| Abstract # 1 |
| Marcela Shartouny, Celebrity Endorsements: Marketing's Golden Geese, Business Administration |
| Celebrity endorsements are continuously growing and increasing in popularity among marketers, especially in the marketing strategies of sports brands. While a substantial body of literature exists observing the effects of stock market prices after the announcement of an endorsement deal, there is little research done observing the effect of these deals on the company’s earnings. This study analyzes the impact of the amount spent on endorsement contracts and the resulting net income for Nike Inc. between its fiscal years of 2005 and 2020 by analyzing the publicly available 10-Q and 10-K financial statements. A correlation and regression data analysis were performed in Excel using the amount spent on endorser compensation as the independent variable and net income as the dependent variable. The results from this study conclude a coefficient of correlation of 0.9293, indicating a very strong positive correlation between the amount spent on endorser compensation and the resulting net income. |
| Abstract # 2 |
| Brianna Wells, Yoga's Effect on Quality of Life in People with Chronic Illness, Social Sciences |
| In Western medicine, we have an emphasis on treating illnesses with drugs, many of which have undesirable side effects. Is there an effective, drug-free treatment to help people with chronic illnesses improve their quality of life? To answer this question, we located 8 studies that assessed the impact of yoga on the quality of life for people with chronic illnesses. These illnesses include cancer, stroke, and brain injuries. The studies were meta-analyzed, and we found that the weighted average effect size was Cohen’s d = 2.16, which is indicative of a very strong effect, much stronger than most drugs. Our findings suggest that yoga is a very effective treatment for positively benefitting the quality of life in people with chronic illnesses. |
| Abstract # 4 |
| Alexis Herc, On the Other Side of Addiction: Family System Recalibration in Recovery, Social Sciences |
| Addiction impacts family relationships in profoundly complex ways. This auto-ethnographic study employs Kerr and Bowen’s (1988) family systems theory as the framework for analysis for one family impacted by substance abuse, addiction, and recovery and the communication required for recalibration. Family members’ interviews are highlighted and discussed. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 5 |
| Cara Robertson, Exploring Parental Communication with ASD Children: Strategies Toward Secure Attachment, Social Sciences |
| The nature of communication between parents and their children is critical to children’s social and emotional development (Ainsworth & Bowlby, 1991). Attachment Theory posits the key role the parent-child relationship plays in children’s ability to grow both socially and psychologically through adolescence and into adulthood. Children diagnosed with Autistic Spectrum Disorder, however, often experience extraordinary challenges in social development, regardless of the attachment style they hold with their parents or caregivers. In this study, parents’ perceptions of their communication with their autistic children are explored and summarized. Specifically, in-depth interviews with seven parents of children diagnosed with ASD were conducted and parent-child communication strategies were identified as possible means to secure attachment outcomes. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 6 |
| Jorge Chirino, From Birth to Death, Visual Arts and Design |
| I chose the scenes of the Nativity and the Crucifixion to depict in Photoshop and oil on canvas respectively, because I recently have gotten back into my faith and wanted to show my faith and love for God in my art. My work most resembles that of Giotto from the Gothic period of western art with how he lays out the composition of his figures into the landscape. In my work, I depicted some of the most important moments in the life of Christ, his life and his death on the Cross. Both works are arranged the same way like a diptych. Both works have a cross-like shape in the top-middle: for the Nativity was the North Star and the Crucifixion was Christ on the Cross. They are both depicted and represented as guides. The North star is a guide for the Shepherds and the Three Wise Men and obviously Christ is a guide for the masses and the literal Son of God. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 7 |
| Seth Scholl, How You Can Utilize Meditation Techniques to Minimize Anxiety in Your Life., Social Sciences |
| Everyone, each day, encounters some form of anxiety or stress. It is inherent in the human experience. Further, due to an increase in mental health issues and a variety of other factors seen in the modern age, anxiety is at an all time high. There are a variety of ways to combat this surge of mental tension, one being through meditation. I found three studies that examined the effect of meditation on anxiety. These studies were meta-analyzed: total N = 122, weighted average effect size Cohen's d = 0.45. This result indicates that meditation has a moderate effect on anxiety, and it suggests that people can use meditation as an effective, drug-free, side-effect-free, and cost-free treatment for anxiety. |
| Abstract # 8 |
| Taylor Jackson, Interior Design, Visual Arts and Design |
| I am interested in color palettes and learning about the interior design process. For as long as I can remember, I have always been drawn to colors and watching HGTV shows with my parents. HGTV personalities such as Joanna Gaines and Jenny Marrs have particularly influenced my style. Their use of natural wood texture and color schemes have influenced the way I design my spaces. All of this has led me to finding my passion for interior design. My work exhibits my passion for creating color combinations and designing spaces people would want to live in. I wanted to create a color palette that is comfortable and natural for anybody to be in. Color is an important aspect to consider when designing a space, the color someone ultimately decides to put on a wall can completely alter the mood or feel of a room. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 9 |
| Jake McClave, To Tell A Vision: An Interpretive Analysis of Pursuing a Career in Screenwriting., Social Sciences |
| Employment opportunities for creative careers like screenwriting require an extraordinary skill set and are highly competitive. This research represents an attempt to identify the knowledge and skills required to realistically navigate career opportunities in screenwriting. While the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a 4% growth in job opportunities for writers over the next ten years, required technological skills are rapidly evolving. This study features insights gained through in-depth interviews of four professional writers/producers and a comparative analysis of recorded interviews with well-known writers/producers. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 10 |
| Glendon Williams, Stories from “Band of Brothers”: A Fantasy Theme Analysis, Social Sciences |
| This research investigates how shared experiences throughout the individuals of Easy Company, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne communicated a sense of sacrifice, patriotism, and brotherhood amongst the men, leading to the formation of a cohesive unit. Using Bormann's (1972) Symbolic Convergence Theory as a lens for research, I performed a fantasy theme analysis of recorded interviews with real-life veterans of Easy Company reflected in the HBO miniseries “Band of Brothers.” The experiences shared by soldiers suggest that their shared narratives generated both group cohesion and consciousness. Overall, this study shows how soldiers of Easy Company made sense of horrific wartime experiences resulting in inseparable, loving, and extraordinary bond with each other. This study shows how they became a band of brothers. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 11 |
| Graceyn Yonce, Mental Health interventions for Refugee Children, Social Sciences |
| Refugee children have experienced numerous challenges caused by war. Forced immigration, loss of family housing, and separation from family members are common examples of the challenges that this population faces. These children may experience or witness acts of violence triggered by war and conflict. These adverse experiences may cause an increase in susceptibility to psychological disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression (Gormez et al., 2017). Additionally, these children may not have access to the resources needed to acquire financial aid, housing, or mental health services. This is why more research needs to be conducted in order to fully understand how to best offer aid to this vulnerable population (Theirreé et al., 2020). A meta-analysis was completed by comparing seven mental health interventions. The articles were found in databases listed on the University of South Carolina - Beaufort’s library website. These include PsychINFO and PsychArticles. In order to be included in the meta-analysis, the intervention needed to have a sample of participants that were 1), under the age of eighteen, and 2), identified as refugees. The purpose of these interventions were to decrease the severity of symptoms in post-traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, and depression. The findings suggest that these treatments were most successful in lessening the severity of PTSD symptoms with a large weighted effect size (d = 1.72). Moderate effect sizes were found for anxiety (d = .64) and depression (d = .74). This may show a need for improved interventions designed specifically for the symptoms of anxiety and depression in refugee children. Approved by faculty mentor: Carmen Farrell |
| Abstract # 12 |
| Stephanie McDowell, The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Cognitive Development, Social Sciences |
| Exposure to childhood trauma environments increases the risk of delays in cognitive development. Previous research has shown a relationship between traumatic environments and deficits in cognitive skills (Bucker et al., 2012; Conners Edge et al., 2022; Majer et al., 2010). Childhood trauma contributes to deficits in cognitive testing and psychiatric symptoms (Bucker et al., 2012). Therefore, understanding the potential effects of traumatic childhood environments on cognition is vital. Recognizing childhood exposure to traumatic events at an early age is essential, as trauma-exposed children experience worse test scores in verbal recall and working memory (Bucker et al., 2012). The present study examines the compounding effect of traumatic childhood environments on cognitive development. A meta-analysis was conducted, utilizing and compiling data from several studies in the literature that examined effects of trauma on cognition. The combined weighted average effect size across all studies was .94, which is a large effect. These data suggest that trauma can impact cognitive development in significant ways, and further support the necessity of informed trauma knowledge to assist educators in implementing strategies to assist children that experience a traumatic environment. Consideration of tailored interventions and trauma-informed schooling supports for these children (Conners Edge et al., 2022) are essential for future research and intervention work. Approved by faculty mentor: Carmen Farrell. |
