Digital Commons Network^™

End The Stigma: Strategies To Improve Mental Health, Alexia M. Frantzeskakis

Honors Projects

The project discusses coping strategies that students can utilize to improve their mental health. A paper, along with five fliers that will be distributed to incoming freshmen were developed. Each flier discusses a different coping strategy on the following topics: physical activity, mindfulness, social media use, routines, and resources available to students in the community.

Anthropology In 3d: The Use Of Photogrammetry In The Preservation And Dissemination Of Ethnographic Art, Alexander Spindler

Honors Projects

Photogrammetry is an effective tool used by archaeologists in museums and organizations by creating a 3D model from overlapping photos. This project involved a collection of ethnographic artifacts from Papua New Guinea that are currently housed in the Grand Valley State University Anthropology Department. This essay reviews the process and results of this project. Artifacts were photographed and 3D models were created using the Agisoft Metashape program. Models are disseminated via the Sketchfab website with proper cultural information. Artifacts originate from Sepik River tribes and were designed originally for the tourist industry. This project shows the utility of photogrammetry in …

The Effect Of One Night Of Sleep Fragmentation On Aerobic Exercise Performance, Tara L. Thompson

Senior Honors Projects, 2020-current

Purpose: People can experience sleep fragmentation for many reasons. The negative effect this has on a person’s daytime function and sleepiness has already been studied extensively, yet there is little on the effect it has on a person’s aerobic athletic performance. Many athletes experience frequent wake-ups in the middle of the night, due to nerves and other factors, which could potentially affect their performance.

Methods: For each of the eight subjects, testing began with a VO2max test and a familiarization trial. Following this, subject’s then participated in two experimental trials, where they were randomly assigned either a night of sleep …

Perceptions Of Risk, Work, And Lifestyle Changes On Mental Health Of Healthcare Workers Amidst The Covid-19 Pandemic, Awatef Ergai, Leeanna Spiva, Lin Li, Ryan Breshears, Ginny Q. Zhan

Faculty Articles

The COVID-19 outbreak is significantly affecting the mental health of healthcare workers worldwide. This study aims to investigate mental health outcomes of healthcare workers in a health system located in the Southeastern US during the first peak of the pandemic and examine the association of specific factors on the mental well-being of healthcare workers. A cross-sectional survey of 388 healthcare workers was conducted. Data were collected using a 79-item questionnaire, which included the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) instrument, the 7-item Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7) instrument, and the 22-item Impact of Event Scale-Revised (IES-R), to assess symptoms of depression, anxiety, and …

An Approach To Tinnitus Through Mindfulness, Trista Ann Hauser-Smith

Doctoral Scholarly Projects & Capstones

Tinnitus is the perception of sound when there is no external source. It is also known as “ringing in the ears.” Those who experience the effects of bothersome tinnitus may suffer from a multitude of symptoms that may include depression, anxiety, suicidal thoughts, sleep disturbances, anger, etc. Bothersome tinnitus has further been compared to chronic pain (both are phantom symptoms and occur from reorganization of the central nervous system). With a multitude of symptoms, management of tinnitus may be difficult. For this reason, a whole-health approach using a multidisciplinary team may be warranted. An audiologist may be able to help …

Evaluation Of Manually Completed Manufacturing Assembly Processes Through A Wearable Force And Motion Sensing System Integrated Into A Glove, Scott Kerner

All Theses

The objective of this research is to model the relationship between force, sound, and motion signals in manual assembly environments through a wearable sensor glove and the resultant quality of vehicle connections made on the assembly line. Many tasks in production assembly are still completed manually due to the intuition needed by the associate, complex automation steps, or time constraints. This is largely observed in automotive assembly environments. With the amount of variability in manually completed processes, the possibility for error increases. These processes include hose and electrical connections which can loosen over time after passing initial quality testing, resulting …

Agency In Tourism: A Narrative Of Reclamation Found In The Public History Of The Eastern Band Of The Cherokee Indian, Caroline M. Ross

