First record of Corella japonica in California

Many ascidian (sea squirt) species are common members of fouling communities, particularly on floating substrates such as docks and pilings and through maritime transport, have been introduced worldwide. For the past 30 years, marinas in Southern California have been regularly monitored for introduced species due to their proximity to the international shipping terminals in Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Here, we report on the first record in the eastern Pacific of an ascidian in the family Corellidae (O. Phlebobranchia), Corella japonica, found at the Newmarks Yacht Centre in Los Angeles Harbor. This study further highlights the importance of continuously monitoring harbors and marinas to detect the early arrival of new non-native species. This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Transformative Agreement Program. The article was first published in the Journal of the Marine Biological Association of the United Kingdom: https://doi.org/10.1017/S002531542500036

Physical and biological effects on moths’ navigation performance

In a chemosensing system, the local olfactory environment experienced by a foraging organism is defined as an odorscape. Using the nocturnal pink bollworm moth (Pectinophora gossypiella), we tested the combined effect of three biophysical aspects in its immediate odorscape to shed light on the coupling effects of biotic and abiotic factors on navigation performances of a nocturnal forager: i) the quality of the pheromone source, ii) the pheromone availability, and iii) the airflow characteristics. The navigation performance of the males was investigated using a wind tunnel assay equipped with 3D infrared high-speed cameras. The navigation performance of the males was analyzed using ethological and biomechanical parameters. The results of this work indicate that: (1) the biophysical factors have combined effects on the navigation performance of mate-searching males; (2) Natural and sexual selection play an important role in shaping the pheromone-mediated sensory performance of nocturnal male moths; herein, the role of natural selection overrides that of sexual selection; (3) During odor-mediated mate-finding navigation, the male moth applies a tradeoff decision-making process based on weighted information from the biological and physical characteristics of the odorscape. This decision-making process includes weighting the tradeoff between the cost involved in flying under different flow conditions, the availability of different odor sources, and their quality. Descriptive data was added below, with CC-BY 4.0 license; data doi: 10.17632/k39xx7hngn.1 This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Open Access Publishing Fund. The article was first published in Movement Ecology: https://doi.org/10.1186/s40462-025-00547-

The Chanticleer, 2025-02-13

The editorially independent student produced weekly newspaper of Coastal Carolina University.https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/chanticleer/1733/thumbnail.jp

The Chanticleer, 2025-04-10

The editorially independent student produced weekly newspaper of Coastal Carolina University.https://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/chanticleer/1730/thumbnail.jp

2025 Undergraduate Research Competition Program

16th Annual Undergraduate Research Competition, April 15-16, 2025. The 2025 CCU Undergraduate Research Symposium included 168 oral and poster presentations (51 oral presentations and 117 poster presentations) and an additional 20 team pitch presentations composed of 57 students who participated in the inaugural year of the Wall College’s Chant’s Tank Pitch Competition. Presentations at the Undergraduate Research Symposium were judged by over 80 faculty and staff, and prizes are awarded in three categories: Best Oral Presentation, Best Poster Presentation, and Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation. Here are the following award winners in their respective categories: Best Oral Presentation: 1st Place: Mike Szklarzewski, Computer Science. Faculty Mentor: William Jones, Computing Sciences, and Nathan DeBardeleben (Los Alamos National Laboratory). “Scaling Machine Learning Models Across GPUs and Nodes: A Performance Analysis Using Megatron on a Weather Prediction Surrogate Model” 2nd Place: Samantha Oliver, Psychology. Faculty Mentor: Melissa Baker, Psychology. “The Effects of Perpetrator Emotional State and Treatment History on Mock Jurors’ Punishment Decisions in Gun Violence Cases” 3rd Place: Cassidy Knill, Marine Science. Faculty Mentor: Angelos Hannides, Marine Science. “Impacts of Point and Non-Point Sources on Two Urbanized Tidal Creek Systems” Best Poster Presentation: 1st Place: Savannah Piziak, Exercise and Sport Science. Faculty Mentor: Justin Guilkey, Kinesiology. “Exploring the Role of Muscle Oxygenation in Determining Optimal Inter-set Rest Duration and Its Impact on Performance” 2nd Place: Juliana Calderone, Marine Science. Faculty Mentor: Angelos Hannides, Marine Science. “Diel patterns of biogeochemical indicators in coastal tidally-dominated creeks” 3rd Place: Cassidy Cullen, Biology, Shanari Buckner, Biology, Gabriella Pepin, Biology, and Amy Starchville, Biology. Faculty Mentor: Megan Cevasco, Biology. “Investigation of Vibrio from Huntington Beach State Park and Pawleys Island waters” Best Chant’s Tank Pitch Presentation: 1st Place: Jackson Shapiro, Recreation and Sport Management, Joe Montesanto, Accounting, and Thomas Gavin, Marketing. Pitch: JJT SmartWash 2nd Place: Ben Doleshal, Business Management & Commercial and Investment Real Estate, and Hans Seibold, Finance. Pitch: CyberGuard Solutions 3rd Place: Ashley Wood, Marketing, Casey Mangan, Accounting, and Olivia Tenaglia, Finance and Marketing. Pitch: Dorm Dashhttps://digitalcommons.coastal.edu/ugrc-programs/1015/thumbnail.jp

Safeguarding American Interests: A Strategic Analysis of U.S. Economic Sanctions on China and Their Impact on National Competitiveness (2018-2023)