| Abstract # 13 |
| Triet M. Pham and Dr. Edward L. D`Antonio, Rapid, Novel, and Sensitive Tetrazolium-Based Colorimetric Assay for Helicase nsp13 in SARS-CoV-2, Natural Sciences |
| Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is a human pathogenic virus that has essential proteins ranging from cell surface attachment, RNA and viral genomic replication, and translation of viral structural proteins. Once expressed in the host cell, 16 non-structural proteins are produced, which represent a drug discovery targeting opportunity. One target that has received attention in early-stage drug discovery is Coronavirus nonstructural protein 13 (nsp13) also known as SARS-CoV-2 helicase (SC2Hel). The enzyme works by unravelling double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) or double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) in an NTP-dependent method from the 5’ to 3’ directionality. The standard nucleic acid unwinding assay involving helicase from studies of SARS-CoV and SARS-CoV-2 encompasses the concept of fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET). Although effective, FRET has the drawback of expensive fluorophore and dark quencher components for the nucleic acid. Herein, we have developed a rapid, novel, sensitive, tetrazolium-based colorimetric assay for the detection of SC2Hel activities (nucleic acid unwinding activity and ATPase activity) using a standard unmodified duplex nucleic acid substrate. This SC2Hel assay combines three enzyme-coupled steps involving the ADP-dependent Thermococcus litoralis glucokinase (TlGlcK), Leuconostoc mesenteroides glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (LmG6PDH), and Clostridium kluyveri diaphorase (CkDIA). In the final step, a colorimetric reagent was used, known as iodonitrotetrazolium chloride (INT), that converts into INT-formazan upon reduction and exhibits an intense colorimetric response at a wavelength maximum of 505 nm (in a pH 7.6 buffered solution). The assay is more cost effective than the canonical FRET-based assay since the duplex nucleic acid substrate lacks any modification. |
| Abstract # 14 |
| Lindsey R. Baker and Dr. Edward L. D`Antonio, Overexpression, Purification, and Biochemical Evaluation of a Trypanosoma cruzi Glucokinase Bump Mutation for Drug-Target Validation, Natural Sciences |
| Trypanosoma cruzi is a pathogenic protozoan parasite that causes Chagas’ disease owing to chronic stage symptoms including endocarditis and cardiomyopathy, which decrease life expectancy. Therapeutics including nifurtimox and benznidazole have been in clinical use since the 1970’s but have adverse side effects that have led to poor patient compliance; therefore, the development of new therapeutics is in high demand. T. cruzi parasites have several interconnected and important biochemical pathways for its survival such as glycolysis, the pentose phosphate pathway, and gluconeogenesis. These three pathways involve the metabolite glucose-6-phosphate (G6P). Moreover, the enzyme T. cruzi glucokinase (TcGlcK) catalyzes a reaction to produce G6P from D-glucose and ATP, and without TcGlcK there appears to be the inhibition of these pathways necessary for T. cruzi cell survival. Carboxybenzyl glucosamine (CBZ-GlcN) is one of the strongest known competitive inhibitors of any glucose kinase and we have conceived of a plan to use this competitive inhibitor in a bump-and-hole approach to validate the enzyme as a “confirmed” drug-target. The current state of understanding is that TcGlcK is a “potential” drug-target because experimentation for genetic essentiality is still lacking in this field. We have envisioned a site-directed mutation within the active site cavity of TcGlcK, particularly TcGlcK(N105F), so that CBZ-GlcN would not have the ability to bind firmly or not bind at all. The inhibitory constant (Ki) for wt-TcGlcK and CBZ-GlcN was previously determined to be 0.71 ± 0.05 µM. Herein, we present the bump mutation TcGlcK(N105F) in the presence of 20 µM CBZ-GlcN and the compound does not exhibit any inhibitory effect with the mutant enzyme. |
| Abstract # 15 |
| Isabella Ahlen Jakobs, Red, Hvitt, Blue: Understanding Intercultural Communication Barriers in Soccer for Scandinavian Student-Athletes, Social Sciences |
| Intercultural communication is defined as “communication between people from two different cultures” and is a “symbolic, interpretive, transactional, contextual process in which people from different cultures create shared meanings” (Ting-Toomey & Chung, 2021, 24). Research shows that common barriers in intercultural communication are communication misunderstandings and misinterpreted non-verbal communication (Rogers & McGovern, 2002). Sport can be a common place for intercultural communication barriers as it brings together players from different countries and cultures. Soccer, known outside of the U.S. as football, encounters this phenomenon more due to its international prevalence. Research on international soccer players shows that cultural immersion is difficult, and, although, it helps players grow, communication barrier occurs during challenges like injuries, causing feelings of helplessness and loneliness (Richarson, Littlewood, Nesti, & Benstead (2012). In order to understand how the common language of soccer helps Scandinavian student-athletes navigate intercultural communication barriers as they integrate into U.S. culture, my project uses a qualitative approach, as discussed by Borish, Cunsolo, Mauro, Dewey, & Harper’s (2021), by using documentary film for qualitative research by filming a documentary and collecting qualitative research through interviews. This documentary filmed an interview with a Scandinavian soccer player student-athlete and her family and friends going over her 4 years at USCB and the barriers that she faced. The documentary shows that her communication barriers were the rate of speech, difficulty breaking things down into details, and having to compensate by using sound effects when not knowing the word, all causing feelings of homesickness and loneliness. |
| Abstract # 16 |
| Cassy Cooper, Nithish Nadham Dirisipamu, Christoph Hagenauer, Tgaja Johnson, Megan Kurz, Marco Martinez, Zack Stiltner, Eric Plaag (External Consultant), Kim Cavanagh (Faculty Co-Mentor), Jim Sidletsky (Faculty Co-Mentor), and Brian Canada (Faculty Mentor), Barnwell Tabby House Exploration: Using Virtual Reality to Make Historic Structures more Accessible, Computer Science |
| In Dr. Canada’s CSCI 570 class, our team was tasked with creating a virtual reality interactive application exploring the Barnwell Tabby House located in the historic Squire Pope neighborhood of Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. We worked closely with students and instructors in the Arts and the Archaeology departments for the game’s 3D artwork and narration information, including USCB Studio Art student Megan Kurz and her ARTS B399 instructor, Prof. Jim Sidletsky, who together used photogrammetry and 3D modeling to build a high-fidelity digital version of the Barnwell Tabby structure that served as the primary digital asset for our VR app, developed using the Unity game engine. We also collaborated with Eric Plaag, the Barnwell Tabby historian working with Dr. Kim Cavanagh, USCB's lead investigator on the project. The Barnwell Tabby House Exploration is a virtual museum-like tour that provides a free and accessible opportunity to explore a rare historic structure. Currently, the actual tabby house is not open for public access due to safety precautions and for the preservation of the structure. The Barnwell Tabby House Exploration application will allow users to explore the structure without facing the physical hazards. Users will utilize a VR headset to be taken back in time to the house in all its former glory. Users will employ their joysticks to move through the house and to interact with certain objects. The room will also feature descriptions including the historical dates of the house, how an object was constructed, or the purpose of the object during those times. Barnwell Tabby House Exploration will provide an interactive learning experience for one of South Carolina’s oldest locations. Future versions may include three different views: the actual house, the restored house, and the site at its correct point in history. |
| Abstract # 17 |
| Payton MacPherson, Exploring Coaching Communication: An Analysis of Compliance-Gaining Tactics, Social Sciences |
| Coaches provide guidance, support, instruction, and encouragement to their athletes in a variety of communicative ways. This study highlights a particular type of communication coaches employ daily: compliance-gaining. Using Marwell and Schmitt’s (1967) Compliance-Gaining Theory as the framework for analysis, collegiate coaches’ communication behaviors were analyzed and categorized, and specific coaching tactics were identified. This study reveals that rewarding communication tactics are most often employed to gain compliance, while punishing activities were thought to be less impactful, especially when coaching GenZ athletes. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 18 |
| Sierra Watkins, The State of South Carolina vs. South Carolina State University: The Underfunding of A Black Land Grant University, Humanities |
| The inequality in funding between predominantly white institutions (PWIs) and historically black colleges and universities (HBCUs) has always existed, but it’s never the main topic of conversation. One HBCU that has been underfunded is South Carolina State University (S.C. State University) in Orangeburg, South Carolina. S.C. State University is a black land grant university created under the Morrill Act of 1890 to dedicate its institution to agriculture and mechanics. In addition to S.C. State University being a land grant university, PWI land grant universities were created under the Morrill Act of 1860. There are land grant universities in every state, but PWI land grants receive greater funding than HBCU land grant universities. The main reason S.C. State University has been underfunded is because the state of S.C. has not provided one hundred percent funding for the university for numerous decades. Thinking from a critical race theorist point of view reveals that the state of S.C. has failed to provide S.C. State University with appropriate funding due to the college being a black land grant university. |
| Abstract # 19 |
| Mia Klinger, Alexa Lashley, Sadie O’Connor, David Eccles, From Meditation to Relaxation: A Meta-Analysis on Decreasing Insomnia, Social Sciences |
| In today’s world, sleep is often hard for people to obtain. A lack of sleep can be debilitating since it is the foundation of much functioning. Without it, the brain's performance is limited. Today’s population suffers a lot from insomnia. Insomnia is a chronic sleep deprivation disorder. For this meta-analysis, we located 3 studies that reported how meditation helps decrease insomnia and improves people’s overall sleep quality. Overall, these studies demonstrate a moderate effect that meditation has on decreasing insomnia. These findings ultimately suggest that meditation can help improve our sleep quality. Future research could see how mediation can improve quality of life overall. |
| Abstract # 20 |