All Theses

This thesis covers the development of the tourism industry surrounding the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indian in Western North Carolina, specifically the evolution of the outdoor historical drama Unto These Hills written by Kermit Hunter. The chapters to follow examine the development of the production in conjunction with the broader historical context, analyze Kermit Hunter’s original script contextualizing the material and Hunter’s narrative choices, and elucidate the history and representation of one of the production’s protagonists. All of this to demonstrate not only the misrepresentation and inaccuracy of the original production, but to discuss the production’s role on the …

At Home In The Garden, Aviana Wells

All Theses

This series of photographs serves as an expression of my personal search and longing for a sense of at homeness in varied garden landscapes across the United States. My interest in photographing gardens is derived from personal history in family gardens and grew in my frequent visits to the South Carolina Botanical Garden. The Botanical Garden was central in my life during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, and it was there that I found an interest in how a shared public space could offer us a place for privacy and reflection. My photographs bear witness to the spaces …

Nonlinear Optical Microscopy Assessment Of Tissue Structure And Chondrocyte Viability Of Articular Cartilage, Michael Le

All Theses

Articular cartilage functions to protect the ends of bones by providing a surface that can withstand compressive forces and minimize friction during movement. Collagen fibers form the organizational backbone of the extracellular matrix (ECM) in cartilage. Proteoglycans within the ECM function to retain water and provide the tissue with the swelling pressure needed to withstand compressional forces. Chondrocytes, the only type of cell found in articular cartilage, produces these collagen fibers and proteoglycans to maintain the tissue structure and function. Significant injuries to articular cartilage can damage the chondrocytes and disrupt their ability to maintain homeostasis in the tissue. Therefore, …

An In Vitro Approach To Identify Sources Of Resistance To Fusarium Wilt Caused By Fusarium Oxysporum F. Sp. Vasinfectum Race 4 In Domesticated Cotton, Stephen Parris

All Theses

Cotton lint produced by the plants Gossypium barbadense L. (pima cotton) and Gossypium hirsutum L. (upland cotton) is the world’s leading source of renewable textiles. The fibers of the cotton plant have been woven so intricately into our society that it would be hard to imagine life without their products. Cotton breeders must then not only continue to work to improve the quality of cotton fibers (fineness, strength, dyability, etc.) but also to improve the resilience of the plant against biotic and abiotic factors. Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. vasinfectum race 4 (FOV4) is an aggressive fungal pathogen, which causes Fusarium …

Interdiction Models To Disrupt The Operations Of Sex Trafficking And Other Forced Illicit Labor Networks, Michael T. Clark

All Theses

Sex traffickers often force their victims to work in both commercial sex markets and perform other illicit activities (e.g., drug dealing, theft, and fraud). Current literature has failed to address interdiction models that aim to disrupt all components of a sex traffickers’ operation, including these other illicit activities. In this thesis, we present a interdiction problem, and its single-level linear optimization reformulation, to reduce the profit of a human trafficking network concurrently operating in the commercial sex market and other illicit activity markets. Our novel formulation aims to investigate the practical implications of interdiction decisions made to disrupt a human …

Outreach As Dialogue: Lessons From University Forests, Kelly M. Alvidrez

All Theses

University and school forests are managed for a unique set of multiple uses from research and teaching to recreation and forestry. Understanding how outreach is employed in these settings as a component of their land management strategy can offer insights to school forests generally as well as other complex land management efforts. Using outreach, a forest can facilitate communication as a dialogue, connecting to forest participants and stakeholders. This qualitative research study uses a multi-scale case study approach to examine a recent harvest and outreach efforts at the Clemson Experimental Forest, as well the outreach efforts at eight other university …

Structural Evolution During Synthesis And Annealing Of Platinum-Nickel Bimetallic Nanoparticles, Xiner Lu

