their exploration missions to other celestial bodies. They have been especially suitable for exploring Mars, as rovers such as Opportunity and Perseverance have collected valuable geological, atmospheric, seismic, and magnetic information from the Martian surface. Rovers will remain vital in future space exploration missions, and it is necessary to understand their design and functionality. This paper focuses on the design and prototyping of a miniature rover that can survive the rough Martian terrain while collecting and submitting environmental data for scientific analysis. The design is based off proven Martian …

The Role Of Sport For Adolescents: The Effect Of Sport Participation As A Unique Form Of Physical Activity On Mental Health And Overall Subjective Well-Being During Adolescence, Caleb M. Rogers

Senior Theses

Well-being is an extremely multifaceted domain, as there are numerous factors that contribute to one’s way of life. Objective well-being focuses primarily on material factors such as access to food, housing, and a steady household income. Although these factors play a large role, it is important to analyze well-being from the perspective of the individual. Subjective well-being focuses on how one perceives one's own well-being. Physical activity has been well established as one factor associated with improvements within this domain for adolescents. This project investigates the role of one specific form of physical activity during adolescence: sport. The general assumption …

Promoting Empowerment Among Patients And Collaboration Between Obstetricians And Midwives During The Pregnancy And Birth Experience, Alexandra R. Mcdermott

Senior Theses

The purpose of this paper was to evaluate how obstetricians and midwives promote empowerment among patients and support effective collaboration between providers during pregnancy and childbirth. This thesis explores patient care and interprofessionalism as they relate to maternal health, addressing gaps in knowledge regarding how obstetricians and midwives practicing in or near Columbia, South Carolina view these concepts. An extensive literature review was conducted to fully understand pregnancy and childbirth across history and today, throughout the United States and beyond. Obstetrics, midwifery, and a comparison of these fields were explored thoroughly in addition to an analysis of maternal and infant …

A Covenant People: Providentialism In Seventeenth-Century New England And Its Impact On The Development Of The Salem Witch Trials, Gracie L. Vess

Senior Theses

This project explores the New English Puritan ideology of providentialism from the first settlement of New England in 1620 to the Salem Village witch trials in 1692. During this period New England watched its motherland experience civil war, the overthrow of the monarchy, the installation of a commonwealth, the failure of the Puritan Reformation, the restoration of the monarchy, and the Glorious Revolution. These events influenced the way New Englanders saw England’s relationship with God as well as the meaning behind their providential purpose by allowing them to believe God had turned his wrath on England, so the colonists needed …

A Comparison Of Curricula At The University Of South Carolina School Of Medicine And The Unité De Formation Et De Recherche Simone Veil And Their Impacts On Student Outcomes, Bailey Kicklighter

Senior Theses

This study examines the impact of medical school curricula on student outcomes. It does so by analyzing the current curricula at the University of South Carolina School of Medicine (USC School of Medicine) and the Unité de Formation et de Recherche Simone Veil (UFR Simone Veil). The UFR Simone Veil is a medical education program at the Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines. This research is important because it could encourage educators to examine the effectiveness of their current practices through comparison with the practices of other academic institutions. It also allows students to consider the course of study they might like …

The Intersection Of Trust And Satisfaction In Dentist-Patient Interactions In Indonesia, Nursyamsi Djamaluddin, Ayub I. Anwar, Burhanuddin Pasiga, Fuad H. Akbar, Rasmidar Samad, Hasanuddin H, Yu Ri-Kim

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objectives: This cross-sectional study aimed to assess the similarities of two constructs of the doctor-patient relationship in terms of trust and satisfaction among patients receiving dental care in Makassar, Indonesia.

Materials and Methods: The study involved 322 participants aged 18 years or older who had received dental treatment. The snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants through online questionnaires distributed on various social media platforms. The questionnaires included demographic information and The Dentist Trust Scale (DTS) and Dental Care Satisfaction Scale (DCS) to measure trust and satisfaction with dental care. Data analysis involved Exploratory Factor Analysis and Confirmatory Factor …

Inhibitory Potensial Of Probitic Drink Against The Growht Of A. Actinomycetemcomitans Bacteria, Umi G. Tjiptoningsih, Ratih Widyastuti, Herlin Amelia, Elisa Rusandi

Journal of Dentomaxillofacial Science

Objective: To explain the effect of probiotic drinks on the inhibitory growth of Aggregatibacter actino-mycetemcomitans.