| Kelliese Seabrook, Joe-Luis Iglesias, Impact of ESG Policies on a Firm’s Financial Performance, Business Administration |
| Abstract This research analysis intends to focus on the impact of an organization’s ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) endeavors on its financial performance. This analysis was achieved by examining data concerning 100 publicly traded companies, their ESG scores, and their net profits for the year 2021. To increase the accuracy of this study, a correlation and regression analysis was conducted, in Excel, using each of the company’s ESG scores, the independent variable, and their 2021 net profits, the dependent variable. The data retrieved was then plotted using a scatterplot and a line of best fit to illustrate the relationship. The resulting correlation coefficient is 0.01340635, which indicates that there is no existing correlation between an organization’s ESG score and its net profits. Although the analytic results convey the lack of relation between each variable, previous research findings indicate otherwise. In addition, this research analysis intends to provide the benefits and drawbacks of ESG investing, and the incorporation of Toulmin’s Conceptual Model and its relations to ESG. Keywords: ESG, Net Profits, Investing, Correlation and Regression, Conceptual Model |
| Abstract # 21 |
| Emily M. Welles and Dr. Edward L. D’Antonio, Towards the Development of a Dehaloperoxidase-Based Biosensor for Bisphenol A, Natural Sciences |
| Amphitrite ornata dehaloperoxidase (AoDHP) is a hemoglobin that acts as a multifunctional enzyme. A. ornata is a unique sediment-dwelling marine polychaete that naturally degrades a range of biogenic persistent pollutants found in its environment. Bisphenol A (BPA), which is a well-known environmental toxin originating from the plastics industry, has recently been demonstrated to be degraded by AoDHP. We are interested in the detection of BPA via AoDHP as a surface-immobilized biosensor through electrochemical methods. Prior research has shown that AoDHP isoenzyme A (DHP A) was electrostatically adsorbed to a self-assembled monolayer (SAM) surface bound to a gold working electrode that exhibited direct electron-transfer and yielded formal reduction potentials of the redox couples [D’Antonio, E.L. et al. (2013) Electrochem. Comm. 26, 67-70]. However, the cyclic voltammetric responses in those experiments revealed fleeting currents that were presumably due to the DHP A monolayer desorbing into bulk solution over time. The objective of this project was to design a surface lysine mutant form of DHP A bearing six point mutations to allow for both proper SAM surface docking and direct electron transfer with the gold working electrode. We predict that the addition of six lysine residues will bring stronger Coulombic attractions and minimize the loss of cyclic voltammetric currents. This design approach is important because non-fleeting currents is a strict requirement for biosensors. In this work, we expressed and partially purified a mutant form of DHP A having six surface lysine mutations, in which Escherichia coli was used as a host organism. We plan to screen two other mutational variants to afford an overall higher enzyme yield and an increased purification. |
| Abstract # 22 |
| Lauren Sullivan, Can the strategies the Savannah Bananas used on social media to grow their fanbase help other sports teams?, Social Sciences |
| This study is an experimental project using the techniques the Savannah Bananas used. Our Sports Information Director Mitchell Meigel allowed me to take over Instagram during baseball games using techniques and creating similar content to content created by the Savannah Bananas, but with a USCB baseball focus, to see if the same tactics are beneficial for other franchises or sports teams. I posted graphics for post-game game posts and stories including starting lineups to see if the engagement with our USCB Sand Sharks would add attraction to the baseball’s social media page. With the goal is to help rebrand the athletics and help bring more recruits and fans to our university, I found that both engagement and followers increased during this experiment. |
| Abstract # 23 |
| Carmella Coughlin-Torres, Montage Palmetto Bluff: Five Star Expectations and Execution, Social Sciences |
| This research aimed to explore the expectations and desires of guests regarding luxury hospitality, with a specific focus on Montage Palmetto Bluff. To answer the research question of why Montage Palmetto Bluff does what they do as a collective, interviews were conducted with some of the associates key to the experience. These associates included the Social Media and Marketing Manager, Senior Guest Relations Manager, Front Office Manager, Naturalist, and Concierge to offer insights into the daily workings of the resort. The findings revealed that guests prioritize feeling valued and heard during their stay, with personalization being key to their vacation experience. Guests want to feel seen and heard by the associates. It is about the personalization of their vacation. From the marketing that attracts them to the property to the added touches from interactions and curated recommendations upon arrival. Additionally, guests seek an immersive and environmentally conscious experience. The study highlights the importance of meeting guests' expectations through personalized and environmentally responsible experiences in the luxury hospitality industry. |
| Abstract # 24 |
| Patrick Jones, Alyssa Marian, Xiaomei Zhang, Eric Montie, Carrying Capacity of Common Bottlenose Dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in May River Estuary, South Carolina, USA, Natural Sciences |
| There are no studies about the carrying capacity of common bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) in the May River estuary nor seasonal contributions of resident and non-resident dolphins. To examine this question, we performed a comprehensive analysis of dolphin abundance from 2016-2022. Through a data mining process using R, we investigated (i) the average monthly abundance over the seven-year period, (ii) the average winter and summer abundances for each year, and (iii) the relationship between water temperature and seasonal abundances. Results showed that dolphins were the most abundant in the summer months with the influx of non-resident dolphins entering the estuary, and least abundant in the winter months when only resident dolphins were present. There was no significant change for either the summer (i.e., resident and non-residents) or winter (i.e., resident) dolphin abundances over the study period. Water temperature during the summer and winter months did not have a significant impact on the summer and winter abundances of dolphins during these periods. These findings help provide insight into the baseline carrying capacity of bottlenose dolphins in the May River estuary, which could change with continued human population growth and development in Bluffton, SC. Approved by faculty mentor: Eric Montie |
| Abstract # 25 |
| Megan Kurz, Character Creation for Tit & Booby in Blender, Visual Arts and Design |
| Humor is an integral part of human interaction and expression, especially when interacting with the general public. When I ask Google to see a tit, it shows me a bird, so it’s up to your imagination who misunderstood: the audience or the search engine. To bring joy to my art, I turned the punchline into character designs for Tit & Booby, personified versions of the Eurasian Blue Tit and Blue-Footed Booby, and wrapped them into a video game concept “Tit & Booby: Battle of the Birds”. The bird Booby is based on was not given its name because of some well-endowed feature, instead, the name booby originates from the Spanish word for fool. Tit’s species name originated from the Middle English word titmouse, which is used to denounce something as small. Because of the duality in their name, that shock factor is the selling point, without the use of fanservice. To bring this concept to life I used Blender, an open-source 3D-modeling suite, to prepare an anime figurine of Booby and a 3D dimensional reference for a 2D box art illustration. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 26 |
| G. Larisey Gooding III, An Ode to Home, Visual Arts and Design |
| My work, An Ode to Home, is a study of people and places that have been influential in my life. The people include my grandfather Mel, my grandmother Beboo (short for babushka, grandmother in Ukrainian), my mother Laine, my father Lari, my grandfather PaPa, my grandmother GeeGee, and my best friend Jacob, who is like my brother. The places include references to my birthplace of Ukraine and the small southern town of Sycamore where I grew up on my granddad’s farm along with the Beaufort River where I have spent many summers. The centerpiece is a collage of images representing the artist I have become. I chose oil for the centerpiece due to its ability to hold up over time and the impasto style reflects the unbridled nature of the location. Surrounding the centerpiece is a collection of portraits of the individuals described above, each in a different medium which reflects their various roles in my journey. These portraits are not hyper realistic but rather represent the aura of the people to whom I am paying homage. Scattered around my exhibit are poems and family heirlooms inspired by the people and places represented. At the end of this exhibit, I do not want to keep these artworks; instead, I will be gifting these portraits to their respective models to have and hold as a family heirloom. My art is not meant to be for just my selfish enjoyment, but as a selfless accolade for these people. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 27 |
| Roman Padgett II, How NFL Players Used Twitter During Covid: Uses and Gratifications, Social Sciences |
| Professional athletes today possess more power than ever before to communicate with fans and the general public through social media. Recent research suggests that athletes employ social media not only to engage their fans through talk about sports, but also to express their views on social and political issues (to varying degrees of success). This study analyzes a purposive sample of tweets generated by NFL athletes during the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and draws conclusions about how the Twitter platform functioned for athletes and their followers through application of Katz’ (1959) Uses and Gratifications Theory. APPROVED BY JAYNE VIOLETTE |
| Abstract # 28 |
| Niyah Jones, Words Unsaid, Visual Arts and Design |
| The most powerful thing about art is how it can make people think and reflect on how they interact in our world. My collages of photography and digital illustration are exactly a representation of that. This collection of work originated from a poem I wrote about observing a guy being too afraid to speak to a woman he was admiring in a coffee shop. That poem led me to the concept of words unsaid and how sometimes if we let ourselves be frozen in fear then we can stop our stories from being written. My artwork is a sequential narrative that explores two stories. The story takes place in a garden which I photographed at the Cummer Museum of Art & Gardens. This photograph was the perfect setting because it fit the aesthetic of the narrative and also gave me space to play around with the composition of my two main characters that I digitally drew. My artwork shows two versions of the same story. The first story represents words unsaid and how the two characters let fear stop them from speaking. The second story shows what could've happened if the two characters took a chance and spoke. I want people to reflect on their own words left unsaid and leave inspired to step into the unknown. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 30 |