All Theses

In the past years, there has been an increasing interest in synthesizing Pt alloy nanocrystals to achieve high catalytic performance for energy-related applications. Pt-Ni nanoparticles (NPs) have shown high electrocatalytic activity for electrocatalysis and thermal catalysis. However, the stability of surface structures and compositions still needs to be improved to obtain better long-term catalytic stability. It is noted that thermal annealing can adjust the surface structures and compositions to improve the stability. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) plays a vital role in characterizing the morphology, structure, and composition of nanoparticles. Specifically, the utilization of in situ TEM can allow for observing …

Effects Of 2,4-Di-Tert-Butylphenol On Osteogenic And Myogenic Differentiation Of Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells, Thanh-Bình Dương

All Theses

Synthetic phenolic antioxidants (SPAs) are a class of compounds used to increase the durability of polymers as well as to increase the shelf-life of food, cosmetics, and other personal care items. Of these SPAs is 2,4-di-tert-butylphenol (2,4-DBP). 2,4-DBP is primarily used in polyethylene crosspolymer pipes, which are now used as a replacement for the traditional copper pipes for household water distribution. However, 2,4-DBP has been found to leach from these pipes into the water, enabling a mode of exposure to humans. 2,4-DBP has been detected in human urine, serum, but more importantly, maternal serum, placenta, and cord blood. …

Evaluating The Accuracy And Quality Of Microgreens Training Materials Available On The Internet: A Content Analysis, Supun Chathuranga Nabadawa Hewage

All Theses

Microgreens are the young, edible seedlings of various vegetables, spices, herbs, and considered as the intermediate stage of sprouts and mature greens, suggesting microgreens may share similar food safety risks with both of these produce. Even though there are no known outbreaks due to contaminated microgreens, multiple product recalls have been reported, indicating food safety risks associated with microgreens should not be underemphasized. A recent national survey of the U.S. microgreens industry reported that almost half of growers (48.3% of 176) learned to grow microgreens by viewing websites and videos on the internet.¹ However, it is unknown whether the …

Inclusive Pedagogy: Connecting Disability And Race In Higher Education, Meredith Persin

All Theses

Higher education was never made for marginalized people. The academy was created based on the privileged white, able-bodied, males who preoccupied higher education for the longest time. While that has certainly changed over the years, the institution itself is still in the past resulting in BIPOC students and disabled students continuing to struggle within higher education. While instructors have begun to take interest in the need for inclusive pedagogy within the last decade, it still has a far way to come in order to help the marginalized students with intersecting identities and students who may not benefit from a one …

Pasture Biomass Estimation Using Crop Surface Modeling And Vegetation Indices, Brendan Macinnis

All Theses

Biomass estimations are a critical function of any grazing or haylage system. Determination of ideal harvesting or grazing times help optimize the quality and quantity of above-ground biomass (AGB). The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for Alfalfa and Tall Fescue biomass estimations. Using a DJI Mavic Pro, RGB and NDVI images were taken and used to create orthomosaic images. Structure-from-motion (SfM) techniques were used to developed digital elevation models to evaluate the change in canopy height (∆H) between pre- and post-harvests. Change in canopy height (∆H) was shown to provide the …

Addressing The Performance Of Distance Relays In Presence Of Inverter Based Resources, Prabin Adhikari

All Theses

The transition towards clean energy initiatives to reduce global greenhouse emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels requires the interconnection of large-scale renewable energy power plants to high voltage transmission networks via inverters. These inverter interfaced power sources, popularly known as inverter-based resources (IBRs), pose several technical challenges to the existing distance protection infrastructures widely deployed in transmission systems.