This study examines the effectiveness of U.S. economic sanctions against China from 2018 to 2023, analyzing their impact on political objectives, economic benefits, and global trade dynamics. Employing a mixed-methods approach, this research combines quantitative trade data analysis, GDP growth, and technology sector performance with qualitative assessment of policy changes and diplomatic relations. Findings indicate that while sanctions have increased costs for targeted Chinese practices, they have not fundamentally altered China\u27s approach to core issues. The economic benefits for the U.S. are mixed, with its technology sector maintaining global competitiveness amid complex market dynamics. Unintended consequences include accelerated Chinese efforts towards technological independence, supply chain disruptions, and strained global trade relations. The study concludes that sanctions\u27 effectiveness is limited against large, economically diverse countries like China. Recommendations include adopting a more targeted approach to sanctions, prioritizing multilateral cooperation, and investing in domestic innovation to maintain competitiveness

NEW KIDS ON THE BLOCK: THE DECLINING ELECTORAL IMPORTANCE OF CONSTITUENCY INTACTNESS ON U.S. HOUSE INCUMBENTS’ POST-REDISTRICTING MARGINS, 1992-2022

Redistricting studies of pre-2022 elections have found that lesser numbers of retained constituents placed in a Congress member’s new district impair reelection margin, insomuch as new constituents are largely unaware of the past “personal vote” activities (i.e., casework, pork barreling, and trips back home) undertaken by the member. The declining efficacy of the personal vote over time, however, suggests that the new constituent penalty likewise should have weakened. Analysis of the four most recent redistricting cycles confirms this expectation; in fact, constituency retention is not even statistically significant in 2022. Part of the explanation, however, can be attributed to “district shopping.” Members, presumably sensitive to the waning relevance of retained constituents, have shown increased willingness to abandon the new district with the most old constituents and to run in a lower retention, but more partisan-friendly, district. Their subsequent strong electoral showing thus weakens even further the explanatory importance of retention in 2022

State-Level Responses to the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Comprehensive Examination of Policy Adoption in the South vs Non-South States

The COVID-19 pandemic caused a significant number of fatalities worldwide (WHO, 2021). Unfortunately, the response to the pandemic appeared to politicized in the United States. Various factors contribute to the policies adopted by different states to contain the spread of the disease. This study aims to investigate the adoption of COVID-19 policies in South versus non-South states, explicitly examining state interventions such as stay-at-home orders, school closures, mask mandates, and travel restrictions. Utilizing the policy innovation and diffusion hazards model, we found that politics dominated the adoption and duration of mask mandates but that the adoption and duration of stay-at-home orders, school closures, and travel restrictions by state governors were determined by demographics and the death toll in each state. The South in this case, was not a distinctive region

Task demands influence search strategy selection in otoconia-deficient mice

Introduction: The vestibular system plays a crucial role in visual and non-visual navigation. Our recent study found that signals from the otolith organs are necessary for mice’s use of distal visual cues to guide navigation to an invisible goal. Somewhat surprisingly, however, performance was not significantly impaired on some spatial tasks (e.g., Barnes maze reference memory task), questioning the role of otolith signals in visual navigation. Methods: We report the results of several additional tests of reference memory performance and search strategy use on two versions of the Barnes maze, in an attempt to establish further understanding of the otolithic contribution to visual navigation. Results: On a small Barnes maze, control mice preferentially used the efficient “spatial” search strategy by the last (8th) day of training, whereas otoconia-deficient tilted mice failed to show this preference. On the subsequent probe trial, both groups showed a preference for the former goal location, suggesting otolith signals are not necessary for the use of distal cues to triangulate the animal’s position, relative to distal cues. On a large Barnes maze, both control and tilted mice used a spatial search strategy most frequently by the last (4th) day of training and showed a preference for the former goal location on the subsequent probe trial. Discussion: Overall, these results suggest that otolith dysfunction in mice is associated with subtle navigational deficits that became apparent on the small maze but that were less apparent on the large maze. It is possible that these navigational differences resulted from the greater distance between start and goal locations of the large maze, relative to the small maze. Alternatively, the large maze’s greater distance between the goal and potential alternatives may have facilitated more accurate place recognition. This article was published Open Access through the CCU Libraries Transformative Agreement Program. The article was first published in Frontiers in Neurology: 10.3389/fneur.2025.153170

PERCEPTIONS OF LOW-INCOME PARENTS ON KINDERGARTEN READINESS: A QUALITATIVE STUDY

There is a significant amount of research documenting the importance of school readiness and its implication for life-long consequences (Jarrett & Coba-Rodriguez, 2017, 2018; Kang et al., 2017; Malsch et al., 2011). Parents play a critical role in supporting the acquisition of all skills needed to prepare children for school readiness. Readiness refers to being prepared with the necessary skills to access learning (Saracho, 2023). The purpose of this study is to explore the practices and perceptions of low-income parents on kindergarten readiness skills in the Hollywood School District (HSD) as measured by the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA). Students in HSD enter kindergarten demonstrating readiness at a rate lower than other students in the state of South Carolina (SC Education Oversight Committee). Using a qualitative phenomenological approach, the researcher conducted semi-structured interviews with parents of kindergarten students who scored demonstrating readiness on the KRA in a high-poverty, rural school district to gather data on lived experiences with preparing children to start school and their perceptions of readiness. Thematic analysis of the interview data revealed themes of parents’ perceptions of readiness and practices. The anti-deficit achievement framework (S. R. Harper, 2010, 2012) served as the basis for developing the research and interview questions from an asset or strengths-based mindset instead of a mindset that focused on what was lacking. Findings indicated how parents successfully prepared their children for kindergarten, their expectations of prekindergarten education, and their misconceptions and perceptions of school readines