Material and Methods: This type of research is an experimental laboratory research design with a post-test only control group design. The number of samples in this study were 32. The sample used was a probiotic drink and the population used was A. actinomycetemcomitans.The antibacterial inhibition test used is the diffusion method of the wells. Then incubated for (1-2) x 24 hours at 37˚ temperature. And then the diameter of the inhibition zone formed through the wells is measured using a vernier in millimeters (mm) …

On Adaptivity And Randomness For Streaming Algorithms, Manuel Stoeckl

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

A streaming algorithm has a limited amount of memory and reads a long sequence (data stream) of input elements, one by one, and computes an output depending on the input. Such algorithms may be used in an online fashion, producing a sequence of intermediate outputs corresponding to the prefixes of the data stream. Adversarially robust streaming algorithms are required to give correct outputs with a desired probability even when the data stream is adaptively generated by an adversary that can see all intermediate outputs of the algorithm. This thesis binds together research on a variety of problems related to the …

On Generating Bijections For Permutations And Inversion Sequences, Melanie J. Ferreri

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Given an algebraic proof of a combinatorial identity, we use recursive methods to construct a bijection demonstrating the identity.

Our first application centers around derangements and nonderangements. A derangement is a permutation with no fixed point, and a nonderangement is a permutation with at least one fixed point. There is a one-term recurrence for the number of derangements of n elements, and we describe a bijective proof of this recurrence which can be found using a recursive map. We then show the combinatorial interpretation of this bijection and how it compares with other known bijections, and show how this extends …

Targeting Cholinergic Signaling In Glioblastoma, Sumyuktha Vijay Anand

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Primitive stem cell-like populations that are prone to malignant transformation reside in the brain throughout adulthood. My lab’s reports and many others have characterized subsets of glioma cells reminiscent of adult stem-like cells implicating them rational candidates for cell-targeted therapies. Emerging evidence suggests that the neurotransmitter microenvironment influences these stem-like cells during glioma progression providing an inroad to study neuromodulators in glioma. Some glioma stemlike cells share characteristics with adult tissue oligodendrocyte progenitor cells. Primitive cells of the oligodendroglial lineage express muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs), and their “stemness” is maintained by the acetylcholine (ACh) neurotransmitter. Here, I conduct transcriptomic, electrophysiological, …

Design, Analysis, And Drop Assembly Of Interlocking Rigid Bodies, Amy K. Sniffen

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

This work presents a system of interlocking blocks that can be used to build a wide variety of structures. The blocks slide together to form structures that interlock geometrically like a puzzle to form semi-permanent structures without the need for cement or friction lock. The blocks are designed to be easy to fabricate, assemble, and disassemble. Contributions of the block designs include a novel interlocking joint structure; the joints are wedge-shaped, allowing for error mitigation during assembly and allowing structures to be assembled without jamming even if there is manufacturing error. We introduce planar, 3D, and volumetric designs using these …

Formation Of New Cohesive Linkages And Regulation Of Cohesion Rejuvenation During Meiotic Prophase In Drosophila Oocytes, Muhammad Abdul Haseeb

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

During meiosis, faithful segregation of chromosomes requires maintenance of sister chromatid cohesion from premeiotic S phase until its stepwise dissolution at anaphase I and anaphase II. Research in humans and model organisms indicates that premature loss of meiotic cohesion is a major determinant of age-induced aneuploidy in human oocytes, a phenomenon known as the maternal age effect. Because cohesin turnover after S phase has not been detected in mice oocytes, the prevailing model for mammalian oocytes is that cohesion cannot be replenished after its initial establishment in S phase. However, previous research from the Bickel lab suggested that a cohesion …

Methods, Analyses, And Applications Of Multilayer Temporal Link Prediction In Networks, Xie He

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Many applications stem from the possibility of accurately predicting links in various types of networks. In this thesis, we present methods, analyses, and applications for static, temporal, and multilayer networks. The first part of this thesis demonstrates how static network features serve as efficient and accurate predictors for link prediction in temporal networks. It includes an ensemble learning method we developed and presents experimental results on 90 synthetic stochastic block models and 19 real-world datasets. The second part closely follows, showcasing 20 different sampling methods and their effects on nine different link prediction algorithms for 250 real-world networks across 6 …

Scalable Fabrication Methods For Energy Devices, Julia Elizabeth Huddy

Dartmouth College Ph.D Dissertations

Emerging energy technologies have the potential to fill gaps in performance and reliability but currently lack the capabilities to do this at a commercial scale. 3D printing has the ability to fabricate engineered lattice structures with broadly tunable surface area and optimal geometries for maximizing electrochemical performance, and perovskite solar cells (PSCs) have the potential to deliver terawatt-scale power via low-cost manufacturing. However, neither of these technologies has yet to achieve fully scalable manufacture. 3D printed energy storage devices lack an understanding of how 3D lattice type influences the specific capacity when employed in supercapacitors, and PSC fabrication is limited …