Fault characteristics of IBRs are significantly different from those shown by synchronous generators (SGs). With IBRs taking a large share of generation, their increasing penetration at the transmission level causes incorrect operation of existing distance protection schemes designed for systems dominated …

Identification Of Cytospora Species Isolated From Canker In Peach Trees In South Carolina, Stephen T. Baker

All Theses

In 2016, a survey was conducted into the causes of twig blight on peach (Prunus persica) in five orchards across South Carolina. From this survey, isolates from the fungal genus of Cytospora (Sordariomycetes, Diaporthales) were reported on peach, for the first time, within the state. Cytospora species are known to cause oozing cankers on a wide range of woody hosts leading to dieback, loss of limbs, and reduction in yield, prompting concern for important economic crops. Past methods of identification of Cytospora species have been confounded by indistinguishable morphology, overlapping host preference among species, and genetic sequencing …

Insect Antennae As Bioinspirational Superstrong Fiber-Based Microfluidics, Griffin J. Donley

All Theses

Nature is frequently turned to for inspiration for the creation of new materials. Insect antennae are hollow, blood-filled fibers with complex shape, and are cantilevered at the head. The antenna is muscle-free, but the insect can controllably flex, twist, and maneuver it laterally. To explain this behavior, a comparative study of structural and tensile properties of the antennae of Periplaneta americana (American cockroach), Manduca sexta (Carolina hawkmoth), and Vanessa cardui (painted lady butterfly) was performed. These antennae demonstrate a range of distinguishable tensile properties, responding either as brittle fibers (Manduca sexta) or strain-adaptive fibers that stiffen when stretched (Vanessa cardui …

Floating Treatment Wetlands For Brackish Waters: Plant Selection And Nutrient Uptake Potential., Andrea Landaverde

All Theses

Brackish water bodies in coastal regions provide critical ecosystem services that support human and environmental health. Anthropogenic activities such as agricultural and industrial activities, construction, urban settlements, and tourism contribute to increased inputs of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) in brackish coastal ecosystems. Excess nutrients can lead to impaired water quality and affect marine organisms. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are a vegetated-base technology used to remove contaminants from water column, that has been mainly studied and applied in freshwater systems. Application of FTWs in brackish systems requires further investigation, as high salinity in brackish waters could result in toxicity to …

Phosphorus Dynamics And Remediation Within Overwintering Floating Treatment Wetlands, Jack Dekle

All Theses

Excessive phosphorus (P) accumulation and internal P cycling processes within surface waters can contribute to eutrophication, which poses a risk to aquatic ecosystem health and clean water availability. The development of low-cost methods for removing P from water is imperative to reduce the environmental impacts of P pollution. Floating treatment wetlands (FTWs) are a type of modified constructed wetland that can be installed within existing water containment infrastructure, where plants facilitate nutrient removal by direct contact with the water column. FTW plants demonstrate peak growth and nutrient uptake periods in the summer months, though some nutrients, notably P, can be …

Understanding User Perceptions Of Voice Personal Assistants, Ha Young Kim

All Theses

As the artificial intelligence (AI) technique improves, voice assistant (smart speaker) such as Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant are quickly, surely permeating into people's daily lives. With its powerful and convenient benefits and the circumstances that people started to stay at their home longer due to the pandemic, reliance on smart speakers has increased rapidly. But at the same time, concerns of security on smart speakers have increased.

In this thesis, we conducted an online user survey of smart speaker users with five different perspectives – 1) Users’ engagement with privacy policy; 2) Awareness of different policy requirements defined by …

Coordination In Healthcare Multiteam Systems: A Qualitative Study Of Healthcare Meetings, Anna Wolf

All Theses

To facilitate optimal patient care and outcomes for in-patent cancer patients, healthcare organizations often rely upon the coordinated efforts between specialized teams of healthcare providers, working interdependently in a structure known as a Multiteam System (MTS). Healthcare meetings, such as Rounds, particularly those with an interdisciplinary element, may act as care coordination mechanisms for in-patient MTS. This research investigates an MTS operating within the Southeastern United States whose teams use Rounds and other meetings called SNAP Huddles, to facilitate patient care. Through qualitative analysis using interviews and observations, this exploratory study aims to elucidate research questions relating to how Rounds …