| Rachel Valvo, Brian Canada (Faculty Mentor), The Tails of Knowledge: The Journey of Tangential Learning, Computer Science |
| My game The Tails of Knowledge is a game with two stages set in historical Japan about the mythical creatures the Kitsune and the Tenko that encourages tangential learning. Tangential learning encourages the research and interest of a topic based on the exposure of the topic from various forms of media. The Tails of Knowledge stage one is a side-scrolling action game that is comprised of the player-character (the Kitsune), scrolls of knowledge to collect, and various natural disasters including a volcano eruption, a tsunami, and a tornado to avoid while walking on a dirt path through time in Japan. The Kitsune gains knowledge over the span of 1,000 years to gain nine tails and graduate to the status of Tenko, or “Celestial fox.” After clearing stage one, there is an option to see the pieces of knowledge the player collected which are facts about the Kitsune, Tenko, and historical Japan. The hope is that the player will be interested in the topics the game is based around after playing the game and learn more about historical Japan and its folklore including the Ktisune and Tenko. The Tails of Knowledge stage two is tower defense game that consists of the player-character (the Tenko), three enemy villagers, and your nine fire orbs to keep protected while standing on a Japanese mountain landscape. The Tenko has magical fire powers that are stored in red orbs. These orbs are so powerful that many try to steal them and that is what is reflected in stage two. The main objective of The Tails of Knowledge is to introduce its players to the world of folklore. (Approved by Dr. Brian Canada, Faculty Mentor) |
| Abstract # 31 |
| Nathaniel Aikens, Girl with the Snake and the Boy with the Ape, Visual Arts and Design |
| As a child, I was amazed by the artwork in comic books and manga, whether it was Batman beating up bad guys or Naruto using a Rasengan. I would think to myself: I wonder if I could draw something as cool as what I was reading on the comic books and manga pages. Eventually, I became interested in how the illustrator would show two opposing sides: good versus evil or talent versus hard work. I found that the best artist creates dualities and symmetry in artworks and storytelling, which lead to my two pieces of artwork for my senior exhibition. When coming up with an idea for my two artworks, I couldn't stop thinking about a TV show called "Avatar: The Last Airbender," where two characters are portrayed in different ways even though they have a lot of similarities. For my artwork, I also wanted to do the same. I wanted to explore the duality, balance, symmetry, and placement within my artwork. The two art pieces are meant to be side by side so that when the viewer looks at them, they can see the difference but understand that they are one and the same or that they come from the same world. My two figures are of different genders, animals, and color schemes, but they are similar as they hold fire while in the same poses. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 32 |
| Kerrington Fogle, Don't We Just Love Art?, Visual Arts and Design |
| My personal work consists of drawn figures. I draw figures or fictional characters in many different depictions, whatever I choose for inspiration, using various mediums such as markers, colored pencils, graphite, and paint to build a stronger medium itself for the composition. While studying I have found an interest in old school artists who helped change the art scene drastically as it was coming up, inspiring me to try these old ways of creating art but in my own way, which I believe is how artists eventually come up with their own unique way of creating art. This is what I want to embody as an artist. During my years in the art program at USCB I have learned a lot. Before I came to college I would draw as a hobby, but college is where I really started to take it more seriously and hone in on my skills as an artist. I started taking art classes and really started learning and listening to what was going on in the art scene from a front row seat, joining classes that taught me methods and techniques I never thought of using. I've made my skills as an artist better than before, becoming a better drawer, a graphic designer, and even learning how to create animations. My personal art was something that I was trying to figure out as to what I like to create as an artist myself. Now I continue to test out my own skills while still learning to enhance them the best way I can. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 33 |
| Sadie Phifer, Moment Mail, Visual Arts and Design |
| Stick with me and we’ll go places! These larger-than-life stamps are intended to represent the significant events in my life over the course of my four years of college. These stamps were printed to look like genuine postage stamps but were created digitally using Adobe Illustrator. These experiences cover my travels, my different college classes, my working student program horseback riding experiences, my internship, and the schools I've attended. Official stamps usually include the nation of origin, value, and a design or image. I chose to use my own designs, number them in chronological order and sign them with my initials. Not just for mailing a letter, a stamp is useful in other ways. They resemble tiny time capsules as well. The pictures depict what people at the time considered to be significant enough to be included on their nation's stamp. Value differences reveal details about the post office's past. You can get a glimpse into history by collecting stamps from various eras and locations. Each stamp that I have created is a representation of a distinct life experience that I consider to be a significant one in my life. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 34 |
| Bethany Felix, A Visual Exploration of Mental Heatlh, Visual Arts and Design |
| The work created for this exhibition explores themes of depression that I have dealt with. The animation is centered around myself, abstracted and living out a dark fantasy. The main character suffers dreams where she is harmed by herself. She wakes with visual evidence and turns to a harmful outlet to cope. Only by confronting herself is she able to rise out of the pits of despair. The backgrounds were created in charcoal. The animation was digitally drawn. These mediums represent the merging of worlds that are almost identical but so different - like the characters in my animation. The animation is a style that has gained popularity amongst independent animators within the last ten years. The style embraces flaws and maintains a hand-made quality, rejecting the ultra-smooth rendered works that have become demanded by the mainstream animation industry. The second portion of my work is a series of illustrations screen printed onto clothing and tote bags. The images discuss mental health and how it eats away at the people affected by it. The mind is represented by human organs. Insects crawl within and on top of the organs, feasting upon them, mutilating them, and manipulating them. These images are printed onto clothing to represent how we have to carry that burden of poor mental health with us wherever we go, and how being more open about how it is something we all struggle with could help reduce the stigma and encourage people to seek proper help and solutions. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 35 |
| Jennifer Christensen, The Captivating World of Japanese Mythology, Visual Arts and Design |
| Growing up, I was one of "those" kids who watched anime, beginning with the Pokémon series and progressing further into the world. I developed a deep affection for Japan's unique cultural traits, visual aesthetic, history, and folk tales that made up a significant portion of the culture's narrative as I became more knowledgeable about its history and culture through my interest in anime. Mythology, folklore, and origin stories have also always piqued my interest. In Japanese mythology and folklore, the fox is a representation of the arrival of either fortune or misfortune and is depicted alongside a Tengu mask. A Tengu—a mythological demon in Japanese culture depicted with a man's body, black wings, and a red face with a long nose—also represents either luck or calamity in your future. My other piece of art depicts a cat dressed as a geisha, referencing the myth of the beckoning cat, derived from the legend that a guard's man would have been crushed by a falling limb if it weren't for a cat calling for him to come its way. The geisha aspect of the cat comes into play with the myth that if you were a single woman with a black cat, you would attract a desirable suitor. To achieve the silk screen appearance that high-ranking officials would want their prints to be printed on, as a sign of wealth, I utilize gold sheets (gold flakes in sheet form) as the background for my paintings. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 36 |
| Brittany Williams and Michaela Smith, Infant Formula and Toddler Milk Marketing within the Grocery Store Environments, Nursing and Health Professions |
| Infant Formula and Toddler Milk Marketing within the Grocery Store Environments Nutritional-related behaviors and eating patterns are established during early childhood, and many parents struggle to get their children to practice healthy eating. Grocery stores are the primary venues that are vital in shaping eating habits and overall health. Many marketing companies use this fact and advertise toddler milk and breast milk substitutes within the grocers. Over the years, advertised information has been the subject of falsehoods. Sugar-Sweetened Beverages (SSB) marketing (e.g., formula and toddler milk) has been proven to be an obesogenic environmental factor that negatively impacts children's eating practices. This study aimed to assess community eating environments by 1) employing the Nutrition Environment Measure Survey in Store (NEMS-S) to evaluate the price, placement, and promotion tactics of the formula and toddler milk 2) recognizing the different tactics of SSB marketing within Metro Detroit grocers when compared across grocers in immigrant enclaves. NEMS-S was conducted in 78 grocers in immigrant enclaves (n=30) of Dearborn, Warren, Hamtramck, and Detroit in Michigan, and scores were compared with the scores of the grocers in Metro Detroit (comparison group(n=48)). One-way analysis of variance revealed that grocers in immigrant enclaves have significantly higher availability of cheaper formula and toddler milk. Signage of cartoon characters was the most frequent retail SSB marketing tactic. Immigrant enclave communities are linked with higher rates of targeted marketing for formula and toddler milk, which could cause a high prevalence of early childhood obesity among this population. |
| Abstract # 37 |
| Charlyce President, The President Family, Visual Arts and Design |