Smokejumper Magazine, April 2024, National Smokejumper Association

Smokejumper and Static Line Magazines

This issue of the National Smokejumper Association (NSA) Smokejumper Magazine, contains the following articles: Message from the President; Remembering Mike Silva; Five Elements of Pro-Active Aging; The CIA and Smokejumpers; The Jump List; NEPA and Its Affect on Wildfire Timer Salvage: The Summit Fire of 1996; Sounding Off from the Editor; "Animal Ed"; Why We Wore Whites; Denali Revisited; Dear Current Jumper: An Open Letter; Against All Odds: "Jumping the Umpqua Old Growth with a 50-Foot Letdown Rope"; Redding Smokejumpers; 2023 Al Dunton Leadership Award Selections; Global Warming?; Not Forgotten; Odds and Ends; Notes from the Ranks; Off the List; …

The Back Page Commentary: Care For Special Needs Patients: We Must Do Better, Craig C. Spangler Dds, Fscda

The Journal of the Michigan Dental Association

Despite strides in providing resources for neurodivergent and geriatric patients, access to suitable dental care remains a challenge. A survey revealed finding capable dentists as the primary barrier to care for special needs individuals. Transitioning from pediatric to adult care lacks continuity, highlighting gaps in predoctoral dental education. Challenges include inadequate training, limited opportunities for continuing education, and reimbursement issues. Collaboration between medical and dental leaders is crucial for addressing these pressing issues and ensuring equitable access to care.

Automated Dynamic Policy Generation For Access Control In The Internet Of Things, Kaushik Nagarajan Muthusamy Ragothaman

Masters Theses & Doctoral Dissertations

Internet of Things (IoT) is commonly utilized in domestic and industrial environments to automate various tasks. Due to this, an enormous amount of data is being generated and transmitted through IoT networks. These data may contain sensitive information depending on the context. Access control is one of the frontline security measures that any information system should adopt. The dynamic nature of the IoT requires access control policies should be able to adapt to their environments. However, it is very challenging to specify access control policies manually because of their dynamic nature. Current literature suggests the need for automating the process …

Assessing Security Flaws In Modern Precision Farming Systems, Joseph Boyd, Robert Richardson

Annual Research Symposium

The increasing interconnectivity of the digital age brings new vulnerabilities for cyber criminals and nation state threat actors alike. Every day, threat actors make millions of at-tacks against a variety of systems. Though not all these attacks prove successful, they all share the same goal of manipulating or extracting data from their targets. The dawn of digitalization in the agricultural industry finds itself under the same threats. Because agriculture sits within the category of critical infrastructure, digitizing this industry should be accompanied with special concern for implementing good security practices. At a basic level, good cyber security practice includes ensuring …

Scaled And Graduated Learning In Deep Relu Networks And Reconstructing Depp Inelastic Scattering Kinematics, Abdullah Ayar Farhat

Mathematics & Statistics Theses & Dissertations

To address computational challenges in learning deep neural networks, properties of deep RELU networks were studied to develop a multi-scale learning model. The multi-scale model was compared to the multi-grade learning models. Unlike the deep neural network learned from the standard single-scale, single-grade model, the multi-scale neural networks use low scale information from all hidden layers, and thusly provide a robust approximation method that requires fewer parameters, lower computational time, and is resistant to noise. It is shown that the multiscale method is not subject to issues arising from the vanishing gradient problem. This allows very deep multi-scale networks to …

Public Health Emergency Management For Interprofessional Learners: Development Of A Curriculum, Terry D. Cooper

Health Science Doctoral Thesis

In our world, hazards and disasters are becoming more frequent and destructive. The impacts that disasters have on physical, mental, and environmental health are substantial and can be devastating. Responding to and recovering from disasters with increasing complexities requires interdisciplinary teams with the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that transcend several fields. This thesis aims to investigate the essential educational factors of interprofessional education (IPE) to inform the development of an effective curriculum that implements IPE for education in public health emergency management (PHEM). The thesis was supported by a quantitative survey with open-ended questions. Curriculum development followed the Kern 6-step …

Library Faith, Self-Care, And Academic Librarianship, John P. Delooper

Publications and Research

Librarianship has long been regarded as a service-oriented profession, compared with fields such as social work, teaching, nursing, and others with a high degree of emotional labor. The roots of this run deep, perhaps as far as Dewey, who spoke of a “library spirit,” which represented an extreme commitment to patron service. Dewey, who was obsessed with efficiency, both in his personal and professional life, created and popularized the American Library Association’s motto of “the best reading, for the largest number, at the least cost.” This motto, passed on as professional wisdom and taught in library schools for decades, was …