Investigating The Efficacy Of Mental Health App Features On Depressive Symptoms And Adherence: The Airheart Pilot Study, Stephanie G. Six

All Theses

Mental health apps have shown promise for improving mental health and quality of life in a variety of contexts, such as depression, anxiety, and stress. However, a limited amount of research aimed at understanding how app features and design can optimize the therapeutic benefits and adherence of such mental health apps exists. Consequently, the primary purpose of the current pilot study is to investigate the effect avatar customization on depressive symptoms, adherence, and motivation to use a mental health app. Furthermore, the secondary aim of the current pilot study is to examine whether specific app features, including journaling, mood tracking, …

Prediction Of Pathogenic Mutations In Spermine/Spermidine Synthases, Shannon Bonomi

All Theses

As genetic technology and information become continuously more sophisticated and applied to the prevention and treatment of diseases, the need to understand the effects of genetic variants becomes an important task with regards to assessing disease risk. In the specific case of intellectual disabilities, prenatal screenings is an important diagnostic tool that prepares families and health professionals for the arrival of a child who may need immediate, specialized care. Cell Free DNA screenings are routine for determining sex and provide the opportunity to discover genetic anomalies. However, this has little value unless mutations can be recognized as pathogenic and are …

The Role Of Consumers In The Adoption Of Alternatively Fueled Vehicles And Mitigation Of Vulnerabilities Associated With Electric Vehicle Charging, Elaina D. Stuckey

All Theses

Electric vehicles have the potential to replace traditional automobiles as the primary form of transportation. Despite major improvements in technology and an expanding focus on climate change making electric vehicles more practical than ever before, consumers are still wary of adopting them for legitimate reasons such as costs and charging infrastructure. Therefore, a concerted effort must be made to persuade individuals and companies to adopt this beneficial technology to reduce the carbon footprint and catalyze the construction of important charging infrastructure.

Though there are a multitude of benefits to adopting electric vehicles, there will be some negative effects on the …

Recreational Cannabis Legalization And Homelessness In The U.S.: A Quasi-Experimental National Policy Analysis, James A. Sanderson

All Theses

In analyzing rising homelessness across the country, a comparison of state policies uncovered a trend: many states which were early adopters of adult-use recreational cannabis law also exhibited a high incidence of homelessness. As legalizing cannabis undoubtedly affects the number of substance users who are imprisoned, such changes to drug enforcement policy may also be impacting homeless populations. Now, there is substantial research on the relationship between incarceration and homelessness, and on co-occurring mental health and substance use problems known to be prevalent among these populations. Despite such similarities, and the impacts of recreational cannabis legalization on jail populations, there …

Identifying Noisy Labels In The Ground Truth Of Eating Episodes Self-Reported By Button Press On A Wrist-Worn Device, Tianyi Zhang

All Theses

This thesis considers the problem of identifying noisy labels in the ground truth of eating episodes (meals, snacks) as self-reported by participants collecting data in the wild. Participants wore a smartwatch-like device that tracked their wrist motion all day. They were instructed to press a button on the device at the start and end of each eating episode. The device and instructions were designed to be as simple to use as possible, but post-review of the ground truth provided by participants revealed a strong likelihood that a significant portion of the button presses may contain errors. For example, an error …

Near-Earth Ion Irradiation Effects On Functional Ceramic Materials: A Combined Experimental-Monte Carlo Approach, William J. Sands

All Theses

The near-Earth space radiation environment is a complex system that creates a harmful environment for materials to operate in. Motivated by the search for using optical defects as an indicator of radiation damage, five single-crystal functional ceramic materials were selected to undergo ion irradiation at conditions found in the near-Earth space environment. Due to the complex nature of ion irradiation effects in ceramic materials, a host of calculations and experimental characterization methods were used. Calculations using the 2013 SRIM code were used to evaluate the ion projected range and the type and number of defects (vacancies) created by ion irradiation. …