| My work explores and records my family through digital illustrations and printmaking. My pieces are about my family throughout the years and how much we have grown and changed. My designs prioritize color and the texture and detail in the faces of my family members. I convey my ideas through digital painting on a banner and prints through printmaking. The process when I am doing digital painting is through Photoshop using the pencil tool to give the outline of the face and body of the portraits. Then I use the blending tool to bring the lights and darks together creating a gradient of where the light is coming from in the pictures. When doing my prints for my second piece, the process that I’m using is dry point and etching on a zinc plate. When dry pointing on a zinc plate, the process and outcome will be different because of the different material and techniques when etching directly on the plate. When adding color onto the plate, the etching in the areas that I want to be dark will show on my grandfather’s hat and clothing and what areas I want to keep light will be the line etching of details on his face, like the hair and mustache. Those different types of mediums will show the different processes and outcomes of doing realism on a zinc plate, showing the etchings of the lines throughout the plate and through Photoshop showing the smooth blending in the colors and line details in the faces and clothing. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 38 |
| Sean, From Paper to Byte, Visual Arts and Design |
| My work is a 3D character named Ernest who I designed around older sketches and written stories that I worked on with my sister when I was younger. He is an adventurer on a quest to save his friends from an ancient evil returned from the dead. To design this character, I had to compile a lot of visual references that had elements I wanted to incorporate in the final design. After my research is complete, it is time to translate what is on paper to digital via Autodesk. Ernest’s design is then refined, his front and side views are brought into Autodesk Maya. From here, it is a process of going forward with planar and box modelling techniques that focus on generating a digital likeness of the character until a low-poly base mesh is created. After the base model is created, the character is UV mapped for further texturing. Texturing is a process in which a digital asset is given color, polish, and extra details that will help to build up the design with appeal. Once complete, those flattened textures are brought back into Maya so that they can be plugged into a rendering system where Ernest can be rendered out with lights and camera views that finalize a design. These vignettes are a labor of love. As one approaches mastery there is an appreciation for process where subsequent creative ventures build on precedent with an eye towards a vision more in concert with the designer’s first gasp of imagination. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 39 |
| Anneau Cappelmann, Alyssa Marian, Jason Broach, Evan Bowman, Thomas Morgenstern, Eric Levesque, Eric Montie, Characterization of Sounds Produced by Pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) and Spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) Acquired in Captive Tanks at the SCDNR Waddell Mariculture Center, Natural Sciences |
| Acoustic signaling and reproduction are correlated in soniferous, fish species. Studies conducted on captive spotted seatrout (Cynoscion nebulosus) and red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus) have shown a strong correlation with fish calling and spawning. In the current experiment, captive pigfish (Orthopristis chrysoptera) and spot (Leiostomus xanthurus) were acoustically monitored to characterize calls and to investigate the relationship between acoustic activity and spawning. Underwater acoustic recorders were deployed in three tanks stocked with spot and pigfish, separately. Female fish were injected with spawn-inducing hormones. The hydrophones were scheduled to record sound data for two minutes every twenty minutes. At 48 and 72 hours after injection, the tanks were filtered for floating and sinking eggs. A total of 861 sound files for each species was manually reviewed using Adobe Audition to quantify call counts per file. Spot failed to spawn and 60 calls were detected. During injections and oocyte sampling, most spot females showed signs of regression, so it is possible the experiment occurred during the end of their spawning period. Female pigfish spawned a total of 168,000 eggs and 48 calls were detected: 128,000 of the total pigfish eggs were collected from a tank with 21 calls; 40,000 from a tank with 18 calls; and no eggs from a tank with 4 calls. These findings reveal that tanks with more calling in pigfish led to greater egg deposition. Thus, monitoring sound production of pigfish can be used to assess reproductive activity of pigfish and predict spawning potential. Approved by faculty mentor: Eric Montie |
| Abstract # 40 |
| Sheer, Daniel; Hirshout, Gaetano, Youth Technology Use & Behavioral Health, Computer Science |
| Abstract Introduction: To inform the potential for a relationship between the use of digital technology and adverse behavioral health outcomes, two large representative datasets of American Youths were examined. From each two questions were selected, one to establish ordinal categorical data for time spent interacting with digital technology, and one to represent behavioral health outcomes. Purpose: The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) administered by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has since 1991 collected data biennially from a representative sample of American Youths. Its purpose is to monitor the effectiveness of public health interventions by observing health-related behaviors (1). In 2021 the United States Surgeon General issued an urgent public health advisory stating that “from 2009 to 2019, the proportion of high school students reporting persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness increased by 40%; the share seriously considering attempting suicide increased by 36%; and the share creating a suicide plan increased by 44%” (2). While this trend of increasing negative indicators of behavioral health outcomes has been observed to coincide with an increase in the use of digital technology there is little convincing evidence to establish causation (3). As the YRBS question regarding technology use is broad based, and therefore lacks specificity to the type of media that young people are interacting with, an additional large dataset was also evaluated to provide data specific to social media use. The Monitoring the Future (MTF) Public-Use Cross-Sectional Datasets (4) was examined with permission from the University of Michigan. |
| Abstract # 41 |
| Kristel Sekula, Brianna Thompson, Jhaelyn Cora, Kailey Fornez, and Chandler Kosh, Employment Status and Food Insecurity on Campus: Is There a Connection?, Social Sciences |
| Food insecurity is suspected to affect post-secondary students at a higher rate than the average household (Nikolaus et al., 2020). Studies examining patterns of food insecurity on college campuses measure financial independence and consider the process of making choices regarding paying bills or purchasing food (e.g., Adamovic et al. 2020 & Brescia and Cuite 2022). Using survey data from 182 undergraduate students at the University of South Carolina Beaufort and in-depth interviews with six of these students, we examined whether employment was correlated with food insecurity for college students. Survey data included students of different employment statuses: unemployed, part-time, full-time, and self-employed. Part-time employed students made up the largest percentage of the sample (41.5%). If respondents said they worried about their access to food about half the time or sometimes, they were classified as borderline food insecure. Forty-one (41%) percent were borderline food insecure. Full-time employed students were most likely to be borderline food insecure with forty-five percent (44.8%) fitting this category. Results showed students experienced food insecurity at similar rates across all employment statuses. Our findings indicate college campuses must consider how to best support the students who experience an occasional lack of access to food or worry over having enough food to eat at certain times during the week. Further research should be conducted to understand those effects on a student’s academic outcomes, and their mental and physical health, to give university officials more information about food insecurity in order to create resources to help students. |
| Abstract # 42 |
| Sam Messinides, Tracking the Spread of SARS-CoV-2 through Wastewater Monitoring, Natural Sciences |
| Wastewater monitoring for the spread of SARS-Cov-2 can provide an important tool to track the spread of disease within a population area. Weekly wastewater sampling and analysis was conducted in eight sites throughout most of Beaufort County and portions of Jasper County between June and November of 2021 during the infection spike of the Delta variant of SARS-Cov-2. Sampling different wastewater facilities allowed a comparison of infection rates in these distinct communities and the effect of wastewater treatment capabilities and population sizes on the detection of disease in wastewater. |
| Abstract # 43 |
| Lauryn Carrington, Joanna Boney, Tye Pettay, Water Quality Monitoring in the Port Royal Sound, Natural Sciences |
| The Port Royal Sound innervates Beaufort County and is unlike many estuaries as it lacks a regular source of fresh water, experiences high tidal flushing, and is vastly understudied. To address this knowledge gap, water quality monitoring began in 2020 to investigate phytoplankton communities and their response to environmental conditions and potential impacts due to increased land use and population in the estuary. Over the past three years, weekly samplings at both high and low tides occurred at three different sites were conducted within the estuary. Data was collected for temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, and water samples filtered in the lab for the analysis of chlorophyll (phytoplankton indicator) and phytoplankton, and bacteria communities. Here, we summarize the first ~1 ½ years of temperature, salinity, and chlorophyll data to provide a baseline understanding of the Sound and the factors affecting phytoplankton production. Continued monitoring and the analysis of long-term trends will be important to further our understanding of water quality and primary productivity within the Port Royal Sound and to evaluate possible alterations in ecosystem functioning associated with the growing population and changing land use occurring throughout Beaufort County. |
| Abstract # 44 |
| Piper Davis, Cassidy Hutto, Zinia Hampleton, Garrett Willford, Debbie Phelps, Lauryn Carrington, Iesha Whittaker, Robert Dunn, Mercer R. Brugler, Characterizing Oyster Reef Biodiversity using eDNA, Natural Sciences |
| Dense aggregations of the Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica create complex, three-dimensional habitats that support a variety of invertebrates such as crustaceans (shrimp, crabs, barnacles), tunicates, polychaetes, other bivalves, etc., and a variety of fish. During low tide, exposed reefs provide abundant food for birds and mammals. When inundated, oysters obtain nutrition by filtering water, which serves to improve its clarity and quality. With the ability to dissipate wave energy, oyster reefs act as a barrier against coastal erosion and protection for the smooth cordgrass Sporobolus alterniflorus. Biodiversity surveys usually consist of a visual examination, yet as a scientist walks on a reef, organisms may hide, simply leave the reef before observation and collection, or be too small to notice. To elucidate the true biodiversity of oyster reefs, we are sequencing environmental DNA (eDNA). eDNA includes intact cells (from skin, mucus, gametes, or feces), free-floating DNA fragments, or fragments absorbed into sediment particles. To collect eDNA released by oyster reef inhabitants, a basket of sterile oyster shell is placed in the center of a natural reef for four weeks. Upon collection, baskets are soaked in seawater for 30 minutes. We are currently filtering the soak water, extracting DNA from those filters, and amplifying genes of interest. Amplicon DNA sequencing is being conducted to reveal what organisms – known and unknown - are calling oyster reefs “home.” DNA-based IDs will be compared with visual observation of shell basket inhabitants being conducted by collaborators at the Baruch Institute for Marine & Coastal Sciences. |
| Abstract # 45 |
| Gabriella Baldo, Sports Injuries in Female Athletes, Social Sciences |
| This study is a qualitative research project taking the opinions, experiences, and personal feelings from female athletes, a physical therapist, and an orthopedic surgeon on injuries in female sports. I created a podcast, and interviewed each athlete and expert on injuries in female sports. Each interviewee has an entire podcast episode dedicated to that interview. We discussed all of the emotions, statistics, issues, techniques, and stories of each chosen interviewee. The goal is to bring knowledge and awareness to injuries involving female athletes and all of the perseverance it takes to go through a traumatic injury, and what we can do to prevent these injuries from happening so often. |
| Abstract # 46 |
| Whisper Brown, Women and the Criticism in Media Arts, Social Sciences |
| It is commonly known that women are not seen as equal parts as men when it comes to any situation, but how bad is the inequality within the media arts profession? What kinds of criticism do women in the television and film industry face? This study takes a look at some of the underlying factors. To conduct this study, I used content analysis by reviewing past articles, interviews, and past research that have also studied how women handle criticism within media arts. While filtering through all of the information I came across, I specifically looked for instances where the women felt anything other than welcomed. The main issues I came across were sexism, underrepresentation, being sexualized, and some people in the industry find them to be incompetent. The question this study aims to answer is “How do women with a career in media arts approach criticism?” In the conclusion of this research, I found that in an effort to progressively put an end to the sexism, underrepresentation, sexualization, and the mistaken idea of women being incompetent, organizations like Women Make Movies, Women in Animation, and Film Fatales were created to advocate for equality and inclusiveness for women. |
| Abstract # 47 |
| Shourish Shailesh Kothawale, Brian Canada (Faculty Mentor), Dawn Of the Setsubun: Shuten Douji's Wrath, Computer Science |
| The game Dawn of The Setsubun: Shuten Douji’s Wrath is a 2-D “multi-room” game, similar to the likes of the original NES version of The Legend of Zelda and the Pokémon Nintendo series. The game is based on the folklore of the Oni-King “Shuten Douji” being defeated by a warrior of Ancient Japan “Minamoto Raiko”. The game is designed to promote tangential learning, where gameplay elements motivate the player to learn more about the underlying subject matter. Here, the player plays as “Minamoto,” the protagonist. The player must travel through two different worlds to collect soybean seeds to defeat the Oni-King, who has set havoc on Minamoto’s home land. The soybeans remain an integral part of the folklore as they refer to a festival in Japan called the “Setsubun” festival. In this festival the oldest member of the family dresses as an Oni portraying the evil; meanwhile, family members throw soybeans at the Oni, implying that the evil is being neutralized by the Soybeans that represent purity. Similarly, the player must yield Soybeans by planting the seeds in the farm world. After the beans are collected the player must defeat all the minions of the Oni-King, and then later defeat Shuten Douji himself by throwing the Soybeans at him. The player must beware of the minions and the Oni-King, as their magic can damage the player. Dawn of the Setsubun: Shuten Douji’s Wrath creates an avenue for players to build interest in learning more about the folklore through tangential learning, by exposing new ideas with the help of a medium that a player might find interesting, through video games. (Approved by Dr. Brian Canada, Faculty Mentor) |
| Abstract # 48 |
| Shannon Richardson, Dr. Lee-Ann Halbert, Importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation Health Promotion, Nursing and Health Professions |
| Shannon Richardson, Importance of Cardiac Rehabilitation Health Promotion, Nursing and Health Professions Cardiac rehabilitation is an evidence-based health intervention that utilizes patient education, health behavior modification, & exercise training to improve secondary prevention outcomes in patients with cardiovascular disease. Cardiac rehabilitation programs reduce morbidity & mortality rates in adults with heart disease related to acute coronary syndrome, heart failure, or cardiac surgery but are significantly underused, with only a minority of people participating in cardiac rehabilitation in the United States. The CDC’s Division for Heart Disease and Stroke Prevention states that “individuals who participate have a 47% lower risk of death and a 31% lower risk of a secondary cardiac event. However, only 10% of all eligible heart patients get referred for cardiac rehabilitation services.” The population focus for this research is centered on patients diagnosed with acute coronary syndrome, after experiencing a major cardiac event, and who received cardiac stenting. The average healing time for cardiac stenting is one year. Most successful outcomes are seen in patients who engage in cardiac rehabilitation within 3 months. Unsuccessful outcomes & complications occurred with patients who received no education & did not participate in cardiac rehabilitation measures. This research specifically explores first-year outcomes with patients who received education and participated in cardiac rehabilitation and those who did not. New education and implementation strategies are urgently needed to improve participation & health outcomes. "Approved by faculty mentor Dr. Lee-Ann Halbert." |
| Abstract # 49 |
| Kathryn Tovar, Falling in Love Again, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| "Falling in Love Again" is about one woman's desire to have her interests respected and encouraged. When women are told their interests are not important, they have to find a way to love what they do without shame. "Falling in Love Again" is Kathryn Tovar's story of finding love in the romance genre after being pushed away from her interest for years. The piece was published in the Fall 2022 issue of "The Pen." |
| Abstract # 50 |
| Valerie Carrillo, Jess Rodrigues, Chawnyce Akinjobi, Kevin White, Raivyn Trapps, Hunger on Campus: Understanding Student Barriers, Social Sciences |
| College students are often juggling many responsibilities, including attending class, studying, working, and managing households. One priority that can be overlooked is food. Therefore, students are susceptible to becoming food insecure without realizing. This condition is when one cannot access sufficient food of adequate quality to meet their basic needs (USDA, 2022). To reduce the number of students affected by this issue and improve university programs requires an increased understanding of food insecurity among college students. We aimed to identify factors preventing students from being food secure by investigating the challenges across student status groups (part-time, full-time, online, and in-person). This study used a mixed methods approach to gather data, which included a survey of 190 students and in-depth interviews with six students. We found that a small percentage of students face food insecurity. Full-time in-person students were most affected and accounted for three times more students than the other status groups. College-backed programs, such as meal plans and the campus pantry, appear to leave some students without enough food. In an interview, one student stated, “I did not know we had a food pantry until I took your survey.” Additionally, 64% of students report there are an insufficient number of food options, limited hours of operation at dining facilities, and a staggering 90% of students lack the education and awareness of helpful resources, to name a few. This study offers suggestions to help further reduce the number of food-insecure students and aid those battling this problem. U.S. Department of Agriculture. 2022. “Definitions of Food Security.” Retrieved March 23, 2023 (https://www.ers.usda.gov/topics/food-nutrition-assistance/food-security-in-the-u-s/definitions-of-food-security/#CNSTAT) |
| Abstract # 51 |
| Christine Flores, Navigating Through Health Care: A Perspective into the Use of Resources, Nursing and Health Professions |
| Despite significant progress in the past, disparities in health and health care have been a major public health concern. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, health disparities are defined as the differences in clinical outcomes as a result of social inequalities between populations (2020). For many students, the college years signifies the challenging developmental transition to adulthood. The events occurring during these years can have a profound and enduring impact for their future career, economic security, and overall well being. Research shows that college students experience elevated levels of stress related to changes in lifestyle. Having sufficient access to healthcare resources can help students proactively manage these challenges, leading to positive outcomes. An educational presentation regarding the process of navigating and utilizing the local health resources was developed and delivered to a pilot of 35 students. To affirm the presence of learning, the same test was administered prior and after the presentation. To gain insight in the perspective of the use of campus and local health resources, a survey was also applied. The average score of the post-test increased by 50% in comparison to the pre-test. The following themes regarding barriers to accessing resources emerged from the survey: insufficient knowledge of resources, need for presence of a health center, as well as transportation and financial issues. Researching interventions to address these needs among the USCB student population is imperative. |
| Abstract # 52 |
| Zoe Black, Character Design & Illustration, Visual Arts and Design |
| The majority of my work fulfills my love and passion for fictional worlds expressed through their characters and the environment they live in. Fantasy and role-playing games have played the largest influence on me in terms of the work I like to do. In my latest venture, I wanted to create two new characters that would fit within my own fictional universe that juxtapose each other in theme and personality. Eventually, I settled on a duo consisting of a monster hunter and a demon. The theme speaks to my love for fantasy and adventure; from this concept, I created Soren and Kota, respectively. Soren is a meticulous monster hunter who makes a living off of completing bounties. Kota on the other hand is impish in nature and balances out Soren’s serious tone. When it comes to creating new characters, I explore ideas by doing several sketches where I test different variations of the character. This includes everything from attire, color palettes, and themes. Usually, I will have a buzzword or some key feature I want to highlight, which helps me get a firmer grasp of the design. I do this until I arrive at a final design all while thinking deeply about who they are, their personality, and what makes them unique. Thinking about these things helps me develop each of them. Overall, it’s my goal as a character artist to breathe life into each of them and tell their stories. Approved by faculty mentor: Chad Penner |
| Abstract # 53 |
| Ally Robertson, Intersectionality of Food Insecurity : A Macro-level Investigation into Lowcountry Food Banks, Social Sciences |
| In the wake of an ongoing pandemic, supply chain issues, and rising inflation, food insecurity within the Lowcountry has been on the rise. Although food insecurity is typically understood as a standalone problem, the reality is that food insecurity is often related to and a symptom of other systemic issues. Additionally, the severity and frequency of food insecurity can be impacted by demographic factors such as gender, age, ethnicity, and income level. To address these differences, food banks have had to adjust their operations. The purpose of this research was to identify shared demographic patterns among food bank clients, the socio-political and economic limitations constraining food banks, and the extent to which food banks collaborate with other needs-based organizations. To obtain this qualitative data, I conducted open-ended interviews with managers and directors of food banks of various sizes throughout the Lowcountry. In doing so, I found that most food bank clients tended to be older, low-income/unemployed, disabled, ethnic or racial minorities, and/or children. Further, I discovered that food banks often partner with other needs-based organizations like homeless shelters and free-healthcare clinics or contribute items to social services like Meals on Wheels. In some cases, food banks also took advantage of bureaucratic leniencies to serve at-risk populations like undocumented immigrants. In conclusion, organizations designed to address food insecurity like food banks need to be cognizant of the overlap between food insecurity and other systemic issues and must be willing to coordinate with other social services. |
| Abstract # 54 |
| Khushi Jadhav and Dr. Xiaomei Zhang, Is the Mushroom Poisonous?, Computer Science |
| The activity of "mushrooming" or searching for mushrooms, is widely used by those who enjoy them. It is advisable to categorize mushrooms so that people will know which kinds are dangerous and won't perish from eating the wrong kind. We would like to study how to categorize mushrooms using a dataset that is publicly available from the UCI data repository. The data set selected here is a “Mushroom Data Set”. This dataset was produced from a sample of 23 grilled species of mushrooms from the Agaricus and Lepiota Families. These species are divided into three categories: certainly poisonous, certainly poisonous but not recommended, and clearly poisonous but certainly edible. 22 attributes exist of this dataset. The 8124 events in this dataset allow for a precise response. I want to classify this dataset and determine whether the objects are dangerous or edible using a classification strategy. Via a variety of classifiers and choosing the one that produces the best outcome. Get the best or nothing at all. |
| Abstract # 55 |
| Bhavikaben Pandya and Dr.Xiaomei Zhang, Analyzing a Bank Marketing Dataset, Computer Science |
| The Bank Marketing dataset is a valuable resource for researchers, data analysts and marketers interested in examining the efficacy of marketing strategies in the banking sector might benefit greatly from the Bank Marketing dataset. The collection contains data on over 45,000 bank clients, including their demographics, financial account information, and the results of earlier marketing campaigns. The information was gathered from a telemarketing campaign run by a Portuguese bank to encourage people to subscribe to term deposit plans. The dataset offers a variety of data that can be used to examine how marketing efforts affect consumer behavior. Age, marital status, education, housing, and loan status are just a few of the characteristics it offers. Additionally, the dataset contains statistics on the number of interactions made with each consumer during the campaign, the length of the calls, and the campaign's outcome. The Bank Marketing dataset has been extensively studied and has been used to develop various predictive models and analytical tools. It can be used to learn more about consumer behavior and preferences, to pinpoint the elements that affect the success of marketing campaigns, and to create efficient marketing plans that cater to particular customer groups. The goal of our work is to apply data mining classification algorithms to predict if a consumer will sign up for a term deposit and compare between the algorithms, and then analyze the features that may determine if a consumer will sign up. |
| Abstract # 56 |
| Jacee Smith, COVID-19 Tracing within USCB Students, Nursing and Health Professions |
| COVID-19 is a rapidly spreading virus. At first, the world did not know how to respond. Guidelines, policy and system changes were done to slow the spread of the virus. Similarly, in higher education, many colleges set guidelines to keep the students safe. At USCB there are approximately 2,000 students where contact tracing was a University Policy from Fall 2020 to Spring 2022 among residential and commuter students. Collected data showed the date, the title of the individual (Residential or Commuter), and if the individual tested positive or negative, among other variables. This study examined positive/ negative testing for COVID-19 among residential and commuter students. Results help demonstrate the difference between staying on campus or off campus. Students on-campus tested positive at a higher rate than commuter students. Several limitations exist including the self-report nature of the data. Results can be used for consideration of future pandemic preparedness for USCB. |
| Abstract # 57 |
| Nithish Nadham Dirisipamu, Zack Stiltmer, Marco Martinez, Tgaja Johnson, Cassy Cooper, and Ronald Erdei (Faculty Mentor), A Software Solution to assist Small Nonprofit Early Learning Educators to track Student Development, Computer Science |
| The South Carolina Early Learning Standards (SC-ELS) are a state-wide set of common goals and developmental indicators for children from birth through kindergarten-entry which describe the foundational skills needed by children to succeed in school [1]. Commercial tools (i.e., software applications) are available to assist educators. However, these tools are cost-prohibitive commonly lying outside the financial limitations of smaller nonprofit organizations such as The Children’s Center (TCC). TCC is a not-for-profit organization that provides working families in the South Carolina Lowcountry affordable multicultural, bilingual early childhood education [2]. Initially partnering with the USCB Department of Computer Science in 2019, TCC currently has a software solution developed by USCB students and faculty which enabled them to address their immediate SC-ELS needs. Unfortunately, the existing solution is time consuming, cumbersome, and difficult to use. Earlier this semester, a team of USCB students began meeting biweekly with TCC to develop a 2nd-generation software solution aimed at better addressing TCC’s SC-ELS needs. The existing database was completely redesigned and a user-friendly graphical user interface (GUI) developed to facilitate data entry. Using free to low-cost tools provided by Microsoft, the software design prioritized low-cost, ease-of-maintenance, and data-security. Current capabilities of the application are managing data associated with students, teachers, and classrooms. In addition, the application enables educators to record the status of developmental indicators for each student quarterly. The next stage of the application will be improvement of existing developmental reporting (all reports are manually generated at present; all reports are English-only at present), followed by development of several new administrative reports. References [1] "South Carolina Department of Education: Early Learning Standards." https://ed.sc.gov/instruction/early-learning-and-literacy/early-learning/standards/ (accessed April 4th, 2023). [2] "The Children's Center: About Us." https://thechildrenscentersc.org/about-us/ (accessed April 2nd, 2023). |
| Abstract # 58 |
| Asher Olivetti, Derrick Ford, D`Andre English, Emrys Quick, Specialized Agile Development, Computer Science |
| In the modern world of software engineering, the "agile method" has been a growing and popular standard for software development. In recent years, professionals have come up with essential fundamentals and styles for conducting agile development. These collective ideas have become common practice, and are taught in coding schools, textbooks, online resources, and seminars. However, every organization is different. Software engineers will come from different background, may work in a niche or specialized industry, and will have different customers. This sometimes results in a software group modifying the agile process, and developing their own standards for how to perform. As a group of undergraduates with limited coding experience, led by one graduate student with a background in the software engineering industry, we will take our own approach to agile development. We have come up with a simple idea for a web application—one that fits many users. Our goal is to take as many common and standard practices from the agile process, but also adapt, alter, and improve where we think is necessary. This trial will help us learn what works best in agile development for our purposes, and will hopefully help us develop techniques and solutions for issues and obstacles within the software engineering world. (Approved by Dr. Brian Canada, Faculty Mentor) |
| Abstract # 59 |
| Sophia Cintamani McKeehan, Excerpts from People Living in Apartments, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| “Excerpts from People Living in Apartments” includes two snippets from a longer work-in-progress of short stories I’ve been writing in Dr. Malphrus’s Fiction Workshop this spring. People Living in Apartments explores the complex and comical relationships between a group of individuals residing in one of the thousands of apartment buildings within New York City. |
| Abstract # 61 |
| Tucker Czech, Anniken Brodersen, Listening to Music Decreases Anxiety: A Meta - Analysis, Social Sciences |
| Everyone occasionally experiences worry and nervousness. When facing challenging or new situations, anxiety is a typical response to stress. Along with experiencing stress, there are ways to cope with it. We attempted to test whether music is effective in reducing anxiety levels. Using PsycInfo, we found five empirical studies that measured music listening and anxiety levels, with a total sample size of N = 242. We collected data from these studies and computed the weighted average effect size. The results revealed that music has a strong effect size on anxiety, Cohen's d = 0.93. This tells us that listening to music does in fact lower levels of anxiety. |
| Abstract # 62 |
| Charles Merritt, Heartbreak Valley: A Selection of Poetry, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| "Heartbreak Valley: A Selection of Poetry" includes some of my recent work done inside and outside of my creative writing class with Dr. Malphrus. In these poems, I tackle the nature of mortality, as well as the heartbreak of grief, romance, and disillusionment at the crest of breaking free from whatever ties that may be. |
| Abstract # 63 |
| Eisa Samiullah Chaudhary, Manananggal - Sasha's Resolve, Computer Science |
| Manananggal – Sasha's Resolve offers players an exciting two-stage experience set in visually intriguing game worlds. This game encourages tangential learning, where players are exposed to content through gameplay that can compel the player to educate themselves about the game's underlying subject matter, even though education isn't necessarily the main focus of the game. In the first stage, players must protect an old village from the Manananggal's attack by adding salt to the bowls at the entrance of each house while avoiding the creature and its attacks. The second stage takes place in a dark forest, where players must help Sasha find and defeat the Manananggal by sprinkling salt on its lower body while avoiding its attacks. The game's use of traditional Filipino folklore elements adds cultural significance and makes the game more unique. The game's time and health counters and the player's need to constantly refill salt bowls and avoid the Manananggal's attacks add a strategic element to the gameplay that challenges players to think quickly and plan ahead. Manananggal – Sasha's Resolve is a thrilling and engaging game that offers players a chance to explore the rich culture of the Philippines while enjoying an action-packed gaming experience. (Approved by Dr. Brian Canada, Faculty Mentor) |
| Abstract # 64 |
| Lily Clough, Jazmin Ramirez, & Lena Barrs, The Power of Touch: Its Effects on Well-Being, Social Sciences |
| Physical touch seems like it is an essential part of the human experience. Babies need to be soothed, elderly people need to be comforted, and practically everybody in between uses some form of physical touch to connect with others: hugs, kisses, handshakes, high five, pats on the back, etc. How effective is physical touch for increasing well-being? We found four studies using Google Scholar and the USCB Library that helped us examine the relationship between physical touch and well-being. Across the four studies, there was a total of 142 participants. The weighted average effect size was Cohen’s d = 0.41, which is a moderate effect size. Thus, there seems to be a discrepancy between our own experience of the importance of physical touch and what the research shows. |
| Abstract # 65 |
| Elleanor Saylor, Aliyouna Williams, Brianna Raffa, Get Hypnotized: Hypnosis Decreases Anxiety, Social Sciences |
| Anxiety is the most commonly occurring mental illness in the US, and it affects 40 million adults each year. Hypnosis is when a person's focus is diverted from their immediate environment while they are awake and in a hypnotic state of consciousness (Williamson, 2019). How does hypnosis affect anxiety? Hypnotherapy can be used to decrease anxiety in many forms such as test anxiety, dental anxiety, and surgical anxiety. Using Google Scholar, we found ten empirical studies that used hypnotherapy to decrease anxiety, with a total sample size of N = 554. Hypnotherapy was found to decrease feelings of anxiety with weighted average Cohen's d = –0.47. This is a moderate effect, and we recommend hypnosis as a possible therapy for anxiety. |
| Abstract # 66 |
| Jordan Keller, Raven Porter-Riggens, Lawrence McKnight, Physical Activity or Exercise your pick. The effects of it on your overall health., Social Sciences |
| Physical activity or exercise has a reputation for being important for good health. But is this reputation deserved? What does physical activity do for us, and why is it so beneficial to us and our bodies? We located four empirical studies that assessed the relationship between physical activity levels and health. Each study reported the correlation between these variables. We meta-analyzed these studies by computing the weighted average correlation of them. Our findings are that physical activity is moderately correlated (r = .35) with health and quality of life. |
| Abstract # 67 |
| Itiana Brutton,, Maisonne Jones, Algeria Scott, Aniah Wright, Warrior Pose for Inner Peace; Yoga Reduces Stress, Social Sciences |
| Yoga is big business; practically every community in the US has some sort of yoga center, many health clubs offer classes, and there are countless resources online for people interested in it. Many people claim that yoga is good for the body, but is it also good for the mind? This study investigates the effect of yoga on stress. Using Google scholar, we found five empirical studies that measured the before and after effects on stress when participating in yoga, the total sample size of N = 462. These studies used the Perceived Stress Scale to measure the participants’ stress levels. We collected the effect sizes from these studies and computed the weighted average effect size. Our findings indicate that yoga has a moderate effect on stress, Cohen’s d = 0.39. From this, we conclude that yoga is an effective intervention to decrease stress. |
| Abstract # 68 |
| Ty Kutchman & Dr. Lukasz Pawelek, The Cobalt Contradiction & EV Unsustainability, Humanities |
| The Electric Vehicles (EV) technology has been a topic of wide discussion in the United States and worldwide. In the US, the Biden-Harris Administration passed the Inflation Reduction Act to combat inflation, promote green energy, and reduce carbon pollution. On April 12, 2023, the Biden-Harris Administration proposed new standards to protect Public Health and increase energy security, which aims to create a national charging infrastructure and increase the sales of EVs by fifty percent by 2030. The premise behind producing EVs or zero emission vehicles and attempting to reduce carbon pollution is noble; However, the process is inorganic, inefficient, and the hidden EV production cost is immensely large. In this research project, I evaluated the pros and cons of EV and battery production, tax breaks, consumer expenses, environmental factors, and the grotesquely inhumane mining conditions. |
| Abstract # 69 |
| Jackson Cox, Things that Keep Me Up at Night, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| "Things that Keep Me Up at Night" is a collection of creative writing pieces, both prose and poetry, that I have worked on in Dr. Malphrus' workshops. I feel these pieces best display the diverse array of topics I enjoy exploring in my writing. |
| Abstract # 71 |
| Rebecca Taliaferro, Circle of sorrow, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| ‘The Circle of Sorrow’ is a selection of pieces created throughout my time in Dr. Malphrus’s creative writing workshop. While creating these pieces I have been able to explore different genres and shape an array of work whether it was prompt based or free hand. From melancholic works to psychological thrillers; these are the pieces I am most proud of and I am excited to share my work with all of you. |
| Abstract # 72 |
| Icis Dunlap, Domestic violence and intergenerational trauma: Effects of indirect vs. witnessed trauma, Social Sciences |
| Many people believe small children are not affected by stressful experiences, mostly because most children have limited memories before 5 years old. Researchers have estimated that between 3.3 million and 10 million children are exposed to adult domestic violence each year. Does witnessing domestic violence as a child correlate with negative life outcomes as an adult? By looking at 6 studies on the effects of witnessing domestic violence on life outcomes (PsycInfo and Google Scholar), we found the average correlation was r = -.17. Based on this outcome, we propose a novel research project to examine the effects of intergenerational violence, including brain imaging. The research will test if domestic violence transfers across generations. Our hypothesis is that children exposed to domestic violence will show differences, especially in the limbic system. |
| Abstract # 74 |
| Sean Pittman, Literary Charcuterie, English Theater and Interdisciplinary Studies |
| “Literary Charcuterie” is a collection of works that are sampled from a larger arrangement of literary selections that I have been developing in Dr. Malphrus’ workshops. I have a proclivity for descriptive narratives that give a world, setting, or character a bit of texture. “The Last Stop” is a piece of writing that was composed in the Creative Writing Workshop that deals with creative non-fiction. While not a long piece, it is a personal retelling of an experience from when I was younger. “The Bank” is a significantly longer piece that is written from a third-person point-of-view where I get to really weave a literary narrative. It’s an exercise in crafting a complete piece that touches on concepts of the absurd and adversity in the face of inevitable. “The Good Work” is another short piece of writing that is just I found amusing in its composition. |
| Abstract # 75 |
| Lauren Conroy, Brianna Wells, Krystal Brown, The Effects of Outpatient Programs on the BMI of Eating Disorder Patients, Social Sciences |
| The COVID-19 pandemic increased mental health issues, including a rise of eating disorder cases. It is estimated that 30 million U.S citizens suffer from an eating disorder. With in-patient settings being expensive and uncomfortable for patients, is there an effective treatment to help people with eating disorders improve their symptoms? To answer this question, we located 5 reports (8 studies) that assessed the impact that outpatient programs (a cheaper alternative) have on body mass index (BMI) of eating disorder patients. The eating disorders evaluated were placed into 3 categories: anorexia, bulimia, and overall (not otherwise stated). The studies were meta-analyzed, and we found that the weighted average effect size for anorexia patients, bulimia patients, and overall cases were (respectively) Cohen’s d = 1.11 (strong effect), Cohen’s d = 0.02 (weak effect), Cohen’s d = 0.51 (moderate effect). Our findings suggest that outpatient programs are very effective in increasing the BMI of patients suffering from anorexia and effective in eating disorders overall but are not as effective in increasing the BMI of patients suffering from bulimia. |
| (Total 70 abstracts) |